Qiao Hua thought she had misheard him. She frowned at Gu Wenze. "What did you say? Quit?"
Gu Wenze repeated himself heavily. "Yes. Quit."
Qiao Hua shoved him. "Are you out of your mind? Why should I quit?"
"If there's nothing between you and him, why won't you quit?" Her reaction reignited the anger Gu Wenze had barely managed to suppress. "Or is it that you can't bear to leave Yan Yu?"
Qiao Hua waved a hand. "Leave other people out of this. It took me ages to find this job, and I'm doing perfectly well there. Why should I quit?"
Gu Wenze clenched his teeth and ground out each word. "Because he has ulterior motives toward you."
"Who? Who has ulterior motives toward me?" It took Qiao Hua a moment to catch on. "You mean Yan Yu?"
"Who else?" Gu Wenze's eyes were cold and dark. The image of Yan Yu peeling shrimp for Qiao Hua earlier resurfaced in his mind at the worst possible moment.
Last time, he had driven Qiao Hua home. This time, he had asked her out to dinner alone. Anyone with eyes could see that Yan Yu was interested in her.
Of course Qiao Hua couldn't believe such an absurd assumption. She could only think Gu Wenze had gone mad to say something so ridiculous. "You're overthinking it. He's just a friend."
"You may see him as just a friend, but that doesn't mean he sees you the same way." Gu Wenze's tone was firm, brooking no argument. "In any case, you're quitting tomorrow."
Seeing that Gu Wenze wouldn't let the matter drop until she quit, Qiao Hua asked, "If I really quit, what am I supposed to do afterward?"
Before Gu Wenze could speak, she continued, "You said it yourself: I'm not capable of much. If I apply somewhere else, they might not even want me."
Qiao Hua put what she had just learned to use, throwing his earlier taunt right back at him.
Gu Wenze fell silent for a moment. As though he had made up his mind about something, he said gravely, "I can arrange a position for you at my company."
His tone made it sound as though letting Qiao Hua work at his company was some tremendous favor.
That answer surprised Qiao Hua. Given how much Gu Wenze hated the original owner of her body, he should never have offered her such an opportunity.
She had no idea what had gotten into Gu Wenze today. First, he had deliberately shown up at the restaurant, and now he was agreeing to let her work at the Gu Family's company.
Had something involving Jiang Nan set him off again?
Qiao Hua's eyes shifted thoughtfully, and she suddenly smiled, her red lips curving beautifully. She pressed her soft, supple body close to Gu Wenze. "Sure. If you fire Jiang Nan and let me be your secretary, I'll do as you say and quit my job. How does that sound?"
Apparently not expecting such a demand, Gu Wenze furrowed his brows deeply. "I can arrange another position for you."
Qiao Hua said deliberately, "What if I only want the secretary position?"
"Qiao Hua." Gu Wenze's tone grew sterner. "Don't push it."
Qiao Hua spread her hands. "Since you're unwilling, I won't quit either."
She had guessed that Gu Wenze wouldn't agree to her condition. That was precisely why she had said it.
Sure enough, Gu Wenze hadn't even considered it.
Gu Wenze's gaze was darker than the night behind him. He said coldly, stressing every word, "Do you really want the secretary position, or are you deliberately using this as an excuse to stay with Yan Yu?"
The original owner had been playing the villain for years anyway, so Qiao Hua couldn't be bothered to explain. "Think whatever you like. Unless you agree to my demand, there's no way I'm doing what you say."
Her words seemed to send the temperature around them plunging straight to freezing.
A dangerous edge crept into Gu Wenze's voice. "You really won't quit?"
Qiao Hua was losing patience with his questioning and said offhandedly, "Mr. Gu, we're getting divorced. Why are you meddling so much?"
The word "divorced" struck Gu Wenze's sore spot. His expression darkened almost instantly, but Qiao Hua hadn't sensed the danger and continued, "Just hurry up and sign the divorce agreement. After that, you go your way and I'll go mine. It'll make life easier for both of us."
The moment she finished speaking, a sudden force shoved Qiao Hua against the car door. Before she could react, his lips crushed down on hers.
Gu Wenze didn't want her saying anything else he didn't want to hear. His urgent kiss was an outlet for his boundless anger.
Qiao Hua's eyes flew wide open. She tried hard to push Gu Wenze away, only for him to seize both her hands and pin them above her head.
In desperation, she instinctively raised her leg to kick him.
But Gu Wenze was ready for her and caught her pale, delicate ankle.
Qiao Hua had gotten the better of Gu Wenze last time. There was no way he would give her another chance to lash out.
Her air was stolen away bit by bit until Qiao Hua could barely breathe. Her fists pounded hard against Gu Wenze's shoulders, but he showed no intention of releasing her. Instead, he deepened the kiss, making it a punishment.
Jiang Nan, standing a short distance away, witnessed the whole scene. Her fingertips dug sharply into her handbag, leaving deep nail marks in the expensive leather.
She had deliberately followed Gu Wenze out that evening, never expecting to stumble upon this.
So the urgent matter Gu Wenze had mentioned was meeting Qiao Hua.
How could this be? Gu Wenze clearly loathed Qiao Hua. Why would he seek her out himself and do something like this with her?
Could Gu Wenze have fallen for Qiao Hua during their years together?
The realization filled Jiang Nan with a sense of danger. She would never allow such a thing to happen. Gu Wenze could only be hers. No one was going to take him away!
At that thought, Jiang Nan took out her phone and scrolled through her contacts for a moment before finally finding the number she wanted.
Fortunately, she still had an ace up her sleeve: Gu Wenze's younger cousin.
Gu Wenze was said to dote on this cousin of his. She had been cherished and pampered since childhood.
Most importantly, Gu Jinman hated Qiao Hua, her cousin's wife.
"Jinman, it's me."
"I'm back in the country. Are you free sometime soon? Let's have a meal together."
The two in the car knew nothing of Jiang Nan's maneuvering. The kiss had left Qiao Hua dizzy, and she could barely stay on her feet.
Qiao Hua's clothes had become disheveled during her struggle, exposing a large expanse of pale, delicate skin beneath her neckline.
Gu Wenze's gaze darkened despite himself, and his breathing grew slightly heavier.
As though compelled by some unseen force, he reached out and touched Qiao Hua's skin, smooth and soft as white jade.
Before you continue