“Boss, I made congee for Eldest Brother and there’s still a lot left. You probably haven’t had a late-night snack yet, right? This is lotus seed, lily bulb, and lean pork congee. It’s good for people who stay up late a lot.” Wang Cheng went straight to the kitchen on his own, took out a bowl and spoon, and poured in the steaming congee. It still smelled delicious.
Chu Yifeng was no longer surprised by his visits. Wang Cheng’s behavior had always been different from ordinary people’s and could not be judged by the usual standards.
Once Chu Yifeng sat down, Wang Cheng immediately placed the bowl in his hands. Chu Yifeng did not stand on ceremony and began eating. After having Wang Cheng’s cooking before, he had long since stopped worrying about the man’s skills.
When he finished, Wang Cheng was about to pour him another bowl, but Chu Yifeng stopped him. He crossed one long leg over the other and looked at Wang Cheng knowingly. “Go on. What do you want?”
It had to be said that Chu Yifeng understood Wang Cheng quite well. The saying about never visiting without a reason might as well have been written for him.
“Boss, you really are amazing. I may have to trouble you with my commute again from now on.” Wang Cheng admitted it immediately, without the slightest embarrassment at being exposed, climbing straight up the opening Chu Yifeng had given him.
“So you’re planning to use me as your driver?” Chu Yifeng glanced sideways at him. Dressed in casual clothes at home, he carried a lazy air he did not usually show.
“How about I buy you breakfast from now on?”
“One breakfast is all my services as your driver are worth?”
So they were bargaining now!
Wang Cheng rolled up his sleeves with great momentum. “Then I’ll add dinner too?”
“And a late-night snack.”
“That’s way too much. You’ve never even paid me a salary, and I’d still have to cover the food myself.” Wang Cheng immediately objected.
“Where else are you going to find a boss willing to be your driver?” Chu Yifeng calmly pointed out the absurdity of the situation. A perfectly respectable boss chauffeuring his employee around. Who would believe it?
Wang Cheng had no rebuttal. That really was true. Since ancient times, employees drove for their bosses. Somehow, with him, the arrangement had reversed. The more he thought about it, the more he felt he was getting the better deal, so he slapped the decision down and agreed. At first, he had wondered why Chu Yifeng wanted him to cook when he already employed a housekeeper. Later, he learned that Aunt Liu was excellent at cleaning and household work but not much of a cook. She was also from the south, so her food tended to be light, while Chu Yifeng preferred stronger flavors. He did not want to replace her with an unfamiliar housekeeper, so things had simply stayed that way.
Two days later, Wang Ning’an’s promotion was formally confirmed.
People at the branch had already been spreading rumors that headquarters would transfer their vice president. Once the official notice arrived, no one found it particularly surprising. The company’s female employees only regretted losing such a handsome man, especially one who was still an eligible bachelor.
“I told you ages ago. The higher-ups had already picked Vice President Wang. Being president of a branch sounds impressive, but your future is limited. No matter how high you rise, it’s still only one branch. Headquarters is different. If you become president there, you can oversee all the branches.”
“I wonder if the vice president has a girlfriend?”
“Even if he does, it wouldn’t be you. He’s capable, handsome, and obviously has high standards. Ordinary mortals like us can only admire him from afar.”
“Ahem. Enough. Get back to work.” The female supervisor coughed lightly.
The gossiping women immediately scattered.
Wang Ning’an left work earlier than usual that day. After handing off the tasks on his desk, he was not as busy as normal. In the underground parking garage, he pulled out his car key and was about to open the door when someone in a floral dress suddenly rushed out from behind a nearby pillar.
“Ning’an.”
Wang Ning’an stared at the woman in front of him without the slightest change in expression. Calmly, he said, “You came at the right time. I have something to tell you.”
The woman immediately looked delighted. She had thought Wang Ning’an had nothing left to say to her.
“Don’t go to my apartment again. I don’t want to see you, and I don’t want my family seeing you either.”
The woman’s face went pale.
After saying that, Wang Ning’an got into the car and tossed his briefcase onto the passenger seat. The woman suddenly grabbed the window frame and stopped him from closing the door. “Ning’an, listen to me. Please don’t be so heartless. I really had nowhere else to turn before coming to you. Could you lend me some money? I promise I’ll pay you back once I have it.”
Wang Ning’an looked at her fingers. When he first met her, they had been pale and clean, and she never went to salons for manicures. Later, that changed. The pale pink nails were glossy and beautiful, but beauty was only on the surface. Somewhere no one could see, things had already begun to decay.
“Miss Lin, all you ever loved was money. If your current sugar daddy doesn’t want you anymore, you can find some other fool. I’m not interested in taking back a pair of shoes that other people have worn over and over, especially a pair that betrayed me once already.”
Lin Qing looked as if she had been struck by lightning. She stared at Wang Ning’an in disbelief, unable to imagine that the man who had once been so gentle could say something so cruel.
In truth, Wang Ning’an was already being restrained. If he wanted to be harsher, he could have simply called her a worn-out, filthy shoe. To him, this woman was nothing more than a stranger now. There was no reason to waste anger on her. He pried her fingers away and did not look at her again. The car drove out of the underground garage. In the rearview mirror, Lin Qing collapsed to the ground and began crying with regret.
She was not married, yet she was already pregnant. The man who got her pregnant no longer wanted her. He had even called her a cheap whore and refused to give her any breakup money. What was she supposed to do? Of course she regretted it. If she had known Wang Ning’an would become vice president of Shenghui Group’s branch, she would never have cheated on him with another man back then.
A polished, beautiful appearance could make someone shine more brightly, but without self-respect, it only made the rot underneath spread faster. Unfortunately, some people reached a point where there was no turning back. You had to taste the bitter fruit you planted yourself.
Lin Qing would only ever be a passerby in Wang Ning’an’s life.