Volume One, Chapter Eight: You? Are You Even Worthy?

Lu Jingyan gazed at Bo Xingzhou before him, those eyes beneath his long brows as deep and inscrutable as a frozen lake—eyes he had never managed to read. Over the years, though his elder brother hadn’t returned to the country, they had always kept in touch. This was the first time his brother had earnestly come to ask him for someone.

He was indeed weary of Fu Yuting, yet her abilities were undeniable; she single-handedly managed the company’s operations. He refused almost instinctively, “She’s just an unimportant secretary. Brother, you have all sorts of talent at your side.”

No sooner had Jingyan finished speaking than the man opposite him began drumming his slender fingers rhythmically on the grey wool of his tailored Italian trousers—the fine fabric muffling the sound of his displeasure. The atmosphere chilled; not a whisper could be heard in the office.

“So, the backbone of the company is not enough, and yet someone unimportant won’t do either? Then perhaps you should come and be my secretary for this assignment.” Bo Xingzhou’s eyes were like frozen ponds, fathomless and cold.

No one in the president’s office dared meet the gaze of this man, cold as a hell of ice.

Jingyan’s throat tightened. On second thought, Fu Yuting was entirely obedient to him now; perhaps this would be a good opportunity. If she worked under his brother, she might serve him even better in the future.

“You’re joking, Brother. She’s only a secretary. Once she’s finished her current project, I’ll send her over.”

Xu Qian, hearing how Jingyan spoke of Fu Yuting, felt greatly relieved. The earlier embarrassment was quickly forgotten. No matter how capable Fu Yuting might be, it was her whom Jingyan loved now.

“President Bo, Jingyan means nothing by it. He’s just concerned she won’t perform well. Her past projects haven’t exactly been stellar, and her reputation isn’t the best.” Xu Qian’s voice was gentle, but the glint of calculation and pride in her eyes was not lost on Bo Xingzhou.

With his elegant fingers pressed to his temple and his cuff gleaming coldly in the light, Bo Xingzhou regarded her with eyes utterly devoid of warmth, even tinged with disgust. “Did I give you permission to speak?”

“I’m sorry, President Bo!” For the first time, Xu Qian felt the weight of his fearsome reputation and hurried to apologize.

Jingyan shot her a look, signaling her to hold her tongue.

“Fu Yuting,” Bo Xingzhou’s eyes narrowed, his deep voice carrying a hint of intrigue, “isn’t she your fiancée?”

“We’ll likely call off the engagement soon,” Jingyan replied with a frown.

Bo Xingzhou’s expression remained indifferent, his lips curving in a faint, unreadable smile. “Is that so?”

His seemingly casual words carried an undercurrent of threat, so subtle it was almost undetectable.

Jingyan paid no mind to these nuances and shifted the conversation. “Will you be home for dinner tonight? Father’s waiting for you at the old house. I’ll come after I finish my work here.”

Bo Xingzhou withdrew his gaze, those dark eyes fathomless as ever, his tone growing even lower. “Yes, it’s time I went back.”

He then checked his watch and said quietly, “I have other matters to attend to. Remember what you just promised.”

“All right.”

Xu Qian watched Bo Xingzhou’s retreating figure, still feeling the suffocating pressure he left in his wake. Her heart was pounding wildly. This was her best chance—she had to seize it.

Simply being with Lu Jingyan wasn’t enough to truly trample Fu Yuting beneath her feet. Only by becoming Mrs. Bo, rising above even Lu Jingyan, could she truly escape the stigma of being “kept.”

As for Bo Xingzhou’s attitude toward her just now—it must have been because Lu Jingyan was present.

With that, she turned to Jingyan. “I left my USB drive in the car. I’ll go get it.”

Jingyan didn’t suspect a thing. “Go ahead.”

In the underground garage, Bo Xingzhou had just reached his car when Xu Qian hurried after him. “President Bo.”

He turned, brow slightly furrowed, silent.

“President Bo, I think there may have been a misunderstanding between us just now,” Xu Qian said, closing the distance between them.

A sweet and dizzying cloud of perfume enveloped the air, her shoulder straps barely visible.

Bo Xingzhou averted his gaze, clearly displeased.

Xu Qian bent forward, deliberately displaying the curves she was so proud of. “Jingyan often speaks of you. I’ve always admired you, and I’m very happy to finally meet you.”

She extended her hand as she spoke.

Bo Xingzhou’s icy gaze fell on her outstretched hand, the chill in his eyes making Xu Qian’s heart tremble. She hesitated, swallowed, and quickly withdrew her hand.

“I just wanted to get to know you better.”

“Jingyan?” Bo Xingzhou’s gaze was aloof, looking down at her as if she were an ant. “You’re his subordinate, aren’t you?”

Xu Qian froze, belatedly realizing he thought her manner of address was too familiar. Flustered, she didn’t know how to respond.

“Lu Jingyan’s fiancée from yesterday’s engagement party wasn’t you, was it?”

Su Han could no longer keep silent and burst out, “Mr. Bo, perhaps you’re not aware, but here in our country, this kind of relationship is called ‘the other woman.’”

At those words, Xu Qian’s face drained of color, humiliation written across her features.

Bo Xingzhou looked away and turned to leave.

Panicked, Xu Qian instinctively grabbed his sleeve. “I just want to be friends with you.”

Bo Xingzhou’s face turned cold as he shook her off, disgusted, removing his suit jacket and tossing it aside.

“So, you don’t want your hand anymore?”

With those words, he glanced at Su Han.

He walked to the car, took a cigarette from his case, and lit it. Smoke curled upward as the sharp planes of his face emerged from the shadow, terrifyingly stern.

Xu Qian’s heart skipped a beat. Before she could react, Su Han seized her wrist. Instantly, a wave of searing pain shot through her.

Xu Qian’s scream echoed, the crack of bone ringing clear. Agony surged through her.

“You? Worthy?” Bo Xingzhou’s voice was cold as death.

Perhaps he’d been too gentle lately, for women like this to think they had a chance.

He flicked away his cigarette and got into the car.

Su Han released Xu Qian’s hand, disinfecting his own with an alcohol wipe before entering the car. Watching Xu Qian clutch her injured hand in utter humiliation, he felt greatly satisfied. This was the real Mr. Bo—cold, ruthless, a man who despised any woman’s touch.

That night with Fu Yuting was nothing but an anomaly.

Xu Qian watched the car drive away, her face twisting with pain and resentment, her teeth clenched in bitter defiance.

Why?

Why was it that, despite Fu Yuting not even being present, she could make Bo Xingzhou pause for her, even want her as his secretary?

Yet Xu Qian was left with a broken hand, humiliated and degraded.

There had never been anything Xu Qian couldn’t obtain—her parents’ love, even Fu Yuting’s boyfriend, who now cherished her above all else.

She refused to believe she couldn’t win over Bo Xingzhou.

Only she was fit to be his secretary—not Fu Yuting.

In the office, Fu Yuting was focused on the quarterly report on her screen. Wen Yunru, as always, arrived with her voice preceding her presence.

“Yuting, something’s happened!”