CHAPTER 268: YO, DOES THE MIGHTY PRESIDENT REALLY LACK PENS THAT MUCH?"_1

She could also faintly smell the light scent of sweet pear perfume.

Secretary Song squatted down. Out of professional habit, she had originally intended to pick up the president’s expensive black suit; it couldn’t just be left on the carpet to be trampled. As her hand touched the suit, her gaze fell directly upon a lace item. ...Was it Shen Jing’s?

Secretary Song put down the expensive garment and calmly walked around it, trying her best not to step on the president’s clothes.

Zhou Luchen, wearing a bathrobe, sat impeccably at his desk. His slightly damp, tousled hair was casually draped over his forehead. Perhaps he had just woken up, or maybe he had just finished exercising; even the motion of raising his hand seemed languid and nonchalant.

Secretary Song flipped open the document and handed it over. "You need to personally review this and decide whether to stamp it. Only then can the headquarters launch the project on time tomorrow."

The pen provided in the hotel suite wasn’t very smooth. He shook it a few times, but it still didn’t write well. Frowning slightly, he tossed the pen aside. Clearly, he disliked it.

Secretary Song smiled faintly and offered her own pen. "Please use this one."

Zhou Luchen took it, flipped through the pages, carefully read the document’s contents, and then signed.

Once everything was handled, Secretary Song collected the documents, organized them neatly, placed them into a document bag, and sealed it. Someone would later air-freight them back to United Bank Headquarters.

Secretary Song asked softly, "When will you be returning to Manhattan?"

His gaze lingered on the light pouring through the floor-to-ceiling windows. After a moment, he indifferently uttered three words, "No rush."

Secretary Song took a step back, her voice as gentle as water. "Then please rest well. I won’t disturb you any further."

Zhou Luchen leaned back in his chair, pinching the bridge of his nose, and responded with a hoarse hum.

As Secretary Song turned to leave, she saw Shen Jing opening the bedroom door. Neither made eye contact. Secretary Song still made sure to walk around the slip dress on the floor before lightly closing the main door and departing.

Shen Jing’s gaze shifted to the now-closed door. She slowly took a sip of warm water, her voice slightly hoarse. "Was it convenient to use?"

Zhou Luchen, who had been sitting at his desk lost in thought, was jolted back to reality by her words, looking confused.

Shen Jing set down her water cup. "Well, well, is the great CEO so short on pens? Holding onto someone else’s like a treasure even after they’ve left. Shall I gift you a pen tomorrow?"

Zhou Luchen glanced at the pen in his hand, which indeed seemed to be Secretary Song’s. A small smile touched his lips. He tossed it into the wastebasket right in front of her. "Satisfied now?"

"Satisfied with what?" Shen Jing’s lips curved in a teasing mimicry. "Was it convenient, Mr. CEO? When will you be returning to Manhattan, Mr. CEO? You should rest well, Mr. CEO; I won’t disturb you any further, Mr. CEO."

Zhou Luchen narrowed his eyes at her. He picked up the Square Scarf from the desk to wipe his fingers, his expression unamused. "Not convenient at all. Happy now?"

Shen Jing spoke with deliberate clarity, her smile unchanged. "I’ll believe that when pigs fly."

He hadn’t managed to soothe her; he knew that.

She had always deeply resented the presence of any other woman near him.

As she turned to go back into the bedroom to catch up on sleep, Zhou Luchen wrapped his arms around her from behind. His chin rested heavily on her shoulder, and he held her for a long moment before explaining in a low voice, "That wasn’t intentional. I was engrossed in the contract’s project details. It has a promising outlook, and I was just thinking about how much additional funding to offer the other party."

Shen Jing never doubted his words. Her hand came to rest on the back of his, her head tilting slightly as she quietly studied his profile. "My jealousy isn’t because you used her pen, Luchen. It’s about your boundaries with other women. I’m very possessive, you know. She’s your secretary; discussing work matters is fine. But I’m your girlfriend. I should be the one concerned about you."

"And have you been concerned about me?" Zhou Luchen asked in a low voice.

His simple question rendered Shen Jing speechless. She knew she couldn’t always show him concern in every little thing, yet she still found herself nitpicking when others did. Relationships are so complicated, she mused. "Alright then, from now on, I’ll be the one to care for you. Are you thirsty?"

An exasperated laugh escaped Zhou Luchen. He buried his face in the crook of her neck, his lips curving slightly as he murmured, "Alright, alright. I have no feelings for her. Don’t you trust me?"

Shen Jing turned her head. "I understand."

Zhou Luchen tightened his embrace, his lips brushing her ear. His magnetic voice, mingled with his warm breath, flowed slowly into her ear. "My father placed her by my side to deal with your side. She’s smart; she understands my methods. She’s always known her place and wouldn’t dare act recklessly or cause any real trouble."