Chapter 47 Welcome Back to Los Angeles
At the exit of Los Angeles International Airport, Shang Qiuzhu strode ahead with her long legs, while Yan Shuang lagged half a step behind.
Lin Sheng followed at the back, dragging two suitcases.
"Mr. Shang, the car is waiting at Exit 3," Lin Sheng said, looking up.
Shangqiu Zhu nodded.
The black Lincoln sedan quietly glided up in front of them.
Driver Zhan respectfully opened the car door: "Mr. Shang, welcome back to Los Angeles."
"Let's go to Beverly Hills first," Shang Qiuzhu instructed briefly, and took the lead in sitting in the back seat.
Lin Sheng naturally opened the passenger door and turned to Yan Shuang, saying, "Secretary Yan, let's take President Shang back first, and then go to the hotel together."
The next second, President Shang's deep voice came from inside the car: "Secretary Yan, get out of the car with me."
Lin Sheng paused for a moment, his gaze quickly shifting between the two men.
Yan Shuang sat in the back seat, maintaining a proper distance from Shang Qiuzhu.
As the car entered the private roads of Beverly Hills, Lin Sheng saw in the rearview mirror that Yan Shuang was slightly turning her head to look out the window, while Shang Qiuzhu was flipping through documents.
The two did not exchange a single word.
"We've arrived." The driver stopped in front of a modern villa.
Shangqiu Zhu got off the bus first, followed closely by Yan Shuang.
Lin Sheng hesitated for a moment: "President Shang, do you need me to stay and assist you?"
"No need," Shangqiu Zhu said without turning her head. "Come pick me up at eight o'clock tomorrow morning."
Yan Shuang stood at the door, turned around and smiled calmly at Lin Sheng: "Assistant Lin, see you later."
The car door slammed shut, separating the two worlds.
In the rearview mirror, Lin Sheng saw two figures, one tall and one short, standing in the Los Angeles night. The man was aloof and noble, while the woman was beautiful and graceful, yet they inexplicably exuded an intimate atmosphere that no one else could intrude upon.
He abruptly looked away and pinched his thigh hard.
hiss......
pain.
It's not a dream.
So, Mr. Shang and Secretary Yan...?
He stood there, wondering if he had overlooked some details.
Inside the car, Assistant Lin's worldview was undergoing a silent tsunami.
As soon as Yan Shuang stepped into the villa's entrance hall, before she had even taken off her high heels, she couldn't help but turn around and complain to Shang Qiuzhu in a low voice, "Can you not be so direct next time? I can go back to the hotel first and then come over, so that Lin Sheng won't overthink it."
Shangqiu Zhu was loosening his tie when he heard this, his fingers paused, and he loosened the silk tie and hung it around his neck.
He didn't even lift his eyelids, his voice indifferent: "No need."
Yan Shuang stood there, stunned.
Unnecessary? What's unnecessary?
Is it that there's no need to avoid suspicion, or that there's no need to care what Lin Sheng thinks?
"Can't this person consider her situation?" she thought angrily, turning her face away and refusing to look at him.
"He'll find out sooner or later. Aren't you tired of keeping it a secret?"
Yan Shuang was taken aback and turned to look at him.
"What are you daydreaming about?" Shang Qiuzhu had already taken off his suit jacket and casually draped it over the back of the imported Italian sofa. "Go and pack your luggage."
Yan Shuang nodded and carefully pulled up Shang Qiuzhu's black leather suitcase.
This suitcase is more expensive than half a month's salary for her.
She walked toward the master bedroom, but was stopped at the door.
"And yours too." Shangqiu Zhu stood in front of the French windows, her expression obscured by the backlight.
Yan Shuang didn't react for a moment: "My what?"
"Luggage." Shangqiu Zhu turned around. "You'll be staying here too."
Yan Shuang blinked, almost blurting out "Why?"
She bit her lower lip in time and changed her approach to a more tactful one: "The hotel the company booked is nearby, so it'll be convenient for me to come over tomorrow morning..."
"I don't need to repeat myself, do I?" Shang Qiuzhu interrupted her, his voice carrying an undeniable authority, the kind of tone that leaves no room for argument at a board meeting.
Yan Shuang's fingers unconsciously rubbed the suitcase handle; she was all too familiar with that tone of voice.
Shangqiu Zhu always speaks in this tone whenever he makes a decision without intending to explain. He did this during the most tense period of last year's acquisition; he did this when the quarterly financial report had problems; and now, he's doing it even about trivial matters like where she lives.
“Okay, Mr. Shang.” Yan Shuang lowered her eyelashes and turned to get her gray suitcase.
As she passed through the living room, she caught a glimpse of Shangqiu Zhu pouring whiskey.
Such a nice villa, it would be a waste not to stay there.
Yan Shuang told herself to consider it a perk of her business trip.
She gripped the cold brass doorknob, took a deep breath, and slowly pushed open the master bedroom door.
The scene inside the door came into view, and even though she was mentally prepared, she was still momentarily stunned by the overwhelming and oppressive luxury.
This master bedroom is enormous, almost as big as the entire living room of a typical apartment.
The overall tone is a cool black, white and gray, extremely minimalist, without a single unnecessary decoration.
The floor was covered with a cool and soft dark gray plush carpet that was almost silent when stepped on.
The ceiling is nearly four meters high, and one entire wall is a floor-to-ceiling window with intelligent control, which is currently filtering the Los Angeles sunset into a soft amber color.
In the very center is an enormous black leather floating bed, with dark gray high-thread-count cotton bedding that is completely wrinkle-free.
The headboard wall is a matte black metal panel. On the matching black metal floating bedside table, there is only a geometric lamp and a wireless charger. Apart from that, there is nothing else. It is so clean that it is almost austere.
On the other side of the room is a floor-to-ceiling black open-plan walk-in closet, with built-in light strips illuminating the few expensive suits and shirts hanging inside, making them look impeccably tailored. Next to it is a semi-open bathroom, where you can see the same tone of natural black marble walls and a huge square built-in bathtub, with all the metal parts in a cold, hard chrome color.
A faint, chilly scent filled the air, exactly the same as his usual smell.
Cold, hard, expensive, meticulous, lacking in human warmth, and even carrying an unapproachable sense of alienation.
Every detail in this room silently emphasizes the owner's taste, wealth, and aloofness that keeps people at arm's length.
The word "insignificant" suddenly popped into Yan Shuang's mind.
She stood at the door, her fingers gripping the suitcase handle slightly.
If only... if only she could own a house like that in America and never go back to the Yan family, that would be wonderful.
She let out a soft breath and pulled her luggage into the overly spacious area.
Outside the window, the entire Los Angeles cityscape was awakening, with lights gradually illuminating the city like stars.
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