10 His embrace

"Hello, Secretary Qiao." Wen Xueyan was somewhat surprised.

"Do you have a passport? One that's valid for more than six months," Qiao Lanyue asked.

"Yes, I just got my new passport last year."

"That's great." Qiao Lanyue's voice visibly relaxed. "Please prepare immediately. You're going to Singapore on a business trip with President Cheng tonight. The originally scheduled technical specialist was reprimanded by President Cheng for not renewing his passport in time. Now, you'll need to fill in. There's a chemical plant acquisition negotiation, and President Cheng specifically requested you to go."

Wen Xueyan carefully chose her words: "But I just received my termination notice."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone: "I haven't received any relevant notification yet. Please wait a moment."

Less than five minutes later, the internal phone rang. It was Lin Shuyi telling her to go to her office immediately.

Lin Shuyi sat behind her large desk, still holding the termination notice in her hand, preparing to have Wen Xueyan sign it before arranging for IT to take away her computer.

Lin Shuyi's face darkened. She wanted to get this over with quickly. "I hope the handover can be completed before the end of the workday. You were dismissed during your probationary period, so there's no severance pay. HR already told you that, right?"

Although Lin Shu-yi has been quite diligent in her work over the years, she always makes mistakes and likes to blame her subordinates. She originally thought that probationary employees were easy to manage.

Just as Wen Xueyan was about to speak, the landline on the table suddenly rang.

"Hello, Secretary Qiao, yes, I am Lin Shuyi..." Her voice immediately became respectful, even a little cautious.

Wen Xueyan watched as Lin Shuyi's expression shifted from confusion to surprise.

"But Secretary Qiao, Wen Xueyan's work performance is indeed..." Lin Shuyi stopped abruptly halfway through her sentence.

"I understand." Her voice trailed off, finally fading into a weak reply, "Okay, I'll arrange it. Yes, cancel the dismissal notice immediately. Does Mr. Cheng have any further instructions?"

After hanging up the phone, when Lin Shuyi looked up again, her eyes were filled with complex emotions that were hard to decipher.

"Looks like you're quite capable. President Cheng specifically requested your participation in the meeting regarding the Singapore chemical plant acquisition." Her tone carried a clear sense of resentment.

"I'm quite familiar with these kinds of mergers and acquisitions," Lin Shuyi seemed to be talking to herself. "My passport is also valid. Perhaps it would be more appropriate for me to accompany President Cheng on this business trip."

Wen Xueyan looked at her coldly, "Why don't you call President Cheng and ask?"

Lin Shuyi frowned: "Don't try to trap me. President Cheng doesn't allow us to call him casually. At most, we'll consider calling his secretary."

Wen Xueyan sensed the authority that President Cheng held in their hearts, so it seemed almost natural that he wouldn't answer her calls.

After hesitating for a moment, Lin Shuyi dialed the president's office secretary's number, her tone becoming extremely cautious: "Secretary Qiao, could you please consult with President Cheng? I have extensive experience with chemical plant acquisitions, perhaps..."

After hearing something said on the other end of the phone, Lin Shuyi's expression gradually darkened.

"I understand... Okay, thank you." Lin Shuyi's voice was clearly tinged with disappointment as she hung up the phone.

She turned to Wen Xueyan: "Secretary Qiao said that the technology in your previous patent applications will be used this time. In that case, your dismissal notice is null and void."

"OK, thanks."

"You can leave now." Lin Shuyi waved her hand, seemingly trying to regain her authority. "Remember, this business trip represents the image of the entire department. Check your official emails later."

Back at her workstation, Wen Xueyan's landline rang again.

"Hello Wen Xueyan, this is Qiao Lanyue. I'm informing you that you will remain with the company. Your flight is scheduled for 8:30 PM tonight, and the driver will pick you up from your home at 5 PM. Do you have any further questions?"

"No problem."

"Okay, check your email later. I've sent the project materials to your inbox. The key part you need to review is the technical evaluation." Qiao Lanyue then hung up the phone.

*

At night, the Boeing airliner flew smoothly in the stratosphere, with the darkness outside the window so thick it seemed impossible to see through.

The cabin lights were dimmed, and most passengers were already asleep.

Mr. Cheng sat in economy class with everyone else, in an aisle seat.

He wore a well-fitting gray striped suit, his impeccable appearance remaining even after a long flight. His gaze swept intently over every line of data in the document, occasionally jotting down annotations in the margins with a pen.

Two project managers were also sitting in the back.

Wen Xueyan secretly turned her head to look at him. Cheng Boyan's profile appeared particularly three-dimensional under the light, exuding an imposing aura.

As he flipped through the documents, the watch on his wrist occasionally reflected a faint light, perfectly complementing his meticulous demeanor.

Throughout the journey, Cheng Boyan remained silent with a cold expression.

Half an hour later, Cheng Boyan closed the last document. He carefully organized all the materials, put them into his briefcase, and then adjusted his chair to rest.

Wen Xueyan gently pulled the blanket up and closed her eyes.

*

The first day of negotiations took place in a rooftop conference room of a skyscraper in the city center. Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows was a spectacular city skyline, but the atmosphere inside the conference room was tense and confrontational.

The representative from the other party, KM Company, was a shrewd Singaporean who kept questioning the technical parameters in the merger and acquisition plan.

"Mr. Cheng, the equipment lifespan assessment data is not accurate enough. Based on our experience, the wear and tear rate of this type of chemical equipment in tropical climates is not like this."

Cheng Boyan looked at Wen Xueyan, and then she calmly continued, "The loss rate data mentioned earlier was based on ordinary carbon steel equipment. The factory we are analyzing now was fully upgraded to 316L stainless steel equipment three years ago. Here is the purchase list and acceptance report..." She pushed the documents in front of her.

The other person looked at the document with slight surprise, and Cheng Boyan gave her an approving look.

The negotiations lasted a full six hours.

When it comes to business-related issues, Mr. Cheng and the project manager handle them with ease.

Whenever the other party raises technical questions, Wen Xueyan can always respond quickly by accurately citing technical specifications or relevant data.

She recalled her first technical job at Daoning Chemical after graduating with her master's degree, which gave her more confidence. Although her current job is busier than the receptionist's, it is definitely more suitable for her.

She felt a surge of gratitude towards Cheng Boyan.

Dinner will be served at a fine restaurant in Marina Bay.

The client was full of praise for Wen Xueyan's performance: "Mr. Cheng, your assistant is a rare talent; she understands both technology and business."

President Cheng raised his glass in acknowledgment, a faint smile playing on his lips: "She is indeed outstanding."

After dinner, the client left first.

Standing at the restaurant entrance, gazing at the distant harbor, Mr. Cheng told the others to go back first, then said to Wen Xueyan, "Would you like to accompany me for a walk at the pier sometime? I've had a few drinks, and I'd like to get some fresh air and clear my head."

Singapore's nights are humid and fragrant, with the lights of Marina Bay Marina scattering like shattered diamonds across the dark sea.

Wen Xueyan strolled along the dock with Cheng Boyan, the tense negotiations of the day still lingering in her mind.

On a slightly dimly lit staircase, Wen Xueyan's heel suddenly got stuck between the stones.

Her body lurched forward, and the momentary feeling of weightlessness made her gasp softly. In that instant, Cheng Boyan swiftly turned around, his strong arms firmly encircling her waist.

Wen Xueyan's cheek pressed against the front of his crisp shirt, and a refreshing scent of fir, mixed with the lingering aroma of red wine, wafted towards her.

Her right hand instinctively grabbed his shirt, her fingertips touching the delicate texture of the fine fabric, as if she were touching a long-lost warmth.

She seemed to have fallen into Cheng Boyan's arms.

Cheng Boyan's breath gently brushed against her forehead.

Wen Xueyan could clearly feel the rise and fall of his chest, and felt that his breath was both unfamiliar and reassuring.

Having been celibate for so long, her body reacted instinctively to this sudden intimacy. A slight shiver rose from her spine, which then transformed into a surge of warmth that spread through her heart.

At that moment, she no longer felt like the neglected wife in her marriage. She was just an ordinary woman who longed to be cared for and valued.

This embrace awakened a long-suppressed desire deep within her heart; those emotions that had been restrained by reason surged into her heart like a tide.

Just then, Wen Xueyan heard someone say, "Xueyan, would you like to stay in my room tonight?"

"What?" she asked, unsure if she was hallucinating.

Cheng Boyan loosened his grip slightly: "I didn't say anything just now."

His voice was calm and even, and Wen Xueyan felt that what he had just said might have been her hallucination.

She quickly regained her balance and stepped back. "I'm sorry, Mr. Cheng," she said softly.

Cheng Boyan also took a half step back and straightened his shirt.

In that brief moment, an idea uncontrollably entered Wen Xueyan's mind: if neither of them were married, she might try to pursue President Cheng, even if there was a huge gap in their family backgrounds, and even if it didn't work out, she would be brave for herself.

Wen Xueyan even wanted to stand on tiptoe and kiss him.

But it was just a thought. The idea made her heart skip a beat, followed by a deep sense of guilt.

Even if Song Tiancheng most likely cheated on her, she herself is still not divorced, and more importantly, President Cheng also has a wife.

Wen Xueyan thought to herself, she absolutely cannot do this.

After a while, they sat down on a bench by the pier. In the distance, the lights of cargo ships flickered on the sea like scattered fireflies.

Still slightly tipsy, Wen Xueyan asked softly, "Mr. Cheng is so outstanding, Mrs. Cheng must be very happy."

After a moment of silence, Mr. Cheng took out his wallet from his pocket.

Inside was a photograph of a woman with a radiant smile and gentle features. "Her name is Xu Junxian, the heiress of the Xu Group. Her brother, Xu Junhang, also owns shares in our company. Her marriage to me was a good match in terms of social standing."

"Mrs. Cheng is so beautiful, why don't you ever bring her to the company's annual party?" Wen Xueyan asked, voicing her doubts.

At this time, Wen Xueyan was unaware that President Cheng had been lonely in his marriage for even longer.

Welcome to leave comments, dear readers, teachers, and children! Thank you for your support.

I'm really looking forward to it.

I knew something was bound to happen on this business trip!

Wow, I'm really tempted!

It's really good, please write more!

I find President Cheng hilarious, he seems a little bit schizophrenic, hahaha.

Haha, I feel like he has a crush on the female lead but is hesitant to say anything. I'm a little curious about his wife's situation.

Is President Cheng about to confess his feelings?

Excellent. I enjoy reading it; please write more!

Thank you for your comment, reader!