Chapter 33

Huo Junyan's legal team was extremely efficient, and completed the annulment of Shen Que's marriage with Zhou Yubai on the same day.

The controversy surrounding the launch of AI-based medical services has not yet been resolved, and Zhou's company is engaged in fierce competition with several technology companies, with the drawbacks of the database already beginning to emerge.

Huo's think tank astutely picked up on this news and immediately reported it to Huo Junyan.

Hearing that he still had work to do, Chu Ci decided to go home first.

Huo Junyan, however, brought her directly to the company.

Assistant Gao and Secretary Wu, one in front and one behind, each carried a stack of documents.

One report after another was placed on his desk as he reported, covering everything from project approvals to the construction of new factories downstream, large-scale audits, the dissolution and restructuring of branch offices, unexpected situations at subsidiaries in various regions, technology leaks, and the demand for technology-based equity from highly paid experts.

Sorted by importance.

The other two laptops opened their email pages and categorized and labeled them.

Chu Ci sat on the sofa, listening quietly. Many of the issues involved required his decision-making, rather than simply signing off.

So many problems have piled up in just a few days.

While reporting on the issues, Assistant Gao also provided solutions from previous years, the latest developments, and the actual situation of the group. His logic was clear, and his words were watertight.

Secretary Wu was slightly less capable, but she was still professional and thorough, and her work demeanor was completely different from that soaked-to-the-point state she had been in that night.

Chu Ci listened silently to Huo Junyan's proposed solution. After the two left, she went over to him. Just as he was about to check his emails, he suddenly looked at her and said, "You can use my computer."

She said she was going to do something on the computer when she arrived.

Chu Ci leaned over and glanced at the emails on her laptop. "May I see them?"

These are actually top-secret trade secrets.

"Whatever you want." He got up, took another laptop, and sat on the sofa where she had been sitting, typing as he pondered.

He picked up her mint lemonade, took a sip, and frowned slightly.

Chu Ci picked up his water cup. The tea had a faint aroma and was crystal clear, with not a single tea leaf in sight.

It turns out he doesn't like coffee either.

The email was mostly in English. She skimmed through it, silently pondering a solution. After he replied, she sat down next to him with her laptop.

Watching him mark up a few keywords and immediately switch to the next one, sometimes she was confused, sometimes she suddenly understood, only to realize that her thinking was too limited, that she had not looked at the problem from a macro perspective, and that she was still stuck in the mindset of an engineer.

He only provides hints or general outlines, leaving the rest to his secretary or distributing the proposals to relevant departments at all levels.

There was something completely contrary to what she had imagined. Noticing her leaning closer, he paused. "What's wrong?"

“I think the idea is good,” Chu Ci said without hesitation, and when she saw him staring at her, she said, “I know that ‘sunk costs should not be involved in major decisions,’ but the method I proposed is still worth a try.”

“I might receive a hundred such ideas every day, but I only select the best ones.”

Chu Ci: "..."

She brought herself into the project team, rather than the decision-maker.

Huo Junyan only selects the best candidates; he doesn't care how much effort you put in beforehand. He only wants the best.

"It seems that I only need to do the optimal one, rather than come up with the best solution."

Chu Ci understood immediately, and Huo Junyan's eyes showed admiration. He put the notebook aside, pulled her up, sat her in the office chair, and put her on his lap.

“They could come in at any moment.” She tried to get up, but his arm tightened around her waist.

"They will knock on the door."

Huo Junyan rested his chin on her shoulder, held the mouse, opened his personal email, reached for the keyboard but couldn't reach it, and said, "Help me."

Chu Ci moved the keyboard over and gave him a reproachful look.

"I don't have hands~" he said lazily, nuzzling his nose against the back of her neck. "Rose, I want a rose too."

Chu Ci felt a little itchy and dodged away. Suddenly, she remembered the rose bubbles that filled the bathroom last night, and her cheeks flushed.

His hands became increasingly inappropriate. Chu Ci, sitting on his lap, lost her balance and couldn't get up. She could only hold onto his wrist tightly with one hand.

"Weren't you going to reply to the email?"

"Mmm~" He closed his eyes, leaning completely against her, looking very tired.

"Then reply to the email."

"Sleepy."

Chu Ci pinched the back of his hand, "Your hand isn't sleepy at all."

The man's chest heaved violently as he spoke shamelessly and brazenly, "I can't control them. Hey, look, they want this hand too."

“Hey you,” Chu Ci shrugged, then quickly grabbed her other restless hand, “Let’s reply to the emails together.”

She took the opportunity to clasp his hands tightly, placing them on the keyboard. It was as if a wolf was carrying her on his back. The wolf sniffed one of her ears, then the other.

"The first email."

Chu Ci couldn't hold the mouse because her fingers were tightly clasped with Huo Junyan's. Huo Junyan deliberately didn't let go, and she turned her head and made a face at him, "Watch closely."

How could a software engineer be stumped by a tiny mouse?

The keyboard has all the functions that a mouse can operate.

Using both hands to press several keys simultaneously, the email opened. "I'm awesome, aren't I?"

It was an invitation to a private dinner.

She leaned closer and saw the name of Li Jue from a certain technology company on the list. It was the first project her software development company had taken on, and it required Li Jue's company to endorse it, which was equivalent to getting into the industry.

However, Li Jue's company only has one slot per month.

Huo Junyan bit his earlobe, "You clearly said last night that I was the best." His deep, seductive voice seemed to seep through his pores.

She felt hot and itchy from the bite, and turned her head to rub against him, and then reached out to scratch him, but he applied a little more pressure with his hand.

"Haha..." He brought this on himself.

Chu Ci whimpered, "It tickles so much~" Unable to scratch herself, the itch seeped from her earlobe into her heart. He chuckled softly, grabbed her hand, and said, "Scratch me."

She wanted to scratch him, but he kept interfering, making her so angry she wanted to jump up and hit him, but her hands were restrained by him. "Hahaha, waaaah..."

Chu Ci was both crying and laughing when she suddenly heard a knock on the door. She tried to shake him off, but couldn't. She stared at him with wide eyes and said, "Someone is coming in. What kind of position are we in?"

Huo Junyan, however, looked completely puzzled.

The knocking sounded again. In her haste, Chu Ci slid under the table, but to her surprise, he still wouldn't let go. "Let go!"

"Please come in."

Chu Ci immediately shut up, sat under the table in a strange posture, crossed her arms, and clasped her hands together with his.

The footsteps grew closer, and she held her breath.

"Mr. Huo, here are the documents you requested."

It was Secretary Wu's voice, but it sounded a little hesitant. Huo Junyan hummed in response, his footsteps growing fainter and fainter as he walked faster and faster.

As soon as the door closed, Secretary Wu almost lost his composure. Another colleague saw his distorted face and asked with his eyes: Did you get scolded?

Secretary Wu shook his head, then nodded, turned and rushed into the bathroom. After making sure the door was closed, he opened his mouth wide and let out a silent "Hahahahahahaha..."

What did he see?

"They're gone."

Huo Junyan tried to pull her out, but Chu Ci started to act spoiled.

He simply knelt down under the table, but since he was tall, the space under the table was limited, so he could only squat on the outside.

Chu Ci was amused and tried to pull her hand back, but was restrained; her four arms were entangled, and she couldn't break free. "Ah..."

I finally experienced what it means to be trapped by one's own actions.

"I was wrong." She pouted, looking at him with a pitiful expression.

Huo Junyan pressed down on his lips, leaned closer, and she gritted her teeth, about to speak, when she cautiously peeked out, "How's the soundproofing in your office?"

"..." Looking at her little squirrel-like head, he lowered his voice, "...We haven't done any tests."

"You're bullying me!"

Her voice was soft and sweet, and her eyes and brows were charmingly coquettish.

She used this trick again. Huo Junyan was both doting and enjoying it. Suddenly, she leaned in and kissed his chin, then stared at him with her clear and charming eyes.

He was in a state of intense mental confusion when she took the opportunity to pull one of his hands back. Fortunately, he had trained his concentration with his dominant hand, so she was able to escape.

Chu Ci waved one hand in front of his eyes and climbed out triumphantly, saying, "I'm free."

Her body was suddenly lifted into the air, startling her so much that she screamed, then quickly covered her mouth, her doe-like, wet eyes staring at him, one hand gripping his neck tightly, and she punched him lightly.

He held her in one arm and gently bounced her up and down.

Chu Ci bit her lip, her gaze gradually moving downwards until it landed on his collar, where only the first button of his shirt was undone. Moving further, she saw his slightly red earlobes.

He suddenly turned around and placed her on the desk.

Chu Ci looked up, his nose touching her forehead, his lips lightly brushing against her nose before covering her lips.

Hearing the mouse beep twice, she opened her eyes and turned her head to see that he had replied to attend the dinner party.

He hadn't originally planned to attend the dinner; he only decided to attend because of her.

Their eyes met, and Chu Ci tilted her head, hooking his chin with her fingertips. He leaned closer, and Chu Ci immediately stepped back, her hand touching the file folder as she glanced at it out of the corner of her eye.

It seems to be a document that Secretary Wu just delivered.

"Do you still have a job?"

“No,” Huo Junyan said, unbuttoning his shirt with one hand. “My part is all done, all that’s left is for you to sign off.”

He then leaned down and kissed her.

Chu Ci leaned back, slightly breathless from the kiss. Her hand, which was around his neck, scratched her hair, pulling away slightly, and she gasped, "What do I need to sign?"

She picked it up casually and opened it—

Marriage agreement.

The air froze for a few seconds. Chu Ci slowly put it down, but didn't take it out. She released her arm from his neck and stood with her back to him. "Why so suddenly?"

The man forcefully made her face him, his eyes filled with an obsessive and reckless determination. "Didn't you say you wanted to marry me?"

Chu Ci lowered her eyelashes, "I did say that, but..."

But they both knew that the reason he was so eager for her to sign was because he could no longer persuade his family and wanted to marry her regardless of the consequences.

Can they bear the consequences of such an impulsive decision?

"You want to back out?" The hand gripping her shoulder suddenly tightened, causing Chu Ci to wince in pain. "I, Junyan, there are many things I haven't thought of yet. Isn't it too hasty for us to get married like this?"

In desperation, she could only use amnesia as an excuse.

Huo Junyan chuckled. She suddenly realized that he knew, that he might have always known her thoughts.

He knew she was unwilling to compromise, and he also knew that by setting up her software development company in Shanghai, she was actually preparing to leave. He had said that she loved him, but loved her freedom even more.

He defied his entire family and presented her with a marriage agreement, but she hesitated.

"Chu Ci, you started this whole thing, do you want to shirk responsibility?"

Huo Junyan stared at her without moving, his eyes reddening, but he still tried his best to suppress his anger. "You have amnesia, right? Fine, I'll accompany you during your treatment. Anyway, you have a lifetime to think it through."

Chu Ci was stunned. Only today, at this moment, did she realize his suppressed emotions.

After their reunion, he kept suppressing his emotions.

The pain, self-harm, and self-destruction of the past five years should have erupted when she saw the person who had come back from the dead, but she suppressed it again because of her amnesia.

Perhaps something has already broken out inside.

She dared not imagine what extreme things he might do if things got out of control one day.

"Junyan, it's me,"

"Either we sign a marriage agreement, and then I'll slowly help you recover your memory."