Chapter 1024: Someone she could trust
Chapter 1024: Someone she could trust
Morning settled over Imperial beneath a pale winter sky.
A familiar black Maserati slowed in front of De L’amour before coming to a smooth stop near the entrance.
Yue Ling reached for her seat belt.
"I’ll see you later."
Lu Tian gave a quiet hum but said nothing.
She glanced at him, already recognizing that particular silence.
"What?"
"Nothing."
Her eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"Then why are you looking at me like that?"
Lu Tian remained perfectly composed.
"Like what?"
Yue Ling shook her head. There was no point arguing with a man who could maintain a straight face through almost anything.
She leaned over and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Have a good day, Mr. Lu."
She reached for the door.
However, before she could open it, a hand caught her wrist.
Yue Ling barely had time to turn before Lu Tian pulled her back toward him.
His lips captured hers.
Her eyes widened for a second before slowly closing.
The kiss was brief but far from innocent.
When Lu Tian finally released her, Yue Ling stared at him.
"That was unnecessary."
"I disagree."
The corner of her mouth betrayed her by lifting.
Lu Tian brushed a strand of hair away from her face.
"I’ll pick you up after work."
"You don’t have to. I can have Liu Shan drive me."
"I know."
There was that answer again.
Yue Ling sighed, though warmth filled her eyes.
"Fine."
She finally stepped out.
Before closing the door, she bent slightly to look back inside.
"Don’t work too hard."
"You too."
Yue Ling was about to turn, but sensing his mood, she decided to cheer him up.
She smiled widely at him with her teeth.
"Bye, husband."
Something softened in Lu Tian’s eyes.
"Bye, wife."
Despite his calm composure, he couldn’t hide the redness that came to his ears.
She closed the door and headed toward De L’amour.
Lu Tian remained parked long enough to watch her disappear inside before finally driving away.
"Good morning, CEO Han."
"Good morning."
Yue Ling acknowledged the greetings of the employees she passed as she made her way through De L’amour.
By the time she reached the top floor, Secretary Jiang was already at her desk.
"Good morning, CEO Han."
"Morning."
Yue Ling stopped.
"Has the design team arrived?"
"Yes. They’re waiting in the design room."
"Good."
She entered her office, removed her coat, and placed her work bag beside her desk.
She did not linger.
A few minutes later, she was back at the elevator.
The doors opened on the design floor.
Yue Ling stepped out—
And nearly walked into Liu Shan.
He stopped abruptly.
"Boss."
Yue Ling looked at him.
"Morning."
"Morning."
He smiled as usual. Except something about it felt off.
Yue Ling’s steps slowed.
Liu Shan had worked beside her long enough that she knew his habits almost as well as he knew hers.
His smile looked normal.
His tone sounded normal.
But his eyes were distracted.
"What’s wrong?"
Liu Shan froze.
For the briefest moment, he simply stared at her.
His mind returned to the surveillance footage from the previous night.
Liu Peng.
Alive.
Escaping again.
Then that face.
Lee Shin.
No.
Choi Li Sun.
Even knowing the truth did not make the resemblance any less disturbing.
How was he supposed to tell Yue Ling that somewhere in Imperial, a man was walking around wearing the face of someone she had once loved for ten years?
Who would believe something like that without seeing it themselves?
His eyes rested on her face.
Yue Ling was happy now.
Truly happy.
For years, he had watched her smile when there was no happiness behind it. He had watched her pretend she was fine because pretending was easier than allowing anyone to see how badly she hurt.
That woman was disappearing.
The smiles she gave Lu Tian were real.
The laughter was real.
She was planning her wedding.
She was finally moving forward.
And now a ghost wearing Lee Shin’s face had appeared in Imperial.
What would happen when she saw him?
"Liu Shan?"
He blinked.
Yue Ling was staring at him.
"You spaced out."
He quickly gathered himself. A small chuckle escaped his lips.
"It’s nothing."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Nothing?"
"Nothing."
He gave her a reassuring smile.
"I just came down to get an update from the design team."
Yue Ling studied him.
She knew he was hiding something.
But rather than press him, she turned toward the design room.
"Come with me."
Liu Shan quietly exhaled.
"Yes, Boss."
The design team was already waiting when Yue Ling entered.
Lian Ni Shang, Ju Suo, and the others immediately turned toward her.
"Boss."
Yue Ling walked to the center table where sketches and fabric samples for her engagement dress remained scattered across the surface.
For a moment, she looked at the designs.
Everyone had put considerable effort into them.
Which made what she was about to say somewhat bittersweet.
"We’re stopping the engagement dress project."
Surprise immediately appeared around the room.
Ju Suo blinked.
"Stopping?"
Yue Ling nodded.
"Lu Tian and I canceled the engagement ceremony."
Several faces fell.
Before anyone could misunderstand, Yue Ling continued.
"We’re still getting married."
Relief immediately replaced the disappointment.
"We decided to move the wedding forward and keep it small. It’ll be held in my grandfather’s garden at Ji Mansion."
Lian Ni Shang smiled softly.
"That sounds more like you."
Yue Ling returned the smile.
Ju Suo glanced at the sketches.
"What about your wedding dress? Are you going to wear the one you chose from Ages of Love?"
The room grew slightly quieter.
Everyone knew what had happened to Yue Ling’s original engagement dress.
Yue Ling shook her head.
"No."
Her expression softened.
"I’m wearing my mother’s wedding dress."
Surprise flickered across their faces.
"My mother designed it, and my grandmother made it for her. My grandfather has kept it all these years."
Lian Ni Shang’s eyes warmed.
"Then there couldn’t be a better dress."
Yue Ling nodded.
"Yeye is having it delivered here this afternoon."
She looked directly at the woman.
"Lian Ni Shang, receive it for me when it arrives."
"Of course."
"And be careful with it."
Lian Ni Shang almost laughed at how serious Yue Ling suddenly looked.
"I’ll guard it with my life."
That earned a few chuckles around the room.
Yue Ling smiled.
Although everyone was disappointed that the project they had been working on would no longer be completed, no one argued with her decision.
A dress created by Yue Ling’s mother and grandmother meant far more than anything they could design.
After discussing a few remaining matters, Yue Ling dismissed them.
She and Liu Shan returned upstairs.
Back inside her office, Yue Ling settled behind her desk.
Liu Shan stood across from her.
"Update me on An Qing."
His demeanor immediately became professional.
"Everything is running normally. No major issues from any departments, and the quarterly numbers are where they should be."
Yue Ling nodded.
"Anything else?"
Liu Shan hesitated.
"The employees are starting to ask questions."
"About?"
"The CEO position."
Yue Ling leaned back.
Since she divided her time among De L’amour, Fate, H-International, and An Qing, she only visited An Qing once or twice a week.
The CEO seat remained vacant.
It had worked temporarily.
But temporary solutions eventually became permanent problems if they went unaddressed for too long.
"I’ve heard some employees are wondering why the position still hasn’t been filled," Liu Shan continued. "Nothing serious yet, but the questions are becoming more frequent."
Yue Ling tapped one finger against her desk.
Perhaps it was finally time.
She needed someone capable of running An Qing without requiring her constant supervision.
More importantly, someone she could trust.
Her experience with Chen Yifeng had taught her that titles and loyalty were not enough to protect a person.
And she certainly did not need another Chen Limei appearing and creating chaos from within.
Whoever took the position needed more than business ability.
They needed judgment.
A strong conscience.
And enough backbone to survive the snakes and wolves waiting for weakness in Imperial’s business world.
Her gaze slowly moved toward Liu Shan.
She didn’t say anything but he immediately noticed.
His expression changed.
"Don’t."
Yue Ling raised an eyebrow.
"Don’t what?"
"Give me that look."
"What look?"
"That look that says you’ve already decided to ruin my peaceful life."
Yue Ling almost smiled.
"I haven’t said anything."
"You didn’t have to."
Liu Shan shook his head.
"I love where I am now."
Yue Ling leaned farther back in her chair, her eyes never leaving him.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"You’d be CEO."
"No."
"Your salary would be triple what you make as my assistant."
Liu Shan paused.
Yue Ling caught it immediately.
His eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
"That part is tempting."
"I thought so."
"But no, thank you."
He placed both hands behind his head.
"Being CEO is too much work. I enjoy being able to live my life."
Yue Ling stared at him.
"You’re saying being my assistant isn’t a lot of work?"
"It is."
"Then what’s the difference?"
"I can blame everything on you."
Yue Ling stared blankly at him.
Liu Shan grinned.
She almost laughed.
Almost.
"You’d have your own office."
"I have my own office now."
"A company car."
"I have a car."
"Executive authority."
"I already boss people around."
That finally made Yue Ling laugh.
Liu Shan lowered his arms.
"I enjoy working alongside you."
His joking expression softened briefly before his usual wide grin returned.
"Besides, who else can be your assistant if I’m gone?"
Yue Ling studied him.
He was right.
Liu Shan had been beside her long enough to understand how she worked without requiring explanations. He knew when to question her, when to remain silent, and when to act before she even issued an order.
Out of everyone, he had been with her the longest. When she started from the very bottom, he stood by her side through every hardship.
When she was on the verge of giving up, he would step in and lift her back up.
Replacing him would be difficult.
And if he had accepted the position—
She would have missed him.
"Fine."
Liu Shan blinked.
"That easy?"
"Would you rather I force you?"
"Nope."
He immediately straightened.
"I appreciate what a reasonable and understanding boss you are."
Yue Ling gave him a dry look.
"Get out."
His grin widened knowing she was messing with him.
"Yes, Boss."
They discussed a few remaining matters before Liu Shan finally left.
The door closed behind him.
Silence returned to the office.
Yue Ling slowly turned her chair toward the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Imperial stretched beneath her.
Her thoughts returned to Grandfather Ji.
She still had not given him a definitive answer about taking over Ji Corps.
Deep down, however, she suspected he already knew what her answer would eventually be.
If she accepted the chairman position, something else would have to change.
She could not continue carrying every responsibility personally.
An Qing needed a permanent CEO.
Not another temporary arrangement.
Not another person chosen simply because their résumé looked impressive.
She needed someone she trusted completely.
Someone who would remain loyal when money, power, or pressure entered the equation.
Someone intelligent enough to recognize manipulation before it reached the company.
Someone strong enough to protect themselves when the snakes and wolves of the business world inevitably showed their teeth.
Yue Ling rested her chin lightly against her hand.
A few names crossed her mind.
None felt right.
Her bluish-green eyes remained fixed on the city beyond the glass.
The question seemed simple.
Finding the answer would not be.
Who could she trust enough to hand An Qing over to?