The Cold President's Adorkable Girlfriend - Chapter 1

Cars streamed endlessly along the wide asphalt road, flanked by lush green trees. Even the advertisement posters on the bus stops showcased creative designs, serving as symbols of this bustling metropolis and a testament to its charm. The towering skyscrapers surrounding the area further highlighted the city’s prosperity, affluence, and advanced development.

Nestled on this lively downtown street, right beside the broad asphalt road, stood a medium-sized cha chaan teng called Li Er Cha Chaan Teng. Though not grand in scale, the restaurant was beloved for its offerings. From meals to coffee and drinks, its menu was immensely popular among workers from nearby companies, many of whom ordered their lunch bento from here.

Li Er Cha Chaan Teng wasn’t just a place for a quick meal; it was ideal for romantic dates, friendly get-togethers, and a spot for the weary to take a break. Its food left a lasting impression on diners, and its service was nothing short of excellent.

“Yueya, you’ll be delivering Xu Group’s bento later,” Wang Li Er instructed He Yueya from behind the cash register.

Wang Li Er, the owner of the cha chaan teng, was a fashionable young woman of twenty-five. Her wavy long hair, a trendy Chanel suit from the latest season, and flawless makeup made her polished and elegant. Six months ago, she had met He Yueya by chance. Seeing how kind yet adorkable Yueya was, Li Er worried she might be taken advantage of or hurt in the big city. So, after they became close friends, she took it upon herself to offer Yueya a job at her restaurant to ensure her safety.

Although Yueya could be a bit scatterbrained, her enthusiasm was undeniable-even excessive at times. Li Er’s cha chaan teng just so happened to need someone diligent and warmhearted like her.

“Got it!” Yueya replied sweetly.

Yueya-full name He Yueya-was exactly as Li Er described: kind-hearted, passionate, and delightfully adorkable.

Hailing from the countryside, He Yueya had come to the city as a migrant worker. Before meeting Wang Li Er, she often hopped from one job to another-working as a cashier at a supermarket, a gas station attendant, a restaurant server, and even a cleaning staff member at the airport. Unfortunately, her scatterbrained nature meant she frequently lost those jobs. While she wasn’t a classic beauty, her fresh, charming looks, combined with her warm and kind personality, made her a favorite among friends.

“Hello! I’m here to deliver bento from the Li Er Cha Chaan Teng across the street. May I know who from your company placed the order?” Yueya politely asked the front desk staff at Xu Group.

“It’s Secretary Huang on the 28th floor. You can take it up directly,” the front desk worker directed.

“Got it, thanks so much,” Yueya said with a smile, thanking her cheerfully before heading toward the elevator.

“Secretary Huang, was it you who ordered the bento?” He Yueya asked, addressing the mature middle-aged woman seated at her desk, busily sorting through files.

This middle-aged woman was none other than Secretary Huang. Her hair was neatly tied up in a bun atop her head, and a pair of old-fashioned black-framed glasses rested on her oval-shaped face. Standing at 170 centimeters tall and dressed in a navy-blue professional suit, she exuded both efficiency and approachability.

He Yueya was no stranger to Secretary Huang. Due to her adorkable tendency to get lost frequently, Yueya’s daily routine primarily consisted of delivering bento to Xu Group. The rest of her time was spent helping out with other miscellaneous tasks at the restaurant.

“Oh, yes, Yueya. Please just set it over there. I’m a bit busy today,” Secretary Huang replied with a warm smile, gesturing toward a low table nearby as she continued organizing her files.

“Okay, I won’t disturb you then. I’ll head back now,” Yueya said cheerfully, placing the bento on the low table before taking her leave.

In the past, Secretary Huang would always chat with Yueya for a few minutes during her deliveries.

…

“Kaihan, can I join you for dinner later?” a beautiful, fully naked woman cooed to the handsome man who stood with his back to her, getting dressed.

It was clear what had just transpired in this office.

“Call me Mr. Xu,” the man replied coldly, turning around and gripping her chin to remind her sternly.

This was his rule. He would not tolerate any woman attempting to get too familiar with him. Letting them get close at all was purely for physical needs, with absolutely no emotional involvement.

This man was Xu Kaihan, the heir apparent of Xu Group and its current General Manager. While his title was General Manager, for the past two years, he had been running all the major and minor affairs of Xu Group. After all, the company’s President rarely showed up, with a cumulative attendance of less than one week annually. Xu Kaihan, though domineering, ruthless, and unyielding, never disappointed. Under his leadership, Xu Group had risen to become a global powerhouse in just two years.

“Okay, I-I-I understand,” the woman stammered nervously, nodding in fear.

“You can leave now. This is what you’re owed,” Xu Kaihan said, setting a check down on the small table next to the couch.

Xu Kaihan was always generous. While he harbored no feelings for these women, he made sure they left satisfied once he tired of them. Though many of these socialites and debutantes felt reluctant to part with him, they all knew better than to linger. Every one of them understood that Xu Kaihan was absolutely not a man to tangle with.

“What do you mean by this?” the woman asked, disbelief flashing in her eyes.

“It means you shouldn’t come looking for me again,” Xu Kaihan responded bluntly, making his answer crystal clear.

“No, I won’t accept this!” The woman shook her head furiously, her voice filled with desperation.

She couldn’t believe it. With her family background and stunning looks, how could she have only met him three times? This wasn’t what she wanted. What she wanted was to be his one and only-his wife.

“I believe you’re fully aware of my rules,” Xu Kaihan said, his tone icy and devoid of emotion.

He had never lacked female companions, nor had he ever forced anyone to stay. They came to him willingly, knowing full well that he was a cold, heartless workaholic. Yet, these women still clung to the faintest sliver of hope-an odds-defying gamble-that he might fall for them and make them his wife.

“Did I do something wrong? Please, just tell me! I can change-I’ll change anything you want! I promise I’ll never again say I want to have dinner with you,” the woman pleaded, lowering herself to beg.

She couldn’t think of what she might have done to upset him. The only thing that came to mind was mentioning dinner earlier. Otherwise, she had always been entirely obedient to him.

“I won’t say it again. Put on your clothes and leave. If you’re still here when I come out…” Xu Kaihan trailed off, his voice cold but unhurried. Without waiting for her reply, he turned and entered the en-suite bathroom in his office.

The woman now knew she had no chance left. Reluctantly, she slid off the luxurious couch, gathered her scattered clothes from the floor, and got dressed. Picking up the check sitting on the table, she hesitated for a moment before reluctantly walking out of the opulent office.

…

“Young Master, shall we head straight to your villa, or return to the mansion?” the driver asked respectfully, glancing back at the impeccably dressed man in the rear seat, who was engrossed in reviewing documents.

Ever since Xu Kaihan had started working, he’d been living in his own villa and rarely returned home. The driver’s question came out of habit, knowing his employer’s preference for independence.

“Head to the mansion first,” Xu Kaihan instructed after briefly glancing up before returning to his paperwork.

“Yes, sir,” the driver replied obediently, smoothly turning the car and merging back into the evening traffic.

—

“Dad, hasn’t Mom gone to bed yet?” Xu Kaihan asked, his deep voice echoing in the spacious, elegantly designed living room where his parents were seated.

“Kaihan, you’re back! I’ll ask Nanny Liu to warm up some food for you,” Mrs. Xu said warmly, placing the TV remote down as she stood to greet her son with a gentle smile.

Mrs. Xu was the epitome of grace and kindness. Her features spoke of her beauty in youth, and at nearly sixty, her face showed almost no signs of aging. Born into a prominent family, she carried herself with humility, never putting on airs despite her wealth and status.

“Mom, there’s no need to trouble yourself-I’ve already eaten,” Xu Kaihan said, gently stopping her as she turned to ask the butler to prepare something.

“Kaihan, let’s head to the study,” Xu Zhenghao said, setting aside the newspaper he had been reading. Rising from his seat, he strode toward the staircase leading to the third-floor study.

As the current President of Xu Group, Xu Zhenghao was a highly respected name in the business world. Even at sixty years old, he carried himself with a straight-backed posture that emanated authority. His naturally stern expression conveyed an unspoken sense of command, making people instinctively respectful yet cautious around him. It was easy to see that Xu Kaihan had inherited his father’s cold and imposing demeanor.

“All right,” Xu Kaihan replied, following his father upstairs to the study.

“Kaihan, tomorrow I’ll go to the company with you. Starting tomorrow, you’ll officially become the President of Xu Group. I trust that you’ll handle everything exceptionally well,” Xu Zhenghao said, holding his pipe between his fingers. He had made up his mind to fully hand over the company’s reins to his son and transition to a peaceful retirement.

Of course, these words of encouragement were largely unnecessary. Everyone had witnessed the results Xu Kaihan had achieved in the past two years-his competence was beyond question. But as a father, it was only natural for him to offer words of support and motivation.

“Dad, I won’t let you down,” Xu Kaihan responded confidently, his gaze steady as he reassured his father.

“Xu Group was built from the ground up by your grandfather. I’m confident that, with your capabilities, you’ll be able to take the company to even greater heights,” Xu Zhenghao said, his tone brimming with trust and admiration as he looked at his son seated across from him.

Kaihan didn’t respond verbally, but his silence conveyed his acknowledgment of his father’s confidence in him.

“Dad, if that’s all, I’d like to head back now,” Xu Kaihan said, glancing at his father as he prepared to leave.

“Stay here tonight,” Xu Zhenghao suggested, attempting to keep his son in the family home. “We can head to the company together tomorrow.”

“That won’t be necessary, Dad. The files I need for tomorrow’s meeting are still at the villa,” Xu Kaihan explained, crafting an excuse to decline. “How about this: I’ll come by in the morning to pick you up?”

Having grown accustomed to living alone, Kaihan had his reasons for preferring to return to his villa.

“Fine,” Zhenghao finally relented, tapping the ash out of his pipe.

“Then I’ll take my leave. Dad, you should get some rest as well,” Kaihan said, rising to bid his father goodnight.

“Kaihan.” His father’s voice stopped him just as he reached the door.

“Do you need something else, Dad?” Kaihan turned back to look at him.

“I hope you’ll consider moving back home,” Zhenghao said in a heartfelt tone. “Your sister, Linghong, has moved in with Minghua. With just your mother and me here now, we feel a bit lonely. Your mother, especially, misses having the family together.”

“Dad, my work hours are irregular. I’m afraid it might disturb you and Mom if I moved back,” Kaihan explained calmly. “But don’t worry-I’ll make sure to visit whenever I have free time. I’ll join you and Mom for meals as often as I can.”

“Very well. I know you and Linghong are both respectful and considerate children. Go on, then-get some rest, and drive carefully,” Zhenghao said, waving his son off with a gesture of affection.