He wants to adopt a younger sister, but his aloof wife disagrees.

The conference room on the top floor of the Shen Group headquarters building.

The air was filled with a suffocatingly low pressure.

On the huge projection screen, the next quarter's financial statements and market expansion plans were displayed. A sales director stood nervously on the stage, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

"...In summary, our market share in East China is expected to increase by 5%, but marketing costs may rise..."

After the sales director finished speaking, he cautiously glanced at the woman sitting at the end of the long table.

Shen Qingge sat expressionlessly in the main seat, her pen lightly tapping the table. She wore her signature black haute couture business suit, still the aloof and icy female CEO who commanded respect throughout the entire company.

However, no one knew that at this moment, the scene from the morning was playing on a loop in the mind of this "female demon".

"Sister, have some milk. Brother warmed it up especially for you; it's really sweet."

"My sister is so serious. My brother must be very quiet most of the time."

"Brother, let me wash your feet..."

Those sweet, cloying calls of "brother" lingered in Shen Qingge's mind like a haunting melody.

Especially Su Xiaoruan's seemingly innocent yet provocative big eyes, and Jiang Che's unprecedentedly doting gaze when looking at that wild girl.

"Smack."

Shen Qingge lost her grip, and the pen in her hand slammed heavily into the notebook, the nib tearing through the paper.

The sales director, who was giving the report, trembled violently and almost knelt down: "Mr. Shen... is there a problem with the data? I'll fix it right away!"

The room fell silent; all the executives held their breath.

Shen Qingge snapped out of her daze, looking at the tense faces in the room, a rare look of bewilderment flashing in her eyes.

"What did you say?" she asked.

The sales director was stunned.

Everyone was stunned.

Shen Qingge, known for her "immeasurable memory and meticulous thinking", actually lost focus during the quarterly core meeting?

"Mr. Shen, we were just talking about marketing costs..." The secretary next to him whispered a reminder, breaking out in a cold sweat.

Shen Qingge rubbed her temples; the feeling of being agitated made it impossible for her to concentrate.

"Ten-minute pause."

Shen Qingge coldly uttered a sentence, stood up and walked out of the conference room, leaving the executives looking at each other in bewilderment.

……

The CEO's office.

Shen Qingge stood in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the bustling traffic below.

She took out her phone and habitually opened WeChat.

The pinned chat box is for "Husband".

At this time of day, Jiang Che would usually have already sent a bunch of messages: "Wife, remember to eat lunch," "I made your favorite bento box today," "What do you want to eat tonight?"

Although she replies slowly, sometimes only with an "um," the feeling of being constantly thought of has long become the background noise of her life.

Available today.

The chat box is empty. The last message was still the same cold "Don't worry" from last night.

"Jiang Che..."

Shen Qingge bit her lip, the emptiness in her heart growing stronger.

Is he really spending time with that wild girl?

"Don't buy her any random things."

Shen Qingge suddenly remembered the warning she had given herself before leaving home that morning.

She inexplicably opened her mobile banking app to check the supplementary card linked to Jiang Che.

Jiang Che has no income; he uses this card for daily expenses and household costs. If he takes Su Xiaoruan shopping for clothes or out to eat, there will definitely be a spending record.

however.

The query results show: Today's consumption was 0.00 yuan.

Shen Qingge frowned.

Didn't spend any money?

That girl only had one shirt on her; it's impossible she didn't buy clothes. Could Jiang Che have used his meager stash of royalties?

Jiang Che only earns two or three thousand yuan a month writing novels. What can he buy with that little money? Cheap stuff?

The thought that Jiang Che would rather empty his own savings than use her card for that girl filled Shen Qingge with an indescribable bitterness and anger.

Just then, my phone suddenly vibrated.

Caller ID: [Chu Ran]

Chu Ran is her best friend since college. He is also a rich second-generation and a well-known "tea connoisseur" and relationship strategist.

"Feed?" Shen Qingge answered the phone, her voice weary.

"Qingge! Something terrible has happened!"

Chu Ran's loud and boisterous voice came from the other end of the phone, with some background noise, seemingly coming from a shopping mall:

"Guess who I saw at Hang Lung Plaza?"

Shen Qingge's heart skipped a beat: "Who?"

"Your stay-at-home husband, Jiang Che!" Chu Ran's voice was filled with unbelievable excitement. "And he's got a super hot girl with him! Those legs, that face... wow, she's the epitome of pure and innocent beauty!"

"Qingge, tell me honestly, is she a relative of yours? Or Jiang Che's cousin?"

Shen Qingge's fingers tightened around her phone, her knuckles turning white.

Hang Lung Plaza?

That's the most upscale luxury shopping mall in Jianghai City. Jiang Che took Su Xiaoruan there?

"Not related." Shen Qingge took a deep breath, her voice as cold as ice. "She is... an adopted sister."

"An adopted sister?"

Chu Ran was silent for two seconds, then burst into a scream:

"Shen Qingge, have you lost your mind?! You actually believe this nonsense?!"

"I just saw it with my own eyes. That girl was trying on clothes in the Chanel store, and Jiang Che was watching right next to her. The way he looked at her... tsk. And that girl kept tugging at Jiang Che's sleeve and acting all cute. The way they were acting, you'd think they were a couple deeply in love!"

"Oh, right, I also saw they bought a lot, big bags and small bags. Qingge, isn't your husband short of money? Did you give it to him?"

Shen Qingge felt a throbbing sensation in her temples.

You bought a lot? Chanel?

Where did Jiang Che get the money?

"Chu Ran, could you keep an eye on things for me..."

"What are you staring at! She's long gone!" Chu Ran said with exasperation. "Qingge, as your best friend of ten years, I have to raise the alarm for you."

"I just observed that girl closely. Although she seems harmless, she's extremely skilled."

"Her 'I'm very obedient, I'm very compliant, but I'm very dependent on my brother' attitude is a killer move for men! Especially for a man like Jiang Che who has been suppressed by you for a long time and can't find a sense of existence, he simply can't resist this kind of 'green tea' girl who idolizes him!"

"If you keep acting like some kind of high-powered CEO, your husband will definitely be snatched away within a month! You'll be crying then!"

Chu Ran's words were like a bucket of ice water poured over Shen Qingge's head.

She used to think that Jiang Che couldn't live without her.

Jiang Che loves her. She has no money, no career, and is nothing without the Shen family.

But now...

The man who used to only revolve around the stove suddenly had a secret, money (though no one knew where it came from), and even an "admirer" who looked at him with eyes full of admiration.

An unprecedented sense of panic instantly engulfed Shen Qingge.

"I see."

Shen Qingge hung up the phone.

She glanced at the mountain of documents on the table, then at the setting sun outside the window.

"Mr. Shen, shall we continue the meeting?" The secretary knocked on the door and entered, asking cautiously.

Shen Qingge turned around, picked up her bag, and her eyes became incredibly resolute.

The meeting is cancelled. All of today's schedules are cancelled.

"Oh? But there's a business dinner tonight..."

"I said I'd cancel!"

Shen Qingge's voice rose a few decibels, carrying an undeniable air of authority.

She's in no mood to care about the banquet right now.

Her house is about to be robbed!

"Prepare the car."

Shen Qingge strode out of the office, the sound of her high heels clicking on the floor quick and sharp.

"go home!"

She wanted to go back and see what the little imp, who had been "cleaned up," actually looked like.

She also wanted to find out just how many secrets Jiang Che was hiding from her.

If Su Xiaoruan really is a threat...

Shen Qingge narrowed her eyes, a dangerous glint flashing in them.

Then don't blame her for being ruthless.

……

At the same time.

Tomson Riviera, underground parking garage.

Like a black phantom, the Bugatti Veyron silently glided into the parking space.

"Wow...brother, this car is so comfortable!"

Su Xiaoruan's face flushed with excitement as she carried four or five Chanel bags, looking like a child who had just returned from Disneyland laden with treasures.

Along the way, Jiang Che took her to a Michelin three-star afternoon tea and drove her around. The feeling of being pampered and respected made her feel like she was dreaming.

"Alright, stop looking like you've never seen anything like this before."

Jiang Che turned off the engine, took out the car key, and looked at the completely transformed Su Xiaoruan beside him.

After an afternoon of "training," much of her timid and petty demeanor dissipated, replaced by a youthful and confident aura.

This money was well spent.

"Do you remember what I told you on the way?" Jiang Che asked.

Su Xiaoruan immediately stood up straight, her smile vanished, and she nodded seriously:

"Got it!"

"First, no swearing."

"Second, be confident and don't hunch over."

"Third, listen to your older brother in this family, don't be afraid of your older sister!"

Jiang Che nodded in satisfaction.

"Let's go upstairs."

"Tonight, let's give Sister Qingge a little surprise."