Sparks of love

Unfortunately, what Qiao Hua had hoped for never happened.

Gu Wenze released Jiang Nan's hand with a grave expression, then turned to shield her behind him. "Mom, I still have work to do. Go home first," he said in a low voice.

Weng Fenghua's gaze moved between the two of them. "Do you have work to do, or do you want to get lovey-dovey with Jiang Nan?" she asked bluntly.

There was a strained restraint in Gu Wenze's deep voice. "Mom, there are people everywhere. Don't go too far."

The corners of Jiang Nan's eyes reddened, and her voice sounded wounded. "Auntie Weng, did someone say something to make you misunderstand me?"

Sure enough, the moment Gu Wenze heard that, he turned his gaze toward Qiao Hua.

Qiao Hua was bewildered. "What are you looking at me for?"

Gu Wenze's expression darkened. "Did you go tattling to my mother?"

His mother had never interfered in his company's affairs before, much less come to his office to check up on him.

But today, she had not only brought Qiao Hua along, she had arrived precisely when he was with Jiang Nan.

Who else but Qiao Hua would do something like this?

Clearly, all the indifference she had shown lately had been an act.

[Was there something wrong with this guy's brain?]

[Your mother already said she came of her own accord. How can you still blame me?]

[So you believe whatever Jiang Nan says? If she said I was Empress Wu Zetian, would you kneel and shout, "Long live Your Majesty"?]

[Honestly, you're a grown man. Can't you think for yourself?]

Qiao Hua waved a hand. "Come on, do I look like that kind of person?"

Gu Wenze could not even be bothered to lift his eyelids, making no effort to hide the mockery in his eyes.

Qiao Hua suddenly remembered what the original owner of her body had done in the past and faltered. "Uh... fine, I admit I used to be that kind of person, but I'm not anymore."

"You know I've always been upfront. If I did something, I'd never deny it."

Her composure actually left Gu Wenze unable to find fault with her for a moment.

With so many people around, Gu Wenze could not be bothered to argue with Qiao Hua. He told Weng Fenghua, "Whatever you have to say, we can discuss it at home. Mom, you don't want to make a spectacle of this either, do you?"

Weng Fenghua glanced around, and all the heads peeking over the workstations immediately ducked back down.

Qiao Hua was equally eager to leave and chimed in, "Exactly. Let's go and let them develop their... no, let Mr. Gu get on with his work."

Qiao Hua could hardly wait to give the male and female leads some time alone so their relationship could progress faster.

Ideally, they would sleep together today, get married tomorrow, and be pregnant the day after.

Seeing how considerate Qiao Hua was, willing to suffer in silence to protect her son, Weng Fenghua thought even more highly of her.

Even Qiao Hua knew to protect Gu Wenze's dignity, yet Jiang Nan was stirring up trouble in front of all these people.

Weng Fenghua's gaze grew increasingly disgusted as she looked at Jiang Nan.

Jiang Nan's heart lurched, and her sobbing quieted.

Weng Fenghua looked away. Unwilling to give outsiders a show, she compromised. "Fine, I can leave you alone, but you have to arrange a job for Qiao Hua at the company."

Gu Wenze frowned. "A job?"

"She's the president's wife. Surely she can't work at someone else's company? People would laugh if word got out," Weng Fenghua said. "Besides, our company is so large. Surely we can find a position for her?"

Weng Fenghua kept an eye on her son's company and knew his previous secretary had left, leaving the position vacant.

Having Qiao Hua work as his secretary would help bring the couple closer while keeping certain people from entertaining inappropriate ideas.

Her words only convinced Gu Wenze further that Qiao Hua was stirring things up behind the scenes. Otherwise, how would his mother know Qiao Hua was looking for a job?

Gu Wenze's voice held no warmth. "There are no suitable positions for her at our company."

"Don't try to fool me," Weng Fenghua said, exposing his lie. "Isn't your secretary's position vacant?"

Gu Wenze was silent for a moment. "I've already invited Jiang Nan to be my personal secretary."

"What?"

Unlike Weng Fenghua, Qiao Hua did not look remotely surprised.

In the original novel, Jiang Nan had started looking for work soon after returning from abroad. When Gu Wenze learned about it, he had specifically invited her to become his personal secretary.

When Qiao Hua found out, she had made a huge scene with Gu Wenze. Not only had he refused to change his mind, the two of them had also given each other the silent treatment for a long time.

Gu Wenze said calmly, "Jiang Nan studied human resource management abroad. It's relevant to secretarial work."

Weng Fenghua could not help saying, "If she becomes your secretary, what about Qiao Hua?"

Gu Wenze still looked indifferent, though there was an added touch of scorn. "Qiao Hua? What can she do?"

Qiao Hua, who had been insulted out of nowhere, was speechless. "?"

They could discuss this without making personal attacks, couldn't they?

The original owner might not have had any particular talents, but at least she had a pretty face.

Seeing that Weng Fenghua wanted to say more, Qiao Hua caught her arm. "Mrs. Weng, it's all right. I can find a job at another company on my own."

[I don't want to see Gu Wenze's face every day anyway.]

[Put Gu Wenze and Jiang Nan under the same roof, and sparks of love might start flying in no time.]

[How does that saying go? Date a coworker, and every day feels like a secret affair. Date the boss, and that's passion!]

[Maybe you'll soon have a big, chubby grandson to hold, and you won't need a barren hen like me at all.]

Gu Wenze froze, while Weng Fenghua looked positively remorseful.

Qiao Hua was puzzled. Why were they both making those faces?

In the end, at Qiao Hua's insistence, Weng Fenghua stopped bringing up the job and stormed away.

Qiao Hua reached out to pat Gu Wenze's shoulder and said earnestly, "I'll get going, then. Carry on. Don't let my appearance get in your way. Whatever you want to do, go right ahead."

Without looking at their strange expressions, Qiao Hua left with a spring in her step.

Quiet returned to the office. Jiang Nan fidgeted with her fingers and said anxiously, "Wenze, maybe I should work at another company after all. I'm worried Qiao Hua will be upset."

Gu Wenze drew his gaze away from Qiao Hua's slender, alluring figure as she walked away and softened his voice. "I hired you through a proper interview. Even if people find out, they won't have grounds to say anything."

Jiang Nan bit her lip. "But I'm worried Qiao Hua will come after me again."

A sharp glint flashed through Gu Wenze's cold eyes, like a hawk's. "Don't worry. I'll handle it."

On the way home, Weng Fenghua kept sighing, repeatedly lamenting what a terrible mess this was.

Qiao Hua gazed at the scenery outside the window, lost in unknown thoughts.

Thinking she was overwhelmed with grief, Weng Fenghua consoled her. "Gu Wenze only sees Jiang Nan as an ordinary friend. Don't be sad. You'll always be the only lady of the Gu family."

Instead, Qiao Hua patted the back of Weng Fenghua's hand. "Don't worry. I'm not sad at all."

What a joke. She could hardly wait for Gu Wenze and Jiang Nan to get together. Why would she be sad?

Night fell, enveloping the entire villa in a peaceful stillness.

Soon, the sound of the door opening shattered the quiet.

Gu Wenze returned to the villa and saw the newly hired housekeeper cleaning. "Where's Qiao Hua?" he asked coldly.

Noticing his grim expression, the housekeeper pointed toward the spare bedroom upstairs. "Miss Qiao went straight to her room when she came home."

Gu Wenze went upstairs with a tense expression. Stopping outside the spare bedroom, he raised a hand and knocked.

"Who is it?"

Qiao Hua's languid voice came from inside.

Footsteps approached, and then the door opened from within. "It's late. What..."

Before she could finish, she found herself facing Gu Wenze's aloof, distinguished features.

"Why is it you?"

Qiao Hua sounded rather disappointed.

The sight of her clean, fair face inexplicably soothed Gu Wenze's irritation, though his voice remained cold and hard. "You brought my mother to the company today, didn't you?"

Qiao Hua felt helpless. "President Gu, I've told you plenty of times. Your mother brought me there. I knew nothing about it beforehand."

Gu Wenze did not believe her explanation. "Then how could it be such a coincidence that you arrived just when I was with Jiang Nan?"

"You should ask your mother, not me," Qiao Hua said. "I'm going to bed. Goodbye."

Qiao Hua moved to shut the door, but Gu Wenze's large hand held it in place.

Gu Wenze said coldly, "Then how do you explain the job? Don't tell me that was my mother's idea too."

He did not know how Qiao Hua had won his mother over, but he was certain she had something to do with what had happened today.

Qiao Hua was running out of patience. "President Gu, do you not understand plain language? Your mother asked me to go shopping out of the blue, then took me to your company to see you. She brought up the job too. It had nothing to do with me."

Gu Wenze's deep eyes fixed on Qiao Hua as though trying to draw her in. Suddenly, he said, "Qiao Hua, stop pretending. Wasn't this whole stunt today just to get my attention?"

Qiao Hua was speechless. "?"

Did domineering CEOs all have trouble understanding plain language?

She had made herself perfectly clear!

Gu Wenze took Qiao Hua's silence as an admission and said in a low voice, "Since you're so desperate, I'll satisfy you."

Gu Wenze suddenly shoved hard. Caught off guard, Qiao Hua could not stop him from pushing the door open and striding into the room.

This was Gu Wenze's first time entering the room since Qiao Hua had moved in. There was little decoration, and a pink suitcase stood conspicuously in the corner.

It looked as though she was ready to move out at any moment.

For some reason, the thought made Gu Wenze's chest tighten, igniting the fuse that had already been on the verge of catching fire.

He looked at Qiao Hua. She had just showered, and the damp ends of her hair clung to her chest. The fabric there was wet, offering a faint glimpse of what lay beneath.

Gu Wenze's eyes darkened, and a familiar response stirred in his lower abdomen.

The next second, he pushed Qiao Hua onto the soft bed. His tall, imposing body bore down like a vast black net, pinning her in place.

Qiao Hua's vision spun. By the time she recovered, Gu Wenze was already on top of her in an extremely intimate position.

Qiao Hua's heart jolted. "Hey, what are you doing?"

Gu Wenze leaned down. Although their bodies were pressed together, their hearts were worlds apart, and even his voice held no desire. "Why pretend? Isn't this what you wanted?"

Qiao Hua felt a hand slip beneath the hem of her clothes and clamp forcefully around her waist, holding their bodies firmly together.

Goosebumps erupted all over Qiao Hua.

A single thought flashed through her mind: Stay away from me!

As his hand grew bolder and began moving lower, Qiao Hua raised her leg in desperation and kicked Gu Wenze between the legs.

The next second, excruciating pain tore through Gu Wenze's entire body.