By the Riverside
The breeze by the river was refreshing, and the scenery was pleasant.
Li Feng and Mu Jiajia walked along the riverside’s pebbled path, a handsome man and a beautiful woman. Onlookers might think they were a perfect couple, unaware of the scheming beneath their interaction.
Since getting out of the car, Mu Jiajia had been silent, processing what had just happened. If she still couldn’t tell that the Li Feng in front of her didn’t match the intelligence reports, she wouldn’t deserve to be Fu Yanxiong’s strategist.
Realising Li Feng was different threw her off balance. She had prepared several plans to deal with him, but now they were useless. Using those plans would make her look foolish.
Mu Jiajia’s goal was simple: to use Li Feng to secure the batch of chemical machinery from Fengyuan Group. The key was to manipulate him. If Li Feng were the rumoured good-for-nothing, it would have been easy. But if he was sharp, it would be difficult. Though she wasn’t certain if he was truly cunning, he clearly wasn’t the useless man of legend. To outsmart him, she needed a better approach.
Li Feng had no idea what Mu Jiajia was thinking. Gazing at the rolling Yangtze River in the distance, he felt refreshed and in high spirits. Of course, if Mu Jiajia were replaced by Hu Yuanyuan, Xu Qing, or Liu Ruyan, it would be even better.
“Young Master Li…” Mu Jiajia’s voice broke his thoughts.
“Oh, Miss Mu, what’s on your mind?” Li Feng turned to glance at her.
“Young Master Li, I heard you’re the vice president of Fengyuan Group?” Mu Jiajia stepped closer, wrapping her arms around his, her voice soft and coy.
“Yes, what’s that? Are you interested in Fengyuan Group?” Li Feng gave her a casual look.
“Young Master Li, I just arrived in Tianhai City and haven’t settled yet. I was wondering if I could work at your company?” Mu Jiajia looked at him earnestly.
“Work at Fengyuan Group?” Li Feng was taken aback. He hadn’t expected Mu Jiajia to want a job there. What was her game? He’d assumed she had ulterior motives, but was her real goal to get into Fengyuan Group through the back door?
That seemed unlikely. If she wanted a job at Fengyuan, why go through him?
“Yes, Young Master Li. I’ve heard Fengyuan Group is a major company in Tianhai City with great jobs and high pay. Could you help me get in?” Mu Jiajia looked at him nervously, as if a rejection would break her heart.
“Is Fengyuan Group really as great as you say? I don’t feel it,” Li Feng said, trying to gauge her intentions. A sharp person like her wouldn’t resort to seduction just for a job.
“That’s because you’re in the middle of the blessing and don’t realise it. Everyone in Tianhai City praises Fengyuan Group.” Mu Jiajia swayed his arm, brushing against her chest, her voice dripping with charm. “Young Master Li, President Li, you’re the vice president, a celebrity in Tianhai. I came here alone, with no one to rely on, so I’m begging you.”
Li Feng’s lips curved into a smile. “Didn’t you call me your knight in shining armour earlier? Now you’re asking me to get you into Fengyuan Group?”
“It’s exactly because you’re my knight that I’m asking you.” A flicker of embarrassment crossed Mu Jiajia’s eyes. Earlier, she’d thought Li Feng was the rumoured good-for-nothing, easy to manipulate with a bit of charm. Had she known he was this sharp, she wouldn’t have used such tactics. But now, with the arrow notched, she had to keep going.
“Miss Mu, working is tough. How about I support you instead?” Li Feng grinned.
“No way. I want to work and be independent,” Mu Jiajia said, shaking her head. Given Li Feng’s sharpness, getting the chemical machinery through him was impossible. So she planned to infiltrate Fengyuan Group herself to find a way to secure it.
She could join Fengyuan Group through regular means, but that would be cumbersome and slow. The fastest way was to use Li Feng to get a high position for better access.
Li Feng was sharp, but so what? No man could resist beauty. She didn’t believe he wouldn’t take the bait.
“Is that so…” Li Feng rubbed his chin, thinking. “There is a job that suits you.”
“What job?” Mu Jiajia’s face lit up with excitement, her eyes sparkling as if she’d kiss him if he gave good news.
“Secretary,” Li Feng said, two simple words.
“Secretary?” Mu Jiajia blinked her beautiful eyes, looking at him with confusion.
“Yes, my secretary.” A smile flickered on Li Feng’s lips. Whatever Mu Jiajia’s motives, keeping her close was the safest move. Besides, a secretary? Work to do when there’s work, and when there’s none… heh!
“Your secretary?” Mu Jiajia was puzzled, surprised, confused, yet excited.
She wanted a high position in Fengyuan Group to act freely. A vice president’s secretary wasn’t as high as a manager, but it was still upper-level.
Yet, becoming his secretary felt off. She couldn’t pinpoint why, but she sensed Li Feng’s intentions weren’t pure.
Still, refusing might mean losing her chance to use him to enter Fengyuan Group.
“Yes, being my secretary is an easy job,” Li Feng said with a smile, wrapping an arm around her waist. “As long as you serve me well, you’ll get whatever salary you want.”
As the saying goes, a secretary is the boss’s second mistress. Bosses choose secretaries like wives—smart, capable, and stunningly beautiful.
If Li Feng wanted a secretary, he’d pick someone like Xu Qing, the ideal candidate. But he didn’t need one. If Mu Jiajia weren’t scheming and he weren’t curious about her plans, he wouldn’t have considered her for the role.
Was Mu Jiajia smart and capable? He didn’t know. But her beauty was top-notch. Since she was offering herself, only a fool wouldn’t take advantage. So he suggested making her his secretary.
“Really?” A cold glint flashed in Mu Jiajia’s eyes, but she forced an excited expression. She couldn’t ruin everything over a small matter. Though Li Feng might take advantage, he already had. As long as he didn’t go too far, she didn’t mind giving him a little benefit.
“Of course it’s true. Would I lie to you? You’re my secretary now, with all the rights and duties that come with it.” With that, Li Feng pulled her close, her curvaceous body pressed against his.
“Young Master Li, what are you doing?” Mu Jiajia’s face changed drastically. A saying flashed in her mind: work for the secretary to do, and when there’s none…
Li Feng’s offer to make her his secretary was clearly driven by ulterior motives.
“Jiajia, darling, what do you think I’m doing?” Li Feng teased near her ear, chuckling. “You know, when I’m with you, I can’t help but feel stirred. Your charm is simply irresistible.”
Mu Jiajia felt nauseated but forced herself to stay calm.
She opened her hand, trying to push his away. Li Feng seized the chance, gripping her soft hand tightly. The more she struggled, the tighter he held, their fingers soon interlocking like intimate lovers.
“Young Master Li, President Li, you’re quite the sweet-talker. Bet you’ve charmed plenty of girls,” Mu Jiajia said coyly. “But I won’t fall for your honeyed words. If you want to win me over, it’s not…”
Before she could finish, her face changed again. Without thinking, she pushed Li Feng away and leapt back.
