After saying that, Zhang Yue even turned to Zhao Linger and asked, "Linger, what does your boyfriend do?"
His tone was relaxed and natural, as though the earlier standoff thick with gunpowder had never happened.
At Zhang Yue's performance, Zhao Linger's eyes widened, her face full of disbelief.
She never imagined someone could change faces faster than turning a page!
Zhao Linger knew that Zhang Yue was slick.
In the adult world, 'slick' isn't purely a slur.
Once you're out in society, if you still charge around like a headless fly, obstinate and self-willed, you'll be eliminated by this complicated, ever-changing world.
But right now, Zhang Yue's behavior couldn't be called slick anymore.
This was blatant, two-faced hypocrisy.
He'd mocked Jiang Cheng for looking so young, and in the blink of an eye he was bowing and scraping, heaping on flattery.
As Jiang Cheng had just said, Zhang Yue really was like a dog.
Zhao Linger swallowed her contempt and said flatly, "He's my boss."
At that, Zhang Yue's knees seemed to lose all strength and nearly buckled.
In that instant, the gossip his female colleagues had shown him flashed through his mind.
He remembered how, that day, after they'd seen the hot search on Social Media Platform, the women had clamored about jumping ship to Xingchen Investment.
Though Xingchen was a new company, it was in a stage of throwing big money to poach talent.
Not only were the salaries high, the perks were astonishingly good.
Many people secretly applied.
Precisely because pay and benefits were so generous, Xingchen Investment's hiring bar was sky-high.
Without solid experience and outstanding results, you basically weren't even qualified to apply.
He'd been fixated on Jiang Cheng being a Second-generation rich; it had never crossed his mind that he was the big boss of Xingchen.
So when he'd rattled on, had the two of them been laughing their heads off inside?
The thought sent a surge of nameless anger through Zhang Yue, followed by an indescribable humiliation.
Were Jiang Cheng and Zhao Linger to know this mindset, they'd surely exclaim: Is this guy toxic??
They hadn't said a word, yet he'd put on a whole show, constantly flaunting his so-called superiority.
After reality slapped him, he still wanted to hold a grudge.
Yet no matter how awful he felt, Zhang Yue's face swiftly shifted again, forcing an expression of sudden delight.
He hurriedly said, "So you're Chairman Jiang! An honor, an absolute honor."
Zhao Linger felt the same as Jiang Cheng: this Zhang Yue was a real piece of work.
The higher Jiang Cheng's position climbed, the more of this sort he'd seen.
He used to sigh about it; now he dismissed it in seconds.
Seeing Zhang Yue's outstretched hand, Jiang Cheng smiled mockingly. "Sunac's department manager, right? Don't bother sending gifts to my girlfriend again—our company has plenty; no need for special deliveries."
Zhao Linger thought Zhang Yue was good at being indirect, but Jiang Cheng's sarcasm was on another level.
She secretly giggled and nudged Jiang Cheng with her arm in praise.
At her nudge, he slid the hand already holding hers into the pocket of her Bvlgari coat and gripped it tight.
He looked back at Zhang Yue, raised an eyebrow, and added, "And no need for gloves—she has me; does she look like she needs gloves?"
The moment those words landed, Zhao Linger's amused expression vanished, replaced by a crimson flush.
Being led by the hand was nothing like having it trapped in a pocket, pressed palm-to-palm.
Coupled with Jiang Cheng's domineering-CEO line, no girl could withstand such an assault.
Right then, Zhao Linger felt her heart leap into her throat, lost in sweet embarrassment.
Zhao Linger: "favorability value +2!"
Seeing her favorability hit 87, Jiang Cheng couldn't help glancing at her.
That look, paired with the sugary gesture, made Zhao Linger's head spin.
Flustered, she jerked her gaze away, no longer daring to meet his eyes.
She silently chanted: This isn't real, this is Chairman Jiang—stay calm, stay calm…
Hearing Jiang Cheng, Zhang Yue clenched the gift bag tighter.
He'd already named his company; though they weren't rivals, Zhang Yue knew clearly:
If Jiang Cheng wanted to crush him, it would take no effort—he might lose this hard-won job in seconds.
Worse, they were both in finance; if he lost his post, with Jiang Cheng's clout, a little pressure could blackball him completely.
So he could only swallow the humiliation.
He wouldn't give up on Zhao Linger, though; as long as she wasn't married, there was hope.
He'd seen plenty of rich young lords like Jiang Cheng.
Perhaps Jiang Cheng was merely toying with her; once Zhao Linger was hurt, his timely reappearance could yield twice the result with half the effort.
Zhang Yue bowed deeply, as deferential as when greeting a superior.
Then he said carefully, "Understood, Chairman Jiang. I'll leave at once. Sorry for the disturbance; another day I'll treat you to make amends."
Jiang Cheng merely curled his lips in a half-smile, offering no reply.
Watching Zhang Yue slink away, Zhao Linger wanted to say more, but from the corner of her eye she spotted her father peeking through a crack in the iron gate.
The sight scorched her cheeks; she yanked her hand back as if burned.