Chapter 175 The Rumor
Su Meixiu nodded her head and accompanied the middle-aged woman into the house. Her nose twitched when she smelled the delicious scent of breakfast. She hadn’t eaten anything this entire morning because she was rushing to get the clothes her boss requested.
To her, Miss Yang Ruqin was a very kind woman who often forgot about the rules of hierarchy. Knowing her behavior, Su Meixiu knew she would probably be invited for breakfast.
Just then, a muffled giggle broke the silence, which was accompanied by a very familiar voice. Su Meixiu paused by the entryway of the dining hall, debating where she had heard it before.
"Miss Su?" The housekeeper called out. Was something wrong?
Su Meixiu blinked before stiffly smiling. "Sorry." She said, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ears. That laugh, it did not belong to Yang Ruqin.
The housekeeper was puzzled by her behavior. She was usually well-rounded and poised, always on high-alert. It was very unlikely of her to behave so dazed and confused, but she figured it might’ve been because the young woman hadn’t had breakfast yet.
"You can open the door now." Su Meixiu confidently strolled towards the door as if she owned this place
The housekeeper did not comment about her behavior, for she was used to it. Su Meixiu was one of the rare women who had the rare opportunity to enter his home.
The housekeeper knocked on the door and when she heard a reply, she pushed it open. It revealed an enormous dining room with ceiling-high windows overlooking the city, modern and abstract lighting, and a white granite table in the center of the room.
But these were not the first thing that caught Su Meixiu’s eye. It was the woman sitting at the head of the table, the spot where Yang Feng should’ve sat.
Su Meixiu was astonished. Her lips were parted open in shock when she saw who it was. It was the same woman she spotted in President Yang’s office a while back.
She had recently heard of a dating scandal between her boss and the infamous socialite, Zhao Lifei. She thought it was just baseless rumors caused by the media companies courting death...but seeing her sitting there, in the same spot her boss should’ve occupied, Su Meixiu was at a loss for words. She did not know the woman in his boss’ office previously was the same Zhao Lifei whose name was tainted with a horrendous reputation.
How could such a shameless and thick-faced woman climb into her boss’ bed like this...
Zhao Lifei’s smile wavered when she saw Su Meixiu’s scrutinizing stares. She remembered what her grandfather said about Su Meixiu’s nickname in the company, "Future Madam Yang."
Su Meixiu hurriedly fixed her composure when she saw Yang Feng’s warning glare. "Good morning President Yang and Miss Zhao." She bowed her head in acknowledgment towards Yang Feng’s direction, but did not bother to do the same to Zhao Lifei.
"President Yang, these were the clothes you asked me to purchase—"
"Where are your manners?" Yang Feng was not the one to let a disrespectful behavior slide, especially when it came from the very employee he took under his wings and personally trained to become one of the best secretaries around.
Su Meixiu blinked, her smile dropped the slightest bit. Her eyes surveyed her boss’ blank expression. She saw the anger burning bright in his eyes, scalding her with his glare.
"P-pardon?"
When his gaze became darker and a shadow covered his face, she trembled, her blood running cold. Even though it was bright and sunny outside, inside this room, it felt as if she was suffering a storm filled with crackling thunder. She gulped, swallowing hard, and racking her brain for where she went wrong.
Was it because she did not bow her head towards Zhao Lifei? But why...? That woman was not her superior or boss, why should she greet her?
Nonetheless, Su Meixiu swallowed her pride and offered Zhao Lifei a beaming smile. "I apologize, Miss Zhao, I seem to have forgotten to greet you." She bowed her head in a courteous manner.
"It’s Mrs. Yang from now on." Yang Feng spoke up, his response startling both women in the room.
Zhao Lifei nearly choked on her tea whereas Su Meixiu looked as if someone had punched her stomach and slapped her.
"Yang Feng—"
"President Yang—"
Both women spoke up at the same time, but Su Meixiu was the one to continue. "I don’t think Madam and Master Yang would approve of this—"
BAM!
She jumped in fear, her eyes wide in horror when he slammed his hands onto the table, the loud bang sounding like a gunshot. Her body shivered when his gaze became so murderous, she was sure today was her death day. "I-I-I’m sorry—"
"It seems I’ve been too lenient with you." Yang Feng did not raise his voice. It was as soft as a whisper, but that was all he needed to have Su Meixiu groveling for forgiveness.
"I’m really sorry, President Yang, it was an honest mistake. I won’t do it again." She quickly bent forward in a deep bow, her palms growing clammy.
Damn it! She cursed herself for panicking so quickly. There were so many women hanging around her boss in the past and a few even succeeded in entering his office, but none of them had ever made her feel this threatened of her position.
Zhao Lifei did not like the secretary since the day she interrupted her in the office and she still did not like her even now. However, she swallowed her pride and ego for Yang Feng’s sake.
This secretary, no matter how much both women despised each other, Zhao Lifei found out she was very competent and someone valuable to his company. She, on the other hand, was just a source of happiness for him. She had no right to interfere in his business life.
"Pardon her. I wasn’t offended." Zhao Lifei said, a relaxed expression on her face when she took a slow sip of her tea, giving off the appearance of a wealthy aristocrat from the European era. With her long lashes, naturally wavy hair, and slender fingers holding the teacup in a perfect position, she looked untouchable and unbothered by Su Meixiu. The sunshine streaming through the window added an ethereal glow to her small frame.
Su Meixiu’s left eye twitched at her words, but she was smart enough to keep her anger in check. "Thank you so much, Miss..." She cleared her throat. "...Mrs. Yang."
Fine. She would acknowledge her now, only because Yang Feng was in the room.
Yang Feng looked over to his woman’s expression, so beautifully serene, she looked like a spoiled princess. He reached over and cupped her cheek, rubbing his thumb on her milky white skin, smooth as silk, soft as velvet.
She was angry. He could see it in her eyes. When the entire world admired her beauty, he would be the first to see her emotions.
When her eyes, lighter than most women he had ever encountered, lifted to his, a hurricane was brewing within it.
He worked fast to amend her anger. "What’s wrong?" He asked her, his voice quiet enough where only she heard him.
Zhao Lifei debated the idea of being petty. She was that by nature, a behavior inherited from her grandfather. She settled down the teacup and quietly said, "The rumor."
Without another word, she picked up her spoon and continued eating, her indifferent expression confusing him.