The Down and Out CEO’s Pursuit of Her Wife [GL] - Chapter 2

Five Years Later

A salty breeze swept across the surface of Victoria Harbour, sending tiny, rice-sized droplets of white spray leaping up to crash against the embankments of the Western District Pier. The people passing by had long since grown accustomed to this seaside life. To them, the scent of seafood in the air, the schools of fish and jellyfish in the water, and the crimson sunsets on the horizon were nothing more than ordinary sights.

However, being immersed in the ordinary did not mean life lacked pleasure. Whether they were long-time local residents or mysterious newcomers, everyone was currently enjoying the cool relief brought by the sea breeze. This refreshing summer evening air was something no air conditioner could ever replicate.

The “mysterious newcomer’s” phone suddenly rang. Two years ago, calls had come in quite frequently, but things were different now. There were probably only three people left in the world who still remembered her: her father, her mother, and Lin Ling.

Seeing the “+86” country code at the start of the number caused a slight stir in the woman’s heart. Could it be her? As Mu Shan pressed the answer button, she unconsciously slid her left hand into her trouser pocket, gripping the fabric tightly. “Hello.”

“Hello, is this Miss Mu? I’m the HR representative from Baguo Entertainment Co., Ltd…”

It wasn’t her. Then again, it likely never would be. Ruoning had worked so hard to leave, why would she ever deliver herself back to the door?

The HR person on the other end rattled off a barrage of information that held no substance for Mu Shan. Mu Shan let her mind go blank, turning her head to watch a small beagle playing nearby.

HR: “Miss Mu, that’s the basic situation of our company. I wonder if you’re interested in this position?”

“Mm,” Mu Shan let out a reflexive hum after the person finished speaking.

HR: “That’s great! Mr. Wei will be in the office all day next Friday. Do you think a Friday appointment would be suitable?”

Mu Shan’s sensitivity to time hadn’t completely vanished despite her years of wandering. The word “Friday” instantly snapped her consciousness back into the call. “Friday?”

HR: “Yes. Is Friday convenient for you? If so, I’ll finalize the time with Mr. Wei.”

As soon as the HR representative stopped talking, an abnormal silence followed, so quiet that you could have heard a pin drop. The HR rep broke into a sweat on the other end of the line. For an HR person at a small startup, every phone call felt like they were the ones being interviewed, rather than the other way around.

“Mm.” This time, Mu Shan’s response was only half-reflexive. The other half was because she was truly ready to start over. Of course, perhaps there was also a tiny shred of hope, going back offered a better chance of finding her than hiding away in Hong Kong.

Mu Shan tucked her phone back into her pocket, straightened her back, and walked toward the two small dogs rolling around on the ground. Standing next to them were three or four older women. Mu Shan spoke politely to one of them wearing a patterned silk scarf, “Mrs. Zhang, I’m taking Little Grape back now.”

Mrs. Zhang pulled her beagle back, and the two dogs ended their play session. “Bye-bye, Miss Mu.”

Watching Mu Shan’s receding figure, the women began to gossip.

“She doesn’t seem to have a job, and no husband either”

“She lives at the Peak, she’s very rich.”

“People from the mainland have a lot of money, but it’s hard to say how they got it.”

“Maybe she’s a mistress for some big boss.”

“My daughter says her ‘vibe’ is a bit strange, she might be a les…”

“Shh, stop it, it’s not good to talk behind people’s backs.”

Half an hour before Mu Shan’s flight landed, a neatly dressed woman with short hair was already waiting outside the airport’s VIP channel. There was nothing about this woman’s appearance that would draw special attention, but upon closer look, one would realize that achieving such “anonymity” took significant effort. Her clothes were a non-aggressive grey, her hair was kept at a length that wouldn’t cause gender confusion, and even her movements were perfectly measured, both professional and understated.

This was likely the professional instinct Lin Ling had developed after years of working as an assistant and administrator.

Once Mu Shan walked out of the VIP channel, Lin Ling became even more of a “background character.” After all, most people walking beside Mu Shan would naturally become a foil to her. It wasn’t necessarily that Mu Shan was more dazzling than others, but rather a matter of her sheer presence.

Lin Ling bowed slightly as she took the handle of Mu Shan’s suitcase, following about half a meter behind and to the side. “President Mu, staying in a hotel might be uncomfortable. I bought a small apartment in the city center. It’s a bit cramped, but if you don’t mind, would you like to stay at my place for now?”

Mu Shan turned her head slightly and declined without hesitation, “No need, I’ll stay at a hotel.”

Lin Ling hadn’t expected Mu Shan to actually turn and speak to her, and she nearly met Mu Shan’s gaze directly. Luckily, her reflexes were quick, and Lin Ling looked down at the floor, replying steadily, “Understood.”

“Contact an agent tomorrow, I want to see two properties. In a moment, take me directly to pick up my car.” After saying this, Mu Shan realized her words were a bit inappropriate. First, Lin Ling was no longer her assistant. Second, Lin Ling was now part of management, so ordering her around like this was uncalled for. She added, “Do you have time?”

Mu Shan being polite made Lin Ling feel a bit uneasy. She quickly said, “I have time, I have time. President Mu, whatever you need, just give the word. I’ll ask my real estate agent friends to help find a place as soon as possible. What do you think about the neighborhood you used to live in?”

Mu Shan had no desire to return to that place of heartbreak. Furthermore, there was no need to sink all her spare cash into a house right now. “Too far from Baguo.”

Lin Ling: “President Mu, are you really going to Baguo? Actually, over the past few years, many headhunters have tried to contact you through me. I didn’t think you had plans to return, so I never gave out your contact info. If you want to go back to work, the opportunities they offer would be much more competitive…”

Mu Shan didn’t care about the job at Baguo or any other job opportunity. She walked ahead in silence, opened the passenger door herself, and sat in Lin Ling’s car.

Lin Ling felt a bit guilty for failing to open the door for Mu Shan. After getting into the car, she became even more cautious, constantly watching Mu Shan out of the corner of her eye, afraid of missing any other duty.

Mu Shan was direct. As soon as she was in the car, she asked, “Any news of Ruoning?”

Lin Ling’s heart skipped a beat. Her hand hovered over her seatbelt for several seconds before she finally clicked it into the socket. “Not yet.”

Mu Shan leaned her head to the right, resting it against the car window. She blinked slowly a few times, then sat up straight again, propping her right elbow on the window ledge and resting her chin on the back of her hand.

Lin Ling had never seen Mu Shan look so defeated. After starting the car, she completely forgot to step on the gas, staring blankly at Mu Shan while gripping the steering wheel.

It was as if Mu Shan’s eyes were covered in a layer of plastic wrap, slowly filling with moisture. Beneath that mist, the bloodshot corners of her eyes became painfully obvious. “You never even looked for her, did you?”

“I…” Mu Shan’s certain tone made the already panicked and guilty Lin Ling even more restless. Her fingers dug into the leather steering wheel cover, leaving deep nail marks. It was true, she had never searched for An Ruoning’s whereabouts. The moment she had defied Mu Shan’s orders and let An Ruoning go years ago, she had already made her choice. Sometimes, sympathy simply outweighed the rules.

However, the Lin Ling of that time had no idea that her decision would deal such a massive blow to Mu Shan. The resignation and the sale of the house and car five years ago were shocking enough, but she never expected that five years later, Mu Shan would actually shed tears over this in front of her.

It took Lin Ling a long time to regain her composure. She lightly stepped on the accelerator. Only after the car had traveled a few hundred meters did she dare to speak to the now calm and expressionless Mu Shan again. “President Mu, you’re tired today. Go back to the hotel and rest first. Tomorrow, I’ll arrange a place for you to relax.”

Mu Shan didn’t speak. Lin Ling immediately understood that silence meant refusal. Moreover, the gloom on Mu Shan’s face had already resurfaced. Even someone who hadn’t worked beside her for years would be able to feel the shift in her mood.

Perhaps someone who appeared completely ordinary to others was an extraordinary existence in the heart of another. Lin Ling became even more certain of An Ruoning’s status in Mu Shan’s heart. She promptly shut her mouth and drove in silence. If she hadn’t been soft-hearted back then, what would have happened to the two of them?

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