Zhou Zhou: "..."
Zhou Zhou: "President Fu?"
Fu Hengzhi: "Hmm."
The CEO gave a response, and Zhou Zhou nervously gripped the bedsheet, forcing a smile as she asked again, "Could you please give me an answer to the question from earlier?"
The two were locked in a stalemate when Fu Hengzhi took a step forward, at which point he was less than half a meter away from Zhou Zhou.
No, this is not a safe distance!
Zhou Zhou was shocked and shrank back towards the headboard, supporting herself with her hands, watching Fu Hengzhi warily, wary of his next move.
There was no further development of any strange trend. Fu Hengzhi simply smoothed out the sheet that Zhou Zhou had crumpled, sat on the edge of the bed, and nodded.
"I have already replied to the question."
"..." Zhou Zhou finally understood.
So, did that "hmm" just now mean "yes"?
Zhou Zhou forced a smile and said, "Our marriage is a marriage of convenience."
Fu Hengzhi: "That's because we didn't have an emotional foundation at the time, and neither of us accepted the other."
Zhou Zhou: "..."
Zhou Zhou raised an eyebrow. "Do we even have a foundation of affection now?" Don't talk nonsense. My feelings for you are genuine socialist brotherhood.
Fu Hengzhi lowered his eyes, "I have one, we can be together."
Zhou Zhou: "?" What kind of domineering CEO talk is this?
The atmosphere inside was quiet. Zhou Zhou's mind was a complete mess. All he could hear was the soft breathing of the two people beside him, which made his inner turmoil all the more apparent.
Fu Hengzhi stopped there, looked up at the other person, hoping that the other person would take over the conversation.
This was quite sudden. Zhou Zhou was so anxious that she scratched her head and asked, puzzled, "What do you like about me?"
Let's see if I can still change it.
"Hmm." Fu Hengzhi pondered for a moment, "I don't have insomnia when I sleep with you." This is the most obvious and direct evidence at present.
"...So I'm just a tool?" Zhou Zhou was stunned, as if struck by lightning. What kind of reason was that?
Fu Hengzhi shook his head. "Compared to before, I've been going home more often because Aunt Feng told me that you'd feel resentful if you were left alone at home."
Zhou Zhou: "?" No, no, he firmly believed that neither he nor the original owner had any complaints about Fu Hengzhi staying at the company instead of going home; in fact, they were quite pleased.
“At first, I just wanted to maintain a harmonious relationship with you. Going home was only to show Aunt Feng that I was fulfilling my duties as a husband, and I didn’t want her to always worry about us,” Fu Hengzhi continued. “But later I realized it wasn’t just about fulfilling my duties. I started to look forward to going home because…”
At this point, Fu Hengzhi stopped, a deep emotion appearing on his handsome face, his eyes surging with emotion, like waves trying to engulf Zhou Zhou.
Zhou Zhou was lost in thought, and then added blankly, "Because I'm at home?"
He suddenly realized what he'd just said, and his jaw nearly dropped in shock. Beauty had misled him! Had he just said something strange?
Fu Hengzhi simply hummed in response.
The atmosphere gradually became romantic. What kind of cheesy plot is this? A domineering CEO falls in love with me?
Zhou Zhou waved away the strange atmosphere, her voice firm and resolute, "President Fu, we are not a good match."
Fu Hengzhi: "What's inappropriate?"
"Gender." Zhou Zhou said decisively, "You're a good person, handsome and with a great figure, but I'm straight. I like women with shapely figures."
“You’re lying.” Fu Hengzhi lowered his eyes and frowned. “I investigated you before the wedding, and you’ve never been in a relationship.”
“?” Damn it, even though he knew the other party was referring to the original owner of this body, Zhou Zhou still felt offended.
Zhou Zhou retorted angrily, "You've never been in a relationship, so how do you know you're gay?"
Fu Hengzhi said matter-of-factly, "It has nothing to do with that. Orientation has nothing to do with gender. Right now, I only like you."
"..." Zhou Zhou was caught off guard by the sudden confession.
After a long silence, feeling her cheeks burning, Zhou Zhou covered her face and coughed twice, her tone slightly gentler than before, "I can't accept you right now."
As soon as he finished speaking, Fu Hengzhi's mood visibly dropped.
Zhou Zhou looked at the other person's near-perfect appearance and sighed. Wouldn't it be better to have someone like that girl?
Zhou Zhou wanted to go over and pat the other person on the shoulder to comfort them, but then she remembered that what had just happened made their relationship a little awkward.
He had no choice but to secretly retract his outstretched hand to his side.
Fu Hengzhi noticed his subtle movements, looked up and gazed into the other's eyes, his heart filled with mixed emotions, but he quickly composed himself with strong mental fortitude, and said, "I understand."
"Good to know." Zhou Zhou visibly breathed a sigh of relief, glanced at her phone, and said with a sigh, "Time flies. Are you going to the company now?"
Fu Hengzhi glanced at his watch and hummed in agreement.
"Take care on your journey and keep up the good work," Zhou Zhou smiled. "If it's convenient, could you please bring my laptop next time you come?"
The language was too formal and made the speaker seem distant.
Fu Hengzhi's mood visibly soured. Usually, when the domineering CEO was in a bad mood, he would slam the door as he left, but today he closed the door unusually gently.
He was sullen before leaving, but still insisted on saying, "You should get some rest."
Zhou Zhou: "..." This is outrageous. He actually thinks that the nearly 1.9-meter-tall domineering CEO is kind of cute?
-
A joyful atmosphere filled the middle floor of the Fu Corporation Building. Even He Qingqing, who was usually serious, was all smiles, carrying a file bag and following closely behind the president. The entire company had been working overtime for this deal, and now that the contract was signed, everyone could finally relax.
From the moment she entered the elevator to the CEO's office, He Qingqing's smile gradually faded without her realizing it. Reading people's expressions and moods is an essential skill for a CEO's secretary. Now that the boss is unhappy, she, as an employee, must stand on his side.
He Qingqing was very curious as to why her boss was unhappy. Logically speaking, the contract should not have been signed in this way, but the principle of being a president's secretary is to do more and ask less questions. Therefore, He Qingqing could not directly ask the president for the reason.
Fu Hengzhi leaned back in his leather chair. He was happier than anyone else in the company to sign the contract, but his emotions were like a stone sinking to the bottom of a cliff, and he couldn't get excited from noon until he left the hospital.
Fu Hengzhi looked up at the secretary tidying up the documents on the desk, recalling what Zhou Zhou had said at noon, and quietly observed her.
Appearance is also one of the criteria for selecting a president's secretary. The company's image must be considered. He Qingqing is indeed a good candidate. Fu Hengzhi frowned slightly.
If Zhou Zhou was telling the truth, then wouldn't He Qingqing in front of him perfectly fit his criteria?
Fu Hengzhi
Fu Hengzhi: "Secretary He."
When her boss suddenly called on her, He Qingqing put down her work and nodded in response, "President, please speak."
As he spoke, he took out a portable notebook from his suit pocket, ready to record any orders issued by the president.
Then she heard the CEO, who was usually focused on company affairs, ask, "Have you ever been in a relationship?"
He Qingqing: "No."
Fu Hengzhi: "Why not talk about it?"
He Qingqing decisively said, "At my age, I should focus on my career. Before I achieve success in my career, being in a relationship will only hinder my progress."
"Hmm, not bad." Fu Hengzhi was pleased to have such a high-minded employee, and felt much more at ease.
Zhou Zhou can still delegate all public relations and liaison matters to the other party.
[Author's Note]:
Fu Hengzhi: I can't explain it, but I just like it.
Zhou Zhou: I am currently straight.
President Fu's pursuit of his wife is a killer move; looking forward to his future performance!
He Qingqing: I work diligently, and my boss is actually afraid I'll steal his employees??
Chapter Forty: I Have a Friend
Just before the end of the workday, the project manager of Fu's Enterprises was called into the office by his boss again, mainly to discuss the follow-up plans and development of the project contract that had just been signed.
After finishing the task, the project manager was about to get up and leave the office when his boss said, "The embroidery on your collar is very unique."
“My wife embroidered this.” The project manager ran his fingertips along the embroidered pattern on the collar. “I accidentally burned a hole here while smoking. I’ve only worn this shirt a few times, and it would be a shame to throw it away, so my wife mended it for me.” As he spoke, a happy smile spread across the project manager’s face.
Fu Hengzhi nodded, "A harmonious relationship between husband and wife can also help both of their careers." As he said this, the image of a certain person couldn't help but come to mind, and he sighed silently in his heart.
While others achieve success in both family and career, he only has ordinary career success.
How long have you been married?
It was truly bizarre that Fu Heng, who was not yet thirty, asked a project manager who was approaching fifty such a question.
"It's been over twenty years." The project manager didn't seem to think anything of it, and was even happy to tell his boss about his happy family. "I pursued my wife for four years in college. While others were breaking up during graduation season, we walked hand in hand into the hall of marriage. Now our child is in his senior year of high school, and we don't have to worry about his grades. Back then..." The project manager had something to say and was immersed in his blissful state.
Fu Hengzhi, however, grasped the key word and his eyelids twitched.
Pursuing love, confessing feelings, and getting married are all normal steps in dating. So, if the other person doesn't agree, is it because they missed that step?
After Fu Hengzhi left at noon, Zhou Zhou took another nice nap. Just before dark, she was woken up by a cell phone ringing.
The ward was dimly lit, and Zhou Zhou, with blurry eyes, reached for her phone.
As soon as the call was answered, a loud crying came from the other end. Zhou Zhou was instantly awakened by the crying and looked at the caller ID to see that it was Wang Kunxiang.
"Zhou! Are you alright? Which hospital are you in? I'm coming to see you right now!" Wang Kunxiang cried loudly.
Zhou Zhou almost thought the other person was crying for her, and helplessly comforted her: "I'm fine, don't cry."
Wang Kunxiang took it to heart. He had thought the worst-case scenario was that the other party wouldn't even be able to answer the phone and would just collapse on the bed.
He started crying as soon as he saw the news about the other person's accident. He cried so hard that he was still sobbing when he finally stopped.
"Which hospital are you in? I'd like to come see you."
"Let's skip it today, it's already dark, and it's inconvenient to come and go." Zhou Zhou glanced at the night sky outside the window. "I'll send you my location. If you really want to come, come tomorrow morning."
As soon as he finished speaking, the ward door was pushed open from the outside. Fu Hengzhi walked in carrying a lunchbox and a notebook briefcase. He happened to hear what Zhou Zhou had just said. He frowned but did not disturb her. He put his bag on the sofa, hung his coat on the hanger, and sat on the small bed, staring intently at her on the phone.
After hanging up, he asked, "Who wants to come tomorrow? Ye Misheng?"
"Huh?" Zhou Zhou looked at him suspiciously and said, "Wang Kunxiang, do you remember him?"
Fu Hengzhi frowned in deep thought, and finally found the owner of the name from his childhood memories. His expression softened slightly as he said, "He can come."