After Jing Yichen left, Shangguan Ning got out of bed and got dressed for work. She drove to the company.
Although she was Jing Yichen’s assistant and reported directly to him, she knew that she was constantly judged by so many of her colleagues, everyday. To add to it, Lu Qing too, was a hard taskmaster.
She had used up her lunch break to meet Jing Yiran, and then Jing Yichen ended up dropping her back home. She had overshot the lunch break by more than a couple of hours.
On her arrival at work, Lu Qing chided her for being late and told her to take her work seriously. They then continued with their research at the Department of Public Relations.
There were many beautiful girls in this department, because it handled Public Relations and it was good for the company’s image, if its employees were presentable. Each of these women though, was a curious cat who loved to indulge in idle gossip. She had been asked, on more than one occasion, about the nature of her relationship with Jing Yichen.
The gossip had gradually subsided after they got to know that she was married. But that didn’t mean that everybody had lost complete interest in Shangguan Ning’s personal life.
There was someone who was still gossiping, Mi Xiaoxiao for example, who was her responsible guide at the Department.
Mi Xiaoxiao was 170cm tall, a graduate from a prestigious university and a girl born in a literary family. She had an oval face and a pair of long legs, a wealthy beauty.
She was always bothered about Shangguan Ning’s whereabouts. She had been in way too many relationships and wasn’t interested in Jing Yichen, but always encouraged Shangguan Ning to meet more people.
“Shangguan, why are you late today? Did you have a lunch date with a hunk?”
A woman’s instinct tended to be en pointe, more often than not. Mi Xiaoxiao’s random speculation had hit bull’s eye.
Shangguan Ning relied, “I’m married. I have no time to date any men.”
“So you’re not dating just because you’re married? Let me tell you, men shouldn’t be spoiled because they tend to get complacent if they know you’re totally devoted to them. I loved my first boyfriend unconditionally,but he ended up sleeping with my best friend. And then he blamed me for being too obedient and lacking passion. The bastard!”
Shangguan Ning couldn’t help thinking how Mi Xiaoxiao’s first relationship was very much like her first. Only their coping mechanisms were different. Both women had their share of trust issues, so while Mi Xiaoxiao kept switching boyfriends, Shangguan Ning held herself from becoming too attached to her husband, Jing Yichen.
Mi Xiaoxiao’s advice still echoed in her ears. “…you shouldn’t let them get complacent. You should make your man feel threatened every now and then.”
Mi Xiaoxiao continued with her barrage of prying questions. “Why is your husband so irresponsible that he has never come to pick you up from work ? I don’t think he loves you. Just get divorced and try to floor the President with your charm. You work with him in such proximity; it should be easier for you than anyone else. You are good-looking, and have a great body. Few men can resist you!”
Shangguan Ning had never met anyone who was so bothered about someone else’s personal affairs.
Besides, if she got divorced and went after Jing Yichen, she was simply picking up the stones to smash her own feet.
“Why don’t you try to charm him, if you think the President is such a catch?” Shangguan Ning asked Mi Xiaoxiao, in jest.
“Me? I can’t. I am not his type and he is not my type either. He is too cold. I like passionate men!”
Shangguan Ning couldn’t help but ask curiously, “How do you know his taste?”
“It’s very simple. Opposites attract. He is stubborn and complicated, just like me. What would the both of us do together? He would want to be with someone who was simple and loving.. someone like you. Just like how I prefer men who are outgoing and have a sense of humour.”
She had always thought that Jing Yichen was a cold and distant man, but he was actually quite gentle in heart.
But Mi Xiaoxiao had been correct in her overall assessment.
Shangguan Ning chuckled when she thought of Jing Yichen’s reaction if were he to hear what his employees thought of him.
As they were talking, Ai, another colleague, sprinted in and said, “There is a woman outside. She claims to be our President’s fiancée. She’s American and everyone says that our President went to America, to fetch her.”
The entire department fell silent.
Shangguan Ning’s expressions froze and she felt suffocated.
The silence in the office lasted for a few seconds before mayhem broke out. The staff stormed out of the office so as to take a look at their President’s fiancée.
Within one second, Shangguan Ning and Mi Xiaoxiao were the only two left in the entire Department of Public Relations.
Mi Xiaoxiao was still shocked by the news they had just heard. She happened to turn around and saw that Shangguan Ning was turning pale. She held onto her and asked, “What is wrong, Shangguan? Are you feeling unwell?”
Shangguan Ning shook her head in the negative. After a moment of silence, she said in a low voice, as if making a huge decision, “Xiaoxiao, let’s go and take a look outside.”
Seeing Shangguan Ning’s weird reaction, Mi Xiaoxiao asked her sceptically, “Shangguan, I hope you haven’t fallen for the President?”
Shangguan Ning replied calmly, “No, I am married. How can I fall for him?”
Mi Xiaoxiao’s gossip antennae told her otherwise, but she had no time to prod Shangguan Ning. She was distracted by the more striking and attractive gossip of President’s fiancée very soon. The two women ran out and joined the chaos.
The Jingsheng Enterprise lobby was full of familiar faces. Only one face stood out. The woman in question was tall and slender. She had long hair.
Apparently, this woman was none other than the President’s fiancée.
Anna and Cathy, two employees who were lobby managers, were still on the phone. They knew the rules. No one was allowed to visit the President’s office on the 76thfloor, without prior approval. The visitor couldn’t be sent upstairs, even if she claimed to be the President’s fiancée.
Out of all the President’s managers, only Lu Qing was currently in office. Shangguan Ning, who had been the assistant to the President for barely over one month, was standing on the first floor and staring dumbfounded, at the fiancée of her own husband.