Bossy President and Stepford Wife

In the dimly lit room, the man stood by the heavy curtains, slightly bending over as he swiftly pulled on his pants. His bare torso, exposed to the low light, revealed sharply defined muscles, which were still striking even in the shadowy glow.

Especially when he slightly turned to the side, the pale gray pants he had just put on almost seemed to block the curve of his toned abs, and the prominent lines that led down to his waist.

Behind him, Emma lay quietly on the bed, her gaze fixed on him.

The bed was in disarray, her long hair draped across her shoulders and back, scattered over the pristine white pillow. It was clear what had transpired in this room just moments before.

As the man reached for his shirt to put on, he suddenly turned and looked at Emma on the bed, his voice deep and low, "Who am I?"

Emma froze. She opened her mouth, wanting to answer, "You are… you are..."

She knew exactly who he was, but when she stared at his face, she couldn’t quite remember what he looked like. His face, attached to this mature and seductive body, was a blur to her.

Confusion and disorientation filled her mind, and she couldn’t speak a word. The thought struck her like a cold shock, making her tremble involuntarily.

……

Emma suddenly jerked awake, her heart still racing. The moment her eyes opened, she saw the white walls opposite her. For a few seconds, her mind was still stuck in that dream—was it a dream? Or wasn’t it?

The vivid images from the dream were still etched in her mind.

Just then, an elderly voice pulled her back to reality. "What happened?"

The elderly woman sitting in the wheelchair, who had been watching TV quietly, felt a tremor beside her. She turned and saw Emma’s eyes snap wide open, her already dark, bright eyes now enormous.

There was no trace of confusion, as if she had been paralyzed by something—terrifying.

Emma blinked, scanning her surroundings, quickly realizing she was in the nursing home’s activity room.

No matter how busy her weekends were, she always found time to visit her grandmother here at the nursing home.

Her grandmother reached out to feel the cold sweat on Emma's hand and asked, "Was it a nightmare?"

"No," Emma shook her head gently, not wanting to worry her grandmother.

Her grandmother sighed inwardly. She knew Emma was stubborn, never willing to show how hard life was for her.

……

Later that night, Emma finally made it back to the newsroom, drenched in rain. The roads in Shanghai were jammed, and the once-bustling city seemed to have slowed to a halt under the heavy rain.

She wasn’t at a big company—Emma worked at a newspaper many believed to be a dying industry.

After a mishap with an article, even Emma, who had no direct involvement, was called in to help. The editor shouted angrily, his voice echoing across the room.

"She promised to interview the CEO of Hengya Group, can you believe that?" her colleague Hua Zhen muttered. "She’s so out of her league."

"Does she really think she can meet someone like that?" Hua Zhen continued, as a video started playing on her phone.

The video showed a man stepping out of a car, his back straight and tall. His profile, despite being shot at an angle, still revealed his stunningly handsome features. His aura was overwhelming, and even in silence, his presence was magnetic.

"Jason…" Emma whispered, as her gaze fixed on the magazine article in front of her.

When Emma left the newsroom, the rain had finally eased. The torrential downpour that had swallowed the sky earlier was now just a light drizzle. Unfortunately, she had already missed the last train, and the only option was to take a cab home.

Luckily, her boss had told her earlier that cab fares could be reimbursed as overtime.

By the time Emma arrived home, the damp, musty smell of the old building greeted her the moment she entered the hallway. The aging apartment building in Shanghai's old alleyways had a way of pulling the city back to another time—a time that was poorer and more nostalgic. Fortunately, the rain had prompted everyone to bring in their outdoor belongings, so the place didn’t look as old and dilapidated as usual.

She unlocked the door and walked in without switching on the lights in the living room, following the familiar routine of heading straight to the bedroom. She placed her bag on the desk near the door and reached for the bedroom light. As the overhead light flickered on, she caught a glimpse of the bed in her peripheral vision—and froze.

Her hand instinctively grabbed the chair next to her, ready to use it if something was amiss. But as the shock wore off, she slowly turned her head to see the man sleeping peacefully in the bed.

She sighed in relief.

Her eyes moved to the clothes rack by the bed, where his suit was hung neatly, just the way he always did. Even the clothes he'd worn earlier were perfectly hung, a habit he never broke. Emma used to joke that he had the habits of a pampered rich boy.

She stood there, watching him sleep, then thought back to the dream she had at the nursing home earlier. In that dream, his face had blurred so much that she could barely recall what he looked like anymore.

Then again, how many couples had the kind of relationship where they didn’t see each other for a month, and hardly ever spoke on the phone?

As she gazed at Jason’s peaceful face, Emma couldn’t help but smile with a touch of irony. She thought of how, because of Wen Tang’s failure to secure an interview with him, she had been dragged into working overtime—and found the whole situation a little absurd.

This was ridiculous. While others spent days trying to get an interview with this high-profile figure, here he was, lying in her bed.

The sound of the rain outside was still crisp and clear, echoing through the quiet of the night.

Emma snapped out of her thoughts, planning to take a shower before returning to bed. But just as she unbuttoned her shirt, a drowsy voice came from behind her. "Xing Xing."

It was her nickname, a name only her family used.

Her hands paused, and without thinking, she turned her head. Her body followed instinctively.

Jason, clearly just waking up, was sitting on the bed. His usual neatly styled hair had become messily tousled, and his normally serious, composed demeanor softened. His eyes locked onto her, starting with her face, but then, as if drawn by some invisible force, his gaze drifted downward.

She had unbuttoned two of the buttons on her light blue shirt, exposing her long, pale neck, collarbones, and the edge of her white bra, just barely visible. The glimpse of her body was more tempting than any obvious gesture.

Jason’s dark eyes narrowed, his usual indifferent expression shifting as desire flickered beneath the surface, making his gaze warmer, hungrier.

He slightly lifted his head, his voice husky from sleep. "Come here."

Emma looked at him, then down at herself, suddenly aware of her exposed skin. She instinctively pulled her shirt together, but it was too late—the scent of her allure had already filled the room.

Jason swung his legs off the bed, standing up. Even in slippers, his 6'1" frame filled the room, and the space felt smaller.

Emma's apartment, inherited from her grandfather, was a relic in an ever-evolving city. Located in a prime area of Shanghai, it wasn’t anything extravagant, but the location was priceless. The old building was nearly impossible to redevelop due to skyrocketing real estate prices.

Emma had lived alone in the apartment after her grandmother moved to the nursing home. Even after marrying Jason, she had insisted on staying here. Jason understood, and often stayed with her, despite the disapproval from his family. They didn’t understand why a man who grew up in luxury would live in such a small, old apartment.

Jason walked toward her, and Emma, gazing up at him, remembered how long it had been since they last saw each other. His work had taken him to the US and Hong Kong, and they hadn’t had time for anything but brief texts—a "good morning" or "good night." The time difference between them didn’t help either.

When Jason grabbed her wrist, it startled her. His touch was warm, but his frown deepened as he noticed something.

"How did you lose so much weight?" His voice was deep and concerned.

Emma had been dealing with a persistent fever due to a viral infection. She had pushed herself to work through it, even going to the emergency room while managing her demanding job. As a result, she lost weight, but she hadn’t told Jason. She didn’t want him to worry about something he couldn’t help with.

"Not a good look?" she asked, trying to brush it off.

"Too thin," Jason replied, his voice firm, yet there was something softer underneath.

Emma laughed a little. She was used to how everyone around Jason treated him carefully, analyzing his every word, but he rarely gave anything away.

"I think it’s fine," she teased. "Some people are trying so hard to lose weight, and they still don't look like this."

"Don't copy them," Jason replied, his voice direct.

Emma smiled, giving him a playful

She chuckled, playfully nudged him, and pointed at herself, "I'm all sticky and uncomfortable. I'm going to take a shower first."

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Jason didn't say anything in response.

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Emma grabbed her pajamas and underwear and headed straight for the bathroom. She took a shower and washed her hair, which was thick and long, taking half an hour with the hairdryer just to get it half-dry.

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When she returned to the bedroom, she found the person on the bed had fallen asleep again. With a helpless blink, she carefully turned off the light, tiptoed to the bedside, gently lifted the corner of the thin blanket, and then lay down.

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The bed, bought when she was in high school, was only 1.5 meters wide and felt spacious when she slept alone. Now, with an extra body beside her, the man's presence was like a warm furnace, radiating heat even without direct contact.

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Jason disliked the sound of air conditioners, so Emma would forgo using them when he was around. The night in Shanghai in September was still somewhat oppressive, even with the rain falling outside.

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Emma tossed and turned, unable to sleep, until the person behind her eventually moved closer, gently reaching out to hold her. Her back pressed against his chest, their bodies fitting together like two perfectly matched gears, snugly and tightly.

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Unconsciously, she drifted off to sleep.

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*

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The heavy rain that had lasted all night had stopped by morning, and the sun was just right, casting a golden glow over the city that had been washed clean by the storm.

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Even the usually cramped alleyways seemed bright and open.

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Outside the window was the hustle and bustle of morning, with adults urging their children to hurry up and go to school, shouting about the dripping clothes upstairs, and the occasional clear bird song passing through the window.

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Emma suddenly opened her eyes, sat up, reached for her bedside, and upon seeing the time on her phone, 7:30 AM, she let out a sigh of relief. She hadn't been late.

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She breathed a sigh of relief, threw off the covers, put on her slippers, and went straight out to get ready for the day in the bathroom.

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Then, as she opened the bedroom door, she saw the man standing in the living room, his back to the bedroom door, his long legs encased in dark trousers, a light blue shirt crisp and wrinkle-free, not a single crease out of place.

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His superior body proportions, with legs so long that even Emma, who was 1.7 meters tall, couldn't help but want to applaud.

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The memories of the previous night came flooding back to her mind. Fortunately, she was much better off than she had been last night, when she had been nearly scared out of her wits, at least now she had the leisure to appreciate her husband's long legs.

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She leaned against the doorframe, almost crossing her arms over her chest.

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In just a moment, the man standing by the dining table seemed to sense something and looked back subconsciously. Upon seeing Emma leaning against the door, his usually serious face slowly relaxed.

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Jason's expression didn't change much, but his deep eyes betrayed a faint smile.

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"Up," he said first.

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Seeing him about to approach, Emma suddenly remembered she hadn't freshened up yet and quickly stepped into the bathroom, leaving a sentence behind: "I'll freshen up first."

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Jason watched her actions, a clear smile finally appearing on his face.

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"Come have breakfast first," Jason said as Emma was about to head back to the room.

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Emma sighed, "I'm going to be late."

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"You won't," Jason's tone was light, but there was a certainty in his voice.

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Emma stood there looking at him, and in the end, she obediently walked over and sat down on the chair opposite him. Breakfast was already set out, and there was a food box that seemed to be for these morning treats, a typical Cantonese breakfast with shrimp dumplings, rice noodle rolls, crispy egg tarts, and fish porridge, the fresh and fragrant smell wafting up as soon as she sat down.

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"Did Tang Mian bring the breakfast?" Emma asked casually.

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Tang Mian was Jason's assistant, the kind who was on call 24/7 to handle all his needs. Before Emma married Jason, Tang Mian had spent the longest time by his side, and of course, even now, the time they spent together was longer than the time she spent with him.

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Upon hearing this, Jason's brows furrowed slightly, his white chopsticks just touching the shrimp dumpling basket, pausing before gently picking up a dumpling and placing it on the white porcelain plate in front of Emma.

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He said, "I asked him to prepare it."

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Emma was taken aback, pondering for a moment, was he trying to take credit?

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When breakfast was over, Emma looked at the full table, about to clear it, not wanting it to sit there all morning. But then Tang Mian arrived with the driver, the driver cleaned up and took the food box downstairs.

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"Go get changed, I'll take you to work," Jason said.

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Emma didn't refuse and turned to go into the room to change. When she came out, Tang Mian was still standing in the living room, but Jason had a tie in his hand.

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Seeing this, Emma walked over and took the tie from him, offering to tie it for him.

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Before she married him, Emma had never tied a tie for anyone. The first time she saw him tie a tie, Emma wanted to help, but ended up causing more trouble than help.

Fortunately, she had always had a stubborn streak in her, and even when it came to tying a tie, she was determined to learn it perfectly. Now she could tie any knot, and a tie in her hands would quickly become a beautiful sight.

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Once she had carefully arranged the tie, she looked up at the person in front of her, from his black hair to his eyebrows, then to his nose and lips. Jason naturally noticed her gaze, scrutinizing every inch as if she were appraising something. But he was a man of deep thoughts and wouldn't easily ask what she was looking at.

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Finally, Emma couldn't help but laugh and took the initiative to say, "Last night, when I was at the nursing home with my grandmother, I accidentally fell asleep and dreamed of you." Jason listened quietly as Emma exhaled lightly, "Your face was blurred, like it was pixelated, and I couldn't see it clearly."

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Not only was Jason taken aback, but Tang Mian, who was nearby, couldn't help but let out a smile.

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It was quite rare for Jason to personally drive Emma to work, but it wasn't unheard of. Each time, Emma would have the car stop a block away from her office to avoid being seen by her colleagues. This time, as they approached the usual stopping place, Jason suddenly stretched out a hand, "Give me your phone."

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Emma was slightly stunned, but after a moment, she obediently took her phone out of her bag and handed it to him. Jason swiftly entered the password, which was his birthday.

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After a series of deft maneuvers, he handed the phone back to Emma. Confused, she pressed the screen to life, and in an instant, the wallpaper appeared. It was a candid photo with a backdrop of clear blue sky and sea, the tranquil water reflecting a clear emerald green.

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In the photo, the man was holding the steering wheel, in the cockpit of a small yacht. Dressed in white, Jason was slightly tilting his head, clearly having noticed someone taking a photo with a phone. It was the moment he turned his head that Emma captured this photo.

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Emma didn't expect him to find this photo himself and set it as the wallpaper...

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"So you won't forget," the man's light voice came from beside her.

"Is that floral exhibition manuscript due for submission?" Emma glanced at her with a calm expression.

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The Shanghai Flower Exhibition was a topic personally selected by the editor-in-chief. Such exhibitions were city-organized, Since it is based on the big city of Shanghai, the publicity effect had to be significant.

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In any case, a word from the top meant endless running around for those below.

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Huàzhēng let out a cry, realizing she still had half of the manuscript to write that she had intended to finish last night due to an unexpected overtime. Without another word, she quickly turned on her computer and got to work.

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The work at the newspaper office was not only busy but also tedious. Both she and Huàzhēng spent their first year at the editorial center. At first, they followed seniors to cover news, which were mostly trivial matters, especially the news from the lifestyle section, which could truly be described as trivial.

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Once, Emma even interviewed an elderly lady who had lost her beloved cat.

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When Huàzhēng heard about it, she immediately mentioned that Du Fei from the drama "Qing Shen Shen Yu Meng Meng" had also interviewed an elderly lady who had lost her cat, I never thought that a hundred years later, Shanghai reporters are still looking for cats for old ladies.

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Emma had been writing the report quite seriously, but after hearing Huàzhēng's comment, she felt an inexplicable urge to laugh.

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Fortunately, the outcome was good. The cat, which had injured its leg, was actually returned by someone, and the elderly lady specially had her family send a banner to the newspaper office to commend the young reporter for her diligent work.

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Now, Emma has transitioned from an intern to a full-time journalist, and her work remains busy, but she has taken another step towards her goal.

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*

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As noon approached, Jason had just finished a meeting and left the company immediately after. His schedule was packed, and even his lunchtime was pre-scheduled.

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After getting in the car, he suddenly looked up at Tang Mian in the passenger seat and asked, "Lunch at Ming Ge?"

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Tang Mian turned his head and thought for a moment before asking, "Are you not satisfied?"

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Jason, who had a light taste and disliked spicy food, usually had no complaints about top Cantonese restaurants.

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"Send a portion to Xingxing; she has lost a lot of weight recently," Jason said softly, looking at his phone.

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Tang Mian quickly agreed, knowing full well who Xingxing was—it was Emma's nickname.

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Of course, he would never dare to call her that and volunteered, "Ming Ge doesn't do takeout service. Shall I deliver it to Mrs.'s office?"

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Jason nodded, and then he fell silent.

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The newspaper office had a lunch break at twelve, and the newspaper had a decent cafeteria as a benefit. However, the younger staff often complained about the repetitive menu and would go out to try new dishes. Huàzhēng didn't like the cafeteria food and had already started looking at takeout options on her phone before the lunch break.

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Emma was still proofreading her manuscript. She was always meticulous in her work, and her submissions rarely needed any revisions.

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So engrossed was she in her work that when her phone rang, she answered without checking the caller ID.

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"Madam," Tang Mian's gentle voice came through, and the unexpected address made Emma pause.

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To be honest, even after a year of marriage, she often didn't feel the reality of her marriage to Jason. To her colleagues at the newspaper, she was just a young woman who had recently graduated and was working hard on her career.

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Among the few who knew about her marriage, Jason's family elders disapproved and didn't have high hopes for their union.

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When she occasionally accompanied Jason back to his family home, even the housekeepers working for his family didn't know what to call her. Emma was too distant, and "young mistress" would annoy the elders.

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Only when she met Tang Mian, no matter when or where, would he always address her as "madam."

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It was only at these moments that she felt a sense of legitimacy in being Emma.

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Emma regained her composure and softly said, "Hello, how can I help you?"

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Tang Mian was respectful to her, and she spoke kindly in return, her voice devoid of its usual coldness.

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"President Jason asked me to deliver lunch to you. Would you like me to leave it at the front desk, or would you prefer to come down and pick it up?" Tang Mian said, considerate of Emma's low profile at the newspaper office, where even Jason had to stop the car a block away in the morning.

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He didn't want to cause a stir by going up unannounced.

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Emma was taken aback: "Lunch?"

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"I'll come down and get it. Thank you," she immediately replied.

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Tang Mian, of course, didn't dare to say it was a trouble and didn't rush her to ask when she would come down. He waited quietly in the lobby until Emma arrived. She saw Tang Mian, dressed in a suit and looking every bit the elite, yet holding a rather incongruous box.

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It was an exquisitely crafted food box.

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Emma approached, looking down at the item in his hand, recalling the spread of breakfast that morning. Even with her reserved nature, she couldn't help but mutter, "Is your President Jason trying to feed a pig?"

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Tang Mian laughed upon hearing this, of course, he had to speak up for his boss, and said in a low voice, "President Jason is concerned about your health."

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Speaking of which, Tang Mian had been by Jason's side for seven years. Jason, being in a high position, always kept his emotions in check, as if he was in his own world, maintaining a certain distance from everyone.

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But with Emma, it was indeed different; all the indifference and restraint seemed to vanish.

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Just the fact that he married Emma was already a shocking move.

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Jason treated her exceptionally, and Tang Mian saw it all. Therefore, regardless of what others said, he always showed utmost respect to Emma.

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When Emma took the food box, it was heavier than she expected, almost causing her to drop it. She couldn't help but look down to see how much was inside.

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When she opened it and saw the contents, she was truly surprised. The three-tiered food box was filled with an array of dishes, neatly arranged.

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Huàzhēng, standing nearby, gaped in astonishment, her eyes nearly popping out.

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She asked, "Jǐngxī, who is this big shot trying to woo you with such extravagance?"

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Emma: "…"

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Coincidentally, this big shot's name was Jason.

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This was the balcony of the newspaper office, where colleagues would usually enjoy coffee during their breaks. Now, during lunchtime, everyone had gone to eat, and Emma brought the food box here.

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She invited Huàzhēng to eat with her; there was no way she could finish it all by herself.

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"Wow, this soup is so delicious," Huàzhēng remarked as she ate, savoring the thoughtfulness of the meal. It included shrimp, meat, fresh vegetables, and most notably, a pot of soup that was incredibly delicious, with ingredients that were extravagantly expensive.

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Huàzhēng, not without discernment, cautiously said, "The person pursuing you, is he a rich second-generation?"

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After all, a casual meal like this was worth thousands, which was not something ordinary people could afford.

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Emma didn't respond, and Huàzhēng, thinking she wanted to deny it, quickly added, "Don't deny it. If he wasn't trying to court you, why would he be so attentive?"

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This time, Emma shook her head and said indifferently, "It's really not the case."

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It wasn't about courting her because this was from her husband.

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Seeing that Emma didn't want to talk about it, Huàzhēng knew that if Emma didn't want to discuss something, she wouldn't get a word out of her. This girl was really tight-lipped, neither liking to talk about herself nor gossip about others.

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After they finished eating, Huàzhēng hurried to the restroom and left first.

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Emma cleaned up and was about to return to her desk with the food box when she entered the hallway and saw a slim and delicate figure approaching from the opposite side. Wēn Táng indeed had the capital to be proud, with a fiery figure and the knowledge of how to use her advantages in dressing.

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Wēn Táng sashayed over and, once standing in front of Emma, deliberately scrutinized her from head to toe.

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Faced with this impolite scrutiny, Emma didn't get angry; she just gave a cold glance.

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After a moment, Wēn Táng spoke with a hint of malice, "Do you know Tang Mian?"

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Emma was taken aback, instantly realizing that she must have been seen in the lobby earlier. Since she had been spotted, she didn't plan to deny it and simply said, "I know him."

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"What kind of relationship does he have with you that he'd come rushing to deliver lunch to you in the middle of the day?" Wēn Táng probed, looking at her with a sense of ill-intent.

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She was suspecting the relationship between Tang Mian and herself...

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Realizing Wēn Táng's line of thinking, Emma found it laughable.

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She didn't bother to entertain Wēn Táng's wild imaginations and stepped to the side, preparing to leave.

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But Wēn Táng seemed determined to cause trouble and blocked her way again, preventing Emma from leaving.

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The atmosphere suddenly became tense.

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Wēn Táng: "As a senior, don't say I didn't warn you. I've already decided to interview Jason, so don't waste your time trying. Even if you do get a connection through Tang Mian, the editor-in-chief will eventually give the assignment to me."

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