Chapter 9: Escort Her Home

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I didn't realize she had such outstanding abilities.

The professional angle from which she raised questions, her solutions and answers were impeccable, leaving no room for criticism, and even he couldn't help but marvel at the plan.

He knew that today's game had been won by Qiao Zhaoyue.

Zhang Yan wouldn't, and couldn't possibly, reject such a perfect and excellent plan.

He finally understood why Zhang Yan wanted to poach Qiao Zhaoyue to Huarui.

If it were him, he would also exhaust all means to recruit such a talent to his side.

Then, why had Qiao Zhaoyue, all these years, silently worked as his secretary?

"General Manager Zhang, the above is all I have to say, and the time is just right at five minutes. As for the report, I will send it to your email by nine o'clock tomorrow morning."

Not only did she lay out all the issues for Zhang Yan to resolve clearly, but the only flaw, the report, she also promised to send to Zhang Yan's email by nine o'clock the next morning.

Such airtight performance left everyone present in awe.

Had it been any of them, they likely wouldn't have done half as well as Qiao Zhaoyue!

"Miss Qiao, although I really want you to switch over to my company, your plan is just too good for me to pass up on this money-making opportunity." Zhang Yan applauded. He knew that after listening to Qiao Zhaoyue's presentation, no one else stood a chance of persuading him tonight.

"Let's get the cooperation signed as soon as possible this week, what do you think?"

"I am extremely honored." Qiao Zhaoyue extended her hand to shake his.

"President Fu, you have a good secretary." Zhang Yan looked meaningfully towards Fu Yuxiu.

Qiao Zhaoyue's heart trembled fiercely.

It was the second time she heard this remark.

Would Fu Yuxiu give the same response as last time?

Qiao Zhaoyue didn't know, and subconsciously clenched her palm.

Not until Fu Yuxiu's voice rang in her ear.

Unlike last time, unlike any other time.

"Manager Zhang flatters me, but no matter how good she is, she's my person. If there's anyone else you fancy, I'll have them sent to you, but not Secretary Qiao," he said.

Her shoulder sank, as Fu Yuxiu draped his coat over her.

The scent of dark wood and agarwood lingered on the coat, softly drifting into her nostrils.

Brisk, serene, soothing to the mind.

Fu Yuxiu's body heat fell on her, a heavy warmth that brought an indescribable comfort.

Her nose felt somewhat sour.

She didn't know if it was because Fu Yuxiu was rarely protective of her, or because of the coat he casually draped over her.

Whenever he wanted, he could always notice details that others couldn't, even those Qiao Zhaoyue herself wasn't aware of. She'd come out in such a hurry that she'd been unconsciously shivering from the cold.

It was just that the air conditioning was turned up high indoors, and with the emotions running high, she hadn't noticed until now.

Su Ruoyan took all of this in, biting down hard on her lower lip.

She wasn't a fool, and could see the affection Qiao Zhaoyue held for Fu Yuxiu.

If Fu Yuxiu truly didn't care about her, then so be it, as she knew he wouldn't marry anyone in the end.

But a woman's sixth sense told her, Qiao Zhaoyue was definitely not a weightless presence in Fu Yuxiu's heart.

On the contrary, she had a vague feeling that someday, Qiao Zhaoyue might become her rival.

Before Fu Yuxiu's heart could completely lean towards her, she had to utterly eliminate this possibility!

The matters of the evening were finally coming to an end.

Following behind, Su Ruoyan knew she couldn't hide the incident of the report falling into the water, so she took the initiative to apologize to Fu Yuxiu with a look of embarrassment: "I'm sorry, Axiu, I didn't mean to call Sister Zhaoyue here. Tonight, it was my carelessness that caused the report to..."

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"Since you know you were mistaken, pay attention next time." Fu Yuxiu didn't pursue her mistake. It's not so much that he didn't want to pursue it, but rather that he was too lazy to bother.

The Qiao Zhaoyue who came out behind him heard this and a faint self-deprecating smile formed at the corner of her mouth.

Although she had long known that Fu Yuxiu treated Su Ruoyan differently, to hear him forgive even such an important matter as a report so easily, what was there that he couldn't do?

The joy and excitement that had emerged from Fu Yuxiu moments ago began to ebb away.

Compared to Su Ruoyan, indeed, it was nothing.

A vague pain started to throb in her lower abdomen.

Su Ruoyan, not noticing Qiao Zhaoyue behind her, went on to say, "Axiu, actually, if Sister Zhaoyue had drunk that cup of wine earlier, we wouldn't have been put in a difficult position. Even though the contract was successfully signed in the end, it looked like showing off, which really isn't like Sister Zhaoyue's usual style…"

"What is my usual style, Miss Su? Could you enlighten me?"

Su Ruoyan, like a cat that stepped on its tail, had a flash of guilt cross her face. She never expected to be caught bad-mouthing someone behind their back.

"Sister Zhaoyue, that's not what I meant…" She looked as if she was about to cry in her haste.

Unexpectedly, Fu Yuxiu didn't speak up to defend her right away.

This took Qiao Zhaoyue by surprise.

"Miss Su, let me give you a friendly piece of advice – don't just drink any alcohol in places like this."

"Why? Why not?" Su Ruoyan asked, wide-eyed like a rabbit.

Qiao Zhaoyue replied coldly, "It's easy for someone to slip something unclean into it."

Yet Su Ruoyan continued to ask, "Ah? Really? Sister Zhaoyue, are you sure you're not thinking too badly of people? They don't look like that sort of person to me."

"Appearances can be deceiving, and when something happens, it's often too late for regrets."

Su Ruoyan didn't want to believe, and Qiao Zhaoyue couldn't be bothered to elaborate.

Su Ruoyan always liked to play the innocent in front of Fu Yuxiu.

She took off the coat she was wearing and handed it to Fu Yuxiu: "Mr. Fu, thank you for your coat. It's getting late; I should head back."

Fu Yuxiu didn't take it. He lit a cigarette and held it between his fingers, the smoke creating a haze that blurred his vision: "How will you get back so late?"

Before Qiao Zhaoyue could respond, Su Ruoyan eagerly replied, "She can take a taxi."

Su Ruoyan enthusiastically pulled out her phone: "Sister Zhaoyue, I have a discount coupon. It's much cheaper with it. Let me help you…"

Her words trailed off under Qiao Zhaoyue's smile that wasn't quite a smile.

"Sister Zhaoyue, what's wrong? I'm just trying to save you money," Su Ruoyan pleaded.

"Really?" Qiao Zhaoyue knew that Su Ruoyan wanted an excuse to let her leave first so she could leave with Fu Yuxiu afterward.

The place was remote. Even though taxis passed by, waiting for one to actually pick her up might take three hours.

"I heard new users get even more discounts. Mr. Fu," Qiao Zhaoyue drawled, "you probably haven't used such an app before, right? Why don't I use your phone to book a taxi for me?"

Fu Yuyan handed over his phone quite readily.

Regrettably, even for a new user, it was hard to get a taxi. After twenty minutes with no one accepting the ride, Fu Yuxiu was growing impatient.

Qiao Zhaoyue returned his phone before he could speak and apologized, "I've delayed you, Mr. Fu. Why don't you go ahead? I'll wait a bit longer; I might get a ride if it's later."

Catching a glimpse of Su Ruoyan's pale face out of the corner of her eye, Qiao Zhaoyue smirked.

Pretending? Who can't?

But outdoing others in making them sick – that was something she was even better at.

To her surprise, after Fu Yuxiu frowned, he actually said, "Stop trying. I'll drive you home."

Qiao Zhaoyue was taken aback.