It turns out to be Chen Jiayu!
Qin Wei walked into the elevator together with Chen Jiayu!
Lin Chudong's expression instantly darkened, and a faint aura of murderous intent radiated from him.
If Chen Jiayu dared to make any out-of-line moves, he would definitely take her life at the first opportunity.
Seeing Lin Chudong staring at Chen Jiayu, Qin Wei said coldly:
"Can't even walk anymore when you see a pretty girl, right?"
Lin Chudong asked, "Weiwei, who is she?"
"My newly recruited assistant."
Chen Jiayu smiled gently at him, looking just like a pure college student who had just graduated.
"Hello, handsome, my name is Chen Jiayu."
Lin Chudong reached out to give her a symbolic handshake, then immediately applied a hard squeeze.
Chen Jiayu gasped in sudden pain and let out a cry.
"Hiss... Handsome, you don't have to squeeze so hard, do you?"
Chen Jiayu grimaced in pain.
Qin Wei glared at him and gave him a fierce shove.
"What are you doing? Why are you bullying my assistant?"
Lin Chudong said:
"I didn't mean to. I didn't expect her to be so fragile."
Looking at her expression, Lin Chudong thought to himself: *Go on, keep acting, you're doing a fantastic job.*
Tears were welling up in Chen Jiayu's eyes as she lowered her head, looking completely wronged.
"President Qin, is there something I didn't do well, which is why the other colleagues are pushing me out..."
Qin Wei's attitude toward her was like that of a caring older sister.
"Of course not, this guy is just an outsider, you don't need to pay attention to him."
Chen Jiayu nodded and cast a timid glance at him. That pitiful look was acted to absolute perfection.
*Fine, fine, playing it that way, are we?*
"Weiwei, do you know what she did yesterday—"
Just as Lin Chudong was about to speak, Chen Jiayu suddenly interrupted him.
"President Qin, I was able to join our Haixing Group this time thanks to Director Song's help with the referral."
Hearing the name Director Song, Lin Chudong swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue.
What on earth is this woman up to?
Yesterday, he had called the leadership of the State Security Bureau, and the leadership clearly told him that he didn't need to worry about Director Song's matter.
With Director Song's guarantee, there would definitely be no problem with this person.
Lin Chudong trusted the leadership's arrangements.
Since they had assigned her to protect Qin Wei, they surely wouldn't send another assassin to get close and assassinate her, right?
Qin Wei glared fiercely at Lin Chudong.
"If you dare to lay hands on women again, don't blame me for being harsh with you!"
Lin Chudong asked, "Weiwei, did you know her background clearly before hiring her?"
"Of course, I know it much better than you do."
Ding-dong.
The elevator doors opened, and the cafeteria had arrived.
The three of them walked into the cafeteria to get some food.
Lin Chudong originally wanted to sit at their table, but Qin Wei resolutely refused.
After lunch, Qin Wei went back to her office for a nap.
Chen Jiayu took her food tray back, and just as she was about to leave, an arm suddenly blocked her path.
It was Lin Chudong.
Chen Jiayu said with a naive expression:
"Handsome, you're not going to squeeze my hand again, are you? I don't think I've offended you, have I?"
Lin Chudong sneer. If this woman entered the entertainment industry, she might just win a Best Actress award; her acting skills were simply too exquisite.
"Find somewhere to talk?"
Chen Jiayu shook her head.
"I don't think that's appropriate. I'm not that kind of casual person."
Lin Chudong snorted and grabbed her wrist.
"That's not up to you now. Come with me."
Lin Chudong was very strong. Chen Jiayu had almost no chance to resist and was dragged straight into the stairwell.
After he let go, Chen Jiayu rubbed her wrist and said with a aggrieved expression:
"What are you doing? Just like President Qin said, you can't walk straight when you see a pretty girl?"
"Don't try anything funny, or I'll report you!"
Lin Chudong let out a cold sneer.
"You play the part well!"
"Tell me, what is your purpose in coming to Qin Wei's side?"
"Handsome, you've got the wrong person. How could I have any purpose?"
"Then I might as well tell the truth to Weiwei. You brought up Director Song just now, so I gave you some face. If you aren't going to cooperate with me, I still have ways to deal with you."
The innocence on Chen Jiayu's face gradually faded, replaced by a playful smile.
"Threatening me, are you? I'm so scared."
"Great Bodyguard Lin, I'm a special operations personnel now, you wouldn't dare do anything to me, right?"
Lin Chudong frowned slightly.
"You? Special ops?"
Chen Jiayu placed her hands on her hips.
"What? I can't be a special operations personnel? I can't turn over a new leaf?"
"Let me tell you, I'm working for the government now too. We're both working by Qin Wei's side, so let's not get in each other's way. You'd better not try anything reckless."Since Chen Jiayu dared to say that, Director Song must have given his permission.
Transforming such a dangerous figure into a special operations agent was, in truth, fraught with risk.
Yet since the decision had already been made, the organization must have weighed it carefully; that was not something Lin Chudong needed to worry about.
In any case, there was nothing he could do to Chen Jiayu right now.
As long as Chen Jiayu posed no threat to Qin Wei, he couldn't be bothered to interfere.
Seeing Chen Jiayu's smug expression irritated Lin Chudong.
He stepped forward, threw an arm around her waist, and a playful smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"I wouldn't dare do anything to you?"
"Who do you think you are, talking to me like that?"
"I might not dare kill you, but can't I do other things?"
Lin Chudong cornered Chen Jiayu against the wall, wrapping both arms around her waist, pressing his chest against hers and pinning her flat.
Chen Jiayu stood around 165 centimeters tall, a fraction shorter than Qin Wei.
Standing before Lin Chudong, who was around 180, their height difference fit the standard template for a couple.
Flashing through his mind was the memory of the other day, when Chen Jiayu had her back to him while putting on a dress—her skin as white as snow, a body of such rare perfection.
And Chen Jiayu's face was exquisitely refined. Now dressed in the attire of a metropolitan beauty, her looks easily scored a nine out of ten.
Chen Jiayu's pretty face flushed red.
A trace of panic flashed in her eyes, though it vanished almost instantly.
"I'm a special agent and President Qin's assistant to boot. What can you possibly do to me?"
"Are you going to kill me, or sleep with me?"
"If you really aren't afraid of President Qin getting angry, go ahead and sleep with me. I'll cooperate. Come on."
Chen Jiayu opened her arms wide and leaned back against the wall, looking entirely at his mercy.
She was certain Lin Chudong wouldn't dare pull anything in the office.
In her eyes, Lin Chudong was nothing more than a kept man living off a woman.
Having finally landed a wife as gorgeous as Qin Wei, of course he wouldn't want to let go.
Lin Chudong knew nothing of Chen Jiayu's true identity.
And Chen Jiayu knew even less about Lin Chudong's.
He believed the State Security Bureau still had some sense of discretion on that front.
Therefore, as far as Chen Jiayu was concerned, Lin Chudong was Qin Wei's genuine boyfriend.
Surely he wouldn't abandon such an outstanding, wealthy, and beautiful girlfriend just for an assassin like her?
Pity.Chen Jiayu's information was still not precise enough.
"Alright, you said it."
Lin Chudong wrapped his arms tightly around her, pulling her fiercely into his embrace.
Fu Xiubei couldn't help smiling faintly. "Well, shall we keep looking at some other things?"
Li Ge was full of doubt. "Is there anything more interesting than this?"
Fu Xiubei kept her in suspense. "You'll see in a moment."
Afterward, Fu Xiubei led Li Ge across to another street, where a Peking Opera performance was taking place.
Li Ge followed Fu Xiubei to visit an embroidery workshop, where she saw many classic embroidery pieces and immersed herself in the rich classical atmosphere.
Finally, the two of them passed by a porcelain shop displaying various blue-and-white porcelain ornaments. Li Ge's eyes lit up instantly, and she blurted out without thinking:
"Brother Xiubei, I suddenly understand why you brought me here."
Looking at these blue-and-white porcelain ornaments, recalling everything they had seen during the evening, and combining it with the fashion show materials she had reviewed throughout the day, a detailed outline was already forming in Li Ge's mind.
"A pen, give me a pen quickly!"
Li Ge said, full of excitement.
Seeing this, Fu Xiubei hurriedly took a fountain pen from his pocket and handed it over, but there was no paper to draw on, which drove Li Ge into a panic.
"What should I do? I've suddenly got inspiration, but I have no way to draw it down!"
With that, Li Ge rushed impetuously into the porcelain shop, grabbed a tissue from the shop's dispenser, and without a moment's hesitation, started sketching on the tissue with the fountain pen.
Seeing this, the shop owner sternly scolded, "What are you two doing?"
Fu Xiubei pulled a stack of cash from his pocket and handed it to the owner, who, knowing how to take a hint, immediately shut his mouth.
After taking the money, the owner generously left the space to the two of them.
Immersed in her own world, Li Ge drew with intense concentration, tracing out the rough outline in her mind stroke by stroke.
Fu Xiubei stood quietly by her side, keeping her company.
After an unknown length of time, a finished sketch was born. Li Ge held it up, waving it proudly in front of Fu Xiubei. "Look! How about this outfit themed around blue-and-white porcelain?"Li Ge's drawing skills were already exceptional.
This garment incorporated elements of blue-and-white porcelain, making it both innovative and unique. In an instant, it elevated the entire grade of the design, instantly catching the eye.
"This is wonderful!"
Li Ge's face lit up with joy. "The audience for this fashion show isn't just local; many people from the international fashion world will be watching as well. Therefore, this is an excellent window for us to showcase ourselves. If we take this opportunity to integrate our traditional cultural elements into our designs, it won't just be blazing a new trail—it will also promote our nation's traditional culture, allowing foreigners to experience the profound depth of our five thousand years of heritage."
Watching Li Ge speak with such eloquence and passion, Fu Xiubei nodded in agreement.
"Indeed! This design fits the theme perfectly, and it embodies our love for our country and our confidence in our ethnic culture."
Li Ge wrapped her arm around Fu Xiubei's, full of excitement. "Thank you, Brother Xiubei! You helped me find my inspiration and ignited all my creative passion. The ideas in my mind are about to burst out; I can't wait to draw everything right now."
Fu Xiubei froze completely.
Her sudden, intimate approach made his heart skip a beat, throwing his rhythm into chaos. Just as he wanted to say something, Li Ge spoke with eager impatience.
"Brother Xiubei, let's head back!"
Fu Xiubei looked at her and nodded.
***
By the time they returned to the company, it was already 11:00 PM.
Yet Li Ge felt no fatigue at all. She stayed in her office alone, sketching intently, while Fu Xiubei accompanied her the entire time.
After an unknown length of time, sleepiness finally overtook Li Ge. She rested her head on her desk and fell into a deep sleep.
At that moment, Fu Xiubei walked over to her. His gaze fixed on her sleeping face, his eyes softening completely.
In the end, he could not resist. He leaned over and pressed a light, feather-soft kiss to her cheek.
Then, he scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the large bed in the lounge.
***
Chapter 41
Chen Jiayu panicked instantly.
"It's fine, President Qin, I'm fine!"
Qin Wei felt she was acting a bit strange, but since she said she was fine, she didn't press further.
"Very well, come with me."
Chen Jiayu hurriedly pulled herself back into work mode and followed Qin Wei out of the stairwell.
The feeling was akin to being caught by a jealous wife while having a clandestine affair with someone else's husband. Even though she and Lin Chudong had nothing going on, after that kiss just moments ago, she felt a trace of guilt in front of Qin Wei.
The physiological reactions of the body were truly terrifying.
Chen Jiayu calmly analyzed the situation.
This feeling of hers was purely caused by a physical reaction. Having never experienced intimacy with a man before, suddenly sharing such a close physical contact with one was bound to have some psychological impact.
However, as a professional assassin, Chen Jiayu quickly adjusted her mindset. All those fluttering emotions were simply due to a surge in hormones; once her hormone levels dropped, she would naturally return to calmness.
Arriving at the office, Qin Wei said, "Someone has organized a dinner gathering tonight with executives from several companies. I want you to look up some background information on Tianfu Group."
"Their vice president, Li Yueyao, has been trying to contact me and wants to send me gifts, but I haven't paid her any mind."
"We might run into her tonight, so check out her background."
Chen Jiayu nodded. "Understood, President Qin."
Such minor tasks were a breeze for a professional assassin like Chen Jiayu.
Qin Wei said, "Alright, go make your preparations, and send Lin Chudong in."
Chen Jiayu nodded and walked out of the office, running straight into Lin Chudong, who was just about to head downstairs.
Having just kissed this man, Chen Jiayu—despite her formidable self-control—could not help feeling a bit awkward now.
"Mr. Lin, President Qin wants to see you."
"Got it."
Lin Chudong brushed past Chen Jiayu. As he passed her, his hand brazenly gave her thigh a fondle.
Chen Jiayu's pretty face flushed slightly. She quickly glanced around and, seeing no one else was there, let out a sigh of relief.
This jerk was really pushing his luck more and more!
At that moment, she felt a deep sense of self-doubt. When Lin Chudong touched her thigh just now, her first reaction wasn't to punish this scumbag, but rather to check if anyone had seen them.
Why was this instinctive reaction starting to look more and more like a secret affair?
***
Walking into the office, Lin Chudong asked, "What is it, Weiwei? Did you miss me?"
Qin Wei's expression remained as cold as ever.
"Accompany me to a dinner party tonight. Change into something decent—don't make a fool of me."
Lin Chudong nodded. It seemed his role as a fake boyfriend was back online.
He glanced down at his clothes and shoes. "What's wrong with this outfit? They're major brands, too. Look at these shoes—Warrior brand."
Qin Wei glared at him fiercely. "Cut the crap! I said change, so change!"
Since when was Warrior considered a major brand? This man was hopelessly country-bumpkin tacky!
"Which restaurant are we going to?"
"Yuehai Feng, six o'clock this evening."
***
At that moment, Li Yueyao was in the office of CEO Chen Tianfuz, reporting on her work.
"President Chen, President Qin of Haixing Group has already agreed to attend tonight's dinner. I heard she's even bringing her boyfriend along."
Chen Tianfu nodded, a look of approval on his face.
Chapter 42
"Yueyao, you've done a good job with this matter."
"The food industry is far too difficult right now. If we want to branch into the health supplements sector, we must build a good relationship with Haixing Group."
"This woman Qin Wei is no pushover. She holds quite a few patents in her hands; there will definitely be times in the future when we'll need to ask her for favors."
Li Yueyao said modestly, "A strong career woman like Qin Wei has always been the goal in my heart. I've tried to befriend her several times before, but unfortunately, I never had the opportunity."
"I must perform exceptionally well tonight. I'll head over to the restaurant early to make the arrangements."
Chen Tianfu nodded, offering Li Yueyao a few generous words of praise as well.
A woman with neither power nor backing who managed to climb to the position of vice president at Tianfu Group did so entirely because of her own exceptional capability.
A woman—especially a young and beautiful woman—who reached this level relying purely on her competence rather than her looks, was truly a rarity.
If Li Yueyao was smart enough and managed to build the right connections, she might actually have a chance of becoming the next Qin Wei.
Tonight was of vital importance to their company, and their primary objective was to host Qin Wei. After all, if a food company like theirs wanted to venture into health supplements, patent authorizations were indispensable.
Furthermore, Qin Wei's company was on a much larger scale than theirs. Making connections with an executive of that tier certainly carried no disadvantages.
Having received her instructions, Li Yueyao hurried over to Yuehai Feng.
After reviewing the menu over and over again with careful deliberation, she finally finalized the dishes for that evening.
"Boss, is the private room number one upstairs really already booked?"
A place like Yuehai Feng wasn't exceptionally trendy because its dishes were quite expensive, catering mostly to entrepreneurs and high-ranking officials. Ordinary folks certainly couldn't afford to dine there.
Yet the finest private room in the entire restaurant was private room number one on the top floor.
It boasted an optimal location and a superb view; simply sitting there and looking out at the scenery outside was a visual delight.
The boss replied, "Manager Li, I am truly sorry, but a senior leader has already booked the top floor for tonight."
Li Yueyao lowered her voice and asked, "Which senior leader? Can you give me a hint?"
The boss hurriedly shook his head. "That I cannot say. Manager Li, please don't put me on the spot."
Li Yueyao thought for a moment, pointed to a promotional poster hanging on the wall, and said, "Boss, I was actually planning to top up an annual VIP membership card with you anyway."
The boss's eyes lit up. An annual card at their establishment required a top-up of one million. Moreover, this million had to be spent within a single year.
Deposit one million, and all dishes would be discounted by fifty percent.
This was one of their marketing strategies. While it sounded like a good deal, how many people could possibly spend a million on dining in a single year?
With someone buying an annual card, the boss wouldn't have to worry about his profits for the whole year.
Seeing that Li Yueyao wanted to purchase an annual membership, the boss checked to ensure no one was around before whispering, "I'll tell you, but don't spread it."
"Tonight, Mayor Ma and the wealthiest man, Liu Fugui, are hosting a distinguished guest."
"As for who that distinguished guest is, I honestly don't know."
Li Yueyao's eyes lit up with excitement.
She hadn't expected Mayor Ma and billionaire Liu to be dining here tonight as well. What an incredible coincidence!
If she had the opportunity to rub shoulders with figures of that caliber, her career would undoubtedly develop even more smoothly.
Li Yueyao was an intensely career-driven woman, and having stumbled upon such a rare opportunity, she naturally had no intention of letting it slip away.