Chapter 15

Cheng Yan was speechless.

Her gaze wandered, avoiding Jun Jianqing’s eyes. She murmured in a low voice, “Whatever you say, then.”

She seemed to hear Jun Jianqing laugh softly.

It wasn’t one of those silent, faint smiles, but a low chuckle laden with amusement, soft and slightly hoarse, a little bit tantalizing.

By the time Cheng Yan raised her head, the other party had already stopped. Only the upward curve of her lips indicated that her earlier perception hadn’t been an illusion.

The woman with the usually unapproachable aura seemed to have become slightly more approachable.

Just slightly.

Zhu Jingran emerged from under the car chassis, her face smudged with a bit of grime. Unconcerned, she used her sleeve to push back the stray hairs obstructing her vision and looked at the woman in the wheelchair. “Your car has been repaired.”

The driver got in to check. It started successfully; there was indeed no more problem.

Jun Jianqing nodded. All the gentleness that had been reserved for Cheng Yan was packed away.

“Thank you.”

Even while speaking words of thanks, her attitude remained aloof and distant.

Zhu Jingran pulled off her gloves, glanced at Cheng Yan standing beside her, and said, “Just doing my job.”

She pulled out her payment QR code from her pocket and let the approaching bodyguard scan it.

After the payment notification confirmed the transfer, Zhu Jingran’s smile turned even brighter.

“I should be going,” Jun Jianqing said, her gaze landing lightly on Cheng Yan.

Receiving the signal, Cheng Yan extended her hand and gave a small, waggling wave. Her head tilted slightly as she looked at Jun Jianqing. “Then… goodbye?”

For a moment, Jun Jianqing was charmed by her gesture.

She swallowed imperceptibly, her throat shifting.

Beside her, Zhu Jingran saw this, turned her head away, and laughed silently.

Jun Jianqing concealed the fluctuation in her eyes and spoke with a hint of resignation, “Today seems to be a work day? Do you need a ride for part of the way?”

Ah, so that was it.

Cheng Yan retracted her hand, acting as if nothing had happened.

“No, I’m—”

“—Junior.”

A familiar, gentle female voice came from near to far.

Cheng Yan and Zhu Jingran instinctively turned at the sound.

Hearing this voice, Jun Jianqing instantly clenched the handrest beneath her palm.

“Senior, why did you come over?” Cheng Yan took two steps forward, asking the person walking over.

The distance between her and the woman in the wheelchair lengthened.

The night breeze stirred through the widening gap, sweeping the hem of Cheng Yan’s clothes. The soft fabric brushed over the back of Jun Jianqing’s hand, then drifted away without the slightest pause.

Her gaze falling on the fluttering hem, Jun Jianqing’s eyes turned icy cold in an instant.

“I saw you hadn’t come back yet, so I came to have a look,” Chen Shuhua said, looking at Zhu Jingran, who was carrying her toolbox, indicating the job was done. “Is the car already fixed?”

Zhu Jingran: “Just finished. The car broke down; a small part was faulty. Just needed a replacement.”

“Was the wait long?” Cheng Yan asked.

Chen Shuhua smiled softly. “Not at all.”

The two spoke as if no one else was there, their atmosphere harmonious and tender.

Jun Jianqing suddenly spoke up, “It’s time to go.”

The conversation was interrupted. Cheng Yan and Chen Shuhua turned around together. At some point, the bodyguard had retreated back behind Jun Jianqing. The two seemed ready to leave.

Chen Shuhua was shocked to see her appear, unable to control her expression, her face full of astonishment. “Aunt, Aunt Jun, you’re here too?”

She looked at the black Maybach beside them, then at Zhu Jingran. “So it was your car that broke down.”

Jun Jianqing’s gaze was heavy, her tone cold. “Mm.”

“…”

Sensing this coldness, Chen Shuhua felt somewhat at a loss.

Before meeting Jun Jianqing, she had been in awe of the Jun family head. But ever since encountering Jun Jianqing at that birthday banquet long ago, where the other party was gentle and even allowed her to use a familiar form of address, Chen Shuhua’s fear had unknowingly diminished.

During subsequent chance encounters, Aunt Jun hadn’t displayed an extremely oppressive aura either. She had almost forgotten the restraint and awkwardness she’d felt when facing her alone that first time.

Cheng Yan quickly took over the conversation, once again extending her hand in a wave, a smile on her lips. “You’re leaving now? Thank you for your kind offer just now, Aunt Jun. I’ll just catch a ride with my senior later. No need for you to go out of your way. Bye-bye, Aunt Jun.”

Jun Jianqing looked at her deeply. “Goodbye.”

Cheng Yan watched as the wheelchair was pushed to the car door. The bodyguard stood by the open door, arm raised, waiting. The woman in the wheelchair stood up, bending slightly to step inside, and then the car door was closed.

This was the first time she had seen Jun Jianqing stand up.

Those legs beneath the impeccably tailored suit trousers were long and straight.

What a pair of incredibly long legs.

They weren’t conspicuous when she was sitting, but they were exceptionally eye-catching the moment she stood.

It was a bit of a pity they were on display for such a short time.

Chen Shuhua had been watching the exchange between Cheng Yan and Jun Jianqing from the side, her inner unease fading slightly. Only after Jun Jianqing got in the car did she say, “President Jun’s aura is very powerful.”

Cheng Yan came back to her senses. “Why didn’t you call her by what you usually call her?”

Chen Shuhua pursed her lips, hesitating slightly, before saying, “I just feel… it’s not really appropriate…”

What if President Jun was just being polite? Had she been taking it seriously this whole time?

Thinking of those cold, quiet, deep eyes President Jun just had, Chen Shuhua was filled with conflicted thoughts.

Before the car had gone far, Zhu Jingran withdrew the contemplative look in her eyes and patted Cheng Yan’s shoulder. Then she smiled brightly at Chen Shuhua, saying, “Whatever you call her, it’s fine. The customer’s gone. What are your plans now? I won’t bother you two anymore. I got a bit dusty just now; I’m going back to shower. The rest of the time is yours!”

—

Inside the Maybach, silence reigned.

Jun Jianqing stared into the rearview mirror, her face covered with a layer of frost. Her deep, dark eyes took in the entire scene of the three interacting, until the distance stretched far, and nothing could be seen.

That girl in the coveralls was Cheng Yan’s friend.

She pondered. Her observation at the airport told her the two must be very good friends.

But now, Cheng Yan’s good friend was chatting and laughing with Chen Shuhua.

Cheng Yan had already brought Chen Shuhua into her circle of close friends.

Thinking of what this signified, along with just now, where Chen Shuhua’s mere appearance immediately drew all of Cheng Yan’s attention, Jun Jianqing sat expressionlessly in the back row, like a lifeless jade statue.

A few minutes later, she made a phone call.

“Investigate the recent situation of Xinghua Food for me. Send the report before noon tomorrow.”

“Yes, President Jun.”

After giving her instructions, Jun Jianqing tossed her phone onto the genuine leather seat cushion beside her, closed her eyes, and seemed to be resting.

Suddenly, the fingers resting along her leg twitched slightly.

As if trying to hold onto the fluttering hem.

But the air only rippled; ultimately, it was all for naught.

After a long moment, Jun Jianqing opened her eyes. Her loosely curled palm tightened, as if trapping a butterfly poised to take flight. Her lowered, long lashes concealed all surging inner thoughts, leaving not a trace.

She was just a woman who caught her eye.

She thought.

If truly interested, just obtaining her would suffice.