Chapter 16: Friendly and In-depth Exchanges

Chapter 16

"What are you doing?" Yu Sheng's gaze gradually darkened.

Li Zhen's palms were sweating. The sticky feeling made her even more nervous.

Suddenly, Qiao Yi sat down across from Li Zhen. "Li Zhen, yesterday the general manager asked you to get Lu Yanming's signature on those documents. Did Lu sign them already?"

Li Zhen looked up to see Qiao Yi quickly blinking at her.

Li Zhen understood almost instantly. "Signed already. He had me take them back down yesterday."

Yu Sheng pondered for two seconds, his gaze sharp. "What documents? Why were you hem-hawing when I just asked?"

Before Li Zhen could respond, Qiao Yi spoke up. "President Yu, it was my resignation report. I didn't have time yesterday, so after the general manager signed, he had Li Zhen bring it upstairs." Qiao Yi's back was soaked in sweat.

Facing Yu Sheng's eyes that seemed to see through everything, she was barely holding it together.

Just now, after she and Zhang Xiya returned to the office, Zhang Xiya insisted she wasn't full.

Qiao Yi had no choice but to come back for more food. Passing their table, she overheard Yu Sheng interrogating Li Zhen.

"Li Zhen, go back to the office and get it from me quickly. The general manager wants it now."

"Okay, let's go." Li Zhen didn't want to stay a second longer.

Once out of the cafeteria, Li Zhen patted her chest. "Good thing you bailed me out! You turned that around quickly. Solid excuse!"

"Don't compliment me. My back is soaked!" Facing Yu Sheng's piercing eyes felt like torture even for Qiao Yi.

She and Zhang Xiya had just returned to the office when Zhang Xiya complained she was still hungry.

Qiao Yi had no choice but to come back for more food. Passing their table, she overheard Yu Sheng interrogating Li Zhen.

"That won't work. Yu Sheng is very prudent. He may go confirm with Lu and our GM..." Li Zhen worried he would stubbornly dig for the truth.

"Don't worry, I'll give the GM a heads up."

Recalling what just happened, Li Zhen felt she owed her subordinate an explanation. "Lu and I are actually..."

"You don't have to say it. I get it." They had reached the legal department entrance. Qiao Yi stepped back and lowered her voice: "Yesterday, seeing you at the company entrance, Lu was thunderstruck. Then he abused his power to coerce you into servicing him. But you and Yu Sheng are the real deal. Today Yu Sheng almost found out. As just a general manager, he's no match for the VP. So for love you endure in silence, not daring to reveal to your beloved that Lu coerced you. Right?"

Qiao Yi always looked utterly serious.

Her measured tone almost convinced Li Zhen, who knew the truth.

Li Zhen: ...I'll give you the pen. You write it!

Qiao Yi couldn't help laughing. "Kidding! At a glance you can tell Lu isn't the type to indulge in pleasures. I understand why you were anxious. The company prohibits office romances. Yu Sheng is too sensitive, making a big deal of normal colleague interactions."

Li Zhen hung her head guiltily.

Last night she had seduced Lu Yanming with her charms.

"What me? If you can't speak properly, get your head examined. Or pay me to teach you!" Li Zhen said arrogantly.

Yet her actions were the opposite— heading for the exit.

Her vicious tongue felt great, but she couldn't exactly squat in the VIP room.

Duan Zhixin perked up at this. "Seems the one needing a re-examination is you!"

Li Zhen pretended not to hear, though she had already cursed out Duan Zhixin's ancestors dozens of generations back.

She had only taken two steps when the manager respectfully blocked her path with a bow. "Ms. Li, please sit. We did not mistake you."

Li Zhen was slightly startled.

The manager's eyes flicked to Li Yanran and Duan Zhixin. "Ms. Li Zhen, Young Master Yu is our gold card member. You're his companion tonight, so naturally you should be served here."

Hearing this, Li Yanran was shocked.

Her gaze stabbed Li Zhen like knives.

This private custom boutique catered to high society clientele. Not just the clothes, even simple accessories were exorbitantly priced. In recent years the Li family's important occasion outfits had come from here, but they had never entered the VIP room.

No wonder the Li family was suddenly enjoying this treatment today.

Because of Yu Sheng!

Li Yanran had tried getting close to Yu Sheng before, drawn only by his flawless looks, build, and that aloof, coldly handsome air.

But now, from this one minor incident, she truly realized for the first time that Yu Sheng could provide his partner a lofty status lording over others, a class leap beyond reach, and unimaginable extravagant wealth.

Li Yanran had never envied and hated Li Zhen as much as she did right now.

She had also never wanted to replace Li Zhen as much as now.

Duan Zhixin lacked Li Yanran's restraint. Her voice instantly turned shrill. "Young Master Yu is Young Master Yu. She is her, just a filthy mongrel. A cheap mistress. How can she compare with Young Master Yu!"

Li Zhen's anger flared.

But before she could react, there was a loud "slap"!

A man's heavy palm cracked down on Duan Zhixin's face with daunting force.

Duan Zhixin's body jerked sideways. She stumbled back two steps and crashed to the floor. Her head buzzed as blood gushed from her mouth.

The VIP room occupants gasped in fright.

You could hear a pin drop.

All eyes turned to the newcomer.

Yu Sheng's tall, coldly handsome form exuded an intimidating aura. His chin tilted up arrogantly as his dark eyes looked down at Duan Zhixin, her mind already growing hazy on the floor.

"Go home and ask your father if the Duan family is too idle lately, provoking me, Yu Sheng!"