Kiss With Mr. CEO

"Forbidden...Fruit?" 

Another person was as clueless as Gu Chiantao.

"Boss, if I may be as bold to comment..." 

No response.

Li Luxian leaned against the big luxurious leather chair, his elbow resting against the black armrest, white slender fingers curling into a tight fist as he brought them in front of his mouth, masking his sharp jawline behind them.

He breathed in and out softly, his forehead squeezing into a small frown.

Still no response.

The helpless proprietor of that meek protest Zhang Xin could foresee - those two casual words from Boss's wife being subjected to severe scrutiny by his Boss, his face progressively turning grimmer. 

There was no other way around. He knew his Boss well. Too well. That's how Boss had been for the last three days. He would have to wait at least...ten minutes...

To the woes of his wretched legs, Zhang Xin was proven wrong.

Li Luxian continued to squint at the screen with the scrutiny that had been prophesized by Zhang Xin but the time exceeding the limits far longer than Zhang Xin's estimation.

After thirty solid minutes of heavy silence...

"You might as well comment." An imperceptible grimace settled over Li Luxian's face at his inability to unravel the mystery Chen Yi was to him.

Zhang Xin took a look at his Boss who was ascribing more importance to deciphering his wife's words than he ever did to a critical business matter. 

Zhang Xin said what any sane person would. "In my opinion, Mrs. Li is merely joking with her friend." 

Li Luxian spared a glance to Zhang Xin. "Too simple to be true."

"But Boss-"

"Your bachelor status disqualifies you from conjecturing."

"..."

Despite the inherent stoicism, Zhang Xin's unwavering expressions couldn't avoid the ultimate fate of faltering. 

'Boss hit him where it hurt. Why!'

With patience and silence, he continued to hold the stack of files. Files that each contained a list of countless much more deserving matters, matters requiring immediate addressing from his Boss.

As if an uncontrollable itch had urged him, he could not avoid blurting out. "Boss, Mrs. Li won't be happy if she learned we encroached on her personal space."

"Nonsense!" Li Luxian stuck out his chest, his actions representing him as the most moral man in the universe. "I have only had people follow her for the sake of her safety." He refused to shoulder any blame.

Zhang Xin: "..."

If that was the case, wouldn't be having your men merely follow her do the job? What excuse would you have for having your people videotape her live?

This level of shamelessness...it could only be responded with a sigh.

Once upon a time, his Boss used to be so smart, tyrannical, and calculating, a figure to be revered and feared in the industry. 

Zhang Xin and his Boss Li Luxian, together, what great Business Empire had they not conquered? The world shuddered at the mighty name of the Li Empire and its famous President. Even the Royal family had to be cautious with them.

And now...

Whenever Mrs. Li came into discussion, Boss would plummet to an unreasonable, obsessive teenager and Zhang Xin the miserable babysitter.

How unfortunate.

...

Her white heels carried her across the Hall in no time, each step landing lightly against the hard marble. 

Her narrow shoulders were squared back, revealing the firmness of her bearing, face locked with an approachable smile, long eyelashes shadowing her shimmering eyes. The mid-length, flowy dress was simple yet accentuated her curves, enhancing her slender waist. Her thick, silky hair rolled into a decent bun.

"Please direct me the right way." Chen Yi passed on the letter to the receptionist.

The receptionist blinked, for a moment mistaking Chen Yi for some high profile person. She only regained her senses once reading the letter. Easing her own shoulders, she directed Chen Yi to her assigned Manager.

Reading through the name of her Manager, Chen Yi paused. 

A slow smile built over her face as she reread the name.

"Qin Chanpu."

Learning that of all the people, the man of the most notorious reputation, Qin Chanpu, had been assigned as her Manager, Chen Yi did not need to think twice about who was behind this arrangement. 

Chen Yi could almost visualize the proud look on her cousin's face, the victorious sneer unfolding over her lips as she assumed that she had had Chen Yi under her thumb with this petty trick.

Holding back lucrative job offers in exchange for physical favors from young and ignorant artists was not an uncommon thing. 

This was the Entertainment Industry.

Flashy on the surface, disgusting behind the closed doors.

"Too bad. I was hoping to be assigned to Shen Yue. It was just that since Shen Yue had signed me with a loose contract, to avoid being investigated, Shen Yue would have to give in to me on occasions. But... never mind."

Things don't always go your way.

Chen Yi halted to contemplate for a split second. A moment later, her eyelashes lifted up revealing her hazy eyes clearing with a decision. Her feet carried her in the direction of Qin Chanpu's office without delay.

Along the way, countless necks turned in Chen Yi's direction. A few women congregated into a small group discussed:

"Is she a newbie?"

"Doesn't look like. I mean the way she is carrying herself like she owns the place."

"She is pretty, though. You ought to give her that."

"Well, there is no lack of pretty faces in here, is there?"

Just as Chen Yi approached Qin Chanpu's office, the women's disgust disappeared, a few of them letting out scornful chuckles while exchanging meaningful looks.

Chen Yi observed everything through the corner of her eyes. "This Manager Qin...quite a reputation he has." She continued on her way unruffled, her eyes sharpening with vigilance.

From the conversations of people inside the waiting room, Chen Yi learned that Qin Chanpu had the habit of asserting his importance by having the artiste wait for him. Chen Yi was content at her seat when a woman carrying a strained smile approached her. 

"You must be the newbie Brother Qin mentioned...?" Her chin was high as she looked down at Chen Yi, her eyes checking out Chen Yi in a brazen manner. A manner that wasn't polite at all.

"Could be." Chen Yi raised an eyebrow at the woman recognizing her as the one who had been giving Chen Yi impatient glances as if wanting Chen Yi to take the initiative to greet her. When Chen Yi didn't, her patience must have run out.

The woman held back a fleeting expression of disgust, her lips stretching into a wider smile.

"How rude of me not to introduce myself. I am Zhao Hua. In the future, we will be working together." Her lips stretched further apart, the smile morphing into an indiscernible sneer. "You will not have to introduce yourself. You are Chen Yi, correct? Can't say we haven't heard a lot about you." She let out a humorless laugh.

At once, the curiosity in the eye of onlookers vanished, their eyes widening as they exchanged looks. 

"Oh, so she is the one...?"

"No way, I had heard rumors. CEO Fu's ex-fiance is very ugly. That was why our CEO had annulled his engagement, hadn't he?"

"Well, in this day and age, it ain't really peculiar to have a couple of cosmetic procedures performed. Look at her nose; looks totally fake to me!"

"I still can't believe it. CEO fiancee actually did not try to prevent her from entering the company?"

Turning around, Zhao Hua clasped onto a righteous stance, stiffening her facial muscles. "All of you, where is your professionalism? Today's Sister Yi's first day. We should be presenting the respectable image of Fu Entertainment. That does not allow to gossip wantonly. Am I understood?"

"Sorry Hua Jie."

"We were just surprised."

All of them apologized, no one daring to be loud anymore.

Zhao Hua faced Chen Yi, her expression carrying blatant pride at the efficient display of her superiority. 

"It was I who spoke too much. I hope Sister Yi would go easy on me. Though you ought not to be disheartened, people naturally tend to be gossipy. No big deal. Since you are a relative to our CEO's fiance if you put in an effort...I guarantee no one would dare to whisper a word against you." 

Author Note:

I'm back. Will try to update regularly from now on unless my classes restart.. Sobs.