Inside the manager’s office, Lu Xinyi sat at one of the couches, sipping the hot tea that the staff served for them while they wait for Shen Yi’s arrival. It had been fifteen minutes since she called him, and yet he hadn’t appeared.
Opposite her sat Chu Ting, her father, and Yao Zhelan. The old man was mesmerized by Lu Xinyi. He’d seen her pictures before and seen her appear in the entertainment news, but he didn’t expect that this woman was more attractive in person. She was even more beautiful than his daughter who was sitting beside him. In his eyes, she was like a perfect rose filled with thorns. One could only appreciate but could never touch.
“Sorry to make you wait, Mr. Chu. It’s rare for President Shen to be late. I’m sure he’s on his way now,” Lu Xinyi a.s.sured them.
“Miss Lu, I understand that you and Ting’er have some disagreement, but it would be wise not to drag our business matters here,” Chu Zhihao said. He could feel his sweat forming on his face as every second pa.s.sed without Shen Yi showing up.
“Hmm…” Lu Xinyi gently swirled her drink on her cup and watched it with interest. “You see, Mr. Chu, this wasn’t the first time I met your daughter. Our first meeting wasn’t nice at all. I’ve never thought that being a chef is insulting to your precious daughter’s eyes.” She turned her eyes to the old man, and for some reason, she found his displeasure amusing.
“Chu Ting said I should withdraw my rights over my inheritance to the Sun family and worked as your family’s executive chef…” She shook her head and sighed. “I wonder what my grandfather will say if he found out what Miss Chu said.”
Chu Zhihao’s face suddenly turned grim. It was already hard enough for him to pacify the Shen family; if Lu Xinyi sought help from the Sun family, the Chu family would lose some face! Lu Xinyi might be a commoner’s daughter, but one shouldn’t ignore the fact that she had the Shen and the Suns behind her.
The Chu family had built a good relations.h.i.+p with the Shens over the years, but he and his daughter Chu Ting only came from the branch family. If the main family found out what Chu Ting did, Chu Zhihao was sure that they’d be kicked out from the Chu family.
“President Shen must be really blind to date a woman like you!” Chu Ting burst out laughing. In her eyes, Lu Xinyi was nothing but a clown. She could wear expensive clothes and jewelry, but her humble heritage as a commoner could never be ignored.
“Ting’er!” Chu Zhihao roared beside her. “Didn’t you cause enough troubles for me today? You’ve already offended Miss Lu, and now you dare to mock President Shen?”
How could this daughter of his be so dumb?!
“You! Apologize to Miss Lu right now!” He insisted. He would rather not offend Lu Xinyi any further. The mere fact that Shen Yi would abandon his work just to check on her was enough to let him know that the two had a deep understanding of each other.
“Why would I apologize to this b.i.t.c.h?! Didn’t you hear what I said earlier, Dad? This was all Lu Xinyi’s fault!” Chu Ting didn’t understand the gravity of the matter. She thought that his father would be able to save her from shame by forcing Lu Xinyi not to get Shen Yi involved. Lu Xinyi’s smile was such a sore to her eyes.
“Yes, I’m really blind. I can see only one woman, and I think I can’t get enough of her.” A familiar voice came behind Lu Xinyi. Lu Xinyi instantly felt relieved knowing Shen Yi had come.
Sweat streamed down Chu Zhihao’s face as he heard Shen Yi’s voice. President Shen really came for Lu Xinyi. Opposite to him, his daughter and Yao Zhelan’s heartbeat increased upon seeing Shen Yi.
Everyone looked towards the doorway and saw a tall, dignified man removing his outer coat before striding towards Lu Xinyi.
“President Shen. It’s been a while since we last met…” The old man stood up and offered a hand, but Shen Yi ignored his greeting.
Seeing the slight red mark on his wife’s face, Shen Yi’s expression grew stilled and serious. His eyes radiated a cold gaze, enough to make everyone in the room feel nervous. He ran a finger over her swollen cheek gently and frowned with a cold fury.
“I’m sorry, I’m late,” he said softly, which made him more look charming to Chu Ting and Yao Zhelan’s eyes.
“Darling, why are you late? Didn’t you say fifteen minutes? Look, Mr. Chu has been waiting for you for some time now.” His wife pouted. “I thought you aren’t going to show up!”
Their public display of affection almost made Yao Zhelan green from jealousy. How she wished it was her whom Shen Yi was looking at. She looked away swiftly, forcing to stop the scowl on her face.
Shen Yuyan and Shen Zhichen, who were playing silently with Jiao Jiao and Fu Rui at the other side of the room, lifted their heads simultaneously. Their eyes widened as they saw Shen Yi entering the room alone. He was clad in his gray suit without a necktie, making his collar loose while a jet black coat draped over his shoulders.
“Daddy!” The Shen twins ran towards their adoptive father, each of them hugging his legs. Yao Zhelan, who was secretly admiring Shen Yi while drinking from her cup, choked from her drink when she heard what the children called him.
“You are late, Daddy. I’m so scared. That woman wanted to hurt me!” Shen Yuyan started to sobbed and pointed at Chu Ting. Chu Ting glared back at her, making the little girl squeak and hide behind Shen Yi’s leg.
Daddy? Just when did President Shen get children of his own? He didn’t have a wife, what more of children?
Yao Zhelan released her cup and clenched her fists on her lap. She was one of the women that the Shen matriarch set a blind date with Shen Yi and was lucky enough to have a chance to meet the demon king personally. Too bad though that Shen Yi never called her back even if she had left her personal number for him to use.
Her eyes then turned to Lu Xinyi. This woman… she needed to dispatch this woman soon, or else Shen Yi will never become hers, Yao Zhelan thought.
“Sorry, someone called me and asked to give him a ride.” Shen Yi replied to his wife as he picked up the crying girl.
“President Shen…” Chu Zhihao started, but even before he could finish his words, a familiar man spoke at the doorway. The old man’s face paled and lost all of its colors once his eyes landed at He Haotian even Lu Xinyi was surprised to see her mentor arriving with her husband.
“Master Chu…” Chu Zhihao stuttered. He Haotian was one of the Young Masters from the main family. This… what’s the meaning of this?! What was he doing here?!
“Oh? Uncle Zhihao. What a coincidence? I was about to give you a call. I heard you’ve been using my name to promote your businesses. Who would have thought you know our little Xinxin here?” He Haotian said, his face marked with loathing.