After the Harem Novel’s Female Lead was Spoiled by the Comments - Chapter 34

Xiao Chen did not want to be a third wheel, so she tactfully left the president’s office and even thoughtfully closed the door for the two people inside. At the same time, she instructed the secretaries that if there was nothing important, they should not go in and disturb them for now.

The five secretaries: “???”

What were President Yan and Wen Hebai doing inside? Why did the chief assistant have such a lewd smile on her face?

Qi Zange, who had a guilty conscience, had originally wanted to go in and test Yan Qingwen. After all, her identity had been exposed. Who knew when Jiang Yunhan would tell Yan Qingwen who she was? She had to hurry and complete her mission. But since Xiao Chen had already spoken, no matter how anxious she was, she could only suppress it.

Yan Qingwen and Wen Hebai were completely unconcerned about Xiao Chen’s little movements. Hearing Yan Qingwen’s words, Wen Hebai wanted to deny it, but when the words reached her lips, she honestly admitted it instead.

“That’s right. I’m jealous.”

Yan Qingwen, the one who had asked the question, was instead somewhat speechless and did not know what to say.

She had only asked casually, because digging into the meaning behind jealousy was truly a mentally exhausting matter. But now that her interest had been piqued, she pursued the question. “Why?”

This reaction really was not surprising at all! Wen Hebai had originally expected Yan Qingwen to show some other reaction, but as expected, she was disappointing as always.

Wen Hebai said lightly, “Because your attention toward him will give certain people unnecessary expectations.”

“I can’t stop other people from being delusional.” As Yan Qingwen spoke, she found it somewhat funny. “There are so many people I pay attention to. If all of it were because I had feelings for them, I would have become a fickle daikon long ago.”

Wen Hebai propped her chin on her hand. “You’re not a fickle daikon. You’re hollow-hearted water spinach.”

Although it was a complaint, at least that sour vinegar smell was finally gone.

Yan Qingwen was too lazy to argue with her. She lowered her eyes and silently sorted through the intelligence she had obtained today.

Previously, she had been worried that if she made a move against Zhuang Yi, it would easily attract trouble from C City. Now, it seemed she did not need to act personally.

Regardless of how Zhuang Mei had taken everything from Zhuang Yi back then, and regardless of how complicated the situation of the Zhuang family and Shenji Sect was, none of that was something she should worry about. As long as she let Qi Zange unintentionally learn of Zhuang Yi’s existence, presumably, Zhuang Mei would be even more anxious than she was to deal with Zhuang Yi.

As for whether Qi Zange would betray Zhuang Mei and defect to Zhuang Yi, Yan Qingwen thought that since Qi Zange could hear Jiang Yunhan’s inner thoughts, perhaps the possibility of her leaning toward Jiang Yunhan in the future was higher than her leaning toward Zhuang Yi.

At present, she still did not know what opportunity would cause Qi Zange to fall for Jiang Yunhan. But Jiang Yunhan’s inner thoughts had exposed her identity. She would inevitably think of every possible way to approach Jiang Yunhan and eliminate this hidden danger. Hopefully, before she could even figure out how her identity had been leaked, she would not first become infatuated with him.

Yan Qingwen would not immediately fire Qi Zange just because she was a commercial spy. After all, her current infiltration into Yan Corporation was not for the sake of obtaining any trade secrets. However, she could not be allowed to remain in Yan Corporation for too long either, to avoid her truly collecting some confidential information that might one day benefit Jiang Yunhan.

For this reason, she still had to let Qi Zange discover Zhuang Yi’s existence and divert both her and Zhuang Mei’s attention.

The only question was how to let Qi Zange discover Zhuang Yi’s existence without letting anyone realize that Yan Qingwen was borrowing someone else’s knife to kill.

When Yan Qingwen fell into thought, she became too absorbed. She did not even notice Wen Hebai getting up and walking around. Only when a shadow covered the space beside her did she come back to her senses.

Wen Hebai had one hand braced against the desk and the other resting on the back of Yan Qingwen’s chair. Her expression was normal, as though the two of them had not had a small quarrel because of Jiang Yunhan earlier.

“When are you getting off work? I’m hungry. Let’s go eat lunch!”

Yan Qingwen glanced at the time and only then realized that it was almost noon. She swept her gaze over the snack bags on the coffee table and asked, “You ate this many snacks and you’re still hungry?”

Are you a pig?

“Snacks can’t count as a proper meal. Proper meals still have to be eaten on time. Don’t you think so, President Yan?” When Wen Hebai called her “President Yan,” she deliberately dragged out the final syllable, causing Yan Qingwen to suddenly remember last night’s lingering intimacy.

She felt very embarrassed inside. Thinking about such things in broad daylight was truly too shameful.

Pretending to be calm, she avoided Wen Hebai’s gaze and said, “I’ll have a secretary pack lunch from the cafeteria and bring it up.”

“Why make it so troublesome? We can just go down and eat.”

Yan Group’s building had a cafeteria located on the middle floors of the building, spanning two floors. Because there was a meal subsidy and food in the city center was rather expensive, Yan Group’s employees all liked eating at the cafeteria. Until the recent “pointing at a rat and calling it duck” incident broke out, many cafeterias were affected. Some Yan Group employees would even rather order expensive takeout than eat at the cafeteria.

In order to reassure the employees, whenever Yan Qingwen did not have meal appointments, she would have her secretary pack food from the cafeteria and bring it up.

Since she personally set the example, the employees indeed returned to the cafeteria.

However, some people muttered that she only asked people to pack the food. Whether she actually ate it or not, only she knew.

Thinking of this, Yan Qingwen felt that Wen Hebai’s suggestion was actually quite good. She could use the opportunity to dispel some rumors.

“Let’s go.”

The lunch service time at Yan Group’s cafeteria was from 11:00 to 14:00, because not all employees got off work exactly at noon. Some departments had positions that required people on duty, so they ate in staggered batches.

When Yan Qingwen and Wen Hebai went downstairs, there were already quite a few employees getting food in the cafeteria.

Seeing the two of them appear together, the employees could not hide the excitement on their faces.

“P-President Yan actually came to the cafeteria, and she brought Wen Hebai.”

“Oh my god, it’s a living Wen Hebai.”

“I heard earlier that Wen Hebai came to work with President Yan today. I thought it was a rumor. I didn’t expect it to be true!”

“I really want to go up and ask Wenbao for an autograph.”

“By the way, since President Yan and Wenbao are married now, does that mean we can openly be Wenbao fans from now on?” Heaven knew that when they had heard before that Wenbao and President Yan were mortal enemies, they had been afraid President Yan would find out they were Wen Hebai fans. They had never dared to post support content on Moments, and they did not dare use any merchandise related to Wen Hebai at the company either.

Yan Qingwen turned her head and looked at Wen Hebai, who had a calm and confident smile on her face. “I didn’t expect Yan Corporation to have this many fans of yours.”

“After all, my charm is irresistible,” Wen Hebai said confidently.

Yan Qingwen did not deny this.

In the Yan Group work chat, employees in the cafeteria were frantically tagging their colleagues: “President Yan and Wen Hebai came to Cafeteria One!”

Employees who had originally been preparing to order takeout glanced at the group chat and rushed toward the cafeteria one after another. Those middle and senior managers also canceled their reservations at high-end restaurants, pretending that they often ate at the cafeteria too, and then had a chance encounter with Yan Qingwen.

Yan Qingwen knew nothing of the employees’ little schemes. When she saw Wen Hebai ask for two servings of water spinach, she was rather puzzled. “So you actually like eating water spinach this much?”

“Yes. I love eating hollow-hearted water spinach the most.” When Wen Hebai said “hollow-hearted water spinach,” every word was especially clear.

Yan Qingwen suddenly understood what Wen Hebai was implying, and her expression immediately became unnatural. So many employees were watching. Please put your pants back on!

“Eat less.” Yan Qingwen returned one plate of water spinach, which was then quickly snatched up by a Wen Hebai fan employee standing nearby.

The water spinach Wenbao didn’t want—she wanted it!

Yan Qingwen: “?”

Should she start cleaning up Yan Corporation’s fan culture?

Wen Hebai sighed regretfully. “Fine. I’ll listen to Wife.”

Yan Group employees: Good heavens, Wen Hebai is actually henpecked!

“President Yan.” Qi Zange followed the other secretaries to the cafeteria.

Yan Qingwen glanced at her and nodded faintly.

Qi Zange’s heart suddenly jumped. She somehow felt that President Yan’s gaze carried a deeper meaning, as if she had seen through the secret Qi Zange was hiding.

She comforted herself. It was because she had a guilty conscience and was overthinking things.

Because of this, Qi Zange seemed somewhat distracted for the rest of the day.

After finishing overtime that evening, Xiao Chen came to call her. “Want to go have a couple of drinks?”

Qi Zange came back to her senses, her gaze faint. “I didn’t expect Chief Assistant Chen to be a drunkard.”

They had drunk until past ten last night, and tonight she wanted to drink again. Aside from drunkard, Qi Zange could not think of any other possibility.

Xiao Chen smiled and said, “Isn’t it because I saw that you were absentminded all day and wanted to show some concern? If you have something on your mind and feel embarrassed talking about it at the company, then use the alcohol to tell me. Consider it a way to vent.”

Qi Zange was secretly startled and said unnaturally, “I don’t have anything on my mind. What could I possibly have on my mind?”

“What’s the most important thing for people in our positions? It’s reading expressions and observing moods. I don’t have much other ability, but my observation is especially meticulous. In my opinion, your state today was off. It seems like it started after the Jiang family came.” Xiao Chen asked nosily, “Do you know Third Young Master Jiang?”

“I don’t.” Qi Zange answered too quickly, which instead made people suspicious. After all, she had undergone special training. She quickly adjusted her expression. “I should say, I’ve seen news about him in the papers before. Today was the first time I saw him in person.”

Thinking quickly, Qi Zange tried to gather information. “By the way, Chief Assistant Chen, wasn’t Third Young Master Jiang said to be just a rich young master in the Jiang family who lived off dividends? Why did he come with the Jiang family’s executives today?”

The fact that the Jiang family had come to discuss cooperation with Yan Qingwen could not be hidden anyway, and the Jiang family would inevitably make a big deal out of this. By then, the news would be everywhere, so there was nothing much to conceal.

Xiao Chen explained the matter. Qi Zange instantly filled in a lot in her imagination: Jiang Yunhan’s previous idleness must have been an act. He must have secretly cultivated a huge force. Otherwise, it would be impossible for him to know her identity and the Deputy Sect Master’s arrangements. His return to Jiang Corporation this time was probably also purposeful.

Xiao Chen also filled in a lot in her imagination and asked with a heavy expression, “You couldn’t have taken a fancy to him, right?”

Qi Zange was startled and hurriedly said, “How could I take a fancy to him? Stop talking nonsense.”

“That’s good.” Xiao Chen breathed a sigh of relief.

Qi Zange felt that her behavior was abnormal and asked, “Is there some inside story here?”

After all, they were at the company, so Xiao Chen did not dare gossip casually. She used this opportunity to drag Qi Zange to Yiqi Bar, then said, “You know about how he pestered President Yan for seven years, right?”

Qi Zange nodded. “The whole internet knows.”

She had done her homework before coming.

“Don’t look at how President Yan hasn’t fallen out with him openly. In reality, President Yan really hates him. If you take a fancy to him and get together with him, then you can take triple salary and leave.”

Qi Zange: “…”

She already said she had not taken a fancy to him.

Originally, she had planned to find an opportunity to approach Jiang Yunhan and test exactly how much he knew. Now, it seemed she still had to change the plan, lest Yan Qingwen discover that she was getting too close to Jiang Yunhan and become wary of her.

At that moment, Xiao Chen lightly nudged her with her elbow. “You’re from C City, so you must know C City very well, right? Let me ask you something.”

Qi Zange said absentmindedly, “Go ahead.”

“Do you know about the Zhuang family of C City?”

“Pfft—” The milk in Qi Zange’s mouth sprayed out without warning.

Realizing her loss of composure, she did not even have time to ease the discomfort in her throat from choking. In a hoarse voice, she apologized to the bartender. “I’m sorry!”

Xiao Chen was somewhat speechless. “Why are you in such a hurry to drink milk? It’s not like anyone’s fighting you for it.”

Qi Zange coughed a few times, her face turning red from coughing. She worked hard to steady herself and asked, “Why are you suddenly asking about the Zhuang family?”

Her attitude drew Xiao Chen’s suspicion. “Is there something about the Zhuang family that can’t be asked? Why are you so nervous?”

“I’m not nervous. It’s just… the Zhuang family isn’t easy to provoke.” Qi Zange deliberately showed some awe. “In C City, there are five great families that must not be provoked. The Zhuang family is one of them.”

“What’s there to be afraid of? This is K City.” Xiao Chen took a sip of wine. “Recently, President Yan and Miss Su have been pestered by someone named Zhuang Yi. President Yan had someone investigate his background and discovered that he seems to have ties to the Zhuang family of C City. Since you happen to be from C City, I thought you might know something about the Zhuang family, so I wanted to ask you.”

“Zhuang Yi?” Qi Zange thought to herself. There was no one in the Zhuang family with that name. What ties could he have with the Zhuang family?

Wait!

Her pupils shrank, and she asked, “Do you have a photo of him?”

“I don’t have a proper photo, but when President Yan had someone investigate him, she provided a surveillance video.”

Xiao Chen pulled up a video of around ten seconds on her phone. It was one of the surveillance recordings from when Zhuang Yi had come to the Yan family to return clothes and apologize to Wen Hebai.

Qi Zange watched the video, and her heart shook.

It was actually him!

He had returned to the country?

No. She could put off reporting the matter of her identity being exposed to the Deputy Sect Master, but she absolutely had to report this person’s return to the country!

She found an excuse and ran out of the bar to make a phone call. “Deputy Sect Master, I discovered that Zhuang Yigu may have changed his name and returned to the country!”

In C City, inside a heavily guarded Chinese-style courtyard mansion, a woman lay on a lounge chair in a waterside pavilion. While looking at the bright moon, she played with the dagger in her hand. Under the moonlight, the dagger shone with a cold white gleam.

She had refined and striking features, deep eyes, and wore a silver-white floral long qipao with a slanted front. A cashmere shawl was draped over her shoulders. She looked classical, coldly beautiful, and carried an air of world-weariness.

“Don’t act rashly yet. If we alert the snake and let that dear younger brother of mine run away, that would be too much of a pity.” The woman’s thin lips parted slightly, and a cold smile curved at the corners of her mouth. “Also, tell Yan Qingwen that I want to meet her.”

Qi Zange was somewhat stunned. “Ah, Deputy Sect Master, this—”

“I think she deliberately let you know of Zhuang Yigu’s existence so that you would notify me. Since she has already played her cards face-up, wouldn’t it be boring if I didn’t follow along?”

Hearing this, Qi Zange recalled everything that had happened today, and a chill instantly ran down her spine.

Xiao Chen had always kept a tight mouth and would not easily reveal Yan Qingwen’s private matters to others, yet tonight, she had taken the initiative to reveal that Yan Qingwen was investigating Zhuang Yi.

At first, Qi Zange had thought Xiao Chen revealed it to help her quickly adapt to the chief assistant’s work. She had never imagined that President Yan had actually been setting a trap behind the scenes?!

Could it be that when President Yan recruited her, she had already known her identity?