Chapter 54

The next morning, as consciousness drifted back, Chu Tong woke up almost instantly.

She sat up and looked around.

The gauze curtains were half-drawn, letting in a thin layer of daylight. The cream-colored master bedroom was enveloped in a faint, soft halo—tender and alluring.

There was no sign of another person.

How hateful.

She was so resentful.

Utterly resentful.

That scoundrel of a man had spent the night here!

When getting out of bed, she noticed a note on the bedside table. The paper had clearly been torn from her notebook, with a line of handwriting on it:

There is milk and breakfast in the microwave. Eat before going to school. The driver is waiting for you downstairs.

She angrily crumpled the paper, intending to toss it into the trash can, but her arm paused mid-air. In the end, she couldn't bear to throw it away.

The handwriting was genuinely beautiful—vigorous and powerful, yet natural and elegant.

She pulled open the drawer and placed it inside.

Shao Yihuai had held her in his arms while they slept last night.

Not only that, but he had held her from behind, taking her hand and making her modify the visibility settings of her Moments one by one.

Damn it all, she had regretted being so talkative back then, posting about every little thing. There were dozens of posts, and while editing, she had to "explain" each one to him—where this one was taken, who she was with in that one. Many of them were selfies or photos taken by him, all of which he had bundled together and airdropped to herself.

She washed up and got dressed.

While grooming in front of the mirror, a memory that had been forgotten in her half-asleep state suddenly flooded back into her mind. It was earlier this morning, before she had woken up. Before leaving, Shao Yihuai had returned to the bedside, leaned over to scoop her out of the covers, kissed her forehead, the tip of her nose, and her lips one by one, and finally whispered, "I'm leaving, baby."

She must have murmured sleepily, which made him chuckle softly, and then his kisses drifted down to her neck and collarbone.

After that, she probably rolled over, and he tucked the quilt around her before leaving the room.

She stepped out, took the elevator, and her little leather shoes clicked against the floor.

Chu Tong thought to herself that she needed to come up with a strategy to deal with him.

Otherwise, if she let this man come to Yayuan a few more times, wouldn't she be entirely at his mercy?

What were those times she had wept bitterly for him supposed to count for? Could it all just be brushed aside so lightly?

She was ten thousand times resentful and unreconciled.

-

Mary’s family had served the Yi family of Hong Kong for two generations. Earlier, after completing her business degree abroad, she had returned to China, and Yi Jiaying had assigned her to work for Shao Yihuai.

Aside from attending school in Hong Kong during her childhood, Shao Yihuai would spend a short period in Hong Kong several times a year as an adult. He had businesses and properties here, so when he was not personally present, Mary would manage all his affairs and assets—ranging from large-scale business partnerships and real estate transactions to minor arrangements like house cleaning. When he returned to Hong Kong, she served as his driver and assistant.

This year was different. Mr. Shao had acquired several companies, expanding his territory, and shifted some of his businesses over here. It was obvious he intended to stay long-term. Perhaps because of this, he had brought his own driver, Zong Liangzhi, from Beijing, and his businesses and assets had also been handed over to someone else to manage.

Upon hearing initially that all her workload had been transferred, Mary had thought she was going to be fired. However, in July, Mr. Shao had summoned her to his Central office, saying he had other tasks arranged for her.

"There is a young lady who will be coming to the University of Hong Kong for her master's studies at the end of August. In the future, you will be responsible for all her affairs and assets."

"What kind of young lady is she?"

Mr. Shao paused for a moment and said, "...The woman I want to marry."

Mary was first surprised, and then a heavy stone in her heart dropped.

She was surprised because Mr. Shao, who always seemed so detached—never letting a single leaf touch his body, someone whom none of the countless elite heiresses in Beijing and Hong Kong could catch the eye of—would actually harbor such intentions toward a certain girl?

She felt relieved because the job entrusted to her carried significant weight, meaning her career future was secured.

"For now, she only has one property in Hong Kong. I will give you ten million Hong Kong dollars first to help her with investments and financial management. If there are other large-scale expenditure needs, such as buying land, purchasing buildings, or acquiring shares in a company, just let me know, and I will transfer more funds to you."

The wealthy families in Hong Kong had always kept to their own boundaries; what one invested in, the others would never touch. The intricacies involved were extremely complex.

With her entire family working for the Yi family, Mary had grown up in the elite circles of Hong Kong and was thoroughly familiar with these rules.

She was the most suitable candidate.

"Understood."

Since receiving the assignment in July, apart from familiarizing herself with the young lady's profile, Mary had essentially been receiving a salary for doing nothing.

She had looked forward to the young lady visiting Hong Kong at the end of August, but all the temporary residence permits and enrollment procedures had been handled by Su Jingwen, who flew in specially from Beijing.

By early September, school had finally started. Yet, the first work directive Mary received was to find an informant around the young lady.

After two weeks of this, last night was the Mid-Autumn Festival, and early this morning, Mr. Shao finally sent word that she could officially start her duties.

Therefore, after breakfast, Mary hurriedly drove the Maybach to the foot of Yayuan to wait.

After waiting for half an hour, a tall and slender figure pushed open the door of the lobby and stepped out.

A short white pleated skirt paired with white socks and small black leather shoes, topped with a loose, preppy white long-sleeved shirt. Her long hair had a slight wave, and her legs were white, straight, and slender, yet with a noticeable sense of healthy flesh around the thighs.

This figure was already stunning. When she looked up, that face was so gorgeous that even Mary, someone accustomed to seeing beauties, caught her breath for a second. It was a striking, vibrant look; her features were stunning yet devoid of any flirtatiousness, possessing only a clear and vigorous vitality.

According to the background check, the young lady came from Jiangcheng, a small city in the southern interior. A girl raised amidst mist-shrouded mountains and rivers, she had originally been expected to be a petite, gentle type. Since the previous encounters involved tailing her without face-to-face contact, Mary had only noticed her tall stature, never expecting her overall presence to be so impactful.

The aura of refined elegance about her closely resembled that of a young lady from a prestigious family. Born into an ordinary background, she had likely been cultivated and shaped by Mr. Shao back in Beijing.

The young lady descended the steps and blinked. "Is it you?"

"It is. My name is Mary."

The young lady immediately and affectionately changed her address. "Sister May, then I'll have to trouble you."

"You're welcome. Please get in the car."

The Maybach started.

In the back seat, Chu Tong leaned forward and said, "Actually, walking only takes ten minutes. You really don't need to trouble yourself to pick me up."

"Not at all," Mary smiled and said. "Whenever you finish class, want to go shopping, attend events, or have any schedule arrangements, I will be responsible for them. I am your personal driver and assistant from now on, and Mr. Shao sent me to help you manage your assets here in Hong Kong."

"I don't have any assets."

"You do," Mary said with a smile. "Mr. Shao has arranged everything for you. We'll find some time in the next couple of days to transfer the ownership of this car to you. Besides that, there are some investments and other assets that will all be transferred into your name."

Chu Tong was stunned. "...Why is he setting all this up for me?"

She muttered inwardly, is he trying to tie me down with these things?

"Mr. Shao cares for you deeply."

Mary said only that, while thinking to herself: what else could it be? Naturally, it was to pave the way for her identity and prepare her for eventually marrying into the Shao and Yi families. After all, given Mr. Shao's prominent status—an immensely powerful figure in both Beijing and Hong Kong—dating was one thing, but if she wanted to enter into marriage with him, she needed some financial foundation and confidence.

Chu Tong let out a soft huff.

It was this same old routine of throwing money around. He had just spent the night here last night, and now he was going to take over her life completely again?

He was truly so self-righteous.

As she thought this, her phone vibrated.

[Shao: Have you gone to school? What are your plans after class this afternoon?]

Look at that tone and phrasing. Did he think she had forgiven him and wanted to start dating him all over again?

In his dreams.

Since when was there such a good deal in the world where he could discard her or pick her up whenever he pleased?

The Maybach arrived at the East Gate. Chu Tong added May on WeChat and got out of the car.

The city had been washed clean by a torrential rain; the sky was a deep azure, and the air still carried a faint, damp scent of rain with a cool breeze.

On campus, students hurried back and forth. Chu Tong slung her bag over her shoulder and entered the teaching building.

Finding a window seat in the front row of the classroom, she rested her chin in her hand and pondered. Coincidentally, a message popped up on her phone from Winnie.

[Do you want to go to a club tonight?]

Chu Tong had never been to such places, but her recent project required interviewing and observing young people born after 2000 who loved to have fun. A nightclub might be a great spot.

[Sure.]

Since Shao Yihuai used both soft and hard tactics to make it hard for her to refuse, why not just go along with his flow while openly complying yet secretly defying him?

From his perspective, perhaps their relationship had returned to square one, but from hers, it definitely hadn't. She had no obligation to be responsible to him.

The best thing to do was dance right on his nerve endings and make him so angry he'd see red.

Having made up her mind, the heart that had been heavy and sour since last night finally loosened up.

He shouldn't think that he was the only one in this world with tricks up his sleeve; she had them too.

With her mind made up, she finally replied to Shao Yihuai's message:

[At school now. After class, I have to study and write assignments in the library, and follow my advisor on a project. I probably won't be back at Yayuan until the middle of the night.]

Shao Yihuai was chairing a morning meeting in the top-floor conference room in Central. On the projection screen, someone from the secretary's office was giving a report.

His phone vibrated. He swiped the screen to take a look, his gaze gradually turning deeply meaningful.

The girl's subtext couldn't be clearer: Don't come to my place tonight, I'm busy.

[Shao: How are you handling dinner?]

[TongTong: School cafeteria, lol.]

[Shao: The HKU cafeteria isn't good.]

[TongTong: I think it's pretty decent.]

[Shao: I'll send May to pack something from an outside restaurant for you.]

Chu Tong replied with an emoji.

[Shao: Be a good girl. Meals shouldn't be neglected.]

Chu Tong replied with an OK-sign heart-shooting emoji.

Lively and quirky.

Without any other emotion.

Abnormal.

Things had been like that last night, and waking up this morning, she didn't even have a single grumbling remark?

Clearly, she had tried to chase him away last night.

In the past two weeks, she had cried and thrown harsh threats at him, yet after a single night, she suddenly changed her tune? He knew she had a proud bone in her body; when they first got together, even accepting his help required careful consideration on her part. She was definitely not someone who could be manipulated so easily.

He also knew she possessed a certain cleverness for self-preservation and the ability to conquer strength with gentleness.

The image of her playful and eccentric expression surfaced in his mind, and Shao Yihuai couldn't help lowering his gaze and silently curving his lips.

Yet that trace of a smile slowly faded away—

She was also the best at slicing flesh with a dull knife. Acting obedient and well-behaved on the surface, she was actually plotting a big move against him.

-

After finishing a day of classes, just as Chu Tong was about to go line up at the cafeteria with Winnie, she received a message from Mary:

[Miss, I bought dinner for you. It's at the Southwest Gate. Could you take a moment to come and pick it up?]

Chu Tong went.

Collecting the packaged dinner, she asked, "Sister May, did Shao Yihuai ask you to buy this?"

"No, no. I know the food at the HKU cafeteria is just so-so and the lines are long, so I bought you takeout instead."

Chu Tong nodded, hesitated slightly, and finally asked, "Sister May, do you have to report everything to him?"

Mary could naturally discern the underlying meaning in her words and replied smoothly, "Why would you ask that? You are my boss; naturally, your matters come first in everything."

"But he's the one paying your salary."

Mary smiled. "I work for you. You can completely trust me."

"Then I'll trust you?" Chu Tong lowered her voice. "I have my own life and my own arrangements, which might not necessarily align with his wishes. Don't go whispering updates to him about everything."

Ever since she was assigned the task at the beginning of the month to plant an informant around Miss Chu, Mary had felt something was amiss. To facilitate her future work, she had specially contacted Su Jingwen to ask about the past between Miss Chu and Mr. Shao in Beijing. They had voice-chatted late into the night, ultimately concluding that Mr. Shao was likely in the stage of re-pursuing her.

Hearing Chu Tong's words now, Mary felt reassured and nodded. "Understood, your wish is my command."

Chu Tong smiled and nodded.

The portion of the takeout was quite generous. Chu Tong and Winnie found a bench on campus and shared it.

After finishing, they bought a cup of coffee and headed to the library to study and do homework.

Since all daily lectures were conducted entirely in English, she had to constantly review her English as well.

The two of them studied together until past ten o'clock, then met up with two other male members of their project group at the Southwest Gate. The four of them boarded the Maybach together, and Mary drove them to a nightclub in Lan Kwai Fong.

In the car, the four of them chatted about project details, so Mary didn't pay too much attention.

Parking steadily in the parking lot next to the nightclub, she said, "I'll wait for you guys here."

"Sorry to trouble you, Sister May. You don't need to come pick me up tomorrow morning; I can walk to school. Just come back in the evening."

"Alright."

Watching the four of them enter the narrow doorway of the nightclub, Mary's phone rang.

It was from Mr. Shao.

She answered, "Good evening, Mr. Shao."

"Is Tong Tong still in the library?"

She couldn't bring herself to answer his call.

"Um... Miss Chu is busy with project matters."

"Where is she?"

"..."

Mary hadn't expected the first challenge of this new job to arrive so quickly.