Please Marry Me (GL) - Chapter 13

In the solemn conference room, Ding Lanqi was skillfully taking minutes. Suddenly, she saw President Shen—who had just been frowning impatiently at her phone—experience a drastic change in expression. She stood up abruptly.

“President Shen?” Ding Lanqi didn’t know what had happened, but for President Shen’s face to turn that grim, it couldn’t be anything good.

“Meeting adjourned!”

Ding Lanqi watched as President Shen, whose expression could only be described as terrifying, strode out of the room. She reacted quickly, instructing the assistant, Sun Zhi, to pack up Shen Siyun’s laptop and belongings, then hurried after her, shouting, “Adjourned! Adjourned!”

“President Shen, what happened?” Ding Lanqi squeezed into the elevator just before the doors closed. “Is there a problem with the coating project?”

“No.”

The tone was one of gritted teeth.

Ding Lanqi quickly filtered through possibilities in her mind. This usually meant a relationship issue—and lately, that only meant President Shen’s little lover.

“President Shen, do you want me to drive you, or—”

Ding. The elevator doors opened. Shen Siyun strode out. Ding Lanqi glanced at the floor indicator.

The second floor? Was the little lover on the second floor?!

At the Infirmary Door.

Jiang Yi was stunned. She immediately realized what that phone call meant: Shen Siyun was likely coming here to demand an explanation.

Does this mean she won’t be able to ride in Yin Lei’s car today to build rapport? Worse, Yin Lei might get scolded because of her.

Jiang Yi opened her mouth to explain, but Yin Lei reacted first.

She walked straight up to Xie Fulan and snatched the phone from her hand, her face cold. “What nonsense are you talking about?”

“Give me back my phone!” Xie Fulan looked at this intern—who was younger than her but taller—fuming as Yin Lei held the phone high, bullying her because she couldn’t reach it.

“Xie Fulan, your behavior is truly loathsome.”

Jiang Yi stared in shock. Those words were incredibly hurtful. Sure enough, Xie Fulan’s face changed instantly; her knuckles turned white as she clenched her palms, desperately suppressing her grievance.

However, Yin Lei acted as if she saw nothing. “You aren’t a child. Before you act, can’t you consider that some words can make others bear unwarranted infamy? You are a wealthy young miss with people to back you up, but others are not.”

Yin Lei placed the phone back in her hand. “Use your brain.”

“I don’t need you to lecture me!”

The atmosphere hit freezing point. As Xie Fulan’s eyes began to redden, Yin Lei maintained a cold, expressionless distance. Jiang Yi felt a sudden wave of guilt. If she hadn’t been injured, Yin Lei wouldn’t have been treating her, and this painful scene wouldn’t be happening.

Xie Fulan finally burst into tears, covered her mouth, and ran away.

Seeing things spiral out of control, Jiang Yi bolted upright, intending to catch her and explain. But the pain in the top of her foot instantly radiated through her sole. It felt like stepping on a sharp object; waves of numbness shot through her ankle. Her center of gravity shifted, and she fell forward.

“Careful!”

The sound of fabric tearing echoed in her ears. Jiang Yi felt like she had fallen into a pile of soft cotton. Her vision was a bit white; she couldn’t see clearly.

But Yin Lei’s voice came from above: “Are you okay?”

Jiang Yi propped herself up by Yin Lei’s shoulders. Her messy hair obscured part of her vision. When she raised a hand to tuck a lock of hair behind her right ear, the scene before her made her pupils shrink in shock.

She frantically glanced at her left hand—she was clutching a torn corner of Yin Lei’s shirt. And right before her were two full mounds supported by Yin Lei’s flesh-colored lace bra.

Help… me. How could she be this embarrassing?

“Jiang Yi.” A familiar voice came from the doorway.

Jiang Yi’s mind was a mess. Hearing Shen Siyun’s voice made her brain go completely blank. She glanced toward the door in disbelief.

Shen Siyun stood less than a meter away, her brow furrowed as she stared at the two of them. Her lips were pressed tight, followed by a soft, sharp scoff of pure mockery.

“So this is the ‘virtuous wife’ you’re playing at.”

“I…” Jiang Yi was speechless.

Ding Lanqi, seeing the scene, stood with her mouth wide open, unable to process it for a long time. Catching sight of Xie Fulan’s figure at the other end of the corridor, she wisely made an excuse to leave. “President Shen, it looks like Miss Fulan is upset. I’ll go check on her.”

After Ding Lanqi left, Yin Lei said, “President Shen,” and lowered her head to unhurriedly fasten the remaining buttons. Perhaps it was just her personality, but she did everything slowly and steadily—even buttoning a shirt.

For the first time, Jiang Yi thought: Yin Lei really needs to change her temperament.

Too slow! An assembly line worker could do it faster. She had no sense of urgency. At this rate, even if Shen Siyun hadn’t been suspicious, she’d definitely think something was going on!

Jiang Yi reached out and snatched the buttons, her hands trembling as she tried to frantically fasten the torn shirt. Yin Lei’s hands stayed mid-air. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the woman at the door, whose face was now as black as coal.

In her haste, Jiang Yi missed the buttons several times. Panicked, she blurted out, “Shen Siyun… it’s not what you think.”

The explanation received no response. The click of high heels sounded; Jiang Yi turned her head quickly, but only caught the sight of Shen Siyun’s disappearing skirt.

“Shen Siyun!” A surge of grievance welled up from her heart. Using Yin Lei for support, Jiang Yi stood up, wanting to rush out and stop her.

The pain in her foot struck again. She endured it for one step, but on the second… her body swayed. Yin Lei, quick-witted, caught her again.

“Nngh…” A low, suggestive moan escaped Jiang Yi’s lips.

Yin Lei froze. Jiang Yi froze too, covering her mouth in shame. “I didn’t…”

The retreating sound of high heels stopped abruptly and then started again, approaching rapidly with a rage that was about to explode.

“Jiang Yi!”

Jiang Yi’s arm was seized and she was yanked away from Yin Lei. She stumbled on one foot into Shen Siyun’s arms.

“Have you lost your mind!” Shen Siyun fought to suppress her fury, refusing to acknowledge the moan she just heard. The final string of her sanity snapped. “Do you even remember you’re a married woman?! What are you doing?! Even if you and I are over, have you considered your wife’s feelings?!”

Enduring her rage, Jiang Yi stared blankly at her livid face. She realized for the first time that when Shen Siyun got ruthless, she’d even slap her own face (by defending the wife she hated).

Didn’t she hate Song Rao? Why was she so genuinely upset on Song Rao’s behalf? It almost made Jiang Yi think they were best friends.

“President Shen, things aren’t what you think.”

“I don’t need you to tell me how to do things!” Shen Siyun’s gaze shifted coldly to Yin Lei. “The fair is going to run itself, is it? The coatings are going to walk through the door themselves, are they? I didn’t promote you so you could flirt with her here!”

“My apologies, President Shen. I will reflect on this,” Yin Lei said as she straightened her clothes and walked out. “A 3,000-word self-reflection will be sent to your email tonight. I am going to preside over the fair now.”

Before leaving, Yin Lei paused and reminded her, “Her foot is injured.”

After she left, the atmosphere in the infirmary became subtle.

Because she was supporting herself on one leg, Jiang Yi had to grip Shen Siyun’s waist. The high-quality fabric felt smooth under her fingers, and she could faintly feel the firm lines of the muscle beneath.

Jiang Yi pursed her lips and coughed. “Shen Siyun, it really isn’t what you think.”

Shen Siyun’s expression was icy; she wasn’t listening to anything. She let out a cold, mocking sneer. “Then what was that sound for? Did she make you ‘high’ in that short amount of time?”