Chapter 207: Self-blame

One sentence made Hu Yulian freeze on the spot.

It wasn't until Jiang Yuanliang entered the lounge and closed the door that she came back to her senses, and Jiang Yuanliang didn't say anything more, but it seemed like he had said everything.

Hu Yulian looked at the closed black door and bit her lower lip with shame and anger. How could she be willing in her heart?

Jiang Yuanliang is her ideal man. Even if the other party is eight years older than her, in Longcheng, which woman doesn't worship Jiang Yuanliang?

She returned from a famous foreign university, with outstanding family background and her own conditions. Her criteria for choosing a spouse were naturally high, and only a man

She had originally thought that she had gained Jiang Yuanliang's favor because she was unique and outstanding enough, and for a moment, she indeed felt a sense of superiority and was carried away by her own success.

Yet, she never would have imagined that today, because of someone whose identity she was completely unaware of, Jiang Yuanliang would say such words to her as "there is no need to come again in the future."

She was unwilling to accept this, nor would she accept it.

But she did not pester him too much today, because she knew it was useless and would even make Brother Yuanliang feel more repulsed and resistant toward her.

After composing herself and leaving the office, she found Secretary Li.

"Secretary Li, Brother Yuanliang seemed to value today's guest very much. Do you really not know who that person is?"

How could Secretary Li know what had just happened in the office? Upon hearing this, he hurriedly said, "Miss Hu, please forgive me. My mind went blank earlier, and for a moment, I didn't realize Ms. Shen's identity. Actually, I do know. During the National Day holiday, the Chairman went to Shengang on a business trip, and one day..."

Secretary Li recounted the events of that day, and as Hu Yulian listened, the displeasure and jealousy she had originally felt in her heart dissipated.

She had just been letting her imagination run wild with countless possibilities regarding the relationship between Brother Yuanliang and this elder sister Shen, but she never expected it to be the relationship of a life-saving benefactor.

"I understand now. This Ms. Shen saved Brother Yuanliang once, and it is out of gratitude that Brother Yuanliang treats her with such respect." As Hu Yulian said this, she could not suppress the smile on her face.

Secretary Li nodded in agreement: "That is how it is."

So Brother Yuanliang had suddenly gotten angry earlier, likely because she had not shown respect to his life-saving benefactor...

Thinking this, Hu Yulian could not help but sigh in annoyance. Brother Yuanliang is also like that; why couldn't he have explained things more clearly?

However, the one thing Hu Yulian did not grasp was that, given her current relationship with Jiang Yuanliang, Jiang Yuanliang would not take the initiative to explain matters concerning himself to her.

"Secretary Li, do you have this Ms. Shen's phone number?"

Secretary Li was slightly stunned upon hearing this. He did have the number; after all, he was the one who had helped the Chairman find Ms. Shen back then.

But why did Miss Hu suddenly want Ms. Shen's phone number?

Unclear of her motives, Secretary Li cautiously shook his head: "I don't have it. I only know she is from Shengang."

Secretary Li felt that if Hu Yulian wanted Ms. Shen's contact information, she could perfectly well ask the Chairman for it; he would not bear this unknown risk for no reason.

Hu Yulian did not think much of it, only nodded lightly, and then looked at Secretary Li with a troubled expression, pleading: "Secretary Li, I seem to have upset Brother Yuanliang today. Could you help me persuade him later?"

Secretary Li became alert immediately upon hearing this, but asked with a straight face: "Why is that?"

Although the Chairman holds a high position, his emotions have always been stable. Having been by his side for many years, he had rarely seen him truly lose his temper or get angry.

"Perhaps the lunch I prepared was unsuitable. I didn't know he was allergic to chia seeds."

Secretary Li knew she was lying the moment he heard it. Ms. Shen had brought Buddha Jumps Over the Wall; the Chairman would not get angry at her over lunch.

But he nodded as if he understood: "This is a small matter. The Chairman will not take it to heart."

"Then, when he has calmed down later, could you help me sound him out to see if he still wants me to come over tomorrow?"

Secretary Li agreed on the surface, but in his heart, he had no intention of getting involved in this matter.

As a secretary who worked closely by Jiang Yuanliang's side, how could he not see the twists and turns in these small matters? This Miss Hu had clearly touched upon the Chairman's taboos; she likely wouldn't have the opportunity to come to the top floor of the Jiang Corporation again.

On the other side, on her way back, Shen Jingjing could not help but secretly blame herself, regretting that she had been presumptuous and chosen the wrong time, ruining the time Mr. Jiang had to have lunch alone with his girlfriend.

Even though Mr. Jiang treated her with courtesy and warmth, that was a matter of his own upbringing; she had indeed been too abrupt today.

It wasn't until she returned home that she still felt very uneasy. After much deliberation, she took out her phone and sent an apology text to Jiang Yuanliang: "Mr. Jiang, I really caused a lot of trouble today. My original intention was just to express my gratitude to you on behalf of my daughter. If there was anything inappropriate, I hope you can forgive me."

The reason she was so cautious and anxious was, in the final analysis, because she was afraid that her improper actions would implicate her daughter.

But this text message did not receive a reply from the other party for a long time, which left Shen Jingjing feeling even more distracted all afternoon, and made her feel even more that she had displeased Mr. Jiang.

It wasn't until nightfall that a sound came from outside; it was Shen Ci returning.

Returning with her were Gu Lianxing and Jin Pili.

"Mom, I've brought my roommates home!"

Shen Jingjing collected her thoughts and hurried to the entryway. The first thing she saw was Pili, who had ear-length short hair, followed by the stunning beauty Gu Lianxing.

"Hello, Auntie, I am Lianxing."

"Hello, Auntie, I am Pili."

Shen Jingjing also greeted them warmly: "Hello, please come in."

"Have you finished your exams?" Shen Jingjing asked casually as she reached out to take her daughter's coat.

"Not yet, there is still one more day tomorrow."

After entering the living room, Shen Ci noticed that the dining table was completely empty and was slightly stunned, then turned to look at her mother: "Mom, you didn't cook?"

She understood her mother; knowing in advance that she was bringing friends home to eat today, her mother would definitely have started preparing dinner early, which was why she was a bit surprised at the moment.

Shen Jingjing had been restless all afternoon and had not paid attention to the time. Upon hearing this, she hurriedly said: "Mom cooks very quickly. The Buddha Jumps Over the Wall is already done. If you are hungry, have a bowl to tide you over first; Mom is going to cook the dishes now."

Shen Ci's mind was extremely sharp. Even though her mother tried her best to act natural, everything was so abnormal; how could she not be suspicious in her heart?

Whether the food was cooked or not was not the point; she was afraid her mother was hiding something from her.

"Did you go out this afternoon?"

"Ah..." Shen Jingjing subconsciously wanted to deny it, but her heart could not stay consistent: "Yes, just, just went out for a stroll."

(End of chapter)