Married The Crybaby Childhood Crush First, Then Fell in Love - Chapter 3

“President Yan, the third-quarter financial report is out, please take a look,” Secretary Yu Fei placed the document in front of Yan Qiu.

Yan Qiu glanced over the dense text on the white paper and then flipped open the prospectus underneath.

Yu Fei said, “You have a meeting in five minutes. Here are the meeting materials.”

Yan Qiu took off her gold-rimmed glasses and said, “Keep the dinner time free. Postpone the meeting with President Liu.”

Her gaze fell on the file about Lin Wanqing and a new brand’s perfume packaging that were on the desk.

Yan Qiu was in no hurry about the upcoming meeting. “Do you smell today’s scent in the office?”

Yu Fei took a moment to savor it, noticing the freshly changed scent. “It smells like… pine needles?”

The secretary knew that her boss was very fond of the products from a small, domestic niche perfume studio called “Su Po” . All the perfumes she wore and the office’s incense came from this brand. The founder was very low-key and had never appeared in public media.

The scent of pine needles was full of mystery and quality, slowly circulating in the spacious office, mixed with the aroma of cedar, which added a sense of relaxed solitude, as if being in a jungle. If one paid close attention, they could detect the unique cool dampness of the forest.

Faint and elusive, like a person living in a room full of orchids who no longer notices the fragrance, Yan Qiu was used to working in a space where this perfume was present.

Yan Qiu unwrapped the new perfume. “Has Su Po agreed to the investment?”

Yu Fei shook her head. “The founder hasn’t given a definitive answer. It seems they don’t want to expand the brand.”

Yan Qiu paused. She was a little worried that this small brand might quietly go bankrupt in an unknown corner.

Yu Fei reminded her again, “Boss, the meeting started five minutes ago. Everyone is waiting for you.”

Yan Qiu gave a faint “mm” of acknowledgement, feeling annoyed by the endless meetings every day.

She picked up Lin Wanqing’s file, maneuvered her wheelchair into the conference room, and took the head seat.

All attendees anxiously observed their big boss out of the corner of their eyes, holding their breath, cold sweat dripping from their temples to their chins.

Yan Qiu’s sharp eyes peered through her gold-rimmed glasses. “Begin the report.”

The attendees nervously started their PPT presentation, while Yan Qiu leisurely leaned back in her wheelchair, opening Lin Wanqing’s file.

Date of birth, schools attended, relationships, personality preferences, detailed down to how many times her latest thesis was revised by her advisor.

Yan Qiu quietly perused the information which was completely unrelated to the entire meeting, yet no employee dared to relax their guard.

Sitting in her wheelchair, her fingers gently resting on the ruby-inlaid cane, she was more intimidating than if she were standing.

Yan Qiu asked, “The ‘hobbies’ column for Miss Lin is empty?”

Yu Fei leaned over and said, “The hobbies are a composite judgment based on Miss Lin’s childhood enrollment reports and what the Lin family members said.”

Yan Qiu’s expression silently rebuked her secretary for her incomplete work.

Yu Fei explained with distress, “The Lin family said Miss Lin likes reading, painting, and making clothes. The enrollment reports were very perfunctory.”

She had only superficially investigated Miss Lin. If there were unknown hobbies, the person could keep them private. She couldn’t imagine Lin Wanqing having anything she had to hide.

As the meeting concluded, Yan Qiu’s fingers gently tapped the desktop, as if pondering an issue concerning the company’s survival.

Yan Qiu mused, speaking softly, “She liked to plant flowers when she was little. Doesn’t she love it anymore?”

Yu Fei didn’t hear clearly. “What did you say, Boss?”

Yan Qiu remained silent, maneuvering her wheelchair out of the office.

“Send the meeting minutes to my email. Revise the plan for next month’s grand show again.”

Seeing Yan Qiu leave, everyone in the conference room breathed a sigh of relief. The shirt on the back of the employee who had just given the PPT report was already soaked with sweat.

Yan Qiu returned to her office, propped the ruby-inlaid cane on the floor, and rose from her wheelchair naturally and swiftly to sit in the soft black leather chair.

There was no trace of the despondency or distress of a person with a leg disability; her posture was very graceful.

Someone from the secretary’s office knocked and said, “Boss, Mrs. Qiao is here to see you.”

Yan Qiu placed her glasses on her nose bridge, smiling faintly as she glanced at Lin Wanqing’s graduation photo on the screen.

“Invite her up.”

Two minutes later, Qiao Lihua presented a fawning smile at the doorway. Her styling was elaborate down to every hair strand, but no matter how expensive the makeup she wore, it couldn’t hide the wrinkles around her eyes and the harshness in her gaze.

Yu Fei walked ahead, leading the way for Qiao Lihua. “Mrs. Qiao, please come this way.”

Qiao Lihua chuckled, “I’ve prepared our Wanqing’s birth date and time. I heard Elder Master Yan is quite superstitious. Do you think we should find a master to calculate it?”

“It’s not me boasting, but our Wanqing has a top-notch personality. She’s quiet and causes no trouble, she’ll surely satisfy President Yan.”

Yu Fei looked at her deeply, maintaining a professional smile.

“The boss will decide everything.”

Yu Fei muttered to herself: She really looks like an old procuress eager to sell a courtesan…

Qiao Lihua quickly nodded. “Yes, yes, everything depends on President Yan’s wishes.”

She got pregnant with Lin Wanqing after getting drunk with someone in a bar when she was young. When she found out, it had already been over a month. Fortunately, her family arranged for her to marry her current husband. Her husband was often away, but he was considerate and handed over all the family’s finances to her. When he returned and saw Lin Wanqing, he was happy for quite a while.

Qiao Lihua did not want Lin Wanqing, this variable, to ruin her current life as a wealthy madam. She quickly wanted to marry her off to avoid any trouble.

She was both startled and afraid of Lin Wanqing. There was no motherly love left, only a feeling of burden. The only hint of mother-daughter affection she had was all an act for her husband.

It was almost time for the scheduled meeting with Lin Wanqing. Yan Qiu tidied her hair in the mirror and smoothed out the creases in her clothes.

She gently stroked Lin Wanqing’s childhood photo, her eyes filled with tenderness.

Her little girl had now grown into a great beauty.

Yu Fei knocked on the office door. “Boss, Mrs. Qiao is here.”

Yan Qiu hadn’t wanted to see her but gave a faint nod to indicate her presence.

Qiao Lihua dared not put on the airs of an elder in front of this great figure. “President Yan, when do you plan to formally meet Wanqing?”

Yan Qiu said, “I will arrange it.”

Her fingers gently tapped the desktop, indicating her current mood was not good.

Seeing Yan Qiu’s indifference, Qiao Lihua felt a little embarrassed and spoke in detail about Lin Wanqing. Yan Qiu listened attentively, but the speed of her finger tapping on the desktop increased.

Da-da-da, it echoed in the office filled with the scent of pine needles and cedar, making people’s hearts clench.

Qiao Lihua swallowed, her face strained from smiling. She was eager for the two to marry quickly so she could get the fifty million investment.

She could secretly pocket a considerable amount by manipulating the factory’s allocation.

Qiao Lihua gave a smug smile. “President Yan, a mother knows her daughter best. Wanqing has a soft nature and is easy to manipulate. If you later like someone else, she wouldn’t dare say much.”

Yan Qiu frowned, and even Yu Fei’s professional smile faltered.

Is this something a mother should say?

She placed Qiao Lihua’s coffee cup down on the tea table with a clatter, warning her, “The boss’s private life is not for anyone to interfere with.”

Qiao Lihua’s face paled, having said the wrong thing, and she quickly tried to salvage it, “I mean Lin Wanqing has no money and is still in school. If she’s disobedient, she’s easy to control.”

She had heard that Yan Qiu had an unpredictable temper and was rumored to be violent towards others, perhaps even beating people. She deliberately tried to appease her by saying this.

Yan Qiu said, “Yu Fei, see the guest out.”

Yu Fei stood in front of Qiao Lihua. “Madam, this way please.”

Qiao Lihua looked bewildered and frightened. “President Yan, I—”

The fawning smile on her face had not yet faded but had turned completely pale.

Yan Qiu’s cold, emotionless gaze fell on Qiao Lihua, looking at her like an inanimate object.

“Hearing your words, it’s hard to imagine you are Lin Wanqing’s mother. Even the pork vendor at the market is gentler than you.”

Qiao Lihua rushed to make amends. “I, I didn’t mean it that way. I’m doing all this for Wanqing’s good. She…”

Yan Qiu interrupted, “You should first go check whether the factory at home meets the investment standards customized by our company. I will have someone properly evaluate and review that investment.”

Qiao Lihua’s face instantly went white. The fifty million investment was something she had coveted for a long time.

The supplier’s wife had a new necklace this year, and she hadn’t gotten anything yet. How could she have the face to go out and play cards?

“Please, please reconsider, I’m very good to Wanqing. If you don’t believe me, ask her—the contract has been signed, you can’t go back on the investment!”

“The formal contract has not been finalized. I can cancel it at any time,” Yan Qiu waved her hand, signaling Yu Fei to take the noisy middle-aged woman away.

She continued to focus on her perfectly ironed clothes, hesitating whether to add a brooch.

Before leaving, she intentionally sprayed some perfume.

Her little rabbit should be cherished and respected in every way.

The wind was strong in the evening. Lin Wanqing stood at the intersection, pulling her beige overcoat tighter around her.

She exhaled a puff of white air, rubbing her frozen, stiff fingers vigorously. Her knuckles were red from the cold, and a soft, pink flush appeared on her nose and cheeks.

Lin Wanqing occasionally checked her phone for Yan Qiu’s message, nervously kicking small stones on the roadside with her small leather shoe.

Yan Qiu, whom she had only met once, didn’t seem as bad-tempered as the rumors suggested. Her mother said Yan Qiu would hit people, and that ebony cane in her hand must hurt when it struck someone. Lin Wanqing was immediately frightened by the scene she had conjured in her mind.

Could Yan Qiu, who looked like a noble cat, really be a person who beats her wife…?

She prayed she would be beaten lightly; she was really afraid of pain.

A conspicuous black Bentley Mulsanne’s headlights cut through the darkness and stopped in front of her.

Through the car window, Yan Qiu saw the delicate-faced Lin Wanqing standing quietly on the roadside, cool and detached, with an untouchable sacredness, yet the pink tip of her nose and cheeks made her look adorable.

Yan Qiu was ten minutes early. It seemed Lin Wanqing had been waiting there for quite a while.

Yan Qiu opened the car door, smiling and winking at her. “Sorry to keep you waiting, get in.”

Lin Wanqing’s eyes brightened.

Her gaze subtly fell on the ebony cane in Yan Qiu’s hand, and she visibly trembled in surprise.

Yan Qiu wondered, “Is it cold in the car?”

Could she be afraid of me?

“No, it’s not cold, it’s very warm.” Lin Wanqing was like a rabbit whose ears had been caught, trying hard to move her gaze away from the cane.

She trembled even more violently…

Yan Qiu: “…?”