Chapter 44.1

In fact, when Xu Yuan proposed this project plan, Meng Zhengrong had also considered it when he first took over Meng’s Corporation. It was a win-win situation, but its implementation wasn’t something that could happen within the next few years.

Even if Xu Yuan didn’t bring it up today, it would have been implemented within the next three years. However, anyone else could have proposed it, but not her.

Xu Yuan had no idea what kind of feelings Meng Zhengrong had when he heard her say those words.

Meng Zhengrong could accept emotions up to a point, but until Xu Yuan spoke those words, he hadn’t realized that his feelings for her had already exceeded his tolerable range.

This was a very dangerous signal. Perhaps even Meng Zhengrong didn’t understand that he just wanted to use this matter to have an argument with Xu Yuan to cool down his current feelings.

When Xu Yuan heard Meng Zhengrong opposing her proposal, she wasn’t surprised or disappointed. It was one of the outcomes she had anticipated and accepted without much difficulty. From Meng Zhengrong’s perspective, even if the company had a public welfare department, it was just for the company’s reputation and image. No businessman was truly a benevolent philanthropist.

She was the same. After all, her current identity was that of Meng’s boss’s wife. Even if she wanted to help Fang Mingyang, she never intended to sacrifice her own interests.

Xu Yuan nodded calmly and said, “Okay.”

Little did she know, Meng Zhengrong would have preferred if she had argued or made a fuss. Seeing her so calm only fueled his anger more.

Why was she so calm?

It was she who had provoked his anger, she who had shown excessive concern for her assistant, and now she was acting as if nothing had happened?

People in love, regardless of gender, tend to behave like unreasonable children.

If Xu Yuan argued, persuaded, or debated with him, he would be angry. If Xu Yuan remained calm and said nothing, he would also be angry.

“Xu Yuan, do you still remember your identity?” Meng Zhengrong looked at the teapot and teacups on the coffee table. He considered sweeping them to the floor in a fit of rage, but the thought of scaring her made him abandon the childish notion.

Xu Yuan understood that Meng Zhengrong was in a bad mood. She guessed he might have encountered some business difficulties. She realized it was not appropriate to bring this up today. In this atmosphere, the best thing to do was to avoid the situation and let him cool down.

Actually, Xu Yuan misunderstood Meng Zhengrong’s intentions.

She thought he was saying that she had no right to propose such policy changes, even if she was Meng’s boss’s wife, she had no say in the company.

In fact, what Meng Zhengrong wanted to say was, “Have you forgotten that you are no longer single? Have you forgotten whose wife you are?”

Xu Yuan stood up, looked at Meng Zhengrong, and calmly said, “Yes, I know. I was just making a suggestion. I won’t do it again.”

It was her recent interactions with Meng Zhengrong that made her forget herself, forget his identity, and forget the taboos of a businessman and decision-maker.

Arguing with Meng Zhengrong over Fang Mingyang’s matter was not worth it. Xu Yuan just wanted to end this conversation quickly.

Meng Zhengrong also stood up abruptly, grabbed Xu Yuan’s wrist, and forced her to look at him. “You know who this proposal is for,” he said.

Xu Yuan’s heart skipped a beat as she looked at him in surprise.

“Do I need to spell it out for you?” Meng Zhengrong, even in his anger, controlled his strength so Xu Yuan wouldn’t feel pain.

“What do you mean?” Xu Yuan’s mind raced, trying to gauge how much Meng Zhengrong knew and how to handle this situation without ruining the current peace.

“What do I mean? Fine, let’s clear this up. Do you remember what you said to me when you gave your meal card to your assistant? You said he was having a hard time because he’s your subordinate. Xu Yuan, do you know what kind of person you are? I do. If it were any other colleague, any other person, would you still have given them your meal card?”

Meng Zhengrong wasn’t particularly generous. Sometimes he tolerated Xu Yuan’s little schemes because of their relationship. But as time went on, he understood her character better. Xu Yuan was never a kind person; she was always aware of her status. If this situation had involved anyone else, she would have remained indifferent.

That’s why he had made a half-joking comment to warn her before, but she hadn’t taken it seriously.

Xu Yuan was stunned by Meng Zhengrong’s words. She looked at him and instinctively avoided his gaze.

Indeed, if Fang Mingyang didn’t have a face identical to her cousin’s, she wouldn’t have cared at all.

She wasn’t a savior or a philanthropist; everyone had their struggles and hardships, and she couldn’t help everyone.

Heaven wouldn’t be kinder to her because of her kindness.

Seeing Xu Yuan not responding, Meng Zhengrong laughed angrily, “See? You know it yourself. Just because I don’t say it doesn’t mean I’m unaware.”

He thought she was trying to win people over, so he hadn’t made a fuss before. But now, he realized she wasn’t as he had imagined.

Xu Yuan’s lips moved, wanting to say something, but realizing anything she said now would be a weak defense.

Since it had come to this, there was no point in trying to smooth things over. Meng Zhengrong didn’t want to hide anything anymore. He believed that Xu Yuan and that person had nothing going on, but he wanted to quash any potential ideas she might have. He wanted her to understand that because he liked her and she was his wife, he had a lot of patience with her. However, some things were his bottom line, and not even she could cross them.

“And that lunch box today, what did you tell me? You said your assistant bought you some white fungus soup…”

Xu Yuan looked at Meng Zhengrong, sensing something ominous. Could his anger today be related to the white fungus soup?

Could Fang Mingyang have done something inappropriate?

Yes, she suddenly remembered, Meng Zhengrong had taken the white fungus soup Fang Mingyang bought for her today…

“I opened it and saw it wasn’t white fungus soup at all. Do you know what it was? It was a bird’s nest!”

Xu Yuan was taken aback. At first, she didn’t react, but when she did, she looked at Meng Zhengrong in disbelief.

Her reaction slightly calmed Meng Zhengrong’s anger.

It seemed she was completely unaware.

Meng Zhengrong had his own thoughts. He had been contemplating all afternoon about how to handle this situation best. Even though he was angry about Xu Yuan’s suggestion, he was still rational.

Forcing her to give up any inappropriate thoughts wasn’t what he wanted.

If this wasn’t handled well, all his efforts over the past few days would be in vain. His relationship with Xu Yuan could become even more strained. It wasn’t worth it for someone like Fang Mingyang.

“You didn’t know? Didn’t you say your assistant was struggling? How could he afford to buy you a bird’s nest if he was struggling? I also found out he has a father with cancer who needs money for treatment. How could he have extra money to buy you a bird’s nest, Xu Yuan? You’re not a child. Between adults, especially between men and women, there’s always a reason for being nice.”

Meng Zhengrong wasn’t being overly suspicious. Fang Mingyang’s actions were truly questionable. With a struggling family, why would he buy a bird’s nest for Xu Yuan? If not for ulterior motives?

Anyone who could get hired at Meng Corporation had to be capable and skilled. Fang Mingyang was still in his probation period and already trying to curry favor with his superior?

Meng Zhengrong didn’t believe Fang Mingyang had no feelings for Xu Yuan.

Xu Yuan, who had remained calm at first, now didn’t know how to handle the situation.

Fortunately, she kept her head clear. She could deal with Fang Mingyang’s matter later. Now, the priority was how to end this argument with Meng Zhengrong without damaging their relationship.

Their relationship was developing well, and she didn’t want to revert to their initial cold mode.

“I didn’t know,” Xu Yuan replied calmly, “I had no idea it was a bird’s nest. I just asked him to buy white fungus soup from the cafeteria every day. If you don’t believe me, you can check with the cafeteria.”

She couldn’t understand why Fang Mingyang would buy her bird’s nest. This matter could be dealt with later. What needed to be clarified now was that this had nothing to do with her; she knew nothing about it!

This situation was dangerous. If she didn’t explain it well, Meng Zhengrong could easily misunderstand.

“Is that the point?” Meng Zhengrong pinched the bridge of his nose. “The point is, he bought you a bird’s nest without your knowledge. Do you think his intentions are pure? And after this, you still proposed a new policy for someone like him? Xu Yuan, I’m a man, not a broad-minded one.”

Xu Yuan remained silent, thinking about how to soothe Meng Zhengrong’s emotions.

Meng Zhengrong continued, trying to stir Xu Yuan’s guilt, “I hadn’t planned to bring up the bird’s nest…”

He would have mentioned it even without today’s incident.

“I trust you. We’re together every day, so I didn’t want this to affect our relationship. I believe that if you knew someone had ulterior motives, you’d handle it. But my trust in you became a joke after your proposal.”

Meng Zhengrong’s words had the intended effect.

Despite knowing his intentions, Xu Yuan couldn’t help feeling guilty.

No matter her reasons or excuses, she couldn’t explain them to others. Even if she did, Meng Zhengrong might not believe her.

In any case, from an outsider’s perspective, she was in the wrong, and she felt guilty.

Xu Yuan was about to hug Meng Zhengrong for reconciliation when he seemed to see through her thoughts and uncontrollably asked, “Xu Yuan, do you like me?”