You, CEO’s Secret Wife

Jian Yun's heart skipped a beat, but she shook her head. Just the thought of Huo Liancheng standing out in the cold made her feel even more uncomfortable. Did Luo Yanyan see correctly? Perhaps it was just a trick of the light. But then again, there weren't a lot of Bentleys around here–especially expensive ones. Usually, they flocked around the capital, so to see another Bentley with just the same style and color as his car would've been more impossible than him waiting for her.     

    

But why would Huo Liancheng come here? Why didn't he give her a call? Was there something wrong?     

    

While she was lost in her thoughts, Luo Yanyan used this opportunity to nudge her. "Yun, what are you thinking about?"     

    

"Huh?"     

    

"We're already on our floor." Luo Yanyan pulled her out of the elevator, motioning to the door. There was a strange look on her face as she stared at her friend. "What were you waiting for?"     

    

Knowing that it was useless to overthink these things, she decided to toss these complicated thoughts to the back of her mind and focused on the present instead. Besides, if Huo Liancheng didn't call her, that meant that he really didn't have anything to say, right? Maybe he just passed by the apartment building on his way back. That was probably all. Once they were finished with breakfast, Jian Yun changed her clothes and prepared to head to work.     

    

Just as she was about to leave, she hesitated for a moment before entering her bedroom. Taking the Lover's Heart from underneath her pillow, she stared at the captivating pink diamond with a sigh. Although it was beautiful, she knew for a fact that this wasn't for her. It would've been disrespectful if she kept it lying around given that it wasn't hers, to begin with. Without another word, she headed to Ming's.     

    

Like every other Monday, her pile of paperwork was at its tallest. Jian Yun didn't have the mood to take her lunch break, given all the documents she needed to rush through. Loss in her thoughts, she glanced at her bag, knowing fully well that the Lover's Heart was buried under its pockets. Not having the courage to go to Liancheng directly, she decided to chat with Cheng Muze instead.     

    

"Hey, is President Huo in his office?"     

    

"I just arrived in the office," Cheng Muze replied instantly. Three seconds later, another message followed, "Thinking of Fourth Brother already?"    

    

Ignoring his teasings, she asked, "I have something I need to talk to you about. I'll be right there."     

    

In the CEO's office, Cheng Muze glanced at his phone. His eyebrows furrowed almost immediately, and his lips pursed in confusion. "Sister Jian really is confusing," he murmured to himself. "She said that she wanted to talk to me about something, so why did she ask if you were there? I wonder what all of this is about."     

    

Behind his desk, Huo Liancheng's eyes narrowed at the mention of Jian Yun's name. The pen he had been holding this entire time stiffened and shook under his hard grip, which had gone unnoticed by his friend.     

    

Looking up from his phone, Cheng Muze stood up. "Do you need me to leave the two of you alone?"     

    

"No need!" He tapped the pen onto the table a few times as his other fingers drummed against the surface. Somehow, her name had brought a sense of tension in the room–one that had surprised Cheng Muze. It was weird to see how the same name that could bring a smile to Huo Liancheng's face was also the name that could bring him to despair.     

    

"Fourth Brother," Cheng Muze asked hesitantly. This was the first time he had seen his friend so affected. "Did you and Sister Jian get into a fight? I mean, you really have to be more lenient with her, you know. She's still pretty young. You shouldn't take these things to heart."     

    

However, his words weren't enough to calm him. Huo Liancheng twitched as his cool gaze fell on his assistant. "What did you say?"     

    

"Erm...nothing! I'll be heading out first." The last thing he needed was to be assigned with even more paperwork! Seeing that Huo Liancheng wasn't in the mood to be teased, he didn't waste any time as he rushed out of the CEO's office and waited by the entrance. However, he still couldn't help but be a little curious as to what had happened between them. The last time he had seen Jian Yun was back in the dessert shop. Could it have something to do with that or something else?     

    

Suddenly, a loud ding echoed across the spacious floor. Cheng Muze looked up from the sound, and when he saw Jian Yun stepping out of the elevator, he instantly greeted her, "Sister Jian!"     

    

Jian Yun, however, didn't share his enthusiasm. Taking an uncertain glance at the CEO's office, she quickly shushed him and handed over a paper bag. "Brother Cheng," she whispered, lowering her head as if she was participating in a drug deal. He would've been amused if it wasn't for the fact that it was blatantly obvious that they were avoiding each other. "Do you mind passing this to President Huo?"     

    

"Fourth Bro's inside. Why don't you give it to him?" They must've gotten into an argument over the weekend. Otherwise, why would their attitude change so spontaneously overnight?     

    

"I–I can't see him!" She shook her head over and over again that she was afraid that it would suddenly fall off. When she saw him glancing at the contents of the bag, she quickly placed a hand over the hole and gazed up at him. Jian Yun made her eyes as wide as possible, and she shaped her plump lips into a pout. "Brother Cheng, please!"     

    

Cheng Muze averted his eyes from her to the CEO's office. The corners of his mouth twitched. "It's not that I don't want to help you, Sister Jian. It's just that..." He pointed to the door. "It's best if you tell him yourself."     

    

It was only when she looked in his direction did she realize that the door had been open for quite some time. There, in all his glory, was Huo Liancheng. He was dressed in a black shirt and matching pants. He leaned against the doorway with his arms crossed and his eyes narrowed. 'Had he heard the entire thing?' At the thought, a chill shot down her spine, and she shivered.     

    

"Pr–President Huo," she stuttered, her voice lowering into a whisper.     

    

Huo Liancheng didn't say a word in reply. Instead, he turned around and stepped back into his office.     

    

"Help me!" Not wanting to go in, Jian Yun turned to Cheng Muze for his help, but it seemed that her puppy-dog eyes didn't have much effect on him.     

    

"I think it's best if you explain yourself to him." With a helpless shrug, Cheng Muze picked up the documents on the table and walked towards the elevator. "Besides, I have something else to do. I'll be heading out first!"     

    

Seeing that he was fleeing from her, Jian Yun gritted her teeth in frustration. Should she still go in or not? As she glanced at the Lover's Heart in her hand, her heart lurched in her chest. Well, it wasn't as if she could run away in fear for Huo Liancheng, right? Her purpose was to return the necklace, and she couldn't do that if she ran off like a criminal.     

    

She stood in the spacious office for a long time, hesitating for a few minutes. In the end, she straightened her back and knocked on the door of the CEO's office.     

    

"The door's unlocked."    

    

Jian Yun gently pushed the door open, and at first glance, she could see Huo Liancheng smoking by the corner of the room. His back was facing her, and the smoke circled around him, shadowing his features. This was the first time she had seen him after what had happened yesterday afternoon, and everything about this interaction was uncomfortable and awkward. Gone were the teasings and the laughter as she tried to stutter out his name.     

    

The sun shone through the glass windows, giving a bright contrast from the grey smoke–pouring over him like a shrine.     

    

"President Huo," she said, quickly retracting her gaze. Seeing as he was distracted, she placed the box on top of his table.     

    

"Haven't I said it already? I told you that I'm not the type who asks for things I've already given you!" Huo Liancheng didn't need to turn around to know what she had done. Besides, he knew her far too well.     

    

"It's just too valuable, I..."    

    

Not giving her a chance to speak, he suddenly turned around. His dark eyes swept across the room, looking at anywhere but her face. His large hands grabbed a hold of the exquisite jewelry box, and just when she had thought that he'd put it in his pockets, he suddenly threw it into the trash can. The sound echoed across the office, and she winced. It was as if he was just throwing a candy wrapper! Her jaw dropped.     

    

"Are you crazy?" She rushed over to the side, fishing the box from the can.     

    

"I thought you didn't want it." Ridicule flashed in his eyes. "Why did you pick it up?"     

    

"I–" Jian Yun wanted to say something–anything that could quell the anger in her heart. How could he be this complacent in throwing away such a priceless diamond? Was he really that rich? That these diamonds were worth nothing to him?     

    

However, before she could speak, he cut her off, "Is there anything else?"     

    

Jian Yun stuttered, finally looking up at him. It was obvious that he regarded her even more coldly than yesterday. In fact, hidden within his gaze was a flash of anger and betrayal, and she couldn't understand why. Was it because of the fact that she had rejected him? Twisting her wrists, her tongue darted across her lips.     

    

No. Even when she did reject him yesterday, he certainly wasn't this cold towards her.     

    

Infuriated by how innocent and unknowing she looked, Huo Liancheng slammed his fist onto the table. "If you have nothing else to say, then scram!"     

    

Jian Yun's expression changed almost immediately, flinching from the sound. She stared at the man in front of her in pure disbelief, and her large eyes were filled with helplessness and surprise. Her face paled and turned sheet white, and all the color slowly faded from her lips. Even her heart had shivered at the coldness that had settled inside her.     

    

This was the first time that he had ever talked to her this way–so mercilessly and cold as if she was nothing but a stranger to him. Biting her lips, she could only stand there and lower her head in confusion. 'What the hell did I do to him?'     

    

"I'm sorry for disturbing you then." After so many years of working under Ming's, Jian Yun rarely burst into tears from a scolding. However, this was the first time she had ever gotten close to actually crying. Clenching her fists, she lowered her head and tried her best to calm her emotions. Not wanting to look at him any longer, she raced towards the door.     

    

However, just as her hand was about to touch the doorknob, someone had grabbed her back. A large hand gripped around her waist, and she felt a large chest supporting her stumbling figure. Suddenly, a pair of warm arms wrapped around her waist, and before she could react, she was suddenly pulled into a kiss.