Chapter 16
The owner of that hand was looking at him with a faint smile.
Jiang Suliu froze for a moment, then reached out to take the item. "Thank you, President."
A while later, the flight attendant came by to collect the dishes.
Feng Jin sat quietly for a moment longer before turning to Jiang Suliu and asking, "Secretary Jiang, how's the proposal for the Conquest Group collaboration coming along?"
"It's mostly completed. Please give me a moment."
Knowing she wanted to review it, Jiang Suliu stood and went to retrieve his laptop.
Watching his figure as he walked away, Feng Jin turned her gaze toward the cabin window. The turbulence breaking through the clouds created a kind of dazzling beauty. The direct flight from S City to New York would take nearly fifteen hours, and it would remain daylight the entire way—no sign of nightfall.
On this trip to New York, Feng Jin had slowly calmed down. Her father's condition had stabilized and entered the recuperation stage. It was unlikely there would be any sudden changes.
She could only guess that perhaps Uncle Zhong, the butler, had inadvertently revealed the reality of her current situation, which in turn caused her father to worry. The thought left Feng Jin a bit helpless. For years, her father had always let her handle everything on her own, never interfering—so why had he chosen this exact moment to issue a direct order for her to come to New York?
She had a bad feeling about this.
Though things in the company had settled for now, the Chu family had been unusually active. As for the person behind them, Feng Jin had no concrete leads, but she didn't feel afraid.
Still, at this moment, the most pressing matter was how to face her father's questioning.
Feng Jin knew that her father's past efforts to make her adapt to the business world were for her own good. The back-and-forth of the corporate battlefield was bloodless but brutal, and his harsh and emotionless training was meant to ensure she wouldn't end up utterly crushed in such a fight. If her father had raised her as a traditional, genteel lady, Sheng'an wouldn't be what it was today.
In some ways, her father's efforts had indeed been painstaking.
However, when it came to matters involving the Chu family, perhaps her father had noticed something as well—but was deliberately holding back.
When Jiang Suliu returned, he saw Feng Jin gazing out the window. Her head was slightly bowed, eyes deep and black, as though lost in thought. Sunlight filtered in through the cabin, bathing her in a soft glow that couldn't quite chase away the trace of chill around her.
"President."
Hearing his voice, Feng Jin snapped out of her thoughts and gave a small nod. "Mm."
As if that fleeting moment of vulnerability had been just an illusion.
Jiang Suliu opened his laptop and placed it in front of Feng Jin, leaning slightly forward. "Regarding the market forecast and analysis, I prepared a budget in advance. Based on Sheng'an's current financial status, the short-term budget should be fine, but the later stages will require increased funding. The marketing department also contributed to the positioning and strategy section, and the data they provided is quite detailed..."
His voice trailed off—because in leaning forward, his arm had inadvertently brushed against something soft. Jiang Suliu's throat bobbed slightly, his posture freezing.
"The marketing strategy still lacks strength. We need to improve our market share," Feng Jin interjected, effortlessly easing the awkward moment. "We'll also need to improve the product later to extend its life cycle. Only then can we secure a foothold in this competitive market."
"That was my oversight," Jiang Suliu quickly regained his composure, subtly creating more distance between them. "I'll revise the marketing plan accordingly."
"Mm. Thank you for your hard work." Feng Jin nodded slightly, then added, "But this isn't urgent for now. We'll need to coordinate with the Conquest Group's representatives. Make sure you get some rest—jet lag will affect your efficiency."
"Understood, President."
After Jiang Suliu left, Feng Jin sat for a moment before returning to her seat. Her work laptop was still on the table. Remembering there were still documents left to review, she planned to finish them now—so she could hand them directly to Jiang Suliu after landing. She had no idea how long this stay in New York would last.
She pulled a USB drive from her briefcase, connected it to the laptop, and began reviewing files one by one, familiarizing herself with the general situation of the branch offices. The overseas branches hadn't been significantly affected, which meant the hidden hand behind the chaos was targeting the headquarters specifically. Or perhaps the overseas branches simply weren't seen as a threat—unworthy of their attention.
After finishing the documents, Feng Jin rubbed her temples and shut down the laptop, its battery nearly drained. Looking up, she saw Jiang Suliu at the nearby bar, holding a wine glass with elegant fingers. The red wine gleamed against his pale, refined hand, as delicate as white jade.
With so much time left on the flight, wine didn't seem like a bad idea.
With that thought, Feng Jin stood and walked toward the bar.
The bartender greeted her with a smile. "Good evening, ma'am. What can I get for you?"
Feng Jin glanced at the glass in Jiang Suliu's hand and said, "The same as his."
At her words, Jiang Suliu's hand paused mid-swirling. He set the glass down. Perhaps it was the alcohol, but his usually cool, seductive eyes now shimmered with a strange light, losing their chill.
The handsome bartender brought her the wine with a smile. "Please enjoy."
"Thank you." Feng Jin accepted the glass and lightly tapped it against Jiang Suliu's.
She took a sip.
Jiang Suliu's gaze unintentionally dropped to her slightly moist lips, then quickly flicked away. He took a sip of his own wine, only to find he couldn't taste it. His thoughts were in turmoil, and he wasn't sure why.
It felt like something beyond his control—something unpredictable—was happening. And he was completely unprepared for it.
Jiang Suliu had always operated with meticulous plans. Whether it was joining Sheng'an or becoming the president's secretary, everything had unfolded exactly as he intended. He knew Sheng'an's situation was troublesome, but it was at least trending upward.
Now, with enemies pressing in, Feng Jin hadn't shown even a hint of fear or retreat. Just as before, she remained calm and composed, finding the optimal angle for a counterattack in even the worst situation—and then striking back brilliantly.
"Secretary Jiang, is there something on my face?"
Jiang Suliu snapped out of his thoughts and met her calm, gentle gaze, which held a hint of amusement. He froze for a second, realizing he'd been staring at her again. So he blurted—
"President, your complexion seems a little pale. It's a sign of chronic insomnia. Over time, it can lead to low blood sugar, hypotension, anemia, a weakened immune system, and various complications…"
Feng Jin blinked, then chuckled. "Is that your professional instinct talking?"
"…Just thought the President should take better care of herself," Jiang Suliu replied, his cool voice masking his discomfort. "The Chairman's greatest concern is likely you—not Sheng'an."
His words struck a chord.
Feng Jin looked up at him in surprise. Something unreadable stirred in the depths of her eyes, and then she took another sip of wine.
"You're not wrong. But somehow, facing my father feels more daunting than dealing with strong opponents in the business world."
Jiang Suliu looked mildly surprised.
Feng Jin's dark eyes stayed serene, but her smile was easy. "It's been a while since I felt this uneasy."
She let out a soft breath. The open collar of her white blouse revealed her pale neck and delicate collarbones. Her sleeves were rolled up, exposing part of her fair wrist. She looked nothing like her usual cold, disciplined self—yet oddly, he couldn't look away.
Jiang Suliu lowered his gaze, focusing on the crimson in his glass.
Feng Jin realized this wasn't the best place to continue the conversation. "Let's sit over there."
Following her line of sight, Jiang Suliu nodded and got up to follow.
Near the window was a cozy lounge area with a plush sofa and a glass coffee table. Sunlight spilled in softly, casting a dreamy glow.
They sat down. A few rays of sunlight brushed across her frame, making her look almost gentle. Jiang Suliu deliberately looked away, but perhaps sensing the impropriety, glanced back at her.
"I won't let Sheng'an fall under my watch—no matter who the opponent is." Feng Jin spoke with a smile, but her eyes were resolute. She swirled the wine in her glass, the light reflecting in her dark pupils like stars. "It's the invisible enemies that get under your skin. That person's psychological warfare is impressive. Although things are improving now, Sheng'an's true crisis is just beginning."
Jiang Suliu's hand paused. His expression held a trace of confusion.
"Surprised that I'd say something so pessimistic when I don't even know who the enemy is?" Feng Jin set her wine glass on the table and said calmly, "This is the second time. Before we signed with Xinya Group, right after I broke off the engagement with the Chu family, Sheng'an's stock took a hit. The losses were severe. That person is like a cat playing with a mouse—only devouring it after exhausting it completely. A very intriguing opponent. I've never encountered one like them before."
She turned to Jiang Suliu. "You'd just joined the company then, hadn't you?"
"Yes, President." Jiang Suliu nodded. That financial turbulence was what had caught his attention. And soon after, the woman in front of him made a swift decision to cut losses, stabilizing the company with sheer will.
Back then, he had just passed the recruitment process. A finance graduate with no work experience, yet sharp instincts and judgment had helped him stand out and become the president's secretary.
"You don't need to be so formal. We'll be working together for a long time." Feng Jin's black eyes fixed on him. "But I'm curious—why did you give up a career in medicine to enter the business world?"