The sound of water in the bathtub gradually increased as Wen Tang immersed herself with her laptop. Sometimes, a hot bath could cleanse away all gloom, much like frozen limbs slowly thawing in warm water.
Suddenly, a chat box popped up on the laptop on the table, represented by a black avatar.
Wen Tang wiped her hands, packed a folder on the desktop and sent it over, then left a message: "Send it in three days."
She had chosen this day deliberately; in three days, Lu Nianxin's new drama would premiere, and the internet would likely be buzzing.
Wen Tang didn't know how she had ended up in bed. When she woke up the next day, the quilt was still neatly folded beside her, while a thin blanket covered her.
Just as she was about to get up, a slight movement made her feel as if her entire body was falling apart, a painful soreness setting in.
She stifled the pain, threw off the blanket, and the two bruises on her knees brightly presented themselves before her eyes, bringing back the memories of last night's car ride.
Overnight, the bruises on her knees had swollen. Today was Monday and there was a regular meeting; Wen Tang deliberately changed into a long black skirt to cover them.
When Wen Tang arrived at the office, she was nearly late. She greeted the receptionist with a smiling nod before swiftly turning into the pantry.
Pei Heyan was very particular about the taste of his coffee, which was usually made by Wen Tang herself.
The sound of high heels echoed from far to near. Wen Tang approached slowly, one hand carrying coffee and the other holding a stack of documents.
"Distribute these to everyone."
The assistant efficiently took the items from Wen Tang's hands but just as their fingers touched the coffee, someone else suddenly grabbed it from the other side.
In an instant, the coffee that was originally in the cup was now splashed all over Wen Tang's face.
The sticky coffee dripped down from Wen Tang's chin. She looked at the woman in front of her and smiled slightly, as if she wasn't the one who was splashed.
"Miss Lu."
Lu Nianxin stood in sleek, black, glittering heels, her face adorned with exquisite makeup, her demeanor bright and assertive. She placed the now-empty coffee cup on the table, each smirk and smile dripping with scorn.
"Jumping around behind my back for so long, do you really think you're special to him?"
Wen Tang wiped her face with a few tissues, trying hard to ignore Lu Nianxin's words, but her gradually warming cheeks repeatedly reminded her of her current embarrassment.
"What are you doing?"
The cold, hard voice of Pei Heyan resounded from behind.
In front of him, Lu Nianxin didn't look like someone who had done wrong. She tilted her head slightly, her voice full of accusation.
"Pei Heyan, why haven't you answered my calls these past few days? For such a woman, are you sure you want to give me the cold shoulder?"
Pei Heyan's expression remained neutral, merely glancing casually at Lu Nianxin before he walked directly toward Wen Tang.
"Did it burn you?"
Wen Tang was startled, then shook her head: "No."
The wet part of her black dress clung tightly to her body, subtly revealing her curves in Pei Heyan's view. The next second, he took off his suit coat and draped it over Wen Tang.
"Clean up, there's a lunch meeting later."
Wen Tang tightly clutched the coat, as if it was a veil of modesty in this drama. She bowed her head and quickly moved through the crowd. As she passed Lu Nianxin, she distinctly heard a snicker coming from her nose.
Over the years, under Lu Nianxin's orchestration, Wen Tang had grown accustomed to being the center of such scrutinized spectacles.
When Wen Tang started college, Pei Heyan's identity had already brought her many rumors and gossip. Although no one said anything to her face because of his power, she heard every harsh word said behind her back.
In their eyes, Wen Tang shamelessly seduced the boyfriend of Miss Lu of the Lu Family. They didn't know what methods she used to completely enchant Pei Heyan.
Wen Tang knew in her heart that she was nothing more than a tool at the mercy of Pei Heyan.
In Qing City, everyone knew that Pei Heyan was devoted to Lu Nianxin, yet ironically, it was Lu Nianxin who went to the Old Master of the Pei Family one day, proposing to break off their engagement.
The Pei and Lu Families were longstanding friends, and this marriage was arranged by their elders. Naturally, amidst much opposition, the dissolution of the engagement could not proceed.
However, after this ordeal, Pei Heyan's reputation was severely damaged.
Following that, it was as if Wen Tang unintentionally entered Pei Heyan's world, her existence seemingly destined to provoke Lu Nianxin.
Whenever Lu Nianxin changed boyfriends, Wen Tang was always brought up by Pei Heyan, causing Lu Nianxin jealousy.
Everyone joked that Wen Tang was just a mediator between Pei Heyan and Lu Nianxin, used wherever necessary.
But she didn't care about any of this.
Pei Heyan still held a special significance for her; if it weren't for meeting him that day, she wouldn't know where her gambling-addicted stepfather might have sold her off to.
With a mere flick of his finger, he had allowed Wen Tang to live a life she could never have reached before. Although there were elements of pretense in their relationship, emotions were not something that could be controlled.
When Wen Tang returned to the company, she had changed into a clean set of clothes, a white business suit jacket making her appear even more capable.
As she walked towards the office with the documents that needed signing, she heard voices from behind the slightly ajar door.
"I've already broken up with him, what more are you unhappy about? There wasn't anything between us anyway, you're thinking too much."
"There's a new Western restaurant that opened in Eastern City, how about we go there for dinner tonight?"
Lu Nianxin's tone was soft, lacking the aggression from before.
"Mhm."
Pei Heyan's indifferent voice came through.
Wen Tang stood stiffly outside the door, her upright spine seemingly deflated for a moment.
Yes, one was the star-studded Miss Lu of the Lu Family, the other the new successor of Pei Group. Only the two of them standing together seemed fitting.
The years of their squabbles seemed like flirtation, not only failing to separate them but binding them even tighter together.
After a moment, Lu Nianxin walked out of the office, casting a triumphant glance toward Wen Tang standing by the door.
She adjusted her long hair on her shoulders and pulled out some red banknotes from her bag, tossing them toward Wen Tang. The fluttering notes unexpectedly smacked Wen Tang's face.
"We have a date tonight, and the driver is off, you will be the one to drive us, and I'm paying your overtime in advance."
After speaking, Lu Nianxin indicated for Wen Tang to look at the red banknotes scattered on the floor, her eyes loaded with provocation.
Faced with the tone full of derision, Wen Tang acted as if she heard nothing and calmly spoke from the side:
"Miss Lu, I am President Pei's secretary, beholden to follow the directives given by President Pei."
"What, so I can't command you?"
Lu Nianxin laughed coldly. The door to the office was still open. She turned and addressed Pei Heyan:
"Your dog is indeed very obedient."