After Divorce: Pursued by Cohabiting Boss

Chapter 24

Li Zhen's breath stopped abruptly.

The time she felt embarrassed and awkward actually lasted only a second.

But that one second felt like a year of being fried in a pan.

Her peripheral vision happened to fall on Lu Yanming.

He sat beside Wang Peng, dressed in a suit and tie, his eyes indifferent behind the golden-rimmed glasses, staring at her...and the pink envelope in his hand.

His expression still had the same clarity and elegance as before.

However, in the blink of an eye, she suddenly realized that Lu Yanming seemed displeased.

She became even more flustered, hastily stuffing the envelope into the small pocket behind her pencil skirt. Her black-and-white eyes blinked as she stammered, "Um...that...uh..."

Everyone: ?

Yu Sheng calmly looked at her with a serene gaze, quietly waiting for her to speak.

Li Zhen nervously swallowed her saliva. "Um...Mr. Yu, I'll go have lunch first. I have some work matters to attend to. I'll talk to you later."

After speaking, Li Zhen didn't dare to look at anyone, turning around to leave.

But just as she reached the door, it opened in front of her.

The head chef of the staff canteen came in carrying several lunch boxes. "Xiao Li, you're going to the staff canteen this late? There's no more food left."

Li Zhen forced a laugh. "It's fine, it's fine. I'll order takeout."

Did she want lunch?

What she wanted was an excuse to leave!

"But won't you have to wait for an hour?" the head chef complained, placing the lunch boxes on the coffee table. "Leaders, please enjoy."

"Li Zhen..."

Li Zhen had just taken half a step out when she heard Yu Sheng calling her.

Li Zhen inwardly sighed. Why did he have to call her? Was he afraid that others wouldn't know about their past relationship?

She pretended not to hear and continued walking out.

But she was abruptly pulled back by the head chef who was about to leave. "The leader is calling you, Xiao Li."

Li Zhen wanted to ignore him, but the head chef, who was used to stirring pots, had a strong grip and forcibly dragged her back into the office.

After the head chef left, he considerately closed the door.

Li Zhen: ...

"Mr. Yu." Li Zhen obediently turned around, forcing a smile on her face that looked more like a cry. She didn't dare to lift her head, afraid that she wouldn't be able to maintain her expression.

She also didn't dare to look at the others present.

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"I'm not hungry. Come and eat my portion," Yu Sheng commanded without any room for refusal.

"Mr. Yu, you're still in a meeting. It's not appropriate..." Wang Peng, as the leader, was always lenient towards the staff. "It's fine, Mr. Yu shouldn't waste the food. Come in."

"And you, come over here," Yu Sheng said, looking at her.

Li Zhen knew Yu Sheng's temperament. If she said "no" at this moment, it would be useless.

Just eat!

If he didn't eat, it would be best if he starved!

One of the marketing managers sitting beside Yu Sheng had sharp eyes. He immediately stood up and gave up his seat. "Li Zhen, come, sit here."

Li Zhen was surprised. "Do you know me?"

The marketing manager smiled and said, "Everyone in our marketing department knows you."

Li Zhen: ...

Why did she ask that?

Sometimes, Yu Sheng would treat her with a bit more care than others, disregarding the occasion. The people in the marketing department were all astute, so naturally, they knew about it.

Li Zhen sat down next to Yu Sheng.

He opened the lunch box for her and placed it in front of her, his tone as indifferent as when he dealt with others. "If you have something, eat first. Remember it for next time."

A few marketing managers exchanged glances, their gossip fires burning brightly.

Li Zhen nodded silently, preparing to quickly finish her meal and leave in silence.

Wang Peng also opened his lunchbox and said, "Let's all eat. We'll continue after we finish."

Everyone bowed their heads and ate.

"This female colleague looks somewhat familiar," Wang Peng glanced at Li Zhen and then looked at Lu Yanming. "Hey, Yanming, why aren't you eating?"

"Not hungry," Lu Yanming replied simply. He leaned back his tall figure and casually reminded, "Wang, you forgot that on my first day in office, she fell into my arms."

Wang Peng suddenly realized, "Oh, I remember now."

"Cough!" Li Zhen, who was eating, choked on her food.

"Take it slow, no need to rush," Yu Sheng raised his hand and patted her back.

Yu Sheng stood up and walked to the water dispenser, took a cup, and his dark eyes carried a faint hint of coldness. "Mr. Lu, she only leaned on your arm, it doesn't count as falling into your arms, right?"

"Is that so? It's been a long time, I can't remember clearly. But Mr. Yu, you seem to remember this female colleague's matter quite well," Lu Yanming's ambiguous gaze fell on Li Zhen.

Li Zhen, who was eating with her head lowered, felt the weight of his gaze as if it were tangible and heavy.

Her head was pressed even lower.

Was he angry about what happened this morning?

It felt like he was deliberately picking on her.

"Be careful, it's hot. Take small sips," Yu Sheng took the water and placed it in front of her, then sat down. The genuine leather sofa slightly sank. "Mr. Lu may not know, Li Zhen and I were classmates in university, so our relationship is similar to that of friends, a bit closer than others."

"Just classmates? That's good then, as long as boundaries are not crossed," Lu Yanming smiled lightly.

Yu Sheng crossed his legs, his gaze directly facing the past. "Mr. Lu, with your countless responsibilities, there's no need to be concerned about my personal affairs."

"It's not that I'm concerned, but I remember that there's a rule in the Southwest Headquarters that prohibits office romances, right?" Lu Yanming continued to smile lightly, his warm and deep voice clean and low. "Getting too close in the company could easily lead to misunderstandings."

"Cough..." Li Zhen was once again choked by the water.

Lu Yanming was like a thief crying "catch the thief"!

She merely came to find Yu Sheng and he started speculating about her and Yu Sheng, talking about her in a derogatory manner in front of Wang Peng.

Fortunately, she had the foresight and didn't let him know that she went to the Song family with Yu Sheng last night.

The managers in the marketing department discreetly exchanged glances, sensing an unusual atmosphere.

They couldn't tell if it emanated from Mr. Lu or Mr. Yu.

Yu Sheng's gaze darkened. "Just by having a meeting in the company, people can get the wrong idea? Does Honghai need to learn from the Song Dynasty and emphasize strict separation of men and women?"

The managers in the marketing department tensed up.

If it were someone else, who would dare to criticize the company in front of the CEO and the vice president?

Only their boss could be so bold.

"Now that Mr. Yu is so forthright, why don't this female colleague speak up and tell us why she came to see Mr. Yu today?" Lu Yanming glanced lightly at the person who was frantically finishing her food.

He said his piece, Li Zhen pretended not to hear, and as soon as she finished the last few bites, she could leave.

Yu Sheng's expression had already turned so dark that water could drip from it.

This new vice president was indeed not easy to get along with.

Li Zhen remained silent, and the atmosphere instantly froze.

Wang Peng was enjoying his meal when he suddenly felt a moment of silence around him. He looked up and everything seemed normal.

He continued eating without being as vigilant as he would be at a dinner table.

Li Zhen ignored it, while Lu Yanming's lips curved slightly, his expression as gentle and noble as ever. It seemed like he was making a serious suggestion, "This female colleague seems to have a problem with her ears. When Honghai recruits new employees next year, let's include an ear, nose, and throat examination."

Lu Yanming, this man! He had a peculiar temperament!

How could anyone bear it!

Li Zhen raised her head and placed her chopsticks on the table with a "snap." "Mr. Lu, first of all, my name is Li Zhen, not 'this female colleague' or 'that female colleague'."

He's pretending not to know her.

If her name wasn't on his household register, she would have believed it!

Didn't he see with his blind eyes!

He should go get his ears, nose, throat, and even his eyes checked!

"Secondly, during my lunch break, I can socialize with my colleagues without breaking any laws. Mr. Lu, do you want to know more? I'm sorry, but I'm not willing to tell you!" Li Zhen's lips were vibrant, every word she uttered was sharp.

"I'm done eating. Sorry for the interruption, everyone." Li Zhen finished speaking and stood up in anger.

The managers in the marketing department looked at Li Zhen's departing figure, exchanging glances with each other.

Yu Sheng glanced at Lu Yanming, then coldly withdrew his gaze.

He didn't really care if Li Zhen was angry today.

On the contrary, he subconsciously hoped that Li Zhen and the new vice president wouldn't get along.

Li Zhen waited for the elevator, feeling furious about the way Lu Yanming deliberately made things difficult for her.

His genes weren't good enough!

He was too petty.

Although she had spent the past couple of days spreading rumors about him being inadequate, fabricating a serious illness, and even saying he was close to death...

Um...

She might have gone a little too far.

But it wasn't intentional!

She had her reasons!

And yet, he embarrassingly made things difficult for her in front of their superiors.

The elevator doors opened.

Li Zhen was about to step inside when someone pulled her into the nearby stairwell.

Li Zhen recognized the person and became even angrier, "Mr. Lu, didn't you have enough fun in the office just now?"

The stairwell had small windows, and the lighting was dim.

Dim rays of light seeped in, falling on Lu Yanming, who was leaning against the fire door.

He closed the door, walked towards her, his steps steady and unhurried, his broad shoulders straight.

When he wasn't speaking, he exuded an air of coldness that added to his usual gentleness.

Li Zhen involuntarily became nervous, "Alright, alright. I did some unfriendly things to you these past few days. Let's call it even for what happened just now. Don't be angry anymore."

She secretly glanced at Lu Yanming and noticed that something was off about his expression.

Could it be that he didn't unleash his wrath earlier and was waiting for a moment when no one was around to scold her?

Lu Yanming approached her, slightly bent down, and buried his head in the crook of her neck. His deep voice carried a hint of weariness, "I'm sorry."

Li Zhen froze in place.

He broke the rules, why isn't he getting angry?

After just a second, Lu Yanming raised his head and gently lifted Li Zhen's chin, kissing her lips.

The movement was gentle, almost reverent.

Dominant yet tender.

At this moment, it was the end of the lunch break, and the corridor outside the fire door was filled with the lively sound of colleagues chatting.

Behind the fire door, Li Zhen's heart pounded loudly, the sound overwhelming her ears.

In the embrace of Lu Yanming, she felt her body go weak.

Li Zhen thought to herself, "Goodness, this man knows how to charm a person!"