"Sorry, Miss Ding, the president really has a meeting... Please go back first. After the meeting, the president will contact you…" Ke Jie tried hard to stop her but dared not be too blunt; after all, she was the future president's fiancée, so he kept explaining softly.
"Yi… Yi, it's me, I'm looking for you…" Stretching her neck as far as possible, Ding Jia spotted Kong Chengyi in a sharp suit stepping out of the office and happily shouted.
She knew Kong Chengyi would see her—he wouldn't bear to let her be so upset or leave her outside.
Looking up at Ding Jia's swollen, red eyes, Kong Chengyi quickly averted his gaze and headed toward the conference room at the corridor's end.
"Yi… I'm here, it's me…" Her brief happiness shattered as tears overflowed. Biting her lip, she yelled, disbelieving his ignoring her.
Watching Kong Chengyi's resolute retreat, Ke Jie dared not risk letting Ding Jia get closer. He blocked her firmly while continuing to gently persuade, "Miss Ding, please go back. The president really has a meeting. You know he dislikes being disturbed during meetings. Shouting like this will attract attention from other staff and make the president more unhappy!"
The tall figure disappeared at the corridor's end and entered the conference room. Ding Jia sagged, biting her lip to stop herself from yelling or sobbing.
"Sorry, Miss Ding, please go back. Or if you wish, you can wait in the conference room, but I don't think it will end for several hours!" Clearly, Kong Chengyi would be a fierce lion today, ready to rip into the managers.
Ke Jie glanced down at his watch, sweat beading on his forehead as he called to a nearby secretary, "Take Miss Ding to the reception room to rest!" Then turning to Ding Jia, he explained, "Sorry, I have to attend the meeting—I'm already late!" He had no desire to be the first scapegoat under Kong Chengyi's wrath.
Suddenly summoned back to a company meeting, all the managers were nervous. Especially with Ding Jia's shouting audible even through the thick conference room walls, everyone's heart pounded. Clearly, today's president was far from cheerful. Whenever he was displeased, he meticulously dug into each manager's faults, resulting in long overtime or even removal from the group.
With a cold face, Kong Chengyi's sharp eyes swept over the managers sitting stiffly. Raising his chin, he sneered, "Department project updates!"
Ke Jie pushed open the door and watched the trembling sales manager stand and slowly report. He swallowed nervously, pushing back his chair and quickly taking notes on his laptop.
The meeting lasted until 3 PM. No one ate a bite all afternoon, and no one dared to change posture.
"That's all for today. Based on the summary, each department must submit a feasibility report. I want to see the reports by 9 AM tomorrow!" The long meeting didn't wear Kong Chengyi down in the slightest; his sharp gaze remained like at the start, turning his subordinates pale with fear.
Ke Jie was the first to leave, peeking down the corridor to confirm Ding Jia was gone before silently guessing if she had finally left.
Pulling his tie slightly, Kong Chengyi headed straight for the elevator. "I won't come back this afternoon. Cancel tonight's social engagements!" Standing in the bright corridor, he rubbed his forehead slightly, then entered the elevator without asking about Ding Jia.
Carrying a notebook and meeting materials, Ke Jie breathed a sigh of relief after Kong Chengyi left, quietly planning to return to the president's office and organize the meeting documents.
"Yi…" Hearing the door open, Ding Jia suddenly stood up abruptly; her previously bright smile vanished.
"Uh… Miss Ding!" Ke Jie was startled, nearly dropping his laptop.
"Is the meeting over? Where's Chengyi?" Looking past Ke Jie, Ding Jia eagerly hoped Kong Chengyi would appear in the office at any moment.
"The president…" Ke Jie glanced at the barely touched food on the table and swallowed the words in his mouth. Noticing Ding Jia waiting all this time without eating lunch…
"He's still in the meeting? I'll go find him!" Grabbing her bag, Ding Jia wavered slightly from weakness due to lack of food and walked unevenly past Ke Jie.
No matter what, she must see Kong Chengyi; she could never lose him.
"The president has already left the company—won't be back this afternoon!" Watching Ding Jia leave, Ke Jie finally blurted the harsh truth. "Miss Ding, please go back. You won't see the president today!" What on earth had happened between these two newly engaged people that they wouldn't even say a word to each other? Ke Jie furrowed his brow, wondering about their situation.
"What? Left the company? Impossible! How could he leave me behind?" Turning suddenly, she glared at Ke Jie, refusing to believe it. She stepped forward like an arrow standing before him. "Are you lying? Ke Jie, I'm his fiancée, your future boss's wife. I warn you—don't lie!"
Left? She'd been waiting since morning, desperately hoping for him. How could he just leave like that? Was he really refusing even to see or speak to her?
"Miss Ding, I'm not lying. The meeting ended and the president left immediately!" Never seeing Ding Jia so fierce, Ke Jie's sympathy vanished, and suddenly he felt the woman before him was scary.
Staring hard at Ke Jie, tears misted her eyes. She bit her lip silently. When Ke Jie was about to continue persuading her, she turned and rushed out hurriedly.
"Miss Ding…" Ke Jie ran after her anxiously, worried something might happen. He called after her as she jogged toward the conference room and whispered sharply to a doubtful secretary, "Pretend you didn't hear. Don't talk nonsense!" Any scandal involving Kong Chengyi spread wildly. If the media caught wind, they would fabricate all sorts of stories.
Pushing open the heavy wooden door, the bright, huge conference room was empty and silent. Ding Jia gripped the door handle miserably, unable to believe such a cruel truth.
"Miss Ding, I really didn't lie!" Ke Jie chased after her, repeatedly stressing the facts and pondering how to get her to leave.
"He's gone—really gone?" She seemed to question herself and confirm with Ke Jie. Her hand held the door frame tightly until blue veins showed. Lowering her head in silence for a few seconds, Ding Jia then looked up and gave a faint, sorrowful smile. "I'll wait for him in the reception room. If I don't see him today, then tomorrow. If not tomorrow, then the day after. I'll just keep waiting. Tell him if he doesn't see me, I won't leave the company!"
Rapidly assessing her situation, Ding Jia adjusted her mood. She silently told herself not to rush, not to simply think a face-to-face explanation would solve everything. Since he ignored her pleas, she wouldn't cry or make scenes; she would just endure until he cared enough. Even if she collapsed in his company, she would bear it.
"But, Miss Ding, waiting like this is no solution. Why don't you come back tomorrow? You should go home and rest." Ke Jie knew about Ding Jia's physical condition—she couldn't keep it up, especially in her fragile mental state. If anything happened, he couldn't take responsibility.
"I'll wait for him!" Letting go of the door frame decisively, holding her bag tightly with both hands, Ding Jia took a deep breath and went to the reception room alone.
Watching her skinny figure, Ke Jie wiped his forehead, palms sweaty. He silently cursed himself for how to report this to Kong Chengyi and how to handle Ding Jia next.
Escaping the company's stifling and oppressive atmosphere, Kong Chengyi drove straight to Ran Fang's office.
"President Ran, Young Master Kong is in your office!"
After lunch entertaining clients, Ran Fang had just arrived on her floor when her secretary hurried over with news of Kong Chengyi's arrival, hesitating as if to say more.
"He's here? When did he arrive?" Pausing in his tracks, Ran Fang raised an eyebrow. Workaholic Kong Chengyi actually skipped work during office hours to come here? What happened?
"Just arrived, less than twenty minutes ago. But as soon as he got here… he opened your most treasured bottle of vintage liquor!" Just as she left to pour coffee, Kong Chengyi had gone straight to open the bottle Ran Fang cherished but never drank. Her heart skipped a beat, worried she might get fired.
"What? Opened my liquor in broad daylight?" The over 100-year-old wine, now gone midday? Ran Fang quickly marched into the office, cursing silently.
"My wine!" She pushed open the door and sure enough found Kong Chengyi sitting relaxed with legs crossed, sipping leisurely. Ran Fang rushed over and snatched the half-emptied bottle close to her chest. "You've wasted this fine wine!" After twenty minutes, he drained over half the bottle—as if treating it like plain water!
Casually swinging his long legs, leaning back comfortably on the sofa, Kong Chengyi gently swirled his glass and glanced at Ran Fang, looking disdainfully at her frantic noise.
"What happened? Drinking wine during work hours?" Irritated, she scratched her head and took a swig from the bottle, the rich flavor filling her throat instantly.
"Drinking!" Raising his glass, Kong Chengyi downed the remaining wine in one gulp. "You choose it—pick the best from your stash!"