Volume One, Chapter 18: Longing Turns to Sickness

“What the hell!” Jiang Yao scrambled to his feet, rubbing his backside as he complained, “What’s wrong with calling her Xu Mi? Is there something special about that name?”

“Making such a fuss—anyone would think you actually know her!”

Doesn’t it count as knowing her?

Maybe she’s even my wife!

Lin Chen forced a bitter smile as he flipped through the documents in his hand. The name was written clearly in black and white—the chairman was indeed called Xu Mi!

Thinking of this, he quickly pulled out his phone and opened Baidu. Under the entry for the chairman of Sugar Biology Company, the name Xu Mi appeared prominently.

“So… I actually married a rich woman. The sudden improvement in company treatment must be because she’s pulling the strings behind the scenes?”

Lin Chen’s heart churned with mixed emotions. He couldn’t help but want to call Li Xiulan for the truth.

But the phone didn’t connect at all.

It seemed he wouldn’t be able to contact her before the ten-day period was up.

Lin Chen sighed helplessly.

Jiang Yao rolled his eyes. “What’s wrong with you? Could it be you really know the chairman?”

He scoffed, “But between us, I know every mole on your body like the back of my hand. If you really knew such an influential person, you couldn’t hide it from me.”

“Looks like your hemorrhoids are acting up again?”

“Get lost! You’re the one with hemorrhoids!”

“I’m not like someone who can’t sit still even in such a nice office. If your hemorrhoids flare up, just call me ‘father-in-law.’ I’ll take you to the hospital.”

“Scram, scram, scram!”

…

In the afternoon, Lin Chen’s mind was still preoccupied with the matter. Distracted, he decided to go to the break room to make a cup of coffee.

Jiang Yao was playing games and quickly said, “Bring me one too! Add some sugar.”

“Call me father-in-law.”

“Get lost! Father-in-law, I beg you, I’m about to push the crystal!”

“Good son, just wait!”

Lin Chen grabbed two cups and headed for the break room. As he approached the door, he heard a commotion outside.

“What’s going on out there?”

“The chairman is inspecting the work!”

Chairman?!

Lin Chen’s eyes lit up. Without hesitation, he stepped outside.

At the doorway, he saw a group of people surrounding a woman in a white suit skirt, her back facing him as she walked toward the elevator.

She was about 1.65 meters tall, slender, with long hair tied into a bun, revealing a graceful, fair neck.

At first glance, she looked exactly like Xu Mi!

Lin Chen nearly dropped his coffee cup.

His dear wife was actually the chairman of the group?!

Why had she hidden this from him?

If he were to break through this veil, how would they get along?

Or if she found out he had discovered her true identity, would she just end their relationship and choose divorce?

Lin Chen’s heart raced. As the woman entered the elevator, he was about to turn and flee.

As long as he didn’t meet her face-to-face or shatter the illusion, perhaps their marriage could still continue…

Even if only for another ten days, it was better than nothing!

Thinking this, Lin Chen turned on his heel to run.

At that moment, the woman in the elevator turned around, meeting Lin Chen’s eyes.

He froze.

It wasn’t Xu Mi!!!

But the chairman’s name was definitely Xu Mi.

Could it be a coincidence of the same name?

That’s impossible, right?

“Chairman, there’s a document here that needs your signature!” someone rushed over and held the elevator door at the last moment.

The woman nodded and took the document to read.

Lin Chen felt as if the wind had been knocked out of him and let out a huge sigh of relief.

She was the chairman—but not his wife.

Just a coincidence in names.

Thank goodness!

Lin Chen’s heart finally settled as he turned back, humming, and headed to the break room.

Behind him, after signing the document, the woman handed it back to the employee, her brows slightly furrowed.

“I’m only exercising the chairman’s authority in her absence. Please just call me General Manager Zhou from now on. Don’t call me chairman, got it?”

The employee nodded quickly. “Yes, General Manager Zhou!”

…

Back in the office, Jiang Yao had finished his work and was lying on the sofa playing games, occasionally glancing at Lin Chen.

“Hey, what’s wrong with you? You were all happy like an idiot when you brought back the coffee, but it didn’t take long before you lost your spirit again. Hemorrhoids acting up?”

“I already told you, your old man doesn’t have hemorrhoids!”

Lin Chen retorted, then leaned over his desk, sighing heavily.

He was indeed happy for a moment after confirming Xu Mi wasn’t the group chairman, but soon his mind was consumed by longing.

At that moment, all he could think of was Xu Mi.

Sleeping Xu Mi, shy Xu Mi, pretending to be asleep while blushing and letting him kiss her…

Lin Chen’s mind was filled with the moments they shared in the hospital.

Whether it was massaging her, singing to her, holding her hand, or even sleeping in each other’s arms—every single memory became something he treasured most.

Ten days…

He had to wait ten days for the verdict—it felt like the cruelest punishment in the world!

The more Lin Chen thought about it, the more miserable he felt. He slammed the desk.

“I’m taking the afternoon off. I’m not working.”

He had to get out and clear his mind, or he would surely go mad!

Jiang Yao was stunned. “Hey, where are you going?”

The only response was the sharp sound of the office door closing.

Lin Chen’s leave was approved smoothly; Shen Wei didn’t even ask why.

He only said with concern, “Lin Chen, if you need any help, don’t hesitate to ask!”

Not very boss-like at all.

Lin Chen smiled wryly.

He would gladly accept help if he could.

The problem was, he missed his wife—what could anyone do about that?

Outside the company, Lin Chen looked lost.

Seeing the bright sun, he suddenly hailed a taxi.

“Driver, take me to Nengren Temple!”

The temple was peaceful and he could burn incense and pray—just what he needed.

And besides Lin Chen, someone else was also feeling restless.

…

“Tang Tang, if you don’t like this book, I can get you another one,” Ye Yun said as she carried medicine into the room and reached for the book in Xu Mi’s hands.

Xu Mi was startled. “Cousin, I haven’t finished reading it yet!”

“What’s there to read? You’ve been at it all morning and haven’t even turned a page. I bet you’re not reading the book—you’re staring at someone’s face,” Ye Yun teased.

Xu Mi blushed and coquettishly replied, “Cousin, what nonsense are you talking about? Give me back my book!”

“I haven’t even said who it is, and you’re already so flustered?” Ye Yun leaned closer, smiling. “Keep pretending to read. Even if you spend the whole day on that page, your mind’s clearly somewhere else.”

“Or…” Ye Yun teased, “I could take you to the place you want to go most?”

Xu Mi’s eyes brightened, but she was shy. “W-where?”

“To the temple!”

Ye Yun tapped her forehead gently. “You used to like going there because it was peaceful, right? Or do you want to go somewhere else?”

“Like… someone…” Xu Mi interrupted, blushing.

“Alright, alright, if you keep talking, I’ll really stop talking to you!” Xu Mi pouted.

Though almost forty, she was well-preserved and pure-hearted. When she acted spoiled, she was like a young woman in her twenties.

Ye Yun laughed heartily. “Okay, okay, no more teasing. Let’s go; I’ll take you out to clear your mind. Auntie and I went to Nengren Temple to burn incense before, and now that you’re awake, it’s time to fulfill your vow.”