The pushover offended a top-tier boss

Ye Zhenzhen worked for almost an hour.

The twice-cooked pork was especially successful. The edges of the pork belly were crispy, and the aroma of garlic sprouts and the salty and spicy flavor of fermented bean paste were mixed together, coating each piece of meat. It was so shiny and oily that it made your mouth water just looking at it.

She also made boiled shrimp, broccoli and shrimp, and a steamed sea bass.

A balanced mix of meat and vegetables, with appealing color, aroma, and taste.

After setting the dishes on the table, she took out her phone, snapped a photo, and sent it to Zhou Huaijin. She then turned on the TV, tuned to a variety show, and turned the volume up to a moderate level.

The variety shows on TV were noisy. She watched for a while, then got bored and picked up her phone to browse some more.

She suddenly came across a news article.

Top actress He Simin committed suicide in her luxury mansion in Binzhou.

She knew that celebrity. She'd risen to fame in recent years, starring in several big-budget films that did well at the box office. She was beautiful, had a huge fan base, and was constantly getting endorsements from major brands. Just a few days ago, she saw photos of her attending some high-profile event trending on social media.

Why would someone commit suicide when everything seemed fine?

She clicked on it and took a look. The news said she was found in a high-end residential area in Binzhou City, only two kilometers away from Yuyuan, and was suspected of having depression.

In the comments section, fans were all crying.

A strange feeling welled up inside her. The person who shone on stage yesterday was gone today. Such a big house, so much money, so many people who loved her—why did she commit suicide?

She was lost in thought when she heard the door open.

Ye Zhenzhen put down her phone and stood up from the sofa.

"Boss, come back—"

She froze halfway through her sentence.

The person standing at the door was not Zhou Huaijin.

It was Zhou Huaijin's mother.

Jiang Lan stood in the entryway, wearing a dark gray cashmere coat, a dark red scarf, her hair neatly styled, and her makeup light and elegant.

Ye Zhenzhen was somewhat at a loss.

How should she explain this?

To say she's just there to cook for the boss? But she's standing in the entryway, dressed in casual clothes and slippers, with a two-person meal laid out behind her. Who would believe she's just the boss's subordinate?

Zhou's mother wasn't particularly surprised. She changed her shoes with elegant and natural movements. Her gaze swept over Ye Zhenzhen and landed on the dining table behind her, where two sets of chopsticks and bowls were set.

"I stopped by on my way," Zhou's mother said gently, with an impeccable politeness. "Did I bother you, Xiao Ye?"

Ye Zhenzhen tried to make her voice sound normal: "No, Auntie."

As Zhou's mother entered the dining room, her gaze fell upon the dishes on the table, where cups and chopsticks were arranged in pairs.

"Did you make all of this?" Zhou's mother turned around and looked at Ye Zhenzhen.

"Yes, it's just finished," Ye Zhenzhen replied softly.

She then asked, "Auntie, have you... eaten? Let me get you some."

"Okay, thank you for your hard work." Zhou's mother nodded.

Ye Zhenzhen turned around and went to the kitchen to get a bowl of rice, which she carefully served to her boss's mother.

"I didn't know you had this skill." She picked up her chopsticks, took a piece of twice-cooked pork, put it in her mouth, and chewed slowly. "It tastes good. Zhouzhou usually can't find any decent home-cooked meals when he's out. It's really kind of you to take such good care of him."

Ye Zhenzhen stood there, unsure of what to say.

She thought Zhou's mother would do what's written in novels: take a check out of her bag, throw it in front of her, and say, "Leave my son, and this money is yours."

But nothing.

Zhou's mother spoke in a very ordinary, even kind, tone. She ate a couple of bites of shrimp and said, "The shrimp is fresh too."

After eating a few bites, Zhou's mother put down her chopsticks and wiped her mouth. She looked up at Ye Zhenzhen with a gentle and calm gaze.

"Xiao Ye, I can tell you come from a good family, and you're quite educated." Her voice was calm and measured. "Don't you feel wronged just staying with him like this?"

Ye Zhenzhen stood there, stunned.

She's not actually that cunning; I don't know if that statement is a compliment or an insult.

Is she feeling wronged for herself, or for her son?

Seeing that she didn't say anything.

Zhou's mother smiled and then said:

"He was a well-behaved child from a young age, and he always followed the established plan."

"For him, marriage, in particular, is not only an exchange of resources, but also a combination of interests."

She paused, looked at Ye Zhenzhen, her gaze devoid of malice but also devoid of warmth.

"He's not young anymore, but he doesn't have much experience in relationships. He might be interested in you now, but he'll eventually meet someone better. What will you do then?"

Ye Zhenzhen understood.

The gist of it is: You are not good enough for my son. He will never marry you. Even if he supports you now, he will get tired of you later.

Ye Zhenzhen remained silent for a few seconds.

He raised his head. His voice wasn't loud, but there was no fear in it.

"Auntie, you don't need to worry that I will pester him."

"He will meet more outstanding girls, and I will meet younger boys."

Zhou's mother's chopsticks stopped in mid-air.

She looked at the girl in front of her, who seemed timid, but whose words were like a blunt knife, dull yet piercing and catching people off guard.

She left Yu Garden, holding her breath.

Ye Zhenzhen stood still.

The television in the living room was still on, the laughter from the variety show coming in waves. She picked up the remote and turned it off. The living room suddenly became quiet.

Suddenly, tears streamed down her face.

She didn't know why she was crying.

She clearly understood everything. Without anyone reminding her, she knew that there was no future for her and someone like Zhou Huaijin.

He was thirty-three, in the prime of his life, needing a marriage alliance, resources, and the support of someone of equal social standing. And her? From a small county town, with no background, no connections, not even able to properly brew the cup of tea in his office.

She never intended to have any official status. She was taking things one step at a time; it wasn't a big deal, and she wouldn't lose out. At worst, they could just break up; it wasn't like she couldn't live without anyone.

She no longer had many illusions about love. After five years of relationship with Meng Chen and so much anticipation for the future, it all came down to scheming and maneuvering.

Zhou Huaijin was good to her, and she accepted it. He gave her an apartment, a card with over eight million yuan, and a life she never dared to dream of. She didn't lose out.

But she was still upset.

What was bothering her? She couldn't say for sure.

She didn't like this feeling.

-

When Zhou Huaijin received the call from his mother, he had just come out of the restaurant, opened the car door, and stepped one foot into the car.

"You went to Yuyuan?" His voice turned somber, and his brows furrowed instantly.

"What did you say to her?"

On the other end of the phone, Zhou's mother's voice carried a hint of displeasure at being contradicted:

"What can I say? You've really fallen for him; he doesn't even care about you!"

She's still reeling from Ye Zhenzhen's words, "I will also meet younger boys."

What do you mean by "younger"? What's wrong with her son? He's thirty-three, in his prime, how is he old?

Zhou Huaijin tightened his grip on the phone.

"Did you tell her about Shen Lin?" His voice was very low, as if he was restraining something.

Zhou's mother was even angrier: "No! How dare I say that!?"

"Look at you, so worthless!"

The phone hangs up.