For Your Happiness - Chapter 34 - Intentions Revealed

Wu Di was slowly practicing walking, determined to go to work as usual the next day. Early the next morning, Shao Han was still there to support him, letting him hold onto her shoulders. To an outsider, it might seem like they were a deeply affectionate couple, embracing each other early in the morning.

While getting into the car, Shao Han also helped him, but Wu Di said, “Don’t be so careful, I’m fine, not that delicate.”

“Oh.” Shao Han’s anxious expression amused Wu Di.

Shao Han drove to the hotel and helped Wu Di out of the car, saying, “Slow down, slow down, don’t rush.”

“Ah, it’s terrible for the employees to see me like this.”

“What does it matter at this time?”

“Of course, I need to appear strong in front of my subordinates.”

“Alright, got it.”

Shao Han spoke irritably, annoyed by his childlike stubbornness and his disregard for his own health. The two of them walked slowly, entering the hotel through a side door to avoid the crowd. As they got on the elevator, an employee noticed and greeted politely, “Good morning, Mr. Wu, Mrs. Wu.”

“Hehe, morning,” Shao Han smiled in response, while Wu Di simply nodded and smiled.

Upon reaching the eighth floor, where Wu Di’s office was located, Shao Han assisted him towards the office. Just then, Lv Mengmeng, who had just watered the plants and was coming out of the restroom, saw them and widened her eyes, “Ah, Mr. Wu, you’re recovered?”

Wu Di frowned at her tone, “What? From your tone, it sounds like you think I recovered too quickly?”

“Ah? No, no, that’s not what I meant, hehe, just surprised.”

“You see what you’re saying, ‘Ah, Mr. Wu, you’re recovered?’ It clearly sounds like, ‘How come you recovered? Why didn’t you stay sick a bit longer!’” Wu Di mimicked Lv Mengmeng’s tone.

“Ah? No, it’s just that I’m surprised you finally recovered, I haven’t seen you in so long, I missed you,” Lv Mengmeng said playfully.

“Wow, my wife is here, you want me to kneel as punishment tonight?” Wu Di continued joking with Lv Mengmeng, enjoying the banter with his secretary after a long absence from work.

“Ah, I don’t think Shao Han even considers me a competitor,” Lv Mengmeng said with a dejected look. Shao Han, who had been supporting Wu Di and looking down at his legs as if fearing he might stumble over some obstacle, lifted her head upon hearing Lv Mengmeng’s words and gave her a playful, scolding smile. Lv Mengmeng responded by sticking her tongue out at her.

“You two, anyone who doesn’t know better would think there’s something going on between you,” Shao Han said with a laugh.

“Yeah, and it’s not just any ordinary relationship-bold enough to flirt with the secretary right in front of your wife,” Wu Di added with a chuckle.

“Ah, this little secretary isn’t exactly favored, you know. They say the favorite is always the youngest, but I sure don’t feel it,” Lv Mengmeng replied, feigning a crying face.

The three of them burst into laughter, enjoying the pleasant atmosphere. Wu Di walked into his office, sporting his characteristic smile with a slight twist of his mouth: “Ah, as much as we often say how great it would be not to work, I actually feel happy coming here after being at home for too long.”

“Hehe, I come here every day.”

“What do you do here when I’m not around?”

“Nothing much, just sit in your chair.”

“Hehe,” Wu Di glanced at Shao Han.

“Alright, I’m heading to my office now. Call Mengmeng if you need anything,” said Shao Han, who had a lot of work to do, and thus turned to leave.

A little while later, Lv Mengmeng called on the internal line: “Mr. Wu, a secretary from headquarters named Wang Chufan called to say he’ll be visiting the hotel this afternoon.”

“Oh?” Wu Di was surprised; it was his first day back at work, and coincidentally, Wang Chufan was visiting, but it seemed like a good thing. “Alright, I got it.”

Wu Di was puzzled about Wang Chufan’s intentions for visiting his hotel, as their usual practice was merely procedural meetings with other hotel managers. The personal visit implied a deeper purpose, which Wu Di could not figure out.

Wang Chufan indeed had his reasons for coming; one was to check on Shao Han, who he still had on his mind, and the other was to size up Wu Di as a competitor. For a man like him, beauty was trivial; the real thrill lay in the challenge, which intrigued him greatly.

Wu Di asked Lv Mengmeng to arrange the reception details. During lunch, he mentioned to Shao Han, “Wang Chufan will be arriving at the hotel this afternoon.”

“Ah? What’s he coming for?” Shao Han was curious.

“I don’t know.”

“We’ll just have to play it by ear when he gets here.”

“Oh.” Shao Han didn’t want to see him at all and kept her head down, continuing to eat quietly.

At two o’clock in the afternoon, Wang Chufan arrived as scheduled. His secretary informed the hotel lobby manager of Wang Chufan’s arrival, and the manager quickly led them to the eighth floor office area. Outside Wu Di’s office, they greeted Lv Mengmeng, who then escorted them to the VIP reception room.

“Mr. Wang, I am Wu Di’s secretary, Lv Mengmeng. Please have a seat and rest for a moment, I will call Mr. Wu right away,” Lv Mengmeng said with a sweet smile.

“Oh, alright,” Wang Chufan responded gravely.

Lv Mengmeng quickly left and went to Wu Di’s office. “Mr. Wu, Mr. Wang is here. He didn’t make an appointment but was brought up directly by the lobby manager.”

As Wu Di listened to Lv Mengmeng, he stood up to go out but forgot about his leg injury. This sudden, natural movement caused him to lose balance, and he had to support himself on the desk.

“Ah, are you okay?” Lv Mengmeng noticed his grimace, realizing it was the leg injury acting up.

“It’s nothing, I just forgot in a hurry,” Wu Di frowned.

“Don’t rush, let me help you,” Lv Mengmeng walked over to assist him.

“Alright,” Wu Di acknowledged, knowing better than to overexert himself.

Lv Mengmeng walked over to support Wu Di, who cautiously lifted his leg and took slow steps forward, realizing that hurrying was futile.

Lv Mengmeng assisted Wu Di to the VIP reception room. As they entered, Wang Chufan, hearing the door, looked up and saw Lv Mengmeng helping Wu Di. His expression tensed upon seeing Wu Di walk slowly, remembering his recent leg injury. He glanced at Lv Mengmeng, who was supporting him, wondering if there was something more between the two, while primarily concerned about Wu Di’s wife.

“Mr. Wang, it’s truly an honor to have you visit our hotel. I apologize for my difficulty in walking; I injured my leg recently,” Wu Di said as he shook hands with Wang Chufan, explaining his condition.

“Oh, I understand. Please, have a seat. I heard about it from your wife at the cocktail party.”

“Yes, that’s right. I had her attend on my behalf, but she’s quite new to this industry and still learning,” Wu Di explained.

“Oh, haha.” Wang Chufan wanted to find an excuse to inquire about Shao Han but, realizing it was already the afternoon, thought they might chat for a while, tour the hotel, and possibly have dinner together.

Thus, Wang Chufan proposed inspecting the hotel’s operations. Due to Wu Di’s mobility issues, he asked Lv Mengmeng to fetch Deputy General Manager Xu Zhuo to accompany them.

Upon hearing of Wang Chufan’s visit, Xu Zhuo wondered what brought him here but still greeted him with a flattering smile as he entered the reception room: “Ah, Mr. Wang, it’s quite a surprise to see you here! I’m delighted. Since Mr. Wu is indisposed, I’ll gladly show you around.”

“Hehe, sure,” Wang Chufan replied, merely looking to pass the time, and followed Xu Zhuo on the tour.