"And that concludes today's report, Boss."
"I see. So, you're pretending to be his soon-to-be fiancée. That makes it easier to formulate a plan of action going forward, but your increased proximity to the target does concern me. Please be cautious. You can't let him turn the tables on you."
"Come on, Boss. Do you have any idea how many aliases I've assumed since joining the FBI?"
"I know, and that's a fair point. But, I expect a lot out of my best actress."
If Jian Qingshan was to let her emotions get the best of her and reveal herself to Wang Zhixin, that would be the end of her.
And, when Huo Qubing, the Boss says she couldn't let the man turn the tables on her, he wasn't joking.
She was ruminating on her own dangerous position when a call from the devil interrupts her thoughts.
The man himself have asked to meet her in person in his office. The woman had no choice by to comply his command.
-
"This is a surprise. I didn't expect you to get in touch so soon."
"When I ask you to dress up, you really took it to heart."
He spits, glaring at her unusually flamboyant outfit.
What can she do? They already made the deal.
The man detests anything unnecessary which can only mean today was the day he officially introduces her to his employees. Which was precisely why she's chosen such a feminine outfit.
Her usual clothes are a little too severe for such an occasion. They were fine for a businesswoman, but they're a little too drab for her current role as his girlfriend. No one was to take her seriously if she wore something too gaudy.
"What do you think? Not too much, but not too little. Do I look like a woman who belongs at your side?"
The man went silent; however his silence was a tacit approval.
"As you have guessed, I will be introducing you to the board of directors today."
"Ok, I understand. Let's make sure this goes well."
Just then, there were a polite knock at the door. Wang Zhixin waves the secretary in and, speaking calmly she states.
"Sir, it's nearly time."
"Alright."
Gazing her way, the man gives her a little nod.
Little thoughts were running in her mind. Obviously she is not his real girlfriend, and she's never going to be engaged to him but, she got to be more convincing than a real girlfriend in the eyes of his employees.
Everything depends on how well she'll be able to pull it off.
-
Qingshan and Zhixin along with the secretary left the president's office and into a conference room.
Everyone seated in the room was patiently waiting for the President himself. There was supposedly some important matter the CEO would like to discuss and share with the board of directors.
When the man enters the room, he waited for everyone to be seated and got straight to the point.
"So, I'd like to take this opportunity to make an introduction. This is Wu Nianzhen. We have plans to be engaged."
"Hello, my name is Wu Nianzhen. It's an honor to meet you all."
She politely stood up and bow, and a buzz rises up in the room.
"Wait just a minute. What happened to your engagement to the CEO of Xiu Market's daughter?"
"That was called off, remember?"
"Still, sir. Calling off one engagement only to announce another one so soon after—"
"I understand your concern completely. I have no plans to publicly announce our relationship any time soon. I fact, I'd like to keep news of today's introduction within the company."
"I see. Well, this is sudden, but you haven't had much luck with any of the engagements we've attempted to arrange so, the fact that you've found a woman you feel you can be serious about is probably cause for a celebration."
Although the younger employees seem bewildered and perturbed, the older ones are smiling magnanimously.
To be honest, Jian Qingshan had though they would be more critical, but some of the employees were actually very understanding.
They wanted the President to get engaged for the sake of the company, but they don't seem to have any bad intentions.
"Are you quite sure about this?"
Li Bai's voice could be heard within the room.
"Is she really here for the right reasons? Falling for a woman from a consulting firm out of the blue.
It's very suspicious. How can you be sure she doesn't have ulterior motives of her own?"
That was right. Wang Zhixin has a lot of employees, but Li Bai was the one they need to convince.
Suddenly, something clicks into place in her mind, and a switch flip inside of her. Speaking quietly but firmly, she responds.
"If I may be so bold. We genuinely love each other."
"But—"
"You can doubt me if you want. I don't mind, but don't insult our feelings for each other. I love Zhixin."
Being the great actress she is, her voice wavers with emotion, and tears well up in her eyes. She subtly leans in close, and a heartbeat later, the man wraps an arm around her shoulders.
"I'm sorry, but my decision has already been made. You can't change my mind. That's all I have to say today."
"Come on, Mr. Li. You heard the President. This information is to stay within the company. There's no hard in sitting back and watching to see who things go for the time being."
"Yes, I suppose."
And so, leaving Jian Qingshan and Wang Zhixin with one last cutting look, Li Bai, the man exits the room.
The man dismissed the meeting himself since the important matter have been discuss.
Once everyone's gone, the secretary closes the door, and the man quickly lets her go.
"Even cheap play acting has a time and a place."
"Today was round one. This is how it's going to be at the beginning. Now we just need to consistently play our parts."
"Before we get to that—"
The man holds out a document. It was the contract.
"—sign here." The man coldly said.
She carefully looks over the contract but didn't find anything strange or out of the ordinary. It seems to be exactly like what he says it is.
After reading the last remaining content of the contract, she accepts the fountain pen he had offered and signed it with her non-dominant hand.
As she's signing, the man's gaze remains focused solely on her. Despite the fact that the contract is for Wu Nianzhen and not for Jian Qingshan, signing it still makes her feel a little tense.
After taking a breath, she looks up.
"It's really official now."
"That's right."
"Wait!"
The two inside the conference room can hear the secretary's voice loud and clear outside the room.
"You can't Mr. Li. The President is in the middle of something."
"Who do you think you're talking to? I told you, I need to speak with the President."
"All unscheduled meeting with the President must go through me. Do you have an appointment with the President?"
"How dare you!"
Inside the room, both listens carefully to the commotion outside.
"Sounds like Li Bai is back."
"He's the most skeptical of your employees. We'll be in trouble if he sees this contract."
They had to do something while the secretary is still stalling the man outside. The suddenly a light switch in her mind.
"All we need to do is make it, so he doesn't notice the documents. We'll just have to make it so he can't look directly at us."
"I see. We are nearly-engaged, after all."
The two concluded that if they act out their own little love scene. The man outside would be mortified to look at them.
Wang Zhixin reaches out for her without hesitation. She takes his hand, and he forcefully pulls her close.
Just like that, he embraces her, and she drape her arms around his neck.
"Zhixin—"
"I know."
Without her saying a word, he sweeps her hair to the side. Then, he quietly begins to unzip her dress.
"I'm impressed. You've got good instincts."
"Quiet. We're 'in the middle of something,' remember?"
They whisper to each other, artfully entwining their limbs. He leans against her, and she accepts his weight and body heat.
"Don't complain."
"I wouldn't dream of it. I want you to do whatever you want to do."
"Hmph… under normal circumstances, that would be an absolutely irresistible line, but—"
The hand that wasn't busy with her zipper slips up her skirt. Just then, the door is thrown open.
Just as planned, they sensed the man stop short, breathless and stunned.
"…"
With his body pressed close to her, his delicate lips glide along her exposed collarbone.
He wasn't planning on actually touching her, but his breath. Perhaps because of the heat radiating from his thin lips, the places he touches starts to heat up.
Just as she starts to find it difficult to tell whether he's faking or not, his lips crawl up her shoulder to her neck and, after touching her ear, they at last end in front of her face.
Their eyes meet, and she finally found herself sucked in by his hypnotic gaze.
To regain her conscious, she attempted to twist a little in his arms to chastise him, he only hugs her closer.
His seductive hands continue to stroke her, massaging her exposed skin, and all of a sudden, she felt lightheaded.
His breath mixes with her, and with their lips close enough to touch—
"AHEM!"
Li Bai clears his throat, and the actor and actress take their time pulling apart.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but if I could just barrow a minute of your time, President."
"Don't look."
"…"
"Don't look at her until she fixes her clothes."
"My apologies."
Li Bai turns around, and Zhixin takes the opportunity to tuck the contract into her dress.
After taking a moment to straighten out her clothes, Li Bai turns around at the man's signal.
"Zhixin, I'll let you guys to it. I'll be waiting at your place."
"Sure. In that case, let me give you the code."
"It's ok. I know it."
After allowing her gaze to linger reluctantly for just a moment, she looks away.
However, despite their efforts. Jian Qingshan still sees deep skepticism in the man's eyes as she leaves.
She was going to have to figure out how to deal with the level of distrust from the man.