The CEO's Beloved Wife

Chapter 9: The Priceless Jade

The company's conference room was already filled with people. Those who weren’t busy were also arranged to join the training. Lin Jie felt his mouth moving mechanically, completely unaware of what he was saying, as his eyes were fixed on Mu Zihan. He noticed that her makeup was heavier than yesterday's, but it couldn’t hide her swollen eyes. The only explanation was that she had cried last night, and for a long time. After the morning session, Lin Jie invited Zihan to lunch. Given her poor impression of Lin Jie, Zihan spoke very little, merely eating with her head down. Lin Jie, aware of his earlier harshness, lowered his pride and asked, “Are you alright after last night?” Zihan shook her head, “I’m fine, just a bit startled.” She paused for a moment, then added, “Thank you for yesterday.”

“Was that your boyfriend last night?” Zihan nodded. Lin Jie continued, “It was too dark to see him clearly. Is he more handsome than me?” Zihan was taken aback, unsure of his intent, and asked, “Are you comparing yourself to my boyfriend?” Lin Jie, with a proud expression, raised his eyebrows. Zihan, seeing his confident demeanor, couldn’t help but laugh, then quickly covered her mouth and lowered her head, thinking, “He really is thick-skinned!” Seeing her silence, Lin Jie teased, “Regretting it now that you’ve seen someone better?” Zihan, surprised, widened her eyes and firmly replied, “There’s no comparison between you and my boyfriend, and you’re not the best man either!” Hearing this, Lin Jie laughed heartily, shaking his head, “Confucius was right; women and petty people are hard to deal with!” Zihan, unfazed, retorted proudly, “Lin Manager, Confucius said women and petty people are difficult to deal with; close to them they’re disrespectful, far from them they complain! So, stay away from this woman, and rest assured I won’t complain!” Lin Jie, stunned and unable to rebut, finally said, “You’re truly not an ordinary woman.” Zihan smiled lightly and said no more.

In a lavish hotel room, a seductive woman lay entwined with a man. Her slender fingers teasingly touched his lips, her soft voice alluring, “Chu, your lips are irresistible, making me want to kiss them.” Chu Lei smirked, holding her hand to his lips for a gentle kiss, “Yunyun, only my lips?” Yunyun giggled, her voice even more provocative, “Of course not, I want your most precious thing!” Chu Lei flipped over, pressing her under him, their lips locking passionately until they were breathless. Yunyun’s hand wandered down his chest, “Yunyun always knows what I want!” she whispered, her legs wrapping around his waist. Chu Lei chuckled, “You’re my treasure!” Just then, Chu Lei’s phone rang; it was Lin Jie. “You’re back?” Chu Lei asked. “Yes, the training is complete, and the new hires are good,” Lin Jie replied. Chu Lei asked pointedly, “What about Mu Zihan?” Hearing another woman’s name, Yunyun’s shoulders tensed. Though she knew he wasn’t hers alone, it still hurt. Chu Lei, noticing her reaction, smiled inwardly and repeated, “I asked about Mu Zihan?” After a pause, Lin Jie replied, “She’s jade, not just precious, but priceless.” Chu Lei laughed, “Wait for me in the office, I’ll be there soon.” He hung up, dressed, and left without a word to Yunyun, who felt a pang of regret and bitterness. A man like Chu Lei would never settle.

In his office, Chu Lei glanced at Lin Jie, whose lips curled slightly as if lost in thought. Chu Lei asked abruptly, “Thinking about Mu Zihan?” Lin Jie, startled, blushed and stammered, “N-no!” Chu Lei smiled, pulled out a report, and said, “This is a list of key clients. You’re to visit W Company…” “Chu, I…” Lin Jie interrupted impulsively, then continued, “I want to go to Z Company.” Chu Lei, intrigued, asked calmly, “Why Z Company?” Lin Jie, blushing, couldn’t explain, “Please, let me go to Z Company.” Chu Lei, not letting it go, asked, “Is it because of Mu Zihan?” Lin Jie, embarrassed, remained silent. Chu Lei pressed, “Is it?” Lin Jie admitted, “She already has a boyfriend…” blushing even more. Chu Lei, amused, said, “So what?” Lin Jie confessed, “Just seeing her again would be enough…” Chu Lei, surprised, agreed, “Alright, go ahead.” Lin Jie, elated, thanked him profusely.