Chapter 21
"President, where are you going?" The voice carried a trace of suppressed anger. The next second, Feng Jin lost her balance and was scooped up into someone's arms.
Instinctively, she grabbed the front of his shirt, but before she could say anything, she was once again lying on the bed.
Although Jiang Suliu moved quickly, he was very careful to avoid her injured foot.
"You should rest and recover properly. If you need anything, let me handle it." Jiang Suliu's voice was very calm, yet it was obvious he was holding something back. He leaned down slightly, placed a cushion behind Feng Jin's back, then gently supported her ankle and placed a soft pillow beneath her injured foot.
Watching his actions, Feng Jin felt something stir inside her. After all, no one had ever questioned her actions. No one had ever come so close to her, let alone done something like this. And this man—it didn't seem like it was the first time.
She looked into his eyes and asked calmly, "I want a bath. Are you going to handle that too?"
The room fell into an eerie silence.
At a speed visible to the naked eye, a blush crept up Jiang Suliu's ears. His usually cool and captivating peach blossom eyes suddenly shimmered with a watery gleam, washing away all their aloof sharpness.
He turned his gaze away and pulled the quilt up to cover her a little more. "I'll ask the maid to help you." On the surface, Jiang Suliu seemed to have regained his composure—if not for the betrayed redness of his ears.
Feng Jin found it a bit amusing and decided not to tease him further. She glanced at her bandaged foot and said, "Forget it, it's late. Just help me draw a bath. The water temperature should be between 38 and 39 degrees Celsius. On the cabinet to the left of the tub, there's a blue-purple bottle of essential oil. Add seven drops into the water. Can you manage that much?"
At that, Jiang Suliu's brain finally started functioning properly again. "You can't do that yet. Hot water will worsen the injury and increase swelling."
Feng Jin looked up at Jiang Suliu's slightly furrowed brows. Those captivating peach blossom eyes stared directly at her without the slightest retreat.
She knew he had her best interests at heart, so she didn't argue. "Then I need to at least wash up a little."
"If you don't mind, I can carry you over."
"Mm." Feng Jin glanced at him, then looked at him again thoughtfully. "You didn't ask me earlier."
Jiang Suliu felt his ears burn even hotter. He lowered his voice in retort, "You weren't following the doctor's orders."
"Yes, Dr. Jiang. My mistake."
Jiang Suliu bent down and picked her up. His hands were placed with expert care, never touching where they shouldn't, avoiding any awkwardness for either of them.
Chapter 21 (continued)
Feng Jin's bathroom was spacious and elegantly designed. The floor was lined with solid wood, and beside the bathtub stood a waterproof LCD television. A glass partition separated a post-bath lounge area, where a wool rug covered the floor and a chaise longue sat invitingly to one side—perfect for resting after a soak. The lounge had good airflow, and the breeze gently stirred the tassels of the curtains. Just beyond them was the back garden, where vibrant green vines stretched into view.
Jiang Suliu helped her sit on the chair by the vanity, adjusted the height to make it easier for her to wash up, and only left after confirming everything was in order.
Once she finished, Feng Jin tried to stand but, recalling what had just happened, decided against it. She sighed and said, "Secretary Jiang, you may come in."
The door opened.
Jiang Suliu entered to find her seated at the vanity, upright as if still in an office meeting. He steadied himself, then gently lifted her into his arms. The light fragrance on her body lingered at his nose, making the air around him feel strangely heated.
Pressing his lips together, he tried to suppress any wandering thoughts, but his brain refused to obey. In desperation, he mentally recited boring medical terms from university to distract himself.
Back in bed, Feng Jin glanced at the dazed look on Jiang Suliu's face. "Secretary Jiang, bring me my work laptop."
Jiang nodded. "Yes, please wait a moment."
Once outside, he let out a breath, leaning against the wall for a moment to compose himself before returning to his own guest room. Unlike Feng Jin's, his was more simply furnished and lacked any sign of personal warmth.
He brought her laptop, placed it in front of her, and propped her up with a pillow for comfort.
"Thank you," Feng Jin said again.
Jiang Suliu paused momentarily at her gratitude but said nothing.
Feng Jin opened her inbox and once again saw an anonymous email. Like before, the contents were written in Italian, telling yet another story. Her brows furrowed as she compared it with the previous day's email, finally spotting a common thread.
The first story was vague but hinted at something, while the second was more detailed yet still incomplete.
It seemed she would receive one of these strange emails every day, as if someone was trying to tell her something.
Whoever it was, their intentions were clearly malicious.
Feng Jin chuckled. Was this a game of cat and mouse or a cryptic riddle?
She'd just have to play along and see.
She closed the email and began working on company documents.
Currently, two vice presidents were in charge. An email from He Ruihua made her frown. She stared at the message for a long while, not even noticing Jiang Suliu approach.
"President Feng, please drink some water," he said, leaning slightly as he offered her a glass at just the right temperature.
"Thank you," she said, taking a sip. She hadn't realized how thirsty she was.
Handing the cup back, she suddenly asked, "Secretary Jiang, what do you think of Lu Chengwang?"
Jiang Suliu recalled Lu's behavior during the last board meeting—deliberately opposing Feng Jin, trying to stir up dissatisfaction among other shareholders. If Feng Jin hadn't secured the deal with the Concast Group, things might have turned messy. He thought for a moment and said, "His heart is not with Sheng An."
"Why do you say that?"
"Lu Chengwang is not originally from the mainland and has always held his own opinions about mainland businessmen," Jiang replied tactfully. "If someone offered him greater benefits, he wouldn't refuse. The shares he holds were gifted by his mother, whose identity is no secret in S City."
"Mm," Feng Jin smiled slightly. "You're right. He's already sold his shares to the Chu family."
Jiang Suliu frowned almost imperceptibly.
"What interests me more is what the Chu family offered him in return," she said, rubbing her temples. "Now the Chu family holds 9%, and with Lu's 7%, they're the third-largest shareholder on the board, which gives them significant influence."
"The company's strategy is set on development," Jiang said calmly. "Even as the third-largest shareholder, the Chu family must abide by board decisions. Ultimately, the final say lies with you."
"Heh," Feng Jin chuckled and stopped working. Looking up at him, she said, "You're right."
She controlled nearly half the company's shares—some from her mother, some still managed by her father. So no matter how unhappy the other shareholders were, they couldn't oust her.
Still, what exactly was the Chu family planning? And who stood behind them?
Feng Jin lowered her gaze in thought, then suddenly smiled.
Very well. Let them show their hand.
She would lure the snake out of its hole and turn their own tactics against them.
Jiang Suliu was momentarily stunned. That confident, radiant smile made something within him stir.
Thump.
His heartbeat stuttered out of rhythm. Pressing his lips together, he tried to suppress the unfamiliar sensation.
"Secretary Jiang, I've sent the processed files to your inbox. I'll leave the rest to you."
Jiang Suliu collected himself and nodded with steady composure. "Yes, President Feng."
Sharing a room with her truly tested his self-control. Though she always remained strictly professional and never did anything suggestive, was she underestimating the effect she had?
The thought was fleeting. Recalling her fierce, ruthless presence on the training field, he quickly dismissed it.
Dawn was breaking, and the coolness of morning had a way of lowering one's guard.
Just then, Feng Jin appeared to be getting up. Jiang Suliu grabbed a knitted cardigan and gently helped her shoulder it. "President Feng, are you getting up?"
"Mm. You haven't slept all night. Go rest," she said, not rejecting his help as he assisted her into the cardigan. Closing her laptop, she looked up at him. "The maids will be up early. I'll ask them to assist me from here. Don't worry, I won't be putting weight on my foot or moving around recklessly."
She chuckled after saying that last part. She couldn't remember the last time someone had treated her like a child, so cautious and concerned.
Looking at the smile so close at hand, Jiang Suliu took a deep breath and steadied himself.
He realized then—he needed to step away from this place, at least for a little while.