Lu Chengwen gently pushed Jiang Shihan away. "No need, I'm fine now. Thanks."
"Mr. Lu, do you… dislike me?" Jiang Shihan asked, her voice tinged with insecurity.
"No, no way…" Lu Chengwen fumbled with his zipper. "Good grief, how are girls' hands so fast?"
Jiang Shihan said softly, "Mr. Lu, you don't have to hold back with me. Bottling it up… it's not good for you…"
She felt a flush of embarrassment at her own boldness. She'd always thought secretaries who got too close to their bosses lacked principles. Yet here she was, initiating it herself.
She realized women are drawn to strength. A man at the top of society, radiating success, holds an irresistible allure. And her boss wasn't just successful—he was charismatic, kind, and had quietly supported her for years.
What did she have to offer? No prestigious education, no remarkable talent, no connections, no family background—just her looks. In the eyes of the wealthy, was that even valuable? They were never short of beautiful companions.
Lu Chengwen had cared for her all this time. How could she repay him? All she had was herself.
Jiang Shihan's impulsive determination took over. Once she set her mind on something, she wouldn't back down. "Mr. Lu, I know you've been good to me. I also know you'd never marry a secretary like me to be the Lu family's lady. I'm not ambitious, not trying to climb the ladder with my body. I genuinely like you, admire you, and am grateful for you. I… I'm willing to be with you, anytime, anywhere… as long as you don't despise me, I can be your woman… secretly…"
Her face burned as she spoke.
Lu Chengwen was so mortified he wanted to jump out the window. "Oh, uh, thanks, I appreciate the sentiment. You're a good girl, I can't ruin you…"
"It's not ruining me! I'm willing, really! Want me to record a video saying it's my choice?"
Lu Chengwen thought, What is this nonsense? "Enough, Shihan, stop messing around. I don't have time for this now. We'll talk later, okay?"
"Mr. Lu, am I not pretty enough? Is my figure not good?"
"No, it's not that! You're gorgeous, great figure…"
"Then why don't you like me? I've gone this far, and you're still rejecting me. It's really hurtful."
Lu Chengwen gave a helpless laugh. "Let's just drop it…"
His rejection stung Jiang Shihan deeply. She felt cheap—throwing herself at her boss only to be turned down. How could she face him now?
Seeing her tears, Lu Chengwen tried to comfort her, but she suddenly pushed him back onto the chaise, straddled him, and kissed him fiercely.
Lu Chengwen was, after all, human—a man, a normal man, already stirred up by the earlier antics of multiple women. In this moment, in this setting… he couldn't help but want to compose a poem!
The thin barrier between them shattered, and the two went wild.
But at that exact moment, the door swung open. Chen Mengyun and Officer Zhang Shener walked in.
Lu Chengwen was too engrossed to notice. He and his secretary were still tangled up, oblivious, until Chen Mengyun shouted, "Lu Chengwen! What are you doing?"
Startled, he jumped up. "Oh, uh… Officer Zhang's here? I was just… checking her."
Jiang Shihan, stifling a laugh, turned away to fix her clothes.
Chen Mengyun was livid. "You're cheating on me again?"
Lu Chengwen blinked. "I haven't cheated yet. You walked in right before I could."
Zhang Shener's face was stern. "Mr. Lu, please rein in your animal instincts. We need to discuss the case."
"Oh, right, right, I'll control myself."
As he adjusted his clothes, Jiang Shihan came over to help, acting like a newlywed wife, tucking in his shirt and sneaking a playful pinch. Chen Mengyun fumed. "Move!"
She shoved Jiang Shihan aside and took over, fixing Lu Chengwen's clothes herself.
For a moment, Lu Chengwen felt transported back in time. From high school to college, Chen Mengyun had handled his daily needs—caring for his parents, his brother, even the family dog. She'd never cared about her own studies, content to support him and be the woman behind him, even washing his underwear by hand.
Both he and Chen Mengyun drifted into nostalgia. She smoothed his shirt, patted his chest, and said softly, "There."
Zhang Shener, nearly gagging, snapped, "Mr. Lu, are we done?"
"Oh, yeah, done."
"When did you confirm Chairman Leng's disappearance?"
"A few hours ago."
They talked briefly. Chen Mengyun went to prepare drinks, dragging Jiang Shihan along.
Outside, Chen Mengyun turned to her. "He doesn't like me slapping girls who chase him, but I really want to slap you."
Jiang Shihan lowered her head. "I'm sorry for upsetting you."
"You seduced him, didn't you?"
"Yes."
Chen Mengyun thought, Bold move. Admitting it outright, no shame, no groveling—she was practically challenging her. "Think I can't deal with you?"
Jiang Shihan smiled faintly. "I'm just a secretary. Mr. Lu's heart is with you all. But if he wants a fling, can you stop him? Even if you drown me in the sea, there'll be a Zhang Shihan, a Li Shihan, a Zhao Shihan… I understand your anger, but taking me too seriously isn't wise."
Chen Mengyun's eyes narrowed. "Not bad, little girl. Big perspective for a secretary. No wonder you've lasted under him. But let me warn you: I can't stop every 'Shihan' from throwing themselves at my boyfriend, but there's only one Jiang Shihan. At the very least, I can make her disappear."
"What if one Jiang Shihan keeps the others away?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"There's always going to be someone—or a crowd—around him."
Chen Mengyun gave a cold smile. "Keep an eye on him. If you can't, I'll find someone who can."
"Yes, Miss."
"Go prepare the drinks," Chen Mengyun ordered.
"Yes."
In the room, Zhang Shener said irritably, "Mr. Lu, living the high life, huh? Done being a simp, now playing Casanova?"
Lu Chengwen didn't mince words. "Are you here to talk about the case or my personal life? If it's the latter, I can start from when I was eighteen."
"We've confirmed Leng Tianhao's location and are sending people there. Who's behind this?"
"Probably Long Aotian and Huo Wendong."
"Probably?"
"I'm not certain."
"You're fighting a multi-billion-dollar corporate war and don't even know who your enemy is?"
"If I say I'm certain, you'll ask for proof. I don't have any, so I'm not certain."
"Is this related to the shantytown project?"
"No."
"The new subway station?"
"None of it. Long Aotian's goal is to take all four major families. The Lengs are just his first step."
"Based on what you're saying, even if the takeover succeeds, it's Huo Wendong's private gain. What's Long Aotian's angle?"
"You won't believe me."
"Try me."
"Huo Wendong's been controlled by Long Aotian's subordinate. Everything Huo gains in the North will easily become Long Aotian's."
Zhang Shener scoffed. "A big-shot CEO like Huo Wendong, controlled? He's not the type to roll over."
"He wasn't, but there's a woman whose charm is irresistible. When she turns it on, Huo Wendong will do anything."
"That's a fairy tale for kids."
"I knew you wouldn't believe me."
"It's too far-fetched."
Lu Chengwen insisted, "One last time: Long Aotian has a subordinate who's pure evil. She can turn men into puppets, doing whatever she says."
"If such a technique exists, Long Aotian could have anything he wants."
"Top-tier control like that isn't easy. It requires the right timing, conditions, and planning."
"Our team's almost there. Leng Tianhao should be rescued soon. I hope you're telling the truth."
"He's likely being rescued now, but whether it succeeds depends on his luck."
"What do you mean?"
"My people are probably there already."
"Your people?"
"Well… sort of."
In an abandoned house, Long Aotian, Huo Wendong, Luo Shiyin, and Bang Daomang stood over an unconscious Leng Tianhao.
Huo Wendong's face was dark. "Something's off! Where the hell is Lu Chengwen? That bastard's been fighting me tooth and nail—I've sunk over 20 billion already!"
Long Aotian said coolly, "I've paved the way for you. Whether you beat Lu Chengwen in this corporate war is up to you."
"You said he wouldn't notice, that he'd be distracted by Leng Qingqiu while we took Qianfeng. Now he's clearly hiding somewhere, orchestrating this fight, and I'm losing big!"
"The more you invest now, the more you'll gain later. Make your choice."
"You—"
Luo Shiyin sauntered over, looping her arm through Huo Wendong's. "Young Master Huo, my legs are tired. Keep me company?"
Their eyes locked. Luo Shiyin's pupils shimmered, shifting colors, and Huo Wendong's pupils dilated, tinged red. "Alright, Shiyin, you're tired? Let's go. Leave this to them—I'll take care of you at the hotel."
"What about the corporate war? Will you lose to Lu Chengwen?"
"Lose to him? I'll make a call right now. I'll crush him with money and take Qianfeng!"
As they left, Long Aotian's expression turned cold.
Bang Daomang watched him warily. "I don't understand corporate wars, but our young master's clearly under that woman's thumb. What did you do to him?"
Long Aotian smirked. "You've got some skill, but you're too dumb. The brain's on your young master's head—ask him."
"If I find out you're harming him, you're done!"
"You see how happy he is? He's thrilled."
"Skulking around, spreading lies—you don't seem like a good guy."
"Watch your tone. I'm giving you face only because you're Huo Wendong's man. With your skills, I could knock you out with one punch."
Bang Daomang sneered. "I can tell you're no ordinary man. I'd love to test your skills."
"You? Worthy?"
Bang Daomang threw a punch to probe Long Aotian's strength. Long Aotian countered, and the two began trading blows.
On the rooftop, Bronze King peeked through a hole. "Perfect! They're fighting each other. Get ready!"
"Bronze King, which one's Lu Chengwen?"
"Idiot, he's the one around the Young Master's age."
"Wow, Lu Chengwen's got skills!"
"Better than expected! No wonder the Young Master keeps losing to him."
"What do we do?"
"On my signal, take out Lu Chengwen first. You two hold off that middle-aged expert while I grab Leng Tianhao."
The two hesitated. The chubby one said, "Big Brother, that guy looks tough. We might not be able to handle him."
"Morons! I'll hold him off—you two save the guy!"
"Yes!"
Bronze King rubbed his hands, grinning fiercely. "Wait for the right moment! Lu Chengwen, you're done!"
_
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