My Wife is a Workaholic

Chapter 7 – To Treat Each Other as Honored Guests1

The waiter came over with the bill after they finished the meal. This time, Zu Jin let Yan Lin pay it.

After he paid, they walked out of the noodle shop together. Zu Jin suddenly stopped and wanted to ask him when their next official date would be.

But Yan Lin said, “Why are you stopping? Let’s go.”

Zu Jin looked at him. Now that they were standing together, she realized that Yan Lin was actually much taller than she had imagined.

Zu Jin was not short. She was actually a little over 1.7 meters tall. Yet, when she stood in front of Yan Lin, she only reached his chin.

“Are you coming with me?”

Yan Lin smiled and nodded. “Yes, I happen to have a meeting with your Chairman Ji this afternoon to talk about a project collaboration.”

Zu Jin was shocked for a moment. “Is it the R&D project for Aircraft Wing 09?”

They turned and crossed the road. Then, they walked towards Qiyu Corporation’s building.

“Yes. If the R&D team is good, then I will invest.”

Zu Jin was silent for a moment. “Don’t do it because of me…”

Who would have known that before she could finish her words, Yan Lin interrupted her by putting his arm around her shoulder and patting her.

But then he quickly put his arm down.

“I won’t mix business with pleasure. Don’t worry.”

Zu Jin was relieved to hear him say that.

“Well, I think… It’s better to not tell Chairman Ji about us right now. I don’t want him to know about this.”

Yan Lin turned around and looked at her delicate face with light makeup on. He asked softly, “Why?”

Zu Jin thought for a moment and replied, “Let’s wait until the collaboration is over. It won’t be too late to tell him then. After all, I’m the president of Qi Yu and his subordinate. I don’t want him to be paranoid.”

“I understand, but I’m actually not that familiar with Chairman Ji. We have a meeting today because I was recently interested in the precision manufacturing industry and a friend introduced him to me. If he sees anything about us, then I will explain it to him for you.”

Zu Jin did not expect Yan Lin to be so careful and that he read her mind.

“Thank you.”

They were only a few more steps away from the corporation’s building when Yan Lin lowered his voice a bit and whispered with a teasing tone, “We do not need to be so polite with each other.”

Zu Jin was usually quick-witted, so she spoke without thinking.

“We should treat each other as honored guests. Do you understand this saying?”

Several employees in security uniforms in front of the building stood upright one after another when they saw Zu Jin coming.

Yan Lin did not reply until he entered the elevator.

But as soon as he opened his mouth, Zu Jin blushed and immediately stopped him.

“Shut up!”

Yan Lin stood back a bit. His hands were in his pants pockets, and he tactfully closed his mouth again.

From the poster glass frame on the elevator wall, Zu Jin saw her ears become red and realized that Yan Lin was not as serious as he seemed.

Zu Jin felt like she was very fond of this kind of exclusive joke between lovers.

If she’s embarrassed, then she should be embarrassed. Only her boyfriend knew about it anyways.

They took the elevator to the top floor. After the elevator door opened, they didn’t even take two steps out before Zu Jin saw Ji Desheng waiting by the windows close by.

Ji Desheng greeted them with a smile when he saw them coming out.

After he warmly greeted Yan Lin and shook hands with him, he looked at Zu Jin.

“Hey, Xiao Jin, how did you get up here with CEO Yan?”

Zu Jin smiled and replied, “I happened to meet Mr. Yan in front of the corporation. I met him once, but I didn’t expect him to be the CEO Yan you mentioned. This is such a coincidence.”

“Really? I can’t believe you’ve met?”

With that, Ji Desheng made a gesture for Yan Lin to walk first, and they walked towards the conference room.

Zu Jin was able to succinctly express their chance encounter during the Chamber of Commerce charity parity. She naturally hid her personal matters about how she deliberately went up to Yan Lin’s car after the party ended.

After hearing this, Ji Desheng laughed for a while, “It seems like Mr. Yan and our Qiyu Corporation were able to hit it off.”

Yan Lin responded with an aloof smile. “Perhaps our cooperation this time is close to the actual situation. Chairman Ji, why don’t we start soon?”

Ji Desheng was in his early 60s this year. His face seemed to have a healthy glow and his health was well maintained.

Ji Deshen was as enthusiastic as when Zu Jin accompanied him to some important events or to meet some big shot person.

But for Yan Lin, who reached a pinnacle status before the age of 40 and held Chloe Investments’ powers, almost no one could compare to him. If Yan Lin wasn’t interested in the project, then Ji Desheng would have never been able to get in touch with Yan Lin for his entire life.

Zu Jin secretly felt nervous in her heart as she watched Ji Desheng’s behavior when he was in front of Yan Lin.

It would have been impossible for her to sit in the position of president if it wasn’t for Ji Desheng’s care and support.

This was a type of kindness for recognizing her worth and employing her. In Zu Jin’s mind, Ji Desheng was the person that she had the most respect for.

However, she was no longer the simple and ignorant new employee that she was more than a decade ago.

She now understood very well that the most important thing between her and Ji Desheng was the reciprocity of their interests, followed by the so-called kindness.

She understood Ji Desheng very well after all of these years.

She watched Ji Desheng act sly and considerate to Yan Lin, but in fact he was being very cautious and overwhelmed by flattery.

She had a bad feeling in her heart.

She knew that once Ji Desheng knew that she was together with Yan Lin, she could guess what he would request from her.

After all, he had previously advised her out in the public for the sake of business.

Even if she didn’t want to comply.

 

The basic preparations for this R&D project had already been established because Zu Jin planned and implemented it.

Zu Jin gave a detailed presentation on the whole project, as well as follow-up investments and potential returns in profit. They only stayed in the conference room for about two hours before Yan Lin decided to cooperate with them.

Ji Desheng sprang to his feet in joy, grabbed Yan Lin’s hand and shook it for a long time before releasing it.

Following that, they signed several cooperation agreements. Although there were several important contracts that needed to be signed later, Yan Lin’s attitude meant that they would be able to announce to the world that their cooperation had officially begun.

This project would mark a change in Qiyu Corporation’s approach to high-tech industries in the future. Once the R&D project was released, Qiyu would immediately be taking a huge step on an endless staircase of possibilities.

Zu Jin was naturally very happy. Once everyone finished signing the agreement, Yan Lin didn’t stay any longer and left very quickly.

This could not be more in line with his legendary behavior of passing like thunder and moving like the wind2 as well as his low-key style.

Ji Desheng called her to the office after Yan Lin left.

“This time the board of directors can finally shut up. They will never say anything about you again, Xiao Jin. You didn’t disappoint me.”

Zu Jin sat on the sofa while honestly making tea for him. No matter what the other person said, she could only obediently listen.

Then, Ji Desheng suddenly changed the conversation as she had expected.

“Xiao Jin, I have a question I want to ask you. You can’t hide it from me.”

Zu Jin smiled and said, “Chairman Ji, you can say it.”

“Do you like Yan Lin?”

“…”

Ji Desheng was an old fox. It was apparent that she couldn’t hide anything from him.

Zu Jin looked down at the coffee table, pursed her lips and nodded her head.

“Mhm.”

Ji Desheng clapped his hands. “That’s great. He’s such a powerful man. If we can work with him, then other people will be envious of us. Additionally, I heard that he is still single. You are currently working together and your age happens to be suitable. Take advantage of this opportunity to get in touch with him more. If you feel embarrassed, then I can help you act as a middleman, and help you pass on a message.”

Zu Jin was about to break out in a cold sweat. “No, it’s not appropriate!”

“Hey! Don’t be embarrassed. Besides, you are good looking and capable. Who hasn’t praised you for being a beauty? So you don’t have to worry about whether you are worthy or not. If you are together with him, then I will recognize you as my adopted daughter and give you some shares as a dowry. Later on, us, Qiyu Corporation, can be in-laws with Chloe Investments! Hahaha!”

Zu Jin lost her patience after hearing his words. She tried to maintain the same expression on her face and poured the tea for Ji Desheng.

Afterwards, she stood up and said, “Chairman Ji, I have a lot of work waiting for me. If you have nothing else, then I’ll go back first.”

“Huh? You little girl…”

Zu Jin had been preparing for this project for more than a year.

She lost every sense of accomplishment for the project and the excitement that it was finally able to start when she returned to her office.

Ji Desheng didn’t cover up his selfish attitude of letting her pursue Yan Lin. It was like cold water splashed on a basin of burning hot coal.

Not only did the water make her feel cold all over, but it also wiped out all of the time and effort she had invested.

However, when it came to how a superior treated their employees, everything was motivated by benefits. If she led Qiyu’s advancement, then she would gain a better reputation and be rewarded generously.

She didn’t want to do it like that.

It was very late in the evening after she worked overtime again.

Zu Jin got into the car and turned her cell phone on. She saw that Yan Lin did not call her, but sent her two text messages.

The first message: Chairman Ji seems to know.

The second message: Are you off work yet?

She looked at it for a while before she called him.

“Are you done?”

“Yes, I’m driving home now. Can you come tomorrow?”

The other side chuckled, “Yes, I have more free time than you, so I’ll make a reservation tomorrow and we’ll talk about it when we meet.”

After Zu Jin hung up the phone, she collapsed wearily onto the car seat.

If there was no one else in the car, then she wanted to continue talking with Yan Lin.

But there was and she couldn’t relax, so she abandoned that thought.

Xia Tong was sitting next to her and was playing on her cell phone. When Xia Tong saw her softly sigh, she asked loudly, “Jin Jie, the project can finally start. Will you let everyone take the day off tomorrow?”

Zu Jin instantly turned her face and said, “Who wants to take the day off?”

Xia Tong was frightened and waved her hand at once, “No, no. I just spoke without thinking. Then, uh, the person you were on the phone with just now, is it the one you wanted to chase?”

Zu Jin smiled and said, “That’s right.”

“Did you catch him? Who is it?!”

“I can’t say who.”

Xia Tong immediately gave a strange cry and said bitterly, “Why are you like this?!”

“Why are you screaming like a ghost? When I can tell you, then I will of course tell you.”

“Then, you have to promise me that out of the entire corporation, you will let me be the first to know!”

Zu Jin faintly said, “Okay, you can exchange your year-end bonus for it.”

Xia Tong grinded her teeth, but suddenly smiled again a few seconds later.

“If you want to deduct my bonus, then you can! If you do it, then I will go find your husband and ask him to give me a huge red envelope as a reward! I’m your little secretary who is bullied by you every day!”

When Zu Jin heard this, she laughed so hard that she curled up.

“Yes, I’m sure he’ll agree.”

“What? Really? Then he is very generous!” Shiny gold coin symbols appeared in Xia Tong’s eyes.