Jiang Youwan bit her inner lip. The shame of having her secret exposed made her feel utterly mortified and embarrassed.

Xiao Jin was over the line, but since it was directed at her, she felt she could handle it.

She could endure it, accept it, even morbidly enjoy it.

Look at us, she thought, so inti.mate, right here in my conference room.

Without her glasses to separate them, their closeness felt even more intense. If Xiao Jin didn't release her soon, she wouldn't be able to resist any longer.

Forcing a casual smile, Jiang Youwan said, "Xiao Jin, weren't you going to eat in my office? What do you want? How about Pork stir-fried with onions?"

Pork stir-fried with onions had always been Jiang Jinyi's favorite.

Jiang Jinyi released her, stepping back two paces, her eyes filled with disdain. "Don't call me that name."

Her body felt lighter without the restraint, yet she also felt a sense of loss. Having the right to call her by her nickname stripped away, Jiang Youwan's voice grew softer. "Do you remember the way out? Let Secretary Lin take you. I still have some business to attend to."

Jiang Jinyi raised an eyebrow. "What business?"

"I'm meeting President Su of Su Corporation to discuss a collaboration." Jiang Youwan admitted openly, knowing what Jiang Jinyi wanted to say. "Xiao Jin, you know the company needs to keep running."

Jiang Jinyi, unfamiliar with the business world, didn't recognize the name "President Su of Su Corporation." She stared at Jiang Youwan, her thoughts hidden behind her eyes, before turning and leaving after a long moment.

Jiang Jinyi pushed open the conference room door first. An assistant rushed forward, bowing respectfully. "Second Miss, please follow me."

Jiang Jinyi was gone, but the scent of hyacinth still lingered in the conference room air. Jiang Youwan stood still, leaning against the table. After a moment, she raised her hand to adjust her collar, only to find that Xiao Jin had torn off a button, leaving the neckline open and revealing a glimpse of her delicate collarbone.

Secretary Lin entered. "President Jiang, President Su is already waiting." The secretary's gaze inadvertently drifted to Jiang Youwan's neck, and she paused before remarking, "President Jiang, there seems to be a red mark on your neck. Should I apply some ointment?"

A red mark?

Jiang Youwan frowned. Secretary Lin took out a mirror and handed it to her. A conspicuous red mark was indeed imprinted on the side of her fair, swan-like neck—it was from Xiao Jin just now...

"No ointment needed."

She gently traced her fingertip across the mark, as if caressing a precious jewel. The faint hyacinth scent still seemed to linger in the air.

Jiang Youwan's expression softened, filled with deep affection. It was a gift from Xiao Jin, and whether good or bad, she wanted to preserve it for as long as possible.

---

Jiang Jinyi was taken to Jiang Youwan's office, a spacious and minimalist space exuding a cold, ascetic aura.

Ascetic?

Only on the surface, Jiang Jinyi thought. Who would ever guess she's the type to blush even when humiliated?

Jiang Jinyi brazenly sat in Jiang Youwan's chair. The desk was piled high with documents, all seemingly work-related. The only sign of life in the room was a succulent plant sitting near the edge of the desk.

This succulent...

Jiang Jinyi frowned, lost in a memory. She remembered that she had given it to her.

Back then, when Jiang Jinyi was still in her final year of high school and their relationship hadn't yet soured, Jiang Youwan would often pick her up from school. Since the company was much closer to the school than their home, and lunch breaks were short, Jiang Youwan would bring Jiang Jinyi to her office to rest.

It was Jiang Jinyi who had complained about the office being too stifling and lifeless, so she brought in a succulent she had been growing at home.

She never imagined Jiang Youwan would keep it all these years.

Why? Was she too lazy to remove it? Or did she simply not notice it? But this succulent is clearly well-cared for.

Jiang Jinyi pulled herself out of her thoughts. Her mission here was to search Jiang Youwan's computer while she was away, hoping to uncover her secrets.

But the computer was password-protected.

What could Jiang Youwan's password be?

Jiang Jinyi narrowed her eyes in thought, then tried her birthday. It was incorrect.

She tried a few other likely combinations, but none worked.

Ten minutes had already passed since she arrived. She didn't know when Jiang Youwan would return. In desperation, she randomly entered her own birthday and clicked, not expecting anything. To her surprise, the computer unlocked.

A wave of astonishment washed over Jiang Jinyi.

Why?

Before she could dwell on the question, she quickly scanned the computer, opening various files. After reviewing half of them without finding anything of interest, the office door suddenly opened from the outside. Jiang Jinyi froze, looking up at the entrance.

Jiang Youwan stood in the doorway.

Jiang Youwan entered carrying a bag of what appeared to be food. She showed no surprise or anger at seeing Jiang Jinyi at her computer, but smiled warmly as she walked in. Clearing a space on the desk, she placed the food down and slowly unwrapped it. As expected, the dishes were all Jiang Jinyi's favorites.

"Eat first, then you can look at the computer, okay?" Jiang Youwan said softly, her eyes fixed on Jiang Jinyi.

The aroma of the food stimulated Jiang Jinyi's taste buds. She swallowed, looked up, and asked, "You're not surprised I opened your computer?"

Leaning against the desk, Jiang Youwan smiled. "Xiao Jin has always been clever. Why would I be surprised?"

She's unnervingly calm, Jiang Jinyi thought, frowning. If there really was something on this computer, could she still be this composed?

Sensing her doubt, Jiang Youwan gently nudged the food closer. "It'll get cold if you don't eat soon."

Jiang Jinyi forced a smile. "I can't possibly eat all this. Why don't you join me?"

Jiang Youwan sighed. "Is Xiao Jin worried that I poisoned the food?"

"Of course I'm afraid," Jiang Jinyi said, her gaze icy and mocking. "You're a venomous ingrate who ki.lled my mother. Who knows if you'd eliminate me too to eliminate any future threats?"

Perhaps accustomed to such accusations, Jiang Youwan remained unfazed. She chuckled, "If I wanted to harm Xiao Jin, I certainly wouldn't choose the office or use such a clumsy method. This is a society governed by law, after all."

With that, she leaned down, scooped up a spoonful of broth, and brought it to her lips. After savoring the taste, she commented, "It's very fresh, and the temperature is just right."

"It won't taste as good if you wait too long." Jiang Jinyi retorted.

Jiang Jinyi felt a surge of disgust and had no desire to eat anything from her. Suddenly, a knock came at the door. Jiang Youwan called out, "Come in," and a male employee entered, carrying a stack of documents.

He was dressed in professional attire, his fair skin delicate and translucent, his features hinting at a certain fragility. Light makeup adorned his face, making it clear he was a male Omega.

This was Ji Yu, a designer who had recently been transferred to headquarters.

Jiang Jinyi paid him little attention, but Ji Yu froze at the sight before him.

Visibly, a look of distress appeared on his face.

Jiang Youwan tilted her head, frowning. "What is it?" she asked, her voice and expression turning cold, a stark contrast to her earlier tenderness.

Ji Yu felt even more miserable. He bit his lip, his eyes rimming with red, as if tears were about to spill. His voice was barely a whisper: "President Jiang, these... these are my latest design drafts. I just... wanted you to take a look..."

"Leave them there." Jiang Youwan said curtly.

"Okay..." Ji Yu lowered his head and walked over to place the drafts on the desk. He stole a quick glance at Jiang Jinyi, his eyes filled with a mix of resentment and jealousy. Without another word, he slipped out of the office.

Jiang Jinyi: ???

Jiang Jinyi was baffled, sensing something strange about the exchange. But she didn't dwell on it; she had no interest in Jiang Youwan's personal affairs.

"I'd rather starve than eat anything you offer. I can't stomach it." Jiang Jinyi threw down this disgusted remark and left Jiang Youwan's office.

Jiang Youwan was left standing there, staring at the food Jiang Jinyi hadn't touched. Her eyes were clouded. After a long moment, she let out a self-mocking sigh.

---

After leaving the office, Jiang Jinyi found a restaurant near Jiang Corporation that she used to enjoy and ordered two dishes.

She was actually quite hungry, but she refused to eat anything prepared by that venomous woman, Jiang Youwan.

While waiting for her food, she leaned back in her chair, lost in thought. Suddenly, she heard sobbing from the next table. She glanced over casually and raised an eyebrow in surprise.

The person crying was the male Omega who had delivered blueprints to Jiang Youwan's office earlier. He was wiping away tears as a friend comforted him.

Intrigued, Jiang Jinyi eavesdropped.

"Don't be so sad," the friend said to Ji Yu. "They haven't gone public yet, right? You still have a chance! Didn't you say President Jiang has been treating you well?"

Ji Yu shook his head, crying even harder. "It's almost certain," he choked out. "That woman took President Jiang's private elevator and drove her car. President Jiang even let her eat at her desk! You should have seen how tenderly she looked at her—her eyes turned cold the moment she saw me. Even if they're not together yet, President Jiang definitely likes her."

His resentment flared anew. "How could I lose to a woman? President Jiang clearly doesn't appreciate men. Male Omegas are far more alluring than female Omegas, you know!"

Her friends quickly chimed in, agreeing with him.

Jiang Jinyi, however, was stunned.

She could tell that the man was referring to her as the person Jiang Youwan liked.

Jiang Youwan likes someone...

Likes?

Jiang Jinyi's mind reeled. The man's words seemed to break a seal, forcing her to consider the incredible possibility.

Jiang Youwan likes me?

Setting her computer password to Jiang Jinyi's birthday, meticulously caring for the succulents Jiang Jinyi had given her for four or five years, and four years ago, picking her up from school every day, rain or shine, nearly losing her life to save Jiang Jinyi and exposing her own identity in the process.

Her boundless indulgence, accepting all of Jiang Jinyi's bad temper, and always treating her with gentle tenderness.

Each instance, each detail, was a piece of evidence that Jiang Youwan liked her.

---

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