Chapter 1

1

Four in the afternoon.

President Zhao of Hongjie Daily Chemicals had just landed in Hangcheng and invited Fu Huaichuan and me to dinner.

I booked a restaurant as quickly as I could, then called Fu Huaichuan.

He ignored several calls.

So I went to his office.

Before I could knock, his assistant, Su He, came out carrying an empty cup.

She looked me up and down and smiled sweetly.

“Oh, honey. It’s only twenty degrees today. Aren’t you cold, wearing so little?”

I frowned.

“Su He, I’m your superior. During office hours, address me by my title.”

“Do it again, and I’ll ask Administration to take disciplinary action.”

She nodded obediently.

“Yes, Director Lin. I only meant to remind you because so much of your back is bare.”

“You may be a director, but you’re still a woman. With so many male colleagues around, aren’t you worried what Mr. Fu will say?”

I stepped closer until we were almost face-to-face.

“What I wear is my business. What Mr. Fu thinks is his.”

“As for you, keep commenting on your superior’s clothes or private life, and a fine won’t be the end of it.”

2

I reached for the door.

Su He suddenly shifted in front of the handle.

“Mr. Fu has a fever. He just took his herbal medicine. He’s asleep.”

Our client dinner was at seven.

I checked my watch.

“Let him rest until six. Wake him then, without fail, and tell him to call me so we can go over tonight’s details.”

She hesitated.

“Six? But Mr. Fu really has been exhausted lately. As women, shouldn’t we show him some consideration?”

I met her eyes.

“President Zhao controls forty percent of next year’s revenue.”

“This isn’t a negotiation.”

Under my stare, she reluctantly answered, “Yes… Director Lin.”

I turned to leave.

Her soft voice followed me.

“Director Lin, I know you may not like hearing this.”

“You’re so busy every day, and you still put so much effort into your makeup. But when you get to my age, you’ll understand.”

“The most beautiful thing a woman can have is a gentle, caring heart.”

I couldn’t be bothered to argue.

Back in my office, I called the head of HR.

“Dismiss Su He tomorrow.”

3

He hesitated.

“Director Lin, Mr. Fu has authority over Su He’s appointment and dismissal.”

“I know.”

My voice was calm, with no room for argument.

“I’ll speak to Fu Huaichuan tonight. Have the paperwork ready.”

After hanging up, I rubbed my temples.

Su He was the daughter of Fu Huaichuan’s high-school homeroom teacher.

Thirty-five. Vocational-school graduate. Divorced, with a son.

A month earlier, Fu Huaichuan had suddenly hired her as his assistant.

I had objected strongly. In terms of both education and age, she was unsuitable.

But Fu Huaichuan said he had once been so poor that he nearly dropped out of school. His teacher, Su He’s father, had secretly paid his tuition and sent him living expenses.

Without him, Fu wouldn’t be where he was today.

Over the past month, however, Su He had proved spectacularly unprofessional.

She refused to learn the job. Every day, she occupied herself with soups and stews for Fu Huaichuan.

I had tried several times to dismiss her.

Each time, he pleaded her case. He couldn’t be “ungrateful,” he said.

Now I had no patience left.

An assistant presumed to lecture me again and again.

Did she really think no one could touch her?

4

I put those thoughts aside and worked through my emails, keeping one eye on my phone.

Five thirty.

Six.

Six oh five.

Still no call.

I hurried to his office.

The door was ajar.

Inside, no one.

I called his mobile three times. No answer.

Then I called his driver.

This time, someone picked up.

“Where’s Mr. Fu?”

The driver faltered.

“Director Lin… Mr. Fu… he just got on Assistant Su’s electric scooter and… left…”

An electric scooter?

Left?

I gave a cold little laugh, found Su He’s number, and called.

She answered after one ring.

“Director Lin, it’s after work. Please stop pestering us.”

Before I could reply, she hung up.

I called again.

Blocked.

5

Anger flared through me.

I took a deep breath and forced myself to stay calm.

Opening Fu Huaichuan’s chat, I typed quickly.

[President Zhao of Hongjie has invited us to dinner to discuss next year’s cooperation. You have to be there.]

[Where are you? I’ll send your driver immediately.]

The reply wasn’t from him.

It was a voice message from Su He.

“Director Lin, Mr. Fu is at my home.”

“Please don’t misunderstand. He’s feverish and feeling awful. He only came for a bowl of porridge to soothe his stomach.”

I typed at once.

[Tell him to call me. Now.]

A few seconds later, another voice message played.

This time, her voice quivered with tears.

“I made Mr. Fu porridge to soothe his stomach. Please, I’m begging you, let him have one night off!”

“He’s almost drinking himself into a stomach hemorrhage. You’re his girlfriend. Can’t you stop pushing him?”

“Men are human, too. If you won’t care about him, I will!”

“I know you’re doing this for the company, but he isn’t a money-printing machine you can use forever!”

I held down the recording button.

“Su He, who exactly are you trying to impress?”

“Fu Huaichuan earns twenty million a year. Does he need someone on five thousand a month to pity him?”

I sent it.

A red exclamation mark appeared on the screen.