In the afternoon, the sky gradually started to fill with snow. By 2 PM, Zhao Yanan, along with several department heads and managers from the company, was already standing downstairs, ready to welcome a distinguished guest. In reality, there was no need for such a grand reception, but since that "b*st*rd" couldn't be relied upon, a less formal approach might make the guest feel disrespected. After all, the only reason Qingya Media was being favored by this big company was because of the surname "Chu." If it weren't for that, she wouldn't have swallowed her pride to call Chu Yuxuan and insist that he come to the company.
As the clock neared two, Zhao Yanan straightened up, looking towards the distant street corner. Businesspeople are known for their punctuality; when they say they'll be somewhere at a certain time, they mean it. Just as she was eagerly anticipating the guest's arrival, a silver-gray GTR sped up and came to a perfect stop right in front of the company. Immediately, Zhao Yanan saw the man who had already made her furious that morning emerge from the car.
Men call the GTR the "God of War," their ultimate dream. But to women, it's just a shabby Nissan—nothing compared to the appeal of a BMW, Benz, or Audi. As expected, the two female managers exchanged a look, clearly puzzled: "Why would CEO Chu, with all his wealth, drive such a beat-up car?" If they knew it was a rare manual transmission model, they would be even more baffled. Zhao Yanan didn't know much about cars, but she wasn't surprised; after all, this b*st*rd started with a Skoda that looked even more run-down than this.
Chu Yuxuan was dressed in a well-fitted blue suit, paired with a black shirt. Casually tossing his car keys in his hand, he walked leisurely towards the company entrance with a roguish smile on his face, teasingly saying, "Well, look at this! My ministers are waiting for me to ascend the throne?"
Everyone smiled in unison and greeted him, "Happy New Year, CEO Chu!"
Chu Yuxuan nodded, then turned to Zhao Yanan, with a smirk on his lips, and said, "Surprised? Didn't see this coming, did you?"
Zhao Yanan remained expressionless, too tired to respond. But inside, she let out a huge sigh of relief.
Suddenly, she remembered something Chu Zhiqing had told her on New Year's Eve… and wasn't it being proven true right now?
This b*st*rd always had a way of both angering her and helping her.
As she thought about this, Zhao Yanan felt an odd sense of discomfort. After pursing her lips, she said, "Thanks, CEO Chu."
Everyone: ???
Ever since rumors of their secret marriage spread, people in the company, though cautious about discussing it openly, couldn't help but speculate in private. Now, hearing Zhao Yanan say this, their curiosity was piqued even more.
Zhao Yanan frowned slightly, her gaze growing sharp as she glared at Chu Yuxuan and said, "CEO Chu, be serious. The people from the ad agency will be here any minute."
Chu Yuxuan shrugged, "I'm not being serious? Hmm? Xiao Wei, am I not being serious?"
The assistant to the CEO, looking troubled, blinked a few times and said, "Se...serious..." But sensing Zhao Yanan's icy glare, she quickly corrected herself, "Se...serious but not serious!"
Everyone chuckled lightly.
Just as Zhao Yanan was about to speak, she noticed Xia Zhu and her agent arriving at the company. Immediately, this beauty curved her lips into a smile, watching the situation with amusement, her gaze almost saying: Surprised? Didn't see this coming, did you?
At first, Chu Yuxuan didn't react, but following her gaze, he then saw his ex-wife and that agent he could never quite warm up to.
Their expressions were starkly different: the agent looked a bit fearful, while Xia Zhu's face was full of anger.
It wasn't hard to guess that she had already learned about Wang Long replacing her, and she probably thought it was his doing.
Zhao Yanan seemed to realize this too, which is why she was enjoying the spectacle so much.
Thinking this, Chu Yuxuan shot Zhao Yanan a glare and muttered, "Weren't big-chested women supposed to be dumb? Hmph... Too smart a woman is not a man's delight."
Zhao Yanan smiled faintly and said, "CEO Chu, handle this well; don't let it affect the company."
As soon as she finished speaking, Xia Zhu was already in front of them.
While the others wondered what this big star intended to do, they saw her raise a finger at Chu Yuxuan and scream like a madwoman, "Chu Yuxuan, what the hell do you mean by this?!"
For a moment, there was dead silence, but everyone's minds were buzzing—
"Has our charming CEO Chu also slept with this big star?"
"No way! She's just a pretty face, how can she speak to the boss like that? Where does she get the nerve?!"
"It's over for her. She's definitely going to be blacklisted."
Zhao Yanan's eyes turned cold immediately. She thought that even if Xia Zhu were upset, she would at least have the sense to ask Chu Yuxuan to speak privately. But who would've thought she'd lose her mind like this?
Humiliating the company's boss in public—maybe that b*st*rd would show some leniency for old times' sake, but as the CEO, Zhao Yanan couldn't just sit back and watch. Otherwise, how would she maintain authority going forward?
"Xia Zhu, let me give you some advice. If you have something to discuss, do it with CEO Chu in private. If you continue like this, you know what the consequences will be."
Xia Zhu gave a bitter laugh, glaring at Zhao Yanan as she said, "Consequences? What consequences? Zhao Yanan, you're nothing but a cold-hearted machine! Even if I've made no significant contributions, I've worked hard for Qingya! It's been so long since Director Wang replaced me, and you've kept it from me all this time, just to squeeze the last bit of value out of me?!"
The manager of the Artist Management Department quickly stepped in to mediate: "Xia Zhu, stop making a scene. Let's talk this over in private, and I'll explain everything to you!"
"Explain what? The company's been planning to blacklist me for a while, hasn't it? You're all the same!" Xia Zhu snapped, her eyes red as tears streamed down her face.
The PR Manager chimed in, "The company never planned to blacklist you; you're the one who's ruined your own reputation! Our entire PR department doesn't even know how to clean up your mess! We've repeatedly warned you to be mindful of your private life, but did you ever listen? No fan likes a star who clings to a sugar daddy, especially when it's done so openly!"
Xia Zhu, having completely lost her mind, lashed out at anyone in sight: "Shut up! Get out of my way!"
Chu Yuxuan glanced around and noticed several luxury cars approaching from a distance. They were likely from the ad agency, so he smiled faintly and said, "Xia Zhu, come with me."
But Xia Zhu stood rooted to the spot, trembling as she sobbed, "There's no need! Chu Yuxuan, I've seen through you. You're nothing but a hypocrite! You claim to love me, but you've deceived me for two whole years! Now that you can't have me, you want to destroy me, is that it?"
"I'm here to tell you that your despicable tactics won't bring me down. Even if I end up delivering food, setting up a stall, or sweeping the streets, I'll still make a living!"
As she spoke, she turned her fury towards Zhao Yanan: "And you, Zhao Yanan! I know you're all laughing at me. Do you think I'm blind? Let me tell you, I never loved Chu Yuxuan. I've never once regretted divorcing him! But congratulations to you—you're the one who saw his worth and picked up a treasure! I even wonder if you started seducing him before we were even divorced?!"