Chapter 103: President Leng’s Secret Concerns

This story is purely fictional.

“Thank you, President Gao, for your magnanimity. Your forgiveness despite past grievances truly moves me,” said Leng Junfeng with a radiant smile.

“I’m well aware of the conflicts and issues you’ve had with Dai Yunjue in your daily work. I also understand that these problems arose because I neglected you. But we must be clear about one thing: there should be no misunderstandings between us as man and woman. I have always regarded you as my closest partner. Dai Yunjue is different—he’s a man who stirs my heart. Now that we share both our work and life, naturally our relationship differs from yours. There’s no need for you to vent your grievances on him. Thank you for your deep affection toward me. We’ve worked together for nearly seven or eight years. In the past, I didn’t feel that way about you. But now, besides Dai Yunjue, there’s no room in my heart for you. Let’s just remain good partners in business, shall we?” Gao Yating spoke earnestly.

“At this point, I, Leng Junfeng, have no words left,” Leng Junfeng replied. “Come, let’s toast to our careers!” He proposed raising their glasses.

The clink of their wine glasses rang crisply.

Gao Yating took a sip of the red wine and slowly set her glass down. She pulled out a napkin and wiped the corner of her mouth. She licked her lips lightly, as if savoring the wine’s flavor.

“Well? How’s my choice of wine?” Leng Junfeng asked expectantly, hoping for her approval.

“Good wine is good wine; no matter how you drink it, it retains its finest flavor,” Gao Yating replied. She rarely praised wine so openly, and Leng Junfeng was somewhat surprised.

“Exactly. Just like you—no matter where or when, you always maintain that elegance and alluring charm in my heart,” Leng Junfeng couldn’t quite let go.

Gao Yating understood the meaning behind his words and said, “Why say that again? I never thought our President Leng was such a romantic. Perhaps I don’t deserve such treatment from you. It’s time for you to let go.”

“Some things I can let go of, but not all. Letting go of an object isn’t so hard, but letting go of a person—that’s not so easy. I have tried to let go of you, but I simply can’t. My longing for you grows stronger each day. For you, I would sacrifice everything—even my life.”

“That’s truly touching. Thank you for your unwavering devotion and deep love. But from today onward, try to forget me. You have your future ahead; you don’t need to be entangled with someone destined to have no ending with you. Such attachments weigh heavily on your heart and make life burdensome. Over the past decade or so, nothing ever happened between us, and it’s destined to remain that way. I can only say you’re a great partner, but we cannot be lovers. Don’t you understand?” Gao Yating spoke with heartfelt honesty.

Leng Junfeng felt the sincerity in Gao Yating’s words, yet the decade-long secret in his heart could not be simply put aside. His obsession with her was indescribable, but he knew that just looking at the woman before him brought him comfort.

They talked and drank, unaware of time passing swiftly until the early hours of dawn.

After a tender moment, Dai Yunjue and Yi Yi gradually recovered their senses. Leaning against the pillow, Yi Yi nestled in Dai Yunjue’s chest as he gently played with her fragrant hair.

The television quietly emitted sounds—what should have been an exciting program seemed a dull backdrop to their eyes, speaking to itself in solitude.

Time flew in their happiness, and eventually, after deep contentment, they embraced and fell asleep.

~~~~

Gao Yating and Leng Junfeng continued sipping red wine. She glanced at her watch, then turned to him. “It’s very late. Let’s call it a night.”

Leng Junfeng hesitated, reluctant to part. He wished to talk with this woman until dawn, but it was impossible now. So he replied frankly, “Alright. I still want to go to the sports bar. There are two Spanish La Liga matches starting today. I’ve invited Officer Xiao from the police station to join me—check out the place and maybe play a few games.”

“Then be moderate with your games. Don’t drag all those players into the pit in no time,” Gao Yating warned.

“If they don’t fall in, how can we make a fortune? Haha, falling into the pit is their own doing,” Leng Junfeng said with a sly grin.

After bidding farewell to Gao Yating, Leng Junfeng called Dai Yunjue, hoping he might come pick him up and return to their cozy nest. But Dai Yunjue didn’t answer after several calls.

Leaving the bar, Leng Junfeng dialed Officer Xiao. Feeling a bit down, he wanted Xiao to join him at the sports bar for a lively night, as players usually stay until late during La Liga matches.

Officer Xiao, having finished his work at the police station, was feeling bored. When Leng Junfeng’s call came, he answered excitedly, “I’m on my way! Give me ten minutes, and I’ll be at the Ultimate Sports Bar.”

Gao Yating returned home to an empty house, her heart aching with a touch of longing for the days spent with Yunjue. She didn’t know how long it took before she finally closed her eyes and fell asleep.

When Dai Yunjue awoke from the previous night’s frenzy, opening his tired eyes, he saw clothes scattered on the floor, the room in disarray. A bright red wig lay next to his pillow, leaving him momentarily stunned.

Sitting on the bed, he was at a loss for what had happened. His memory was fragmented; he couldn’t recall a thing. Sleeping beside him was the girl he had met before—the daughter of Officer Xiao. The lovely girl he had chatted with online, Yi Yi, was none other than Officer Xiao’s daughter!

Dai Yunjue’s expression was somewhat comical as he uncovered himself, realizing he was completely naked. Looking beside him, he saw Yi Yi still fast asleep.

He quickly dressed, uncertain how to navigate this awkward predicament. Then he thought, why not slip away quietly while she’s still asleep?

Afraid to wake Yi Yi, he tiptoed toward the door.

Just as he reached for the doorknob, Yi Yi called out, “Where are you going?”

Startled as if frightened by a ghost, Dai Yunjue didn’t dare turn his head.

“Are you trying to sneak off?” Yi Yi’s tone was chilly.

Seeing no chance to escape, he turned and replied, “Not at all. I was just going out to greet the waiter and bring some breakfast over.”

“Can I use your phone? I want to call home,” Yi Yi asked, looking at Dai Yunjue.

He handed her the phone. “Here, you call. You’ve been out all night; your family must be worried. Hurry up.”

Yi Yi took the phone and dialed Officer Xiao’s number.

At Officer Xiao’s home, the large house was empty except for a ringing landline.

Xiao Jin was at the Ultimate Sports Bar, lying on a small bed after watching the La Liga broadcast. It was past four in the morning. After less than an hour of rest, he returned home.

Seeing an unknown number on his phone, he initially ignored it. But when he heard it was his daughter calling, his senses sharpened.

“Whose phone is this? Calling so early—when did you leave? Your mother wasn’t home when I got back. Were you out all night?” Xiao Jin asked.

Hearing that her mother was out, Yi Yi knew for sure her mother had spent the night elsewhere. She lied, “I just stepped out recently. You’re often out at night; do you even care if we’re home? As for the call, it’s from a friend. Lots of calls come without a number showing. I thought your calls were private? If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up.”

“I say one thing, you reply with ten. With that mouth of yours, who’d dare marry you?” Xiao Jin scolded loudly over the phone.

“Alright, alright, that’s none of your business. Rest assured. Bye!” Yi Yi hung up.

After ending the call, upon learning from her father that no one was home last night, Yi Yi gleefully made a triumphant gesture, softly saying “Yeah!”

Gao Yating anxiously awaited Dai Yunjue’s return to the villa all night.

She worried about losing Yunjue. Though she had just passed forty, she was still a woman—and notably older than Yunjue by about thirty years. She wondered if the presence of an eighteen-year-old woman before Yunjue meant a real threat was looming. She kept trying to calm herself, not to dwell on such thoughts.

Ignoring her exhaustion from the sleepless night, she hurried off to find Dai Yunjue...

Before dawn, Ming Yue rose early to catch the first bus to the noblewoman’s house. She chose the earliest bus with fewer passengers, hoping to find a seat to rest and conserve her energy.

When Ming Yue arrived, the noblewoman was preparing to leave. Seeing Ming Yue, she paused and said, “There’s two thousand yuan on the table. Take it as a reward for your good work.”

“Thank you, thank you. It’s my duty,” Ming Yue said sincerely, bowing.

Ming Yue entered the house and saw the envelope on the tea table. She glanced at it—it was the noblewoman’s reward. Carefully, she slipped it into her pocket and began cleaning the house.

(to be continued)