Chapter 15: The Incompetent Husband

"I did submit my resignation."

"The one‑month procedure was also what Deputy HR Director Sister Rong said; as for me going to the president's office, that wasn't decided by us ordinary employees, it was decided by President Ke."

Jiang Lai stood at the windward edge, the autumn breeze whistling, lifting a strand of her hair, her gaze open and unguarded.

Shen Xun saw no deception.

"Why does President Ke want you to be his secretary?"

"I don't know the specifics," Jiang Lai truly didn't understand what Ke Zhongyu was thinking; in any case, she didn't believe the story he put on his lips.

Shen Xun also didn't understand Ke Zhongyu; the Ke family was too far from him, or rather, even if he worked his whole life he couldn't even brush a corner of Ke Zhongyu's garment.

He only knew that this head of the Ke family was aloof and harsh, not inclined toward women.

In the business arena he was even more ruthless and decisive, showing no mercy even to his own relatives, and his insight was singular.

Others say he has a good eye—whatever he invests in succeeds without failure—but many of those are merely tiny, fly‑weight profits.

Ke Zhongyu is different.

Whatever Ke Zhongyu values and invests in yields doubled returns; at twenty‑two he became famous for a sky‑high investment, which also propelled the Ke family into the emerging technology sector, and Lan Chuang Technology under the Ke family was placed directly under Ke Zhongyu's name.

Backed by the Ke family, Lan Chuang is Star Universe's biggest competitor in recent years.

Someone once likened him as the most diligent child, but Ke Zhongyu was born to eat this bowl of rice; Ke Zhongyu is a genius.

Effort is merely the threshold to encounter genius.

Thus, Shen Xun exhausted his efforts, and only today could he sit at the same table with Ke Zhongyu.

"Jiang Lai, although President Ke is only twenty‑eight, he's scheming and calculating; having you become his secretary can't be for good intentions. Can you resign as soon as possible?" Shen Xun squeezed Jiang Lai's shoulder, his face somewhat grim, "Don't think he's appreciating any talent; you have nothing he could appreciate. He might just be after..."

"He's after this very face of yours!"

Shen Xun searched for her merits for a long time, and all he could see was this face of hers?

Jiang Lai knew she was worthless in Shen Xun's eyes, yet hearing him say that to her face twisted her heart like a knife.

"President Ke is a businessman; businessmen chase profit. Each of his secretaries is young and beautiful; attractiveness is a tool for networking."

He threw out four words with a solemn face: "Resign promptly."

Jiang Lai opened her mouth: "Finish the procedures..."

"Procedures, procedures—resignation doesn't need that many steps! Submit the application, hand over the work, then pack up and go home, that's all."

Shen Xun suppressed his anger; he couldn't explain why seeing Jiang Lai standing beside Ke Zhongyu made him so angry.

He blamed it on the fact that Jiang Lai was his lawful wife, his private property, and how could she stand with another man?

Jiang Lai rarely saw him angry; in four years the times he got angry could be counted on one hand, and all of them had happened only recently.

Shen Xun was angry that she talked back to the Shen family.

Shen Xun was angry that she "scalded" Lin Shutong.

Shen Xun was angry that she didn't cook.

Shen Xun was angry that she didn't want children.

Shen Xun was angry that she hadn't resigned promptly.

The husband who had been gentle to her for four years no longer existed, because she disobeyed and was no longer that dutiful housewife.

It turned out only by being herself could she see the true others.

Jiang Lai took a deep breath, still saying: "Everything isn't decided by me, it's..."

"... I decide it."

Ke Zhongyu appeared at some point, standing on the steps beside them, looking down from above at the two, having listened to the earlier conversation for an unknown length of time.

Both Shen Xun and Jiang Lai had to look up at him, and could only see a profile.

"I will not approve Jiang Lai's resignation request," Ke Zhongyu said, slightly turning his head, his gaze disdainful.

"Since President Shen only knows Jiang Lai, why meddle in idle affairs?"

"If anyone should intervene, it should be Jiang Lai's incompetent husband who can't even afford to replace his wife's phone and relies on her meager salary to cover household expenses, to meddle in this idle matter."

That mouth is truly poisonous.

Shen Xun stuck his neck out, speechless, and now it was even more impossible for him to admit he was Jiang Lai's incompetent husband.

"Jiang Lai, you've been in the restroom long enough," Ke Zhongyu said seriously, "Keep up."

Jiang Lai quickly caught up.

Being a bit farther from Shen Xun, she finally could breathe a sigh of relief.

Seeing her secretly exhale, Ke Zhongyu's gaze grew complicated.

"So this is why you voluntarily came to the gathering?"

"What?" Jiang Lai turned her head, momentarily bewildered, then quickly realized Ke Zhongyu was guessing their relationship had broken, and nodded, "More or less."

Ke Zhongyu: "How long have you been married?"

By now Ke Zhongyu already knew, and she had nothing to hide.

"Four years," Jiang Lai's voice paused, "Four years and one hundred fifteen days."

Ke Zhongyu: "You remember that clearly."

Jiang Lai nodded: "Mm."

Ke Zhongyu: "But he doesn't acknowledge your marriage."

Jiang Lai paused: "Mm."

Returning to the private room, Jiang Lai had lost any appetite for dinner; she watched these dominant figures of the business world, feeling no ripple in her heart.

She saw Shen Xun return with wet hair, clearly having washed his face with cold water.

Shen Xun still chatted merrily, raising his glass to toast one after another; when he toasted Ke Zhongyu, his expression paused.

Ke Zhongyu didn't drink the wine Shen Xun offered.

Everyone could tell that President Shen and President Ke had developed a grudge.

When did it start? How deep was the grudge? None of them had any way of knowing, nor did they care—they only knew that President Ke refused to drink the wine President Shen offered, and President Shen's days ahead were probably going to be difficult.

Ke Zhongyu was standing up for Jiang Lai?

Why?

Shen Xun truly could not understand what about a woman who had stayed by his side for four years besides her excellent cooking was worth Ke Zhongyu doing this.

Were they having an affair?

The moment this thought arose, Shen Xun's expression became somewhat uncontrollable.

President Ke wouldn't drink, but he still had to drink this glass himself.

He downed it in one gulp, and the banquet was also nearing its end.

Ke Zhongyu was the first to leave the table; when he left, Jiang Lai naturally followed.

Shen Xun was somewhat drunk, leaning against his chair, pulling out his phone to scroll through contacts and dialing a number.

"Shutong."

Jiang Lai heard this name clearly, and the thorn in her heart pricked her once more.

She hung up the phone, got Lin Shutong's number from her assistant Xiao Qian, and sent a message.

When Jiang Lai answered the call, Ke Zhongyu told her he was off work and drove away himself.

At this moment, Jiang Lai stood in the cold wind, waiting for Lin Shutong's arrival—watching her hurry inside, support Shen Xun as he came out, help him into the car, and get in alongside him.

The car window slowly lowered, seemingly to let Shen Xun sober up, but also letting Jiang Lai see the sight of Shen Xun leaning against Lin Shutong's shoulder.

Shen Xun called softly, "Wife."

Lin Shutong's entire body went stiff.

She knew that this "wife" Shen Xun called out was Jiang Lai.

The car kicked up dust and drove away.

Jiang Lai kept both hands tucked in her pockets, adjusted the bag strap on her shoulder, and walked forward slowly, reaching out her hand whenever she saw a taxi.

No taxi stopped.

A low-profile gray-brown Pullman slowly drove up from behind her and stopped beside her.

The car window slowly lowered, revealing Ke Zhongyu's flawless side profile, sharp as if carved by knife and axe.

"Get in." The man's voice was cold.