Chapter 9: New Faces, Old Secrets
The morning after their fragile truce felt surreal. Yuyan had barely slept, her mind racing with everything that had happened between her and Jiang Zhen. There was still so much confusion, so much uncertainty about what the future would hold, but for the first time in weeks, it didn't feel like everything was spiraling out of control.
She was about to get lost in her thoughts again when the sound of the doorbell broke her concentration.
She stood and walked to the door, wondering who could be visiting this early in the morning. Her steps faltered when she saw the man standing on the other side. He was tall, with dark, slicked-back hair, sharp features, and an air of authority that instantly made her uneasy.
"Yuyan," he said smoothly, his smile cool but not unfriendly. "I'm sorry to intrude, but I need to speak with Jiang Zhen."
Yuyan's eyes narrowed, sensing something about this man was off. "Who are you?"
"I'm Chen Lei," the man replied, his gaze flickering briefly to the interior of the apartment. "A colleague of Jiang Zhen's. We need to discuss some business matters. Is he available?"
Before Yuyan could respond, Jiang Zhen appeared from behind her, his expression unreadable. "What's going on, Lei?"
Chen Lei smiled and stepped past Yuyan without waiting for an invitation. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything," he said with a teasing undertone. "But we need to talk. It's about the merger."
Jiang Zhen's face tightened. "I'll be in my office."
Yuyan felt a cold knot form in her stomach. There was something about Chen Lei that didn't sit right with her—something that made her uneasy. As they walked off toward the office, she couldn't shake the feeling that this was the beginning of something more complicated.
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Later that afternoon, Yuyan was still pacing the apartment, trying to shake off the lingering unease. She'd heard snippets of their conversation earlier, but it had been mostly business talk, the kind of jargon she couldn't make heads or tails of.
But what truly unsettled her was the way Jiang Zhen had looked at Chen Lei when they spoke. There had been a flicker of something—something almost... personal.
Her thoughts were interrupted when her phone buzzed. It was a message from her best friend, Mei Lin, who had been out of touch for a few weeks.
"Yuyan, I'm in town. Let's meet. I have something to tell you."
Yuyan quickly typed a response, her fingers shaking a little. "I'm free later. Meet me at the usual place?"
A minute later, Mei Lin's reply came through. "Perfect. I'll see you in an hour."
---
Yuyan arrived at their usual café a little earlier than planned, needing the time to clear her head. Mei Lin was already there, sitting at a corner table, and when she looked up, her smile faltered as soon as their eyes met.
"Yuyan, you look…" Mei Lin trailed off, her voice laced with concern. "I can see you've been through a lot."
Yuyan sat down, giving her a small smile. "It's been... complicated."
Mei Lin raised an eyebrow. "Complicated with Jiang Zhen?"
Yuyan winced, her mind replaying the events from the previous night—the kiss, the confession, the promise. "It's more complicated than that," she said, her voice softer than she intended.
Mei Lin leaned in, her expression turning serious. "What's going on, Yuyan? I know you're not just letting him off the hook. You're not forgetting everything he's done, are you?"
Yuyan took a deep breath, glancing down at her hands, unsure of how to explain what she was feeling. "I don't know anymore. I thought I was doing the right thing, but I... I'm not so sure anymore."
Just as she was about to continue, a voice interrupted their conversation.
"Yuyan, Mei Lin," a familiar voice said, and both women turned to see none other than Chen Lei standing before them, a smug look on his face. "Fancy running into you here."
Yuyan's heart dropped into her stomach. She hadn't expected to see him here, of all places. Mei Lin looked just as surprised, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"Chen Lei?" Mei Lin said, her voice flat. "What are you doing here?"
"Just visiting an old friend," he replied smoothly, sitting down at the table without waiting for permission. "I'm sure Yuyan and I can catch up. We have plenty to discuss, don't we, Yuyan?"
Yuyan's breath hitched. "What do you mean?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
Chen Lei's gaze flickered between her and Mei Lin, before settling back on Yuyan. "Oh, nothing. I'm just here to offer some... advice. You know, about your marriage to Jiang Zhen. You wouldn't want to make any... mistakes."
Mei Lin's face hardened. "You're not welcome here."
But Chen Lei just smiled, unbothered by her tone. "I'm sure Yuyan and I can have a more private conversation later. After all, we're just getting started."
Yuyan's mind raced, panic rising in her chest. She had no idea what Chen Lei was hinting at, but it didn't feel like something innocent. There were secrets at play—secrets she wasn't prepared for.
"I think you should leave," Yuyan said, trying to steady her shaking hands. "Now."
Chen Lei didn't move, his smile only growing wider. "Of course, Yuyan. But remember, I'm always around if you need... assistance."
With that, he stood and walked out, leaving the two women in stunned silence.
---
As Yuyan sat there, a sense of dread washed over her. Who was this man? And why did he seem to know so much about her marriage to Jiang Zhen?
"Yuyan, what was that about?" Mei Lin asked, her voice tight with concern.
Yuyan ran a hand through her hair. "I don't know. But I have a feeling this is just the beginning."
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