The CEO and Her Gentle Director - Chapter 5

Lin Su accepted the 250-yuan transfer for the ride. Although the specific number carried a less-than-ideal connotation in slang, she knew that if she refused to accept it, that thorny rose of hers would undoubtedly sprout a few more sharp edges.

The next day at precisely 3:00 PM.

A sleek black sedan pulled to a smooth, punctual halt at the main entrance of the XM Group tower. Maintaining a deliberate distance, Lin Su rolled down her window, quietly observing the employees bustling back and forth as they loaded their materials onto the shuttle bus.

Director Ye herself was actively helping out.

The transport bus had been dispatched by the LT Group, offering more than enough space to ferry the entire team over. Standing by the vehicle, Ye Tong set down a small storage box in her hands and directed her subordinates to handle the equipment with care, occasionally stepping forward to assist them personally.

Ye Tong had changed into a new outfit today, though her style remained anchored in sharp, efficient professionalism. Her smooth, jet-black hair was tied back with a simple hair tie, and she wore a tailored, waist-cinching long-sleeve shirt dress that subtly revealed only the lower half of her smooth, porcelain legs.

Breathtakingly beautiful, yet undeniably capable. Watching Ye Tong manage the logistics with such swift, decisive precision, a faint smile quietly overflowed from Lin Su’s eyes.

Xiao Ziyu asked from the front seat, “Boss, since you’re already here, do you want to go over and greet Director Ye?”

“There is no rush. Let her finish her tasks first.”

Just as Lin Su finished speaking, Ye Tong happened to load the final suitcase into the luggage compartment. Turning around, her eyes instantly locked onto the familiar black luxury car parked not far from the building’s entrance. A subtle, indescribable ripple stirred in her chest, but the relaxed expression on her face remained entirely unchanged.

Once everything was in order, her assistant, Li Qian, called the team together to line up. Ye Tong cross-referenced the registry to count the heads: fifteen from the Project Department and five from the Design Department a total of twenty individuals, all accounted for.

“Alright, everyone board the bus.”

Upon hearing the director’s command, the department heads promptly led the staff onto the shuttle.

Stepping back a few paces, Ye Tong’s peripheral vision caught sight of Lin Su standing beside the black luxury car. She decisively reached into her handbag, pulled out a ring of keys, and handed them to her assistant. “Li Qian, go down to the garage and drive my car out.”

“Understood, Director Ye.”

Ye Tong had already calculated the mechanics of the situation: if Lin Su remained inside her vehicle, she would simply pretend to be oblivious. But since the woman had stepped out, professional courtesy demanded that she go over to exchange greetings. Thus, she walked directly toward the black sedan.

Anchoring a flawless corporate smile onto her features, she extended her hand to meet Lin Su’s grasp.

“My sincere apologies, President Lin. To think such a minor relocation would trouble the CEO of the LT Group to personally make the trip.”

Lin Su offered a calm, graceful smile. “It is no trouble at all. Given that this is the very first venture between our two groups, we bear a professional obligation to ensure a seamless reception.”

“Thank you, President Lin.” Ye Tong let out a polite, brief smile, checking her watch. “The hour is getting late; I should head over now.”

“If Director Ye doesn’t mind…” Lin Su gestured toward her passenger door. “Allow me to drive you there.”

“No—” Ye Tong had barely begun to voice a refusal when a sharp voice suddenly cut across the pavement: “Ye Tong!”

The familiar tone meant Ye Tong didn’t even need to turn around to identify the speaker. A faint headache crept into her temples as she watched a stunning woman step out of a car and stride toward them. With her exquisite makeup, bright eyes, and radiant, captivating beauty, it was none other than Ji Huaiqiu, who had been desperately trying to set up a date with her for days.

“Why are you here?”

“I just happened to be passing by.” Stepping forward, Ji Huaiqiu completely ignored Lin Su, who stood right beside Ye Tong, and deliberately pulled her friend a few paces away from the CEO. “I figured you were heading to LT this afternoon, so I thought I’d give you a lift since it’s en route.”

Turning her gaze onto Lin Su, Ji Huaiqiu found the woman’s face still anchored in that eternal, calm indifference. Rolling her eyes, she poked sarcastically, “President Lin is usually consumed by corporate affairs daily how on earth do you find such leisure today?”

Retracting her gaze from Ye Tong, Lin Su offered a concise, even retort: “Director Ji is no less leisurely than I am.”

Ji Huaiqiu choked on her words. She quickly hooked her arm through Ye Tong’s. “Let’s go, I’ll drive you.”

I absolutely refuse to let this old fox’s scheme succeed. Before Ji Huaiqiu could even direct a triumphant glare at Lin Su, a sleek red car smoothly pulled up to the curb, and Li Qian blinked out at them from the driver’s seat.

“Director Ye, your car is here.”

It was a perfectly timed arrival. Thankful for her own foresight, Ye Tong met Lin Su’s lingering gaze, intentionally shifting her eyes slightly to avoid direct contact. Slipping her arm out of Ji Huaiqiu’s grasp, she offered an apologetic smile. “My apologies to both of you, but I believe I will drive my own vehicle over. There is no need to trouble either of you.”

“Hey…” Aren’t we supposed to be best friends uniting to dismantle the old fox?!

Deeply frustrated, Ji Huaiqiu watched as Ye Tong turned on her heel, slid into her car, and drove off. Turning back to face the perfectly serene Lin Su, she fired off a sarcastic, gloating remark: “Look at that the bird has flown, and neither of us gets the prize. Thrilled, aren’t you?”

Seeing Ye Tong’s car disappear into the distance, Lin Su had zero intention of entertaining Ji Huaiqiu’s stubborn harassment. Yet, the moment she reached out to grasp her car door handle, she heard the woman speak from behind her:

“President Lin, could you find it in your heart to lift your noble hand and leave Ye Tong alone? Her current life is exceptionally fulfilling.”

Lin Su’s expression turned utterly frosty. She pursed her lips tightly, the veins on the back of her hand visible as her grip tightened around the handle.

Ji Huaiqiu pressed further, “Why must you return to disrupt her peace? You haven’t seen each other in nearly three years, correct? Where on earth were you during those three years? You shattered her heart so profoundly back then do you honestly believe she would ever turn back to you?”

Every single word carried a lethal sting, yet they were undeniable facts. Standing upright with an elegant poise, Lin Su turned around to face Ji Huaiqiu. Her crystal-clear gaze carried a natural, commanding authority that was completely devoid of emotion.

Having commanded the business sector for years, Lin Su possessed an innate, imposing aura of a true leader. Ji Huaiqiu, being roughly the same age as Ye Tong, was still far too green in comparison, and a cold shiver involuntarily ran down her spine under that intense gaze.

Fighting to maintain her composure, Ji Huaiqiu demanded, “She spent these past few years fighting tooth and nail to build herself up in Z City. The exact moment she returns, you instantly entangle yourself in her life. What exactly are you trying to accomplish?”

“You abandoned her back then without a single backward glance, and now you expect to chase her down and win her back? In your dreams!”

“Hey!”

Lin Su offered absolutely no response. Furious at the stone-cold wall she was hitting, Ji Huaiqiu snapped, “You absolute mute! Would speaking a single word kill you? How on earth did Ye Tong ever fall for someone like you back then! It was truly entirely worthless of her!”

“Lin Su! You old fox!”

The exact moment Ji Huaiqiu completely lost her temper, Lin Su abruptly relaxed her tightened fingers. Without uttering a syllable, she opened her car door and slid into the rear seat.

“Let’s go.”

“Understood, Boss.” Xiao Ziyu accelerated into the traffic, throwing a brief glare at Ji Huaiqiu through the window. This girl understands absolutely nothing about the mechanics of the situation, yet she acts like a protective watchdog. The two leads had already resolved the past misunderstandings back in Z City why is an outsider blindly interfering in their narrative?

As the car merged into the main street, Xiao Ziyu glanced at Lin Su’s expression via the rearview mirror.

Weighing her words, she offered gently, “Boss, Ji Huaiqiu is Ye Tong’s close friend, so she is naturally going to protect her. Please don’t take her remarks to heart. Back then… you were completely forced by circumstances beyond your control.”

“Mhm,” Lin Su responded quietly, her brows knitting slightly as her hands held a commercial contract.

Xiao Ziyu stole a few more glances at the mirror. Lin Su’s expression remained entirely normal, as though she were completely unfazed by Ji Huaiqiu’s tirade. The domineering CEO is finally ready to make a move, only to run straight into such a massive roadblock. We truly should have checked the calendar before leaving the office today; what an uphill battle.

Meanwhile, in the other car, Ye Tong was thoroughly reviewing the initial design drafts submitted by the Design Department. Remembering that the negotiations with their fabric supplier had hit a standstill, she asked, “Li Qian, did President Huang of the HJ Group agree to a meeting?”

Li Qian replied, “We haven’t received a confirmation from their end yet.”

She thought it over before adding, “Director Ye, word has it that Chairman Huang of the HJ Group shares a close personal and professional bond with President Lin. Regarding our fabric supply bottleneck, perhaps we could approach President Lin to see if she could pull a few connections?”

“Secure the meeting ourselves first. We’ll cross that bridge only if we fail,” Ye Tong replied without lifting her head, her fingertips steadily scrolling across her phone screen.

“Understood, Director Ye.”

Ye Tong always favored keeping the windows rolled down while riding. The incoming breeze disheveled a few stray locks of hair at her temples, drifting across her eyes and slightly obstructing her vision. She casually tucked them behind her ear, focusing intensely on the garment silhouettes, when a WeChat notification flashed at the top of her screen.

Lin Su: Have you arrived?

Tapping the message open, Ye Tong stared at the sudden text. Part of her wanted to leave it on read, but she rationalized that completely ignoring her core partner would be professionally improper. Her fingertips tapped out a concise response.

Ye Tong: Almost.

Lin Su: Let me know when you step out of the car.

Lin Su: I might be delayed by a few minutes.

Lin Su: The Project Department is on the twenty-fifth floor. The arrangements are finalized; you can head straight up.

Ye Tong: Mhm.

Half an hour later, the vehicles arrived at the LT Group headquarters. The moment Ye Tong stepped onto the pavement, the staff members were also disembarking from the shuttle bus. Since this was their very first time entering the LT tower, everyone looked eager yet distinctly nervous. Seeing their director stand before them instantly gave them a sense of security.

Ye Tong: I have arrived.

She fired the text over the moment her feet hit the ground.

Lin Su: Someone will be there to receive you.

The individual sent to greet them was actually LT’s Vice President. Ye Tong was no stranger to the LT Group; having spent three full years working here in the past, she naturally recognized the executive. The Vice President stared at her in absolute shock for a long moment, and during the enthusiastic process of helping them move their equipment, he accidentally slipped up multiple times, addressing her as “Assistant Ye.”

The leftmost wing of the twenty-fifth floor housed an exceptionally spacious, vacant office suite. For the twenty staff members from XM along with the director and her assistant a total of twenty-two individuals the workspace was more than sufficient.

Once Ye Tong had meticulously allocated the desks for every single team member, she scanned the perimeter a few times, her brows suddenly drawing together. Walking over to the threshold of the main workspace, she addressed the executive: “Vice President Chen, excuse me, but did your team allocate a private office for me?”

“Ah? Is there not one?” Vice President Chen hurriedly peeked inside the suite, scratching the back of his head with an embarrassed chuckle. “Director Ye, my sincere apologies. The logistics of office allocation don’t fall under my jurisdiction. Why don’t you give President Lin a call to inquire? Or perhaps Secretary Xiao?”

“There is no need to call, I am already here.” Xiao Ziyu happened to catch the tail end of their exchange and strode over with hurried steps. “Director Ye, your private office isn’t located on this floor. President Lin has made alternative arrangements.”

“Alternative arrangements?” A sudden, ominous premonition shot straight into Ye Tong’s chest.

Xiao Ziyu gave a mischievous blink, smoothly hooking her arm through Ye Tong’s to lead her toward the elevator banks. “Come with me and you’ll see. A perfectly quiet workspace with absolute zero external disturbance I guarantee Director Ye will be completely satisfied.”

Stepping into the cabin, Ye Tong’s lips twitched slightly as she watched Xiao Ziyu strike the button for the thirtieth floor.

From the twenty-fifth to the thirtieth floor took less than a minute. The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, leaving Ye Tong absolutely zero time to process the logistics. She stood pinned to the floor, refusing to budge.

“Come on out!”

“…”

“Adhering strictly to Director Ye’s stipulations, the only workspace that fits all the criteria happens to be the private office directly adjacent to the Executive Suite. It offers absolute silence and zero daily disturbances, ensuring Director Ye can focus on her duties with a perfectly peaceful mind.”

“…”

Ye Tong allowed herself to be led by Xiao Ziyu straight into the exact office she had once occupied as a personal assistant. The layout remained completely identical to the day she had walked out, to the point where she could almost trace the faint aroma of memories sealed away for years.

“Should Director Ye run into any bottlenecks regarding the project, the Boss sits right next door. The two of you can easily cross-reference and deliberate together—think of the efficiency!”

“Look, the Boss is actually in right now,” Xiao Ziyu added with a beaming smile.

The exact instant Ye Tong sat down in her executive chair, she instinctively turned her head. Separated only by two panels of clear, transparent glass, she once again witnessed that poised, breathtaking silhouette seated inside the CEO’s office exactly as she had years ago.

As if sensing the weight of Ye Tong’s gaze, Lin Su raised her eyes, offering her a gentle, soft smile.

Ye Tong could clearly map the definitive curve tracing the edge of Lin Su’s lips. The beauty and aura Lin Su possessed were entirely refined from the inside out exuding a timeless, magnetic sophistication that could easily steal one’s breath away. Yet, Ye Tong merely returned a perfectly polite, standard smile. Mid-smile, her fingers found the remote control resting on her desk. Aiming it straight at the double panels of glass, she hit the button.

With a crisp click, the transparent glass instantly frosted over into an opaque wall, completely severing the line of sight extending from the CEO’s office.

Xiao Ziyu watched the entire display, completely dumbfounded. She truly wondered what kind of internal narrative was running through Lin Su’s mind as she watched the submissive little lamb she had personally raised turn around to become such a formidable corporate powerhouse. Given the current mechanics of their interaction, how on earth was she ever supposed to successfully win her back?

Meanwhile, inside the Executive Suite, Lin Su quietly picked up her phone, tapped open her young niece’s WeChat chat box, and fired over a single line:

Lin Su: Shengheng, your aunt’s seduction strategy has suffered an absolute defeat.