The CEO's Beloved Wife

Chapter 8: The Aloof Lin Jie

Mu Zihan had been working at Hanhai for over a week. Given her prior experience in foreign trade and shipping, she quickly adapted to her new role. Over the weekend, the company hosted a welcome dinner for new employees. During the dinner, Wang Zhiming had her sit beside him and said, “You haven’t disappointed me; you’ve picked up the business faster than I expected!” Mu Zihan smiled faintly, having heard enough praise in the past week, and responded, “It seems you didn’t have much faith in me, did you, Mr. Wang?” Wang Zhiming laughed heartily, “Mu Zihan, you appear delicate on the outside, but you’re shrewd and take no loss!” Mu Zihan replied coolly, “Mr. Wang, do you think I’m capable of outsmarting you?” Wang Zhiming did not continue the banter, observing her calm demeanor. He believed that this young woman could help him gain recognition at the East China headquarters. He raised his glass, “To your bright future at Hanhai, cheers!” Mu Zihan smiled, thanked him, and drank the toast.

Liu Zhenwei sat at Mu Zihan’s desk, repeatedly flipping through a newspaper without actually reading it. His eyes frequently darted to the clock on the wall, thinking, “It’s already nine, why isn’t she back yet?” Normally, they had an unspoken rule that she would be home by nine. His anxiety grew, and he started pacing the room like a caged animal, smoking more and more cigarettes.

Mu Zihan finally returned home around eleven. Upon entering, she saw her father in the living room, looking concerned. “Dad, what’s wrong?” she asked. Song Shun quickly pulled her aside, whispering, “Why are you back so late? Zhenwei has been waiting for you in your room all evening. You should go to him.” Mu Zihan chuckled, “Why is he still here this late?” She entered her room to find it filled with smoke, causing her to cough. Liu Zhenwei quickly extinguished his cigarette. Seeing her slightly flushed face and slightly tipsy demeanor, he was entranced but also angered by the thought of her with another man. He suppressed his jealousy and asked, “Why are you so late? Didn’t just have dinner?” Mu Zihan, noticing his jealousy, teased, “Of course not, we also went singing!” Liu Zhenwei, irritated, retorted, “Did you drink a lot?” She glanced at him, lay on the bed, and said, “It’s late, you should go. I need to sleep.” Frustrated, Liu Zhenwei grabbed his coat and left, slamming the door. Mu Zihan felt a mix of emotions, questioning whether her attractiveness was the issue or if Liu Zhenwei was too much of a gentleman. Angrily, she threw her shoe at the door.

Early Monday, Mu Zihan was summoned to Wang Zhiming’s office, where she saw two unfamiliar men. “Mr. Wang, you wanted to see me?” she asked. Wang Zhiming introduced, “Mu Zihan, this is Lin Jie, the deputy manager from the East China headquarters, here to train the new employees.” Mu Zihan greeted, “Hello, Mr. Lin!” Lin Jie, having been influenced by Chu Lei’s earlier comments, kept his head down, uninterested. Mu Zihan maintained her smile despite feeling uncomfortable. Wang Zhiming continued, “And this is Mr. Chu’s driver, Liu Ping!” Liu Ping, looking at her, quickly responded, “Hello, Miss Mu! Please, call me Liu Ping.” After brief introductions, Wang Zhiming instructed her, “Lin Jie is here for a week of training, so please assist him and Liu Ping as needed.” Mu Zihan nodded, thinking about how to get along with the aloof Lin Jie. Wang Zhiming added, “Tonight, you, Xiao Yin, and I will host a welcome dinner for them.” She agreed and left.

At the evening banquet, Lin Jie sat silently, fiddling with a lighter. Agent Manager Yin Bingbing, noting his lack of expression, thought, “He truly lives up to his nickname, ‘the blank slate’.” With most dishes already served, Wang Zhiming had called Mu Zihan multiple times, each time hearing, “I’m on the way, stuck in traffic!” He regretted sending her to deliver documents that afternoon. He explained to Lin Jie, “Clients specifically requested her, and our traffic is notoriously bad. Let’s start eating.” Lin Jie remained silent, increasing Wang Zhiming’s discomfort. Finally, hurried footsteps were heard. Liu Ping opened the door, seeing Mu Zihan slightly breathless, “No need to rush, Miss Mu!” She thanked him and apologized, “Sorry to keep you waiting!” Lin Jie, already impatient, barely acknowledged her arrival, and they began the meal.

Throughout the dinner, despite Wang Zhiming and Liu Ping’s efforts to keep the conversation lively, the atmosphere remained tense. Mu Zihan and Lin Jie, seated next to each other, ate in silence, resembling a quarreling couple. Wang Zhiming started doubting his plans but regained confidence, knowing the training would last a week.

Mu Zihan wasn’t sure how much she drank but continued to drink whenever someone proposed a toast. By the end of the meal, she felt dizzy. Outside, the cold wind intensified her dizziness, making her steps unsteady. Liu Ping, noticing her condition, suggested to Lin Jie, “Let’s drop Miss Mu home first.” Though reluctant, Lin Jie agreed, knowing Liu Ping’s high status. Despite Mu Zihan’s protests, they insisted. Lin Jie, seeing her slightly tipsy and vulnerable, was struck by her beauty, recalling the poem, “West Lake looks best in light or heavy makeup alike.” He began to reconsider his earlier dismissive attitude. Lost in thought, he followed Liu Ping’s cue to get in the car.

They drove to Mu Zihan’s place, and due to a broken streetlight, it was pitch dark. Lin Jie insisted on walking her to her door. Suddenly, a shadow darted from a corner, startling Mu Zihan, who instinctively clung to Lin Jie. He protectively held her, shielding her from the perceived threat. Liu Ping, armed with a stick, shouted, “Who’s there?” The shadow responded, “What are you doing?” Recognizing Liu Zhenwei’s voice, Mu Zihan quickly intervened, “Stop, it’s my boyfriend!” The tension eased, and Mu Zihan stepped back from Lin Jie’s embrace, awkwardly thanking him. Lin Jie, embarrassed, stammered, “I thought... I’m sorry.”

“Nothing, thank you for protecting me,” she said, feeling mortified by the incident. After Lin Jie and Liu Ping left, she and Liu Zhenwei returned home, where he angrily demanded, “Who was that man? Why were you with him?” Feeling unjustly accused, Mu Zihan retorted, “Why are you yelling?”

“If you saw me with another woman, how would you react?” he shouted, his jealousy evident. Hurt by his accusation, Mu Zihan began to cry. Realizing his mistake, Liu Zhenwei softened, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have shouted. Please don’t cry.” But Mu Zihan, still upset, turned away, refusing to speak to him.