Chapter 18: The Boss's Wife Tempts Zhang Cheng

After three that afternoon, Su Qing messaged Zhang Cheng: “I can’t come back tonight. It’ll be tomorrow. Get some rest and don’t wait up.”

He felt a little empty. He was used to having her at home, even if they each did their own thing. He replied and went back to chatting with the drivers, his thoughts elsewhere.

At quitting time, Lin Wanshu called. “Driver Zhang, my driver is on leave. Please take me home.”

“Right away.” He drove to the entrance, where she waited in a black business suit, her hair pinned up. She looked more tired than usual. She got into the back and told him to drive.

The ride was quiet. In the mirror he saw her resting with her eyes closed and brow furrowed, so he didn’t speak. At the villa she said, “Come in and have dinner. I need to talk to you.”

Servants had prepared steamed grouper, shrimp dumplings, mapo tofu and several side dishes. Lin invited him to sit. Zhang ate cautiously, ill at ease in the luxurious house. She ate quietly, her eyes dull.

Afterward she led him to the third-floor sitting room. “Wait here while I change. Then we’ll talk.” She went into the bedroom and locked the door.

Zhang sat beneath the crystal chandelier, surrounded by expensive paintings and a faint fragrance. He hardly dared entertain a thought about her; to him she was a dignified princess, and even looking too long felt irreverent.

She returned in a pale lavender, knee-length dress with narrow straps, hair loose over her shoulders, the scent of gardenia around her. His heart raced and his breathing quickened; he lowered his gaze. She was beautiful, with a mature grace even Su Qing lacked.

Lin sat opposite and brewed tea. “Zhang Cheng, don’t you think Zhou Mingyuan has gone too far? He enjoys himself with other women and leaves me alone in this empty villa.”

Sweat sprang to his forehead. “That’s a family matter, madam. It isn’t my place to comment.”

She looked directly at him. “Who’s prettier, Su Qing or me?”

“You, of course. Your looks and figure are better, and your bearing is far superior. Everyone at the company says you’re the most beautiful, and Su is second.” He meant it: he thought Lin’s looks and figure surpassed Su’s, and her bearing had a slight edge.

“Then why does he chase other women?” Her smile faded. “If he were good in bed, perhaps. But he lasts three minutes, sometimes less. He must have heard you and Su from the wardrobe. Doesn’t he have any self-awareness?”

Zhang flushed, staring at the floor. He didn’t know what to do with his hands.

Her voice softened. “You know your position. As a driver, your chance of marrying a woman like Su is almost zero. She went to a prestigious university; you finished high school. You’re from different worlds. But under my plan, you might marry her. You were her first; she’ll never forget you. Doesn’t that tempt you?”

He was sweating. “I…”

“Are you worried Zhou will fire you? I can introduce you to a legitimate job paying eight thousand a month, and one for Su paying over thirty thousand.” Lin was prepared to pay a high price to defend her marriage. Zhou had become so infatuated with Su that he didn’t want to come back from Shanghai.

Zhang was tempted. With those salaries, they wouldn’t need to endure Zhou, and he might even marry Su. But after a few seconds he suppressed the thought. How could she truly love a driver?

“The hardest part was getting Su into bed, and you’ve done that,” Lin continued. “She probably wants to continue. Intimacy builds affection. You have a chance. If you don’t try, how will you know? At least you won’t regret it. I’ve removed your worries. If you still hesitate, you’re not a man.”

Zhang clenched his hands. He wanted to help her and change his fate, but feared losing the life he had. He remained silent and made no promise.