“Do you think I pity your life?”
As Dong Enyu walked to the parking lot, her heart was in turmoil.
That sentence felt like a punch, leaving her chest aching.
Why would Huo Ai worry about her? Dong Enyu was well aware of her own worth, but being reprimanded in front of others was humiliating.
Even as Huo Ai’s follower, she didn’t expect such a direct warning.
“Did you mean what you said earlier?” After closing the car door, Dong Enyu turned her head to stare at Huo Ai’s perfect profile.
The woman, who should have been classically beautiful like a painting, now seemed quite annoying to her.
“Do I look like I’m joking?” Huo Ai started the engine, the low rumble of the sports car cutting through the night.
The rhetorical question made Dong Enyu’s face turn even paler.
She didn’t respond, mechanically fastening her seatbelt, leaning against the car door to rest, but her eyes never left Huo Ai’s reflection in the mirror.
Looking at that focused and always calm demeanor, Dong Enyu couldn’t help but squint, wondering if there was any personal desire beneath her impartial image.
“That was a trap,” Huo Ai broke the silence as they stopped at a red light, not looking at each other, as if they were in different spaces.
“If you went, you wouldn’t come back.” On the surface, it seemed like concern for Dong Enyu, but in reality, Huo Ai’s overly calm analytical tone made Dong Enyu frown in displeasure.
She knew Huo Ai’s standards were based on huge benefits, and she probably didn’t even count as a decimal point.
Everything was about maintaining an advantage, especially for Coral Reef Group’s advantage.
Huo Ai was undoubtedly the next successor of Haijiao, personally promoted by the Chairman, the future big boss.
“Sorry,” Dong Enyu lowered her eyes, a cold smile on her lips.
“I almost damaged Haijiao’s reputation.
It was my recklessness that caused trouble for Manager Huo.” Through this incident, she understood Huo Ai’s bottom line and knew that Huo Ai valued Haijiao’s status far more than her as a “partner.” In the end, what did she count for?
“You better know it.
Next time, think before you speak.” Huo Ai’s composed tone and harsh words made Dong Enyu even more uneasy.
Facing a superior much younger than her, she felt more powerless than angry.
Dong Enyu could only remain silent.
She closed her eyes, pretending to rest, wondering what mindset she had when she wanted to take on the deal.
For Haijiao? No.
To solve the case? No.
For Luo Ye? Don’t make me laugh.
Dong Enyu pursed her lips, dried by the air conditioning.
She knew the answer well.
She wanted to prove her ability, to show Huo Ai that she was useful, more than just a runner or a burden.
She could bring more power to Haijiao.
This impulse to prove herself made her want to agree to Luo Ye’s terms without hesitation.
Meeting once for five million… Now it was too late to turn back, and Dong Enyu sighed slightly.
The terms were risky, and she knew it.
How could Wutang let her go? Even if Wutang let her go, what about Luo Ye, Yong Le, or Zhao Han?
“You go back first.
I’m going to the office to handle some documents.” Huo Ai’s voice pulled Dong Enyu out of her pretend sleep.
As she opened her eyes, a car key was tossed over, landing steadily on her chest.
Dong Enyu adjusted her posture, realizing the car had already stopped in front of Coral Reef Group’s headquarters.
Huo Ai, in high heels, disappeared into the building’s automatic doors, leaving behind the quiet night outside.
Dong Enyu lowered her eyes, put away the key, and instead of driving back, she took out her phone and dialed a familiar number.
The monotonous ringing came through, and Dong Enyu waited patiently, but it was in vain.
Feeling restless, she dialed again, desperately wanting to hear Mu Lin’s voice.
She wanted to talk to her, even if it was just to say “goodnight.”
“The number you dialed is not responding.
Please leave a message after the beep—” After countless attempts, when Dong Enyu finally ran out of patience, she threw her phone into the back seat and pushed her bangs back.
No response.
She had called dozens of times, but Mu Lin didn’t answer.
Normally, the call would be picked up after three rings, but today was different.
Especially on a day when she was feeling down, it was a harsh blow.
That night, Dong Enyu once again experienced what “loneliness” meant, an unavoidable taste in the life of an agent.
Three days later, Dong Enyu received a call from Huo Ai.
It was already past one forty in the morning.
On the other end, she heard the sound of cars whizzing by, as if Huo Ai was standing on the street.
Dong Enyu heard that Wutang accepted the deal, and Luo Ye personally contacted Haijiao, expressing willingness to buy the sea goods Huo Ai had.
Five million was in hand, but Dong Enyu wasn’t happy at all.
She didn’t even bother to fake a smile, her face expressionless.
She responded to Huo Ai with unusual calmness and then hung up the phone.
Her heart was heavy because she had let Luo Ye watch a good show for nothing.
In the following days, Huo Ai didn’t assign Dong Enyu to handle any black market goods, only letting her take over the company’s normal business operations.
Dong Enyu was somewhat displeased about this, but she wasn’t foolish enough to act rashly.
Besides having fewer chances to interact with Wutang, what bothered Dong Enyu more was not being able to contact Mu Lin.
Since the night of the negotiation, she hadn’t heard Mu Lin’s sweet, girlish voice for six days.
Too long… It’s been too long without contact… She even drove to Mu Lin’s community, waiting at the building’s entrance, but she couldn’t meet Mu Lin.
This left Dong Enyu feeling not only anxious but also deeply powerless and empty.
Even though she knew she couldn’t rely on Mu Lin, her emotions were involved, and before the connection was severed, she still wanted to reach out and hold on tightly.
“Enyu, do you think this color suits me?” He Xuan held up a fluorescent green patterned short skirt, asking the distracted Dong Enyu.
She was browsing through the clothes on the rack and finally picked two to ask her always silent assistant and follower.
Dong Enyu looked up at the avant-garde designed skirt and gave a polite smile, “Madam, you truly have a knack for fashion.
This color and design are at the forefront of the trend.
With your fair skin, this color will look perfect on you.” Call it flattery or sycophancy, Dong Enyu wasn’t foolish enough to go against her boss.
“Listen, that’s how you should talk.
Huo Ai, you should learn from Enyu and be more straightforward.” He Xuan laughed, handing the skirt to the waiting attendant.
With this skirt, the total spending had exceeded fifty thousand, a privilege of the wealthy to shop exclusively.
Huo Ai responded with a faint smile, “I’ll improve.” As she spoke, Dong Enyu felt Huo Ai glance at her briefly.
A glance devoid of any emotion.
“So, where are we going for dinner next?” He Xuan walked out of the boutique with flair, naturally expecting Huo Ai to pay and Dong Enyu to carry the shopping bags.
Today, Huo Ai had arranged a rare shopping trip with the madam, visiting countless luxury clothing stores since early morning.
Finally, by evening, they could catch a breath.
“I’ve booked a Chinese restaurant that Madam has always wanted to visit,” Huo Ai followed He Xuan out of the store, opening the car door for her faster than the bodyguards.
“Madam will be satisfied.” She then offered a sincere smile, which Dong Enyu, watching from behind, found more sycophantic than herself.
Didn’t she look like a gigolo clinging to a rich woman? A housewife killer?
“Pfft!” The thought that flashed through Dong Enyu’s mind made her unable to hold back a laugh.
Fortunately, Huo Ai didn’t hear it.
The three of them got into the car, and He Xuan’s sharp gaze suddenly lingered between Huo Ai and Dong Enyu.
After a long while, she sighed.
“Huo Ai, you should dress more femininely sometimes,” He Xuan’s tone was like an old mother lecturing her unmarried daughter.
“Stop wearing suits.
Those are for men.
You should switch to dresses.
How else will you attract good suitors?”
Dong Enyu was a bit surprised by He Xuan’s words but remained expressionless.
“Thank you for your concern, Madam, but I have a boyfriend,” Huo Ai nodded, accepting He Xuan’s suggestion with humility.
Unexpectedly, He Xuan seemed surprised to hear that Huo Ai had a boyfriend.
“When did you get a boyfriend? I see you’re always busy with work.
When do you have time for dates? How often do you see each other?” He Xuan’s excitement was like a high school girl gossiping about the latest romance, making her aged face suddenly glow.
This was also Dong Enyu’s question, but she didn’t dare to ask.
“Every night before bed, we say goodnight over the phone,” Huo Ai lowered her eyes, smiling lightly.
He Xuan seemed disappointed, pouting, to which Dong Enyu timely added, “Madam, rest assured.
It seems Manager Huo and her partner have reached the stage of an old married couple.
It won’t be long before we can attend their wedding.”
The seemingly joking remark didn’t earn Huo Ai’s gratitude, not even a glance.
Too much talking? Dong Enyu maintained her smile, lowering her eyes with a bit of helplessness.
The atmosphere along the way wasn’t exactly awkward, but it made Dong Enyu a bit restless until the car stopped at their destination, and getting out of the car eased her mood.
Unexpectedly, as she opened the car door and stepped onto the street, she turned and saw a familiar figure rounding the corner.
In that instant, Dong Enyu almost called out to stop the person.
Mu Lin! It was Mu Lin! The fleeting yellow dress confirmed to Dong Enyu that it was Mu Lin, who had been out of contact for days!
“Enyu? Why aren’t you following?” He Xuan suddenly called out, she and Huo Ai stood at the restaurant entrance, both turning to look at Dong Enyu, who was frozen by the car door.
Follow…
“Sorry,” Dong Enyu suddenly took out her phone, looking at it calmly.
“I just remembered I have work to do, so I can’t join you for dinner.” She spoke while looking at Huo Ai.
Such a blatantly flawed lie was laughably stupid to her boss and manager, but she could say it with composure.
Because she had to catch up.
She had to catch up to Mu Lin.
“That’s a shame.
Well, go ahead and take care of your work,” He Xuan shrugged, not insisting.
But as Huo Ai turned, she gave Dong Enyu a cold glance, a look with an indescribable meaning.
Dong Enyu, however, was in a hurry to leave and didn’t catch on.
