Chapter 22
For two days in a row, Chu Yue did not see Ji Mingfei. Shen Qing'an had run out of tricks and finally revealed the other purpose of her trip.
"This is the new investment plan drafted by the board of directors. I would like you to personally lead a team to investigate it. As for the work at Shanhe, if you cannot handle both, I can send someone else to temporarily take over your duties."
Chu Yue quickly skimmed through the text and said, "You don't need to worry about Shanhe. Have you decided on the other members of the inspection team?"
"I won't interfere too much with your work. Just take Shen Qian with you this time."
Shen Qian is the daughter of Shen Qing'an's aunt. As soon as Chu Yue removed Zhou Yaomin from his position as general manager of Shanhe, she couldn't wait to send her daughter to the inspection team for the new project, claiming that "young people need to be trained."
Distant relatives shouldn't interfere, and Chu Yue didn't say much, after all, this was Shen Qing'an's family matter. It's perfectly normal for large families to be so intricately intertwined, with mutual checks and balances. Besides, when Shen Qing'an seized power, her aunt was the first to stand up and support her.
"Don't worry, I'll take good care of her." Chu Yue never overstepped her boundaries with Shen Qing'an at work; obeying superiors' arrangements was a subordinate's duty.
Shen Qing'an hesitated for a moment, then reminded Chu Yue, "Shen Qian has always been thoughtful and calculating, and is the child most like her aunt. You need to be careful."
Chu Yue had only met Shen Qian once, at a private banquet hosted by the Shen family, when she was just a teenage girl. In the blink of an eye, she had grown into a young woman, capable of fighting for her mother.
"Your cousin is definitely just as difficult to please as you are," Chu Yue joked with Shen Qing'an.
Shen Qing'an knew that Chu Yue was mocking her again, and asked in return, "When have you ever served me?"
Chu Yue voluntarily conceded defeat, saying, "I'm just a working person, and I don't accept any form of unspoken rules."
Shen Qing'an suddenly looked at Chu Yue very seriously and asked, "If I had given up my inheritance rights to the group back then and hadn't dragged you into this, would you have been with me?"
Without a second thought, Chu Yue replied, "No."
Just as Shen Qing'an had predicted, Chu Yue never made assumptions; all her choices were the optimal solutions she made based on the actual conditions.
It's the same if you don't love her.
…
The night before Chu Yue returned to headquarters, she deliberately waited outside Ji Mingfei's house. After only a few days apart, Chu Yue felt that the relationship they had painstakingly built up had returned to square one.
"I'm going back to headquarters tomorrow, and it might be two or three months before I come back. By then, the baby should have already been born."
Not being able to witness Ji Mingfei's childbirth left Chu Yue with a deep sense of regret. Although becoming a single mother was Ji Mingfei's own choice, after learning about childbirth, Chu Yue simply couldn't imagine how a single omega would cope with the various difficulties of childbirth alone.
Ji Mingfei didn't dare to look Chu Yue in the eye, keeping her head down the whole time. "I will slowly pay you back the money you spent on the child."
“I’ve said it many times, that money doesn’t need to be returned; it was money I bought for the child.” Chu Yue took a step forward, pulling Ji Mingfei back as he tried to retreat. “I have a lot to say to you, but I haven’t found the right opportunity. Let’s talk it over properly when I get back from headquarters, okay?”
Two or three months is too long; no one knows what might happen. Ji Mingfei dared not agree, because agreeing meant expecting something in return.
Chu Yue noticed her hesitation and didn't force her to agree. She smiled and said, "I've said my piece. Get some rest and take care of yourself. Call me if anything happens, and if I don't answer, I'll call you back as soon as I see your message."
Ji Mingfei nodded. The thought of not seeing Chu Yue for so long made her unable to resist looking at her again. Chu Yue smiled at her, her gaze gently falling on her protruding belly.
"Do you... want to touch her?" Ji Mingfei asked softly.
Chu Yue thought she had misheard and asked to confirm, "Is it okay?"
"Yes, she just kicked me."
Chu Yue held her breath and carefully placed her hand on Ji Mingfei's belly, which was round and plump like a small watermelon. After waiting for a while, there was still no movement.
"She might still be holding a grudge from what happened last time that was inappropriate for children..."
Chu Yue tried to comfort herself, dejectedly withdrawing her hand. Unexpectedly, Ji Mingfei suddenly pressed her hand back onto his stomach, kicking Chu Yue's palm with considerable force.
Thump.
After the kick, all was quiet. The two people's hands were still tightly clasped together.
Ji Mingfei let go of his hand first, and said somewhat nervously, "You have to catch a flight tomorrow... Go back and pack your things."
Chu Yue grabbed the doorframe to block Ji Mingfei's path and whispered in her ear, "We haven't marked her yet. This time, we'll mark her for a longer period!"
Ji Mingfei blushed instantly from her ears to her neck, and stammered, "The doctor said that I don't need to be marked anymore in the late stages of pregnancy, and I haven't felt anything lately..."
Chu Yue pushed open the door behind Ji Mingfei and pulled her inside. In the dark entryway, Ji Mingfei leaned against the wall, her heart pounding. Chu Yue tried to kiss her, but she turned her head away.
After a brief silence, Chu Yue gently bit Ji Mingfei's gland, marking her temporarily as usual.
"Wait for me to come back." Chu Yue patted her back, turned around, opened the door, and left.
Ji Mingfei slid down onto the shoe stool, staring at the beam of light shining into the hallway, and only breathed a sigh of relief when he heard the door next door close.
…
As soon as Chu Yue returned to headquarters, she began to assemble a project inspection team. Through Shen Qing'an's introduction, she met the young girl named Shen Qian.
“You and Sister An’an are classmates, I don’t want to call you President Chu, can I call you Sister Chu?” Shen Qian was not shy at all when she saw Chu Yue, her spoiled young lady temperament was very similar to that of Shen Qing’an when she was young.
Like a serious but tolerant elder, Chu Yue said, "If you like it, that's fine."
"I heard you broke up with my cousin. Did you fall in love with another omega?"
Shen Qing'an coughed lightly beside her and said, "Don't ask questions you shouldn't ask."
Shen Qian openly winked at Chu Yue and said childishly, "Sister An'an is shy! Sister Chu, let's talk on the way."
Shen Qing'an: "..."
Chu Yue was too lazy to deal with the curious young people, so she made an excuse to leave, saying, "I have something to do, I'll go first."
"I have an appointment to go shopping this afternoon. Sister Chu, let's go together!" Shen Qian stood up and hurriedly chased after Chu Yue.
As soon as they entered the elevator, Shen Qian suddenly took a big step toward Chu Yue.
"Sister Chu, my cousin will be released from prison soon. Do you think three years in prison can make a madman more obedient?"
Chu Yue glanced sideways at Shen Qian, who was reflected in the elevator door, and asked bluntly, "What do you want?"
Shen Qian chuckled, "That depends on what conditions my cousin can offer me."
Another madman has emerged from the Shen family.
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