Mo Yichen had an important meeting at the Royal Hotel. Without delay, he headed straight there, instructing his assistant, Secretary Lee, to draft the contract for Xia Ruyan. By 11 o'clock, Secretary Lee arrived at Mo Mansion with the finalized contract in hand.
Xia Ruyan was in the backyard, still in her morning clothes, an all-white outfit that covered her from neck to foot. When the butler brought Secretary Lee to her, she was reading a book. The sunlight poured gently over her face, highlighting the elegant arc of her long, thick eyelashes and giving her a soft, sun-kissed glow.
Secretary Lee paused for a moment, taken aback by her beauty. It was the kind of beauty that rendered words meaningless, and in that fleeting second, he thought he understood why CEO Mo had married her.
He greeted her politely. "Madam, I am Lee Jian, CEO Mo's secretary."
She looked up at the man, who appeared to be in his late twenties. He wore a clean, well-tailored suit and thin-framed eyeglasses that enhanced his professional demeanor. She gave a small nod and placed her book face down on the table, concealing the cover. It was a German title. He squinted, trying to make sense of the words, but gave up; he couldn't read German, after all.
"Ma'am, here is the contract CEO Mo sent. He would like you to review it and add any clauses you find necessary," he said, handing her the file.
Xia Ruyan gestured for him to sit. Taking the contract, she began reading with deliberate care, combing through each clause, determined to ensure there were no loopholes.
She knew Mo Yichen looked down on her. He mistook her distance for arrogance, but she recognized his type all too well: men who believed the world revolved around them. And when someone didn't fawn over them, they labeled it arrogance. She found them shallow, lacking any real depth or essence.
Not worth her time.
She was bound to him only because of her parents' will. But just because she had given in didn't mean the game was over. She had only retreated to change her strategy, not for his sake.
As for Mo Yichen, he could burn in hell for all she cared.
She marked several points in the contract and then raised an eyebrow, casting a sharp glance at Secretary Lee, as if silently asking whether they took her for a fool.
She placed the contract back on the table just as Marie arrived, carrying a cup of mint tea. The fragrance of mint and lime filled the air pleasantly as Marie set the tea down and handed another file to Secretary Lee.
"Miss Xia has added her clauses and signed the contract. Please have CEO Mo review and sign it, then have it notarized in court. Once that's done, provide Miss Xia with a copy for her records. Only after that will she join Mo Corporation," Marie said smoothly, her tone calm and authoritative.
Secretary Lee began to sweat. What the hell? They even wanted to notarize the contract? And what was with this caretaker? She spoke more like a legal officer than a housemaid.
He quickly nodded. "Of course. I'll take it to the CEO right away."
By now, Xia Ruyan had returned to her book, sipping her tea as though the entire conversation had nothing to do with her.
He turned to leave, but paused midway. "Madam, if you don't mind me asking, what book are you reading?"
She looked up once more. Her amber-golden eyes fixed on him, calm and unreadable, and she answered softly,
"The Metamorphosis."
He lingered for a moment, then nodded hastily. As he walked away, his thoughts spun. Of course. A housemaid who spoke like a lawyer, a madam who reads books which he can't pronounce, and a contract more intimidating than the law school entrance exam. What had he signed up for? he wondered, still unsettled.
On the top floor of Mo Corporation stood the CEO's office, a spacious room with a minimalistic design and a dark and commanding aesthetic. The space was sleek, sharp, and almost intimidating, dressed in tones of charcoal, deep mahogany, and steel.
Mo Yichen sat behind a dark oak desk, the smooth surface uncluttered but for a steaming cup of coffee. He leaned back in a plush executive chair, his coat neatly hung on the rack nearby. His pale blue shirt sleeves were rolled up just below the elbows, revealing the firm lines of his forearms. A few veins bulged under his skin, betraying the tension simmering beneath his composed exterior.
A steaming cup of coffee rested within reach, its scent mingling with the faint traces of tobacco and cedarwood. The mix was unexpected; bitter, sharp, yet oddly grounding.
A knock echoed through the office.
"Come in," he said without looking up.
Secretary Lee stepped in, straight-backed and composed. He held a leather folder in both hands. "Sir, the contract is complete. Madam has reviewed and signed it after adding a few terms. She requests a notarized copy be shared with her for her records."
Mo Yichen's jaw ticked. He tugged harshly at his tie, the silk slipping between his fingers like a noose tightening. Of course, she'd do this. That woman never missed a chance to push back.
"What did she add?" he asked coldly, lifting the coffee cup to his lips.
Lee Jian opened the folder. His voice was steady, but even he could feel the shift in the air, the tension laced through the silence.
"First," he began, "Miss Xia will work strictly from 9 to 5. No weekend meetings. No extended late-night hours. No exceptions unless cleared at least a week in advance and agreed upon by both parties. She 'does not do crisis-mode chaos,' and if Mo Corporation thrives on that, she is not the right person."
A vein pulsed in his neck as if the words had personally insulted him.
"Second," Lee continued carefully, "Miss Xia will not accompany you or anyone from the company to bars, nightclubs, or similar venues under the pretense of client entertainment."
Mo Yichen's fingers tightened around the cup.
"Third, she refuses to attend business negotiations in hotel rooms or private suites. If it cannot be discussed in an office or public meeting room, it is of no concern to her."
"And fourth," Lee said with hesitation, "she does not acknowledge unspoken rules."
The office fell silent. The air felt heavier.
Lee stood still, trying to ignore the sudden chill that had settled in the room. Mo Yichen slowly set down his cup. His expression had darkened, jaw clenched, eyes like granite.
"So be it," he said, voice low and measured. "Do what she says. Get the contract notarized."
Lee nodded in relief but froze when Mo Yichen added:
"Then bring her here."
There was a pause.
"I'll teach her," he said, his tone icy and dangerous, "how business is really done."