Ye Jie left Li Qiao's office with plenty of things in mind. Even though Li Qiao didn't say much but what he said was more than enough for Ye Jie. He was thinking about the answer Li Qiao gave him when he asked the question. "Does she not get drunk?"
Li Qiao's face was indifferent but his voice held a lot of concern. "It's not that she doesn't get drunk. Lin Shen said that she's putting all her efforts in settling a psychological barrier. That barrier around her mind is not allowing her to put her guard down. She doesn't want to let anyone close to her weaknesses." Li Qiao sighed as he pinched his brows.
In his thoughts, Ye Jie didn't see the person standing in front of him and ended up banging into her. "Sorry!" He apologized immediately without missing a beat.
Yu Kim smiled politely and said, "It's okay, Mr. Ye."
Ye Jie stared at her face with a frown between his brows. He rubbed his chin with the index finger as if trying to remember something. "Have we met before?" He asked.
Ye Kim was surprised at his question but she replied, "I don't think so."
"Why do you look so familiar then?" He wasn't asking her the question rather the question was to himself. Before Yu Kim could react Ye Jie walked past her in his thoughts. But after a few steps, he abruptly stopped. "Ahan!" He turned to her again as she looked at him. "You're reminding me of Mr. Yu Ting. Are you related?"
Yu Kim's body stiffened at that name but she recovered in a matter of seconds. With a smile plastered on her small face, she replied. "He's my father, Mr. Ye. Isn't it obvious I'll look like him?"
Ye Jie's eyes widened at her reply. He was even gaping. Yu Ting was a name to be feared in the business world. He belonged to a conglomerate family with a history that went far ancient times. He had only heard that Yu Ting had only a daughter that was precious to him more than his business. It would come as a shock to anyone that such a powerful man's daughter was working as an assistant.
"Do you want to ask why I'm here?" Yu Kim asked since that was the most asked question in her life.
Ye Jie shook his head without delay. This time Yu Kim frowned. "I'll ask my wife about that. That way, I'll have something to ask and she'll have to talk." Ye Jie was rubbing his hands inwardly but he only showed a smile outwardly.
For some reason, Yu Kim found his answer very pleasing. She didn't expect that what she heard about Ye Jie was not true at all. She shook her head with a smile on her face as she watched Ye Jie's disappearing figure.
-Conference Room At Vintage Gems-
The conference hall was submerged in a vehement debate. The agenda for the board meeting was closely related to how Vintage Gems was planning on dealing with CoCo Jewels who appeared to have decided on choosing Jade Stones over Vintage.
Everyone Loves profit. As they say, "Profit is sweet, even if it comes from deception." There is no doubt that people would choose a profit. Even though Vintage was a huge name in the market, but Vintage only depended on the talent of its people and their hard work. While Jade Stones had the backing of both Fu's and Xu. It was quite evident for a sensible person to know which one will be profitable.
And a verbal agreement is like sand in the business world. One can just make that sand go away with a bit of wind.
"Vintage will have to take a huge blow if this deal went to someone else." One of the directors spoke with fury.
"Jade Stones are getting shameless day by day. Our market value is better than them yet they are using other means to take away our deals." Another one chimed in.
"But if they sealed the deal with CoCo Jewels, Vintage's market value will go down. Our shares will drop drastically." This voice was not furious rather anxious.
All this while, the person sitting at the main seat had not said a word. Xu Mey was reclining on her chair with an air of languidness. It was like she wasn't even listening to what was being said. But the truth was she was listening to every word, she just wasn't letting those words enter her brain. Her mind already had Ye Jie's words, how could it let some not-so-important directors words enter?
All of a sudden, a phone ringtone rang in the conference room making everyone's breath hitch. All the members of the board pulled out their phones to check with cold sweat making its way on their foreheads. It was common knowledge that President Xu didn't like the sound of the phone. There was once a manager whose phone rang during the meeting and after that, the poor manager had to work overtime for an entire year without a single vacation.
"Whose phone is ringing?" Everyone looked at each other before sneaking glances at Xu Mey to observe her reaction.
Xu Mey's phone was laying with the screen facing the table on her right side. She picked it up and saw the familiar caller id flashing on it. When everyone saw that it was the President's own phone, they all had mixed feelings.
"President Xu has a phone?" Someone voiced out in surprise.
"Isn't it obvious that she has a phone?" Another one chided the previous one.
"No... I mean... She doesn't really use it..." He was a bit hesitant but he wasn't alone. Every board member had to contact Xu Mey through Qin Hao. So, they assumed that she didn't like cell phones. And her own phone was just for show.
When Xu Mey looked up at them, everyone quietened. There was pin-drop silence in the room. "Hello!" She accepted the call in a calm voice.
"Hey, my dear wife! How are you?" Ye Jie asked the usual question.
"I'm fine." She replied straightforwardly. Even though everyone saw her calm face, they felt like her voice a bit gentle than usual. Her usual calm voice was a bit cold but today, it was awfully gentle.
"Since you won't ask. Let me tell you, I'm also fine." Ye Jie continued to talk.
"En." She replied making Ye Jie roll his eyes.
"Dear wife?" His voice suddenly seemed softer and cautious.
"Yes."
"Your... *cough* Your dad called to invite us to Xu Residence tomorrow." Ye Jie answered honestly. He was walking out of Lotus Entertainment when Xu Chen's call surprised him.
"Mhm..." She replied.
"What should I say to him?"
"Do you need my permission for everything?" She asked amusingly.
"Fine... " He stayed quiet for a long while just listening to her soft breathing. Knowing well enough that she won't talk by herself, he continued, "I placed a pack of orange fruit jellies in your jacket. Don't forget to eat it."
"I told you, I don't -" He interrupted her.
"I know you don't like sweet things. But I think you should try eating some sweet things. You said yourself, Life is bitter. 'That's why everyone wants sweet things.' We have to make up for the bitterness." She could feel the smile in his tone. But she was more surprised that he quoted Black Butler. "Take care of yourself and I'll see you at home." Ye Jie disconnected the call.
Almost all the pair of eyes in the room was trained on Xu Mey. She straightened up after the call and said, "Leave CoCo Jewels deal with me. I'll deliver the results by next week." The gentleness in her voice was taken over by a frost.
"But President Xu, Jade Stones is signing the deal with CoCo Jewels next week." One of the members tried to reason with her.
Xu Mey looked at him making him gulp. "Did I ask you?"
"N-No..." He stammered.
"Then I don't need your suggestion." With that, the meeting came to an end.
On your high demand, there will be no holiday on Sunday from now on even though this was the only Sunday, I took a break on. Anyways, Sunday will be a bonus chapter day with the release of more than 2 chapters for sure.
And there seems to be a day in the mid of February that you all love so much. Originally, I wanted to post a complete short story on that day but now I think it's better to give a mass release of 10 chapters.
Note-to-self: Fighting!
There was a man who went by the name, Shams Tabrizi. He once said: "Don't search for heaven and hell in the future. Both are now present. Whenever we manage to love without expectations, calculations, negotiations, we are indeed in heaven. Whenever we fight, hate, we are in hell."
But is there a love that doesn't expect anything? Doesn't seem to be. Is there a time when we don't try to calculate our benefits? Definitely not! What about negotiations? We live in an age where we even negotiate with our parents much less anyone else. All we do is spread hate and then we start fighting without any reason or rhyme. So are we living in our own personal hell?
And oddly, we seem to enjoy this personal hell of ours. The world has enough power to feed every single hungry person around the globe. But we use this power to destroy each other instead.
Xu Mey didn't want to live in her personal hell but people forced her to live in hell. It was up to her to decide whether she wanted to be burned by this hell and perish or to rule this hell like a devil. Xu Mey originally chose the former one. She wanted herself to burn and perish. Every person who blames himself for every wrong thing in life tends to choose the burning path.
Xu Mey was just a fortunate person to have met someone who made her realize that becoming the devil to rule this hell was a lot more exhilarating.
She stopped expecting anything from her father. She calculated her relation with Ye Jie before negotiating it with him. She only had hate in her and a fire that could burn everyone. A person like her was the true definition of living in hell.
Since Ye Jie accepted the invitation on behalf of Xu Mey, both of them drove to the Xu Residence. Ye Jie swiftly swapped his sports car with Audi today. He wasn't dressed in his usual tailor-made suits. Instead, he was wearing washed up jeans with a round collar full sleeve shirt in white color. He paired it with a checkered shirt in black and red leaving the buttons unfastened. He looked young and carefree.
Xu Mey was wearing a loose knitted sweater with checkered pants. Her long hair was tied in a low bun and face was clean without any make-up. During the car ride, both didn't talk much. Ye Jie could feel how much she despised going to Xu Residence with the way her body was fidgeting.
The housekeeper greeted them at the door and brought them to the living area where Fu Lan and Xu Chen were waiting for them. Xu Cheng greeted Ye Jie and walked to Xu Mey. He was intending to hug her but she instinctively took a step back. Xu Chen was disappointed but didn't say it.
Fu Lan, on the other hand, was gushing over Ye Jie. "Aiyo! Our Ye Jie is such a nice person. He even remembered to bring all these fruit baskets and gifts for his in-laws." She was looking at the stuff Ye Jie brought with him. The way he handled things showed his noble bearing. "Although, our Xu Mey should have been the one to do all this but... " She clicked her tongue making a disappointed face. "You don't worry. Xu Mey will learn with time." She maintained her hypocrite behavior.
She was praising Ye Jie while making him realize how much Xu Mey was lacking. But the drama didn't end here, she walked to Xu Mey's side stroked her hair lovingly and smiled sweetly. "Son-in-law! Even though our Xu Mey is a bit dense and doesn't understand things easily, you need to be patient with her. She's such an obedient child. All the rumors about her are completely untrue. You must not believe them." Actually, she was trying to bring Ye Jie's focus towards the fact that there were rumors about Xu Mey in their circle. She knew saying it like that will get Ye Jie's attention.
And she was right, Ye Jie was indeed curious now. But he wouldn't show it on his face that easily. "Auntie is too polite. Auntie and Uncle don't have to worry about a thing. I like my dear wife just as she is. I don't need her to change anything at all. But what Auntie said is true, my wife really is very obedient indeed." Only Xu Mey could hear the sarcasm in Ye Jie's voice and really wanted to laugh out loud. It took a bit of effort to not let her emotions control her.
"Oh this is my first time in Xu Residence, I was hoping Auntie will show me around." Ye Jie's politeness and respect were a perfect combination that struck Fu Lan's heart like an arrow.
'I'm definitely gonna have you as my son-in-law. Who doesn't want a son-in-law like him? I'll make you fall for Xu Liqing at all costs.' Fu Lan was making a happy house for her daughter in her dreams while Ye Jie just wanted her to stay away from Xu Mey. He could see how much repulsive Xu Mey was towards Fu Lan.
Fu Lan happily became the tour guide for Ye Jie showing him around the whole Residence. Only Xu Mey and Xu Chen were left behind. "Is he treating you well?" Xu Cheng asked with his fatherly concern visible in his voice and on his face.
"Does it matter to you?" Xu Mey retorted. "You already sold me for a damn promise. Why is it your concern how I am now?"
Her sharp tone and vexation in her eyes were hurtful to Xu Cheng but he had no way to reply. He couldn't tell her why he sold her for a promise. He couldn't tell her why he avoided her. He couldn't tell her why he couldn't be a father he was supposed to be. So, he stayed quiet instead.
Xu Mey and Ye Jie stayed at Xu Residence from noon till dinner time. At the dinner table, Fu Lan kept putting food in Ye Jie's bowl. "Our son-in-law is so thin. You should take care of your diet. I know, you're a diligent worker but let the employees do some work as well." Then she turned to Xu Mey. "Xiao Mey, you should take care of your husband's meals. You're his wife. It's your responsibility." She facepalmed herself. "I almost forgot, Ye Jie! Our Xu Mey doesn't know how to cook. So, don't mind ha. Xu Liqing spends hours in the kitchen but Xu Mey was pampered from the young age so she isn't well-versed in house chores."
Xu Mey and Ye Jie choked on their food at the word 'pampered'. but Fu Lan didn't think much about it. She picked up a pineapple cake with her chopsticks and stretched her arm towards Xu Mey's mouth. Since Xu Mey couldn't refuse at that moment, she ended up taking a bite.
She knew the consequences of eating the cake but sigh... She couldn't do anything at the moment. Taking actions too early and too late are both worthless, we have to wait for the perfect time. And if the waiting is not what you can do, we should just make this time as the perfect time.
Just as Xu Liqing entered the dining room, Xu Mey smirked. 'And our perfect time just walked right to us.'
It's true that we have made our present our own hell. But no one can blame us. There is a saying that 'laziness feels good today. Hard work feels good later.'
Our today's hell is so pleasing that we don't want to think about our future heaven.
-----
Tomorrow we will have a glimpse in Xu Mey's past. The dark one. The one that haunts her.
XoXo!!!
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