Chapter 554 - 267: The Secretary’s Scheming Outfit
Chapter 554: Chapter 267: The Secretary’s Scheming Outfit
"You’re still trying to string other guys along?"
Zheng Yanfei was a little speechless.
"Cao Cheng is so good to you. It’s bad enough you won’t commit, but now you’re thinking of cheating?"
"He’s probably already tired of me."
Cheng Xiao scoffed.
"What if he dumps me one day? What am I supposed to do? Don’t I have to prepare in advance?"
"Besides, your Shen is so incredible. His friends must be way more outstanding than Cao Cheng. What’s wrong with me getting to know them?"
"How cheap."
"Thanks. You’re Lin Shen’s mistress. Pot, meet kettle."
"Hmph!"
Zheng Yanfei made a face at Cheng Xiao, and after their argument, she started to think about preparations for her date tomorrow.
Of course, she also had to pack the clothes she’d bought for Lin Shen and give them to him.
’I bet this surprise will make him really happy!’
Zheng Yanfei fantasized, a faint smile playing on her lips.
「September 24, 2025. Wednesday.」
16°C to 23°C, partly cloudy, a light northeasterly breeze, 20% humidity.
The morning air was still a bit brisk, heralding the gradual arrival of autumn and winter.
Dressed in a warm sweatsuit, Lin Shen did a few sets of warm-ups before starting a slow jog around the community’s rubber track.
The reason he didn’t want to use a treadmill wasn’t that the gym at Sunac No.1 Courtyard was too far. For a regular runner, running outdoors was far more satisfying than a treadmill.
The latter used a machine to move your body, while the former required you to constantly adjust your physical state.
Most importantly, human genetics suggested that running among oxygen-rich greenery was better for both body and mind.
So, Lin Shen woke up early, maintaining his disciplined habits.
"HUUFF—!"
After finishing one lap, Lin Shen ran into a middle-aged man who seemed to share his mindset.
The first time they passed each other, they nodded in acknowledgment.
The second time, the middle-aged man struck up a conversation and gave him a thumbs-up.
"Young man! You’re in great shape! Your running form is perfect, too. It really is great to be young."
"Thank you."
To be honest, Lin Shen disliked this middle-aged man’s preachy way of talking. It felt like a boss addressing a subordinate.
But remembering that Sunac Binjiang No.1 Courtyard was a high-end residential complex, a new thought sparked in Lin Shen’s mind.
’Maybe this middle-aged man’s identity isn’t so ordinary?’
So, the third time they met, Lin Shen started chatting with the middle-aged man.
He was in for a surprise.
The middle-aged man’s name was Xu Chuanzheng, and he was actually a retired senior cadre from a core municipal department!
’Logically speaking, someone like that should be in the prime of their career in their forties or fifties. Why would he be retired?’
But after Lin Shen asked, he learned that the man was already over sixty; he just looked young for his age.
"You look so young."
Lin Shen slowed his pace to run alongside Xu Chuanzheng, which earned him a good deal of the man’s favor. Xu Chuanzheng waved a hand and chuckled.
"Ah, I can’t compare to you young folks. Shen, where do you work?"
"I started my own business."
"Your own business? Impressive! Very ambitious!"
Even though he was retired, Xu Chuanzheng still hadn’t shed his preachy way of speaking.
"But you have to be careful with a startup. You need to understand how the world works, manage your connections, and of course, the most important thing is perseverance... By the way, a handsome guy like you must have a girlfriend, right?"
"I do."
Lin Shen smiled faintly, suddenly feeling that the saying he’d seen online was actually true.
’People within the system love nothing more than playing matchmaker and setting people up.’
After getting a little closer with Xu Chuanzheng, Lin Shen politely waved goodbye.
’I used to prefer being alone, but for the sake of future connections, I really need to socialize more with the people around me.’
Lin Shen couldn’t help but sigh softly. After going upstairs, he took a shower.
Just as he stepped out of the bathroom, Xu Lei arrived at his door.
DING DONG—!
"Coming."
Lin Shen, wrapped in a bathrobe, opened the door for Xu Lei. The sight made her freeze for a moment before her face flushed red. Her darting eyes didn’t know where to look, and she fidgeted with her hands in front of her.
After all, a guy usually looks his most handsome right after a shower.
Lin Shen’s damp, choppy hair was a mess, his bangs hanging low, and his delicate features highlighted a coolly handsome face.
Adding to that, his bathrobe was slightly open, faintly revealing firm pectoral muscles.
All of this made Xu Lei blush beet red, her heart racing.
After all, her previous meetings with Lin Shen had always been formal; he was always dressed to the nines in a suit.
This was the first time Xu Lei had encountered Lin Shen in a daily life setting, and in his most unguarded state at that—a bathrobe!
’So sexy!’
Xu Lei couldn’t stop her eyes from stealing glances at Lin Shen’s Adam’s apple and collarbones.
The fervent heat in her gaze was impossible for even Lin Shen to ignore.
"Come in and sit?"
Lin Shen chuckled softly and stepped aside to let her in, but Xu Lei, snapping back to her senses, hurriedly waved her hands.
"No, no! I’m afraid I’ll get your floor dirty."
"It’s fine."
Lin Shen turned and walked back inside, which immediately put Xu Lei in a difficult position.
After a moment of consideration, she finally stepped cautiously into the entryway and closed the door.
Gazing at the luxurious and stately Western European-style decor, Xu Lei couldn’t help but marvel at Lin Shen’s wealth.
’A home this big must cost at least tens of millions, right?’
’President Lin is so rich!’
"Here."
Lin Shen didn’t waste any time, directly handing his Maybach S680 keys to Xu Lei with instructions.
"Take my car to the dealership for maintenance. And when you get it washed, make sure they focus on cleaning the interior."
"Okay."
Xu Lei took the car keys with both hands and nodded.
"I understand, President Lin. Is there anything else?"
"Not for now. I’ll let you know if anything comes up."
"Mm."
Xu Lei quickly lowered her shy face and turned, eager to escape.
The stimulating, charged atmosphere of being alone with Lin Shen was too much, reminding her of the intimate scene from last night.
On top of that, Lin Shen’s "limited-edition bathrobe skin" sent her imagination running wild. She couldn’t help but fantasize about romantic scenes from TV dramas.
For example, the CEO pinning his secretary against the wall, and so on.
In any case, Xu Lei felt she couldn’t stay any longer. If she did, she was afraid she’d fall for him all over again.
However, just as she reached the entryway, Lin Shen suddenly called out to her.
"Xu."
’Huh?’
Startled, Xu Lei spun around, nearly bumping right into Lin Shen as he walked up to her. The scare made her stumble, and she quickly took a few steps back, asking nervously.
"President Lin, is there something else?"
"You have something on your face."
Lin Shen reached out, used his thumb to wipe a crumb from the corner of Xu Lei’s lips, then brought it to his own mouth and chuckled softly.
"A secretary must pay attention to her appearance."
"Ah?... Um... Yes, President Lin! I... I’ll be sure to pay attention next time!"
Xu Lei never would have imagined that Lin Shen would do something as intimate as touching her lips with his thumb, let alone eat the crumb!
The gesture was so suggestive it left her flustered and at a loss, her cheeks burning hot.
In the end, Xu Lei didn’t even know how she left Lin Shen’s apartment. By the time her blank mind came back online, she was already in the elevator on her way down to the underground garage.
During that period of "amnesia," she kept replaying the image of Lin Shen’s handsome face and his roguish, bad-boy smile.
"So embarrassing!"
Xu Lei clutched her head and squatted, her face already crimson.
After taking a deep breath to calm herself, she suddenly realized she might have missed a golden opportunity to deepen her relationship with Lin Shen!
’If only I had mustered the courage just now to throw myself into Lin Shen’s arms...’
’Even pretending to stumble and fall into his arms would have worked!’
’Why didn’t I do anything? Why did I just leave?’
Xu Lei was now full of regret. She had even specifically changed into a new secretary-style outfit just to make a deep impression on him every day.
She had swapped yesterday’s white blouse for a gray one, keeping the black hip-hugging skirt, and had changed her sheer black stockings for a pair of light brown ones with a slight matte sheen.
Xu Lei knew very well that as Lin Shen’s secretary, wearing the same type of outfit every day could easily lead to aesthetic fatigue.
’I have to try different combinations to keep attracting his attention.’
’What a pity, President Lin has an errand for me today.’
"Sigh—!"
Xu Lei felt a pang of disappointment and fell into silent thought.
’I wonder what kind of secretary outfits President Lin likes?’