[You are very beautiful!]
[OMG! Is that in WonderWorld Park? That's one incredible view, but I have to say, your smile in the photo steals the spotlight!]
[I almost missed the gorgeous view because your smile in the picture is so captivating!]
[Double-tap for the amazing photo, triple-tap for your stunning charm!]
A stream of compliments flooded the photo post Elena had uploaded just a few minutes ago, immediately forming a smile on her lips as she read them.
However, these sorts of comments weren't what Elena was seeking. She was hoping to find someone who had recognized her at the amusement park and commented about that.
After all, among her numerous followers, surely someone had spotted her there, right?
After a brief interlude of scanning, her quest yielded the result she craved. Like a hidden gem amidst the sea of praise, a single comment stood out:
[I saw her this afternoon! She looks even more stunning in person, and I think she was on a date because she was with such a handsome guy!"
Upon seeing that comment, a smile tugged at Elena's lips. She then grew curious about the replies that had blossomed beneath that initial comment.
Her head involuntarily nodded in satisfaction as she read through some of the comments claiming to have spotted her at the amusement park. Although there were a few envious remarks from people wishing they could have met her in person, Elena's expression shifted when she encountered a reply that seemed skeptical.
[Didn't you see wrongly? It's probably the secretary!]
"What's their problem? Is it so difficult to believe that I went to the amusement park with a man?" Elena grumbled, her irritation palpable as she encountered the doubtful comment.
As more comments appeared, it seemed that a growing number of people were becoming convinced that she couldn't possibly have been on a date with a man!
While Elena typically brushed off negative remarks on her posts, this time, their doubt got under her skin. She felt genuinely irked by these comments.
"Why can't they just accept that I went with a man?" Elena mused aloud, her annoyance apparent. "Actually, why do they even care about my relationship status? Whether I'm single or not is not d*mn their fcking business!"
[But I don't think it's the secretary. If you look closely through the sunglasses, there's a reflection of a man in them]
Elena's expression shifted yet again upon reading this comment. Swiftly, she turned her gaze back to the photo and, just as the comment had pointed out, she spotted the faint reflection of Yuchen in her sunglasses.
Elena lapsed into silence, her mind racing. Her initial intention had been to create a subtle buzz, simply making people aware of her date. But it appeared her strategy had gone awry in a major way.
Now, she realized that mere ripples wouldn't suffice; she needed to generate a wave that would force everyone to acknowledge what they had been so eager to dismiss.
***
A man wearing a finely tailored suit and a perfectly knotted tie approached a parked car, situated not far from a charming restaurant.
The clock had already struck 10 in the evening, yet the man's appearance remained impeccably polished. Even weariness couldn't conceal the striking handsomeness that defined the man in his 30s.
His features bore the marks of maturity, his sharp jawline and well-defined cheekbones adding an air of distinction to his countenance. His eyes, though tinged with fatigue, retained an undeniable magnetism, their hue a captivating blend of deep, enigmatic shades that carried an icy, almost frosty, intensity.
Suddenly, the car door swung open as the man approached, revealing a man in a suit and tie who had a pair of glasses resting atop his nose. Without hesitation, this individual emerged and promptly opened the rear door, extending an invitation for the approaching man to enter.
Once the man had taken his place inside, the man with glasses who is the secretary, swiftly returned to the driver's seat and ignited the engine.
Subsequently, an air of quietude enveloped the car. The secretary navigated the vehicle in silence, his concentration solely on the road ahead. Meanwhile, the man in the passenger seat rested, his eyes closed, as if seeking a moment of respite.
Abruptly, the tranquility was breached by a voice, sharp and cold. "Have you carried out my instructions?" The question cut through the quiet like a blade, demanding an answer.
"Ah! Yes! The task has been accomplished!" the secretary responded hastily, stealing glances at the man through the rearview mirror.
The man offered a curt nod, his expression unyielding as ever. Following this exchange, silence once again wrapped itself around the interior of the car, like an old companion.
Then, as if breaking through the hush, the secretary's voice ventured forth.
"Sir, if you don't mind me asking, why did we target Elena Nam?" Curiosity lingered in his tone, a query about a decision that had perplexed him.
The instructions he had received from the man behind him were to deploy their previously hired keyboard warrior to tarnish Elena Nam's reputation. They were targeting her online presence.
"Wouldn't it have been wiser to focus on criticizing Wang's products instead of commenting on her relationship status? Nowadays, a woman's marital status isn't as significant, especially for someone in her 30s," the secretary mused aloud, seeking to understand the strategy.
Yes, the boss had enlisted a keyboard warrior to target Elena Nam's relationship status rather than critiquing the woman's business products. He understood that business competition could be ruthless, but his boss's approach was decidedly unconventional.
"Hey!"
The secretary's countenance immediately shifted as he caught the chill in the man's voice from behind. A shiver trickled down his spine at that single word.
"How long have you been working with me?"
The man's voice cut the air once more, frosty and demanding. Despite his head still resting against the seat, his gaze bore into the secretary with an intensity that was impossible to ignore.
"T-Three years, sir," the secretary stammered, his tongue momentarily betraying his nervousness as he licked his suddenly dry lips.
"You've only been in the job for three years, and you're already questioning my decisions?" The man's voice, frigid as ice, conveyed his clear displeasure. His visage reflected his irritation, a potent warning against the secretary's audacity.
"I-I apologize, Sir!" The secretary's forehead glistened with beads of sweat as he stammered out his apology, his anxiety palpable.
"Listen to me! If you value your position, don't you dare challenge my choices! Consider yourself fortunate that I'm not presently inclined to replace you. Is that comprehensible?!" The man's words reverberated with authority, the weight of his power hanging in the air.
"Yes! I understand, sir!" The secretary's response was swift and fervent, his anxiety-driven compliance evident.
Subsequently, the car's atmosphere thickened into silence once more, and the man's eyes closed once again.
"You're unbelievably foolish if you genuinely think I hired those individuals to dismantle her business," thought the man who didn't even think that his secretary was that stupid for thinking like that.
Of course, he had no intentions of undermining the Wang Group, Elena's leading company. It was a big company, but it wasn't a threat to his business at all.
Instead, his objectives were driven by a different motive — a desire to provoke a sense of annoyance within Elena.
What he was orchestrating had to remain an absolute secret, hidden even from Elena herself. She likely assumed that the meddlesome comments were mere prying into her personal life
In a world where men could comfortably remain single well into their forties, women bore the weight of different societal pressures.
Even if Elena brushed off these comments, her family was unlikely to overlook them, and the resultant pressure to wed would undoubtedly mount.
"Eventually, Elena, you'll find yourself turning to me, seeking my hand in marriage. There isn't another man more suited to be by your side than me," the man mused, a smile playing on his lips as he closed his eyes.
Anticipation simmered within him for the day Elena would once again be ensnared by his grasp. He alone was destined to possess her, and he eagerly awaited her return to his embrace.