“Jin Yitang will undoubtedly keep encroaching into the market and take up Huayao Corporation"s share of the consumer base, so I would think that it does pose a severe threat to your organization. But I have a way that will help Huayao Corporation mitigate its risks,” said Zhang Dashan, speaking like an expert.

Shen Qingyan"s interest was instantly piqued, and she asked, “What"s that?”

Zhang Dashan cleared his throat dramatically and explained, “As you very well know, G.o.ddess Su and Old Xiao are husband and wife. So, it will come as no surprise that Sumir and Luo Workshop would eventually merge, sharing the pastry market between themselves as equals. Now, just think… If both of us were to find ourselves in a similar relations.h.i.+p, we could merge Jin Yitang and Huayao Corporation. So you see…”

“Enough!”

Shen Qingyan threw that one word right back at him before he could finish.

“Huh?”

Zhang Dashan was embarra.s.sed. “Well, I"m just putting it out there, so there"s no need to get all riled up,” he said.

He thought to himself, I"m doomed! She"s not interested in me, and this plan will never work!

Shen Qingyan refused to pay any more attention to Zhang Dashan and stormed off.

“Going after someone that is so obviously out of your league–how shameless can you get?” said Chai Zhiying, mocking him.

Zhang Dashan retorted, “Listen up, Menopause. I"m going to make sure I get President Shen because of what you just said. And when that happens, I"m sure the sound of you slapping yourself will be nothing short of a symphony.”

“You idiot! Who are you calling Menopause?”

Chai Zhiying was so enraged that she could not contain herself–she found the moniker he gave her incredibly insulting!

“There you go, your response befits the description perfectly,” he quipped.

Zhang Dashan raised a brow with an indifferent expression on his face, and then he chased after Shen Qingyan like the philanderer he was. “Slow down, President Shen, wait for me!” he called after her.

“You shameless idiot! Do you think Miss Shen is someone who would respond to your affections? Why don"t you take a good look in the mirror?” Chai Zhiying sneered as if putting a curse on the man.

Close by, Li Zimeng and Luo Qi could not help but shake their heads as they witnessed the awkward exchange of insults. They were no stranger to Zhang Dashan"s temper and personality, but they had no complaints about his capabilities at work. Xiao Luo had handed Luo Workshop over to him to manage, and he had done an excellent job. He was an exceptional and competent leader. They were wary of Zhang Dashan because they were aware that he indulged in a debauched lifestyle. He was not the kind of man you would want to date or marry.

Suddenly, Li Zimeng"s phone rang. She looked at it, and it was Xiao Luo calling. She quickly took the call.

“President Xiao!” she answered.

“Get me a new female employee"s uniform, the same type and size you would wear,” Xiao Luo requested.

A new uniform?

What was going on? Was this for Su Li?

Xiao Luo and Su Li, had they been…?

Li Zimeng allowed her mind to wander, and her face flushed when she came up with a possible scenario. She found it unbelievable. She was startled in shock but quickly came back to her senses. She nodded as she replied, “Yes, I… I will get it for you immediately!”

“Thanks,” Xiao Luo said and cut the call.

Luo Qi saw Li Zimeng standing in shock with the phone in her hand, so she probed curiously and asked, “What"s wrong, Zimeng?”

Li Zimeng blinked and snapped back to reality. With a laugh, she said, “Err, it"s n-nothing…”

With an issue like this, the fewer who knew, the better.

“You help President Zhang handle them, Luo Qi. There"s something I have to see to,” Li Zimeng said.

“Sure, don"t worry. President Zhang and I will be able to handle it. You do what you have to,” Luo Qi said with a giggle.

Li Zimeng nodded in acknowledgment and walked away quickly.

In the conference room, Su Li"s eyelids felt heavy as her chest heaved in exhaustion. She laid in Xiao Luo"s arms, fully satisfied. The conference room table had been turned into a makes.h.i.+ft bed, and there was the heady scent of love lingering in the air.

Suddenly, she snapped back to her senses. Her eyes were no longer gla.s.sy and unfocused. She took a look around the room before she realized with a start–what had she done with this man?

When she recalled the image of her calling Xiao Luo her husband and using a slew of honey dripping words, even her dimples turned red. She cursed herself for bringing shame to her ancestors in such an embarra.s.sing way. She could not believe that she had done it with Xiao Luo right there.

But despite it all, Su Li did not think this was a terrible thing. If not for this, she and Xiao Luo would probably never have gotten closer. Besides, Xiao Luo was no random stranger–he was her husband. Su Li consoled herself that there was nothing wrong with doing this with her husband. Then she remembered that this had all happened in the VIP conference room in Luo Workshop. And she was so mortified that she wanted to find a hole to hide in.

“I"ve already asked Department Head Li to get you a clean set of clothes. It"ll probably take her about 10 minutes or so. In the meantime, why don"t you lie with me and replay that fierce battle we just had,” Xiao Luo said, as he held her in his arms. After all, this woman was now thoroughly his, and he seemed to have become a lot calmer. Even the cra.s.s small talk seemed to tumble out of his mouth a lot easier.

Su Li gave his waist a firm pinch and said, “You"re so shameless!”

“Does it matter if I"m shameless? All that matters is that I have you. Besides, Luo Workshop will have Sumir sooner or later as well,” Xiao Luo said, pus.h.i.+ng her limits even further.

“Luo Workshop cannot match up to Sumir in terms of a.s.sets. You"re just being greedy, like a snake trying to swallow an elephant whole!” Su Li said with a huff.

“If I am, then I"m a python that can swallow a prey, that is many, many times larger than myself. So, there"s no problem there.” Xiao Luo said, becoming increasingly emboldened.

“You"re so shameless!”

“I am, and what about it?”

“So shameless. You"re too shameless!”

“Mmm, I can accept the criticism of my darling wife any day,” he muttered. The words fell off him like water off a duck"s back, and a smile crept onto his face.

Su Li"s face was flushed red. In the end, she lost the will to argue and just came to terms with the situation. Whether it was her or Sumir, they were at the utter mercy of this man. She decided to let the man say what he wanted. And, just as well, for she could finally wash her hands off this.

She laid on Xiao Luo"s chest and suddenly lifted her head slightly and asked, “You must be laughing at me in your head, huh?”

“Laughing at you? Why would I laugh at you?” asked Xiao Luo, unable to understand her train of thought.

“For being a, a…”

Su Li just could not bring herself to say the word. Even she had thought that she had behaved like a s.l.u.t earlier. How did this man not notice? He must be keeping quiet on purpose, and he was probably laughing at her. She could not understand why she had lost control of herself, moaning as she did.

Xiao Luo kissed her forehead and then patted her head in consolation. “Don"t overthink it. I"m not laughing at you at all,” he replied.

Su Li was stunned, and then she smacked his hand away. She chided him, “Don"t pat my head!”

“It"s a gesture of affection. Why are you so repulsed by it?” Xiao Luo asked. He could not help but find this funny.

Su Li glared at him. “What do you mean "affection?" That"s what you do to your pet dog,” she said.

Xiao Luo did not know whether to laugh or cry. “Alright, you win,” he said.

At that moment, there was a gentle knock on the door of the conference room.

“Department Head Li is a little early. We"ll continue this at home, darling,” Xiao Luo said, stroking Su Li on her arm. All men were glib-tongued sweet talkers when they were with their women. It came to them instinctively and was not something they had to learn.

Su Li rolled her eyes at him.