63. At the moment of reunion, she nestled against him.
On Friday morning, in the conference room, Wen Xueyan wore a well-tailored dark gray suit. Her early pregnancy was not yet obvious, which instead added a touch of softness to her cool temperament.
The conference table was filled with core members of the technology department and project teams. HR Director Zhou Weian was also present at the meeting, saying that he was evaluating the performance of several probationary employees in the technology department before they were officially hired.
Key data from recent projects are being displayed on the projection screen.
“Director Wen,” said Lin Shuya, the deputy technical director, “the data model had a major deviation in the final verification stage, which caused the client to question our group’s technical capabilities. I remember that you personally signed off on the final approval of this core module.”
Lin Shuya's words, seemingly addressing the matter at hand, actually shifted the blame to Wen Xueyan.
Just yesterday, Lin Shuya was secretly impressed by Wen Xueyan's professional skills in technology. This young woman's profound understanding of chemical materials and accurate grasp of industry trends made even a veteran like herself, who had worked in the industry for many years, feel admiration.
Lin Shuya originally planned to stay in the position of deputy director and continue to work diligently.
But last night, the news of her husband's layoffs hit her like a hammer blow, shattering the little bit of respect she had just begun to feel. She started thinking about the position of technical director again.
Approaching forty, with tuition fees for two children, support for her parents, and monthly mortgage and car loan payments... these figures weigh heavily on her shoulders. Now, her salary is the only stable income for the family.
Lin Shuya recalled that just before the meeting started this morning, Zhou Wei'an called her into his office and promised again: "As long as Wen Xueyan leaves, I will try my best to arrange the position of technical director for you. As for President Xi, Mr. Xi will handle it. However, you should also be careful to keep things in check. Just let her resign and go home to rest during her pregnancy. Don't affect her safety. The entire Xi family is looking forward to the birth of this child."
Mr. Xi's grandfather, Xi Kangping, was the chairman who never fully recognized Xi Mingyuan's abilities. Therefore, Xi Mingyuan's desire to replace the HR director remained unfulfilled. Zhou Weian, on the other hand, was a key figure in the faction of Mr. Xi's illegitimate son, Xi Yanzhi.
Xi Yanzhi usually works at a branch office in another city, but he controls the human resources department at the group headquarters.
Lin Shuya didn't want to get involved in this power struggle, but Zhou Wei'an approached her many times.
At this moment, Zhou Weian chimed in: "Yes, Director Wen has only been here for a short time and is still on probation. He may not be familiar with the business yet."
Wen Xueyan raised her eyes, her gaze meeting their unwavering, provocative stares.
She didn't get angry: "Deputy Director Lin, the signatures on the project process are the final step after the person in charge of each step has confirmed that there are no errors. Moreover, the key issue now is not who signed, but finding the root cause of the data discrepancy. I checked, and according to the project log records, I remember that this step was the responsibility of the team directly under your supervision, Deputy Director Lin."
Her words were clear and concise, getting straight to the point, and she put the ball back in her court.
Lin Shuya's expression instantly turned somewhat ugly; Wen Xueyan's precise counterattack caught her off guard.
She forced herself to remain calm: "Director Wen certainly managed to push it away cleanly. However, our technical department has always let our abilities speak for themselves; simply focusing on procedures is probably not enough to convince everyone."
Zhou Wei'an seized the opportunity to speak, "Speaking of which, we've noticed that President Xi doesn't seem to be very close to you lately. Your sudden pregnancy and rapid rise to the position of director inevitably makes people wonder. Could it be that you're using your pregnancy to climb the ranks?"
When they first learned that Wen Xueyan and President Xi were getting married, they were still very polite. But in the past few days, they have noticed that President Xi is not very enthusiastic towards Wen Xueyan, and some people's attitudes have changed.
And Mr. Xi happened to be away on a business trip these past two days.
Wen Xueyan said sternly, "Deputy Director Lin, this is a conference room, a place to discuss projects. My personal life has absolutely nothing to do with whether I can perform my duties in this position."
Lin Shuya was speechless for a moment. Looking into Wen Xueyan's clear yet firm eyes, she felt a sense of powerlessness.
Lin Shuya's harassment of Wen Xueyan was partly due to Zhou Wei'an's instigation and years of pent-up resentment, but at a deeper level, it was perhaps because seeing the young Wen Xueyan, who seemed to have "easily" obtained everything, reflected her own wretched state, worn down by life and with a bleak future.
Isn't her attack a distorted catharsis of her failed life?
In the afternoon, Wen Xueyan sat alone in her office.
Looking back on her years working as a receptionist, she suddenly realized that those seemingly off-track experiences in life, those seemingly unhelpful to her technical skills, are now clear: no path in life is wasted, and each stage is silently shaping her future self.
Back then, the reception area of her company was a hub of gossip, and she witnessed far too much of the coldness and warmth of human relationships. Those casual conversations and secrets about power shifts and factional struggles, in retrospect, have become her unique teaching material for understanding the workings of this massive corporation.
After a moment's thought, she sent a message to President Xi: "President Xi, given our current cooperation, you need to be more enthusiastic towards me in company settings in the future."
She knew all too well that in the labyrinth of power, appearances could sometimes be more convincing than the truth.
"Okay." She received a cold, hard reply from President Xi.
The atmosphere at the industry summit on Saturday was solemn. The air was filled with the aroma of coffee, the lingering scent of high-end perfumes, and an invisible pressure belonging to the elite. Mr. Cheng sat in the front row, his tall figure outlined by the spotlight.
Wen Xueyan sat in the back row, but he didn't look at her much because Xi Mingyuan was right next to her.
During the lunch break, the crowd began to move towards the restaurant. He saw President Xi and Wen Xueyan walking side by side, exchanging a few words in hushed tones. Cheng Boyan could only follow at a distance.
The banquet hall was resplendent with lights at midday. President Xi and Wen Xueyan sat by the window.
Mr. Cheng sat down in the corner, separated by three round tables.
"Mr. Cheng, it's an honor to meet you." A man in a dark blue suit approached, brandishing a business card. "I'm Zhang Zhiming from Yongxin Materials."
Mr. Cheng nodded slightly. The supplier enthusiastically introduced the new products, and he nodded occasionally.
The supplier almost thought he wasn't listening attentively.
"Under what conditions were your company's corrosion resistance data obtained?" Cheng Boyan's voice was calm, but it made the supplier sit up straight instantly and then answer seriously.
"Okay, I got the business card. Our purchasing department will contact you when I get back." After finishing his meal, Cheng Boyan checked his phone. Wen Xueyan still hadn't sent him a message, so he got up and went back to the meeting room to rest.
At 1 p.m., my phone screen finally lit up as I had hoped. It was a message from her: "I'll be at the nearby Huanyu Shopping Mall in ten minutes. It's very close, I'll walk there. Xi Mingyuan had to go back first."
The Huanyu Shopping Mall is just across the street from the summit venue. Mr. Cheng arrived first. When he stepped into the mall, it was unusually quiet. Apart from the mall staff, only the bright lights silently illuminated the empty corridors.
Soon, Wen Xueyan's slender figure appeared at the mall entrance. Their eyes met, and a thousand words seemed to freeze in their gazes.
"Let's go up and take a look." Cheng Boyan tried his best to remain calm.
Wen Xueyan nodded gently and followed beside him.
They took the elevator directly to the women's clothing department on the third floor. This department housed numerous top luxury brands, all with hefty price tags. Cheng Boyan led her into a brand store.
Wen Xueyan was clearly in a good mood as she looked around at the quiet boutiques.
As Mr. Cheng gazed at her relaxed eyes and brows, the tension that had gripped him for days eased slightly. He carefully selected several elegant outfits for her, imagining how these clothes would accentuate her figure.
Wen Xueyan took the clothes, but gently shook her head: "This brand's positioning is not quite in line with my current income level. Let's go to the second floor and take a look."
"Is it because President Xi gives you very little living allowance?" Cheng Boyan asked.
Wen Xueyan simply smiled and did not answer, because President Xi was not giving her a single penny, and she didn't know what to say.
“You don’t need to worry about the price today,” Mr. Cheng said gently. “Buy whatever you like.”
Wen Xueyan pondered for a moment, then picked up one of the off-white cashmere sweaters: "I'll take this one; my old one started pilling. After all, I'm going to work every day, and if I suddenly wear something too luxurious, I might feel uncomfortable. Also, I need to buy a few maternity clothes later; I expect to be showing next month." She playfully rolled her eyes.
Mr. Cheng suddenly remembered something: "The card I gave you before..."
"My mother's treatment after the car accident cost a lot of money," Wen Xueyan recounted the previous events.
Cheng Boyan blurted out, "I'll give you another one..."
"No," Wen Xueyan replied. "You're still in the midst of divorce proceedings, so it's not appropriate to transfer large sums of money. What if the Xu family arranges for a lawyer to investigate? I haven't spent all the money you gave me before, and I'm currently receiving a salary."
In the end, she still bought six cashmere sweaters. When Cheng Boyan saw that she picked up the light gray one, he asked the sales assistant to bring over the other five in the same size, and paid for them all while she wasn't looking.
Next, they went to the second-floor counter, where the clothes were much more affordable and the styles were more suitable for daily commutes.
"I received your message Thursday morning saying that Secretary Qiao's surgery was successful." She asked while picking out clothes, "How is she doing now?"
"They have been transferred from the ICU to a regular ward."
Watching Wen Xueyan move gracefully among the clothes racks, a thought suddenly popped into his mind: what if it was Xueyan who got into trouble? At this critical juncture in the divorce proceedings, the Xu family's public relations and legal team would never let go of any opportunity to attack him.
Even if the Xu family is held accountable, Wen Xueyan will still face accusations of being a "third party" in the public eye. Her situation will likely be a hundred times more difficult than Qiao Lanyue's.
This realization made his heart clench. For the first time, he was acutely aware that Xueyan was always in a very dangerous position in this emotional vortex.
"How about this one? The weather will get warmer next month." Wen Xueyan picked up a light blue knitted dress.
Cheng Boyan snapped out of his daze: "Let's give it a try."
The sales assistant stood at a distance by the checkout counter, ready to be called upon at any moment.
Cheng Boyan indicated to the sales assistant that he didn't need it for the time being.
Cheng Boyan followed her into the fitting room, and the small space suddenly felt crowded because of his arrival.
Wen Xueyan blinked and pushed him out: "Sir, the fitting room is for ladies only."
Cheng Boyan was amused by her playful appearance and obediently withdrew.
When the door opened, Wen Xueyan stood in front of the full-length mirror, her light blue dress making her skin look like jade.
The fitting room door closed again. Cheng Boyan's breathing suddenly became heavy.
He couldn't help but step forward and gently place a kiss on her forehead.
"Long time no see." His voice was deep and affectionate. "I've missed you so much."
A faint blush rose on Wen Xueyan's cheeks as she took his arm and met his gaze in the mirror.
Outside the fitting room, Wen Xueyan didn't dare to hold his hand because she was worried about the mall's security cameras, but once the door was closed, she really wanted to snuggle in his arms.
At this moment, only the joy of reunion remains.
Cheng Boyan cupped her face and kissed her. The kiss was as gentle as a spring drizzle, yet it also contained the longing that had been building up throughout the cold winter.
The kiss deepened, sliding from her lips to her neck. Her skin exuded a faint magnolia fragrance, reminding him of the spring blossoms outside the window. His hands roamed over her back, feeling her slender spine even through her clothes.
You've lost weight.
"I had severe morning sickness a while ago," she replied.
His hand, uncontrollably, slipped under her hem, his fingertips touching that soft, warm cloud.
The sensation was even more beautiful than he had imagined in his dream, like touching a magnolia flower whose petals were slowly unfolding under the warm spring sun—warm and delicate.
He could feel her fuller curves due to pregnancy. Although it was only two months and her baby bump was not yet visible, the subtle changes stirred a flutter in his heart.
A flicker of dark glint, born of intense impulse, flashed in Cheng Boyan's eyes, and he suddenly stopped what he was doing: "Are you afraid of me?"
"I'm not afraid." Her eyes were as clear as a spring stream flowing through a mountain ravine. "I know you won't hurt me."
"If it weren't for your pregnancy," he said, his voice trembling with restraint, "I would have pinned you against this wall... to let you know how much I've missed you these past few days."
Wen Xueyan could feel the surging emotions within him.
"It's so hard to get this close to you," his voice was deep, "Can I hold you a little longer?"
On this warm spring afternoon, his embrace was as comforting as the March sun, enveloping her completely.
After a long silence, he put aside all his doubts and whispered in her ear, his warm breath brushing against it: "Xi Mingyuan left early this afternoon. Could you stay with me tonight?"
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