Su Xiaomeng knew that Yin Shixiu was recently involved in a very important project collaboration. She had stopped participating in Yin Family business three years ago, but thanks to her understanding of the company during that time, in recent years, she had a general idea about the issues Yin Shixiu discussed regarding Yin Family’s development.
She also knew that since the beginning of this year, Yin Shixiu had been solely focused on new product development, and after several failures, he finally saw some positive results.
For the new product collaboration project, despite opposition from many senior executives in the group, Yin Shixiu insisted on collaborating with Apple and Microsoft from the United States, as well as two major enterprises in the United Kingdom.
Sharing the latest product with long-standing competitors—has Yin Shixiu gone mad?
He ignored these people’s doubts and stubbornly went on to negotiate with representatives from these four companies...
Su Xiaomeng was not ignorant of the fact that he must have his reasons for investing so much effort and time into this endeavor.
She also believed that he could achieve the results he desired.
But... working so hard that he passed the house three times without going in...
She really could not bear it any longer...
Su Xiaomeng took a deep breath, originally planning to get out of the car and surprise her husband at the club entrance... but as she opened the car door, she saw a familiar figure emerging from the business club—Gong Youyun.
Gong Youyun, the Executive Vice President for the China region of the largest tech enterprise in the United Kingdom.
Around thirty years old, poised and elegant, efficient at work, she could be called... a golden single woman.
Su Xiaomeng’s acquaintance with her was truly unpleasant.
Around this time last year, Yin Shixiu was attending a reception in London, an event attended by an elite gathering, and being in a constitutional monarchy like the United Kingdom, quite a few British Royal Nobles were present.
The reception required a female companion.
Su Xiaomeng learned about this from a WeChat message Gong Youyun sent to Yin Shixiu, inviting him to be her male companion.
Since the reception was the next day, and Yin Shixiu had never mentioned it to her, she naturally assumed that Yin Shixiu had his own plans, which did not include her.
After her husband came out of the bathroom, finished showering, Su Xiaomeng pretended she knew nothing, placing her phone in a conspicuous spot.
Yin Shixiu, towel-drying his hair, glanced at his phone, and after reading the WeChat message, said something back, then tossed his phone aside.
Su Xiaomeng was ready to explode with anger at that moment, but unexpectedly, Yin Shixiu suddenly looked at her,
"Is the lecture you’re attending the day after tomorrow in Bath or London?"
Su Xiaomeng was taken aback; she had almost forgotten about the lecture... His mention of it made Su Xiaomeng even more irritated.
It seemed he had justifiable reasons for accepting someone else’s invitation.
"Bath."
"What time does it end?"
"Three o’clock."
Yin Shixiu raised an eyebrow, "Perfect timing, I’ll send someone to pick you up after the lecture to accompany me to the reception."
"..."
At that moment, all of Su Xiaomeng’s almost erupting anger was forcibly stuffed back down, and she nonchalantly replied with an "Oh."
Later, she severely reflected on herself and remembered the name "Gong Youyun."
She understood the saying that men in their forties are like blooming flowers, especially men like Yin Shixiu, even if he didn’t attract them, bees and butterflies would come fluttering by.
But most of the bees and butterflies couldn’t even get close to Yin Shixiu before being frozen by his indifferent attitude, not even getting a chance to try and seduce him.
This Gong Youyun, however, could speak in such ambiguous terms, daringly making the first move, and still remained in Yin Shixiu’s WeChat contact list...
It was hard for Su Xiaomeng not to remember.
The reception, she went with Yin Shixiu.
She also met Gong Youyun in person.
Confidence and presumed charm seemed to ooze from her core; she spoke eloquently, with grace and elegance, her model-like figure at about 1.7 meters tall, wearing a backless, hollowed-out black dress, she undoubtedly became a striking figure at the reception.
As a fellow woman, how could Su Xiaomeng not notice the probing and comparative glance from the other when they met?
Su Xiaomeng didn’t know what Gong Youyun saw in her, but the probing gaze ended with a look of satisfaction and self-satisfaction.
That condescending and contemptuous look was something she hadn’t encountered in a long time.
She barely exchanged words with Gong Youyun at the reception, merely standing by and listening to Gong Youyun and Yin Shixiu discuss the development trends of the information technology industry over the past few years, hearing their evaluations of new products from certain companies, and their mutual interest in the same project contract...
That feeling of being excluded made Su Xiaomeng extremely uncomfortable.
Perhaps because Gong Youyun indeed appeared to be a charming, intellectually filled beauty, a sense of defense and vigilance quickly rose in her heart.
Afterwards, Su Xiaomeng occasionally saw Yin Shixiu and Gong Youyun attending business events together.
Though she felt uncomfortable, she ultimately didn’t take Gong Youyun too seriously.
She could doubt the woman’s questionable intentions, but she couldn’t doubt her husband’s loyalty.
Yet again, it was her...
Su Xiaomeng’s eyebrows furrowed slightly. Seeing this woman here made her even more determined to vent her grievances on Yin Shixiu.
The car door remained closed. She calmly sat inside, arms crossed, watching leisurely as a few people stood at the entrance of the business club.
Business cars pulled up one after another at the club entrance, and Yin Shixiu’s business partners gradually got in their cars and left, exchanging pleasantries and wrapping up today’s lengthy negotiation meeting.
When everyone had left, only Yin Shixiu and Gong Youyun remained at the door.
"Arthur, the night is still young. Want to come up for a drink?"
Yin Shixiu glanced at the time, hesitating little before politely declining,
"No, I’ve been back in London for three days and haven’t been home yet. If I don’t go back now, my wife might get angry."
Gong Youyun chuckled,
"Come on, you always report back to your wife on your whereabouts. At your level, any woman should be thrilled in her sleep."
"That’s as it should be. My wife does the same for me. This is the way it should be between spouses. President Gong hasn’t married yet, but when you do, you’ll understand."
"Look at you... almost like being controlled is a kind of happiness..."
Gong Youyun shrugged with a smile, raising an eyebrow,
"Are you really not coming up for a drink? There were some details from the meeting I wanted to discuss with you..."
"Tomorrow then."
"I won’t be available tomorrow..."
"How about this, I’ll give you my assistant’s number. You can list any details you don’t understand and tell him, and he can prepare a detailed explanation for you. How about that?"
Although Yin Shixiu wore a gentle smile, there was still a detached aloofness that kept people at a distance.
Gong Youyun realized that pressing further would only be pointless.
"Alright, we’ll talk next time. Since you need to hurry back to reunite with your wife, I won’t keep you."
After speaking, Gong Youyun suddenly leaned forward to give Yin Shixiu a hug.
And Yin Shixiu ended up being hugged... because he seemed to spot a familiar car and license plate, and as he was trying to confirm if it was his wife’s car, Gong Youyun had already approached unexpectedly.
This hug was actually just a very formal hug.
It lasted a moment before she released him.
"I’ll head up now. Let’s arrange another time to meet."
After saying that, Gong Youyun turned and went into the club.
And what about Yin Shixiu?
After casually saying goodbye to Gong Youyun, he had a bad feeling.
That car was undeniably Su Xiaomeng’s ride...
The headlights flashed twice, and the car pulled out of its spot, turned ninety degrees, and stopped right in front of Yin Shixiu, with the window rolling down...
Su Xiaomeng looked at Yin Shixiu,
"I was wondering how busy you’d need to be, preferring to stay in the business club for two nights rather than come home... Looks like you’re indeed quite busy."
"Xiao Meng, you know Gong Youyun. Don’t misunderstand, okay?"
Su Xiaomeng looked at him, her gaze landing on his chest... the lipstick stain on his shirt was indeed glaring.
"Misunderstand? Did I say anything?"
"Your tone clearly shows you’re unhappy."
Yin Shixiu sighed and stepped forward to open the car door, but the door was locked, and the awkwardness hung between them.
Su Xiaomeng gave him a slight smile, raising her chin,
"Hey, let me ask you something."
"..."
"Do you know she’s interested in you, or do you pretend not to know?"
"Does it matter?"
Yin Shixiu looked at her.
"Of course it does. Based on your answer, I’ll determine how severe the incident is. To decide the punishment for you."
"Meng Meng..."
Yin Shixiu’s tone softened, approaching in a flattering manner, elbow leaning against the car window,
"Punish me all you want, but let me in the car first, okay?"
Su Xiaomeng still smiled, and then the car window slowly rolled up. Yin Shixiu withdrew his hand reluctantly, watching Su Xiaomeng drive away right before his eyes.
"Damn you, Yin Shixiu! Forty years old and still messing around outside!"
Chapter 1107: 727: Passing by Home Without Entering
8 min read