Vixen.
‘Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘Isn’t it enough you’re drowning me?’
‘We can drown together,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
‘Jiao Wu, what are you going to do about the worms?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked.
‘Why don’t you tell me?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked. ‘You said you thought of a way to deal with them.’
‘You’re not going to interfere?’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
‘I trust you,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘What’s your plan?’
‘I want them to return everything they stole before I fire them,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
‘I’ll support your decision,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘You don’t have to hold back.’
‘Jiao Wu, why are you being good to me today?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked.
‘I’m good to you on other days too,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘Tan Yuan, I want to do it with you here again.’
‘Jiao Wu… can’t you live a day without wanting to…’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
‘Wanting what?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked.
Gu Jiao Wu carried Qiao Tan Yuan to lock the door. Then he spent time with her on the sofa.
The following weeks, Qiao Tan Yuan was busy overseeing the marketing department, approving TV commercials and magazine advertis.e.m.e.nts of new products launched by Gu Jiao Wu’s company. She used the launching of new products as a reason to recruit the best college graduates, and give them on the job training in different departments.
As Qiao Tan Yuan expected, the worms didn’t like their positions being threatened.
‘Uncles and aunts,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘Isn’t lightening your workload a good thing?’
The worms couldn’t argue with Qiao Tan Yuan’s rationale so they left the meeting room.
Qiao Tan Yuan worked during the day, and held secret meetings with the new employees after work. Not even Gu Jiao Wu knew what she discussed with the new employees.
‘Tan Yuan, what are you planning?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked.
‘Nothing,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
‘What do you talk about with the new employees?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked.
‘Jiao Wu, let me guess, the worms are whispering in your ear in an attempt to get you to put me in my place,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
‘Smart guess,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. He trusted Qiao Tan Yuan, but he was curious what she talked about during the secret meetings. ‘Tan Yuan, can’t you tell me a bit about what you talk about with the new employees?’
Gu Jiao Wu waited in his office while Qiao Tan Yuan held the secret meetings. He didn’t want his pregnant wife to overwork when he could help her.
‘Jiao Wu, think about it,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘If the worms feel their positions are threatened, it wouldn’t be long before they turn on each other to protect their positions.’
Qiao Tan Yuan used the new employees as her eyes and ears. During the secret meetings they reported to her the worms’ daily activities.
‘Tan Yuan, it’s a good thing I’m your husband and not your enemy,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘I support your plan. My wife is impressive.’
‘Did you only discovered today how impressive your wife is?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked.
Qiao Tan Yuan wasn’t an arrogant boss. She respected all employees who performed their work duties diligently, no matter their position. But she had no tolerance for employees who put their company at risk of insolvency.
Gu Jiao Wu felt Qiao Tan Yuan looked beautiful when she used her skills to overcome obstacles. He had reviewed the latest reports since he gave her the authorisation to manage his company. The latest reports were favorable, the worms were behaving and the discrepancies between reported profits and actual profits dwindled.
‘What does my impressive wife want as a reward?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked.
‘I don’t need a reward,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘Helping you is enough for me.’
Qiao Tan Yuan was happy she could help Gu Jiao Wu. He had taken good care of her during her pregnancy, and he gave her anything she wanted.
‘Are you sure?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked.
‘Yes,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
‘Alright,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘What do you want to eat for lunch?’
‘I’m not hungry,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
Qiao Tan Yuan looked at her stomach that was growing rounder by the day. Gu Jiao Wu had bought a fridge to put in his office. He stocked fruits and other healthy snacks for her. He fed her constantly at work. When she was pregnant with Gu Ting Ding, she looked forward to giving birth to Gu Ting Ding, but being divorced from Gu Jiao Wu weighed on her mind and affected her appet.i.te. Her second pregnancy was different, Gu Jiao Wu was by her side and he made her eat regular meals. So at four month pregnant she was a lot fatter than when she was pregnant with Gu Ting Ding.
‘Tan Yuan, what’s wrong?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked. ‘Are you feeling pain anywhere? Do you want to take a nap?’
‘Look at me,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘It’s all your fault. You forced me to eat, sleep, eat and sleep every day. You’re turning me into a fat pig.’
‘Fat?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked. ‘Where are you fat?’
Gu Jiao Wu thought Qiao Tan Yuan looked too skinny for a pregnant woman.
Qiao Tan Yuan showed Gu Jiao Wu her arms.
‘Can’t you see I’m fat everywhere?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked.
Gu Jiao Wu hugged Qiao Tan Yuan.
‘You’re not fat,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘You look beautiful.’
‘You’re lying,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘I’ve been sitting for a long time. I want to go outside for a bit.’
‘Where do you want to go?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked. ‘I’ll take you.’
‘I can go on my own,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘I’m only going somewhere near your office. You have work to do, you don’t have to worry about me.’
‘My work can wait,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
‘Jiao Wu, do you want your employees to think I’m a vixen who is going to topple your company?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked.
Qiao Tan Yuan escaped while Gu Jiao Wu didn’t know what to say.
Gu Jiao Wu believed Qiao Tan Yuan wasn’t going anywhere far from his office. He let her go, and planned to find her if she didn’t come back soon.
End of Chapter 158