Chapter 18

When they left the hospital, Grandma Xiang seemed not only in a better mood but also noticeably healthier than when they first arrived.

Even the caregiver attending to her found it remarkable, thinking Grandma Xiang’s happiness was solely because her grandson had come to visit.

Outside, Cheng Li remained silent as they walked.

Rong Qi turned slightly to glance at her and said indifferently, “You don’t mind, do you?”

“Huh?” Cheng Li instinctively looked at him, then belatedly asked, “Mind what?”

“I just made up that matchmaking story to cheer up Grandma,” Rong Qi said.

So that’s what he meant.

Cheng Li nodded immediately. “Of course, I understand. Grandma being so happy is good for her recovery. Didn’t the caregiver just mention how much better her complexion looked this afternoon?”

Her response was calm and sincere, leaving Rong Qi silent for a long moment.

Seeing that he didn’t reply, Cheng Li took the initiative to continue, “Actually, it wasn’t entirely made up, was it?”

Rong Qi turned his head, his gaze fixed on her.

Cheng Li straightened her back slightly and said matter-of-factly, “The more I think about it, the more it sounds like you’re talking about me.”

She could understand Rong Qi’s reasoning.

This was like giving Grandma Xiang an early heads-up to prepare her. That way, when they eventually told her about their marriage, it wouldn’t be too much of a shock for her heart to handle.

After all, Cheng Li wasn’t sure if the news would bring more joy or more surprise to Grandma Xiang.

“Mrs. Rong,” Rong Qi said, his tone lazy and slightly teasing.

Although Cheng Li was gradually getting used to him suddenly calling her name, at this moment, when he addressed her with those two words, her heart inexplicably started pounding.

She tried her best to suppress any changes in her expression and looked at him calmly.

Rong Qi’s dark eyes held a faint smile. “You must have learned about a rhetorical device in school.”

“Which one?” Cheng Li asked earnestly.

“Exaggeration.”

“…”

Cheng Li had been patiently listening, but his words suddenly ignited a competitive spark in her.

Tilting her chin slightly, she challenged, “Then tell me, what’s so exaggerated about being tall, well-educated, good-tempered, and attractive…”

Her voice trailed off as she spoke.

Tall, well-educated, and good-tempered—those were facts.

As for being attractive, that was subjective.

Even dazzling celebrities couldn’t be universally considered beautiful.

Even if she was objectively good-looking, there might still be people who failed to see it.

With a touch of sympathy, Cheng Li looked at Rong Qi and deliberately asked, “Are you saying that someone like me doesn’t count as attractive in your eyes?”

Rong Qi said nothing.

By this time, they had reached the ground floor. Cheng Li deliberately shook her head slightly.

“Not attractive enough? That can’t be right.”

Finally, Rong Qi sighed as if he had no choice, looked up, and said in a low voice, “Attractive.”

Cheng Li wasn’t satisfied with his perfunctory tone and let out a small huff. “Not sincere enough.”

She had only been speaking casually as they walked, but in the next moment, Rong Qi lightly grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.

Cheng Li froze in place. When Rong Qi gently placed his hands on her shoulders, her mind momentarily blanked.

He lowered his face slightly, his deep, dark eyes locking onto hers as he enunciated every word: “Especially attractive.”

Es-pe-cial-ly at-trac-tive.

Each word fell from his lips and landed squarely in her heart.

After letting go of her, Rong Qi casually slid his hands back into his pockets, raised his chin slightly, and asked nonchalantly, “Was that sincere enough this time?”

Cheng Li recalled the look in his eyes just now.

Beneath the dark depths of his gaze, it was as if a volcano lay hidden, ready to erupt.

Feeling a bit flustered, Cheng Li quickly averted her eyes.

Rong Qi released her and walked ahead leisurely.

Cheng Li let out a small breath, realizing belatedly that she seemed to have grown accustomed to Rong Qi’s manner of speaking.

Sometimes, she could even find ways to counter his words.

The distance between them was no longer as cold and unfamiliar as it had been at the start.

Perhaps this was a good beginning.

Even if their marriage was only in name, they still had to put effort into managing their relationship.

*

In the morning, Cheng Li took out an outfit she had bought earlier and put it on.

The white blouse had a large bow at the front, adding a touch of sweetness to its otherwise formal style.

Normally, she would just apply some sunscreen and a simple layer of makeup before heading to work, but today she woke up thirty minutes early. With her flawless, porcelain-like complexion enhanced by a refined base makeup, her skin appeared even smoother.

In the mirror, it looked as though her face was surrounded by a faint, soft glow.

She curled her hair slightly and let it cascade over her shoulders.

After tidying up, she was quite satisfied with her reflection in the mirror.

Today marked her promotion to Chief Architect at her company. At twenty-eight, becoming an executive in a startup was a significant milestone for Cheng Li.

When she stepped out of her room, she saw her parents in the living room.

Cheng Dingbo said, “I was just about to call you for breakfast.”

Mrs. Ling came out with a bowl of porridge, giving Cheng Li an appraising look. “Now this outfit looks decent.”

“Just say she looks pretty,” Cheng Dingbo said with a chuckle as he motioned Cheng Li to sit down. “What’s wrong with giving her a compliment?”

Since Cheng Li had woken up early, she had the rare chance to enjoy a leisurely breakfast at home.

When she left the house, she was surprised to see a car parked across from the entrance to her residential complex.

The driver had been watching the gate, and as soon as he spotted her, he stepped out of the car.

“Why are you here?” Cheng Li asked in surprise.

The driver smiled. “Mr. Rong has a flight today, and the company arranged for a business car to take him to the airport. He specifically instructed me to come pick you up for work this morning.”

“He’s on a business trip?” Cheng Li asked, startled.

But then she quickly realized that their relationship hadn’t reached the point where Rong Qi needed to inform her of his every move.

However, the driver seemed to misunderstand and explained, “It was probably a last-minute trip. After all, when Mr. Rong is in Shanghai, I’m usually the one driving him. Last night, I hadn’t received any notice about his trip.”

Cheng Li nodded. “It seems he’s always been quite busy.”

“That’s true,” the driver replied. “A massive company like Qiyu has so much for him to handle. Actually, the time he’s spent in Shanghai recently is considered long. There was one stretch before when he was away on business trips for an entire month and didn’t come back at all.”

Hearing this, Cheng Li smiled. “Then your job must be pretty easy.”

“Well, a little,” the driver admitted sheepishly. “Sometimes I feel guilty about earning money without much to do. When Mr. Rong is away, I often go to the office to help out. A company this big always has transportation needs.”

Cheng Li asked, “Where’s he traveling to this time?”

“I’m not sure,” the driver replied. “He just texted me to pick you up.”

As they stopped at a red light, the driver glanced cautiously into the rearview mirror and added, “Mr. Rong sent the message really early—around five in the morning. My guess is he didn’t want to disturb your rest by telling you so early.”

For office workers, sleep is a precious commodity. Some, especially those with long commutes, start their day as early as six.

Five in the morning? Cheng Li retrieved her phone. Their goodnight exchange the previous night had been around 11:30 PM, which meant he hadn’t planned the trip then. She wondered where he’d flown to and if he’d landed yet.

Once at the office, Cheng Li checked her phone and noticed a missed WeChat message. She had left her phone in her bag and hadn’t noticed it earlier.

Rong Qi: [I’m in Beijing for a business trip.]

Rong Qi: [It was a last-minute decision.]

Cheng Li: [Just got off the plane?]

Rong Qi: [There was fog in Beijing this morning, which caused some delays. The plane just landed.]

So, the moment his plane landed, he let her know his itinerary. Cheng Li covered her mouth with her hand, but the smile had already crept onto her lips.

Cheng Li: [When will you be back?]

Rong Qi: [?]

Cheng Li was confused by his response. What did the question mark mean? Had she asked something off-limits, like a company secret?

Rong Qi: [My flight was at six this morning. I’ve only been gone from Shanghai for three hours.]

His reply made Cheng Li pause. No matter how hard she tried to ignore it, she couldn’t help but read the implied subtext: “I’ve only been gone for three hours, and you already miss me.”

She couldn’t recall Rong Qi being this self-assured back in high school. Perhaps this kind of confidence was a “professional hazard” for successful people.

Cheng Li decided not to reply and moved to put away her phone to start work. However, it buzzed again.

Rong Qi: [Hope everything goes smoothly for you today.]

Reading the message, Cheng Li remembered her promotion ceremony.

She smiled and typed back: [Hope your trip goes well too.]

This time, Rong Qi replied almost instantly: [And that I can return to Shanghai soon, right?]

Cheng Li: “…”

*

At 9:30 AM sharp, the company meeting began.

Except for department heads away on business, all mid-level and senior managers gathered in the conference room. Ren Kuang sat in the center seat, with Gao Zhihe to his left, looking slightly grim.

The meeting started with project updates. As the project lead, Cheng Li spent twenty minutes detailing the current progress and technical challenges.

As the meeting drew to a close, Ren Kuang spoke up. “Some of you may have noticed recent personnel changes. Last week, Mr. Yu Cheng formally resigned, leaving the Chief Architect position vacant.”

Although Ren hadn’t mentioned her name yet, Cheng Li’s heart began pounding.

Across the table, Gao Zhihe cast a knowing look her way. Cheng Li maintained her composure, exuding calm professionalism.

“To support the company’s growth, I’ve decided to appoint Cheng Li as the new Chief Architect.”

As soon as the words left Ren’s mouth, a round of applause erupted in the room.

Cheng Li gripped the edge of the table and slowly stood. She looked at Ren and said modestly, “I’m grateful for your trust, President Ren, and for the support from my colleagues. In this new role, I’ll maintain my current dedication and lead our team forward.”

The applause came again, more enthusiastic this time.

After the meeting, Ren Kuang called Cheng Li into his office.

“Now you can work without worries,” Ren Kuang said with a smile.

“I’ve always worked with peace of mind,” Cheng Li replied with a grin.

Ren Kuang’s expression grew more serious. “There’s something I’d like to discuss. Our self-parking software is nearing production, and I’ve been in talks with several automakers. However, given our company’s relatively small profile, their interest in collaborating has been lukewarm.”

Cheng Li nodded. “So, the issue now is?”

“A representative from one car manufacturer has agreed to meet with us tomorrow evening. After considering our options, I think it’s best if you accompany me.”

Cheng Li blinked. “Me?”

She rarely participated in such business meetings, given her technical role and lack of responsibility for external partnerships.

Ren Kuang chuckled. “That’s because you didn’t have the position before. Believe it or not, Yu Cheng was quite the drinker. Cheng Li, you have to admit—doing business in China often happens at the dinner table.”

Cheng Li nodded in agreement.

The next evening, she received a call from the driver.

The driver had asked for her number the previous morning, after dropping her off, for easier communication.

In a soft voice, Cheng Li said, “I have a dinner meeting tonight and might be back quite late. You don’t need to wait for me. I’ll just take a taxi home.”

The driver, hearing the word “dinner meeting,” quickly objected. “That won’t do. If you get drunk, taking a taxi won’t be safe.”

Cheng Li explained that she’d be leaving with Ren Kuang later, making it inconvenient for the driver to wait. The driver reluctantly agreed.

That evening, Cheng Li accompanied Ren Kuang, his assistant Han Xiaolin, and marketing manager Liu Mingyi to a venue called Mingqian Club.

The private room, chosen by Ren, had a Jiangnan garden-style décor that middle-aged men seemed to favor. Even the lamps were traditional hexagonal palace lanterns, and a landscape screen was set up in the corner, casting a faint, elegant shadow across the room.

“I didn’t expect the Chief Architect of Fanhai to not only be so young but also so beautiful,” one guest remarked, laughing, after Ren introduced Cheng Li to everyone.

At the beginning of the dinner, the atmosphere was polite, with conversations centered on work. The tone carried a touch of corporate bravado. However, as the drinks flowed, the atmosphere grew lively.

Eventually, someone eagerly started proposing toasts to Cheng Li.

Even with Liu Mingyi stepping in to shield her several times, Cheng Li ended up drinking four or five glasses of baijiu.

“President Cheng, you’re not just beautiful but also a good drinker,” the automotive representative said, raising his glass again. “It’s been truly enjoyable meeting you today.”

Seeing that the other party was starting to relax, Ren Kuang gave Cheng Li a meaningful glance.

Cheng Li, feeling helpless, raised her glass and clinked it with his.

After this round, Cheng Li couldn’t hold back anymore. She found an excuse to step out to the restroom.

Noticing this, Han Xiaolin quickly followed.

Cheng Li entered a stall, and after a while, she came out. Han Xiaolin asked, “President Cheng, do you need to throw up?”

“I can’t,” Cheng Li shook her head.

Her cheeks were flushed, giving her a radiant, peach-blossom-like appearance that momentarily stunned Han Xiaolin.

Having been to many such events with President Ren before, Han Xiaolin scoffed, “These old men are like bees around flowers when they see a pretty woman. They don’t even look at themselves.”

“It’s just drinking,” Cheng Li replied calmly, having mentally prepared herself before coming.

“That’s true,” Han said. “As long as we set clear boundaries and hold firm, they won’t dare try anything.”

Cheng Li ran her hands under the faucet, washing them thoroughly. She even used the hand soap by the sink, rubbing her palms repeatedly. During one of the toasts earlier, someone had taken the opportunity to touch her palm.

The incident had disgusted her, almost making her throw up the alcohol she’d consumed.

Still, as Han Xiaolin said, as long as one stood firm and gave no opportunities, the situation could be controlled.

After tidying up, the two left the restroom.

But after just a few steps, they ran into someone unexpected.

Looking up, Cheng Li saw none other than Xu Jiheng approaching.

Han Xiaolin froze too, remembering the previous company dinner where she’d witnessed the scene involving Xu Jiheng.

“Lili,” Xu Jiheng called out, noticing Cheng Li’s unsteady steps and moving closer to her.

Cheng Li raised a hand to stop him, frowning. “President Xu, please mind yourself.”

Xu Jiheng froze, his expression faltering.

The look on his face thoroughly disgusted Han Xiaolin. If she hadn’t personally witnessed Xu Jiheng being intimate with another woman, she might have genuinely mistaken him for a devoted romantic.

Though she wasn’t particularly close to Cheng Li, she couldn’t stand watching such a shameless man pretend to be sincere.

Still, Han Xiaolin restrained herself from saying anything outright, knowing that Xu Jiheng’s company currently had ongoing collaborations with Fanhai.

“Let’s go,” Cheng Li said, bypassing Xu Jiheng and preparing to leave.

Xu Jiheng stepped in front of her and said in a low voice, “Did Ren Kuang bring you to this dinner and let you drink so much?”

Cheng Li had no patience for this conversation.

Xu Jiheng turned to Han Xiaolin and said, “Could you give us a moment alone to talk?”

Absolutely not.

Han Xiaolin rolled her eyes internally but didn’t refuse outright. Instead, she glanced at Cheng Li.

Leaning lightly against the wall, Cheng Li responded directly, “If you have something to say, say it now. There’s nothing between us that requires a private conversation, President Xu.”

Her icy tone and repeated use of “President Xu” left Xu Jiheng visibly deflated.

Unwilling to give up, Xu Jiheng glanced at Han Xiaolin for help.

Han Xiaolin was torn. She didn’t dare offend Xu Jiheng, but she didn’t want to leave Cheng Li alone either.

Finally, Cheng Li said, “Xiaolin, you go wait for me up ahead.”

Reluctantly, Han nodded. “Call me if you need anything—I’ll be nearby.”

Once Han Xiaolin was gone, Xu Jinheng immediately said, “Lili, I told you, even if we’re no longer together, I don’t want us to be enemies. I’m just worried about you. You’re in a technical position, not one meant for socializing like this. If you want, I can speak to Ren Kuang and make sure you don’t have to attend these dinners in the future.”

Cheng Li finally looked up.

She straightened from her slight lean against the wall, standing fully upright. Her gaze turned cold as she stared at Xu Jiheng.

“Xu Jiheng, are you drowning in your own so-called sincerity? One moment, you’re indulging in your powerful, wealthy new flame, and the next, you can’t seem to let go of your ex-girlfriend. Do you actually think your words and actions right now are noble?”

Xu Jiheng’s expression turned awkward. “Of course not.”

“Accompanying others for drinks? So why are you here? To socialize, right? You think women in these settings are naturally meant to be your props, tools for your amusement. That’s why you feel justified saying such ridiculous things to me?”

Cheng Li was usually mild-mannered, but that didn’t mean she was weak.

Inside, she was always strong and clear-headed.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have made the decision to break up with Xu Jiheng the moment she discovered the truth.

Cheng Li stared at him. “And as for my job—what gives you the right to interfere? Who do you think you are? Let me make this clear: you and I have absolutely nothing to do with each other anymore.”

“It’s better for everyone if you stop showing up in front of me. After all, the best kind of ex is a dead one.”

With that, Cheng Li didn’t give him another chance to speak. She walked away briskly, her high heels clicking sharply against the floor.

Back in the private room, Cheng Li maintained a composed expression.

Thankfully, for the rest of the evening, the others helped deflect further drinking, so she didn’t have much more to drink.

By ten o’clock, the gathering was nearing its end.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed.

It was a call from Rong Qi. Cheng Li excused herself to answer.

“You’ve been drinking?” Rong Qi asked as soon as she spoke, sensing something was off.

Cheng Li admitted, “It’s a company dinner. I just had a little.”

“Just a little?”

Even though he wasn’t in front of her, Cheng Li could almost picture his frown.

She felt guilty.

“I’ll send the driver to pick you up,” Rong Qi said decisively. “Send me your location.”

“That’s really not necessary,” Cheng Li tried to refuse. “We’re almost done here. I’ll go straight home.”

“Location.”

Left with no choice, Cheng Li shared her location with him.

Luckily, the dinner wrapped up about thirty minutes later.

The group moved to the club entrance, waiting for their rides.

“President Cheng, where do you live? If it’s on my way, I can drop you off,” the automotive representative offered with a smile.

Ren Kuang interjected, “No need. Our company has a business vehicle. I’ll handle it.”

The representative chuckled. “President Ren, can’t I play the gentleman this once? Let me have the honor.”

As they spoke, a voice suddenly cut in.

“Lili.”

Cheng Li froze for a moment. Turning her head, she saw the familiar, repulsive face of Xu Jiheng.

Even Ren Kuang hadn’t expected Xu Jiheng to show up here.

Xu Jiheng walked straight over to Cheng Li. “Excuse me, I’m here to take her home.”

He pointed to a nearby Mercedes, clearly his new car.

“Oh? And you are…?” The automotive representative raised his eyebrows in surprise.

Just as Xu Jiheng was about to answer, a Maybach slowly pulled up to the entrance and came to a stop.

A driver stepped out from the car, heading straight for Cheng Li.

“Madam, are you alright?” the driver asked, visibly concerned about her flushed face.

Madam?

What madam?!

Everyone, from Xu Jiheng to Ren Kuang and the others, was stunned into silence.

Especially Xu Jiheng—his mind was utterly blank.

Cheng Li turned to the group with a faint smile. “Sorry, my husband was worried and sent someone to pick me up. I’ll be leaving now.”

The others, unaware of the full context, simply lamented that someone so young was already married.

As for Xu Jiheng, he looked as though he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

Watching his expression, Cheng Li suddenly found it laughable.

Did this man actually think she was still heartbroken over him? That she was crying because of him?

She leaned slightly toward him, speaking in a soft voice only the two of them could hear.

“You want to take me home?”

Her tone was playful, with a hint of mischief.

But in the next second, her voice turned icy.

“You’re not even worthy.”

After saying this, Cheng Li got into the car under everyone’s watchful eyes and left without a backward glance.

Author’s Note:

Rong Qi: My person didn’t show up to humiliate anyone, but my car did! Best supporting role award for Rong Qi’s car!