But Leng Sicheng was not satisfied. “Secretary Cheng. Is it because I haven’t deducted your salary recently that I look very kind to you? I told you that I like that particular shop’s ginger jujube congee with shredded kelp, radish, choy sum, and beef mixed with tomato and onion. If I don’t eat breakfast, I would be hungry, and have no energy to concentrate on my work. Also, you’re still stuck in a jam right now. The journey back and forth would take a few hours—there’s a meeting at ten o’clock in the morning. Are you going to take responsibility if it’s delayed?”

“… Isn’t that a video conference?” Secretary Cheng said in a small voice. “How about you stay at West Mountain Villa in the meantime?”

 Gu Qingqing could not hear the rest of it because Leng Sicheng had hung up.

 He got up, emanated a powerful aura, and when he turned around, saw her looking at him. His handsome face showed no emotion. Those long legs strode up the stairs, passing her on the other side. Not a word was exchanged. It was like she was invisible.

 Gu Qingqing faltered for a moment and then followed him up the stairs with her eyes. He entered his room, and slammed the door shut.

 The caretaker waited until it was quite before waltzing out of the kitchen, looking a little shaken. “Madam. Sir, he…”

 Gu Qingqing rubbed her forehead. “I think he might stay today.”

 “What about… breakfast?”

 What about breakfast? The secretary was out. It would not be good if they did not prepare anything for him. If they do, with that picky personality of his, who knows what would happen?

 “Forget it. I’ll do it.” She had learned how to cook to please him. By chance, she had the few ingredients he mentioned just now.

 The caretaker was relieved—she was worried that she would not have done a good enough job and that Leng Sicheng would blame her for that.

 She scratched her head and said in a small voice, “I remember that ginger, jujube congee with shredded kelp, radish, choy sum, and beef mixed with tomato and onion is for when you’re down with a cold, right?”

 Gu Qingqing who had already stepped into the kitchen did not hear her.

 Eight thirty.

 Breakfast was ready but Leng Sicheng did not come down.

 His room, like Gu Qingqing’s, was on the second floor as well; one in the east and the other facing the west, separated by several rooms, as if he could not stand to be near her and had to be as far away as possible.

 She had never entered his room before —— when they had just gotten married, she had knocked on his door with a cup of coffee for him (she did this to please him). She did not ask him to return to the room to rest with her. She had thought that if he wanted to continue to work, a cup of coffee to help him burn the midnight oil was a good idea.

 To her surprise, Leng Sicheng had looked at her with the same frosty expression and said sharply, “What is it? Didn’t I satisfy you just now? You’re here to beg me to continue? Oh, you really are good at taking care afterwards. I can go enjoy myself a few more times and don’t have to worry that you’re giving birth to a child.”

 That was his talent! He could kill a person without drawing blood. With only his words, he had managed to prick holes in her heart.

 He did not like it when she called him on his private number either. One time, her brother owed someone money and, in her panic, she had called him on that number. She had only just explained the reason to him when he had hung up on her without so much as a word.

 She would never forget what it felt like when the dull beeping sound rang in her ears. It was like her boiling blood had suddenly encountered the cold current of Siberia, freezing up her veins!

 From that time onwards, she dared not call him on his private number nor did she ever concern herself with his every little thing.

 It was the same right now.

 She stood in front of his door, hesitant.