Volume One, Chapter 22: Is She the ‘Big Sister-in-law’ Thin Xingzhou Has Been Hiding?

Lu Corporation.

Sunlight streamed into the grand lobby through the glass façade. An elegant figure in a form-fitting red dress and ten-centimeter heels glided inside—Xu Qian. She held a gold-embossed folder in her hand, her red lips curved slightly upward, but her eyes gleamed with sharpness.

“Good morning, I’m here to deliver Jiahe’s cooperation plan for the second half of the year.”

The receptionist rose quickly, her smile courteous. “Vice President Xu, the President isn’t in at the moment.”

Xu Qian gave a light laugh, tapping the folder with her fingertips. “No rush, I’ll wait for him in the secretaries’ office.”

“The President seems to be out—” The receptionist had barely finished before Xu Qian stepped into the elevator.

Adjusting her makeup outside the secretaries’ office, Xu Qian pressed her lips together, gripping the Jiahe plan tightly.

“What? He’s on a business trip?” A trace of irritation flashed in her eyes. She had come for nothing today. Why the sudden trip?

At that moment, a tall figure approached from the end of the corridor—Su Yu.

She wore a crisp pencil skirt, her long hair swept up, high heels clicking with an air of cold elegance. Without hesitation, she pushed open the President’s office door.

Xu Qian’s pupils contracted. Bo Xingzhou’s office was a sanctum—no one entered freely except him.

“Excuse me, who is she?” Xu Qian grabbed the secretary she’d just spoken to, forcing a polite smile. “Is that young lady a guest of President Bo?”

The staff member glanced over, then replied in a low voice, “That’s Special Assistant Su, the eldest daughter of the Su Group. She’s President Bo’s only female special assistant, with very high authority.”

Xu Qian’s nails bit into her palm. The only female special assistant—free to enter and leave his office?

She stared at the closed door, a thought flickering in her mind.

Could she be the mysterious ‘sister-in-law’ Bo Xingzhou was hiding?

Worth getting to know.

When Su Yu emerged from the office, Xu Qian immediately stepped forward with a charming smile. “Special Assistant Su, I’ve heard so much about you.”

Su Yu glanced at her coolly, not breaking her stride.

“Is there something you want?”

“I hear you’re President Bo’s favorite, how enviable!” Xu Qian followed, tone intimate. “My boyfriend is President Bo’s younger brother, Lu Jingyan.”

Su Yu’s gaze shifted, finally regarding her with faint hauteur.

Lu Jingyan’s woman? That might be useful.

Just then, Fu Yuting rounded the corner, arms full of documents. Her expression was calm, but her step faltered almost imperceptibly at the sight of the two women together.

Why are those two talking?

Su Yu’s eyes grew cold. She spoke directly, “Are the quarterly financial statements ready?”

Fu Yuting took out the documents and handed them over, her tone impersonal. “They’re organized. Special Assistant Su can review them.”

Su Yu flicked through the pages, then suddenly sneered. “Yesterday I had you work overtime to get this done, yet today the President’s assistant sent a mass email banning overtime company-wide?”

She looked up, her gaze as sharp as a blade. “Secretary Fu, you must have some skill—able to command even the President’s assistant?”

Fu Yuting’s expression didn’t change. “I’m not clear on the specifics. After all, without overtime, how could I finish the work you assigned me?”

Xu Qian jumped in with a smile. “Oh dear, Special Assistant Su, don’t be upset. My sister just joined the company, perhaps she doesn’t know the rules yet.”

She cast a meaningful glance at Fu Yuting, her lips curling in barely concealed mockery.

“But… to have the President’s assistant look after her, Secretary Fu must be very ‘resourceful’ indeed.”

Su Yu’s gaze grew even frostier, as if she could pierce Fu Yuting with her eyes. “Secretary Fu, the workplace isn’t somewhere you survive on ‘resourcefulness’ alone.”

Fu Yuting smiled faintly. “You’re right, Special Assistant Su. I rely only on ability.”

Su Yu’s grip on the folder tightened, her tone icy. “Let’s hope your ability keeps you at Lu Corporation for a while.”

With that, she turned and strode away, the sound of her heels echoing down the corridor like a warning.

Xu Qian shot Fu Yuting a false, consoling smile, then hurried after Su Yu.

Fu Yuting watched their retreating figures, her eyes darkening. Su Yu’s hostility was no longer just professional.

And Xu Qian… was clearly fanning the flames.

Xu Qian caught up to Su Yu, her voice saccharine. “Special Assistant Su, that’s just the kind of person she is. Her reputation at Jiahe wasn’t great, either.”

“But isn’t she your sister?” Su Yu looked at her coldly.

If not for the fact that she was Lu Jingyan’s girlfriend, she wouldn’t have bothered talking to someone like this.

Xu Qian covered her mouth with a mocking laugh, her tone edged with malice. “That’s just a title. She tried to steal my boyfriend, but he rejected her. Her reputation at the company was poor.”

Su Yu’s gaze turned glacial. “Oh?”

Xu Qian’s eyes deepened. “I just think she’s not fit to be by President Bo’s side.”

That jab hit Su Yu’s sore spot precisely.

She loved Bo Xingzhou, yet could never capture his attention. She could only beg her father and Chairman Lu for a position, only be a humble assistant at his side.

Yet this Fu Yuting, who had appeared out of nowhere—what right did she have to draw his notice?

She had even gone to his brother to become a secretary!

“What do you want to do?” Su Yu asked.

Xu Qian leaned in, her red lips close to Su Yu’s ear, and whispered a few words.

The two seemed to reach an understanding.

Meanwhile, Fu Yuting returned to her desk and opened her inbox. As expected, there was a mass email from the President’s office:

[Effective immediately, overtime is strictly forbidden except under special circumstances. Anyone forcing others to work overtime will be dismissed.]

Her fingers paused above the keyboard.

What did this ban mean?

Was it really because of her?

But she hadn’t even met the President’s assistant, nor the President himself.

Before she knew it, the workday had ended.

Why was Su Yu so quiet today? She hadn’t assigned her any extra tasks—it felt unusually peaceful.

She could tell at a glance that Su Yu and Xu Qian were up to no good.

Just as Fu Yuting fastened her seatbelt, her phone lit up—Lu Jingyan was calling.

Her finger hesitated before she answered.

“Tingting, are you off work?” Lu Jingyan’s voice, warm as always, sent a chill down her spine.

“Yes. What’s up?”

“I heard Xunlou just got a fresh batch of snow crabs. Care to join me for dinner?” His tone was light, the picture of a thoughtful boyfriend.

“All right, see you soon.” Fu Yuting’s voice was gentle.

Hanging up, she tapped the steering wheel, her eyes empty and cold.

Five years—and Lu Jingyan still didn’t know she was allergic to crab.

She glanced in the direction of Xunlou, a self-mocking smile on her lips.

He’d ordered snow crab because Xu Qian liked it.

She didn’t feel sad anymore—only reborn.

Taking a deep breath, she started the car.

Since Lu Jingyan wanted to play the devoted boyfriend, she’d play along to the end.

Only this time, the roles of hunter and prey were about to be reversed.