The President's Sweetheart Secretary - Chapter 29 - The President's Keen Eye

Wang Linglong was overjoyed, “Great, thanks, Brother Liang! Secretary Lin, you come too. After we eat, let’s go shopping on the fourth floor.”

Lin Haimian could barely keep her smile. It had been years since they last met, yet this young lady’s enthusiasm for shopping had only increased. Lin was almost exhausted. No, she had to find an excuse to slip away later and let the president keep her company.

Liang Tongheng graciously treated them to a table full of delicious food, leaving Lin Haimian quite satisfied. Soon after, she started to feel sleepy. Suddenly, Lin Haimian jolted awake with a question, “President, why are you here alone?”

Liang Tongheng shot her a sharp look, annoyed that she brought up the uncomfortable topic, “A friend had a last-minute issue and couldn’t make it. To thank you ladies for joining me, I’ll accompany you this afternoon.”

Lin Haimian, yearning to go home and sleep, hesitated, “Wouldn’t that delay your work, President?”

Liang Tongheng’s smile was gentle, “Of course not.”

Wang Linglong thought it would be nice to stay together and have something to report back to Daddy. She sweetly thanked him, “Thank you, Brother Liang. Let’s go check out the fourth floor. The new SAVASAGA collection should be out.”

Lin Haimian, puzzled, asked, “Isn’t it supposed to be released later this month?”

Wang Linglong giggled mischievously, “That’s why I told you to keep up with the times. SAVASAGA released their new collection much earlier.”

“Oh,” Lin Haimian muttered, out of touch with these things.

The trio was lively as they walked, Wang Linglong in the middle, Lin Haimian and Liang Tongheng chatting and laughing on each side.

Liang Tongheng couldn’t help but glance at Lin Haimian more than once, only shaking his head.

When Lin Haimian was picking clothes for Wang Linglong, Liang Tongheng casually selected a few and asked a clerk to take them for Lin Haimian to try. Lin Haimian refused; those clothes weren’t right for her now.

Wang Linglong, thoughtful, glanced between them and unceremoniously bought everything, then chose a white dress and pushed Lin Haimian into the dressing room, “Try it on. If it fits, I’ll give it to you.”

Lin Haimian, unable to refuse, went in with a headache.

“Wow, clothes do make the man. You look great in this dress, Brother Liang has great taste. Come here, Brother Liang, Haimian has changed!” Wang Linglong called out excitedly.

Lin Haimian blushed to her roots, thankful she could look away because the dress was so breathable that her bra was almost visible.

Liang Tongheng nodded in approval, “Not bad, try the others as well.”

Without a word, Lin Haimian dashed back into the dressing room, locking the door behind her.

Wang Linglong looked at Liang Tongheng with a hint of adoration, “Brother Liang, could you pick a few outfits for me too? I think the ones Secretary Lin picked are too childish. I want something more ladylike and mature.”

Liang Tongheng chuckled, amused by her request, as he helped her choose, “Secretary Lin’s judgment isn’t wrong. You’re so cute that dressing too mature would be counterproductive. Cute suits you better.”

After changing back into her clothes, Lin Haimian looked around and finally spotted the two chatting and selecting clothes in the distance.

Watching Liang Tongheng’s smiling face, Lin Haimian thought this was probably the first time she saw him smile, perhaps because it was the weekend and he could relax from work pressures.

Lin Haimian just stood there, staring at his happy face and then at Wang Linglong’s bubbly smile, and suddenly felt they were a good match?

Sensing Lin Haimian’s gaze, Liang Tongheng looked up at her. Startled, Lin Haimian quickly looked down and rushed back into the dressing room to change back into her clothes.

“President, Miss Wang, I’m sorry, but I have an urgent matter and can’t continue shopping with you. I’m really sorry, I have to go now. Have fun,” Lin Haimian said quickly, her head bowed and her voice low.

Without waiting for a response, Lin Haimian dashed off, joking to herself about being such a glaring third wheel.

Liang Tongheng was puzzled, but mostly uncomfortable. The woman who always trembled before him suddenly showed such assertiveness?

The situation escalated so quickly that by the time Wang Linglong realized, Lin Haimian had already left the building.

Wang Linglong, confused, turned to Liang Tongheng, “What’s with Haimian? Why did she leave so suddenly?”

Looking in the direction where Lin Haimian had disappeared, Wang Linglong’s face fell, “Never mind, I don’t feel like trying on more clothes either. I want to go home and rest.”

Liang Tongheng, seemingly casually, asked, “Are you close with Secretary Lin?”

“Of course, after all these years…” Wang Linglong nodded absent-mindedly, then suddenly realized something and clamped her mouth shut.

Seeing Liang Tongheng’s puzzled expression, Wang Linglong awkwardly laughed and explained, “It’s embarrassing to say, but there was a sister who looked a lot like Secretary Lin. Though she was older, she always took great care of me, and we called each other sisters. Later, she went to university in another province and rarely came back, so we barely saw each other.”

“So that’s how it is,” Liang Tongheng suddenly recalled Chairman Wang saying something similar at a banquet, “Well, you’re welcome to visit her at the office anytime, as long as it doesn’t interfere with her work.”

Wang Linglong’s eyes lit up with surprise, looking at Liang Tongheng, “Really, Brother Liang? I can visit Haimian anytime now?”

Liang Tongheng nodded with a smile, “Yes, anytime. Let’s go, I’ll take you home.”

Wang Linglong followed him, her smile radiant.

“By the way, do you have Secretary Lin’s mobile number?” Liang Tongheng asked with a smile.

Wang Linglong was too happy to think as she nodded, “I’ve had it for a while. Don’t worry, I’ll call her first when I want to visit.”

Liang Tongheng lowered his eyelids, “That’s good.”

After dropping her off at her doorstep, Liang Tongheng was undoubtedly invited by Chairman Wang for a cup of tea upstairs.

Chairman Wang was pleased to see Liang Tongheng and Wang Linglong getting along so well. He chuckled, indeed he had made the right choice.

As Lin Haimian left the two behind and reached the ground floor, she felt her impulsive reaction was premature. Although the president was decent, she barely knew him. Was it really okay to leave Linglong with him?

Rich men could be troublesome, and even more so a handsome and wealthy one. The more Lin Haimian thought about it, the more inappropriate it seemed. What if he had designs on Linglong…

Startled by her own thoughts, Lin Haimian hurried back upstairs, only to see them laughing and picking out clothes together quite naturally, prompting her to discreetly step aside.

Lin Haimian sighed helplessly. Habits are indeed terrifying; after all these years, she still couldn’t break them.

On Monday morning, Lin Haimian received a call from Wang Linglong, who reported that she had obtained President Liang’s permission to observe and therefore, Lin could not refuse her visit.

Lin Haimian, feeling a headache coming on, warned her to be careful about what she said, although Wang Linglong reassured her repeatedly, Lin was still uneasy.

“I’m here,” Wang Linglong announced before she even appeared.

When Lin Haimian saw her, her eyes nearly popped out and her throat tightened, “What’s with this outfit?”

Wang Linglong was dressed just like Lin Haimian had been the weekend they met, although the material and price were incomparable. Additionally, she wore a pink hat and carried a pink bag, looking every bit the college student.

Wang Linglong finally seemed pleased with Lin Haimian’s reaction, “My outfit is pretty normal, isn’t it? Isn’t this how all college students dress? But you, you’re all corporate.”

Lin Haimian was speechless at the poor compliment, “Go on, I am indeed a career woman, and you’re now a college student.”

Wang Linglong pouted, “You’ve outgrown the college student phase. Come on, here’s a cake for you. I picked your favorite flavor, strawberry. Enjoy it while I go say hi to Brother Liang.”

Lin Haimian eagerly took the cake, casually waving her off.

Wang Linglong entered the President’s Office, found the door slightly ajar – likely left that way for her – and pushed it open without knocking, “Brother Liang, I’m here. Am I disturbing your work?”

Liang Tongheng put away the emotions in his eyes and stood up with a smile to greet this special visitor, “Of course not. Is it hot outside? What would you like to drink?”

Wang Linglong hesitantly asked, “Do you have cola?”

Liang Tongheng pressed the Internal line, “Secretary Lin, bring in a bottle of cola.”

Wang Linglong was stunned, “Huh? Asking Secretary Lin to fetch it? Never mind, it’s okay. I’ll just drink plain water.”

Liang Tongheng, puzzled, “What’s wrong?”

Wang Linglong was about to speak but choked on her saliva, coughing until her face turned red, “Cough, cough, it’s nothing, cough.”

Liang Tongheng was a bit confused but quickly came to her aid, patting her back, “Don’t rush, don’t talk, catch your breath first.”

After following Liang Tongheng’s advice and catching her breath, an exhausted Wang Linglong leaned against his chest to rest, her voice hoarse as she thanked him, “Thank you.”

When Lin Haimian pushed open the door, what she saw was the two of them cozily nestled together, and her jaw dropped. This development was too fast!

Feeling dizzy, Lin Haimian thought the naive girl had been hooked so easily. Unable to stand it, she knocked loudly on the door, startling the cozied-up pair.

As their gaze turned to her, Lin Haimian flashed a polite smile, glancing briefly at Wang Linglong, “President, your cola is here.”

Wang Linglong and Liang Tongheng, realizing the situation, quickly separated. Wang Linglong instinctively moved a big step aside, “The cola is mine.”

Liang Tongheng said nothing, took the ice-cold cola from Lin Haimian’s hand, his voice cool, “You may leave.”

“Alright.” Lin Haimian bowed slightly and turned to leave, carefully closing the door behind her. Only the heavens knew that her heart was breaking, wishing she could pull that foolish girl out of the wolf’s den.