Chapter 45

Comfort his wife.

When Cheng Li heard those words, she couldn’t help but recall the scene earlier that afternoon in the company meeting room—his hand lightly spinning the chair as he looked up at her with a cold, detached gaze. She slightly parted her lips, as if wanting to say something, but struggled to find the right words for a long while.

Finally, after holding it in, she whispered, “Oh, so you have a wife.”

She had thought he had truly managed to sever all ties of affection.

“I’m sorry.” Rong Qi’s attitude was completely devoid of the sternness he had in the office. His arms gently encircled her, swaying slightly as if pleading for forgiveness.

Cheng Li bit her lips hard, suppressing the urge to smile.

Rong Qi looked down at her and said, “I shouldn’t have been so harsh.”

This man.

Cheng Li suddenly realized she couldn’t match his ways.

He was assertive when he needed to be but would admit his mistakes and apologize faster than anyone else.

Why couldn’t he stay stubborn now?

“In business, you did what was necessary,” Cheng Li said, pouting slightly and trying to keep her tone detached. “I wasn’t really upset.”

Rong Qi kept his gaze fixed on her, as though he was trying to read her mind.

Cheng Li kept her eyes down, avoiding his, but she could still feel his intense gaze from above.

“This is my first time…” Rong Qi frowned slightly, seeming at a loss for words. Cheng Li waited for a long time, then couldn’t help but glance up at him.

Their eyes met halfway.

Cheng Li immediately turned her head, trying to avoid his gaze.

But in the next moment, Rong Qi leaned in and kissed the corner of her lips.

It wasn’t a lingering kiss; it was a fleeting, gentle peck, more like reassurance.

Most of the emotions swirling in Cheng Li’s heart had already dissipated after hearing his earlier “cormfort my wife” remark. Now, even the lingering awkwardness melted away with that kiss.

But deep down, Cheng Li scolded herself for being so easily swayed.

Still, the truth was, she wasn’t truly angry at Rong Qi.

Compared to him disregarding everything to stand by her, Cheng Li preferred this businesslike demeanor of his.

To her, it was an affirmation.

Rong Qi treated her as an equal business partner, not as some delicate flower in need of protection.

“Fine, I’ll admit I did feel a little awkward,” Cheng Li confessed outright. There was no point in pretending that she wasn’t affected.

Rong Qi chuckled softly, his brows arching slightly. “A little?”

“A lot, a lot, a lot—satisfied?” Cheng Li glared at him, annoyed. This man was doing it on purpose.

Her words only made Rong Qi laugh even more.

Cheng Li squinted at him. Oh, he was enjoying this, wasn’t he?

Noticing his overly smug expression, Rong Qi quickly wiped away his grin, putting on a serious face as if ready to be lectured.

“But I still appreciate your attitude—keeping things professional. I wouldn’t want you to cut my company any slack just because of me. That would be irresponsible to yourself and your company,” Cheng Li said, her tone earnest.

“After all, building up such a vast business empire wasn’t easy for you.”

Rong Qi raised a brow again. “A vast empire?”

Exactly.

To someone like Cheng Li, who once shared a classroom with him, owning a towering office building in the heart of Shanghai was almost unimaginable before she saw it with her own eyes.

Though she had visited once at night, the building had been dark, and she hadn’t seen its full grandeur.

Returning this afternoon and standing at its base, she finally grasped the immense gulf between them.

She couldn’t deny it—there was a spark of ambition in her heart.

Cheng Li wanted to stand beside Rong Qi as his equal, not as someone carried by his name.

Sensing her thoughts, Rong Qi gently pulled her into his arms. “Cheng Li, everyone has their own path. There’s no need to compare yourself to others. To me, you’re already the most outstanding autonomous driving engineer.”

“Flattery won’t work,” Cheng Li said with a stifled laugh.

This time, she truly couldn’t hold it in.

Rong Qi hugged her and gave her a playful sway. “It won’t?”

“It won’t,” Cheng Li insisted, still trying to act tough.

Finally, Rong Qi simply picked her up and spun her around. “Still sure it won’t work?”

For the first time in her life, Cheng Li found herself being lifted and spun in the air. Dizzy, she quickly gave in. “It works! It works!”

But Rong Qi didn’t immediately put her down. Holding her close, he leaned in and kissed her deeply.

Cheng Li turned her head away and exclaimed, “I’m hungry, starving!”

Hearing this, Rong Qi set her down and said softly, “Dinner is ready.”

“I’ll go change out of my coat,” Cheng Li replied before running to her room.

When she returned in her loungewear, Rong Qi had already set the dishes on the table. She noticed the glossy, sesame-sprinkled sweet and sour ribs.

“Wow, you made sweet and sour ribs!” she exclaimed in surprise.

Cheng Li’s Southern palate had always favored sweet and tangy flavors.

As she saw the vinegar-sautéed eggplant and tomato scrambled eggs join the table, she looked at Rong Qi in astonishment. “Everything you made is exactly what I love.”

“Try it,” Rong Qi said, handing her the chopsticks.

Cheng Li took a bite of the eggplant and nodded repeatedly. “It’s delicious!”

And the taste felt oddly familiar.

After sampling the other dishes, she finally realized why.

“Did you notice something?”

Seeing her glance at him repeatedly, Rong Qi chuckled softly and asked.

Cheng Li admitted, “Your cooking tastes so familiar to me.”

“That’s because I spent half an hour getting lessons from your father.”

Cheng Li’s jaw dropped. It took her a while before she murmured, “You called my dad?”

“Mm-hmm.”

Faced with Rong Qi’s thoughtfulness, Cheng Li couldn’t help but feel a subtle warmth in her heart.

Once again, it felt as though there was a pot inside her chest, with a fire blazing underneath, and the bubbling liquid constantly surfacing.

Each bubble that rose was pink, and etched on it was his name:
Rong Qi.

It turned out that just calling someone’s name silently in your heart could make you uncontrollably happy, the corners of your mouth curling into a smile.

For the first time, Cheng Li deeply felt what it meant for the concept of happiness to manifest tangibly. It was as though it was right there within reach, wrapping gently around her without her even needing to extend her hand.

Suddenly, Cheng Li recalled something.

“So, was it also you who had Aunt Li call me and trick me into coming back?”

Rong Qi froze briefly, clearly not expecting her to remember this detail even now.

“Why didn’t you just call me yourself?” Cheng Li asked directly.

Rong Qi lowered his gaze in silence.

When he raised his head again, he softly replied, “I was afraid you’d be angry.”

He was never one to cower or hesitate. If he were, he wouldn’t have come as far as he had. But when it came to Cheng Li, even when he knew his choices were right, he still felt uneasy and uncertain.

Cheng Li was momentarily stunned.

After a while, she responded just as softly, “If you don’t call, how would you know whether I’d be angry or not?”

At her words, Rong Qi looked at her directly and asked gently, “Were you angry?”

“I already told you earlier, I felt very awkward, but as for being angry…” Cheng Li held up her fingers as if to indicate something small. “It was just a tiny bit.”

Cheng Li picked up another piece of spare rib and placed it in her bowl.

“But since you made me such delicious ribs, I’ve let it go.”

The meal was so satisfying that Cheng Li suspected she might have gained two pounds immediately after eating.

Afterward, Rong Qi tidied up the dishes and put them in the dishwasher.

Cheng Li, still busy with work, returned to her room first.

By the time it was past ten o’clock and she was getting ready to shower, she paused for a moment, then went to her door and locked it.

After her shower, with her hair partially dry, she walked toward her bed when a knock sounded at her door.

“Cheng Li.” Hearing the call, she approached the door.

When she opened it, she saw Rong Qi standing outside. The moment he saw her, his expression visibly relaxed.

“What’s wrong?” Cheng Li asked curiously.

Rong Qi spoke softly, “I sent you a message, but you didn’t reply.”

Cheng Li explained, “I was showering just now.”

As she spoke, she noticed Rong Qi habitually stepping into her room.

Cheng Li blocked his way with a smile. “Did you leave something in here?”

Rong Qi replied, “My blanket.”

Since the last time he stayed over, his blanket had remained here. While he had been away on a business trip for the past few days, Cheng Li had neatly folded it and placed it in the closet. His reminder jogged her memory.

“Wait here for a moment,” Cheng Li said, turning to retrieve it.

Soon, she returned with the folded blanket and handed it to him.

Rong Qi looked down at the blanket, then back at her, somewhat perplexed.

Cheng Li, seemingly anticipating his response, spoke first. “I’m not angry, but I do think you’re right about one thing—business is business. During this sensitive period before the acquisition deal is finalized, I think it’s best if we maintain some distance.”

Rong Qi froze, and after a few seconds, a faint bitter smile appeared on his face.

Before he could speak, Cheng Li continued, “Especially things like sleeping in the same bed—that’s even more out of the question.”

With that, Cheng Li unceremoniously pushed him and his blanket out of her room.

She waved with a carefree gesture. “Well then, goodnight!”

As soon as she finished speaking, the door closed with a firm click.

The sound of the door closing wasn’t particularly loud, but to Rong Qi, it felt like a blow to his chest.

He looked down at the blanket in his arms.

Well.

Once again, he had shot himself in the foot.

Meanwhile, Cheng Li, leaning against the door, smiled silently.

Then, with light steps, she walked over to her bed, pulled back the blanket, and climbed in to sleep.

*

The next day.

As soon as she arrived at the office, Cheng Li called Han Xiaolin into her office. Han Xioalin had previously been Ren Kuang’s secretary, and since Ren had been hospitalized, she had been assisting Cheng Li with company affairs.

After all, Han Xiaolin was more familiar with the company’s operations than Cheng Li, who had only managed the technical department previously.

“What’s the result of the review I asked you to conduct? Any findings?” Cheng Li asked directly.

Han Xiaolin spoke softly, “Although many of the company’s transactions went through Director Gao’s hands, there don’t seem to be any issues so far, especially with the purchase of those experimental devices.”

While Fanhai wasn’t a large-scale company, it had undergone two rounds of financing. After a multimillion-dollar investment, the company had procured experimental equipment to set up a lab—where Cheng Li often worked.

Purchasing equipment was the likeliest avenue for manipulation.

Given Gao Zhihe’s willingness to betray his family, Cheng Li thought it wouldn’t be surprising if he betrayed the company too. People who were scum had poor character, after all.

“Do you think Director Gao would actually do something like that?” Han Xiaolin asked hesitantly.

Cheng Li chuckled. “I think many people have a fundamental misconception—they assume highly educated individuals also have high moral standards. But think about it. Every year, how many scandals emerge from the world’s top universities? Aren’t those professors supposed to be the most educated, accomplished people on earth?”

Han Xiaolin was momentarily stunned, then nodded as if convinced. “You’re right.”

Cheng Li had no qualms about judging Gao Zhihe by the lowest moral standards.

“Still no news about him?” she asked.

Han Xiaolin shook her head. “I asked Xiao Chen, but he says he hasn’t been able to get in touch with him. Right now, Director Gao is like a rat in the gutter—he’s unlikely to return to the office anytime soon. The project he was overseeing has been handed over to Tang Ruiyuan.”

Tang Ruiyuan was the company’s R&D Director, holding a position equivalent to Cheng Li’s.

However, with Cheng Li temporarily taking over the company in Ren Kuang’s absence, everyone had to follow her lead.

“Keep investigating. What if something really turns up?” Cheng Li remained composed.

After Han Xiaolin left, Cheng Li gazed out the window.

For convenience over the past few days, she had moved into a private office.

Occasionally, when she glanced outside through the frosted glass, she felt a surreal sense of detachment from reality.

That evening, just as Cheng Li was about to lie down, she received a call from Han Xiaolin, who sounded both anxious and frustrated. “Director Cheng, I need to tell you something important.”

“Xiaolin, calm down and take your time,” Cheng Li, sensing something was wrong, quickly reassured her.

Han Xiaolin blurted out, “Wu Ke is pregnant.”

Cheng Li froze. Wu Ke was the company’s accountant, as well as Han Xiaolin’s younger cousin.

Normally, the company prohibited close relatives from working together, but Wu Ke was an exception. Han Xiaolin had been Ren Kuang’s assistant since before his entrepreneurial days. When Ren Kuang left to start his own business, she had loyally followed, earning his deep trust. After Wu Ke graduated, she was placed in the finance department, clearly as one of Ren Kuang’s trusted insiders.

While Cheng Li was surprised by the news, she didn’t quite understand why Han Xiaolin felt the need to tell her. Cheng Li and Wu Ke barely knew each other beyond polite nods at work.

Then Han Xiaolin said, “It’s Gao Zhihe’s child.”

“What?” Cheng Li was stunned.

Han Xiaolin was equally indignant. “I never noticed anything unusual about her until today. I went to her apartment and saw what looked like a car from Danni parked outside. At first, I thought it was a coincidence. But when I got upstairs, I found several luxury shopping bags on her table. Wu Ke’s family isn’t well-off; those items clearly weren’t bought with her own money.”

Cheng Li silently listened.

“I started questioning her about where those things came from, and she suddenly threw up,” Han Xiaolin said bitterly. “That’s when she admitted that Gao Zhihe had just dropped her off. They’ve been seeing each other for a while. That ‘boyfriend’ she mentioned before—it was him.”

Cheng Li pinched the bridge of her nose. “Didn’t she see what happened between Gao Zhihe and Zhao Yihan?”

“She said Gao Zhihe explained it to her. He claimed he was only using Zhao Yihan’s connections to secure investments and that she’s the one he truly loves.”

Cheng Li was incredulous. “And she believed that?”

Han Xiaolin fell silent for a moment before sighing. “My cousin grew up without a mother, and after my uncle remarried, she was pretty much neglected. She’s always been starved for love, and those luxury gifts from Gao Zhihe completely blinded her.”

It wasn’t uncommon for a young woman to fall for the sweet nothings and petty indulgences of an older man with some wealth.

“He even promised to help her get a green card in the U.S.,” Han Xiaolin added.

Cheng Li finally asked, “Has she mentioned anything about Gao Zhihe’s activities?”

It was clear that Han Xiaolin wouldn’t call just to report a scandalous affair. Scandals were often harmless, affecting only the involved parties. It was the financial implications of such entanglements that posed real problems.

Han Xiaolin lowered her voice. “During our argument, she let something slip. She said she’s only accepted luxury items and avoided touching any money because, as someone in finance, she knew better than to get involved.”

Cheng Li tightened her grip on the phone. “Where are you? I’m coming over.”

Han Xiaolin was taken aback, assuming Cheng Li would wait until the next day to handle it. She quickly provided the address.

Cheng Li changed her clothes and prepared to leave. Hearing the commotion, Rong Qi stepped out of his room. “You’re heading out this late?”

“It’s something urgent,” Cheng Li replied as she slipped on her shoes by the door.

Rong Qi approached her. “Wait a moment; I’ll drive you.”

Cheng Li shook her head. “That won’t be necessary.”

Rong Qi gave her a questioning look.

Fearing a misunderstanding, Cheng Li explained, “It’s a personal matter involving a friend—a girl. It’s not appropriate for a stranger to get involved.”

“Keep your phone on,” Rong Qi advised.

Cheng Li nodded before leaving in a hurry.

Wu Ke’s rented apartment wasn’t in an old complex but rather in a well-maintained community. Previously, when Han Xiaolin questioned how Wu Ke could afford the rent, Wu Ke had said her boyfriend was paying for it.

As her cousin, Han Xiaolin hadn’t pried further.

She never imagined her cousin would be entangled with a married man under her nose.

When Cheng Li arrived, she rang the doorbell, and Han Xiaolin opened the door.

Wu Ke sat on the sofa, trembling at the sight of Cheng Li.

“Director Cheng, I swear I didn’t embezzle any company funds!” Wu Ke had clearly been crying.

Cheng Li noticed her distress and turned to Han Xiaolin for an explanation.

“I told her you were gathering evidence against Gao Zhihe and warned her that if she was involved, she wouldn’t escape either,” Han Xiaolin admitted, part frustrated and part calculated.

Her words had clearly rattled Wu Ke, who now sat guilt-stricken.

Cheng Li stepped forward and gently took Wu Ke’s hands. “Wu Ke, you’re still young and beautiful. Are you really willing to tie your future to a man who feeds you nothing but lies? You still have a chance, but only if you’re honest with me now.”

Already shaken by Han Xiaolin’s scolding, Wu Ke was now confronted by Cheng Li’s unexpectedly gentle persuasion.

Collapsing into a heap, she stammered, “Back when the company was purchasing equipment, Gao Zhihe leveraged his old classmate’s connections to procure a batch of second-hand equipment. They swapped it for new equipment and pocketed the price difference, embezzling company funds.”

“Did President Ren really have no clue about this?” Cheng Li asked in a low voice.

Wu Ke shook her head. “At the time, President Ren trusted Gao Zhihe completely. Plus, the company was dealing with a wave of employee departures, so President Ren was preoccupied with handling that, giving Gao Zhihe the chance to act.”

Cheng Li chuckled lightly and gently stroked her back. “And you? As a member of the finance team, you should have known the consequences of this. Didn’t you leave anything behind to protect yourself?”

Those words hit Wu Ke like a thunderclap. She stared blankly at Cheng Li. “How… how did you know?”

On the side, Han Xiaolin watched this exchange and shook her head in exasperation at Wu Ke’s naivety.

How did she know?

She was bluffing, you fool.

It wasn’t until past midnight that Cheng Li finally left Wu Ke’s apartment, with Han Xiaolin accompanying her downstairs.

Standing at the entrance, Han Xiaolin hesitated for a while before speaking in a low voice, “President Cheng, what’s your plan?”

“Wu Ke isn’t directly involved in this. At most, she’s guilty of negligence,” Cheng Li replied calmly.

Han Xiaolin nodded.

Cheng Li advised, “You should persuade her to think about her future. Relying on a man—especially an irresponsible scumbag—leads nowhere.”

“I understand. I’ll talk to her,” Han Xiaolin agreed.

Cheng Li turned to her, speaking earnestly, “Xiaolin, this time, it’s thanks to you. I assume you’re aware of President Ren’s plans, right?”

Han Xiaolin’s heart skipped a beat.

Cheng Li knew that in this world, no one helps without reason. Han Xiaolin choosing to stand firmly by her side in such a critical moment was undoubtedly her way of preparing for her own future.

President Ren was planning to leave. As his secretary, Han Xiaolin had to figure out her next steps.

“When President Ren leaves, there will be many uncertainties. But I promise you, as long as we succeed in ousting Gao Zhihe from the company, I’ll do everything I can to ensure your position remains secure, even if it changes.”

Cheng Li refrained from making absolute guarantees because she couldn’t predict who would ultimately take over the company.

The new leadership would undoubtedly have their own trusted personnel, which might put Han Xiaolin in an awkward position.

However, through her interactions with Han Xiaolin over the past few days, Cheng Li recognized her capability in corporate management. Han Xiaolin’s talents shouldn’t be limited to being a secretary. Even if someone new came into Fanhai, Cheng Li wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Han Xiaolin directly to Rong Qi.

After all, Han Xiaolin was genuinely competent.

For the first time, Han Xiaolin looked surprised. “I used to think you were just a tech expert and didn’t understand management, but now I realize you might not be any less skilled than President Ren.”

“President Ren would be hurt to hear that,” Cheng Li said with a soft laugh.

*

For the next week, the company remained calm, as did Cheng Li. Han Xiaolin thought Cheng Li would act immediately after obtaining evidence from Wu Ke, but Cheng Li didn’t appear rushed.

Then, one day, Cheng Li approached Wu Ke directly. “You mentioned that Gao Zhihe has a phone number only you can reach him on. Call him now.”

Wu Ke, on edge for days, dared not refuse.

The call quickly connected.

“Keke, is it something urgent at the company?” Gao Zhihe’s voice came through.

Although Gao Zhihe was no longer at the company, he had instructed Wu Ke to keep him informed about its operations. This was why Wu Ke could reach him.

“President Gao,” Cheng Li greeted with a smile. “This is Cheng Li.”

The other end of the line went silent.

Cheng Li continued, “You’re quite dedicated, aren’t you? Even though you’re not physically at the company, you still keep a close eye on it. Since you care so much, why don’t I personally update you on the company’s situation?”

“What do you want?” Gao Zhihe asked coldly.

Cheng Li gave him an address and said with a smile, “Two o’clock this afternoon. Don’t be late.”

Before hanging up, she added, “If you don’t show up, I might have to discuss the equipment issues in the lab with the police instead.”

Then she ended the call.

At 2 p.m., Cheng Li sat quietly in a café, waiting.

When Gao Zhihe arrived, she gestured to the seat opposite her. “Have a seat, President Gao.”

“What do you want?” he asked bluntly.

“Did you hear about the company’s failed financing?” Cheng Li asked.

“I didn’t mean for that to happen. Who could have predicted my wife would suddenly go berserk?” Gao Zhihe said irritably. He had been having a string of bad luck. Ever since his affair was exposed, Zhao Yihan had turned against him completely.

Now, the company was in trouble because of him, and he didn’t dare show up, opting instead to lay low.

“So you ruin the company and blame it on your wife?” Cheng Li mocked.

“What do you want?” Gao Zhihe asked again.

Cheng Li smiled faintly. “I want you out of the company.”

Gao Zhihe was taken aback before sneering. “And who do you think you are? I’m a founder and a shareholder. Just because you’ve been managing the company for a few days doesn’t mean you have any real power.”

Cheng Li took a sip of her coffee and said leisurely, “You may be a shareholder, but President Ren is the one who truly calls the shots. If President Ren decides to sell the company and we restructure into a new entity, how much do you think your shares will be worth?”

“As long as I don’t sign, you can’t do anything.”

Cheng Li raised her gaze slightly, smiling again. “What if you’re no longer in a position to manage anything? A detention center doesn’t sound like a pleasant place.”

Detention center?

Gao Zhihe stared at Cheng Li suspiciously.

Just then, he looked up to see a group of people approaching their table. The person leading them said, “Are you Gao Zhihe? You’re under suspicion of embezzlement. Please come with us to assist in the investigation.”

Gao Zhihe was stunned, lunging toward Cheng Li in desperation, but a few quick-reacting officers restrained him.

“Cheng Li, you damn snake! How dare you betray me! What did Ren Kuang offer you to become his lackey so willingly?”

Cheng Li slowly stood up, her gaze calm as she replied, “Upholding the law and defending justice is the duty of every citizen. I merely did what any righteous person should do—report your misdeeds.”

Gao Zhihe struggled fiercely, momentarily breaking free from the officers’ grip. He grabbed the coffee cup on the table and hurled its contents at Cheng Li.

Half of Cheng Li’s body was drenched in coffee, with droplets running down her long black hair.

The café fell silent as patrons turned their attention to the commotion, bewildered by the sight of police officers in this serene space.

Moments later, Gao Zhihe was taken away.

At that moment, a figure appeared at the entrance, watching as Gao Zhihe was ushered into the police car.

Mrs. Gao approached Cheng Li, her lips trembling. “Is this the ‘good show’ you promised I’d see?”

Cheng Li looked at her and said evenly, “Yes. I’ve shown you my sincerity. Now, can we discuss our cooperation?”

Mrs. Gao stared at her in disbelief. “Are you insane? You sent my husband to the detention center, and now you’re talking about cooperation?”

Mrs. Gao didn’t know much about Cheng Li. Her impression of her was limited to occasional company gatherings, where Cheng Li was known as the strikingly beautiful engineer at Fanhai.

As she took in Cheng Li’s coffee-stained appearance, Mrs. Gao hesitated before offering, “You should clean yourself up first.”

Cheng Li leisurely picked up a napkin from the table and wiped the coffee from her hair. The air was thick with the faintly bitter and rich aroma of coffee.

“Before you now stands an unfaithful husband and a stock equity worth over a hundred million yuan,” Cheng Li stated coolly. “The choice should be obvious.”

Mrs. Gao froze.

Cheng Li’s eyes glinted with a sharp light as she continued, “Gao Zhihe is now in custody, and our company is on the verge of acquisition. If he signs the agreement to sell his shares, the money will be yours. After all, who knows how many years he’ll be sentenced to?”

Without his detention, no one could have forced Gao Zhihe out of the company.

Rong Qi had tasked Cheng Li with removing Gao Zhihe from the equation.

So, Cheng Li struck at the root of the problem—by having him arrested.

Now, Gao Zhihe’s only hope was Mrs. Gao.

Mrs. Gao, a highly educated woman who had left her career in the U.S. to raise their children, stared blankly at Cheng Li.

Finally, she spoke softly, “After all the damage my chat logs caused to your company, why are you helping me?”

Cheng Li remained composed. “To me, you’re just a desperate woman trapped in a hopeless marriage. Your intention wasn’t to destroy Fanhai, so there’s no need for me to target someone who’s already desperate and out of control.”

Mrs. Gao stood rooted in place, tears welling up. Since the incident, she had faced nothing but scorn and derision.

This was the first time someone acknowledged her pain—a woman trapped in despair.

She whispered, “Has anyone ever told you that you’re terrifying?”

“Never,” Cheng Li replied with a faint smile, feigning a hint of distress. “In fact, many people say I’m too mild-mannered.”

Mrs. Gao: “…”

“It’s just that Gao Zhihe happened to cross my bottom line.”

Cheng Li could see why Mrs. Gao said that, but she didn’t mind offering an explanation.

She bent slightly, picking up a tissue from the table. Slowly, she wiped the coffee splattered on her delicate fingers, one by one, as Mrs. Gao quietly watched.

When Cheng Li finished, she crumpled the tissue into a ball and turned back to Mrs. Gao.

“Ms. Wen Si,” she addressed her formally.

Mrs. Gao was taken aback—she hadn’t heard that name in years.

Cheng Li leaned closer, her voice calm yet piercing.

“Let me know your decision.”

Mrs. Gao locked eyes with her, captivated by the fire burning in Cheng Li’s gaze. It stirred something deep within her—a reminder of the independent and confident woman she used to be.

“Don’t keep me waiting.”

With those four words whispered into her ear, Cheng Li turned and walked away.

Author’s note:
Rong Qi: I want Gao Zhihe gone from the company.
Cheng Li: I’d rather see him dead.