My Childhood Friend, Who Is An Omega, Has Become My Personal Secretary - Chapter 41

Zhang Linen’s eyes are blurred, her face flushed red.

The interior of the car was filled with the rose-scented Alpha pheromones and the grass-scented Omega pheromones.

Zhang Linen’s eyes were hazy and her face was flushed; Ji Zeyuan was the same. The heavy breathing of the two people rose and fell one after another within the cramped space, sounding like trapped beasts in a jungle.

Ji Zeyuan took a few breaths to steady herself and tried to get up, but Zhang Linen was pressing nearly half of her body against Ji Zeyuan’s legs. The car interior was very small, and this posture made it difficult for her to move.

“Linen, let me get up first,” Ji Zeyuan said. Zhang Linen nodded with misty eyes and sat back in the passenger seat.

Ji Zeyuan supported her waist as she stood up. While rubbing her aching nape, she stole a glance at Zhang Linen. Zhang Linen had been staring at her the whole time, her pitch-black eyes deep and glowing with light.

At that moment, someone’s phone rang. Ji Zeyuan looked down and saw her phone had fallen onto the floor at some point.

“Father said Auntie Zhang is also there,” Ji Zeyuan said after picking up the phone and seeing the message.

A flash of unnaturalness crossed Zhang Linen’s eyes, and then she nodded: “Mm.”

Ji Zeyuan put the phone in her pocket and took the keys out of the armrest box: “We should head back first.”

…

It was late summer and early autumn. The greenery in the small garden was growing vigorously. A clear breeze brushed past, and the fragrance of flowers and grass drifted and overflowed with the moving air, adding a touch of softness to this solitary mansion.

Ji Zeyuan handed the keys to the driver. Zhang Linen turned her head, her smiling and tranquil gaze landing on the green lawn in the courtyard without a hint of impurity.

This place held too many beautiful memories; Ji Zeyuan had once fled from it, yearned for it, and been reluctant to leave it, but she had never forgotten it.

“What are you thinking about?” Ji Zeyuan asked softly.

Zhang Linen shifted her gaze to Ji Zeyuan’s face and gave a faint smile: “Thinking about doing… some fun things with you on the lawn.”

Ji Zeyuan: “…”

The voice of Auntie Zhang came from behind them. Ji Zeyuan pressed her fingers to her lips and coughed lightly before turning around. Auntie Zhang’s eyes were full of soft tears: “Xiao Yuan.”

Ji Zeyuan responded awkwardly: “Auntie Zhang.”

Beside her, Zhang Linen also followed suit, nodding with a cold expression.

Ji Cheng’s assistant came out of the door and invited the two of them inside: “The Chairman is waiting for you in the study. Please come in.”

While going upstairs, Ji Zeyuan’s feelings were very complex. Just now, she had not called Zhang Qian “Mother.” Truly, after twenty years, it was very difficult for her to change how she addressed her.

Compared to Ji Zeyuan’s internal chaos, Zhang Linen was much more composed. Her entire being was calm, as if she were an outsider to the situation.

Entering the study, Ji Cheng, who was sitting at the desk, looked up. Ji Zeyuan nodded slightly and said, “Father.”

Ji Cheng smiled faintly and pointed to the seats in front of him: “Have a seat.”

After the two sat down, Ji Cheng’s assistant brought several documents and placed them in front of Ji Zeyuan.

Ji Zeyuan looked closely; it was a notarization of a de facto adoption.

“Father, is it just this one thing? Nothing else?” After flipping through all the documents, Ji Zeyuan found that there were no stock transfer forms or anything of that sort as she had imagined.

Ji Cheng nodded and said, “After everything is settled, I will announce this to the public. That way, everyone will understand that the first-in-line successor of Jixia is still you.”

Ji Zeyuan frowned and asked, “What about Linen? She is the one who should inherit Jixia. I cannot snatch it away like this.”

Ji Cheng’s expression remained unchanged, but the corner of his mouth tightened as he glanced at Zhang Linen. Zhang Linen, who had remained silent, spoke calmly: “I already announced at today’s press conference that I am renouncing all inheritance rights.”

She spoke lightly, as if none of it mattered at all.

“Father, can you wait for me for a moment? I want to say a few words to Linen,” Ji Zeyuan said. Ji Cheng nodded without objection.

Having received permission, Ji Zeyuan took Zhang Linen’s hand and led her to the nearest empty guest room. As soon as the door closed, Ji Zeyuan couldn’t help but growl in a low voice: “Why did you do something so foolish?”

Zhang Linen frowned in confusion: “Are you angry?”

Ji Zeyuan covered her face and let out a long sigh, adjusting her tone: “I’m not angry, it’s just… it’s just that I can’t do this. It’s too unfair to you.”

Zhang Linen gazed at her fixedly, then shook her head: “Xiao Yuan, these things mean nothing to me. You only say this because your sense of morality is too high; you can only feel at peace if you return these things to me.”

Ji Zeyuan was speechless. That wasn’t exactly what she was thinking, but for a moment, she couldn’t find the right words to argue back.

“These things didn’t belong to me originally; they belong to the Chairman. Since he wants to do this, you cannot refuse Mr. Chairman’s fatherly affection and pity just because I don’t want to inherit Jixia.”

Zhang Linen spoke logically and calmly. Ji Zeyuan was left without a word.

“Let’s go. Let’s get this matter resolved first.”

Zhang Linen’s lips curled into a shallow smile, and the emotions overflowing from her pitch-black eyes were completely undisguised.

The strange feeling in Ji Zeyuan’s heart was hard to suppress. She looked at Zhang Linen, looking again and again, and finally placed her hand gently on her head and stroked it.

“The adoption notarization can be signed. We will talk about the inheritance rights later.”

Zhang Linen remained silent, quietly feeling the warm temperature of Ji Zeyuan’s palm.

After the matter was finished, Ji Cheng asked the two to stay for dinner, and Zhang Qian joined them as well. However, just as the meal began, Ji Cheng had to leave early due to company matters.

Ji Zeyuan felt somewhat awkward. After her last unpleasant encounter with Zhang Qian, their meeting today involved a complete change in identity.

Zhang Qian kept looking at Ji Zeyuan. After a while, she spoke: “Xiao Yuan, I went back and thought about what you said. It is indeed true that I didn’t take good care of Linen. It’s natural for you to resent me since you and Linen have such a good relationship.”

Ji Zeyuan glanced sideways at Zhang Linen. Seeing that Zhang Linen had no reaction, Ji Zeyuan ignored Zhang Qian as well.

Zhang Qian’s smile froze for a moment, then she spoke again: “Xiao Yuan, are you still not used to this? It’s okay. I won’t force you to call me Mother so soon. I… I also just found out, and I’m still not quite used to it yet.”

Hearing the last sentence, Ji Zeyuan’s brow twitched slightly. She knew that she was the only one at this table who had just found out. However, since everyone had kept it from her, there was no need for her to poke through that veil.

Though she currently didn’t understand why they only kept her in the dark.

Ji Zeyuan fell into deep thought and continued to ignore Zhang Qian. A brief flash of sadness appeared in Zhang Qian’s eyes. Zhang Linen, who was beside them, helped break the deadlock: “Her mind is very cluttered right now; her reaction to other people’s words might be a bit slow. Let’s eat first.”

This time, it was Zhang Qian’s turn to be unresponsive.

Throughout the meal, the dishes on the table were barely touched. Everyone had their own concerns, and no one was in the mood to eat.

As they were leaving, Zhang Qian called out to Ji Zeyuan.

“Xiao Yuan, are you free lately? I want to have a meal with you alone… or maybe go for a walk together.”

Ji Zeyuan instinctively looked at Zhang Linen first. Zhang Linen had her back to them, appearing as if she had no intention of interfering in the conversation.

Zhang Qian noticed the shift in Ji Zeyuan’s gaze. For some reason, as if a nerve had been struck, she suddenly broke down.

“What are you looking at her for? Did she say something to you?” Zhang Qian’s demeanor shifted from gentle to explosive as she shouted, pointing at Zhang Linen.

Zhang Linen turned around immediately, her expression somewhat helpless. She took Ji Zeyuan’s hand: “Let’s go, next time—”

Before Zhang Linen could finish, a loud slap landed on her face. Ji Zeyuan was stunned for a second, then shoved away Zhang Qian, who looked aggrieved even after hitting someone.

The right side of Zhang Linen’s face turned red at a visible speed. Ji Zeyuan checked it carefully, her voice trembling slightly: “I’ll call a doctor.”

As she spoke, she turned back and glared fiercely at Zhang Qian.

Zhang Qian was so angry her hands were shaking: “You… it’s you, isn’t it? You lunatic!”

Zhang Linen glanced at Zhang Qian and walked away in silence. Ji Zeyuan followed closely behind, glaring back at Zhang Qian with eyes full of indignation as she walked.

The sky had darkened. Dark clouds were pressing down menacingly, and a wild wind swept through, making the vegetation rustle loudly. Leaves fell like rain, and it was clear that a torrential downpour was imminent.

The driver had already driven the silver-black Maybach out of the garage and was waiting at the door. Zhang Linen opened the door and sat in the back seat; Ji Zeyuan followed and sat beside her.

“President Ji, where to?” the driver asked.

Ji Zeyuan said, “Home.”

At that moment, Zhang Linen, who was looking at the scenery with her head turned, suddenly spoke: “To the headquarters.”

She looked at Ji Zeyuan and said, “You didn’t go to the press conference today, and all sorts of rumors have started spreading. If you don’t go to the company now, everyone will think you have ‘stepped down.'”

Ji Zeyuan was at a loss for words. She didn’t dare say that the reason she didn’t go was precisely so she could ‘step down’ and return the position that belonged to Zhang Linen.

“What is wrong with Auntie Zhang? Your face…”

Zhang Linen interrupted her: “It’s fine. I’m not a glass bottle that shatters with a light tap.”

Ji Zeyuan felt Zhang Linen’s resistance to the topic. She hesitated for a moment and didn’t say anything more, only placing her hand on Zhang Linen’s and giving it a squeeze as a sign of comfort.

A few flashes of lightning streaked across the dark sky. A few seconds later, thunder roared, and a torrential rain poured down. Swaying branches rose and fell, and broken twigs and leaves were scattered in a mess.

They soon arrived at the company. The driver held an umbrella and got out to open the rear door. Ji Zeyuan looked at the majestic headquarters building standing tall in the wind and rain, her heart filled with various emotions.

“The rain is too heavy, you go in first,” Zhang Linen said.

Ji Zeyuan gazed at her, placing a kiss on her flushed right cheek. Zhang Linen’s eyelashes fluttered slightly. She looked at the driver in the rain and gave Ji Zeyuan a push, ushering her out of the car.

Entering the headquarters building, the first person to see Ji Zeyuan was the receptionist. Her eyes widened, and she was stunned for a long time before saying, “President Ji, you’re here.”

Ji Zeyuan’s expression was calm: “Yes. Good afternoon.”

She smoothed the slight wrinkles in her clothes and walked toward the elevator. In front of the elevator, the head of the Brand Planning Department was looking at her phone while holding a cup of coffee. When Ji Zeyuan walked over, the coffee in her hand almost slipped. After a moment of panic, she straightened up and said respectfully, “President Ji, good afternoon.”

Ji Zeyuan nodded slightly. The elevator doors opened, and several people walked out. When they saw Ji Zeyuan, they all froze in unison, as if they had been bitten.

After the shock, several people bowed in greeting: “Hello, President Ji.”

Ji Zeyuan responded with a uniform nod, appearing as cold and serious as usual.

The elevator ascended. Ji Zeyuan looked at her reflection in the elevator doors and quietly let out a breath.

After reaching the designated floor, the elevator doors opened again. Ji Zeyuan steadied her pace and stepped out of the elevator.

After the driver sent Ji Zeyuan into the building, he returned with the umbrella to pick up Zhang Linen. He opened the rear door, but the inside was empty; Zhang Linen was nowhere to be found.