"Mr. Lu, this is the result of the budget for this project." Ke Yaru smiled as she placed the file in front of him. After a brief pause, as if remembering something, she spoke again, "Zhengting, last week your mother called and said she misses Xiaohan very much. I think she'll probably come back to see him."
Upon hearing this, Lu Zhengting's expression remained unchanged. He lifted his eyes and glanced indifferently at Ke Yaru. "I see."
Ke Yaru felt disappointed by his cold demeanor, yet it seemed she was used to it. She let out a self-deprecating laugh, skipped the topic, and asked casually, "Zhengting, I heard you came to the company with Assistant Xia today?"
Lu Zhengting looked down at the file, the pen in his hand signing his name with fluid yet forceful strokes—his handwriting as sharp as the man himself. Closing the file, he noticed Ke Yaru still lingering in the office and furrowed his brow. His cold gaze swept over her as he let out a low, affirmative "Mm."
Seeing this, Ke Yaru quickly suppressed the turmoil inside her and stared at him intently. "Zhengting, Assistant Xia is just your assistant. Do you know what people in the company are saying now? They're saying Xia Yan will be the future mistress of the Lu family!"
"The mistress of the Lu family—she's worthy of it."
Ke Yaru's eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at the man who said this so seriously. "Zhengting, are you saying Xia Yan... like the rumors in the company? You'll marry her?"
"Why not?"
"Why not? Zhengting, don't forget that with Xia Yan's background and abilities, she's nowhere near worthy of you. And if your mother finds out about Xia Yan, she'll definitely oppose it." Ke Yaru dared not underestimate Xia Yan, nor could she dismiss Lu Zhengting's words as idle talk. She could ignore anything else, but not his words—because she knew this man. She understood that if Lu Zhengting said something like this in front of her, it meant he was already prepared to marry Xia Yan.
If that were true, what had her years of silent waiting been for? To pave the way for someone else?
Hearing Ke Yaru's words, Lu Zhengting couldn't help but frown, his expression darkening. "This is none of your concern. Get out."
"Zhengting, you... you know your mother won't like Xia Yan..." Ke Yaru caught the anger in his expression and swallowed the rest of her words. It felt like a fishbone stuck in her throat, the bitterness and resentment churning inside her.
After Ke Yaru left, Lu Zhengting stared gloomily at the mottled light cast on the floor by the sun through the glass. His knobby fingers lightly tapped his chin. Ke Yaru's words had planted a bomb in his heart. He knew his mother's temperament well, so he had already anticipated her disapproval of Xia Yan.
Meanwhile, Xia Yan was in her office, rubbing the sore inner part of her thigh while cursing Lu Zhengting under her breath. Couldn't that man show some restraint? Now she was suffering in silence. Just as she was enjoying her rant, she heard noise and hurried footsteps outside. She pursed her lips and slowly got up to check what was happening, but before she reached the door, Xiaohan pushed it open from the outside, his face beaming.
"Sister Yan, you said you'd take me to the amusement park again, but you never followed up!"
Faced with Xiaohan's well-meaning reminder, Xia Yan silently glanced at the crowd behind him. Keeping her composure, she crouched down and ruffled his hair. "Xiaohan, be good. I'll take you when I get some time off."
Xiaohan looked at her suspiciously and asked in a soft voice, "Really? But you said that last week, and you still haven't taken me."
Hearing this, Xia Yan gave an awkward laugh. "That was my fault last time. But this time, I mean what I say. As soon as I have a day off, I'll take you."
Xiaohan pouted, then suddenly flashed a mischievous grin at her. "Fine, I'll trust you then."
Just as Xia Yan breathed a sigh of relief, Xiaohan changed the subject. "Sister Yan, I won't bother you at work. I'm going to find Dad."
There was nothing wrong with Xiaohan looking for Lu Zhengting, so Xia Yan didn't think much of it. Watching him run off cheerfully, she couldn't help but smile. That kid was really considerate.
At the end of the workday, Xia Yan was about to text Lu Zhengting to meet in the parking garage when Xiaohan appeared at her office door and announced loudly, "Sister Yan, Dad told me to come find you first. He'll finish up his work, and then we'll go home together."
Xia Yan's office was next to Secretary Zhou's, and Xiaohan's voice carried. Anyone nearby could hear him. When everyone turned their surprised gazes to Xia Yan, her expression twisted like she was constipated, torn between love and frustration for the boy.
She strode over, took his hand, and pulled him inside, closing the door. She looked at him seriously. "Xiaohan, why did you say that in front of so many people?"
Xiaohan rubbed his head, confused. "What's so strange about that? Why can't I say it in front of them?"
"Well... it's not a good impression."
"Ugh, I don't get you adults. It's so exhausting." Xiaohan frowned, walked over to a chair, placed his hands on the armrests, jumped up, and plopped down like a little adult.
Xia Yan couldn't help but laugh at him. "You little rascal, always so talkative."
"Sister Yan, it's not that I'm talkative—it's that what I say makes sense." Xiaohan sat there boldly, and Xia Yan suddenly felt he carried the same aura as Lu Zhengting.
Xia Yan didn't have much to handle. It was no secret that Xiaohan loved sweets, so the company staff often sent treats to Xia Yan's office for him. Listening to him munch happily, she looked up from her files with a doting gaze. But when she saw the pile of desserts in front of him, her expression shifted, and she got up and walked over.
With a sweep of her arm, she pushed most of the sweets aside. "Xiaohan, you can't eat these anymore."
"Why not?"
"If you eat too much, you'll have trouble digesting it, and then your stomach will hurt. Remember how it felt last time? Do you want to go through that again?" Xia Yan's stern expression startled Xiaohan. Before he could respond, the office door swung open.
Ke Yaru saw Xia Yan's serious face and Xiaohan's bewildered look. Her expression changed instantly as she strode over and, without a second thought, raised her hand to slap Xia Yan. Caught off guard, Xia Yan didn't expect Ke Yaru to strike her in the company. She dodged, but Ke Yaru's nails scraped across her neck, leaving several red marks.
"What right do you have to scold Xiaohan? Xia Yan, don't think that just because you've earned Lu Zhengting's favor, you can act one way in front of him and another behind his back! I'm warning you—if I ever see you scolding Xiaohan again, it won't end with just a slap!"
Xia Yan was stunned, and Xiaohan hadn't reacted either.
Only the three of them were in the office—whether anyone was peeking or eavesdropping outside was unknown. Feeling the sting on her neck, Xia Yan snapped back to reality. Her expression turned cold as she glared at the arrogant Ke Yaru. She touched the scratch on her neck, her mood souring. She could take any loss except one from Ke Yaru.
Lowering her head, she sensed Ke Yaru's dismissiveness. Seizing the moment, she suddenly raised her hand. *Slap.* The sound echoed as her palm connected with Ke Yaru's face. She hadn't used full force, but at least seventy percent—enough to make Ke Yaru feel it.
Two crisp slaps rang out in the office. Xiaohan, still sitting in his chair, didn't seem scared at all. Instead, he looked a bit frustrated and annoyed. He quickly jumped down, grabbed Ke Yaru's hand, and said softly, "Auntie, you've got it wrong. Sister Yan wasn't scolding me—she was just telling me not to eat too many sweets."
Then he took Xia Yan's hand and turned to her. "Sister Yan, Auntie didn't mean it. She was just worried I was being mistreated."
Hearing this, Xia Yan softened her icy expression, crouched down, and pulled Xiaohan into a hug. "Sister Yan won't hold it against her," she said gently.
Ke Yaru was still reeling from the slap. She was used to being the one hitting others, and now Xia Yan had caught her off guard. Furious, she shook off Xiaohan's hand and pointed at Xia Yan. "You hit me?"
Xia Yan frowned, mindful of Xiaohan's presence and his words, so she ignored Ke Yaru, treating her like she didn't exist. But the more she ignored her, the angrier Ke Yaru became. Ke Yaru yanked Xiaohan to her side and spat, "Xia Yan, don't think you can act recklessly just because Lu Zhengting has your back. I'm telling you, don't get too cocky—Xiaohan's real mother is still around."
When Xia Yan didn't respond, Ke Yaru pressed on with a cold laugh. "Xia Yan, I can't wait to see the day Lu Zhengting dumps you and you end up miserable."
Xiaohan could feel the tension between them and knew he was the trigger. But he liked Sister Yan, and she was his aunt—it was hard to choose sides. Luckily, Lu Zhengting arrived in time to stop the brewing storm.
Xia Yan's skin was naturally fair and delicate; even a little pressure left red marks. Lu Zhengting knew this well. When he saw the scratches on her neck that she couldn't hide, a chill flashed in his clear eyes, and his voice turned icy.
"What are you two doing?"
"Dad, you're finally here." Xiaohan broke free from Ke Yaru's grip and shot Lu Zhengting a look of exasperation.