Chapter 23: I Cheat?

While Qiao Xu was enjoying cake with her friends, all three of their phones chimed with WeChat notifications simultaneously.

Ye Yurou nudged Qiao Xu’s arm. "Your ex is calling for you."

Qiao Xu unlocked her phone and glanced at the pinned chat: [Assistant Qiao, come to my office.]

Qiao Xu’s face darkened. She closed the app and continued eating her cake.

"Xu, aren't you going?"

"I’ll go after I finish."

Fang Kexin gave her a thumbs-up. "Girl, you're brave."

Qiao Xu looked indifferent. "If he’s unhappy, he can either suck it up or fire me."

Ye Yurou took a large bite of her Basque cheesecake. "But Xu, why didn't your ex message you privately?"

"I blocked him."

Ye Yurou and Fang Kexin looked at her with awe. Blocking an ex was one thing, but Qiao Xu was likely the first person to block her own bread and butter.

"Is there any chance of getting back together?"

Qiao Xu countered, "Would you eat grass you've already grazed on?"

Ye Yurou arched an eyebrow. "If my ex were President Xu, even if he cheated, I’d slap myself twice to reflect on whether I was the one who couldn't satisfy him."

Qiao Xu’s mouth twitched. "Meng Zhe probably couldn't handle you like that. You should find someone else to like."

"Don't be like that, cousin. I only like your brother." She paused. "But seriously, Xu, why did you and President Xu break up back then?"

Qiao Xu said lightly, "He cheated."

"What?"

Fang Kexin added, "That's impossible. President Xu has an impeccable reputation at headquarters. He’s known for keeping to himself and not being interested in women. I heard he didn't even look twice at the female celebrities that overseas partners tried to gift him."

Qiao Xu nodded. "Down there, he’s not... capable."

...

Ye Yurou and Fang Kexin’s expressions shifted abruptly as they saw a man stepping out from the emergency stairwell.

"What’s wrong? Are you scared?"

"Actually, it’s not that bad. He’s good-looking, so even if he’s 'not capable,' plenty of women would still want him."

Ye Yurou bit her spoon so hard it cracked. "Xu, isn't President Xu looking for you? It must be urgent. You should go."

"I'll go when I'm done. He didn't send a second message in the group, so it can't be that important."

The two exchanged a look. He didn't send a second message in the group because he had come in person.

"It is indeed not important. Is the cake enough? If not, I can have someone buy another one."

*Snap.* Qiao Xu bit through her plastic spoon.

She signaled to the two across from her. The weak and helpless Secretaries Ye and Fang looked like they were about to cry.

Qiao Xu turned around and smiled. "Apologies, President Xu, it’s not work hours yet."

Ye Yurou and Fang Kexin checked their phones in unison: 5:59 PM.

Xu Si'an took his phone from his pocket, lit the screen, and shoved it in front of her. "May I invite Assistant Qiao to the office now?"

At exactly 6:00 PM, Qiao Xu picked up her phone. "Certainly, President Xu."

Xu Si'an turned toward the stairwell, and Qiao Xu followed, not forgetting to tell her friends to finish their cake so it wouldn't go to waste.

The sound of the man’s leather shoes and the woman’s heels echoed in rhythm. Qiao Xu trailed two steps behind, staring at her own shoes.

Xu Si'an stopped and turned around. She bumped into him, caught off guard, and tilted backward.

The man reached out with lightning speed, hooked her waist, and pulled her back, pinning her against the stair railing. "I cheated?"

Qiao Xu’s soul almost flew out of her head. She said with irritation, "If you want me dead, just say so."

"I cheated?"

Xu Si'an’s dark eyes were filled with coldness and fury. He had no clue that the reason he had been dumped was because of accusations of infidelity.

"Don't you have even the slightest inkling of whether you cheated or not?"

Xu Si'an gripped Qiao Xu’s chin. "Your mouth really is begging to be silenced."

Since they reunited, she had been swearing at him constantly, and it was getting worse each time.

"Make it clear. When did I cheat?"

Pinned against the railing, Qiao Xu knew that with one slight push, she’d be dead or crippled. The current Xu Si'an seemed a little... unhinged.

"Shouldn't President Xu’s focus be on something else? I’m sure you heard me say you weren't capable."

Xu Si'an’s face was cold. As he leaned down, his thin lips brushed against her cheek. "I can verify whether I’m capable at any time, but your claim that I cheated is pure slander, do you understand?"

Qiao Xu turned her face away. "It’s not slander. I saw it with my own eyes."

"Then your eyes must be broken, damn it. I’ll personally take you for an eye exam next time."

Qiao Xu’s temper flared. She grabbed his collar and shoved him against the wall of the stairwell. "My eyes are perfectly fine. I saw it with my own eyes, and I didn't misidentify you. Xu Si'an, the day you accompanied her to try on wedding dresses, you were smiling very happily."

"I accompanied who? Qiao Xu, you better make yourself clear."

Qiao Xu left Xu Si'an in the stairwell and returned to the office, where she received flight details from Song Jia.

"Assistant Song, what is the meaning of this?"

"Sister Xu, the overseas joint venture contract requires President Xu to fly to the Los Angeles headquarters to sign it. I have matters here I can't walk away from, so you need to accompany him."

Qiao Xu pursed her lips. "I’ll handle your tasks in Los Angeles; you go with the President. It’s not appropriate for a woman to go on a business trip alone with him."

Song Jia saw the man standing at the doorway.

"Sister Xu, President Xu doesn't need personal care, just someone to handle the work. The client explicitly requested me to follow up, but this..."

Qiao Xu knew the industry rules and didn't make things difficult. "Fine. Send me a file with the Los Angeles details and the President's daily habits."

Before the meeting, Qiao Xu stood outside the conference room taking a call. "Mom, I know. I’ll consider the marriage thing. No, I can't, I have a business trip this week."

"Let's talk when I get back."

"Yes, yes, yes. You arrange it, alright?"

"Okay, sleep well, Mom. Goodnight."

As she hung up and turned around, she bumped into a man's chest.

"Apologies, President Xu."

But Xu Si'an didn't intend to let her go. "Getting married?"

Qiao Xu nodded. "Yes, my mother is anxious for a son-in-law. She nags me about it every day."

"How about me?"

Qiao Xu chuckled softly. "You? I couldn't reach that high."

During the final late-night meeting, Xu Si'an was clearly distracted, staring blankly with a grim expression.

Song Jia, who was presiding over the meeting, had his heart in his throat. Fortunately, since Xu Si'an was going to Los Angeles in person, the finer details could be finalized there.

When everyone was packing up to leave, Qiao Xu’s wrist was grabbed.

"Everyone go home. Xiao Song, you too, don't wait for me."

Song Jia packed his things and advised, "President Xu, there are no plans for tomorrow, so please get some rest. You haven't slept much lately."

Xu Si'an nodded slightly.

Qiao Xu slammed her notebook shut. "President Xu, you have grabbed my hand under the table several times during this meeting. This has caused me a great deal of distress. I hope you will approve my resignation letter as soon as possible."

"After we return from Los Angeles."

Qiao Xu pried his hand off. "Remember what you said."

Xu Si'an pulled at his tie with agitation. "Qiao Xu, explain what you meant today."

"There’s nothing to explain. Don't you know what you’ve done yourself, President Xu?"