Chapter 208: You Overcome Her

At 6:20, Jiang Lai took the initiative to send a message to the G Province number.

【I'm at the residential complex entrance.】

Shen Xun drove to the complex entrance and spotted Ke Zhongyu's Maybach, so he knew Jiang Lai was in the car.

Displeased, Shen Xun got out and knocked on the car window.

The rear and front windows rolled down simultaneously.

Inside the car sat not only Jiang Lai but also Ke Zhongyu's assistant and secretary.

Ke Zhongyu wasn't in A City himself, yet his people clung to Jiang Lai like persistent ghosts.

"Jiang Lai, I bought you a car. Once you get your driver's license, you can drive your own car and won't have to keep borrowing other people's," Shen Xun said, putting on a thoughtful look for her sake.

Secretary Guan feigned surprise and said, "My goodness, President Shen! Dr. Jiang is an important partner of our Ke Clan—she's our client. It's perfectly normal for our Ke Clan to provide car service for a distinguished client, and our President Ke has never been a stingy man."

This was an insinuation that he was stingy.

Shen Xun caught the implication.

Secretary Guan continued, "Besides, Dr. Jiang is busy from dawn to dusk—where would she find the time to get a driver's license? She only needs to say the word, and people wanting to be her chauffeur could line up from here all the way to Country F."

Especially their President Ke, who would be first in line.

"President Shen, how are you still the same as before, with your taste not improving one bit?" Secretary Guan smiled sweetly; words meant to needle someone carried an even more sarcastic sting coming from her mouth. "That won't do. Working in the tech field, you really should keep up with the times."

Shen Xun was rendered speechless by a mere secretary.

The people Ke Zhongyu kept around him were all dogs that could bite.

"Jiang Lai, get in my car." Shen Xun reached for the door handle, but the door had already been locked by Assistant Zhou.

"President Shen, your car is mediocre and would shortchange Miss Jiang." Assistant Zhou was an even bigger smiling fox. "Miss Jiang is our Ke Clan's client, and we'll take good care of her."

"Mm-hm." Secretary Guan nodded, persisting with her insinuations to the end. "We don't need Star Universe Technology to reimburse us. Our President Ke has money and is very generous with it."

Jiang Lai saw that Shen Xun's face was as black as a pot bottom blackened from years of smoke, and the corners of her lips curled into a faint, mocking smile.

Stung by Jiang Lai's look of someone watching a play, Shen Xun frowned and said, "Jiang Lai, no married couple doesn't ride in the same car."

"There are—couples who are harmonious on the surface but estranged at heart, couples who've already divorced but still pretend they haven't." Jiang Lai's gaze swept over him from head to toe. "Besides, not riding in the same car as a couple is something you did quite naturally over the past four years."

"Where's the location? If you won't say, then lead the way ahead. I'm pressed for time, President Shen."

Shen Xun didn't see at all that Jiang Lai was being coerced by him; he only saw her cold detachment.

His hanging fingers curled slightly, and he got back into his own car and drove ahead to lead the way.

Jiang Lai wasn't idle in the car either; she was checking the earliest flights back to G Province for tomorrow.

Dean Mom's hint could be put to great use.

Secretary Guan turned around, saw the flight booking page on the screen, and asked, "Where are you going?"

Assistant Zhou and Secretary Guan were both people she could trust, so she didn't hide it: "Back to G Province."

Assistant Zhou glanced at her through the rearview mirror: "To look for news about Ping'an?"

Jiang Lai nodded.

Assistant Zhou said, "You can wait for President Ke to come back and discuss it before deciding."

Secretary Guan said, "Our Ke Clan also has a branch in G Province. You file it as a business trip, and the Ke Clan will reimburse all expenses."

Though she didn't know exactly what the matter was, she was very experienced with things like taking leave and filing reimbursements.

Jiang Lai looked at her: "I'm handling personal business."

Secretary Guan said, "There's no reason not to fleece a capitalist—the Ke Clan is a massive enterprise with businesses everywhere, domestic and abroad."

Assistant Zhou nodded in strong agreement and added, "Miss Jiang, you don't need to worry about not being able to get a flight ticket."

Secretary Guan also said she had it covered; buying tickets and booking hotels were things she handled with practiced ease.

Jiang Lai set down her phone.

They arrived at the destination at 7:10. Shen Xun stood at the hotel entrance waiting for Jiang Lai.

Sino was a foreign enterprise; foreigners' social gatherings didn't feature tables full of hot dishes and rounds of toasting like in the country, but rather centered on light socializing over drinks—socializing was the main event, eating was the supporting role, and alcohol was the embellishment.

Today was a small-scale cocktail reception.

Only when Shen Xun saw Jiang Lai step out of the car did he notice she was dressed plainly today—a short beige plush jacket and high-waisted dark blue wide-leg jeans.

Jiang Lai's height-to-proportion ratio was excellent; dressed like this on an ordinary day, she'd be praised for her taste—but this was a small-scale cocktail reception.

Shen Xun frowned slightly but ultimately said nothing.

It was already quite something that Jiang Lai was willing to accompany him here.

Assistant Zhou went to park the car, and Secretary Guan followed alongside Jiang Lai. Shen Xun asked with dissatisfaction, "She's coming too?"

Secretary Guan said, "I'm Dr. Jiang's assistant."

Shen Xun looked at her, his eyes refuting that she was no such thing at all.

Secretary Guan seemed to understand and returned a smile.

I'm indeed not Dr. Jiang's assistant, but do you dare tell anyone who I am?

That I'm President Ke's secretary?

Then why is Dr. Jiang bringing along President Ke's secretary?

Do you dare say it, President Shen?

Shen Xun didn't dare. He didn't want Jiang Lai to bring Secretary Guan up, but Jiang Lai had already pulled her into the elevator and urged, "If we don't go in, we're going back."

Shen Xun strode into the elevator.

Before the elevator reached the floor hosting the small-scale cocktail reception, Shen Xun said, "You and I are a married couple; you should be holding my arm."

Jiang Lai said, "We never had that habit before, and we still don't now. Be normal, Shen Xun."

The elevator arrived.

Jiang Lai stepped in first, with Shen Xun right behind her. The person standing at the entrance was about to ask for their identities when Soren, holding a wine glass, spotted them and immediately walked over.

"President Shen!"

Soren's second glance fell on Jiang Lai and Secretary Guan as he asked Shen Xun, "Which one is President Shen's wife? That Dr. Jiang who does self-developed chips!"

Shen Xun reached out to pull Jiang Lai back, but Jiang Lai was a step faster, extending her hand to Soren.

"Hello, Mr. Soren. My surname is Jiang. I am not anyone's wife. My name is Jiang Lai."

Shen Xun's smile froze on his face, a flash of panic fleeting through his eyes.

To his surprise, Soren beamed, taking Jiang Lai's hand and expressing appreciation for her remark just now, then apologizing for his earlier misstatement—he shouldn't have called Dr. Jiang anyone's wife.

Relatively speaking, foreigners did indeed place greater emphasis on a person's individuality.

Soren not only appreciated Jiang Lai's words just now but even complimented her outfit today as tasteful—today was never meant to be a business reception but a more relaxed cocktail party, so there was no need for ostentatious attire.

Jiang Lai gave a faint smile. "Thank you for the compliment."

Soren: "Dr. Jiang, this way please. President Shen, and this assistant miss, this way please as well."

Soren's attitude toward Jiang Lai was very warm, with no ulterior motives—only admiration in his eyes.

And he confirmed in his heart that this collaboration with Star Universe Technology was well worth it; even if Dr. Jiang didn't participate in their project cooperation, simply establishing a connection with Dr. Jiang would bring nothing but benefits.

Secretary Guan and Shen Xun watched Jiang Lai standing in the middle of the crowd—even though she was not good at flattery, everyone greeted her with warm, friendly faces all the same.

Secretary Guan smiled and asked, "President Shen, do you think Dr. Jiang has become dazzling and radiant after leaving you?"

Like a princess cursed by a witch who had finally shed that drab old cloak.

Shen Xun kept a dark face and said nothing.

Secretary Guan pressed on relentlessly: "Speaking of which, President Shen, you're jinxing our Dr. Jiang."