Shen Chu'an still managed to be late, much to everyone's expectations.
Couldn't be helped, after the episode the previous night, how many years of fish does one have to gut in a supermarket to steel one's heart to indifference?
Before that night, Shen Chu'an had believed she wasn't the sort of vulgar woman to bend over for money. Becoming Fu Huaichen's contract wife was purely to spite the scumbag man, a moment borne of hotheaded impulse. She hadn't really held much hope, yet to her surprise, Fu Huaichen actually nodded in agreement.
There were, admittedly, ulterior motives of lusting after Fu Huaichen's looks and perhaps a touch of ambition to climb the social ladder. So when people gossiped behind her back that she used her body to secure her position, she thought about it and wasn't too angry.
It was the truth.
In a mere two years, she had leaped from an intern to the President's secretary and translator. Aside from personal ability, a large part of her rapid rise was indeed thanks to her inexpensive husband's patronage.
Shen Chu'an made up her mind that she must live up to this support. She couldn't be a sluggard merely warming her seat. If the contract ended and Fu Huaichen found someone more suitable, she'd truly be done for, and wouldn't those green-tea bitches at the company laugh her to death?
In an uncertain autumn, she had to store up sustenance for the winter.
In any case, Shen Chu'an did have a heart set on working hard and striving earnestly, but standing in front of a whole wall of jewelry, handbags, and clothes, her heart inevitably sank just a little.
Before going out, she spent a long time in the walk-in closet, struggling with her choice of outfit. Should she wear L Brand's casual sportswear or a professional suit from Chanel? Would this outfit be too ostentatious? The diamond studs seemed not to quite match the clothes.
Gazing at that wall of bags, the cheapest one being a six hundred thousand starter model from the L Brand, and then at her own everyday three hundred bucks no-name... Shen Chu'an faced difficulty choosing again.
When everything was finally matched up and she checked the time, her heart chilled halfway in an instant.
Damnit, it was already seven forty!
The Fu Family's villa was nestled against mountains and waters on the outskirts of the Imperial Capital, while the company was in the busiest commercial street at the center of the Imperial Capital. There was no way she'd make it in time by car, so Shen Chu'an plucked up courage and rode the only motorbike in the garage.
Low-profile, modest, and fast, it was the one!
The servant in charge of the garage keys opened his mouth to speak, but since the lady asked for them, he couldn't refuse. He ended up troubled and reported to the Butler, "The lady rode away on that bike... Is that okay?"
A twenty-six million antique, the bike was specially bought by Mr. Fu for his collection. Forget about riding it away, even sending it for maintenance required careful handling. Since its purchase half a year ago, its wheels hadn't turned more than ten times!
The Butler pondered, "It should... be okay, I guess."
Working for the Fu Family for nearly a decade, he had never seen Mr. Fu so considerate towards any woman.
One big advantage of the motorbike was no worries about traffic. Shen Chu'an swiftly rode to the company, wondering why so many people she passed were staring at her.
Maybe her attire was a bit strange.
With that thought, she placed her helmet on the handlebars and hurriedly ran upstairs. Glancing at the time, she was half an hour late.
The company policy declared, for being over half an hour late, half a day's performance pay was deducted.
Shen Chu'an grieved over her perfect attendance record.
The HR department was equally concerned about her attendance rate.
"If you keep this up, even if you have a good relationship with the Secretary-General, we can't keep you," they warned.
Shen Chu'an abashedly accepted her translation work for the day.
Chen Wenwen snorted and jeered sarcastically, "As if she cares about the petty salary. She can just leave if it comes to it." Glancing at the wedding ring on her finger, she continued, "After all, she has her husband at home and her lover outside to provide for her. With such good looks, she won't starve anywhere."
"Isn't that the truth? With just a bit of coquetry, she could earn more in a bracelet than you earn in several months' salary!"
"That looks like the model Li wore on the catwalk, worth tens of thousands."
Shen Chu'an intended to block out the idle gossip, but her colleagues buzzed around her incessantly like a group of flies, making it impossible to concentrate. Translation work required a fully focused mind, so how could she work like this?
"Enough noise!" A thick stack of professional books slammed onto the table.
Shen Chu'an said, "This is a workplace, take your sourness somewhere else!"
A few people banded together, unwilling to allow Shen Chu'an to swagger around. They all started from interns and worked their way up. Only she landed a secretary position directly—everyone was envious. Once someone stirred the pot, they had long been eager to join forces to push her out.
"Where else is there? The bathroom? Or perhaps under the Secretary-General's desk?"
"Maybe in the parking lot?"
A burst of laughter followed. Chen Wenwen gave her a sidelong glance: "We all have our dignity, unlike some people who would sell anything for money!"
Shen Chu'an's face turned bright red, and as a conflict seemed imminent, Zhang Zhen, the head of the translation department, walked over with a grim expression.
"This is a place of work, not for fighting! Whoever speaks out of turn again can go settle their salary with finance and leave!"
Immediately, everyone fell silent.
Zhang Zhen swept a glance over the workstations and pointedly said, "Some people should really pay more attention to their private lives. Even if you want to keep multiple affairs afloat, don't overdo it. Otherwise, if your ship capsizes, bringing the drama to the office, it won't look good for anyone."
Shen Chu'an ran out of steam for anger.
"Chen Wenwen, go to HR."
"Shen Chu'an, to the president's office."
There was no need to mention Chen Wenwen's immediate change of color. After causing such a scene in a large gathering, she had intended to take the opportunity to pull Shen Chu'an down, but her plans had been thwarted by Shen Chu'an's maneuvering. Naturally, she was not going to come out of this looking good.
Originally, when the morning at work was calm and peaceful, she still harbored a sliver of hope. Now being sent to the HR department, there was no need to say more—she was definitely going to be fired.
Thinking of this, Chen Wenwen glared bitterly at Shen Chu'an, her eyes seeming to flay her a thousand times over.
As for Shen Chu'an, well, her legs were a bit weak.
She knocked on the office door; Fu Huaichen was still engrossed in his work.
His complexion was pale, with dark circles under his eyes, and the room was filled with a thick aroma of coffee.
"President." Shen Chu'an looked at him earnestly. "You didn't stay up all night, did you?"
"President?" Fu Huaichen raised an eyebrow.
Shen Chu'an sheepishly corrected herself: "Husband."
"Come here."
Shen Chu'an walked over, her heart thumping uncontrollably: "I haven't finished today's work yet."
"No rush." Fu Huaichen suddenly stood up and shut down the computer: "I heard you were late again? Hmm?"
Shen Chu'an exclaimed as she was embraced by the waist, followed by his hot breath spraying onto her ear, causing her neck to itch and tingle, her body quivering uncontrollably.
"The translation can wait, but I'm in a hurry for a secretary."
The president's office had a temporary bed for resting, and Shen Chu'an, being pulled over, lightly tossed, landed on the bed.
Her high heels were taken off, and Fu Huaichen's hands, grasping her feet, slid up slowly.
Shen Chu'an exclaimed, then let out a light laugh, her eyes glinting with seductive light, naughty thoughts bubbling up.
Fu Huaichen's voice was husky, his coat tossed to the ground, his eyes deep and enigmatic.
"You asked for this!"