Shang Sheng raised an eyebrow and retorted, "What? Is Madam going to protect her?"
Qin Yige thought for a moment, "Can I protect her?"
"Male secretary or female secretary?"
"If you protect your female secretary, I should at least protect a male secretary, right? That would be fair."
Shang Sheng was rendered speechless by her twisted logic, "Firstly, I'm not protecting Chen Ling. Secondly, if you want to openly protect someone, you certainly can."
It's just... he wondered how that person would survive under his nose next.
Qin Yige didn't believe he would be so kind; who knew what wicked schemes he was concocting in his mind while saying that?
"Are you going to visit Secretary Chen?" she changed the subject.
"No," he replied decisively.
"If you don't go see her, she'll be sad!" Qin Yige blinked at him.
Shang Sheng was silent for a moment, "Why don't Madam kindly visit an employee for me?"
"I'm not going. I don't have any official position in your company. Besides, if you send me to visit her, I'm afraid she'll still be hospitalized next year even if she could be discharged tomorrow. So, for your employee's sake, it's best not to send me."
Shang Sheng: "Then I won't trouble Madam's concern. I've already arranged for someone to send regards."
Although Chen Ling brought it upon herself, she was still his subordinate for now, and he wouldn't be too heartless just yet.
Qin Yige deliberately said, "That's right, how could President Shang not send someone? I was too naive."
"..." Shang Sheng wanted to punish her, but he couldn't find a suitable way for the moment.
After exiting the company elevator, Shang Sheng grabbed the hand of the woman beside him.
Qin Yige tried to pull away, but he gripped it even tighter, "There are still many people working overtime at the company. Madam, please remember to cooperate with my work."
"..." She glanced around; there were indeed many employees, and many were watching them.
Qin Yige gave up struggling and let him lead her towards the exit.
As they walked, people greeted them one after another.
Qin Yige smiled and responded to each one, while Shang Sheng seemed to ignore them all, not responding to a single person.
Getting into the car, Qin Yige said, "So many people greeted you, why didn't you acknowledge any of them? That's rude!"
"Don't you have Madam by your side?" He saw her smiling like a flower, and there was no need for him to respond.
"How can that be the same? They were primarily greeting you; I am secondary."
"No, the primary one is you. They see me every day at the company. You don't come often, so they have more novelty towards you."
His words reminded Qin Yige of a question, "You know, me coming to your company all the time, is that appropriate?"
The man glanced at her, "I ask you, is it appropriate for you to run home all the time?"
"Aren't you stating the obvious? Where else would I run if not home? Into your arms?" she scoffed dismissively.
Shang Sheng paused, "That's also acceptable. I don't mind."
"You don't mind, but I do. People will talk," she cleared her throat, sat up straight, and faced him, mimicking a serious tone, "You know, so-and-so, that's Shang Sheng's wife, Qin Yige, who's so afraid of her husband being snatched away by other women that she follows him everywhere he goes."
"..." Shang Sheng rubbed his forehead, "You're overthinking it. They'll only think we have a good relationship."
"While that might be true, others aren't blind, you know? Actually, I think putting on a show of affection for the public is just deceiving ourselves. Shang Sheng, why don't we stop pretending to be in love from now on?"
"We can," he agreed readily.
The girl's eyes sparkled, and she clapped him heartily on the shoulder, "You're so understanding!"
"If you don't want to pretend to be in love, then let's be genuinely in love."
The girl's smile froze on her lips, "What do you mean?"
"Literally. Madam can try to be genuinely affectionate with me from now on, no need to pretend."
Qin Yige's smile vanished, "Are you dreaming?"
"You're not willing?"
"Of course not! Then people will say, 'Look at Qin Yige, who was originally an enemy of Shang Sheng. Just a few days after getting married, they're as affectionate as lovebirds, deeply in love. It must be that Qin Yige did something to successfully seduce Shang Sheng...'"
Her face was serious, and she spoke as if it were true.
If their relationship wasn't so strained, he might have believed her nonsense!
Looking into his deep eyes, Qin Yige became a little anxious and moved slightly closer to him, "Don't not believe me. I'm telling you, I attended an event at Kegely tonight, and I overheard a group of women gossiping about a newly married couple. It was basically what I just said, just with different people."
Such a good couple, yet people still gossiped about them. These people were truly detestable!
Watching her babbling mouth, Shang Sheng nodded, "I believe you. It's just, didn't you go up and teach them a lesson?"
He was a little skeptical. Wasn't she usually the one who couldn't stand injustice?
Qin Yige suddenly felt a bit embarrassed, "How did you know?"
He guessed.
"What did you do to them?"
"I accidentally spilled a cup of coffee on one woman's dress, and then I accidentally got mousse cake on another person. And accidentally..."
"You're truly 'accidentally'," he said sarcastically.
Qin Yige smiled guiltily, "It's okay, they don't know who I am anyway."
"Are you sure?"
She nodded emphatically, "They only know I'm Mrs. Shang. There are so many people surnamed Shang in Port City; they'd never guess I'm your wife, Shang Sheng!"
The man mused, "Indeed, there are many people surnamed Shang in Port City, but a Mrs. Shang who can attend the Kegerly Jewelry banquet... it's hard to find another one."
"Really?" Qin Yige asked suspiciously.
Shang Sheng analyzed for her, "As far as I know, the Kegerly Jewelry banquet only invited less than 30 distinguished guests, most of them women. For a woman to attend a banquet of Kegerly's caliber, and also be Mrs. Shang, you're the only one."
Qin Yige's face fell, "Then what should we do?"
"What should we do about what?"
"We've made an enemy for the Shang family."
The man said nonchalantly, "The Shang family doesn't have enough enemies? We don't lack one or two more."
"Exactly, Shang Sheng, you're so detestable, are people usually trying to kill you?"
Shang Sheng: "..."
He massaged his temples, "Madam, is it really appropriate for you to ask your husband like this?"
Husband?
Qin Yige's face turned slightly red. She tried to ignore the term, "What's inappropriate about it? I need to know this answer so I can protect myself properly when I'm out."
"You don't need to worry about that. You are already my woman, Shang Sheng. I will protect you."
He said it casually, but she listened with a flushed face and a racing heart, her breathing quickening.
Back then, when they were together, didn't they want to kill each other?
Qin Yige had never heard Shang Sheng say such things before. Hearing it for the first time, it felt... rather nice.
"Shang Sheng, you—"
"Bang!"
Qin Yige's words were cut short as a powerful force struck her, sending her stumbling forward and directly into Shang Sheng's embrace.