His wife's pregnancy bump disappeared, and Mr. Huo was going crazy missing her.

A ding sound.

The elevator stopped on the twentieth floor.

Wen Qiu pushed past two colleagues and walked away in ten-centimeter high heels.

The elevator doors closed again.

The gossip started again.

"Wen Qiu has broken down."

"Exactly! She's just an ordinary secretary, running to the CEO's office all day long—isn't it all just to seduce CEO Huo and climb the corporate ladder?"

"Her?"

"She's no ordinary person. I heard that Mr. Huo sponsored her university education, and after graduation, he personally selected her to join the company."

"She's got incredibly lucky! What's so pretty about her? Besides her fair skin, she's as fat as a pig!"

"Shh! Keep your voice down. I heard that President Huo prefers slightly chubby beauties, and Wen Qiu is even trying to gain weight to please him."

"Damn, then I'll start gaining weight this month."

"Wake up! Mr. Huo is married! Nobody'll even notice you if you're as fat as a pig!"

A short while later, all the people got off the elevator, leaving only Qiao Mian as a bystander.

I turned my head and looked at myself in the elevator mirror.

She reached out and touched her small, palm-sized face, giving a mocking smirk.

No man will truly like a very fat woman...

Back then, if she hadn't taken care of Huo Yanbei during the time he was blind, how could she, a 160-pound fat woman, have been noticed by the unattainable beauty of Peking University?

When they were together, he spoiled her, giving her the best in everything she needed.

However, he has never publicly acknowledged that she was his girlfriend.

Whenever he introduces her in public, he only says she is his sister.

Only a few of his childhood friends knew about their relationship.

His feelings for her were only gratitude and pity.

It has nothing to do with love.

She understood this very well back then.

But at that time, she loved him too much.

I can't bear to leave him.

If she hadn't overheard his heartfelt words to his friends back then, perhaps she really would have agreed to stay by his side for the rest of her life...

Even if they are nameless and unknown.

Looking back now, I realize how lowly and despicable I was back then.

After all, Huo Yanbei already had a fiancée at that time.

Yet she still became his clandestine lover...

In a daze, I returned to my workstation.

Meng Bai and He Mei have arrived.

Everyone's scrolling through the trending topics and gossip.

Qiao Mian glanced at the closed door of the office across the street.

He quickly lowered his eyes again, forcing himself to calm down and focus on his work.

……

The CEO's office.

Chen Ke stood nervously to the side. "President Huo, I have already asked the public relations department to handle the news about you and Ms. Song Man urgently. However, it was suddenly exposed online last night, so it will take some time to process. These reporters must have been instructed by someone. Don't worry, I will find out as soon as possible who is behind this."

The man's long, slender fingers swiped through his phone, scrolling through the photos and videos in the news. Then he placed the phone face down on the table. "Ignore it."

"what?"

Chen Ke was somewhat stunned.

Over the years, whenever news headlines mention Huo's alleged secret marriage and children, they are removed.

Does "ignore it" mean that President Huo is about to officially announce his relationship with Ms. Song Man?

Although the two did not register their marriage, Song Man was already recognized as Mrs. Huo by Old Master Huo.

At private gatherings or dinners, President Huo would always bring Song Man along.

Actually, whether or not that certificate exists, people in the industry have long tacitly acknowledged Song Man as Mrs. Huo...

……

noon.

He Mei and Meng Bai went out to eat.

Qiao Mian brought a lunchbox but didn't go.

She had just taken out her lunchbox when Zhou Jinnan came out from the inner office area.

He was holding a lunchbox, so he was probably going to the break room to eat.

Because the lunchbox was pink, which didn't quite fit a man's style, she couldn't help but take a second look.

The lunchbox looked a bit old and familiar.

However, she didn't think much of it.

Qiao Mian stood up and greeted him, "Director Zhou."

Zhou Jinan glanced at the matching pink lunchbox on her desk and asked, "What delicious food did you make?"

As he said this, he walked to her desk.

Qiao Mian had no choice but to open the lunchbox. "It's just some simple home-cooked dishes."

Looking at the neatly arranged and attractive stir-fries in the lunchbox, Zhou Jinnan smiled gently. "Attorney Qiao's cooking skills are quite good."

Qiao Mian smiled and said, "Thank you."

Zhou Jinnan weighed the lunchbox in his hand. "Today is the Winter Solstice. My mom made these dumplings herself. Lawyer Qiao, if you don't mind, you can try some."

"..."

His suggestion was abrupt, but the sincerity and friendliness on his face made it difficult to refuse.

"good……"

The word had barely escaped his lips when a man's clear, deep voice came from behind him.

"Attorney Qiao, come to my office."

It was Huo Yanbei's voice.

Qiao Mian's heart skipped a beat.

When I turned around, I saw Huo Yanbei standing tall and straight like a jade tree at the entrance of the legal department.

With one hand in his pocket and a calm expression, he looked like a passerby.

"Mr. Huo."

Zhou Jinnan greeted him.

"Um."

Huo Yanbei nodded.

Zhou Jinnan turned his head and glanced at Qiao Mian. "Attorney Qiao, try my mother's cooking again next time."

Qiao Mian looked stunned, and subconsciously replied, "Oh, okay..."

After Zhou Jinnan finished speaking, he nodded to Huo Yanbei and left.

Qiao Mian snapped out of her daze. Huo Yanbei was already ahead of her. He glanced at the fragrant stir-fry in the lunchbox she was still holding, and a glint of light flashed in his eyes. "Attorney Qiao's cooking looks pretty good. May I try some?"

"..."

Qiao Mian was stunned for a moment.

This suggestion would be normal between colleagues, but coming from Huo Yanbei's mouth is quite astonishing.

He has severe mysophobia.

I don't touch the bowls and chopsticks I use for meals unless they are disposable.

Besides, it's like tasting someone else's food.

Doesn't he mind?

Qiao Mian gripped the lunchbox tightly, politely declining: "It might not suit President Huo's taste."

The man gave a slight smirk. "How will you know if you don't try it?"

That was a bit forceful; if she refused again, it would make her seem like she was being unreasonable.

If it were any other colleague, they would have happily offered it to them with both hands.

Not wanting to appear unusual, Qiao Mian reluctantly handed over the lunchbox.

After taking it, Huo Yanbei casually uttered two words, "Come here."

Qiao Mian responded.

He took a pair of disposable chopsticks from the drawer, picked up a bag from the desk, and walked out of the legal department.

But when I walked into the CEO's office, I was stunned.

Although she knew that this office was the one Huo Yanbei used six years ago when he first joined the Huo Group and had not yet taken the position of president.

However, to my surprise, the furnishings inside remained unchanged.

At that moment, Huo Yanbei was standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window making a phone call.

He was tall and slender, with a cold and stern face and a taut jawline. He looked very serious, though it was unclear what the other person had said.

He raised his chin slightly towards her when he heard her come in.

He gestured for her to come over.

Qiao Mian walked over slowly.

But when she saw the desk and the familiar leather sofa next to it, her cheeks suddenly turned red.