My Possessive Boss Is Unexpectedly Needy - Chapter 41

Chapter 41

Li Ruixi’s trip abroad naturally couldn’t be hidden from Lu Yeyan. She explained hurriedly, “Actually, I know exactly who did this.” She lowered her head, looking overwhelmed with guilt.

Shen Ziqi watched the scene with a frown. As the saying goes, “the bystander sees most of the game.” Many people in the company had long ago seen through Li Ruixi’s true nature. However, given her special status and the fact that her dealings were essentially private matters between her and Lu Yeyan, no one dared to speak up.

“I was just about to report on this matter…” Shen Ziqi began.

“It was Yan Yucheng!” Li Ruixi cut in. Shen Ziqi took a sharp breath and fell silent.

Li Ruixi continued, “It’s all my fault. I just thought since we were friends once, I should help her out and get her treated. I never imagined that the moment she recovered, she would turn on us and claim… that Zining is a man. Not only that, she contacted the reporters directly. I couldn’t stop her, so I rushed back to find a solution, but I was a step too late.”

Hearing that Yan Yucheng had woken up, Yu Zining felt a weight lift from his chest. He had always carried a sense of guilt regarding her accident.

Li Ruixi glanced at Yu Zining and then at Lu Yeyan. “Yeyan… you were so reckless. If you wanted to do this, why didn’t you have a foolproof plan?” Her implication was clear: Why use a man when you could have found a woman?

Lu Yeyan suddenly grabbed Yu Zining’s hand. “There was no plan. He is the person I intend to spend the rest of my life with.”

Yu Zining looked up at Lu Yeyan, a wave of warmth flooding his heart. Li Ruixi’s expression flickered with shock before settling into an awkward smile. “Then… how do we solve the current crisis?”

Lu Yeyan spoke decisively: “Go to the design department. Tell them to drop what they’re doing. No more long dresses. We’re switching the entire line to menswear. Secretary Shen, stabilize the stock market. Have the PR department suppress the negative articles. Notify the press: we are holding a conference tomorrow.”

Shen Ziqi nodded and left. Li Ruixi looked at Lu Yeyan softly. “Make sure you rest. Don’t overwork yourself.” With one last lingering look at Yu Zining, she reluctantly departed.

“You have a plan?” Yu Zining asked once they were alone.

Lu Yeyan smiled. “Of course. You’ll see tomorrow. I’ll have someone take you home; don’t worry.”

Yu Zining furrowed his brow. “I’ll stay here with you.”

Lu Yeyan rubbed his temples with his long fingers. “How about you go to the lounge on the third floor? If you stay here, I won’t be able to focus. It’s late, and having you in my office makes my mind… wander.”

Yu Zining froze, then scrambled toward the door. “I’m going! I’m going to the lounge!” He fled the scene at top speed, leaving Lu Yeyan with a faint, amused curve on his lips.

…

Yu Zining hadn’t even reached the elevator when the doors slid open to reveal Li Yiyang! Their eyes met, and Li Yiyang’s face darkened. He lunged forward, dragging Zining into the elevator and gripping his wrist tightly.

“What are you doing?” Zining hissed.

Li Yiyang glared at him, fuming. “I knew it! You are Lemon! Why you? Why did you pretend to be a woman? What exactly are you trying to pull?”

The elevator doors closed, making the small space feel suffocating. Zining pushed Li Yiyang away and pressed the button for the third floor.

Standing with his back to Li Yiyang, Zining spoke softly: “I’m sorry. I didn’t have a choice. If I could stand in the light, I would have introduced myself properly the moment I met you.”

Li Yiyang leaned against the wall of the elevator and let out a long sigh. “What on earth are you two plotting?”

The doors opened. Zining said nothing more and stepped out. Li Yiyang watched his back, his feet feeling like they weighed a ton. His eyes were full of a complex mix of emotions as he pressed the button for the fourth floor to head to the design studio.

…

In the Design Studio

Li Ruixi sat in her private office, her mind racing back to what Yan Yucheng had said a few hours ago.

“What is this?” Li Ruixi had asked, staring at the small bottle of medicine Yucheng had pressed into her hand.

A murderous glint had flashed in Yan Yucheng’s eyes. “It’s a drug that destroys the vocal cords.”

Li Ruixi’s heart had hammered against her ribs.

Yucheng had sneered, “I know you work at YIY now. Everyone says I’m the stupid one, but I’m not. You love Lu Yeyan too, but you’re just better at hiding it. I imagine you see Yu Zining quite often.”

“What are you suggesting?”

“I’m giving you an opportunity. Just once. Make Yu Zining a real mute. For your own sake—and for Lu Yeyan’s.”

Li Ruixi gripped the bottle tighter, her eyes meeting Yucheng’s. “Yucheng!”

“Go. I’m tired.”

Now, sitting in her office, Li Ruixi held that same bottle, her heart filled with a strange, restless anxiety. Suddenly, the door burst open. Startled, she nearly jumped out of her skin and shoved the medicine into a drawer.

“Sister!” Li Yiyang stood there, looking at her pale face. He walked closer. “Are you sick? You look terrible.”

Li Ruixi gave a strained smile. “Oh, I’m fine. What are you doing here?”

Li Yiyang plopped into the chair opposite her. “The news, obviously. I came to see what’s happening.”

Li Ruixi sighed. “It’s a mess. Who would have thought Yu Zining was a man?”

SLAM! Li Yiyang’s hand hit the desk so hard it made Li Ruixi jump.

“Exactly! That Yu Zining is nothing but a liar. You have no idea—he has so many identities. He’s even my exclusive composer!”

“What did you say?” Li Ruixi stared at him in shock. “He has another identity outside of this?”

Realizing his slip, Li Yiyang wiped his mouth and stuttered, “No, I mean—it’s not a big deal. He just signed with our company to write songs. Anyway, I’m going upstairs to see Lu Yeyan.”

As he walked away, Li Ruixi’s eyes darkened. This Yu Zining is deeper than he looks. He’s everywhere. She realized she couldn’t let him stay any longer.

She opened the drawer, took out the bottle, and poured two small white tablets into her palm. Her lips curled into a cold smile as she stood up and walked out of her office.