Chapter 14: What Are You Sneaking Glances At?

“You’ll protect me?” Zhang Cheng stared.

“Yes. Zhou Mingyuan has a temper, but I’m his wife and a member of the Lin family. He has to respect me.” Lin Wanshu leaned closer. “Go ahead. Don’t waste my goodwill. I’ll find ways to keep him away from Su Qing. You should cooperate: sleep with her again and use your gifts to win her over completely, so she’ll reject Zhou herself. You may even find a wife.”

Zhang left in silence, thinking it through. Lin was fighting Zhou and Su, and he was a tool for both sides. If he did as Lin wanted and Su rejected Zhou, he would be taking Zhou’s woman. Lin might protect his life, but she couldn’t protect his job. Unemployed, how could he hope to be with Su? And however much Zhou liked her, he wouldn’t keep her employed after repeated intimacy with his driver. Lin would get what she wanted.

She wasn’t sincerely trying to find him a wife. Betraying his boss to help her would end badly. He would listen to Su: until he could act like a convincing playboy, he wouldn’t sleep with her. For now he could enjoy her company; she washed his clothes, mopped and shared the rent. He was happy and wouldn’t destroy it himself. Still, he hoped Lin would keep Zhou away from Su.

Ten days passed. His relationship with Su stayed much as it had on their first night in the apartment, and Zhang was content. He wished it could last forever. During those days he saw Lin’s methods: whenever Zhou took Su to a hotel, Lin called to warn him or turned up herself. Zhou was furious.

On Friday morning Zhou had business in Guangzhou and took Su with him. He ordered Zhang to drive the Rolls-Royce Phantom. With the partition raised, Zhou calculated, the driver could neither see nor hear the back seat. He could finally have Su on the journey. Zhang understood his intentions and was miserable, but powerless.

As he prepared to start the car, Lin appeared and opened the rear door. “You’re not taking this car. Use the Mercedes E500.”

“I’m seeing a client. The Mercedes isn’t impressive enough,” Zhou protested.

“The client knows you’re the boss of Juneng and worth ten billion yuan. Do you need this car to prove it?”

Zhou had no answer. He got out, shoulders slumped.

Su was quietly relieved. She’d joined Juneng as Zhou’s secretary after graduation for the learning opportunity and good salary, and had tried to avoid his advances. After more than six months of relentless pursuit, unwanted gifts and threats to fire her if she refused, she’d finally given in. Any delay was welcome. Who wanted to sleep with a lecherous middle-aged man?

The boss’s wife is amazing. I love you! Zhang cheered inwardly.

They transferred to the Mercedes. At Lin’s direction, Su sat in front, leaving Zhou alone in the back. Worse for him, Lin sent two bodyguards to follow in an SUV. With no opportunity left, Zhou returned to the office that afternoon.

That evening Zhang came home to find Su curled on the sofa watching a show. He cooked two bowls of noodles. They ate quietly, the television laughter filling the room. He kept glancing at her; when she licked a drop of soup from her lip, his face warmed.

“What are you thinking?” she asked.

“Nothing.” He looked away.

Later, Su sat awake in bed with her phone, wearing a pink silk nightdress. Zhang watched from his bedding on the floor. Her long lashes moved as she blinked; a strap had slipped down to her elbow. He swallowed.

She caught his gaze and blushed. “What are you sneaking glances at?”

“If you weren’t looking at me, how would you know?” he replied awkwardly.

She turned her back and continued scrolling, but he found her no less distracting. Desire tightened around him.

“Don’t get ideas. I don’t want to help you tonight,” she said without turning.

“Why?”

“Because I’m afraid I won’t be able to stop myself.”

He stared, stunned. Then he understood. He could find release with her help, while she had to keep restraining herself.

“I can’t beat the boss’s wife. She’s won,” Su sighed.

“Why?”

“Since I was intimate with you, I’ve recoiled from Zhou Mingyuan. Even pretending with him makes me uncomfortable. Living with you, especially when I help you, reminds me of that night. I’m finding it harder and harder to control myself.”