Women are truly remarkable. Just by removing a wig, washing off heavy makeup, and changing into a modest, plain-colored dress, they can completely transform into another person.

Even Mr. Luo, who had just received her fiery kiss, couldn’t recognize her.

After settling things with Mr. Luo, Jiang Yuyan accompanied Jing Rui, mingling with various prominent figures in the business world, building connections, and strengthening relationships. Everyone praised him for having such a smart, capable, and tactful secretary.

While others were full of compliments, Jing Rui leaned down and teasingly whispered in her ear, “These people only know how efficient you are at your job and how skillful you are socially. They don’t know you’re also quite the actress, playing the fool so convincingly that you can have people wrapped around your finger.”

“What? Do you have a problem with that?” She felt a tickle in her ear and playfully dodged away from him.

“How could I? I consider myself very fortunate.”

“Fortunate?”

“To have hired such a great secretary at such a small cost, I’d say I got an excellent deal.”

Is he measuring her as if she were a commodity?

She shot him a warning glance.

He smiled faintly, not at his lips but deep in his eyes, like stars in the night sky, shining only for her.

Yes, this man rarely smiles. Apart from necessary social niceties, he usually wears a poker face. Only with her does that icy coldness naturally melt away.

This was her most intimate happiness, and she had no intention of sharing it with anyone else.

Jiang Yuyan smiled sweetly.

“What are you smiling at?” Jing Rui, while fending off a woman who had approached him, still found time to catch her every expression.

“Why do you care what I’m smiling at?” She teased him. “That pretty lady just asked you out to dinner.”

He shrugged, giving her a look of complete disinterest, and then turned away, decisively crushing the woman’s hopes.

“Hey, why did you turn her down so bluntly? What if she’s from a prestigious family—”

“So what?” He cut her off with a single sentence.

True, it wouldn’t matter to him. He was used to the admiration of noblewomen and heiresses, and if they were of no use to him, he wouldn’t spare them a second glance.

He was, at his core, somewhat contemptuous of women.

Thinking about this, Jiang Yuyan felt a strange mix of emotions in her chest. Although she was glad he wasn’t the type to be easily swayed by beauty, at the end of the day, she was still a woman herself—

“Boss,” she cleverly changed the subject. “Today, I helped you accomplish something big. Is there any reward?”

“No problem,” he agreed instantly. “What do you want?”

“Let me think about it…”

She didn’t answer right away, keeping him in suspense for the rest of the evening. It wasn’t until they left the banquet hall and walked along a quiet, winding path, with a gentle drizzle falling silently from the sky, that she looked up and caught the raindrops, suddenly feeling elated.

“Let’s dance!” she suggested excitedly.

“What? Here?” He was taken aback.

“Yes, right here.” She bent down, gracefully lifting her skirt. “Lord Demon King, would you do me the honor of dancing with this humble maiden?”

“Stop fooling around, it’s raining.”

So what if it’s raining? Rain is perfect. Had he forgotten they first met on a quiet, rainy night? That encounter changed her life.

Since then, she had fallen in love with a man who would never stop to wait for her, so she had no choice but to quicken her pace and chase after him.

She had chased him for many years, chasing him with both pain and joy, because following him was like dancing in the misty rain, stepping on the splashing water, watching ripples spread underfoot, with each circle rippling into her heart.

Following him was like dancing a dance with an elusive rhythm. She feared turning too quickly and missing him, but even more, she feared turning too slowly and losing step with him. Every move was like stepping on her own heart, painful yet joyful.

With every sway, she was swaying her anxious love—loving him and hoping he would love her in return.

She wanted to love him, passionately, without reservation, like a girl wearing red dance shoes of love, who would never stop dancing—

“So, how do I look when I dance?” She spread her arms wide, spinning joyfully in the rain.

“You look like a madwoman.” Jing Rui smiled at her, his deep eyes filled with pure masculine appreciation and indulgence. “Are you drunk?”

“Am I drunk? Hmm, maybe a little. I did really down two glasses of whiskey just now to convince those Japanese men.”

“You can’t handle your liquor. Don’t drink so much next time,” he said, a note of concern in his voice.

She laughed. “Rui, do you remember our first dance?”

“Our first dance?”

“At the sophomore welcome dance! Have you forgotten?”

“That was so long ago, and you still remember?” He raised an eyebrow.

Of course, she remembered. She remembered everything about him.

She sighed softly and beckoned him. “Rui, come over here and dance.”

“No, I don’t want to be mistaken for a lunatic too.” Jing Rui stood on the sidelines, arms crossed. He was always composed, even accused by some of being cold-blooded. A cold-blooded man wasn’t suited for crazy rain-dancing.

In fact, as his secretary, she shouldn’t be indulging like this either. If a colleague or acquaintance were to see this, it would harm the company’s and his reputation.

But she was in a good mood, and he didn’t want to spoil it. She was a very dedicated secretary, a considerate lover, and she had earned the right to ask him for this small favor.

“You said you’d reward me,” she pouted, slightly annoyed.

“Anything but this,” he promised.

“Really? Even if I ask you to kiss me in public?” She teased him.

“Yanyan!”

“Just kidding.” She spun around and gracefully fell into his arms. He caught her, holding her close with affectionate familiarity.

Her body felt both hot and cold, trembling slightly.

His heart tightened. “Okay, that’s enough. Stop playing around. You’ll catch a cold if you stay in the rain too long. I’ll take you home.”

“Okay.” She nodded, leaning into him as they walked together. “Rui, what will you get me for my birthday this year?”

“What? Listen to me, it’s not like that—”

“We’re not familiar with the Taiwanese market, so we have to be extra cautious. With you hiding the real situation of the company, it’s difficult for us to continue this discussion!”

With that, the Japanese investor turned and left without looking back.

Chairman Luo stood there, stunned.

Jing Rui sneered coldly. “Chairman Luo, what just happened? So, apart from ‘TaiRui,’ you’ve also been looking for other partners?”

“…”

“True, our deal hasn’t been finalized yet, so you’re free to look for other buyers at any time. But hiding it from us is quite unfair, don’t you think?”

“Well…”

Jing Rui didn’t give him a chance to defend himself and continued to apply pressure. “As for your company’s false reporting of the bank loan figures, we’re aware of it too. We initially thought there might be some hardship on your part, so we planned to discuss it slowly at our next meeting. But it seems that’s no longer necessary.”

Not necessary? Does that mean ‘TaiRui’ is also going to terminate the deal?

Chairman Luo was horrified. Given the precarious state of the company, he couldn’t afford to lose this major investor! “I’m sorry, President Jing, please give me a chance to explain. Those two Japanese men just now… they approached me on their own. I was just listening to what they had to say…” He suddenly stopped speaking, noticing Jing Rui’s half-smiling, half-mocking expression. His heart sank to the bottom.

He tried to gain the best benefit for the company, but now he might lose everything. He bit his lip in regret.

Jing Rui observed Chairman Luo’s expression, confirming that the man had completely fallen into the psychological trap he had set. It seemed that this deal would turn out to be even more favorable than before.

He pursed his lips indifferently, and without mercy, he took another bite out of the bleeding prey before him. “If you’re willing to guarantee ‘TaiRui’ exclusive rights to the deal and offer us some ‘reasonable’ concessions on certain terms, then I think we can reconsider this transaction.”

Did that mean he had to let them take advantage of him? Chairman Luo’s face darkened.

“What’s the matter? Chairman Luo doesn’t seem very willing?”

“No, of course not! What I mean is that we should discuss this slowly, let’s talk it through…”

Women are truly fascinating. Just by removing a wig, washing off heavy makeup, and changing into a simple, elegant dress, they can completely transform into a different person.

Even Chairman Luo, who had just received her passionate air kiss not long ago, couldn’t recognize her now.