Chapter 13: The Beauty Trap—Useless by Day

The secretary hung up the phone, her expression unsettled, as if she still hadn’t recovered from the call.

“Who was it?” someone nearby asked.

“It was the… the President.”

The President was notoriously low-profile, never accepting interviews or seeking the spotlight. The outside world knew almost nothing about him. But as the most idle and gossipy receptionist in the company, they of course had every detail about the President at their fingertips. Naturally, they could tell exactly whose voice that was.

Sharp-chinned, the receptionist glanced at Jiang Ciyou with a changed expression, a flicker of envy and jealousy in her eyes. Just what was the relationship between this woman and the President? What kind of connection would make the President call the front desk personally? Could it be that her call just now had been to the President himself?

“The President’s office is on the thirty-second floor,” the sharp-chinned receptionist said reluctantly.

Jiang Ciyou thanked her and headed straight for the elevator.

The elevator doors opened swiftly on the thirty-second floor. Passing through a corridor, Jiang Ciyou stopped before the President’s office door. She didn’t hesitate, raising her hand to knock.

The door was opened by a refined-looking man wearing gold-rimmed glasses.

“I’m Gao Cen, the President’s secretary. The President is still in a meeting. Miss Jiang, you may wait here if you like.”

“I’ll wait in the reception room,” Jiang Ciyou replied politely.

“With your relationship with the President, Miss Jiang, you may as well think of this office as your own.”

Jiang Ciyou was taken aback, her ears turning red, but she smiled graciously. “Thank you.”

Clearly, Secretary Gao knew all about her and Bo Jinxi. There was no need to feign restraint.

After pouring Jiang Ciyou a glass of water, Secretary Gao left the office.

Jiang Ciyou sat on the office sofa, taking in her surroundings. The office was spacious, almost like a suite. Beyond the work area, there were other rooms, though their doors were closed so she couldn’t see inside.

What caught her eye, however, was the wall of floor-to-ceiling windows behind the desk.

Rising slowly, Jiang Ciyou walked toward them. The glass stretched from floor to ceiling, offering a sprawling view of the city below. The city’s undulating skyline, the endless stream of cars on the overpasses—like lifeblood flowing through the metropolis—stretched out before her.

She gazed at the view for a while.

Turning back, her eyes fell on the large desk. It was piled with documents, but all were neatly arranged. Among them, a crystal photo frame caught her attention.

Inside was a photo of a little girl, about four or five years old, dressed in a pink, puffy dress, her hair in adorable pigtails, clutching a plush bunny, grinning with unrestrained joy. The photo was grainy, like an old picture from years ago. The girl’s face was slightly blurred, but her radiant smile seemed to shine through, as if it could dispel any gloom.

Though Jiang Ciyou didn’t recognize the girl, there was something vaguely familiar about the photograph. She picked it up for a closer look.

Just then, the door opened.

A tall figure stood in the doorway.

Their eyes met.

Seeing the woman with the photo in her hands, the man’s brows furrowed. Yet he didn’t step inside, as if waiting for her to speak.

Jiang Ciyou smiled and shook the photo in her hand, asking naturally, “Is this your daughter?”

His brows knitted even tighter.

With a look of exasperation, he strode over and snatched the photo away, returning it to its place. “Daughter? You wish.”

“How can a prince of the capital’s elite circles speak so crudely?” she teased.

But his words made Jiang Ciyou feel strangely at ease; after all, this was how they had always spoken to each other—without pretense.

He looked at her, his gaze once again icy and distant.

“What did you come here for?” Bo Jinxi’s tone was cold, unmistakably detached.

In truth, throughout these three years, Jiang Ciyou had never thought of this man as cold. In her memory, he had always been passionate, clingy, insatiable.

But now, standing before her, he was suffused with an icy chill from head to toe.

How could someone’s demeanor change so drastically in just a few days?

So which was real—the man before her, or the one from those three years?

Jiang Ciyou composed herself, adopting a businesslike tone. “Can you keep our personal matters separate from Yan Corporation? Yan Corporation is among the nation’s top ten construction firms. Surely the Bo Group wouldn’t deny them even a chance to bid?”

He sat down in his chair, casually picking up a file. His voice remained indifferent.

“So Yan Feng sent you?”

“I came of my own accord. I know I’ve offended you, but I believe the head of a vast business empire must be a man who separates public from private matters.”

He looked up, a faint smile curling on his pale lips, giving him a touch of roguish charm. “Mrs. Yan, you don’t need to flatter me. If there’s anything I excel at, it’s using public matters for private gain.”

A trace of helplessness flickered in Jiang Ciyou’s eyes.

“What will it take for you to give Yan Corporation a chance?”

He patted his thigh. “Come here.”

Jiang Ciyou walked over and, without hesitation, straddled his lap.

His eyes darkened instantly.

Countless nights had begun exactly like this between them.

Jiang Ciyou knew this was his weakness.

He let out a low laugh, then seized her chin and kissed her.

Jiang Ciyou had never been so yielding before. She had always been the one to enjoy his affection, but today, for once, she was the one trying to please.

He was clearly captivated.

Watching the way his eyes grew increasingly dazed, Jiang Ciyou drew back, leaned to his ear, her voice as delicate as a budding lily, carrying a sweet, beguiling fragrance. “Why not send Yan Corporation an invitation to bid?”

His eyes grew deep, the haze within them slowly clearing.

So she had been calculating even as they kissed.

He gripped her chin, their gazes meeting.

His eyes were clear and sober. “Beauty traps don’t work on me in broad daylight.”

Jiang Ciyou abruptly stood up. “You could have said so earlier, instead of making me put on an act for so long.”

He seemed to be holding back a swell of emotion in his chest.

This woman was utterly heartless.

The moment he was no longer useful, she didn’t hesitate for a second.

He had nearly lost himself just now, and it turned out she’d only been pretending.

“Is there really no room for negotiation?”

He fixed his gaze on her.

In her beautiful eyes, a trace of helplessness flashed.

If he were to refuse her now, she would surely turn and leave without a word.

She had only this much patience left for him.

He spoke. “Agree to one condition, and I’ll give Yan Corporation a chance.”

“What condition?”

“Move out of the Yan household and live in the Greenfield Villa.”

The Greenfield Villa was hers, but only a few days ago, after their breakup, she had given it to Bo Jinxi.

Without thinking, Jiang Ciyou agreed, “Fine, then send Yan Corporation the invitation to bid right now.”