Chapter 21 - Dirty Shoes

When Ning Zhi saw that the beauty had come to comfort her, she quickly stood up to respond.

"Thank you for your concern, Mrs. Li. It's all thanks to everyone." Ning Zhi's sweet mouth made Lin Sha smile happily.

Lu Yue, who was sitting at the side, rolled her eyes as she listened on.

How hypocritical.

"Special Assistant Ning, come inside," Li Yan said before entering the office.

"Ah Yan is looking for you. Go quickly." Lin Sha gestured for Ning Zhi. "Secretary Liang, take me around the company."

While knocking on the CEO's office door, she couldn't help but marvel at how Lin Sha was such a beautiful and socially skilled woman. She wondered how much good karma Li Yan must have accumulated in his previous life to be able to marry such a beauty in this life.

"CEO Li, you wanted to see me?" Ning Zhi composed herself and stood properly at the door.

"Come closer. Do you think I'll eat you?" Li Yan tapped the table a few times, indicating for Ning Zhi to come closer.

"That's not appropriate. Mrs. Li, she…" Ning Zhi wanted to refuse, but as soon as she mentioned Lin Sha, she felt Li Yan's icy gaze piercing her.

"What Mrs. Li? That's what my mother decided. Besides, Lin Sha and I aren't engaged yet." Li Yan explained. "Just call her Miss Lin from now on."

Ning Zhi silently rolled her eyes in her mind, thinking that he was truly a scumbag. She had traveled a long way from her home country for him, and all she got in return was him saying that they weren't engaged yet.

Ning Zhi felt sorry for Lin Sha.

"Come closer, let me take a look at your wound." Li Yan motioned with his finger and saw that Ning Zhi hesitated to move, he added, "Don't make me say it again."

In the end, Ning Zhi gave in and reluctantly walked closer to Li Yan.

"Thank you for your concern, CEO Li. My injuries are almost healed. It's all thanks to you. I'll go back now if there's nothing else," Ning Zhi said emotionlessly. Then, she turned around and was about to leave when Li Yan stopped her.

"Let me see your hand." Li Yan insisted on seeing her wound, so she reluctantly raised her arm to show him.

Li Yan carefully rolled up her long-sleeved shirt to cover the scars. A shocking sight appeared before him.

There were scars of various sizes on her fair arms. Some had scabbed over, others were almost healed, and there were fresh scars from recently removed stitches. He felt a pang of heartache.

"What are you doing?" Ning Zhi watched as Li Yan started to blow gently on her arm to soothe the scars. She instinctively tried to retract her arm, but he held onto it tightly.

"Let me blow on it for you. Didn't you used to love it when I did this?" Li Yan refused to let go and continued to blow gently. Then, with a sudden burst of strength, he pulled her into his arms.

Li Yan's strength was terrifying; no matter how Ning Zhi struggled, he didn't let go. Instead, he held her even tighter.

"You've lost weight. Your bones are showing." Li Yan assessed after feeling her.

Indeed, how could a pregnant woman become thinner and thinner?

"Li Yan! Show some respect, Miss Lin is also in the company!" Ning Zhi attempted to use his fiancée's presence to snap him back to reality, but he showed no fear.

"Then let her watch, we can even call off the engagement."

Ning Zhi did not know if his words were just a momentary lapse or his true feelings. However, when he said those words, she did not feel happy. Instead, she felt disgusted.

If he didn't want to marry her, why did he fly all the way to bring her here?

Suddenly, the sound of high heels approached. She could tell that it was Lin Sha's voice—she was about to enter the office.

Seeing that he showed no intention of letting go, she forcefully stomped on his foot.

Li Yan caught off guard, felt the pain and loosened his grip.

Ning Zhi took the opportunity to break free from his grasp and quickly stood up to the side.

At this moment, Lin Sha pushed the door open and walked in.

"Ah Yan, I'm hungry. Come accompany me to eat." Lin Sha spoke as she entered, and upon seeing Ning Zhi, she greeted her warmly.

"Hungry?" Li Yan also pretended to be well-behaved. "What do you want to eat? I'll have Secretary Liang make a reservation."

"I want to eat at the hotpot restaurant you took me to last time, the one owned by Mr. Peng." Lin Sha playfully walked behind Li Yan and hugged him from behind.

Lin Sha looked at Ning Zhi again. "Or, we could get Special Assistant Ning to make an appointment for us?" As she spoke, her eyes looked at Ning Zhi's arm.

"Oh my!" Lin Sha noticed something else and exclaimed, "Ah Yan, how did your shoes get dirty? I don't remember seeing any marks on it this morning!"