《Dominant CEO: Love Too Late》


 Chapter 1 - She craved the warmth of his embrace

    Jiang Ci woke up in the middle of the night, her whole body aching.


    No one would believe it if she told them, but last night, she slept with Lu Yudong.


    It was her first time, and she didn''t feel much, just pain.


    The only thing that left a deep impression on her was the ambiguous sensation when Lu Yudong''s stubble brushed against her face. He breathed by her neck, kissed her ear, and his deep, magnetic voice, combined with the skin-to-skin contact, made Jiang Ci''s body burn with heat. Throughout the process, Lu Yudong kept murmuring a name by her ear. Although Jiang Ci never clearly heard what the name was, it didn''t diminish the thrill of her first experience in the slightest.


    In the middle of the night, Jiang Ci woke up to find Lu Yudong still asleep. She looked at the man''s stern face beside her and inexplicably felt much closer to him. She craved the warmth of his embrace and even whimsically thought of continuing to lie by his side, holding him as she slept. But she knew that staying any longer would only bring trouble.


    Lu Yudong was the President of New East International. Having slept with an intern like Jiang Ci, she could easily imagine the consequences: at best, losing her job and leaving; at worst, being labeled as "seducing the President," ruining her reputation, and being unable to stay in Jiangzhou.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Yesterday was the first day of the team building. In the evening, Lu Yudong got drunk and, without any explanation, pulled Jiang Ci, who was helping him to his room, and kissed her face. Jiang Ci''s mind went blank at first; she wanted to refuse, but seeing Lu Yudong''s face made her dazed, and she couldn''t resist anymore.


    Before this, intern Jiang Ci had never even had direct contact with Lu Yudong.


    ***


    Jiang Ci staggered back to her room, pretending nothing had happened, until six in the afternoon when several coach buses returning to the company stopped at the hotel entrance.


    Jiang Ci boarded the bus with another intern, Han Lan. As soon as she got on, she saw someone sitting in the first row, resting with eyes closed, which gave Jiang Ci a shock.


    Who else could it be but Lu Yudong?


    The bus was full, except for the seats beside and behind Lu Yudong.


    Jiang Ci''s face turned red instantly. She and Han Lan were late, so they had no choice but to sit behind Lu Yudong.


    "Didn''t Mr. Lu drive here himself? Why is he taking the coach back with us this time?" Han Lan whispered to Jiang Ci.


    Han Lan had a loud voice, and even when she "whispered," others could hear it clearly.


    "I don''t know," Jiang Ci replied with her head down.


    When she got on the bus, she had been deliberately using her hand to shield her face, afraid that Lu Yudong would recognize her.


    But she also held onto a sliver of hope that maybe Lu Yudong didn''t remember what happened last night, or even if he did, he wouldn''t know it was Jiang Ci, since they hadn''t interacted before, and he was drunk, and the lights were off most of the time last night...


    The long journey was boring, and Han Lan started playing on her phone. Jiang Ci, feeling envious, wanted to take out her phone too, but after searching around, she couldn''t find it.


    Jiang Ci nudged Han Lan beside her, "Call my phone, I can''t find it."


    "Where did you put it?" Han Lan asked absentmindedly as she dialed the number saved as "Jiang Cici" on her phone.


    A pleasant ringtone sounded, but it didn''t come from Jiang Ci''s bag or her suitcase. Instead, it came from the seat in front, more precisely, from Lu Yudong''s hand.


    Jiang Ci''s hair stood on end instantly.

 Chapter 2 - How about marrying me?

    With Lu Yudong on the bus, everyone was unusually silent, making Jiang Ci''s phone ringtone sound particularly jarring. Last night, after helping Lu Yudong back to his room, Jiang Ci must have dropped her phone while undressing. After the intimate encounter, she had completely forgotten about it.


    After the initial shock, Jiang Ci quickly regained her composure. It seemed that Lu Yudong took the coach bus today specifically to wait for her, like a hunter waiting for his prey. Perhaps he knew it was her who had spent the night with him, or perhaps he didn''t. But with the ringtone and Han Lan''s earlier comments, she guessed that Lu Yudong had figured it out. In this way, Jiang Ci had inadvertently confessed.


    Han Lan looked at Jiang Ci with a puzzled expression, nodding towards Lu Yudong, clearly asking, "What''s going on?"


    "Stop it," Jiang Ci said, pressing down on Han Lan''s hand. The remaining awkwardness was too much for Jiang Ci to bear, and she had no idea how to explain it.


    "What exactly happened? How did your phone end up with Mr. Lu?" Han Lan whispered, gossiping.


    "I..." Just as Jiang Ci was at a loss, Lu Yudong suddenly turned around from the front row, nearly scaring Jiang Ci out of her wits.


    "Is this your phone number?" Lu Yudong asked Han Lan, holding up Jiang Ci''s phone, which displayed the name "Crazy Lan."


    "Crazy Lan" was a nickname Jiang Ci had given Han Lan.


    Han Lan nodded eagerly like a Peke, "Yes, Mr. Lu, Jiang Ci couldn''t find her phone, so she asked me to call it."


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    Han Lan even mentioned Jiang Ci''s name, making it impossible for her to disappear.


    "Your phone? You left it on the front seat while you were holding your suitcase," Lu Yudong said, his gaze shifting to Jiang Ci. His eyes were calm but carried a deep meaning, a look that was both familiar and unfathomable, unique to Lu Yudong, and completely indecipherable to Jiang Ci.


    "Oh, it was an accident, my mistake. Thank you, Mr. Lu." Despite her inner turmoil, Jiang Ci nodded gratefully, taking the phone from Lu Yudong''s hands, playing along with his act.


    After resolving the awkward situation, Lu Yudong turned back around.


    Jiang Ci pretended to scroll through her phone, but she couldn''t focus on anything. The way Lu Yudong returned the phone seemed to hint at something, and Jiang Ci clearly heard in his voice: last night''s incident ends here!


    Jiang Ci was an adult, not one to shy away from reality. She had intended to treat last night as just a dream.


    She wondered if her name, "Jiang Ci," had left any impression on him, for better or worse. She hoped he was too busy to dwell on it.


    Half a month passed without Jiang Ci seeing Lu Yudong again. Even when the group held meetings, they were for the executives, and she was just an intern with an uncertain future.


    Aside from worrying about securing a position at New East Group, Jiang Ci occasionally thought of Lu Yudong and their unresolved encounter, as it was her first time.


    ***


    One day, the internal phone on Jiang Ci''s desk rang.


    "Jiang Ci?" the voice on the other end asked.


    Jiang Ci felt a pang of panic and confusion. Why did this voice sound so familiar?


    Since that night, Lu Yudong''s magnetic voice saying "turn off the lights" had been replaying in her mind, so this voice was not unfamiliar to her.


    "Yes."


    "Come to my office."


    "Hmm?"


    "Come to my office," the voice repeated.


    "Oh." Jiang Ci''s heart was pounding. She thought: it probably wasn''t about work. Their positions were too far apart, and even if there was a work issue, he wouldn''t seek her out. Could it be about the team building event? To prevent more people from finding out about that day, was Lu Yudong going to let her go?


    After knocking on Lu Yudong''s office door, Jiang Ci found that he wasn''t as nonchalant as he had been on the team building day. Instead, he was scrutinizing her from head to toe.


    This scrutiny made Jiang Ci even more flustered.


    Yet, those eyes, though deep and unfathomable, were something Jiang Ci couldn''t help but gaze into greedily.


    Jiang Ci looked at Lu Yudong with such greed.


    It left Lu Yudong feeling inexplicably puzzled.


    "Is there something on my face?" he asked Jiang Ci.


    Jiang Ci snapped back to reality, "Hmm?"


    Lu Yudong didn''t pursue the topic further and directly asked Jiang Ci, "How about marrying me?"


    Jiang Ci furrowed her brows slightly, "Hmm?"


    The topic was worlds apart from what Jiang Ci had been thinking about just moments ago.

 Chapter 3 - We are cohabiting

    Jiang Ci looked around; there was no one else in the office.


    "I''m talking to you," Lu Yudong said.


    "What?"


    "Marry me," Lu Yudong reiterated.


    Jiang Ci''s mind finally caught up with the question of "marry me."


    She was still a bit dazed. She had thought about marriage before, but with a month left until graduation, it was completely off her radar now.


    Jiang Ci wondered if Lu Yudong was testing her. After all, for a President, sleeping with an intern might not be a loss, but it certainly wasn''t ideal. He probably wanted to see if Jiang Ci had any ulterior motives.


    Jiang Ci felt a bit conflicted. To her, Lu Yudong''s warm embrace and those eyes, combined with the unexpected night they spent together, made him different from other men. But she knew very well that in this life, or even the next, they were impossible.


    The reason Lu Yudong was proposing marriage to a woman so mismatched with him wasn''t because he liked her.


    She remembered the "advice" Lu Yudong gave her when he returned her phone, and Jiang Ci was even more convinced: he was afraid she''d cause trouble for him.


    So, she lied, "I have a boyfriend."


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    "Talking about marriage?" Lu Yudong asked again.


    "Oh, not yet. After all, I haven''t graduated, and I don''t have a financial foundation," Jiang Ci replied calmly.


    "How far have you progressed?" Lu Yudong showed unexpected interest in Jiang Ci''s personal affairs.


    Jiang Ci didn''t know what Lu Yudong meant, so she blurted out, "We... live together."


    The implication was: I have a boyfriend, and I''ve slept with him too. To avoid misunderstandings, I won''t keep talking about sleeping with another man. She intended to bury the team-building incident deep inside, reassuring Mr. Lu.


    "Live together?" Lu Yudong frowned slightly. That night, she was clearly...


    Seeing Lu Yudong''s doubt, Jiang Ci knew what he was thinking and quickly added, "This boyfriend and I have been together for years. We only started living together after the team-building event, having just moved out of the dorm and found a suitable place."


    "Aren''t you curious why I want to marry you?" Lu Yudong wasn''t surprised to hear Jiang Ci had a boyfriend.


    "Why?"


    "My grandfather is gravely ill, and he wants to see me married before he passes. But I don''t have a girlfriend. As for why I chose you, you know better than anyone. After searching around, you''re still the most suitable," Lu Yudong said, sitting in his office chair with an air of control.


    "The most suitable" inevitably hurt Jiang Ci''s pride. They had slept together, making her indeed the most "suitable." If he chose someone else, they might have many concerns, but choosing Jiang Ci skipped that step entirely.


    Although she knew Lu Yudong wasn''t marrying out of "love," hearing his reason still left Jiang Ci disappointed.


    It seemed that not only did he remember that night, but he remembered it clearly. Moreover, Lu Yudong''s tone slightly revealed disdain for Jiang Ci. Though he asked for her help, he still looked down on her.


    Of course, in his eyes, she was just a woman scheming to have a relationship with her boss. She had slept with him and "intentionally" left her phone in his room, pretending to be a "phony" while trying to catch a good catch. How could she expect him to respect her?


    "Name your terms, but don''t exceed five million," Lu Yudong said with a hint of disdain.


    Five million was indeed a large sum, but for Jiang Ci, it wasn''t entirely irresistible.


    After a moment of silence, she gently suggested, "Mr. Lu, you could consider getting a fake certificate."


    "If my grandfather finds out, it would be troublesome."


    "And the certificate is secondary. The key is finding someone to reassure him," Lu Yudong answered Jiang Ci''s question with patience.


    Jiang Ci slowly nodded, biting her lip as she thought about how to refuse.


    Seeing Jiang Ci''s hesitation, Lu Yudong added, "The marriage will have a time limit. If you agree, we can register tomorrow. As for the end date..."


    "I don''t agree!" Jiang Ci declared firmly.


    Lu Yudong: ...


    The words Lu Yudong wanted to say never got the chance. He just stared intently at Jiang Ci.


    For the first time, someone had refused him without hesitation.

 Chapter 4 - Lu Yudong is watching with anticipation

    Lu Yudong stared at Jiang Ci. If he wasn''t mistaken, the night she spent with him had ulterior motives. Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence that she left her phone in the room? But now, her straightforward rejection of him made him see her in a new light. Of course, if she ever changed her mind in the future, he would think even less of her. After all, playing hard to get was nothing new, and trying that on him would only lead to her own humiliation.


    "Fine, then you can leave." He dismissed her coldly.


    Back in the office, Jiang Ci found that she wasn''t angry, just felt a chill in her heart. But since she had already refused Lu Yudong''s request, she decided not to dwell on it. The most important thing now was to stay at New East. After all, the benefits at New East International were unmatched in all of Jiangzhou.


    While she was internally conflicted, she received a WeChat message from her brother Jiang Yi: "Jiang Ci, the doctor said to come to the hospital at four this afternoon."


    Jiang Ci was annoyed: "I''m still at work at four."


    "Then you tell the doctor yourself."


    Jiang Ci knew that talking to Jiang Yi was pointless. It was now three o''clock, and if she needed to be at the hospital by four, she would have to leave by three-thirty and ask the finance director for leave again.


    Thinking of this made Jiang Ci''s scalp tingle. She was actually quite capable, having been an outstanding student in school and later applying a new "accounting method" at work, earning praise from her superiors. But she was always asking for leave, and now, during the crucial period of deciding the interns'' futures, frequent absences were not good.


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    Sure enough, when she asked for leave, Finance Director Xing Baohua said, "Little Jiang, although your performance is good, how can I write a report for you if you''re always taking leave? You want to stay at New East Group, right?"


    "Director, New East Group is such a great company, of course, I want to stay. But I really have something urgent. I''ll come back and work overtime to make up for it after I''m done," Jiang Ci said humbly.


    ***


    Xing Baohua reluctantly approved her leave, and Jiang Ci left, taking the bus to Jiangzhou First People''s Hospital.


    Jiang Ci''s mother had been lying in the neurology department of the hospital for two years.


    "Little Jiang, your mom''s hospital fees are due. Did you bring the money today?" Dr. Fu, her mother''s long-time doctor, was familiar with Jiang Ci. He knew that her older brother was a hands-off manager who wouldn''t handle their mother''s medical expenses, leaving Jiang Ci to juggle everything.


    "Oh, no. I won''t get paid for a couple of days." The embarrassment of having no money made Jiang Ci lower her head.


    "Then hurry up. If this continues, the hospital will have to take action."


    "I know, I know," Jiang Ci nodded and bowed.


    Jiang Ci went to see her mother, who was still on oxygen. For two years, whenever Jiang Ci spoke to her mother, there was no response.


    Jiang Ci''s father had been a project manager on a construction site. The family of four had lived harmoniously. But six years ago, her father tragically fell from over twenty floors during a project and passed away. This incident was a huge blow to Jiang Ci''s mother, leading to her mental instability and a subsequent car accident. The compensation from her father''s accident, along with the car owner''s compensation, had supported her mother in the hospital for over five years, but the money was running out.


    When the money was nearly gone, Jiang Ci started helping teachers at school or tutoring to earn money for her mother''s hospital fees. According to her brother, it would be easier to just remove their mother''s oxygen, but Jiang Ci felt Jiang Yi was too heartless. Having a "mom" to call, even if she didn''t respond, was better than having no one in the world.


    At this moment, Jiang Ci held her mother''s hand in hers, "Mom, I''m preparing for the CPA exam now. You must bless me to pass. Once I pass, my salary will increase several times, and earning a million a year is possible. Then, paying for your medical expenses won''t be a problem at all."


    Jiang Ci even smiled at her mother, but there was no response.


    For six years, Jiang Ci had always hoped her mother would suddenly open her eyes and talk to her, just like when she was a child, stroking her head and calling her "Little Ci, Little Ci."


    "I have to go back to work. I haven''t passed the CPA yet, and the most important thing now is to stay at New East," Jiang Ci encouraged herself.


    Staying at New East meant a steady income every month, allowing her to pay rent and cover her mom''s medical expenses. But because she was always asking for leave, staying at New East was becoming quite difficult.

 Chapter 5 - Waiting by the stump for him

    When Jiang Ci left the hospital, it was past eight in the evening, and a light drizzle had started. She took the bus back to the company.


    As soon as she entered the company lobby, she saw Lu Yudong standing tall and elegant, one hand in the pocket of his trousers, the other holding a phone as he spoke to someone at the front desk. The spotlights in the lobby shone brightly, making him appear even more distinguished yet distant.


    Jiang Ci''s heart suddenly tightened.


    In the past few months, she barely encountered him once, so why did she keep seeing him lately?


    He brushed past Jiang Ci while on the phone, and she wasn''t sure if he heard her soft "Mr. Lu."


    After Jiang Ci got into the elevator, she turned around and saw that Lu Yudong''s figure had already disappeared into the vast night.


    The rain tonight was heavy; she wondered if he had brought an umbrella.


    Her father used to go out without an umbrella too, and Jiang Ci would always chase after him to hand him one. Her father would pat her head, saying, "Little Ci has grown up and knows how to care for her dad."


    Tears blurred Jiang Ci''s eyes.


    ***


    Jiang Ci worked overtime until four in the morning.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    She didn''t plan to return to her rented apartment and wanted to nap at the company while waiting for the workday to start.


    Just as she lay her head on the desk, her phone rang, waking her up.


    Seeing it was Dr. Fu calling, Jiang Ci quickly answered.


    For the past two years, whenever Dr. Fu called, it was either because her mother''s condition had worsened or to remind her to pay the hospital fees.


    "Jiang Ci, after you left yesterday, your mother developed a fever. We suspect it''s due to mucus accumulation in her lungs..."


    "Is it serious?" Jiang Ci asked anxiously, standing up from her seat.


    "Don''t worry just yet. We''ve already taken emergency measures, and for now, she''s stable. But yesterday''s surgery fees plus this month''s hospital fees amount to about sixty thousand. You should pay it all at once. If you keep delaying, it''s hard for me to speak on your behalf with the hospital... Also, Jiang Ci, your mother''s condition is special. Since both you and your brother are working, could you hire a caregiver for her? Regular turning and cleaning can prevent many infections..."


    Jiang Ci stood there, dazed. After working all night, her eyes were already lifeless, and now she faced this sudden blow.


    Forget sixty thousand, even six thousand was beyond her reach right now.


    She was fully experiencing the saying "a penny can stump a hero."


    Her internship salary at New East was only six thousand five hundred a month, and she had rent to pay. Her salary wouldn''t be paid for another half month.


    Even if she could get her CPA certification and earn big money, that was still a year away.


    She knew Dr. Fu had already done his utmost for her. If it weren''t for him speaking on her behalf, her mother might not still be in the hospital.


    Sixty thousand was a lot of money. They had borrowed from all their relatives, and now no one was willing to lend them any more.


    Just when Jiang Ci was at her wit''s end, she suddenly remembered what Lu Yudong had said last night.


    Compared to five million, sixty thousand was a drop in the bucket.


    Jiang Ci''s heart wavered.


    She once thought she could earn that "five million" herself, but now it seemed like a pipe dream.


    Her mother needed a caregiver, something Dr. Fu had mentioned before, but she never had the money. Now, the downside of not hiring one was apparent. Her mother''s improper care had led to mucus accumulation in her lungs, making it imperative to hire a caregiver.


    Jiang Ci knew that with Lu Yudong''s status, finding a woman to marry would be quite easy. He even mentioned last night that he had "looked around." She wondered if anything had changed after last night.


    With this thought, Jiang Ci felt very anxious and went to Lu Yudong''s office door.


    It was just past five, and no one was in Lu Yudong''s office yet. Jiang Ci stood at the door, waiting for the "rabbit" to come.


    Just as she was struggling to keep her eyes open, Lu Yudong arrived.

 Chapter 6 - He wanted to make her suffer

    Lu Yudong saw Jiang Ci standing at the door and immediately knew she had changed her mind. He felt even more disdainful: playing hard to get in front of him, overestimating herself.


    Jiang Ci quickly regained her composure, knowing she was here to ask for Lu Yudong''s help, so her voice inevitably carried a hint of flattery, "Good morning, Mr. Lu."


    Lu Yudong opened the door, sat in his office chair, turned on his computer, and flipped through some documents.


    "Is there something you need from me?" Lu Yudong asked Jiang Ci in a cold, indifferent tone.


    Hearing his slightly hoarse voice, Jiang Ci remembered the heavy rain last night and that he hadn''t taken an umbrella, so she quickly asked, "Did you catch a cold, Mr. Lu? Drink more water, do you have any medicine?"


    Getting caught in the rain wasn''t a big deal, but it wasn''t trivial either. Her father once worked overtime in the rain at a construction site and was bedridden for several days.


    "Get to the point." Lu Yudong''s voice was a bit impatient.


    To him, Jiang Ci''s concern sounded insincere.


    "Mr. Lu, does what you said yesterday still stand?" Jiang Ci asked, bracing herself.


    "What?" Lu Yudong didn''t even look up.


    Jiang Ci wondered: Is he pretending, or did he really forget?


    "The thing about getting married," Jiang Ci raised her voice, her tone slightly trembling.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    It seemed like Lu Yudong just realized, "That matter? What''s up?"


    In fact, Jiang Ci had anticipated Lu Yudong''s attitude. Once she took the initiative to ask him, he would put on airs.


    But even if he did, Jiang Ci had no choice. After all, she had lost the upper hand; now, Lu Yudong held the knife, and she was the fish.


    "Do you still need someone to marry?" Jiang Ci tried to make her voice sound flattering.


    And Lu Yudong picked up on that flattery.


    "I do." Lu Yudong lit a cigarette, sitting leisurely in his office chair, staring at Jiang Ci.


    "You approached me yesterday, and I wasn''t sure then. But after thinking it over, I''m okay with it." Jiang Ci endured her shame.


    But to Lu Yudong, this seemed like she was putting on a show.


    "I do need someone to marry, but how do you know I haven''t found that person yet?" Lu Yudong countered.


    "Ah?" Jiang Ci''s eyes showed some anxiety as she quickly calculated what she would do to raise money elsewhere if the path with Lu Yudong didn''t work out.


    Seeing Jiang Ci''s expression, Lu Yudong thought: She thought she was playing the game, but now she''s caught. He had thought she was confident, but it turned out she was just this capable, and now she was panicking.


    "Why the sudden change of heart? I remember you saying you had a boyfriend." After a moment of silence, Lu Yudong asked.


    "You said yesterday that I could set conditions. I''m doing it for money, and you''re doing it to give your grandfather an explanation. It''s mutually beneficial. I think that''s a good enough reason."


    "Alright. Very straightforward." Lu Yudong curled his lips into an enigmatic smile, "Can I ask, at your young age, why do you need the money?"


    Jiang Ci thought for a moment. If she said her mother was seriously ill, it would inevitably reveal her frequent absences, affecting her position at New East. Since the lie about her boyfriend was already out, she decided to continue using "boyfriend" as a cover.


    "You know, housing prices in Jiangzhou are very high, about sixty to seventy thousand per square meter. My boyfriend and I would need to save for about two hundred years without eating or drinking to afford a place. My boyfriend told me yesterday that he''s going to intern out of town, so I want to use this time to earn some extra money and surprise him when he gets back." Jiang Ci lied skillfully, without a hint of hesitation.


    "Would your boyfriend agree to this?" Lu Yudong continued to ask.


    "Of course not. I''ll keep it a secret from him. A tight secret."


    "How much do you want?" Lu Yudong asked coldly.


    "How much can you offer?" Jiang Ci returned to a righteous tone.


    Lu Yudong initially wanted to say five million, but since she was so eager to earn money, and he was increasingly unimpressed with her, he suddenly didn''t want to make it easy for her. He wanted to make her suffer.


    "A basic salary of one million. Additionally..." Lu Yudong said nonchalantly, "There will be some detailed terms. I''ll give you a written agreement later, with performance evaluations. In short, with me, five million a year is no problem, and if you stay for two years, you''ll get a house."


    Jiang Ci was stunned. Five million a year? Was it that easy to make money with Lu Yudong?


    "Alright, deal. Let''s add each other on WeChat, so you can notify me if there''s anything."

 Chapter 7 - Bonus details

    Lu Yudong''s WeChat was simply his real name: Lu Yudong.


    For someone as prominent as him, there was no need for a nickname; his name said it all.


    Jiang Ci even took the time to scroll through Lu Yudong''s social circle, which was almost empty except for some reposts of articles from New East International''s PR department.


    To keep Lu Yudong''s contact from standing out on her phone, Jiang Ci deliberately changed his WeChat name to "Passerby A."


    After Jiang Ci added him, "Passerby A" sent a message: "Sign the agreement tomorrow, get the certificate."


    There was no room for change; Lu Yudong was indeed a man of his word.


    Jiang Ci replied with a simple "Okay."


    After work, Jiang Ci first went to her school to retrieve her household registration card.


    Then she went to the "New East Mall" to buy a red shirt, considering she was going to register.


    New East Mall was also owned by Lu Yudong, one of his many businesses.


    ***


    The next morning, Jiang Ci put on slightly heavier makeup. Her skin was already fair, and with the makeup, her features appeared even more delicate and beautiful. She wore the size S red shirt she bought.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    She looked stunning in the mirror, but Jiang Ci was oblivious to it. She just thought: since it''s a registration, she should look the part.


    The bus was a bit crowded that morning, and just before her stop, Lu Yudong sent a WeChat message: "Come to my office."


    Jiang Ci replied: "Ten minutes."


    When she arrived at Lu Yudong''s office, her appearance caught his eye, and the fullness of her chest reminded him fleetingly of that night, his thoughts momentarily drifting.


    It was just a man''s instinct; he said nothing.


    He was Jiang Ci''s ATM, and Jiang Ci was his tool.


    There was another person in the office, Lu Yudong''s legal advisor, who had Jiang Ci sign several agreements. The basic terms were: Lu Yudong''s assets were unrelated to Jiang Ci, the marriage was to be kept confidential, but Jiang Ci would receive a million yuan at the end of the agreement, with additional bonuses during the contract marriage. The bonus details were as follows:


    First, make Grandpa smile once, ten thousand;


    Second, cook a delicious meal for Grandpa, twenty thousand;


    Third, accompany Grandpa during his hospital stay, one hundred thousand.


    Fourth, after Grandpa''s passing, arrange his funeral, one million.


    Lastly, Jiang Ci saw the most important clause: upon signing, the male party would pay the female party a deposit of two hundred thousand yuan.


    Additional clause: any unaddressed matters in the contract are subject to the male party''s interpretation.


    The weight of the salary rewards left Jiang Ci speechless. It was clear that Lu Yudong was extremely wealthy, and all the rewards revolved around "Grandpa."


    The money for accompanying Grandpa once could pay for ten months of nursing care for her mother.


    Privately, Jiang Ci hoped Grandpa would live a long life. That way, she would have endless money and wouldn''t have to worry about her mother''s illness.


    Lu Yudong''s "salary mechanism" was similar to working at New East, where the base salary was low, but if you performed well, you could earn a lot by the end of the month, motivating people to work hard.


    Jiang Ci thought: I must work hard and earn more money.


    With a flourish, Jiang Ci signed her name.


    "Are all the materials ready?" Lu Yudong asked Jiang Ci coldly.


    "Yes, they''re ready. Identity card, household registration card." As she spoke, Jiang Ci took these two items out of her bag and placed them on Lu Yudong''s desk.


    Lu Yudong glanced at them briefly, then said, "Let''s go."


    ***


    They went to the Civil Affairs Bureau.


    Getting the certificate took no more than ten minutes, and the photo of her and Lu Yudong was stamped with the Civil Affairs Bureau''s seal.


    Although Jiang Ci felt like she was dreaming, she was officially a "married" woman.


    After returning in the afternoon, Jiang Ci acted as if nothing had happened and went back to work as usual.


    But Jiang Ci kept thinking about one thing: why hadn''t the two hundred thousand deposit arrived yet?


    This two hundred thousand was the "life-saving money" that Jiang Ci urgently needed.

 Chapter 8 - Are you in a hurry?

    The surgery and hospital fees for her mother were still unpaid, and Jiang Ci felt like an ant on a hot pan. Dr. Fu had said today was the last day.


    But she saw that Finance Director Xing Baohua had gone to a group meeting and hadn''t returned yet. Jiang Ci guessed that Lu Yudong was also in the meeting, and she knew it wasn''t a good time to message him on WeChat. She might end up with nothing if she annoyed him.


    Jiang Ci could only wait patiently.


    After working overtime until past ten in the evening, Jiang Ci walked into the elevator, exhausted. By coincidence, Lu Yudong was already in the elevator when she entered.


    Seeing Lu Yudong, Jiang Ci instantly perked up and stood in the corner of the elevator.


    The issue of money had been weighing on her mind for a long time.


    "Mr. Lu," she mustered the courage to speak, seeing that no one else was around.


    "Yes," Lu Yudong replied nonchalantly, standing in front of Jiang Ci.


    Their conversation didn''t resemble that of a couple who were married both in name and in reality.


    "I remember the agreement stated that after signing, there would be a deposit of two hundred thousand. This money..." After all, it was about asking for money, and Jiang Ci, not having graduated yet, felt a bit shy.


    "They haven''t transferred it to you yet?" Lu Yudong never turned around, not even glancing at Jiang Ci standing behind him.


    "No, not yet."


    "Are you in a hurry?"


    Jiang Ci: ...


    She was so anxious she could jump over a wall; today was almost over.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    "I thought Lawyer Guan had already sent it to you. Send me your account number." Lu Yudong was straightforward, not dwelling on whether she was in a hurry or not, and directly asked for her account number.


    His straightforward attitude finally put Jiang Ci at ease. "I''ll send you my account number once I get on the bus."


    When they reached the first floor, Lu Yudong left the elevator without saying a word.


    There weren''t many people on the bus. After getting on, Jiang Ci took out her bank card, snapped a picture of it, and sent it to Lu Yudong, with the account number clearly visible.


    Soon after, Jiang Ci received a transfer of two hundred thousand.


    Just as she was praising Lu Yudong in her heart for being so prompt, she received another WeChat message from him: "If you were a bit more diligent and typed the numbers, the transfer might have been thirty seconds faster."


    Jiang Ci: ...


    Was he calling her lazy?


    Worried that it might affect their marriage performance, Jiang Ci added unnecessarily: "Oh, it''s like this, Mr. Lu, there were a lot of people on the bus, and it wasn''t convenient to type."


    "You were in such a hurry, and you''re worried about convenience?"


    Jiang Ci: ...


    So, in the end, it was still about her being eager for the money.


    As Jiang Ci was struggling to find words to respond, she received another WeChat message from Lu Yudong: "This Saturday, come with me to Qingcheng to visit Grandpa."


    Jiang Ci felt a pang in her heart and then asked, "How many days?"


    "Leave Saturday morning, stay one night, and return on Sunday."


    To be honest, Jiang Ci was happy about going to Grandpa''s house. After all, all the performance bonuses revolved around "Grandpa." Only by seeing "Grandpa" could Jiang Ci earn more money.


    On Friday, Jiang Ci went to the hospital to see her mother. Her mother was much better after the surgery. Jiang Ci also spoke to Dr. Fu, asking him to keep an eye out for a suitable caregiver at the hospital and to help hire one quickly if possible.


    However, today in her mother''s ward, Jiang Ci saw her elusive brother, Jiang Yi.


    Jiang Yi was a good-for-nothing who recently found a new job as a driver for a tech company''s boss. His driving skills were decent.


    "Jiang Ci, how about I introduce you to someone?" Jiang Yi said with a cheeky grin.


    Jiang Ci ignored Jiang Yi. How good could his drinking buddies be? Besides, she was already married in name and would never do something "unfaithful" to give Lu Yudong any leverage.


    "Not interested. I''m not in the mood right now; I''ll wait until Mom gets better." Jiang Ci held her mother''s hand and pressed it against her face.


    "Wait until Mom gets better? You might be waiting forever." Jiang Yi said casually.


    This made Jiang Ci unhappy, and she ignored Jiang Yi.


    "I remember you used to have a lot of admirers. Besides, that person... he''s already dead. Are you going to stay single for him forever?" Jiang Yi''s purpose for coming to their mother''s ward was to corner Jiang Ci; he rarely visited their mom.


    "I forbid you to mention him! You''re not worthy!" Jiang Ci said righteously.


    Seeing Jiang Ci''s displeasure, Jiang Yi dropped the subject. It was a painful topic for his sister, and he didn''t want to push her too far.


    He paused and then said, "Alright, alright, I won''t mention it. Look how anxious you are. But this time, the person I''m introducing is the son of Director Chu, a standard second-generation wealthy. He''s handsome and rich; are you really not going to consider it?"


    Jiang Ci didn''t respond, completely ignoring Jiang Yi''s suggestion.


    Seeing Jiang Ci''s stubbornness, Jiang Yi became angry and embarrassed. "Jiang Ci, people need to know their worth! You may have some looks, but there are plenty like you. Don''t overestimate yourself! Besides, Mom''s illness needs money, and as her daughter, you don''t even consider her medical expenses. You''re too much!"


    Jiang Ci closed her eyes, letting Jiang Yi''s words go in one ear and out the other.


    "Ungrateful thing." Seeing Jiang Ci ignoring him, Jiang Yi cursed and left.

 Chapter 9 - Which one?

    New East Group was far from the school, so for convenience, Jiang Ci rented a two-bedroom apartment near the company with someone else.


    Jiang Yi was currently living alone in their mother''s house.


    Saturday. Ten in the morning.


    Lu Yudong picked up Jiang Ci at her apartment complex.


    At Lu Yudong''s request, Jiang Ci dressed appropriately in a white T-shirt, a red short skirt, and white sneakers, looking youthful and energetic. Young people always look good no matter how they dress.


    This time, Lu Yudong didn''t drive himself. He sat in the back with Jiang Ci.


    When Jiang Ci got in the car, Lu Yudong just glanced at her without saying anything.


    As the car hit the highway, Jiang Ci suddenly remembered something: Did their contract marriage include that?


    She hadn''t clarified this before signing the agreement in a daze, driven by her desperate need for money.


    Since they were putting on a show for Grandpa, and they were about to arrive at his house, they would definitely have to stay together overnight. Would he expect that?


    With this thought, Jiang Ci suddenly felt a shock.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    Not knowing if the driver was aware of her contract marriage with Lu Yudong, and afraid he might hear, she sent Lu Yudong a WeChat message: "Mr. Lu, does our agreement include that?"


    Lu Yudong only picked up his phone slowly after hearing the notification, scrolling to WeChat.


    Jiang Ci sat upright, but her peripheral vision told her that Lu Yudong was responding to her message with extreme nonchalance.


    Jiang Ci clutched her phone tightly.


    Soon, the phone screen displayed "1 contact sent 1 message."


    She unlocked her phone and opened the chat with "Passerby A."


    "Which one?"


    Jiang Ci''s head was about to explode. How could he play dumb with such a serious question?


    Was he really unaware, or was he pretending not to know?


    "The one."


    A moment later, Jiang Ci''s phone beeped, and she quickly unlocked it with her face.


    "What do you think?"


    Jiang Ci was about to go crazy looking at the reply, speechless.


    As Jiang Ci''s fingers fumbled on the keyboard, unsure of what to write, she suddenly heard his voice, "Am I Passerby A?"


    The sudden question made Jiang Ci shiver. She hadn''t expected Lu Yudong to ask this. Turning her head, she saw him looking down at her phone with slightly narrowed eyes.


    And on Jiang Ci''s chat record, it showed she was chatting with "Passerby A."


    "Huh?" Jiang Ci responded in confusion, but then quickly said, "It''s just a code name. I was afraid if I wrote Mr. Lu, others might find out and expose our relationship."


    With this, Jiang Ci also clarified to Lu Yudong that she hadn''t been telling everyone about their relationship. On the contrary, she was keeping it very secret.


    Lu Yudong couldn''t be bothered to talk to Jiang Ci and turned his head to look out the window.


    Jiang Ci thought: Why is Lu Yudong so evasive? Why can''t he just answer a question properly?


    Since he wouldn''t answer her on WeChat, she decided to ask directly. Whether the driver knew or not, she didn''t care anymore.


    "Mr. Lu, did you bring protection?" Jiang Ci asked Lu Yudong directly, very seriously.


    She absolutely couldn''t get pregnant. She wanted to become a CPA, a strong woman, make money, and couldn''t let a child hold her back.


    Hearing Jiang Ci''s question, Lu Yudong turned his head, slightly frowned, and scrutinized her, as if saying: How can a girl be so forward?


    "I didn''t bring any." After saying this indifferently, Lu Yudong turned his head back to the window.


    Jiang Ci swallowed nervously.


    However, Jiang Ci thought: Maybe not bringing protection means he doesn''t intend to do anything. After last time, he probably thought this intern was a burden and regretted it. Now that he''s so clear-headed, how could he fall for it again? Besides, as the president of New East International, how could he let a mere intern have his child?


    With this thought, Jiang Ci breathed a sigh of relief.

 Chapter 10 - Okay, Husband

    When they arrived in Qingcheng, it was four in the afternoon.


    Before getting off the car, Lu Yudong said to Jiang Ci, "Remember to change how you address me."


    "Hmm? What?" Jiang Ci didn''t understand.


    "Don''t call me Mr. Lu anymore."


    Jiang Ci thought for a moment and said without hesitation, "Okay, my husband."


    Her quick response and the natural way she called him "husband" caught Lu Yudong''s attention. He guessed she often called her boyfriend that, as girls nowadays were quite open. This thought made Lu Yudong feel inexplicably uncomfortable.


    But Jiang Ci knew well that since he had given her so much money, she had to play her role convincingly. Jiang Ci was always professional and not the type to be reluctant unless forced by her boss. She was very sensible.


    ***


    Upon reaching Grandpa''s house, Jiang Ci became serious instantly, knowing she was there to comfort a gravely ill old man. She feared that any careless action might upset Grandpa.


    She reminded herself to be cautious at all times.


    Lu Yudong''s grandfather used to be a professor at Qingcheng University''s law school, highly respected in the legal field, and had even appeared on TV as a regular guest to discuss legal disputes in marriage. No wonder Lu Yudong had said earlier that Grandpa would spot a fake certificate; such a high-level intellectual would surely see through a fake marriage certificate.


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    Lu Yudong''s grandmother had passed away last year, and this year, his grandfather was diagnosed with lung cancer. Lu Yudong had lived with his grandparents since childhood and was deeply attached to them. Grandpa wanted to see Lu Yudong''s life complete before he could leave in peace.


    Grandpa''s kind eyes looked Jiang Ci up and down, "How old is Little Jiang?"


    "Twenty-three," Lu Yudong replied.


    Jiang Ci was slightly taken aback, wondering how Lu Yudong knew her age.


    But then she remembered that he had glanced at her identity card before registration, and that one glance allowed him to answer naturally and appropriately in front of Grandpa. He was someone who planned ten steps ahead.


    "Quite a bit younger than you," Grandpa said to Lu Yudong again, "Eight years younger?"


    "Yes," Lu Yudong smiled, using a gentle tone Jiang Ci rarely heard.


    "She''s so much younger than you, you must treat her well," Grandpa said with an even kinder smile.


    "Of course." Both Lu Yudong and Jiang Ci sat on the sofa, and Lu Yudong naturally grabbed Jiang Ci''s hand and kissed it lightly.


    In an instant, it felt like an electric current surged through Jiang Ci''s body, making her feel tingly and numb. She wanted to pull her hand back from Lu Yudong''s grasp but was afraid of breaking character, so she let him hold it, her palm sweating profusely.


    "Jiang Ci is an intern, and she doesn''t want people at the company to know about the marriage to avoid gossip. But," Lu Yudong''s tone suddenly turned ambiguous, and he glanced at Jiang Ci, his eyes seemingly speaking, with a hint of mockery and mischief, "but recently, the time was right, so we registered and brought the certificate for you to see."


    There was no doubt that by "the time was right," Lu Yudong meant "they had slept together."


    "You came at a bad time; you didn''t mention you were coming, and the hourly worker auntie took another job, so there''s no one to cook at home. Let''s go out to eat," Grandpa said, then suddenly remembered something, "If your grandma were still here, she would have made hand-rolled noodles for you. You loved them since you were a child."


    Before Grandpa finished speaking, his eyes turned red.


    Grandpa was an intellectual and used to live with Grandma without ever hiring help. After Grandma passed away, Lu Yudong had always wanted to find a full-time helper and a few caregivers for Grandpa, but Grandpa said, "I''m half dead already, don''t bother."


    Grandpa lived alone, occasionally having an hourly worker auntie to help with meals.


    "I can make hand-rolled noodles. If Grandpa doesn''t mind, I''ll make them. I often make them for Yudong, right, husband?" Jiang Ci stood up, speaking naturally and appropriately.


    She volunteered partly because she was touched by Grandpa and Grandma''s story and partly because of the money. She clearly remembered the agreement stating: a delicious meal was worth twenty thousand.


    Moreover, with her and Lu Yudong''s "affectionate" act being so convincing, Grandpa would be happy and at ease when he left.


    Lu Yudong sat on the sofa, legs crossed, one hand on his chin. He hadn''t expected Jiang Ci to be so proactive, unsure if she was trying to "make the fake real" or just acting, but her performance surpassed that of professional actors.


    "Yes, Grandpa. Let her do it," Lu Yudong said, pulling the corners of his lips into a smile.


    Then, Lu Yudong''s gaze swept meaningfully over Jiang Ci''s face, and with a look of being seen through, Jiang Ci headed to the kitchen.

 Chapter 11 - How many subjects have you taken?

    Jiang Ci wasn''t as fortunate as Lu Yudong. When she was in elementary school, her dad was always at the construction site, and her mom was at work, so she had to cook by herself. She wasn''t even tall enough to reach the stove, so she had to stand on a stool to light the fire and cook for herself and her disappointing brother.


    By the time she was in sixth grade, she was already skilled at making hand-rolled noodles, doing it with ease.


    Before long, she brought the steaming noodles and tomato egg soup topping to the table. Grandpa beamed with joy, as if he was back in the days when Grandma was around, eating happily.


    Lu Yudong didn''t show much expression.


    Jiang Ci kept sneaking glances at Lu Yudong, wanting to see if her performance met the twenty-thousand-yuan standard.


    After dinner, they watched some TV, and the moment Jiang Ci was both anxious and anticipating finally arrived.


    At ten in the evening, Grandpa went to his bedroom to rest.


    "Go to sleep," Lu Yudong glanced at Jiang Ci and said.


    "Okay." Jiang Ci followed Lu Yudong to his bedroom.


    Lu Yudong''s bedroom was spacious, about the size of the two-bedroom apartment Jiang Ci rented. It had a private bathroom, fitness equipment, a bookshelf, a desk, and a large double bed.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    "You can shower in the bedroom; I''ll go to the living room." With that, Lu Yudong took his pajamas from the wardrobe and left the room, not paying attention to the nervous Jiang Ci standing there.


    Jiang Ci felt like a puppet being manipulated, murmured an "okay," and took her pajamas to the bathroom.


    When Jiang Ci came out of the bathroom in her pajamas, Lu Yudong was already leaning on the bed reading a book. He occupied half of the bed, and the other half was naturally for Jiang Ci.


    Lu Yudong was wearing high-quality silk pajamas, while Jiang Ci wore childish cotton pajamas, which didn''t match him at all.


    Throughout, Lu Yudong didn''t look at Jiang Ci even once, absorbed in his book.


    Seeing that he didn''t seem ready to sleep, Jiang Ci took out her "Economic Law" book from her suitcase.


    Jiang Ci was preparing for the CPA exam.


    She sneaked a glance at Lu Yudong, who looked indifferent and detached.


    Jiang Ci knew that when he was drunk, he probably mistook her for someone else. Now that he was sober, he shouldn''t make that kind of mistake. After all, Lu Yudong was the President; he probably wouldn''t make things difficult for a subordinate...


    Lost in her thoughts, suddenly, Lu Yudong asked, "Are you taking the CPA exam?"


    "Uh... yes!"


    "How many sections have you passed?" He rarely showed interest in chatting.


    "I''ve passed four sections, just two more to go, and I haven''t taken the professional ethics exam yet. But this time, I only registered for one section because I don''t have much time due to work. I''m about to graduate, and there''s a lot going on. Preparing for one section seems safer, and I need to focus most of my energy on work."


    Jiang Ci answered honestly, implying that she was working hard at New East.


    "You''re not going to dry your hair?" Lu Yudong glanced casually, noticing Jiang Ci''s hair still dripping.


    "Oh, I''ll... I''ll dry it later..."


    Mainly because Jiang Ci never had the habit of drying her hair since she was young.


    Lu Yudong raised his hand, seemingly indicating for her to dry her hair, but at that moment, his phone rang.


    Sitting next to Lu Yudong, Jiang Ci vaguely heard the other party discussing the issue of the company''s interns staying or leaving.


    Jiang Ci''s heart instantly tensed up.


    "Just announce the results to the whole company on Monday." After the other party''s lengthy speech, Lu Yudong replied with just that.


    After hanging up, Jiang Ci licked her lips and mustered the courage to speak, "Mr. Lu, did they mention anything about my status?"

 Chapter 12 - Why are you so wronged for following me?

    Lu Yudong replied coldly, "I didn''t say anything."


    Jiang Ci felt a bit disappointed by his answer but didn''t dare to ask more. After all, she was just a small intern, and her presence in the company probably wouldn''t catch Lu Yule''s attention.


    At that moment, her phone buzzed. She picked it up to check. Someone on WeChat had requested to add her as a friend, with only two words in the request: Chu Shuo. Jiang Ci didn''t recall knowing anyone by that name, so she ignored it. After all, there were too many scammers online nowadays.


    "I''m going to sleep," she said, turning off the bedside lamp in a fluster and curling up under the covers. The air conditioning in the bedroom was quite cool, and the silk summer quilt was actually quite comfortable.


    Lu Yudong didn''t turn around, just responded with a light "Hmm." He seemed busy with work.


    Jiang Ci buried her face in the quilt, leaving only her doe-like eyes peeking out, secretly observing Lu Yudong. Her gaze inadvertently swept over his face, which was sharp and cold. His face didn''t resemble Shao Zheng''s at all, except for a slight similarity when he smiled. But Lu Yudong rarely smiled, and Jiang Ci couldn''t understand how she had mistaken him for Shao Zheng that night.


    Thinking of Shao Zheng made Jiang Ci even sadder. His death had been truly tragic...


    Jiang Ci pulled the covers over her head, silently shedding tears. Her tears flowed so fiercely that eventually, her nose started to sniffle.


    "Feeling wronged being with me?" Lu Yudong''s calm voice came from outside the blanket.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    "No," Jiang Ci''s voice was muffled under the covers, sounding stuffy.


    "Then why are you crying?" he asked again.


    "I just miss home a bit," she replied casually, then turned her back to sleep. Lu Yudong didn''t press further.


    Even though she said she was going to sleep, she couldn''t fall asleep at all. Just then, something on the bedside table caught her attention. She picked it up; it was a photo of a young woman. Although it was dusty, she could tell the woman was charming and only a few years older than Jiang Ci.


    Turning the frame over, she saw three words written on the back. Jiang Ci read them softly, "Yin Xue Mo." Instantly, she remembered that on their first night, Lu Yudong had called out a name. Could it be her? Was she the first love in Lu Yudong''s heart?


    "Put it down. Don''t touch it!" Suddenly, Lu Yudong''s icy voice came. Jiang Ci shivered, and the frame in her hand fell to the floor beside the bed with a "clack."


    Lu Yudong leaned over to pick it up, accidentally pressing down on Jiang Ci. Her breathing quickened instantly, her chest rising and falling. She was startled.


    Lu Yudong picked up the frame and hastily shoved it into a drawer, yet he remained pressed against her, not moving away. Just as Jiang Ci was at a loss, not knowing what to do, suddenly, Lu Yule turned off the light with a "click."


    Was this... going to happen?


    The air suddenly filled with a hint of ambiguity, a sense of something about to ignite. Jiang Ci gritted her teeth and suddenly said, "Mr. Lu, I want to stay at New East. Please speak to the Human Resources Department for me."


    This wasn''t a request; it was an equal "exchange" with Lu Yudong, her voice carrying a message: I know you''re overwhelmed with desire, but if you want to proceed, there must be conditions¡ªlet me stay at New East.


    She knew that all the rights to interpret the agreement belonged to Lu Yudong, but the "act" wasn''t written in the agreement, and when Jiang Ci asked, he hadn''t given a clear response.


    Jiang Ci needed money, needed a job, and now was the time to make demands. She timed it perfectly.


    "Threatening me?" Lu Yudong''s deep, magnetic voice sounded in Jiang Ci''s ear.


    "No, I''m confident! I''m confident I do a good job," Jiang Ci added.


    Lu Yudong didn''t respond. He lowered his head and began kissing Jiang Ci''s neck. His arm brushed against her soft chest, intentionally or not, accurately awakening her memory of their first time.


    This made Jiang Ci feel a tingling sensation all over. Her mind alternated between clarity and confusion. She reiterated, "So, Mr. Lu?"


    Lu Yudong pressed against Jiang Ci, looking at her red, swollen eyes, both pitiful and fierce, like a cornered rabbit. Grandpa had told him not to bully her; she was eight years younger than him.


    The fire in Lu Yudong''s heart had subsided. His hand brushed over Jiang Ci''s cold cheek, "What''s your boyfriend''s name?"

 Chapter 13 - I find it dirty

    Jiang Ci didn''t understand why he suddenly asked about this topic, but since she had already lied about having a "boyfriend," she had to continue the charade. "Ex-boyfriend or current boyfriend?"


    Lu Yudong sneered, never expecting that he had married a "heartthrob" of a woman. "How many boyfriends have you had?"


    "Just two."


    Two? Just?


    "Current boyfriend. What''s his name?" Lu Yudong asked in a hoarse voice.


    Thinking of a name wasn''t easy, but that "Chu Shuo" had just added her.


    So, Jiang Ci said without hesitation, "Chu Shuo."


    The world is so big, how could Lu Yudong know this fraud named Chu Shuo?


    "Last name Chu?" Lu Yudong frowned slightly.


    "Yes, why? Does Mr. Lu have business with him?" Jiang Ci responded confidently.


    "During our contract marriage, you''re not allowed to be with him! I find it dirty." Lu Yudong ordered Jiang Ci.


    Lu Yudong''s comment about "dirty" instantly made Jiang Ci blush, as if she were a commodity, bought and now second-hand, looked down upon. This kind of criticism made Jiang Ci extremely uncomfortable.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    "Rest assured, Mr. Lu, I have a strong sense of professional ethics. I know what should and shouldn''t be done. Besides, he''s interning out of town and can''t come back. Even if I wanted to, it''s impossible." Jiang Ci spoke righteously, completely out of sync with the "bedroom" atmosphere of the night.


    Perhaps Jiang Ci''s "frigidity" made Lu Yudong suddenly lose his desire, although Jiang Ci''s soft body reminded him of their first night together, the breakthrough comfort, and the warmth of her cheeks that made him unable to resist.


    But tonight, he realized one thing: this intern was not easy to handle.


    He couldn''t fall for her tricks; if he did this time, she would know she had an opportunity and become even more reckless.


    He got off Jiang Ci.


    Lu Yudong''s sudden reaction made Jiang Ci more certain: perhaps Lu Yudong really liked Yin Xuemo before, and last time when he was drunk, he mistook her for Yin Xuemo. This time, mentioning Yin Xuemo''s name made Lu Yudong unhappy again. Tonight, he wasn''t planning to do anything, but the mention of Yin Xuemo still provoked him.


    "Let''s just sleep." With that, Jiang Ci turned over and went to sleep.


    Fortunately, Lu Yudong didn''t do anything today. He didn''t have any condoms, and if they had done it, she would have had to take birth control pills. Jiang Ci wasn''t familiar with the area around Grandpa''s house and didn''t know where the pharmacy was.


    This saved her the trouble.


    The next day, Jiang Ci behaved well at Grandpa''s house, smiling all the time. Grandpa nodded approvingly, repeatedly saying Lu Yudong had good taste. After enduring the morning, they got in the car to return to Jiangzhou at one in the afternoon.


    Jiang Ci felt like she had been smiling all morning, her cheeks stiff. Once in the car, her face immediately fell.


    A president and an intern, their previous living environments were worlds apart, and now they had nothing to say.


    Jiang Ci''s phone rang; it was a message from her school advisor, asking her to write a speech for the outstanding graduate award to be read at the graduation ceremony.


    Jiang Ci had no idea where to start, so she discussed it with her teacher, including the entry points, focal points, and whether the examples she wanted to share were appropriate.


    Her fingers flew over the keyboard.


    While sending a WeChat message, a notification appeared on Jiang Ci''s phone screen: a transfer of fifty thousand yuan had been received. It was from Lu Yudong.


    Jiang Ci paused her typing. Logically, she should be happy to receive so much money in one day, but she suddenly felt it was all so ironic.


    He bought, she sold¡ªa one-time deal.


    After sending the WeChat to her teacher, Jiang Ci sent a message to Lu Yudong: [Thank you, Mr. Lu.]


    Lu Yudong didn''t reply.


    Jiang Ci suddenly remembered something and asked Lu Yudong, "Mr. Lu, how often will we visit Grandpa in the future? I need to have an idea."


    "Probably not at all."


    Jiang Ci was taken aback and thought: Luckily, she didn''t have a real boyfriend. If she did, this frequency of visiting Grandpa would basically ruin her relationship.

 Chapter 14 - Understand?

    Monday.


    Jiang Ci had just arrived at the company when she received an email from the Human Resources Department of the group. It was a mass email.


    "After research and summary by various departments, the Human Resources Department has decided to officially approve the following interns for full-time positions: ..."


    Jiang Ci''s heart was pounding with anxiety, but when she saw her name on the list, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. She was happy, yet surprised.


    Another intern from the Finance Department, Yang Manni, who had always been highly regarded, did not make the cut.


    Previously, Xing Baohua had mentioned that the Finance Department would only take one intern this year. Now, that spot had gone to Jiang Ci.


    Xing Baohua''s gaze towards Jiang Ci was somewhat unusual.


    Originally, the Finance Department had two interns this year. The other intern, Yang Manni, was a graduate student from Hua University. She was close to the Finance Director, Xing Baohua, and had strong professional knowledge. If Jiang Ci hadn''t taken so many leaves, she might have been able to compete with Yang Manni. But since Jiang Ci frequently took time off, and Lu Yudong hadn''t agreed to let her stay at New East last time, Jiang Ci thought she wouldn''t be the one to get the full-time position. Yet, unexpectedly, it was her, making her feel like a huge pie had fallen from the sky.


    Judging by Xing Baohua''s attitude, the list he submitted to the Human Resources Department probably had Yang Manni''s name on it.


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Jiang Ci guessed that maybe Lu Yudong had said something, which even made Xing Baohua feel strange.


    Jiang Ci just didn''t know how Lu Yudong had spoken to the people in the Human Resources Department. Did he mention their agreement to marry?


    After work, Han Lan and Jiang Ci planned to celebrate with hot pot, as Han Lan had also been officially confirmed. She worked in the Public Relations Department.


    As soon as the two got on the elevator, they saw Lu Yudong already standing inside. He always had one hand in his pocket and didn''t even glance at Jiang Ci, exuding an air of confidence and aloofness.


    Several executives were with Lu Yudong, discussing this year''s advertising business.


    Han Lan and Jiang Ci didn''t dare to breathe loudly and automatically shrank to the back of the elevator.


    "Now that you''re confirmed, you should apply for a dorm room. Have you submitted your application?" Han Lan asked Jiang Ci in a low voice.


    Even though Han Lan spoke softly, others could still hear her clearly, especially in the confined space of the elevator. Fortunately, the executives were talking, so Han Lan''s voice wasn''t too conspicuous.


    "Not yet," Jiang Ci replied.


    "Why haven''t you applied yet? If you don''t apply soon, there won''t be any rooms left," Han Lan said, turning to look at Jiang Ci.


    "Yeah, I''ll get on it," Jiang Ci said, sneaking a glance at Lu Yudong.


    Jiang Ci hadn''t applied for a dorm room because she was concerned about the "visit Grandpa once a week" arrangement. If she left every Saturday and returned on Sunday, her roommates would inevitably ask questions. She feared that over time, her secret would be exposed. She wanted to ask Lu Yudong for his opinion but felt that such a trivial matter wouldn''t be on his mind. So she didn''t ask. She wasn''t short of money and preferred to stay in her rented apartment, which was more convenient for visiting her mom or going back to Qingcheng.


    However, on Wednesday, Jiang Ci received a "dormitory application" form from the Human Resources Department, requesting her to fill out personal information.


    Jiang Ci was puzzled and was about to ask Xing Baohua what was going on when she received a WeChat message from Lu Yudong: [Understand?]


    Lu Yudong really overestimated Jiang Ci''s intelligence, thinking she could grasp his meaning with just one word.


    But after pondering for a long time, Jiang Ci finally understood what "understand" meant: It must have been Lu Yudong who instructed the Human Resources Department to keep Jiang Ci at New East. If it were up to Xing Baohua, he would have kept Yang Manni. Keeping Jiang Ci was simply because Lu Yudong didn''t want her leaving New East, making her harder to control. Additionally, the reason Lu Yudong applied for a "dorm room" for Jiang Ci was because he had previously mentioned that "he dislikes dirt."


    A dorm room accommodates four people. If Jiang Ci''s "boyfriend" came to visit her, Lu Yudong would undoubtedly find out. This was another way to remind and control Jiang Ci.


    Lu Yudong was truly "far-sighted," worthy of being the President, managing even a small intern so meticulously.


    Jiang Ci replied with just one word: [Understand.]

 Chapter 15 - He saw it at a glance

    Jiang Ci moved into the company''s dormitory, which was right across from the office, saving on both commuting costs and rent.


    She, Han Lan, and two girls from the customer service department were assigned to one apartment. It wasn''t very large, and since they moved in late, the sun-facing rooms had already been taken by the two girls from the customer service department. Han Lan wanted to argue with them, but Jiang Ci said, "The rooms don''t have names on them. If they''ve taken them, so be it."


    Han Lan let it go.


    Jiang Ci even gave the larger, shadier room to Han Lan and took the smallest one for herself. It had no windows and poor ventilation, making it stuffy and damp even in the summer.


    After just a few days, Jiang Ci felt that this dark room wasn''t great. The apartment was in a building with many rooms along the hallway, and their unit was already in a bad location. Her room was the worst of all. After washing her clothes, she often had to dry them in the bathroom and then bring them back to her room to get rid of the smell.


    But because this New East Group apartment was in the prime real estate area of Financial Street, and Jiangzhou''s housing prices were among the highest in the country, rent could easily eat up a month''s salary for a fresh graduate. So, employee apartments became a very scarce resource, and you had to apply for a room as soon as you became a full-time employee, or you''d miss out. Jiang Ci knew this, so she didn''t complain.


    On Friday, Jiang Ci got her period.


    She thought to herself: This time going to Grandpa''s house, I finally don''t have to worry about the "to do or not to do" issue.


    In the evening, Jiang Ci received a WeChat message from Lu Yudong: "We''ll go to Grandpa''s house tomorrow, get ready."


    "Okay, Mr. Lu, I''ll meet you near the Fengyue Caf¨¦ at the end of Financial Street."


    She was worried that Lu Yudong would pick her up at the apartment building, which would spark gossip among her colleagues.


    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    On Saturday, Jiang Ci got into Lu Yudong''s car.


    This time, Lu Yudong had switched to a high-end Mercedes, not as flashy as a Maybach, just looking like an ordinary luxury car.


    They both sat in the back as usual, not talking much.


    Suddenly, Lu Yudong sniffed the air and asked, "What''s that smell?"


    Jiang Ci snapped back to reality and sniffed too, but didn''t notice any smell.


    Lu Yudong frowned slightly and looked Jiang Ci up and down. "Your clothes, what smell is that?"


    Jiang Ci, used to it, hadn''t noticed any smell herself, but felt a bit embarrassed that Lu Yudong had detected something unpleasant on her.


    After all, she was a girl.


    She thought for a moment. "Is it a musty smell?"


    "Something like that."


    "Oh, maybe it''s because the room I live in never lets clothes dry completely, so over time, they pick up this smell." Jiang Ci instinctively blamed the external environment. After all, if Lu Yudong thought the smell was coming from her, it would be too embarrassing.


    Lu Yudong gave Jiang Ci a silent glance but said nothing, turning his gaze back to the window.


    This visit to Grandpa''s house made Grandpa very happy. Between Grandpa and Jiang Ci, there was a genuine feeling of love and affection typical of a grandparent and grandchild.


    Compared to Lu Yudong, Jiang Ci and Grandpa seemed more like a grandparent-grandchild pair. Perhaps because Lu Yudong was mature beyond his years, he never shared his troubles with Grandpa and always shouldered everything himself, leaving Grandpa unable to help. As a result, Grandpa showed less of the affection typical of his generation towards Lu Yudong, and they seemed more like peers.


    Jiang Ci was different. She always asked Grandpa about everything and chatted with him in detail about topics like the differences in course arrangements between Qingcheng University and Jiangzhou University, where she studied, Grandpa''s interesting teaching experiences, and the troublesome students he encountered. These were things Grandpa never discussed with Lu Yudong, but he spoke freely and animatedly with Jiang Ci.


    While Lu Yudong quietly read alone, he could hear bursts of laughter, as if he were the outsider.


    Grandpa even half-jokingly reminded Jiang Ci, "Little Ci, aren''t you planning to have a child? Grandpa would love to see what a little Ci would be like."


    It was as if Jiang Ci were his real granddaughter.


    Grandpa had already changed his nickname for her from "Little Jiang" to "Little Ci."


    The first time Grandpa called her "Little Ci," Jiang Ci felt a warmth in her heart, and her eyes welled up. It was as if she heard her parents and Shao Zheng calling her "Little Ci" again, all the people closest to her.


    But now, those closest to her were gone, and she didn''t know if her mother would ever have the chance to call her "Little Ci" again.


    Grandpa was the only person in the world who called her "Little Ci" now.


    Jiang Ci''s hand paused as she ate, feeling a deep sense of guilt. She realized that Grandpa''s wish might not come true. She had agreed to a marriage contract with Lu Yudong but had no plans to have children. Once a child was involved, things would become complicated.


    "Grandpa, you, as an intellectual, have always emphasized self-development. Since when have you been so focused on children?" Lu Yudong interjected to help Jiang Ci out.


    "Sigh, I''m not..." Grandpa''s eyes dimmed for a moment. The past was the past, and today was no longer the same.


    Seeing Grandpa like this, Lu Yudong said nothing further. He knew that Grandpa''s wish was absolutely impossible to fulfill.


    Jiang Ci also felt very down, thinking of her father''s last moments and then looking at Grandpa, she felt even more sorrowful.


    After returning to her room, Jiang Ci deliberately placed her sanitary pads on the bedside table.


    With just one glance, Lu Yudong noticed. He understood completely.

 Chapter 16 - Who is supporting her?

    Jiang Ci was sitting at the desk with her laptop, typing away.


    "What are you writing?" Lu Yudong asked from the bed behind her, possibly feeling the room was too quiet.


    "An outstanding graduate report," Jiang Ci replied absentmindedly as she continued typing.


    "You?"


    Hearing those two words, Jiang Ci felt increasingly unsettled. How much did Lu Yudong look down on her?


    She turned around to meet his gaze. "What, Mr. Lu, don''t you know that New East Group only hires outstanding graduates? If I weren''t outstanding, how could I have been formally hired? Or am I not good enough, and you just told your subordinates to keep me around so you could control me?"


    Lu Yudong''s casual remark of "You?" was not meant to be taken seriously, but Jiang Ci''s pointed response hit the mark.


    He had known for a while that this woman was not simple.


    Lu Yudong couldn''t be bothered to argue with Jiang Ci and closed his book to go wash up.


    Jiang Ci, feeling she had overreacted, realized her words were inappropriate. After all, he was the president, and she, as a low-level subordinate, had been impolite. She felt a bit guilty and couldn''t continue writing her report, so she went to wash up as well.


    By the time Lu Yudong returned to the room, Jiang Ci was already sitting on the bed.


    Lu Yudong picked up his book again.


    "Mr. Lu, how did you manage to keep me in the finance department?" Jiang Ci asked, trying to make conversation, and it was a question she had always wanted to know.


    "Do I need to explain leaving an intern?" Lu Yudong replied nonchalantly.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    Jiang Ci thought: So it was indeed Lu Yudong who had a word with them to keep her.


    "But if you don''t explain, people will speculate."


    Lu Yudong''s gaze swept over her casually. "Speculate? Isn''t it true that you slept with me? And that we got a marriage certificate?"


    Jiang Ci: ...


    She had nothing to say and lay down, listening to the sounds of Lu Yudong flipping through his book, turning off the light, and lying down, slowly drifting off to sleep.


    This time, when they returned to Grandpa''s house, nothing unexpected happened. On the way back, Lu Yudong transferred another ten thousand yuan to Jiang Ci.


    This time it was twenty thousand less than last time, as the two thousand for cooking was not included since they had an hourly worker this time.


    However, neither of them spoke a word.


    Now, every time Lu Yudong transferred money to Jiang Ci, it made her uncomfortable, though she couldn''t quite figure out why.


    Lu Yudong''s car stopped at the spot where he had picked Jiang Ci up the day before, and then he drove off.


    Jiang Ci hadn''t even reached her dorm when she received a WeChat message from Director Zhu of the Human Resources Department: [Little Jiang, the previous dorm arrangement was temporary. Now that room 1507 is available, an employee from the operations department got married and bought a new house with her husband. You and Han Lan can move into this two-person room. What do you think?]


    Jiang Ci was slightly taken aback, thinking: Just because Lu Yudong couldn''t stand the damp smell on her, he arranged for her to move to a new room, and it''s a two-person room. Rank really does have its privileges.


    Han Lan had already checked out room 1507. It was about the same size as the previous four-person room, but only for two people.


    All afternoon, Han Lan couldn''t stop talking, feeling like she had hit the jackpot, packing up and moving to the new dorm.


    After changing dorms, Jiang Ci spent her time doing laundry, planning to wash all the clothes that had a musty smell.


    "Jiang Ci, Jiang Ci, come and look at this, it''s infuriating..." Jiang Ci was in the bathroom doing laundry when she heard Han Lan''s angry voice. Han Lan came into the bathroom with her laptop.


    "Didn''t you go to the hospital to see your mom yesterday? Look at what these people are saying."


    Jiang Ci turned off the faucet and tilted her head to look at the laptop.


    The company''s "Fenghua" forum was open on the screen, where thousands of employees frequently posted, making it very active.


    The post was titled: "Who is her sugar daddy?"


    There were over a dozen photos of Jiang Ci taken yesterday at Fengyue Caf¨¦ on Financial Street. She was wearing a very elegant dress and had makeup on, clearly dressed up, getting into a luxurious Mercedes. As she got in, she looked around...


    The Mercedes had dark tinted windows, so the person inside couldn''t be seen. Precisely because of this, everyone was speculating, "Who is her sugar daddy?"


    People were very interested in this kind of gossip, and more and more people were posting, quickly making it a hot topic.


    Han Lan posted a reply: "This is my roommate, I can vouch for her, she went to the hospital yesterday."


    But Han Lan''s reply wasn''t convincing enough, and soon someone replied: "Why dress up to go to the hospital? It''s not hard to park in front of our dorm, why park two miles away? Also, I heard she was competing with another Hua University graduate for a position at New East this year. The other person worked diligently every day, so how did she, who keeps taking days off, get the position? Something''s fishy."


    "Keep your voice down, she has connections."


    "During team building, I saw her toasting the HR deputy director. Maybe..."


    ...


    There were all sorts of comments, and they were quite unpleasant.


    During team building, Jiang Ci did toast the HR deputy director, but she did it with Xing Baohua. It seemed she had been used by someone with ulterior motives. Large corporations were full of internal politics.

 Chapter 17 - What are you thinking?

    Jiang Ci continued washing clothes, not wanting to bother with such matters¡ªit was too much mental effort.


    "Jiang Ci, people are walking all over you, and you''re not fighting back?"


    "Forget it, it''ll lose its heat over time."


    "No way..." Han Lan tilted her head, looking at Jiang Ci. "Could it be that there''s really something between you and the Vice President?"


    Jiang Ci glanced at Han Lan. "Can''t be bothered with you."


    With that, Jiang Ci took the washed clothes to the balcony to hang them up.


    The only thing that worried Jiang Ci was whether Lu Yudong would blame her for this. After all, she was on the "gossip page."


    After hanging the clothes, Jiang Ci sat on the bed with her laptop, working on the "Outstanding Graduate Report." Han Lan wanted to say something else, but seeing Jiang Ci''s tight-lipped expression, she kept quiet, only reminding her, "Don''t forget the new employee medical check-up tomorrow."


    Jiang Ci nodded.


    Having just become the center of attention, Jiang Ci wasn''t looking forward to the "group medical check-up" the next day, because the email stated: early Monday morning, all newly confirmed employees should gather in the parking lot to take the company coach bus to "New East Hospital" for their check-up. In the past, Jiang Ci could have stayed low-key, but now, surely everyone in the company would recognize her.


    The next day unfolded just as Jiang Ci had anticipated. Over thirty newly confirmed interns were seated on the coach bus heading to "New East Hospital," waiting in the parking lot before departure.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Even though she sat quietly in the back row, Jiang Ci could still hear many people asking, "Which one is Jiang Ci?" "Who picked her up?" "I heard her family situation is average, even quite poor, with no background. She must be kept."


    Many turned to look at Jiang Ci.


    At that moment, someone said, "Look outside."


    Everyone turned to look, and Jiang Ci also wanted to see what could divert the "gossip" topic.


    The low-key Mercedes that had appeared in the post gracefully drew a large arc and parked beside the coach bus. Some curious onlookers even took out their phones to compare the license plate with the one on the forum.


    Everyone held their breath, eager to see who would get out of the car. Jiang Ci could even hear the tension.


    The car door opened, and Lu Yudong stepped out, locked the car, and walked casually towards the office building with his hands in his pockets.


    Inside the bus, it was dead silent.


    Han Lan turned her head in surprise to look at Jiang Ci. "Is Mr. Lu the one you''re rumored with?"


    "I just happened to go to the hospital that day and ran into him. He gave me a lift." Jiang Ci brushed it off, but it was clear Han Lan didn''t quite believe her.


    The bus fell silent, and the post was quietly deleted at some point. No one dared to casually gossip about the President.


    Jiang Ci didn''t know what Lu Yudong meant by this¡ªwhether it was intentional or unintentional¡ªbut it warmed her heart, making her feel inexplicably closer to him. She really wanted to see Lu Yudong again.


    For the first time, Jiang Ci eagerly anticipated Saturday''s arrival.


    After working overtime on Thursday, Jiang Ci was packing up to return to her dorm when she received a WeChat message from Lu Yudong: [Report your height, weight, and measurements.]


    Jiang Ci looked at the message, bewildered, as she got into the elevator, only to find Lu Yudong there as well, saving her the trouble of replying.


    "Mr. Lu, what do you mean?" Jiang Ci raised her phone and asked.


    "For the wedding photos, to order the dress."


    "Is it that grand?" Jiang Ci was taken aback. She thought it was just about getting the certificate and visiting Grandpa.


    Jiang Ci hesitated a bit: if there was a wedding, wouldn''t the whole city know? And after the agreement ended and they divorced, wouldn''t she be known as the city''s "abandoned woman"?


    "What are the measurements?" Lu Yudong ignored Jiang Ci''s emotions and continued asking.


    "I haven''t measured, I don''t know," Jiang Ci replied honestly. She just bought size S clothes and didn''t know her measurements, never having thought about beauty pageants.


    Lu Yudong''s gaze turned to her, sizing her up.


    His piercing gaze made Jiang Ci shrink back a little.


    The elevator dinged to the first floor, and without a word, Lu Yudong got off.


    Jiang Ci stood in the lobby, dazed for a moment. Lu Yudong never wasted words with her and never answered questions he didn''t want to.


    That night, back home, Jiang Ci received another WeChat message from Lu Yudong: [Saturday, we''re taking wedding photos.]


    [Aren''t we going to see Grandpa? Are we having a wedding?] Jiang Ci asked eagerly.


    [What are you thinking?]


    That single sentence snapped Jiang Ci out of her wild thoughts.

 Chapter 18 - One day, sooner or later, you will see

    Jiang Ci guessed that Lu Yudong might be worried about Grandpa being alone in Qingcheng, so he was planning to bring Grandpa over to live with them. If Grandpa came, they would definitely need to hang up the wedding photo at home.


    So, if Grandpa came, did that mean Jiang Ci would also have to live at Lu Yudong''s place?


    On Saturday, Jiang Ci went to a large photography studio according to the address given by Lu Yudong.


    Lu Yudong was already there.


    Jiang Ci changed into the wedding dress, which fit perfectly. She couldn''t help but recall the way he had looked at her, just one glance, and he had her measurements down to a T, his gaze was incredibly precise.


    When Jiang Ci came out, Lu Yudong glanced at her with what seemed like disdain. Words like vibrant, graceful, and beautiful seemed inadequate to describe Jiang Ci. The pearl necklace on her chest accentuated her collarbone, exuding a youthful beauty.


    Looking at Jiang Ci in the white wedding dress, the words "to hold your hand and grow old together" flashed through Lu Yudong''s mind.


    What a load of crap!


    Lu Yudong''s gaze didn''t linger on Jiang Ci for long and he continued talking to the photographer, but it seemed like he wasn''t really listening.


    Jiang Ci also saw Lu Yudong. He was wearing a black suit, looking so dashing that it was hard to look at him directly.


    Normally, taking wedding photos would take a whole day, but they finished everything in just an hour.


    Jiang Ci changed back into her clothes, slinging her bag over her shoulder, and cheerfully said to Lu Yudong, "Mr. Lu, when the wedding photos are ready, can you send me a picture?"


    Lu Yudong was adjusting his cuffs, his face expressionless, "Are you looking forward to it?"Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    "Yes." Jiang Ci''s eyes sparkled.


    "Don''t worry, you''ll see them sooner or later. You''re not going back to Grandpa''s house today, you can make your own plans. I''ll let you know when to go."


    Lu Yudong spoke as if he were giving orders to a subordinate.


    Jiang Ci masked her desire to see Lu Yudong and smiled, "Perfect, I just signed up for a CPA prep class online a few days ago. I need to go confirm my registration in person, so I''ll take care of that."


    Lu Yudong didn''t reply and drove off.


    Jiang Ci felt both awkward and disappointed. Awkward because she had said so much, yet he didn''t respond at all and just left. Jiang Ci felt a bit embarrassed.


    It seemed like she wouldn''t see him for a while.


    In the afternoon, Jiang Ci went to "Zhongfu Building" to register for the CPA prep class.


    Actually, she had always been a strong learner, having passed the first four courses through self-study. But now, with work being busy, she spent eighteen thousand yuan on an online "guaranteed pass" class, because she heard that the teachers here were once legendary "exam gods" and "top students."


    Class started at three in the afternoon. A young, handsome guy walked onto the podium, and the girls in the class all exclaimed in awe at the teacher''s good looks.


    The teacher wrote "Chu Shuo" on the blackboard and said, "This is my name. You can call me Teacher Chu from now on. Let''s start the class."


    Jiang Ci frowned slightly: Chu Shuo? What a coincidence?


    Teacher Chu had passed all four courses in one go and obtained the CPA certificate, becoming a legend that year. His teaching was clear and insightful, and he was great at predicting exam questions.


    Jiang Ci was thoroughly impressed with this teacher and thought it was just a coincidence. The teacher didn''t know her before, so it was unlikely he would randomly add her on WeChat.


    After class, Jiang Ci walked out of "Zhongfu Building" and saw her brother Jiang Yi waiting in the car by the roadside.


    "What are you doing here?" Jiang Ci asked.


    "Wow, my dear sister can afford a training class now? Did you suddenly strike it rich? I also heard from the doctor that you want to hire a caregiver for Mom?" Jiang Yi leaned over and asked Jiang Ci.


    Last time at the hospital, Dr. Fu had casually mentioned hiring a caregiver for their mom to Jiang Yi, and he wondered where Jiang Ci got the money.


    "I got a full-time job." Jiang Ci tried to brush it off.


    "Wow, you must be making a fortune! When will you treat your brother to a meal?"


    Jiang Ci didn''t want to talk to Jiang Yi. Just as she was about to leave, she heard Jiang Yi''s tone change to a flattering one, "Little Director Chu, get in the car, get in the car."


    Jiang Ci turned around and saw Chu Shuo.


    "Jiang, right?" Chu Shuo also recognized her; they had just met in class.


    "Little Director Chu, you know my sister? Haha, it''s like the flood washed into the Dragon King''s temple, family not recognizing family." Jiang Yi said, eyeing Jiang Ci and then Chu Shuo.


    "Hello, Teacher Chu." Jiang Ci greeted politely, bowing to Chu Shuo.


    "Jiang Ci, why don''t you get in the car too?" Chu Shuo said to Jiang Ci.


    "Yes, yes, Little Director Chu asked you to get in, don''t be shy, hurry up." With that, Jiang Yi shoved Jiang Ci into the car.


    Jiang Ci and Chu Shuo both sat in the back seat.


    "Little Director Chu, have you added my sister on WeChat?" Jiang Yi asked excitedly from the driver''s seat.


    "Oh, I tried adding her once before, but Jiang Ci didn''t accept, so I didn''t add her. When I called roll earlier, I thought it was just a common name and didn''t dare to think otherwise. Can I add you now? Is that okay, Little Jiang?"


    "Sure." Jiang Ci slowly took out her phone, found her QR code, and let Chu Shuo add her on WeChat.


    Chu Shuo''s WeChat name was also his real name, so Jiang Ci didn''t add any additional notes.

 Chapter 19 - Convenient access

    Jiang Ci finally understood that the last time Chu Shuo added her on WeChat at Grandpa''s house, it wasn''t a coincidence, nor was he a scammer. He was actually a "second-generation wealthy" introduced by her brother.


    However, Chu Shuo was very polite and talented, the type Jiang Ci admired.


    The so-called "introduction" was probably just her brother''s wishful thinking.


    "Now it''ll be much easier for me to ask Teacher Chu about economic law questions," Jiang Ci said with a smile.


    "Yes, in a few days, I''ll find some practice questions for you. Economic law is the easiest subject; just memorize it, and you''ll pass. Focus more on the next one. Once you get the certificate, everything will be easier," Chu Shuo said while saving Jiang Ci''s WeChat contact, which was named "Little White Rabbit of Flowers."


    "Jiang Ci, you got a permanent position at New East Group, and I haven''t even celebrated for you yet! I heard the elimination rate at New East Group is very high. My sister is truly outstanding," Jiang Yi praised his sister at every opportunity, eager to leave a good impression on Chu Shuo for a potential future "deal."


    "Yes," Jiang Ci replied, not wanting to engage further, turning her head to look out the window.


    Chu Shuo didn''t respond either, leaving Jiang Yi feeling awkward.


    When they arrived in front of the dormitory building, Jiang Ci got out of the car, looking at her phone as she walked. People around her avoided her like mice seeing a cat, probably thinking that Jiang Ci was already Lu Yudong''s woman. Whether she''d become the future boss lady of New East was uncertain, but for now, no one dared to provoke her.


    Before she even opened the dormitory door, Jiang Ci received a WeChat message from Lu Yudong: "Come to Grandpa''s house at 10 AM tomorrow. I''ll pick you up from the dorm."


    Jiang Ci''s heart skipped a beat. She didn''t expect to see Lu Yudong again so soon.


    Closing her phone, Jiang Ci began packing her luggage.


    "Jiang Ci, are you dating Mr. Lu?" Han Lan suddenly appeared beside Jiang Ci, whispering and gossiping with exaggerated expressions.


    "No, no," Jiang Ci hesitated but decided to be honest with her friend, "We just... slept together."This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    "Tsk~" Han Lan gasped, "I didn''t expect that from you! You really went for it!"


    "No, it was just an accident," Jiang Ci replied, though to Lu Yudong, it seemed intentional.


    "So, what''s the situation between you two now?"


    "Just... like that. Oh, by the way, I won''t be here tomorrow night. I have to go out."


    "Where to? Are you going to spend the night with Mr. Lu?"


    "Uh... no... it''s something else..."


    "Tsk, and you say you''re not dating!"


    "Anyway, we''re not," Jiang Ci thought for a moment. Although she sometimes felt like time dragged when she couldn''t see Lu Yudong, there were reasons for it. For instance, this time, Lu Yudong saved her from the center of public opinion, but Jiang Ci still didn''t think they were dating. People in love have endless things to talk about, but they didn''t. They were just silent together.


    "Alright, alright, stop being so coy. I know the company doesn''t allow office romances. Don''t worry, I''ll keep your secret. Just remember to promote me to Director of the PR Department when you become the boss lady," Han Lan''s aspirations weren''t high.


    Jiang Ci: ...


    The next day, Jiang Ci carried her suitcase and got into Lu Yudong''s car.


    His car was parked right at the entrance of the apartment building, where everyone could see it. Now, Jiang Ci couldn''t hide it even if she wanted to.


    After getting in the car, Lu Yudong only glanced at her before starting to drive.


    "Mr. Lu, why did you park your car right at the apartment building? Now everyone at the company knows," Jiang Ci said, remembering that the previous agreement mentioned keeping things "confidential."


    "Didn''t they already know?" Lu Yudong replied, "Instead of letting them speculate, it''s better they know early. This way, we won''t have to sneak around in the future. If your boyfriend finds out, I''ll compensate."


    Jiang Ci clutched her collar, hating how he always brought up money, yet he seemed to enjoy it.


    "What if he doesn''t want compensation?" Jiang Ci''s tone was a bit harsh, still upset.


    Lu Yudong laughed mockingly, "Doesn''t want money?"


    Jiang Ci lowered her head, saying nothing. She had no grounds to speak; after all, her reason for marrying Lu Yudong was money. If she was like this, her boyfriend wouldn''t be much better, all caught up in money.


    With Lu Yudong treating Jiang Ci like this, she had nothing to say. Moreover, he had known about the post long ago. On the day of the physical exam, he deliberately showed up in that Mercedes, silencing all her colleagues with just one car.


    Lu Yudong was ruthless.


    "Take a leave from Xing Baohua; we''ll be back on Monday," Lu Yudong ordered when Jiang Ci didn''t speak.


    "Take a leave?" Jiang Ci felt a headache at the mention of "leave," always reminded of Xing Baohua''s strange looks.


    "Yes. Is it difficult?" Lu Yudong turned his head, squinting at Jiang Ci, "If it is, I''ll do it for you."


    "No, no, thank you, Mr. Lu," Jiang Ci hurriedly took out her phone, hearing Lu Yudong''s sarcastic tone, and sent a WeChat message to Xing Baohua.


    "Mr. Xing, I have something to do tomorrow and would like to take a day off," Jiang Ci said nervously, remembering Xing Baohua''s unpleasant expression the last time she asked for leave. Monday was busy, and asking for another day off seemed like shirking responsibility.


    "Sure, sure. I''ll find someone to cover your work. If there''s anything, ask me directly when you return."


    This response was completely different from before, almost giving Jiang Ci goosebumps. Xing Baohua must have known about her and Lu Yudong.


    This visit to Grandpa''s house made Grandpa very happy as usual. He was in high spirits, not at all like someone with lung cancer. Soon it was evening, and Jiang Ci went to take a shower.


    Her phone was on the bed, and it beeped once. Lu Yudong, sitting nearby reading a book, didn''t pay attention.


    Then, Jiang Ci''s phone started beeping continuously.


    Lu Yudong impatiently glanced at Jiang Ci''s phone, seeing that Chu Shuo had sent 15 messages.


    Lu Yudong frowned slightly.


    Just then, Jiang Ci came out of the bathroom, drying her hair.


    "Did you see your boyfriend yesterday?" Lu Yudong asked.


    "Boyfriend? No," Jiang Ci regretted lying about having a "boyfriend," knowing she would marry Lu Yudong and that their agreement would last so long.


    Jiang Ci considered whether to tell Lu Yudong the truth.


    After getting into bed, Jiang Ci found herself pinned beneath Lu Yudong.

 Chapter 20 - Job well done

    Lu Yudong was certain that Jiang Ci must have met Chu Shuo yesterday; otherwise, Chu Shuo wouldn''t have suddenly sent so many messages.


    Of course, it was also possible that he had always sent this many messages daily, and Lu just hadn''t known about it.


    Lu Yudong felt slightly relieved; she was very trustworthy.


    "From now on, behave yourself. If you need anything, tell me." Lu Yudong leaned against the headboard and lit a cigarette.


    Jiang Ci closed her eyes and said nothing, unsure of how she had been "misbehaving."


    This experience left Jiang Ci feeling pressured, recalling how eagerly she had wanted to see him before, realizing she had misplaced her sincerity.


    After they were done, Jiang Ci lay down on the other side but couldn''t fall asleep.


    Picking up her phone, she finally saw Chu Shuo''s messages.


    She understood why Lu Yudong had acted that way; he must have seen the series of WeChat messages from Chu Shuo on her phone screen, leading him to mistakenly believe she had met Chu Shuo. In Lu Yudong''s mind, "Chu Shuo" was Jiang Ci''s current boyfriend, and when a couple meets, sparks naturally fly.


    That''s why Lu Yudong had been so insistent earlier. He had clearly stated he found it distasteful.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    So Jiang Ci explained, "Mr. Lu, I told you before, I''m a very professional person. Once I''ve taken on your job, I won''t entertain anyone else. Please rest assured about that."


    "Job?"


    "Yes. You pay, I show up." Jiang Ci''s tone carried a hint of displeasure.


    "You''re doing a good job." Lu Yudong''s words were a double entendre, and with his doubts seemingly gone, his tone softened.


    "Mr. Lu, there''s one thing you should understand: we''re not real!" Jiang Ci stated firmly.


    Lu Yudong suddenly laughed, though the smile didn''t reach his eyes; he found Jiang Ci very naive.


    Jiang Ci didn''t continue speaking and began scrolling through Chu Shuo''s WeChat messages. He had sent past exam questions for economic law and the test papers for "Financial Cost Management," which Jiang Ci hadn''t registered for, along with highlighted textbook content.


    Chu Shuo was indeed a good teacher; his materials were very thorough.


    Jiang Ci replied to him on WeChat: [Thank you, I was in the shower earlier and didn''t see your messages.]


    [No problem, take your time to go through them. Once you''ve mastered these past questions, you should be fine.]


    Jiang Ci didn''t speak to Lu Yudong. After turning off the bedside lamp, she fell asleep.


    Her dissatisfaction with Lu Yudong didn''t affect her performance in front of Grandpa. The next day, she behaved as usual, so much so that Grandpa was reluctant to let his granddaughter leave, while he didn''t seem as attached to Lu Yudong.


    On the way back, Lu Yudong transferred fifty thousand yuan to Jiang Ci.


    The transfer was done casually, as she was only there to make Grandpa smile and didn''t even cook.


    Looking at the fifty thousand yuan, Jiang Ci sent Lu Yudong a WeChat message: [What is this for?]


    Moments later, Lu Yudong replied: [For a job well done.]


    Jiang Ci''s face flushed instantly. Not wanting Lu Yudong to see her embarrassment, she turned her head towards the car window. She hadn''t realized that he paid each time they did this.


    [Since it''s a job well done, Mr. Lu is welcome to book me often. After all, it''s better to work with familiar clients. Mr. Lu is quite generous.] Jiang Ci replied in a huff.


    [If it''s often, you''ll need to come up with new tricks.]


    [Alright, money is motivation. As a novice, I can''t match Mr. Lu''s experience; I need to practice and innovate regularly.]


    After sending the message, Jiang Ci tossed her phone onto the seat and closed her eyes to rest.


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 Chapter 21 - Dont say such silly things!

    Jiang Ci was woken up by her phone. It was a WeChat message from Jiang Yi: "Sis, weren''t you looking for a caregiver for Mom? Someone recommended a really good one. Want to come with me to check it out?" The message was followed by a hotel address. Jiang Ci thought to herself that her brother was finally doing something right. Just as she had a spat with Lu Yudong and felt uncomfortable staying together, she told Lu Yudong she needed to get off and took a cab to the hotel.


    When she arrived at room 1402, Jiang Yi was already waiting. Seeing Jiang Ci, he was visibly pleased and eager, "You''re here?"


    "Why are we meeting the caregiver at a hotel?" Jiang Ci looked around the hotel, feeling something was off.


    "She''s here taking care of another patient. She should be done soon, just wait a bit. Have some water first." Jiang Yi said, pushing a glass of water towards Jiang Ci.


    Jiang Ci was indeed thirsty and drank the water.


    After drinking, she felt something was wrong and asked, "Isn''t the air conditioning on in this room? Why is it so hot?"


    "It is on. You still feel hot?"


    Jiang Yi''s eyes weren''t on the air conditioning; he was fixated on Jiang Ci with a look of sinister satisfaction.


    Jiang Ci instinctively sensed something was wrong and took two steps back, sitting on the bed. Her vision blurred as she realized what had happened¡ªJiang Yi had drugged the water!


    Despair and a chill surged through Jiang Ci''s heart. She gritted her teeth, "Brother, you actually..."


    Jiang Yi was very satisfied seeing Jiang Ci like this and coaxed, "Sis, I''m doing this for your own good. When Little Director Chu arrives, just serve him well, and you''ll live in luxury. Our Jiang family will be rich!"If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    "You, you actually sold your sister for glory, you scumbag!"


    Furious, Jiang Ci struggled to sit up from the bed and slapped Jiang Yi, but she was already weak, and the slap was soft. Jiang Yi wasn''t hurt; instead, he pushed her back onto the bed with a smirk and called someone, "Little Director Chu, I''m at Star Hotel, room 1402. Just come here to find me!"


    Jiang Yi pulled her clothes open, covered her with a blanket, and encouraged her before leaving, "Do your best!"


    The room fell silent. Jiang Ci felt dizzy, and then there was a knock on the door.


    Soon, a man pushed the door open and walked in.


    "Jiang Yi, are you in here?"


    Through her blurred vision, Jiang Ci saw Chu Shuo, broad-shouldered and long-legged, with strikingly handsome features.


    Chu Shuo spoke as he took off his shoes at the entrance, then noticed Jiang Ci lying on the bed, her face flushed.


    "Jiang Ci? Why are you here? Do you have a fever?" Seeing Jiang Ci''s flushed face, Chu Shuo immediately realized something and felt a tremor in his heart.


    He wasn''t indifferent; the first time he saw Jiang Ci, he was captivated by her beautiful eyes. But he wasn''t the kind to take advantage of others.


    "I''ll take you to the hospital," Chu Shuo said with concern.


    Jiang Ci breathed a slight sigh of relief, realizing this was Jiang Yi''s doing alone, and Chu Shuo wasn''t aware.


    "Don''t come near me, my brother''s a bastard!" Jiang Ci said, stumbling off the bed and running into the bathroom.


    She locked the door, turned on the shower, and drenched herself in cold water. Though it was summer, the cold water was chilling, but it helped extinguish certain urges.


    Chu Shuo stayed by the bathroom door, asking, "Jiang Ci, are you sure you''re okay? Come out, I''ll take you to the hospital."


    Jiang Ci thought if this incident reached Lu Yudong''s ears, it wouldn''t be good. She had just gotten out of his car and then took this drug; he would surely think she was indiscreet. She couldn''t let this become a handle for Lu Yudong.


    "Mr. Chu, could you check the drawer for a needle or something?" Jiang Ci felt increasingly dizzy.


    "Jiang Ci, listen to me, this kind of thing needs a hospital," Chu Shuo''s voice was very serious.


    Jiang Ci didn''t respond. With a "thud," she fell out of the bathroom onto the plush carpet in the living room, her head and body wet, crawling towards the bedside table.


    "What are you looking for?" Chu Shuo was startled, "I''ll help you."


    "A needle. Help me..."


    Chu Shuo hurriedly opened the drawer and found a needle, handing it to Jiang Ci.


    Without a word, Jiang Ci pricked her fingertip with the needle. The pain jolted her awake.


    Chu Shuo: ...


    "Get up, lie on the bed." Chu Shuo helped Jiang Ci up from the floor and tucked her into the blanket.


    After being doused with cold water, Jiang Ci was shivering, her temperature dropping, and her face less flushed.


    "Mr. Chu, thank... thank you." Jiang Ci''s teeth chattered.


    "Don''t say such silly things!" Chu Shuo touched Jiang Ci''s forehead, "Silly girl."


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 Chapter 22 - Have you done it?

    Jiang Ci was worried that Jiang Yi might come back soon with more tricks up his sleeve.


    She said to Chu Shuo, "Mr. Chu, let''s hurry and leave. I''m afraid my brother will return."


    "Don''t worry, I''m here. You should rest first."


    "No, you don''t understand my brother. He might have planned something against both of us." Jiang Ci had already gotten out of bed. She was wearing a white dress, pure in style, but it was soaked through, clinging to her body and revealing her curves, making the situation awkward for both of them.


    Chu Shuo glanced at her, his ears turning red. He quickly looked away and took off his jacket to drape it over her.


    As they reached the hotel lobby, Chu Shuo offered to take Jiang Ci home. Jiang Ci, worried that someone from her dorm might see her and spread rumors that would reach Lu Yudong, said, "No need, thank you, Mr. Chu."


    "Are you sure you can manage on your own?" Chu Shuo was genuinely concerned.


    "It''s just a few steps away. I can walk there." Jiang Ci forced a pained smile.


    "I should still accompany you," Chu Shuo insisted, worried something else might happen to her.


    As they were debating, suddenly, a car horn honked twice from the roadside.


    Jiang Ci turned her head and her face turned pale.


    It was Lu Yudong''s car.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    "Mr. Lu, why are you here?" Jiang Ci felt a sudden pang of guilt.


    Lu Yudong''s face was dark, his gaze sharp as he slowly scanned the two of them.


    His young wife, with another man, at the hotel entrance, wearing another man''s clothes!


    How embarrassing!


    In an instant, Lu Yudong''s eyes seemed to blaze with fire, his voice filled with anger: "Meeting your lover here?"


    Jiang Ci was at a loss for words, knowing Lu Yudong had misunderstood, and hurried to explain.


    But at that moment, Chu Shuo pulled her protectively into his arms, boldly meeting Lu Yudong''s gaze: "Who are you? Why do you care about her? Do you know Jiang Ci just suffered an injustice?"


    Lu Yudong coldly replied, "It''s not your place to care for her!"


    Then, his gaze fixed coldly on Jiang Ci: "Aren''t you coming over?"


    Jiang Ci quickly broke free from Chu Shuo: "Mr. Chu, I''m sorry, I''ll explain later..."


    She rushed into the car and obediently sat in the back seat.


    Lu Yudong started the car and drove off. Shortly after, the car window opened, and a man''s jacket was thrown out.


    Chu Shuo: ...


    Jiang Ci knew Lu Yudong had misunderstood and quickly said, "Mr. Lu, let me explain. It''s not what you think. My brother tricked me into coming to the hotel and drugged me. Chu Shuo was just trying to help..."


    As Jiang Ci spoke, she fumbled with her phone, trying to show Lu Yudong the messages her brother had sent her.


    Unexpectedly, a message from Chu Shuo arrived: [Was that Lu Yudong just now? Jiang Ci, how did you get involved with him?] [Be careful, Lu Yudong is not a good person. Don''t fall for his tricks!]


    Clearly, Chu Shuo had quickly looked up information on Lu Yudong after they left.


    "I''m not a good person?" Lu Yudong sneered, "Is he a good person then?"


    He looked Jiang Ci up and down, increasingly displeased:


    "So, he''s Chu Shuo?"


    "Is he your boyfriend?"


    "This..." Jiang Ci felt like she was going crazy, she had really shot herself in the foot!


    One lie needed a hundred more to cover it!


    She hurriedly deleted the message and quickly pulled up her brother''s messages to show him.


    But Lu Yudong didn''t listen to her explanation, only asking, "Have you two done it?"


    Jiang Ci''s heart sank, a wave of humiliation washing over her.


    So this was what he cared about most, he found it dirty.


    She bit her lip, lowered her eyes, and whispered, "No."


    "You better not have!"


    After that, Lu Yudong said nothing more.


    Even though she said no, Jiang Ci felt he didn''t believe her. The reason he didn''t pursue it further was probably because he had other matters to attend to.


    The rest of the drive was silent, and the car eventually arrived at the company.


    After getting out, Lu Yudong told the driver, "Take her back to the dorm."


    Then, Lu Yudong left coldly.


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 Chapter 23 - Back then

    Lu Yudong walked into the company lobby with his hands in his pockets, his eyes catching a striking figure.


    He paused slightly.


    Yin Xuemo was originally facing away, admiring the "Nine Heavens Snowfall" painting in the lobby. Hearing movement behind her, she turned around.


    "Yudong? Long time no see." Yin Xuemo smiled as she approached.


    She wore an elegant and luxurious emerald green dress, paired with matching high heels, revealing a glimpse of her fair and alluring calf. Her hair was a damp, seductive cascade, and she wore a noble emerald ring, exuding the charm of a mature and sophisticated woman.


    "Long time no see. Come to my office." Lu Yudong, noticing the crowd around them, said to Yin Xuemo.


    "Sure." Yin Xuemo smiled gently.


    With that, she followed Lu Yudong into the elevator.


    Watching the woman''s graceful figure, a few receptionists couldn''t help but whisper:


    "Miss Yin is so beautiful, celebrities really are different from ordinary people."


    "Yeah, and their status is different too. Look at our President''s office, when has he ever let a woman in? Miss Yin just walks right in."


    "You guys don''t know, do you?" The reception supervisor said with a smile, "Miss Yin is not an ordinary person. I heard she was once Mr. Lu''s ex-girlfriend, and they almost got engaged, but later..."


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    "What happened later?"


    "Not telling you~ Anyway, you shouldn''t gossip about the boss. Just know that Miss Yin''s status is special, and treat her well next time she visits."


    "What about Jiang Ci? I heard she''s been close to the President lately." When women gossip, they dig deep.


    "Her? Just a toad lusting after a swan. She thinks just because the President picked her up a few times, she''s something special. How could the President be interested in her?"


    "Exactly."


    Then, the receptionists giggled quietly.


    ...


    Lu Yudong''s office was quite large, its black and white cold tones complementing his own demeanor.


    Lu Yudong lit a cigarette, "Back in the country?"


    "You say that, but you didn''t even come to pick me up when I returned." Yin Xuemo said with a hint of coquettishness.


    "Lots of work at the company."


    Yin Xuemo gently parted her red lips, "That''s why I came to find you. I even brought you a gift, see if you like it."


    Lu Yudong glanced at it, then placed the luxurious gift box on the table, "Thank you."


    "You didn''t even look." Yin Xuemo said with a playful complaint, "I brought this aeye gift box from abroad, it''s specially for the eyes, try it."


    As she spoke, Yin Xuemo stepped forward, opened the gift box for Lu Yudong, and placed the eye mask over his eyes.


    Warm and moist, and with Yin Xuemo mentioning "eyes," Lu Yudong''s attitude softened slightly, "My eyes are fine now, don''t worry."


    "How can I not worry? You almost went blind back then, you couldn''t see anything, and it broke my heart watching you wait so long for a cornea," Yin Xuemo sat on the sofa, her eyes reddening, "You were just starting your business and faced such a blow. Sometimes I feel it was all fate, that my father entrusted me to you. My father passed, and you recovered."


    Hearing this, Lu Yudong removed the eye mask, walked over to Yin Xuemo, and patted her back, "Why bring up the past?"


    Yin Xuemo took the opportunity to hold Lu Yudong''s hand, "Yudong, I was wrong back then. I''m sorry. I came back this time just to tell you in person, I''m sorry."


    With that, Yin Xuemo gently held Lu Yudong''s hand and gave it a shake.


    Lu Yudong instinctively resisted and pulled away.


    He said, "The past is the past, let''s not bring it up. I''m doing well now."


    Yin Xuemo looked up, her eyes pitifully fixed on Lu Yudong, "Yudong..."


    Her expression was like a weeping beauty, evoking sympathy.


    But Lu Yudong interrupted her, "Where are you staying now that you''re back? I''ll take you home."


    Yin Xuemo had to wipe her tears and glance at the clock on the wall, "Alright, there have been paparazzi following me lately."


    She lingered in Lu Yudong''s office for a while longer, until five in the afternoon, when the company was closing for the day.


    Considering the number of employees leaving at that time, Lu Yudong took her down using the President''s private elevator.


    But this scene was still noticed by some employees.


    Before long, the news of Lu Yudong''s ex-girlfriend Yin Xuemo visiting the company spread among all the employees.


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 Chapter 24 - Business is business

    After Jiang Ci returned to her apartment, she took a shower and changed clothes, gradually shaking off the discomfort caused by the medication.


    Lying on the bed, she thought about what had happened earlier, growing more and more furious.


    How could there be such a brother in the world? Ignoring their mother was one thing, but scheming against his own sister? And Lu Yudong wouldn¡¯t even listen to her explanation, leaving her at a loss for what to do.


    Just then, Han Lan came back from work and asked with concern, "Are you okay, Jiang Ci?"


    Jiang Ci replied weakly, "I''m fine. Why?"


    Han Lan recalled the rumors she heard from colleagues and felt worried, fearing her friend might have been bullied.


    She quickly said, "You and Mr. Lu... didn''t have a fight, did you? I heard a woman went to the company to see him, and he even took her up the private elevator..."


    "Yeah, so what?"


    "They''re saying she''s Mr. Lu''s ex-girlfriend..."


    Han Lan was putting it mildly. The exact words from the colleagues were:The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    "Jiang Ci, just a regular employee, got all conceited after riding in Mr. Lu''s car twice. She should really take a look in the mirror."


    "Exactly, Miss Yin came to see the President today. Now that''s a perfect match, a talented man and a beautiful woman. If Mr. Lu were to pair up with someone, it should be with an elegant and intellectual woman like Miss Yin. They even took the President''s private elevator together. Jiang Ci has never been in it, right? It seems like she won''t ever get the chance in her lifetime."


    ...


    Hearing Han Lan''s words, Jiang Ci was a bit surprised. She hadn''t expected the woman in the photo to return so quickly.


    Moreover, it seemed Yin Xuemo indeed had a past with Lu Yudong.


    Jiang Ci felt a bit regretful: with Yin Xuemo back, Lu Yudong would likely end their agreement early. She wouldn''t be able to earn money anymore, nor would she get to see those eyes up close again.


    Those eyes felt so familiar to her.


    The next day, Xing Baohua went to the President''s office to submit this year''s "New East Star" list from the Finance Department.


    Every year, New East Group selects a New East Star from the employees transitioning from interns, focusing on their development as future management.


    Originally, this was something Xing Baohua could decide alone, as Jiang Ci was the only intern in the Finance Department to be made permanent this year. Whether she was chosen or not depended solely on his decision.


    But for Jiang Ci''s sake, Xing Baohua came to gauge Lu Yudong''s attitude, given the recent rumors in the company about Jiang Ci and Mr. Lu breaking up, leaving him unsure of which side to take.


    Lu Yudong glanced at the list and said, "Business is business."


    "Understood," Xing Baohua replied.


    Last time, Jiang Ci took the spot that was supposed to be Yang Manni''s, which had already made Xing Baohua somewhat unhappy. Yang Manni was quite adept at reading his mind and was easy to work with, while Jiang Ci was meticulous and by-the-book, insisting on doing things properly even when they could be glossed over. Such an intern was great for the Finance Department, but if she ever entered management, it would be a nightmare for him.


    Therefore, the "New East Star" spot that should have gone to Jiang Ci was removed by Xing Baohua.


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 Chapter 25 - You shouldnt bring me any unwanted attention either

    On Thursday, Jiang Ci received a WeChat message from Lu Yudong: "Take Monday off to pick up Grandpa."


    "Monday?" Jiang Ci disliked always taking leave, so she asked specifically.


    "Is there a problem?"


    Lu Yudong''s rhetorical question left Jiang Ci with no room to argue.


    "What time?"


    "Three in the afternoon. We''ll be back Tuesday morning."


    Just as Jiang Ci was happily thinking she only needed to take two hours off, she received another WeChat message: "Little Ci, there''s another diary from Shao Zheng. Do you want it?"


    The message was from Wang Xuan, Shao Zheng''s mother.


    "Of course, I want it. Where is it?" Jiang Ci was very excited.


    "It''s at the place where Shao Zheng was volunteering. We brought back all of Shao Zheng''s belongings earlier, but this diary was found later. I thought you might want it, so you should contact the principal of the school where you and Shao Zheng volunteered."


    After Wang Xuan finished speaking, she sent Jiang Ci the principal''s contact card.


    The principal said their place was too poor to have courier services, so Jiang Ci had to pick it up herself.


    Jiang Ci had previously agreed with Dr. Fu to visit her mom over the weekend, so she definitely wouldn''t be free then.


    Since Lu Yudong wanted Jiang Ci to return to Grandpa''s house by three on Monday afternoon, Jiang Ci decided to take the whole day off on Monday and go to Ningxiang County in the morning.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    She thought it would be easy to take leave this time too, but unexpectedly, Xing Baohua wasn''t as easygoing this time.


    "Little Jiang, you just got confirmed, and you''re always taking leave. Does that make sense? Mondays are busy, and every time you take leave on Monday, how much work do others have to do for you? Don''t you have any idea?"


    Jiang Ci thought: Ever since Yin Xuemo arrived, even Xing Baohua''s attitude has changed.


    Seeing that she might not get the leave, Jiang Ci said, "Mr. Lu asked me to."


    After a long time, Xing Baohua replied, "Make it quick."


    As expected, Lu Yudong''s name worked best.


    In the past couple of days, Jiang Ci even saw Lu Yudong once, quite coincidentally, at the first training conference of "New East Star."


    Jiang Ci''s good friend Han Lan was selected for "New East Star," and after work on Friday, she had to attend an hour-long employee training.


    After work, Jiang Ci was in the room next to the training room, scrolling through her phone and waiting for Han Lan.


    Lu Yudong came in; he was there to retrieve some documents he had forgotten.


    Seeing Jiang Ci, he seemed a bit surprised, and Jiang Ci was also taken aback.


    "Still here?" Lu Yudong asked her.


    Jiang Ci hurriedly stood up, looking like an employee respectfully greeting a leader, "Yes, still here."


    "New East Star" was training for Lu Yudong''s management team, and he had to attend the first training conference.


    "About last time, you''d better explain it clearly to me." Just as Lu Yudong was about to leave, he suddenly turned back and said to Jiang Ci.


    After all, last time was left unresolved, and Lu Yudong was still angry and hadn''t listened.


    "Then Mr. Lu, shouldn''t you explain your matter with Yin Xuemo to me?" Jiang Ci raised her head, looking directly at Lu Yudong.


    The corners of Lu Yudong''s lips slightly lifted, seemingly with a hint of sarcasm, "To you?"


    His meaning was clear: Do I owe you an explanation?


    "Spouses should have a duty to be faithful to each other, Mr. Lu. You don''t think our marriage certificate is fake, do you? We did sleep together, after all! Why is it that only officials are allowed to set fires, but commoners can''t light lamps? If there''s an explanation needed, it should be you explaining first," Jiang Ci said.


    Lu Yudong only intended to remind Jiang Ci not to be too flirtatious, but he didn''t expect to be countered by her.


    "Jealous?" Lu Yudong lowered his head, calmly adjusting his cufflinks.


    Jiang Ci smiled, "Not really. But ever since Yin Xuemo arrived, my situation in the company has changed, and I''m standing up for myself. Let''s not have it come out in the future that we already have a marriage certificate, and everyone says I''m wearing a cuckold''s hat. Moreover, Mr. Lu, having a reputation for two-timing isn''t pleasant. Any ambiguity with your ex-girlfriend during the marriage could affect the company''s stock price. You''d better be careful."


    Lu Yudong paused his hand on his cufflinks.


    Jiang Ci''s words hit the mark.


    However, Lu Yudong''s expression didn''t linger too long, "So, in the future, try to avoid wearing another man''s coat at the hotel entrance."


    Probably recalling that day''s events, Lu Yudong was a bit angry again, and his tone was heavier.


    "I assure you, I conduct myself with integrity. I won''t embarrass you, Mr. Lu, but you shouldn''t bring me any unwanted attention either."


    Lu Yudong left, his face dark with anger.


    She probably forgot that he spent five million.


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 Chapter 26 - How can I make more money?

    On Monday at four in the morning, Jiang Ci took a two-hour bullet train ride, followed by three bus transfers on winding mountain roads, finally reaching her destination at ten o''clock.


    Upon arriving at the Love Primary School where Shao Zheng taught, Jiang Ci began to vomit.


    Principal Li was a very kind and amiable person. He said that Shao Zheng was the only one in recent years who genuinely came to teach here with sincerity, while others were just looking to embellish their resumes. Shao Zheng truly cared for the students here.


    Principal Li handed Shao Zheng''s diary to Jiang Ci, with photos of Shao Zheng and the children tucked inside. Wearing a red scarf, Shao Zheng looked even more handsome against the backdrop of the children.


    Jiang Ci cried.


    Seeing this photo, tears fell uncontrollably.


    She felt heartache for Shao Zheng...


    After touring the campus with Principal Li, Jiang Ci checked her watch. It was almost noon, and she still needed to visit Grandpa''s house at three in the afternoon.


    Unexpectedly, while waiting for the bus on the mountain road, Jiang Ci saw a private car parked by the roadside. The driver, a young man with a quick temper, was kicking the tire in frustration.


    "Do you need any help?" Jiang Ci approached and asked.


    The man was overjoyed to see Jiang Ci. "The car''s completely out of gas, and there''s not a village or shop in sight. The area is vast, and there''s no phone signal."


    Jiang Ci remembered that there was a storage room at the school with a few barrels of gasoline, which Principal Li said were reserved for lighting stoves for the children in winter.


    "Keep going straight from here, turn left, and there''s a big locust tree. There''s a Love Primary School there, and they have gasoline," Jiang Ci pointed ahead and said.


    Seeing the man''s bewildered expression, Jiang Ci sighed and said, "Come on, I''ll take you there."This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    The man locked his car and followed Jiang Ci to the Love Primary School.


    As they chatted along the way, Jiang Ci learned that the young man was also from Jiangzhou. He said he worked for a small company and was on a business trip here. He had thought the gas station wasn''t far, but he ran out of gas before finding it. If it weren''t for Jiang Ci, he would have had to spend the night on the mountain.


    Both being from Jiangzhou, meeting in a remote place felt like encountering an old friend in a foreign land. He and Jiang Ci exchanged WeChat contacts.


    The man''s name was Deng Yue.


    With Principal Li''s help, Deng Yue''s car was refueled.


    Grateful to Jiang Ci, Deng Yue drove her directly to Ningxiang County train station.


    Jiang Ci hurriedly boarded the bullet train. Once settled, she took out her phone to find that Lu Yudong had called her more than a dozen times. Probably due to the lack of signal, she hadn''t heard any of them. There was also a WeChat message with just two words: "Where are you?"


    Jiang Ci quickly replied: "I just saw it, my phone had no signal."


    Without replying, Lu Yudong called directly, his voice cold, "You took a day off in my name. Where did you go?"


    Even through the phone, Jiang Ci could sense his icy demeanor and the anger he was suppressing.


    "Weren''t you supposed to pick up Grandpa at three? Why are you calling me in the morning?" Jiang Ci quickly shifted the topic, her mind clear.


    "Where did you go?" Lu Yudong remained unfazed by Jiang Ci''s diversion, continuing in a cold tone.


    Jiang Ci thought: A few days ago, she had just sternly told Lu Yudong not to two-time her. Now, going to retrieve her ex-boyfriend''s diary might seem like she was asking for trouble. So she said, "I went shopping. I didn''t get selected for the New East Star, and I was upset with Xing Baohua, so I went shopping all morning."


    Lu Yudong knew Jiang Ci was unhappy about this matter.


    He was partly responsible, as he was angry at the time.


    So, Lu Yudong didn''t ask further.


    "I planned to visit Grandpa''s house this afternoon and return to Jiangzhou tomorrow morning. But I have a sudden meeting tomorrow, so I''ve decided to go this morning and return in the afternoon. I''m already on the way. Don''t go back to Qingcheng. I''ll send you the address, and you go to the villa first and wait for Grandpa to come back," Lu Yudong''s tone softened slightly as he spoke to Jiang Ci.


    "Okay," Jiang Ci replied.


    She thought: Grandpa is sick and living alone in Qingcheng, which is indeed worrisome. Bringing Grandpa over is understandable. Does this mean Grandpa will live with Lu Yudong? Does it mean she will have to move in and live with Lu Yudong too?


    The thought made Jiang Ci''s scalp tingle. Everything would have to be according to Lu Yudong''s arrangements.


    Jiang Ci didn''t let herself dwell on it for too long and started reading Shao Zheng''s diary. From when he and Jiang Ci met, to falling in love, to volunteering to teach, it seemed as if every day from before flashed before Jiang Ci''s eyes.


    Jiang Ci''s tears fell "plop, plop" onto his diary.


    In the diary, Shao Zheng mentioned several times the gap between the children of Ningxiang County and the outside world. His greatest wish was to buy a computer for each child at the Love Primary School, but it would cost hundreds of thousands, and he didn''t have that much money.


    Jiang Ci clenched her fists: She must help Shao Zheng fulfill this wish.


    But after calculating her finances, she realized that after signing the agreement, Lu Yudong gave her two hundred thousand, and after several visits to Grandpa''s house, she had taken less than a hundred thousand. Altogether, it was less than three hundred thousand, and most of this money had been used to pay for her mother''s medical bills. Dr. Fu was looking for a caregiver, and she needed to save the remaining money to hire one.


    Jiang Ci thought: How can I earn more money?


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 Chapter 27 - Do I look good?

    "Where''s Little Ci? Why didn''t she come?" Grandpa complained a bit from the back seat of Lu Yudong''s car.


    In Grandpa''s eyes, Jiang Ci was more like a child, and being with her allowed him to feel the joys of family life.


    "She''s at work. Grandpa, you wouldn''t want to disrupt your granddaughter-in-law''s job, would you?" Lu Yudong added, "This time, you can stay with me. I''ve arranged everything with the hospital and doctors. We have all the necessary medical facilities at home, so you don''t need to go to the hospital regularly."


    Lu Yudong''s car arrived at his residence, the Mid-Levels Villa, at four in the afternoon.


    Several housemaids came out to greet them, but Jiang Ci was nowhere to be seen.


    Lu Yudong frowned slightly and asked the maids, "Hasn''t Madam returned yet?"


    "Not yet. Should we call her?"


    Lu Yudong had already informed the maids about "Madam" last night, so they were prepared and handled it smoothly in front of Grandpa.


    "No need, don''t interrupt Little Ci''s work. She''ll be here after work. I''ll go unpack," Grandpa said.


    Lu Yudong glanced back discontentedly, but there was no sign of Jiang Ci.


    Instead, he saw another woman driving over.


    "Is it telepathy? You turned around, and here I am," Yin Xuemo asked Lu Yudong in a teasing tone as she got out of her car, just as Lu Yudong''s trunk was open, filled with Grandpa''s luggage.


    "I''ll do it. I''ll do it," Yin Xuemo eagerly offered to take down Grandpa''s luggage.


    Grandpa frowned slightly upon seeing Yin Xuemo, but being an intellectual, he said nothing.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Let the maids handle it," Lu Yudong said before entering the house.


    Clearly, Jiang Ci had thrown another curveball at him today.


    He was not happy.


    Yin Xuemo was already fawning over Grandpa, leading him to his room to rest.


    "Grandpa is tired and asleep," Yin Xuemo tiptoed out of Grandpa''s room.


    Lu Yudong sat on the sofa, lost in thought.


    About twenty minutes later, Jiang Ci rushed in, her face flushed, hair disheveled, looking as if she had just returned from a long journey.


    "Where''s Grandpa?" she asked immediately, not caring about Lu Yudong''s mood, only glancing at Yin Xuemo.


    Jiang Ci recognized her as the Yin Xuemo from the photos and the one her colleagues talked about.


    "In his room, first floor on the left. He''s asleep, so don''t disturb him," Lu Yudong said.


    It was Jiang Ci''s first time at Lu Yudong''s house, and he subtly guided her.


    Meanwhile, Yin Xuemo noticed the wedding photo of Lu Yudong and Jiang Ci on the wall.


    Her face turned pale instantly.


    "Why are you back so late?" Lu Yudong pulled Jiang Ci onto his lap, his lips naturally landing on her cheek.


    Yin Xuemo was also observing Jiang Ci: tall and slender, with flawless skin, large round eyes, a cute little nose, and cherry lips. Her features were delicate, and her hair was tied in a ponytail, giving her a youthful and vibrant look. Even without makeup, she was stunning.


    "And who is this sister?" Jiang Ci knew this woman was Yin Xuemo and understood that Lu Yudong was putting on a show for her, trying to make Yin Xuemo jealous. Jiang Ci was just a pawn in his game.


    Considering Lu Yudong couldn''t reach Jiang Ci by phone this morning, Jiang Ci cooperated willingly to appease his anger.


    Jiang Ci wrapped her arms around Lu Yudong''s neck, "I missed you too. Why are you back so late?"


    When Jiang Ci acted coy, she was very clingy, shaking Lu Yudong''s neck and speaking half-seriously.


    Her fresh scent wafted into Lu Yudong''s nose, making him feel so comfortable that he wished he could take her to bed right then.


    "Oh, by the way, you haven''t told me, who is this sister?" Jiang Ci glanced at Yin Xuemo.


    "Just an old friend."


    "Then, husband, I''ll go upstairs to put down my bag first." With that, Jiang Ci went upstairs, internally scoffing: An old friend?


    Who knows, Jiang Ci didn''t even know where Lu Yudong''s room was, but she pretended to be familiar with the house.


    The Mid-Levels Villa was so understatedly luxurious it was intimidating. Jiang Ci almost tripped on the stairs.


    "You''re married? You didn''t mention it last time," Yin Xuemo''s face was pale, forcing a smile.


    "You didn''t ask last time," Lu Yudong replied.


    Lu Yudong wasn''t sure what he was feeling. Perhaps Jiang Ci''s behavior this morning had left him very dissatisfied, so he used the pretense of making Yin Xuemo jealous to genuinely get close to Jiang Ci, planning to take it out on her later that night.


    "Is this your little wife?" Yin Xuemo asked Lu Yudong.


    Seeing the intimate scene between Jiang Ci and Lu Yudong, Yin Xuemo felt a surge of jealousy, wishing she could push Jiang Ci away and sit on Lu Yudong''s lap herself. But she had never sat on his lap before, and she wondered if they were putting on a show for her. Yet, it didn''t seem like it.


    "A wife is a wife, what''s with the ''little wife''?" Lu Yudong lit a cigarette, looking at Yin Xuemo with a hint of pride. "Is she good-looking?"


    Yin Xuemo tossed her head, not answering the question, only saying, "Your wife, your choice. I''m leaving."


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 Chapter 28 - This was Jiang Cis first time bargaining with him

    Lu Yudong found Jiang Ci in the study on the second floor.


    She was flipping through an English novel.


    "I need to talk to you about something," Lu Yudong knocked on the study door.


    Jiang Ci was startled, thinking he wanted to discuss the events of the morning.


    Lu Yudong headed towards his bedroom.


    Jiang Ci followed him nervously.


    After closing the door, Jiang Ci glanced around his room. The size and luxury exceeded her imagination; it was like another lavish home.


    Lu Yudong casually changed his clothes, inadvertently revealing his eight-pack abs, making Jiang Ci''s scalp tingle.


    She quickly turned her head away.


    Lu Yudong gave a sly smile, "What? Afraid to look? Or just pretending to be coy? We''ve already slept together and touched each other. Now you''re acting reserved? Or were you just pretending before?"


    "I wasn''t ''pretending.''" Lu Yudong''s words clearly implied Jiang Ci was obsessed with physical intimacy, making her blush.


    "Not ''pretending''? Then it must have been my imagination," Lu Yudong teased, buttoning up a gray home shirt, "You''ll need to move in and live with me from now on."


    "What?" Jiang Ci was surprised.


    Although she had guessed she might have to move in, hearing it from Lu Yudong still shocked her.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    "What do you mean ''what''? In Grandpa''s eyes, we''re a married couple. If you live outside every day, what does that mean? Are you cuckolding me or are we separated? I don''t want Grandpa to worry."


    Jiang Ci understood this logic. After all, five million was not a small amount, but she suddenly thought of Shao Zheng''s wish, and she couldn''t get that five million yet.


    When she would get it was still unknown.


    Jiang Ci steeled herself and licked her lips, "I want more money."


    Lu Yudong paused his buttoning, "How much more? Ten thousand a night?"


    Jiang Ci calculated. If one computer cost four thousand, two hundred would be eight hundred thousand, and five hundred thousand wasn''t enough.


    So, Jiang Ci steeled herself, "Ten thousand a night is too slow. One million, transferred immediately, and I''ll move in tonight."


    Lu Yudong had only two buttons left undone on his shirt, and he stopped buttoning, his chest half-exposed.


    He walked over to Jiang Ci, scrutinizing her. This intern was not as easy to control as he had anticipated.


    "Learned to bargain?" He stared sharply at Jiang Ci.


    "Prices rise with demand," Jiang Ci puffed out her chest, "Living together every day, I''ll be constantly worried about making mistakes, it''s exhausting."


    "If I don''t pay, you''ll quit, is that it?" Lu Yudong continued coldly.


    "Yes. After all, he''s your biological grandpa. Ethically speaking, to me, he''s just a stranger," Jiang Ci said righteously.


    Last Thursday, her words had hit the mark, and now, with Grandpa here, she seized the opportunity to demand a high price, leaving Lu Yudong no room to negotiate.


    This was Jiang Ci''s first time bargaining with him.


    A million at once, it was ruthless.


    "Aren''t you afraid I''ll divorce you?" Lu Yudong examined Jiang Ci''s flushed face.


    "Grandpa likes me a lot. If you divorce me, Grandpa will definitely be angry with you," a sly glint flashed in Jiang Ci''s eyes.


    "So you''ve got me figured out? Or do you think I''m just a fool with too much money?"


    "No, it''s that I''m worth every penny," Jiang Ci said shamelessly.


    Lu Yudong took a deep breath, transferred a million to Jiang Ci, and then growled, "Sleep here tonight, move your things in tomorrow, and don''t let Grandpa see."


    Jiang Ci finally breathed a sigh of relief. Two hundred computers, secured!


    During dinner, Jiang Ci chatted happily with Grandpa, becoming his source of joy.


    Even Grandpa said, "With Jiang Ci around, I can live a few more years."


    "May you live to a hundred, Grandpa," Jiang Ci said with a smile.


    From the corner of her eye, she saw Lu Yudong staring at her, probably thinking: living to a hundred means decades more, so divorce is out of the question.


    The next day, during her lunch break, Jiang Ci returned to her dorm to pack her things.


    Seeing Shao Zheng''s diary, Jiang Ci hesitated.


    In the end, she locked the diary in her suitcase.


    Not to mention that Lu Yudong had no interest in her things, even if he did, he wouldn''t know the password to her suitcase.


    In the afternoon, she took Lu Yudong''s car home, and when Grandpa wasn''t looking, she carried her suitcase upstairs. After unpacking her clothes, she placed the suitcase in an inconspicuous corner on the balcony.


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 Chapter 29 - Did he not hit you?

    This week, Jiang Ci made a special effort to keep Grandpa happy every day.


    Grandpa was all smiles, and Lu Yudong occasionally sent Jiang Ci money. Sometimes he didn''t, but Jiang Ci didn''t mind since she already had enough for the computer.


    On Sunday, Jiang Ci asked Lu Yudong for leave to attend a CPA training class.


    Unexpectedly, in the corridor of the training class, Jiang Ci ran into someone, her former colleague Yang Manni.


    "Manni? You''re taking the CPA exam too? I didn''t see you last time."


    Running into Yang Manni, Jiang Ci felt a bit guilty since staying at New East meant she took Yang Manni''s spot.


    "I just started at a new company and only signed up for the training class this Wednesday," Yang Manni said while sipping her coffee.


    "You found a new job?"


    Yang Manni replied nonchalantly, "Mr. Lu introduced me to a CPA firm. The salary is double that of New East. As long as I pass the exam, I''ll be a full-fledged accountant."


    Hearing this, Jiang Ci felt slightly relieved.


    At this moment, Chu Shuo walked over from the opposite side, and Yang Manni beamed with joy.


    She was here for Chu Shuo.


    Chu Shuo was Yang Manni''s senior at Hua University, and they shared the same master''s advisor. They had met several times at forums.


    Yang Manni had admired Chu Shuo for a long time.


    "Senior, I bought you a cup of coffee." Yang Manni eagerly handed another cup of coffee to Chu Shuo.


    Chu Shuo shook his head, "Thanks, but coffee keeps me awake. I don''t need it."


    With that, he frowned slightly and pulled Jiang Ci aside.


    "Did Lu Yudong do anything to you last time?" Chu Shuo asked with concern.


    Jiang Ci shook her head adorably, "No, why?"


    "I find him quite aggressive. I''m glad you''re okay. I was worried he might hit you!" Chu Shuo recalled the scene of his shirt being thrown out of the car by Lu Yudong.


    He scrutinized Jiang Ci''s face and asked, "What''s your relationship with Lu Yudong? Why did you get in his car that day?"


    This question stumped Jiang Ci.


    After all, her marriage to Lu Yudong was supposed to be a secret. Although Lu Yudong didn''t seem to care much about it later, she could sense that Lu Yule and Chu Shuo didn''t get along. If she told Chu Shuo about their private matters, Lu Yudong would definitely be unhappy.


    "We''re superior and subordinate at work, and friends in life..."


    Jiang Ci thought for a moment and chose to downplay the situation.


    "Just friends?"


    For some reason, hearing this, Chu Shuo visibly relaxed and seemed quite pleased.


    "Yes." Jiang Ci nodded, thinking to herself, sorry, but to avoid angering Mr. Lu, I have to keep this from you for now...


    The two continued talking quietly for a while, which caught Yang Manni''s attention. She clenched her fists tightly.


    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.Why does Jiang Ci have to compete with her for everything?


    Yang Manni secretly took a photo of Jiang Ci and sent it to her half-brother Yang Dong, along with a message: [Bro, do you like this girl? She''s my classmate. Very pretty. Come pick me up after class tonight and take a look.]


    Yang Dong replied with a mischievous emoji, agreeing.


    Yang Manni knew her brother loved to flirt and cause trouble, so she was sure something would happen!


    The class bell rang, and the students entered the classroom.


    Although Chu Shuo was lecturing, his gaze frequently drifted toward Jiang Ci.


    Yang Manni noticed this and felt a surge of jealousy.


    After class, Jiang Ci stayed in the classroom to read for a while.


    When she went downstairs and reached the lobby entrance, she saw a man with a roguish demeanor approaching, trying to touch her face.


    "Hey there, pretty girl."


    Jiang Ci glared at him coldly, "Who are you? There are cameras here. This is harassment."


    "Bro, what are you doing?" Yang Manni pretended to scold her brother, but she stood still, not caring about the consequences. The bigger the scene, the more she enjoyed it.


    "Come on, let me treat you to some lamb skewers." Without another word, Yang Dong reached out to grab Jiang Ci.


    Jiang Ci slapped Yang Dong''s face with a loud "smack."


    Yang Dong''s face burned instantly, his eyes bloodshot, "You dare hit me? How ungrateful."


    Seeing a fight about to break out, Yang Manni felt inexplicably delighted.


    Just as Yang Dong was about to slap Jiang Ci back, someone grabbed his hand.


    "This is a place for learning, not for your antics. Stop it!" The speaker was Chu Shuo, who had just come downstairs to find chaos in the lobby, with a thug harassing Jiang Ci.


    Seeing Chu Shuo protecting Jiang Ci like this, Yang Manni became even more furious.


    "Who are you? Her lover?" Yang Dong spat out foul words.


    "Watch your mouth," Chu Shuo''s eyes were blazing with anger; no one had ever spoken to him like that.


    "You fucking..." Yang Dong said, pulling a switchblade from his shoe.


    "Watch out!" Jiang Ci shouted when she saw it.


    Then, instinctively, she grabbed her bag and "whack," smashed it onto Yang Dong''s head.


    The bag''s zipper head hit Yang Dong perfectly, and with heavy books inside, his head split open, blood gushing out.


    The onlookers quickly dialed 110.


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 Chapter 30 - Hes my husband

    When the police arrived, Yang Dong was shoving Jiang Ci.


    The police took both Jiang Ci and Yang Dong away.


    Chu Shuo drove after them, but he could only linger outside the police station.


    The sky was overcast, and it started to rain, making Chu Shuo increasingly anxious.


    Eventually, the police asked Jiang Ci''s relatives and friends to pay for her bail.


    Jiang Ci was afraid Lu Yudong would find out about this, so she didn''t dare call him. Besides, they were only in a contractual relationship, and Lu Yudong had no obligation to help her.


    She called Jiang Yi.


    "Money? I don''t have money, just my life," Jiang Yi said before hanging up.


    Last time, after he drugged Jiang Ci, Jiang Yi was questioned by Chu Shuo and got scolded harshly, almost losing his job. He realized that his plan failed and only brought trouble upon himself.


    He held a grudge against Jiang Ci, so how could he help her?


    The "beep beep" sound from the phone made Jiang Ci feel extremely awkward; after all, this was her own brother.


    Jiang Ci hadn''t held much hope, but who else could she turn to if not her closest family?


    She didn''t want to trouble Chu Shuo either.


    "Can''t find anyone?" the police asked Jiang Ci.


    "No," Jiang Ci replied, feeling somewhat aggrieved.


    Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    The police looked into Jiang Ci''s social connections and discovered that she was married, and her husband was none other than the famous Lu Yudong.


    They called Lu Yudong.


    "Fighting? Her?" Lu Yudong''s voice was incredulous, but he remained calm. "I''ll be right there."


    At the detention center, the police explained the situation to him in detail.


    As Lu Yudong listened, his expression darkened. After paying Jiang Ci''s bail, the police released her.


    "Going to a training class and getting involved in such messy affairs?" Lu Yudong lit a cigarette at the entrance of the detention center and asked Jiang Ci, "Do you even understand what ''married'' means?"


    "How much was the bail? I''ll pay you back. Sorry for the trouble," Jiang Ci said, feeling guilty and aggrieved.


    "Planning to pay me back? Six thousand," Lu Yudong said mockingly, as if it was the biggest joke.


    This woman, who had just taken a million from him a few days ago, wanted to pay him back six thousand yuan.


    "Even between siblings, accounts should be clear," Jiang Ci said, taking out her phone and transferring six thousand yuan to Lu Yudong via WeChat.


    Lu Yudong didn''t look at his phone or accept the money.


    The wool comes from the sheep''s back; it was meaningless.


    "Don''t tell Grandpa," Jiang Ci pleaded.


    "I''m not interested in talking about your mess," Lu Yudong said as he walked out of the detention center lobby.


    Jiang Ci followed him closely, clutching her backpack.


    It was dark, and a fine drizzle was falling.


    Lu Yudong didn''t carry an umbrella, walking in the rain, the droplets forming beads on his hair.


    Jiang Ci felt a bit dazed. She was initially walking beside Lu Yudong, but his long strides left her behind.


    Lu Yudong never liked carrying an umbrella in the rain.


    Jiang Ci jogged a few steps, using her backpack to shield his head. She had to stand on tiptoe, being much shorter than Lu Yudong.


    "Why don''t you like carrying an umbrella in the rain?" Jiang Ci''s words were filled with genuine concern, sounding noticeably different. "What if you catch a cold?"


    Lu Yudong frowned slightly, glancing at Jiang Ci.


    "Usually, I just walk a few steps from the car in the underground garage. It''s not much rain," Lu Yudong replied succinctly.


    "Still, you should carry an umbrella," Jiang Ci advised earnestly.


    Lu Yudong said nothing.


    At the parking lot, Chu Shuo saw Jiang Ci coming out and hurried over to ask what had happened.


    Lu Yudong''s expression darkened even more.


    Jiang Ci felt even more embarrassed, as Lu Yudong had just mocked her for being surrounded by messy affairs.


    "Who are you to Jiang Ci?" Chu Shuo asked, seeing Lu Yudong''s indifferent face and Jiang Ci holding a bag over his head, feeling even more indignant.


    "You didn''t tell him?" Lu Yudong frowned slightly, turning to ask Jiang Ci.


    Jiang Ci didn''t answer. Despite the rain and the dirty ground, she awkwardly shuffled her feet.


    "Why didn''t you bail her out?" Lu Yudong questioned Chu Shuo, his demeanor unfathomable.


    "I didn''t know what was happening inside; no one called me."


    Lu Yudong smirked slightly, "But the police called me."


    "So, Jiang Ci, did you tell the police he was your friend?" Chu Shuo asked nervously. "You could have mentioned me too; I don''t mind the trouble."


    Lu Yudong gave a mocking smile, looking at Jiang Ci.


    Jiang Ci continued shuffling her feet, feeling extremely awkward.


    "Jiang Ci, Jiang Ci..." Chu Shuo had a bad feeling.


    "The police found out... he''s my husband."


    Chu Shuo: ...


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 Chapter 31 - Are you trying to coax me?

    "Let''s go." Lu Yudong pulled Jiang Ci''s hand, and the two of them got into the car.


    Chu Shuo stood there in a daze. Jiang Ci got married?


    He sent a WeChat message to Jiang Yi: "Your sister got married?"


    *


    In Lu Yudong''s car.


    "Why haven''t you told him yet?" Lu Yudong questioned Jiang Ci.


    Jiang Ci could only clutch her bag tightly. It was all her fault, she really shot herself in the foot.


    "I just didn''t feel comfortable." Jiang Ci lowered her head. It seemed it was time to explain the "fake boyfriend" situation.


    "What''s so embarrassing about getting married? Or are you afraid of cutting off his ambiguous path with you?" Lu Yudong said sarcastically.


    "No, it''s not like that..."


    "Isn''t he supposed to be interning? How come he''s accompanying you to class?" Lu Yudong asked again.


    Today, Lu Yudong maintained a cold tone that sent chills down one''s spine.


    "He''s a teacher at the training class, teaching me economic law."


    "So every time you go to the training, it''s to have a rendezvous with him?"


    "No, listen to me explain..."


    "In any case, you''re not allowed to go to the training class anymore!" Lu Yudong sternly ordered.


    Jiang Ci was anxious upon hearing this.


    "I paid eighteen thousand for this guaranteed pass class. They won''t refund the money." Jiang Ci said stubbornly.


    "You''re not going!" Lu Yudong said coldly, "I''ll give you one hundred eighty thousand. You''re not going! If you dare go, I''ll break your leg!"This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    Jiang Ci knew that struggling was futile, and the more she resisted, the more severely he would suppress her. So she leaned back on the car''s back seat in a huff and closed her eyes to rest.


    The car stopped at the Mid-Levels Villa, and Lu Yudong took out his phone and transferred one hundred eighty thousand to Jiang Ci.


    He transferred it directly into her account.


    Jiang Ci, still upset, took her backpack and left.


    She didn''t even have dinner and went to bed early.


    "What''s wrong with Little Ci?" Grandpa was very concerned about Jiang Ci, "Not having dinner?"


    "She''s sulking upstairs!"


    Grandpa laughed heartily, "Even if she''s sulking, you should let her be. After all, you''re much older than her."


    Lu Yudong didn''t respond.


    When he went upstairs, Jiang Ci was lying in bed with the blanket over her head.


    Lu Yudong yanked the blanket off her.


    "What are you doing?" Jiang Ci said angrily, squinting her eyes as they adjusted to the sudden light.


    "Being stubborn won''t change anything. You''d better accept it." Lu Yudong said coldly.


    Jiang Ci huffed, turned her back to him, and ignored him.


    It seemed she''d need to find another way to attend the training class.


    It wasn''t that Jiang Ci was particularly attached to the training class, but because there was nothing between her and Chu Shuo, wasting eighteen thousand was painful for her.


    Jiang Ci didn''t sleep well last night, and when she woke up in the morning, Lu Yudong was just standing by the bed getting dressed.


    Jiang Ci got up, picked up Lu Yudong''s shirt, and helped him put it on.


    Lu Yudong frowned slightly, unsure of what Jiang Ci was thinking, but her demeanor was gentle, like a model wife and mother.


    "Chu Shuo isn''t actually my boyfriend; I lied to you before." Jiang Ci slipped a sleeve onto Lu Yudong, her fingers brushing against his chest, the warmth and touch bringing a comforting feeling to Lu Yudong.


    "So, is there any truth in what you say?" Lu Yudong looked down at her.


    Though it was a reprimand, there was a hint of softness in his tone.


    Jiang Ci sensed his softening and felt encouraged, "When you asked me to marry you before, I didn''t want to, so I randomly made up a boyfriend as an excuse. It just so happened that he added me on WeChat, and I didn''t accept. When you asked for my boyfriend''s name, I just said his name. I didn''t expect there to actually be such a person, who turned out to be my brother''s boss''s son, a teacher at the training class. My brother wanted to introduce him to me, so he added me on WeChat."


    "You better be telling the truth!"


    "Of course, I''m telling the truth." Jiang Ci said as she buttoned his shirt, her innocent big eyes looking at him earnestly.


    "Are you trying to fool me?"


    "Is the great President Lu so easily fooled? You have intelligence and brains, who could possibly fool you?" Jiang Ci said with a tone of complaint.


    "He relentlessly pursues you, and you play hard to get. Maybe not now, but who knows in the future." Although Lu Yudong''s tone was softer, there was still a hint of displeasure.


    "I''m not that kind of person. Besides, I already have a husband. If I dared to cuckold my husband, he''d definitely break my leg." Jiang Ci moved closer to Lu Yudong''s chest.


    Lu Yudong said nothing and was about to leave.


    "Husband, just let me attend this training class. There''s nothing between me and Chu Shuo. That day, it was my brother''s scheme, and nothing happened between us." Jiang Ci called out to Lu Yudong.


    "We''ll talk about it later!"


    "Husband, our money is family money, just moving from one pocket to another. But the money paid to the training class truly goes into someone else''s pocket, and it pains me." Jiang Ci persisted.


    Sure enough, Lu Yudong''s anger subsided, "Let me know when you go to class, and have Aunt Fang accompany you each time!"


    "Thank you, husband."


    Jiang Ci was overjoyed and even mustered the courage to give Lu Yudong a peck on the cheek.


    She thought this would anger Lu Yudong, but he merely glanced at her and said nothing, seemingly quite pleased.


    Through this, Jiang Ci learned Lu Yudong''s soft spot; as long as she didn''t oppose him and praised him, everything would be fine.


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 Chapter 32 - Isnt she tired?

    On Sunday noon, Jiang Ci reported to Lu Yudong about the afternoon class at the training center.


    Lu Yudong was calmly sipping his soup, "Let Aunt Fang accompany you."


    "Husband, you really keep your word," Jiang Ci said happily.


    "No need to flatter me. If anything happens again, you can forget about going there forever," Lu Yudong said, wiping his hands with a napkin.


    Jiang Ci stuck out her tongue, thinking: Nothing can be hidden from Lu Yudong.


    At the training center, Jiang Ci saw Yang Manni.


    Unexpectedly, Yang Manni seemed evasive and a bit shaky, as if she was scared.


    "Jiang Ci, I''m really sorry about last time," Yang Manni said, "My brother shouldn''t have treated you that way."


    "It''s okay, you can''t control your brother," Jiang Ci said, understanding Yang Manni, perhaps because she also had a brother who was not very capable.


    This time, Yang Manni deliberately sat in a corner far away from Jiang Ci during the class.


    Jiang Ci was a bit puzzled.


    Chu Shuo came to class, and his gaze instinctively fell on Jiang Ci.


    Although Yang Manni was resentful, she could only lower her head and say nothing.


    Yang Dong''s leg was broken by Lu Yudong, who even made sure Yang Manni saw it, as a warning not to be foolish.


    It was the first time Yang Manni had seen the powerful Lu Yudong angry, how could she not be afraid?


    To avoid getting into trouble with Lu Yudong, Jiang Ci deliberately avoided Chu Shuo''s eyes and left the classroom as soon as the class ended.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Aunt Fang saw Jiang Ci and greeted her with a smile, "Madam, are you tired?"


    "Not tired, it was just one class," Jiang Ci said as she walked with Aunt Fang.


    Chu Shuo, behind them, frowned. Last time, Jiang Ci said Lu Yudong was her husband, and when he asked Jiang Yi, Jiang Yi flatly denied it. But now, the Lu family''s aunt personally came to pick up Jiang Ci, what was going on?


    Chu Shuo decided to investigate the matter himself.


    Two days later, Chu Shuo threw a copy of Jiang Ci and Lu Yudong''s marriage certificate in front of Jiang Yi.


    "See for yourself!"


    Chu Shuo was naturally very angry, especially since Jiang Yi had previously tried to introduce his sister to him.


    "What''s going on?" Jiang Yi looked at it, incredulous.


    "You ask me, who should I ask? You better not do such things in the future!"


    "Could these be fake?" Jiang Yi asked hesitantly.


    Chu Shuo smiled bitterly, "I have a friend at the Civil Affairs Bureau."


    With that, Chu Shuo left, feeling very disappointed. He never expected Jiang Ci to be married.


    Jiang Yi''s initial shock slowly turned into delight.


    Lu Yudong, someone he never dared to dream of, was actually his brother-in-law!


    No wonder Jiang Ci hired a caregiver for their mom without batting an eye.


    If he had known this, why did he bother arranging things between Jiang Ci and Chu Shuo, only to make Jiang Ci resent him!


    On Saturday, Jiang Yi went to Lu Yudong''s villa.


    Lu Yudong was surprised; he didn''t know Jiang Yi.


    "Is Little Ci not here?" Jiang Yi said, casually taking a seat on the sofa as if he were the "big brother-in-law."


    Jiang Ci visited their mom every Saturday without fail, and Jiang Yi knew she wasn''t there. He asked on purpose.


    "She''s not here, are you looking for her?" Lu Yudong frowned.


    "Oh, yes, brother-in-law."


    "Brother-in-law?" Lu Yudong asked with a slight frown.


    He realized who this person was¡ªJiang Ci''s unruly brother.


    "Yes, Little Ci just told me about your marriage. I understand there must be a reason for keeping it a secret, but don''t you think it''s a bit beneath your name for the brother-in-law of the great President Lu to still live in a shabby house? Shouldn''t you get me a villa? Also, about my job, you should change it. I''m currently driving for Chu Linsheng. If your subordinates hear about it, it won''t sound good," Jiang Yi said, trying to take advantage of Lu Yudong.


    "Chu Linsheng? Is Chu Shuo his son?" Lu Yudong asked, frowning deeply.


    "Yes. Also, our mom is sick and needs money. The hospital fee is a hundred thousand a month, plus ten thousand for the caregiver. Considering any unexpected situations, you should at least cover five years'' worth of expenses, right?"


    "How much do you want?" Lu Yudong asked calmly.


    Jiang Yi held up his hand, "Five million."


    Lu Yudong chuckled, seemingly amused by Jiang Yi''s unrealistic demands.


    "I can give you a job, but my money doesn''t come from the wind," Lu Yudong said coolly.


    "If you don''t give it, I''ll make Jiang Ci divorce you! Anyway, she and Chu Shuo are deeply in love, and Chu Shuo doesn''t mind her being divorced," Jiang Yi said, losing his temper and standing up from the sofa.


    "Talk to her first, then say that to me," Lu Yudong replied coldly.


    Seeing that neither soft nor hard tactics worked, Jiang Yi became angry and embarrassed, "I''ll go to your company and announce your marriage."


    "Really? I''d be grateful. It''ll help me fend off a lot of unwanted admirers," Lu Yudong laughed again.


    Jiang Yi: ¡­.


    Seeing that he couldn''t get anything from Lu Yudong, Jiang Yi left in anger and embarrassment.


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 Chapter 33 - Submitting and being obedient has proven effective time and again

    Lu Yudong called his subordinate to investigate the situation with Jiang Ci''s mother.


    He also specifically looked into what happened on the day he and Jiang Ci got married.


    The assistant reported that on that day, Jiang Ci''s mother had a lung congestion issue, and with the hospital fees, Jiang Ci needed to pay sixty thousand.


    Jiang Ci initially refused to marry him but then came back, and Lu Yudong finally understood why.


    She needed money.


    She had no feelings for him, nor was she playing hard to get.


    Lu Yudong felt a faint sense of disappointment.


    But there was one thing he didn''t quite understand. Considering the money he had given her, even excluding the impulsive eighteen thousand, it was over three hundred thousand, more than enough to cover the sixty thousand hospital fee. Moreover, he had told her that upon completing the task, she would earn no less than five million. So why did she insist on asking for that one million? Was she greedy?


    At three in the afternoon, Jiang Ci returned.


    "Was the food at Han Lan''s mom''s place good?" Lu Yudong asked Jiang Ci leisurely as he sat on the sofa.


    Jiang Ci''s excuse for not being around today was that she was going to Han Lan''s house for a meal.


    Han Lan''s family lived in the suburbs of Jiangzhou and returned every weekend.


    "It was delicious."Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    "Oh? What dishes did they make?"


    "Hmm?" Jiang Ci didn''t expect Lu Yudong to care about such trivial details. "They made Kung Pao Chicken, Sweet and Sour Pork, Braised Eggplant, just regular home-cooked dishes."


    Lu Yudong stared at her. "Jiang Ci, don''t you know that lying makes your nose grow?"


    "Huh? What lie? I didn''t lie." Jiang Ci''s eyes began to flicker, and her flushed ears betrayed her.


    "Taking care of your mom isn''t a bad thing, so why not just say it?"


    Lu Yudong seemed very disappointed in Jiang Ci and went upstairs.


    Jiang Ci stood there, stunned, thinking: How did he know?


    Last time, she told Chu Shuo that Lu Yudong was her husband, but Chu Shuo shouldn''t know about her mom''s hospitalization. Could he have asked Jiang Yi?


    Thinking of this, Jiang Ci felt a jolt and sent Jiang Yi a WeChat message: [Did you come to my place?]


    Jiang Ci didn''t reveal any information about her current situation, just a probing message. If Jiang Yi hadn''t contacted Lu Yudong, he would definitely find Jiang Ci''s question baffling.


    [Hey sis, your house is huge. I''ve never seen such a big villa in my life. I asked Lu Yudong for money, but he didn''t give it. Why don''t you give me a million? A million is nothing for a rich lady like you.]


    Seeing this, Jiang Ci got anxious and sent a single word: [Scram!]


    It seemed Jiang Yi had indeed tried to extort money from Lu Yudong.


    Suddenly, Jiang Ci felt very guilty towards Lu Yudong.


    She dropped her backpack and went upstairs, where Lu Yudong was changing clothes.


    Jiang Ci suddenly hugged him from behind, her face pressed against his back.


    Since last time, Jiang Ci had realized that acting soft and sweet in front of Lu Yudong always worked.


    "So, what is this about?" Lu Yudong asked, his voice much softer than before.


    Jiang Ci hugged him, enjoying the comforting sensation of skin-to-skin contact.


    "Do you know everything about my family?" Jiang Ci asked.


    "Your brother told me."


    Jiang Ci realized that Jiang Yi had indeed been there and had tried to extort Lu Yudong.


    "Ignore him. I don''t pay him any mind. I''ll apologize on his behalf. Is that okay, husband? I''m about to have exams, and once they''re over, I''ll stay home with Grandpa every day." Jiang Ci found Lu Yudong''s body very warm and comfortable, and her words were quite flattering.


    "Now you''ve learned to beg for mercy?"


    "It was my fault, after all."


    "Once you finish your exams, you won''t need to go to the training classes, right?"


    "Yeah."


    "The sooner you finish, the better." With that, Lu Yudong took a step forward and put on his shirt.


    Jiang Ci understood the implication: the sooner she finished her exams, the sooner she could stay away from Chu Shuo.


    Suddenly separated from Lu Yudong''s body, Jiang Ci felt a bit empty.


    Jiang Ci thought that Lu Yudong probably had a grudge against Chu Shuo, given how much trouble Chu Shuo had caused for this proud and aloof President Lu.


    Jiang Ci also felt that the sooner she finished, the better.


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 Chapter 34 - Ask for money for her deceased boyfriend

    The economic law exam was scheduled for Saturday from 5:30 to 7:30 in the afternoon.


    When Jiang Ci arrived at the exam venue, she realized she hadn''t brought her identity card. She couldn''t remember where she had left it.


    She was extremely reluctant to trouble Lu Yudong, but without his help, she wouldn''t be able to take the exam.


    She called Lu Yudong.


    "Honey, could you help me find my identity card? I forgot to bring it." Despite her urgency, she tried to keep her voice low when speaking to Lu Yudong.


    "Where''s your brain?" Lu Yudong''s voice was calm and indifferent.


    "I didn''t bring it, and it''s really urgent. Please, I''m begging you," Jiang Ci pleaded.


    "Hold on," Lu Yudong said before hanging up.


    He turned to Yin Xuemo, who was sitting on the sofa, and said, "Wait downstairs for a moment."


    "What''s going on?" Yin Xuemo asked with feigned concern.


    "Jiang Ci went for an exam and forgot her identity card," Lu Yudong replied as he headed upstairs.


    "Really? Then you should quickly go look for it," Yin Xuemo said with a fake smile.


    Yin Xuemo had come to the Lu family under the pretense of visiting Grandpa, who happened to be taking a nap.


    She had intended to chat with Lu Yudong, and with Grandpa not around, it gave her the perfect opportunity.


    As Lu Yudong was being ordered around by Jiang Ci to find her things upstairs, Yin Xuemo showed no expression, but inside, she was twisted with jealousy.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    Lu Yudong searched everywhere but couldn''t find it, so he asked Aunt Fang to help, thinking a woman would have a better idea of where things might be.


    He noticed a suitcase on the balcony, which belonged to Jiang Ci.


    He opened it easily, as the password was child''s play for him.


    He didn''t find Jiang Ci''s identity card, but he did find a notebook with a slightly worn cover.


    Lu Yudong had a feeling something was off. Since Jiang Ci had hidden it in such a secretive place, he picked it up to read.


    A photo fell out from inside. He picked it up and saw a very handsome man with a group of children. The man was strikingly good-looking.


    "Sir, sir, Madam''s identity card has been found. It was in the inner pocket of her old canvas bag, the one she washed, in the bathroom," Aunt Fang''s cheerful voice came from behind Lu Yudong.


    His thoughts were interrupted.


    "You take it to her. I''ll send you the address. Take a cab."


    "Okay," Aunt Fang said before heading downstairs.


    As she passed through the living room, Yin Xuemo saw Aunt Fang''s hurried demeanor and asked, "What''s going on, Aunt Fang? Where are you going?"


    "Oh, Madam''s identity card was found, and I''m taking it to her," Aunt Fang replied, quickly making her way out.


    Yin Xuemo thought to herself: Since the identity card has been found, why hasn''t Lu Yudong come down yet?


    At that moment, Lu Yudong was upstairs reading the diary, which was quite thick and seemed to record three years'' worth of entries.


    The owner of the diary was named Shao Zheng.


    His name and home address were written on the cover.


    Shao Zheng¡ªthis was the first time Lu Yudong had heard this name.


    Three years ago, Shao Zheng met that pure girl with the bright eyes and radiant smile, and he fell in love with her at first sight.


    They later started dating, studied together, ate in the cafeteria together, built snowmen in winter, and swam together in summer.


    They were the most harmonious couple in the world;


    The girl even met Shao Zheng''s parents, and they were just waiting for the day to register their marriage...


    Until Shao Zheng graduated and went to teach in the mountains.


    Almost every diary entry had a nickname: Little Ci.


    Little Ci was Shao Zheng''s girlfriend.


    Little Ci was Jiang Ci.


    Shao Zheng''s love letters to Little Ci were passionate and tender, filled with compassion for the children in the mountains and a benevolent heart.


    The last diary entry was only half a page, then it turned into Jiang Ci''s handwriting: We planned to register our marriage after graduation, but you will never return!


    Shao Zheng''s greatest wish was to provide 200 computers for the children at the school...


    Jiang Ci''s note was: I will definitely help you fulfill it.


    Lu Yudong''s mind slowly replayed: The day Grandpa came, Jiang Ci returned in a hurry, not answering calls before that; then he asked her to move to Grandpa''s house, and she asked for more money, which was unexpected for Lu Yudong, as it was the first time she haggled with him. If nothing else, that part of the money wasn''t for her mother, but for her first love.


    Realizing this, Lu Yudong clenched his fist tightly.


    For the first time in his life, he felt like he was being played for a fool.


    No wonder her attitude had been so gentle these past few days!


    Pleasing him was just a facade; the real reason was to get money for her deceased ex-boyfriend!


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 Chapter 35 - Business trip

    "Yudong, why haven''t you gone down yet?" At some point, Yin Xuemo had come up.


    Lu Yudong was in a heavy mood, even angrier, as he closed Shao Zheng''s diary. "I''m coming."


    Yin Xuemo had already approached.


    "What''s this?" Yin Xuemo picked up Shao Zheng''s photo from Jiang Ci''s suitcase.


    Yin Xuemo knew this was Jiang Ci''s suitcase; Yudong wouldn''t use such a low-grade suitcase.


    She also knew that the notebook in Lu Yudong''s hand was related to Jiang Ci.


    The reason Lu Yudong hadn''t gone down for so long was probably because he had discovered something.


    "Yudong, this man looks a lot like you." Yin Xuemo looked up, as if she had discovered a new continent.


    In fact, Shao Zheng only bore a slight resemblance to Lu Yudong, but with Yin Xuemo''s comment, it seemed like they were very similar.


    "Really?" Lu Yudong''s face was ashen as he forced a smile.


    Seeing Lu Yudong''s expression, Yin Xuemo continued, "Yes, especially when he smiles, he looks even more like you."


    "Let''s go downstairs." With that, Lu Yudong took the photo from Yin Xuemo''s hand, placed it back in the diary, and put everything back as it was.


    "Who is this person? Why does he look so much like you?" Yin Xuemo feigned ignorance, subtly sowing discord.


    "No one." Lu Yudong''s expression grew even more serious.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    After Yin Xuemo left, at nine o''clock, Jiang Ci returned with Aunt Fang.


    Aunt Fang had been waiting outside the exam hall for Jiang Ci to finish.


    Grandpa asked Jiang Ci how she did on the exam.


    "It went well, Grandpa. Thanks to you for helping me with so much international business law content, otherwise, I wouldn''t have passed." Jiang Ci said as she ate, ravenously hungry.


    Lu Yudong didn''t speak, as he was always reserved, and Jiang Ci didn''t mind.


    "Don''t flatter me." Grandpa beamed with joy.


    "No, I''m serious. I hadn''t studied international business law before; it''s like a whole different world." Jiang Ci said earnestly.


    Grandpa specialized in civil and commercial law, of which international business law is a part, as well as part of economic law.


    "Pack your things; you''re going on a business trip tomorrow," Lu Yudong said.


    "Hmm, a business trip? Where to?" Jiang Ci was a bit puzzled.


    "The finance department made a last-minute decision, and I agreed."


    Jiang Ci was still a bit confused, thinking: A business trip is a business trip, though I''ll miss Grandpa. But staying home all the time might lead to slip-ups.


    "Is Little Ci going on a business trip?" Grandpa, though reluctant, was an intellectual and knew he couldn''t hinder his granddaughter-in-law''s career development.


    "Yes."


    "For how long?"


    "Not sure. Depends on the situation."


    After dinner, they went upstairs.


    Lu Yudong said to Jiang Ci, "The business trip is just an excuse. You''re moving out; your dorm room has been empty."


    Jiang Ci nodded slowly, "Okay," not quite understanding why.


    "I''m afraid..."


    "Afraid you won''t be able to sleep?" Lu Yudong''s tone was slightly mocking.


    Jiang Ci blushed, "No, I''m afraid it might affect Grandpa."


    "It won''t. Your task is already completed."


    Lu Yudong was the client, and Jiang Ci didn''t overthink his words. Although they had lived together for over twenty days, they were far from being able to talk about everything, and their communication was still as limited as before, except they were now very familiar with each other''s bodies.


    "Then..."


    "I''ll still pay you, making up the five million."


    With Lu Yudong being so blunt about the money, Jiang Ci didn''t argue. After all, she was in it for the money, and she didn''t pretend to be noble. Since he put it that way, so be it.


    "I''ll go pack my things." With that, Jiang Ci went to the balcony, grabbed her suitcase, and quickly packed her clothes.


    Throughout all this, Lu Yudong watched coldly.


    The next day, after saying goodbye to Grandpa, Jiang Ci put her suitcase in Lu Yudong''s car.


    As Jiang Ci carried her luggage to the dorm, people started whispering again: "Broke up with Mr. Lu," "I guess Mr. Lu was just having fun, and when he got bored, he sent her back," "She came back in disgrace, how embarrassing."


    Then came the low chuckles.


    Jiang Ci returned to the dorm under everyone''s gaze.


    Han Lan knew Jiang Ci had moved back from Mr. Lu''s house with her suitcase. To avoid embarrassing Jiang Ci, she didn''t ask anything, only said, "Have you eaten? Let''s go to work together; it''s almost time."


    Jiang Ci didn''t pay attention to others'' gossip and quickly started another busy week.


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