The shrill ring of his phone cut through the post-workout haze like a knife. Zhao Jingshen fumbled for his bag, his muscles protesting every movement. The caller ID flashed "Chen Li" - his assistant's name dancing across the screen like a frantic firefly.
"Boss! Thank god you picked up!" Chen Li's voice crackled through the speaker, a mixture of relief and panic. "I've been trying to reach you for ages! The board meeting..."
Jingshen winced, partly from the volume of Chen Li's voice and partly from the realization that he'd completely forgotten about the meeting. His impromptu boxing match with Jiang Meilin had knocked everything else out of his mind.
"Calm down, Chen Li," Zhao Jingshen said, trying to inject some authority into his voice despite feeling like he'd gone ten rounds with a cement mixer.'Meilin really did a number on him' he thought "What's the situation?"
Chen Li's words tumbled out in a rush. "The meeting was supposed to start two hours ago! I've had to push it back twice already. The board members are getting restless. Mr. Zhang threatened to turn his shares into origami if we delay any longer!"
Zhao Jingshen couldn't help but chuckle at the mental image of the stuffy Mr. Zhang folding paper cranes out of stock certificates. "Tell Mr. Zhang if he does that, I'll frame his artwork in the lobby."
"Boss, this is serious!" Chen Li's voice cracked with stress. "Where are you? What happened? Did you fall into a black hole?"
"More like I fell into a right hook," Zhao Jingshen muttered, gingerly touching his split lip. "I'm sending you my location now. Send a car to pick me up. I'll be ready in ten."
"The gym? But it's 9 AM on a Tuesday!" Chen Li sounded utterly bewildered.
"Sometimes a man needs to start his day by getting punched in the face, Chen Li. It's invigorating."
There was a long pause on the other end of the line. "...Right. Car's on its way, boss."
Fifteen minutes later, Zhao Jingshen slid into the backseat of the grey maybach, his face a colorful mosaic of bruises. Chen Li's eyes nearly popped out of his head.
"Boss! What happened to you? Did you get mugged? Should I call the police?"
Zhao Jingshen grinned, wincing slightly as the motion pulled at his split lip. "Relax, Chen Li. It was my wife's handiwork."
Chen Li's brow furrowed in confusion. "Wife? But you're not married..."
Suddenly, realization dawned on his face like a slow-motion sunrise. "Oh! You mean Miss Jiang? She did this to you?"
Zhao Jingshen's smile widened, a hint of pride gleaming in his eyes. "She's got a mean right hook. I guess ghosting her was bound to have its consequences."
Chen Li shook his head, muttering under his breath about crazy bosses and their even crazier girlfriends. As they drove towards the office, he filled Zhao Jingshen in on the details of the board meeting, all the while stealing concerned glances at his boss's battered face.
Zhao Cooperation
Zhao Jingshen strode through the front doors like a conquering hero returning from battle. His tailored suit was impeccable, a stark contrast to his bruised and battered face. Employees stopped and stared, whispering behind their backs as he passed.
Chen Li trailed behind, torn between embarrassment and awe. He knew Zhao Jingshen wanted to show off his "trophies," which is why he refused to use the underground elevator, but how would anyone know it was his "wife" who'd given them to him? Mental note: be extra nice to Miss Jiang in the future.
The meeting that followed was a surreal experience. Department heads stumbled through their presentations, stealing nervous glances at their CEO's face. They flinched every time Zhao Jingshen moved, expecting a harsh rebuke for their mistakes. But to everyone's shock, he remained calm and even jovial throughout the meeting.
By the end, the meeting room was thick with confusion and unasked questions. As the executives filed out, Chen Li found himself cornered by a group of wide-eyed department heads.
"Chen Li, what's going on with the boss?" whispered the head of Marketing. "Did he have a personality transplant along with that facelift?"
Chen Li shrugged, trying to look nonchalant. "The CEO's business is not for you to discuss," he said diplomatically, while silently adding, 'And apparently, his business involves getting beaten up by his girlfriend.'
After the meeting, Zhao Jingshen called Chen Li into his office, he looked like a lovesick teenager trying to play it cool.. His voice, as always, was cool and measured. "I need you to send a bouquet of flowers to Miss Jiang's apartment."
Chen Li's eyebrows raised a fraction, but he kept his voice neutral. "Certainly, sir. What flowers would you prefer?"
"Ninety-nine roses," Zhao Jingshen replied, as if ordering a coffee. "Peach and white ones." He had surfed the internet and found out that peach roses were the perfect flowers to ask for forgiveness. He had to soften Meilin's heart before meeting her tonight.
Chen Li's eyebrows shot up. "Ninety-nine? Boss, are you trying to apologize or drown her in foliage?"
Zhao Jingshen cleared his throat, looking about as flustered as a robot attempting to understand human emotions. "Just do it," he commanded, as if ordering a coffee rather than a romantic gesture. Then, in a moment of stunning self-awareness, he added, "Singles will not understand how it feels to buy flowers for your other half."
Chen Li barely resisted the urge to roll his eyes. 'Oh yes,' he thought, 'because being in a relationship clearly requires a PhD in floral arrangements.'
"Oh, and add a card saying 'Forgive me' with my initials," Zhao Jingshen continued, apparently under the impression that two words and some letters were the pinnacle of romantic communication.
Chen Li nodded, mentally adding 'relationship guru' to Zhao Jingshen's list of imaginary qualifications. He wondered if perhaps his boss had gotten his ideas of romance from a 1950s etiquette manual or possibly a very confused alien's guide to human courtship.
"Understood. Anything else, sir?"
"That will be all" he said without looking at Chen Li.
Chen Li made a note, marveling inwardly at this unprecedented display of... was it sentiment, affection? From Zhao Jingshen?
As he prepared to leave, Zhao Jingshen cleared his throat. "One more thing, Chen Li." He turned, meeting his assistant's eyes. "You managed the preparations for my dinner with Meilin efficiently. Take the afternoon off."
Chen Li nearly tripped over his own feet. 'Alert the media,' he thought, 'Zhao Jingshen has discovered work-life balance.' "Thank you, sir. I appreciate it."
Stepping out of the office, Chen Li allowed himself a small smile. It seemed that even the iciest of men could thaw, given the right circumstances. Or perhaps, he mused, the right person. As he walked back to his desk, Chen Li shook his head slightly. Who would have thought that all it would take to crack Zhao Jingshen's icy exterior was a woman with a mean right hook?
As he gathered his things, He couldn't help but wonder: if a punch to the face and a stubborn woman could bring about this change in Zhao Jingshen, maybe there was hope for his boss after all.