Chapter 153 I Am Merely Exercising My Rights in Advance

Shangguan Ranran packed away the other gift boxes, placed them back into their original bags, and turned around to look seriously at Huangfu Shenqing. "So, would Mr. Huangfu care to explain why Sister Jing referred to me as the future CEO's wife? What exactly did you instruct down there?"

Earlier, he had given specific orders regarding all his private establishments: wherever Miss Shangguan appeared, she was to be given top priority, no queuing required, advance reservations accepted, and everything completely free of charge, including for Miss Shangguan's friends. Furthermore, whichever staff member provided service that satisfied the young lady would receive a five-percent increase in commission and a ten-percent raise in annual salary.

The man raised an eyebrow. "Sister Jing?"

"You know, the receptionist downstairs! She just did me a huge favor."

"Ah, then I shall reward her."

"Reward her with what? ... Stop changing the subject! Tell me what instructions you gave."

Huangfu Shenqing kissed her, gentleness hidden deep within his eyes. "I was merely exercising my rights in advance."

Simply letting those people know ahead of time.

The young lady let out a soft huff, clearly unsatisfied with this answer.

Just then, Ye Xin knocked on the door.

She was carrying several large bags filled with afternoon tea, Tiramisu cakes, and some matcha-flavored desserts. She had already handed one portion to Jiang Jing on her way down, which had left the receptionist in a state of utter shock.

"Come in."

"Miss."

"Mhm. Distribute a portion to each of the secretaries, and bring the rest in."

"Got it."

Ye Xin handed out portions to Mo Yi and the others, leaving five boxes remaining.

Shangguan Ranran took two portions out and gave the remaining three to Ye Xin. Since Ye Xin wasn't particularly fond of such sweets, she simply distributed those as well.

"Does Mr. Huangfu like desserts? There are many different flavors here. Care to come over and try some?"

Re-seated at his desk, the man shook his head. He had no taste for such overly sweet things.

Left to her own devices, the young lady sat by herself, digging into the treats with gusto.

She loved Tiramisu even more than she loved matcha- and taro-flavored desserts. Sometimes she would eat until she was completely stuffed, though fortunately, she was not someone who gained weight easily.

The man picked up his phone and silently tapped out a message.

Outside, the three men who received the notification exchanged glances. As expected, this matter was far from over.

Earlier, they had watched the footage from the surveillance cameras. Just as they thought their master was about to head downstairs, he had suddenly frozen in his tracks upon hearing that single phrase: "the future CEO's wife."

Then, with an utterly suave composure, he had simply sat back down in his chair to handle official business.

So they, too, had pretended to be completely oblivious.

Now, looking at the newly arrived directives, they gazed speechlessly toward the ceiling.

There were precisely two instructions.

And they were entirely unsurprising.

The first was to immediately cancel the recent cooperation agreement, issue an official statement, and place that company on the blacklist, severing all ties permanently.

The second was a promotion: Jiang Jing was to be promoted to Chief Secretary.

This was hardly a step up—it was a leap across n distinct levels.

From a receptionist to the CEO's Chief Secretary, such a span was truly anything but ordinary.

Mo Yi immediately went to contact the company in question.

Mo Jiu reached out to Jiang Jing.

As for Mo Shi, he hacked into that company's systems, exposed their scandalous secrets, and published an official statement using Lianran Group's official channels.

Tina and Piha, who had not yet left the underground parking garage, received a call from their company and were cursed out mercilessly.

Piha could only force a smile, offer respectful apologies, and claim that he would certainly handle the situation properly.

From the other end came a furious roar: "If you can't handle it, don't bother coming back!"

Staring at the phone that had been angrily hung up on him, Piha wore a dark expression.

Tina had also received reprimand messages from the company's senior executives.

She was a proud woman.

Such a situation had never happened to her before.

She gripped her phone tightly.

Pushed open the car door.

And walked out with her head held high.

Jiang Jing, who had likewise received the notification, stood there utterly dumbfounded—half in shock, half in a daze.

For something more improbable than winning the lottery to suddenly drop onto her head was simply terrifying.

The other two receptionists stared at her with undisguised envy.

They had received a broadcast message from the upper management: starting today, Jiang Jing had been promoted to the CEO's Chief Secretary.

One had to know that the Secretariat consisted of over twenty people, yet there were only three Chief Secretaries—namely Mo Yi, Mo Jiu, and Mo Shi. Now, a fourth had been added in the form of Jiang Jing, and a female one at that.

How could it not inspire envy and jealousy?

Even the dozens of security guards in the lobby cast envious glances in her direction.

They silently lamented that they hadn't made a move sooner; otherwise...

Yet opportunity was knocking once more as Tina and Piha marched back inside. The dozens of security guards immediately stepped forward to block their path. "Pardon me, do you have an appointment?"

Jiang Jing spotted them as well and walked over with a professional, courteous demeanor. "I'm sorry, but if the two of you do not have an appointment, you cannot enter."

Tina's blue-tinted contact lenses flashed with intense fury, which she managed to suppress with great difficulty. "Call Mo Yi. I'm making an appointment right now."

"Very well, please wait a moment."

Jiang Jing hurried back to place a call to Mo Yi on the top floor.

Mo Yi immediately went to consult Huangfu Shenqing. The man seemed utterly dismissive. "Throw them out."

Shangguan Ranran set down her spoon. "Let them in. Things ought to be cleared up once and for all."

Mo Yi glanced at Huangfu Shenqing and noticed his expression remained unchanged.

He turned back to the phone and said, "Let them up."

Jiang Jing hung up the phone.

She politely addressed the two visitors, "You may go up now."

A flash of pleasant surprise crossed Piha and Tina's faces.

Striding forward with haughty steps, they headed straight for the top floor, still harboring hopes that the situation could be salvaged.

Inside the office—

"Has Mr. Huangfu canceled their cooperation agreement?"

Otherwise, they wouldn't have turned right back around the moment they left.

Besides, since the man had known the moment she arrived, he surely must have known what happened downstairs as well.

Huangfu Shenqing walked over to the sofa.

Using the pad of his thumb, he wiped a speck of cake from the corner of her lips and popped it into his own mouth.

"Mhm. The flavor is not bad."

The young lady blushed with a mix of embarrassment and annoyance, wiping her mouth as she demanded, "Mr. Huangfu, what are you doing?"

"Didn't Ranran invite me to taste it?"

"Is that—is that what I meant by tasting it?"

Annoyed, the young lady shifted her body further away from him.

Watching her childishly adorable movements, Huangfu Shenqing let out a low chuckle.

It was deep, magnetic, and undeniably sexy.

Even the chiseled line of his jaw softened with amusement.

When Mo Yi led Tina and Piha into the office, they found their CEO had already resumed his usual expression.

He was casually toying with the young lady's freshly manicured fingers, not even lifting his eyelids to look at the newcomers.

Witnessing this harmonious scene, Tina gripped her handbag tighter.

Speaking in her standard, flawless Mandarin, she began, "Mr. Huangfu, I wonder what you found unsatisfactory about the contract? We can still negotiate further. Surely Mr. Huangfu wouldn't want to be seen as a man of his word?"

Her phrasing was artful.

It gave the man face while simultaneously pinning him down on a perceived breach of promise.

Shangguan Ranran noticed that the way she addressed Huangfu Shenqing was the same as her own.

It wasn't like Ye Xin's normal, respectful yet distant "Mr. Huangfu"; rather, much like her own usage, it carried a hint of lingering affection and... a deliberate attempt to make herself seem special compared to others.

Feeling a faint discomfort in her chest, she instinctively pulled her hand back.