《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."


    If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    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."


    If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    "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.


    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    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.