It was the first time Bo Xubai had ever seen Bo Yan step forward to defend anyone.
Bo Yan always pretended he cared about nothing, and that hypocritical face disgusted him.
Now, meeting Bo Yan's cold, peach-blossom eyes, Bo Xubai felt an inexplicable stab of fear, as though he were looking at his father.
He Cheng thought the two were about to fight and waited for his good buddy to avenge him, only to see that Bo Xubai could not pull his hand free even with all his strength.
He Cheng's gaze at Bo Yan instantly filled with shock and fear!
He knew Bo Yan was no simple character, but he had never imagined just how much there was to him!
Had that pushover act all been a pretense?!
The scene froze.
Wen Ning noticed Bo Xubai and He Cheng's fear of Bo Yan and gave an inward whoop. So this is the main villain's oppressive aura? Awesome!
But Bo Yan had kept up his act for so long. Blowing his cover over such a trivial mess was not worth it.
Wen Ning immediately shook Bo Yan's arm and put on a sweet, wheedling voice. "Honey, I'm hungry. Let's go eat."
The tips of Bo Yan's ears twitched. His lips pressed tight, he turned his head away, gave a muffled hum of assent, and let go.
The chains restraining his body abruptly fell away. Bo Xubai finally registered what this bastard had just done to him, and his chiseled face instantly turned terrifyingly sinister!
How dare this bastard!
He opened his mouth to reprimand him, but Bo Yan had already turned back into the Bo Family's obedient dog, so docile that everything just now might have been his imagination.
His manner was respectful and mild. "If there's nothing else, big brother, Ningning and I will go have lunch." Then he lowered his eyes to the woman beside him, the corners of his eyes curving beautifully, and said softly, "Ningning finally managed to come over at lunchtime. I want to spend more time with her."
The way he put it, anyone who did not know better would have thought he and Wen Ning were deeply in love.
Even Wen Ning almost fell for it!
She clicked her tongue twice. You dog. You're an even better actor than I am!
Just like that, Bo Yan forced Bo Xubai's reprimand back down his throat. If he made another scene now, he would look unreasonable, using his position as the elder brother to bully this illegitimate son.
However much people looked down on Bo Yan's background, even most employees of the Bo Group knew to maintain a peaceful facade. All the more reason Bo Xubai had to show his magnanimity.
Besides, he now represented not only himself but also the Bo Family. His every word and action concerned the family's reputation.
"There are plenty of ways to make someone disappear without a trace, yet you chose the stupidest one."
"A-Xu, do you understand now where you fall short of that boy?"
"If all you can do is act on impulse, pack your bags and get out before it's too late. The Bo Family doesn't keep useless trash."
His father's lecture in the study that night still rang clearly in his ears.
In the end, Bo Xubai suppressed his anger.
Father was right. If I just act on impulse, I'll be falling into this dumbass's trap. I'm not that stupid!
Seeing Bo Xubai keep his mouth shut like a little turtle bastard, Wen Ning grabbed Bo Yan and made her escape.
Bo Xubai stared at the two figures-
The woman beside Bo Yan clung tightly to one of his arms, while his free hand held his work ID. He silently watched the path ahead, looking dull even from behind.
Every so often, Wen Ning turned to murmur in Bo Yan's ear. Her heels clacked against the floor, and her black skirt swayed gently with her lively figure.
One still, one moving, they were unexpectedly pleasing to the eye.
The two walked out of the building in intimate closeness.
Bo Xubai's eyes suddenly stung. He found the sight particularly offensive.
Realizing he was actually starting to feel drawn to Wen Ning, he raised a hand to rub his temples and told He Cheng wearily, "I still have work to take care of. Go eat on your own."
"Hey!" He Cheng called, wanting to say, Don't! Don't leave your buddy here alone!
But Bo Xubai had already turned toward the elevators, leaving He Cheng to withdraw his hand awkwardly.
With most of the main players gone, the watching employees could finally start gossiping!
Wen Ning had just publicly dragged He Cheng, and although everyone was trying hard to keep their voices down, he could still clearly hear several people talking shit about him.
He Cheng wanted to argue back, but the moment he turned around, those voices stopped. He could not even figure out who was insulting him!
Unable to bear the humiliation, He Cheng put on his sunglasses to hide his face and hurried away, cursing inwardly as he ran!
Who knows what's gotten into that shrew Wen Ning today? Could she really be having an affair with that bastard? Whatever the case, I'm remembering this score. She'd better not give me an opening, or I'll teach that bitch a lesson!
Watching him flee in disgrace, everyone burst out laughing.
"Ugh, I never thought Young President He was that kind of person. I could put up with a messy private life, but a low-class guy with no style? Absolutely not! My idol's come crashing down, boohoo."
"Doesn't anyone else think the young miss looked seriously cool defending her husband? Who said she was awful? She's amazing! She even treated us to Su's! A broke loser like me finally got to eat something good!"
"I thought the young miss was so alpha too! I used to think she was one of those vicious supporting female characters in short dramas, but now I finally know what a true wealthy heiress looks like! Every word was logical and confident! Now that's how a beauty should rescue a handsome man!"
"I'm dying of laughter. Which blind idiots started the rumor that Bo Yan was being kept? They're legally married! And now the young miss has personally stepped in to set the record straight. Those rumor-spreaders are finished..."
The soon-to-be-finished Xu Lin and the others saw Bo Yan and Wen Ning get into that familiar Ferrari. Their legs gave out, and they collapsed to the ground.
Their team leader's face grew paler and paler too, and he nearly fainted.
Meanwhile, Wen Ning drove to a secluded spot.
Her mouth had not stopped since they got in the car. "You have no idea how speechless I was when I got He Cheng's WeChat message this morning. I was just going to explain when I brought you lunch, but that jerk kept going on about you being kept and some old woman. How could I put up with that?"
"Bo Yan, look! Don't I look imposing right now? I specially changed into my battle outfit. What do you think?"
As she spoke, Wen Ning turned and flipped her hair to show him.
Bo Yan, who had been looking down as he opened the food containers, was caught completely off guard by a faceful of Wen Ning's hair.
Bo Yan: "..."
Wen Ning laughed sheepishly and hurried to smooth her hair back into place.
Before transmigrating into the book, she had always shared whatever happened with her best friend.
Wen Ning was an entirely different person at work and off the clock.
At work, she was a dull-eyed corporate beast of burden.
After work, as long as she had the energy, she let loose, singing, petting dogs, and gossiping with her best friend.
The steady, mature woman was her, and so was the warm, cheerful, occasionally childish one.
Everyone had multiple sides, and Wen Ning was no exception.
She had not even noticed that whenever she started showing her true self, her expressions became particularly vivid, and she called Bo Yan directly by name.
Bo Yan found this version of Wen Ning more interesting.
Wen Ning was still excited. "I'm telling you, this was my first time acting out a plot like that too. Normally I only see domineering CEO male leads playing the hero and saving the beauty in short dramas. When it was my turn, I was actually a little nervous."
She blinked expectantly. "Well? Did it feel good?"
Bo Yan looked at her without speaking.
Wen Ning waved a hand in front of his eyes. "Bo Yan? Bo Yan?"
Bo Yan abruptly came back to his senses. His lashes fluttered twice, and he turned away with an unnatural expression and coughed. When he looked back at Wen Ning, he wore that same deadpan face again.
"What?" he asked.
Wen Ning raised an eyebrow but did not call him out. "I asked if it felt good."
Bo Yan handed her the chopsticks and said indifferently, "How I feel shouldn't matter. You certainly seemed to be enjoying yourself, young miss."
Wen Ning disagreed. "What are you talking about, honey? I was face-slapping them for you in the first place. Of course your feelings matter most."
Bo Yan's brows drew together slightly. She's acting again.
But strangely enough, even the sight of her acting now seemed rather pleasing to him.
Bo Yan thought perhaps he was not merely seriously ill, but beyond all cure...