Sweet Temptation! The Beauty in President Pei's Palm is Too Alluring

Jiang Chu's outburst actually lightened the atmosphere in the design department considerably in the afternoon. This "problem child" indeed didn't come to work that afternoon; he was probably too ashamed to face anyone and went home to complain.

However, the relaxed atmosphere did not last long.

Around 3 p.m., Qiao Na came out of her office, her expression somewhat serious. She went straight to Shu Hua's workstation and tapped on her desk.

"Shuhua, come with me," Qiao Na said.

Shu Hua looked up from the design draft, somewhat bewildered: "Okay, Mr. Qiao."

The two took the elevator up.

The closer Shu Hua got to the top floor, the more uneasy she became. Finally, she stopped at the top floor, stepped out of the elevator, and looked at the familiar CEO's office area before her. Only then did Shu Hua realize that something was wrong.

"Director Qiao," she stopped and looked at Qiao Na hesitantly, "Should I go in too?"

"Yes." Jona nodded. "That's what President Pei meant."

Shu Hua was stunned.

Is this man so eager for everyone to know about their relationship? He's being far too blatant!

Seeing her unusual expression, Qiao Na assumed she was nervous and comforted her, "Don't worry, President Pei just wants to understand the project details and progress more directly. Just report the facts."

Shu Hua twitched the corner of her mouth.

This reason... can only fool those who don't know the truth.

Push the door open and go inside.

Pei Yanzhou was sitting at his desk looking at documents. Hearing the sound, he looked up.

"President Pei," Qiao Na said respectfully.

Shu Hua also said softly, "President Pei."

Pei Yanzhou nodded.

No sooner had she finished speaking than a fluffy white thing suddenly jumped out of the lounge door and rushed straight towards Shu Hua.

Shu Hua: "!!!"

sweet dumpling!

Why did you bring the rabbit again?!

Tangyuan clearly recognized its owner and excitedly hopped to her feet, rubbing its fluffy head against her ankle, as if asking for a hug.

Shu Hua stumbled, and blurted out instinctively, "Tangyuan, stop fooling around!"

Only after the words were out did she belatedly realize—it was all over.

Qiao Na looked at the rabbit with a puzzled expression, then at Shu Hua, and finally at Pei Yanzhou: "President Pei, what is this...?"

Pei Yanzhou chuckled, stood up and walked over, bending down to pick up Tangyuan: "Its name is Tangyuan."

Shu Hua almost wanted to bite her tongue off, so she quickly tried to salvage the situation with a dry laugh: "Haha... so it's called Tangyuan (glutinous rice ball). I think it looks just like a Tangyuan, all white and plump. Director Qiao, don't you think so?"

Jona nodded with some skepticism: "...It does look quite similar."

Shu Hua secretly glared at Pei Yanzhou.

Pei Yanzhou received her piercing gaze, but instead of being annoyed, he chuckled softly. He stood up, walked around the desk, squatted down, and held out his hand: "Tangyuan, come here."

Amazingly, Tangyuan seemed to understand him perfectly. It immediately hopped back to Pei Yanzhou's feet and rubbed its head against his trouser leg.

Pei Yanzhou picked it up and put it back in its nest. Only then did he return.

After doing all this, he turned around and said to Qiao Na and Shu Hua, who were still standing, "Sit down." He pointed to the sofa in the reception area.

Qiao Na: "President Pei, this..."

"Don't be nervous," Pei Yanzhou said, walking to the head seat of the single sofa. "I called you up here to ask about the recent situation in the design department. Please have a seat."

Only then did Qiao Na dare to sit down, and at the same time, she gestured for Shu Hua to sit down as well.

Today, Shu Hua wore a beige knee-length pencil skirt, a common and appropriate outfit for the workplace. The simple lines accentuated her slim waist and long legs. She usually chose skirts that went past the knee for work, but this one was new, and she wore it because she thought it looked good.

Pei Yanzhou's gaze fell on her legs, and his eyes darkened.

The skirt just reached her knees, and when she sat down, the hem naturally rode up, revealing a section of her fair thigh. If it went any higher... one could see the marks he had left over the past two days.

How dare she wear this skirt to work?

He frowned, walked to the coffee table, picked up the thin blanket folded on the sofa armrest, and handed it to Jona.

"Cover her up."

Then, in a serious tone, she said, "Wear a longer skirt tomorrow."

Shu Hua was completely bewildered. What was wrong with this man now?

Jona was also stunned, but she still took the blanket and handed it to Shuhua.

Shu Hua awkwardly took the cover and placed it on her lap, cursing Pei Yanzhou a hundred times in her mind.

Just then, there was a knock on the office door.

An Mi led Linda, the Marketing Director, in: "President Pei, the marketing team has arrived."

Linda was a woman in her early thirties, with exquisite makeup and a smart outfit. Shu Hua remembered her—she was one of the people who had lunch with Jiang Chu at noon.

"President Pei," Linda handed over a document, "this is the latest marketing plan you requested."

Pei Yanzhou gestured for An Mi to take it, his tone indifferent: "You can leave now."

"Yes, Mr. Pei." Linda respectfully withdrew, her gaze lingering on Shu Hua for a moment before she left.

The door closed again.

However, some things, once seen, cannot be stopped.

Sure enough, it wasn't long before the company's internal gossip group exploded with activity.

It started with an anonymous tip:

[Breaking news! Shu Hua from the design department was called into President Pei's office! Rumor has it she was criticized for inappropriate attire!]

Soon, the news became increasingly outrageous:

[When President Pei saw Shu Hua, he didn't even raise an eyelid, and immediately ordered her to go out and make corrections!]

[I heard President Pei was furious, saying, "What kind of behavior is it to wear such short clothes to the company!"]

[She's probably going to get fired, right? She deliberately wore a short skirt to seduce President Pei, serves her right!]

Those who were close to Jiang Chu, or those who were jealous of Shu Hua's abilities and appearance, especially added fuel to the fire, making their stories sound very convincing. In no time, the rumor that Shu Hua from the design department "attempted to seduce the president but failed and was severely criticized and may be fired" spread throughout half the company.

However, the reality inside the president's office was completely the opposite of the rumors.

Pei Yanzhou personally poured tea for Qiao Na and Shu Hua, a pot of warm red date and goji berry tea.

"Drink this," Pei Yanzhou pushed the teacup in front of the two of them, "It's good for women."

Qiao Na looked at the cup of hot tea in front of her, then at the president who had personally poured it. The unease she felt because of the Jiang Chu incident and being suddenly summoned was instantly replaced by greater doubt.

Offering them a sofa and pouring them tea—could this be a trap?

Pei Yanzhou's true intention was simple: this tea was specially brewed for Shu Hua. But it would be too obvious to pour it only for her, so he "took care" of Qiao Na as well.

Shu Hua looked at the cup of tea in front of her, then at Pei Yanzhou, glaring at him countless times.

Brother, tone it down a bit!

Pei Yanzhou, however, seemed oblivious to her gaze and asked, "How does it taste?"

Jona cautiously took a sip: "It's...it's delicious. I never imagined that you, Mr. Pei, could brew this kind of tea..." This completely overturned her perception of the aloof CEO.

Pei Yanzhou looked at Shu Hua: "What do you think?"

Shu Hua forced a smile: "It's delicious."

Pei Yanzhou nodded, his gaze seemingly casually sweeping over Shu Hua, and said in a flat tone, "I'm used to cooking for my wife, and she likes these sweet drinks."

"Cough cough..." Shu Hua almost spat out the mouthful of tea she had just drunk, but she forced it down and coughed, her face turning red.