CHAPTER 142: CHAPTER 142: ADMIRING YOU, REGARDLESS OF THE FORM

Jared Langley quickly put on his clothes.

The secretary calmly adjusted his collar beside him.

Only when he resumed his usual meticulous and solemn demeanor did the two of them leave the lounge one after the other.

"Would Miss Jacobs like something to drink?" the secretary asked with a smile.

Juliana felt a bit awkward initially, but after the composed question from the other party, she surprisingly calmed down, pressed her lips together, and said, "No, thank you."

The secretary chuckled softly, "Miss Jacobs seems quite leisurely, watching for so long without saying a word. Could it be our President Langley’s dressing has a more appealing view?"

"Lynn, go out," Jared said as he walked to the desk, turning to the secretary.

Lynn nodded, picked up her coat, and left.

"Don’t misunderstand; she’s been with me for years. Maintaining certain relationships is necessary to ensure loyalty, but I never cross the line," Jared said.

Juliana’s expression became less engaged, "President Langley is overthinking. It’s just a small scene among friends, whether misunderstood or not, it’s not really important."

Jared imperceptibly furrowed his brows, "Did you come to see me for something?"

Juliana showed him messages on her phone, "You contacted me without stating the reason, but I came. Are you happy now?"

"I didn’t..."

"No need to say more."

Juliana interrupted him.

When Jared asked her earlier, she already speculated it was the secretary who quietly took his phone to send her the message.

However, between her and Jared, "no need to explain" was the best distance.

"I have other matters to attend to, I’ll take my leave."

Juliana turned around slowly, her injured foot healing, making her walk slower.

Jared had a back injury too, so he couldn’t move too swiftly.

But as Juliana reached the door, he still managed to catch up.

Jared instinctively wanted to reach out and hold her back, but before his fingertips could touch, Juliana had already turned the doorknob.

Yet, just as she opened the door, Juliana felt her vision darken, her whole body turning weak and falling forward.

At that moment, Adrian Langley happened to be passing by outside the door.

Without any hesitation, he stepped forward to steadily support the nearly fallen figure, then drew her to his side.

Juliana leaned into his arm for a moment, gradually regaining clarity in her vision.

Adrian promptly released her, but still asked, "What happened?"

Juliana rubbed her forehead, "Forgot to eat lunch, a bit of low blood sugar."

Jared’s gaze gradually deepened.

Adrian checked the time, "However important work is, you can’t forget to eat. Come with me to the company cafeteria."

Saying that, without even glancing at Jared, he took Juliana and left.

Jared didn’t chase after them, but returned to the office to make a phone call.

Lynn entered the office, placing a small box of medication in front of him, "Time to take your medicine."

"How long have you been with me?" Jared’s voice was thin and cold.

"Three years and ten months," Lynn replied.

Jared’s gaze was icy, "Three years and you still don’t understand my limits?"

Deep down, Lynn was panicking, but with a good mental fortitude, she remained steady, even seizing the opportunity to break the ice.

"President Langley, I admire you, in any form."

Jared’s expression grew darker, but soon softened again.

"I don’t like crossing boundaries; I keep business and feelings very clear."

Lynn realized she was finished, biting her lip.

Jared, "You should go to the logistics department. I’ll have Ben Hayes take over your work."

"President Langley..." Lynn cried.

Jared remained unmoved, "Return when you come to your senses."

Lynn knew well that this was enticing her with promises.

Having been by his side for years, knowing too much about him, suddenly cutting ties might provoke her unwillingness, causing retaliation against him. He needed to buy time to handle all things she’s entangled with.

Yet this was Jared’s exceptional skill. Even when she saw through his scheming, she couldn’t wield the knife against him.

Lynn turned dejectedly, walked a few steps, then turned back and asked, "Do you like Miss Jacobs?"

Jared looked at her.

Lynn continued, "Will there ever come a day when you’ll like a woman without any desires or pursuits?"

Jared’s gaze fell on the documents, remaining unresponsive.

Over there, Adrian had the kitchen prepare two dishes, quietly watching Juliana finish her meal before speaking, "I told you not to get close to Jared, why won’t you listen?"

Juliana wiped her mouth, not looking at him, "Didn’t want to owe any favors."

Adrian chuckled, "You’re too straightforward; you borrow one bit, repay one bit. But this world is all about exchanging favors; you owe me, I owe you - that’s what living means. Don’t be so sincere all the time, being too clear is tiring."

"Is there a possibility," Juliana tossed the napkin into the trash, "that exactly because I don’t want further entanglement, I need to settle accounts thoroughly. When nothing is owed, we can be completely free."

Adrian’s slightly furrowed brows relaxed.

"I don’t know if Jared has a woman by his side, but his mother is very strict. If she discovers him with a woman she disapproves of, she’ll certainly intervene. These years, whether Jared or Victor Langley, there hasn’t been a single scandal, thanks to Leona Sheridan."

Juliana’s eyelashes fluttered, understanding everything at once.

This is the reason for his persistence.

Adrian picked up the car keys, "Let’s go. It’s nearly two-thirty, I have to head to the exhibition center, you can come along."

He hurriedly took a couple of steps, remembering Juliana’s foot hadn’t fully healed, he turned back, scratched his head, and laughed, "Sorry, because Uncle is going too, I’m worried about being late and affecting his image."

Juliana glanced at him lightly, "He doesn’t have time to notice such trivial matters."

They arrived right on time.

Jared had already arrived, speaking with Elias Langley.

Standing beside him was a male secretary instead.

Adrian’s gaze darkened, "That’s Ben Hayes."

"Is he impressive?" Juliana asked.

Adrian pondered for several seconds, summing up various meanings into one sentence, "Jared treats him differently from others."

Juliana blinked: Is it what she thinks it means?

As she was about to ask, her eyes suddenly caught a figure not far away.

Evan Grant was there too, not only that, he brought Stella Windsor along.

This man’s scandals abound, yet he’s completely carefree about it.

Yvonne Quinn awaited judgment in custody, while he openly dotes on her stepsister.

Juliana’s lips twitched; just as she was about to turn away, Stella noticed her, immediately nudged Evan’s arm, "Brother, it’s the sister-in-law."

Evan’s gaze lingered on her legs for two seconds, then he left the conversing CEOs and walked straight towards her.

Disgust flickered in Juliana’s eyes; unwilling to entangle with them here, she turned to extend a smile, proactively approaching the Langley uncle and nephew not far away.

Evan’s steps halted.

Beside him, Stella whispered, "Brother, sister-in-law is getting close to him; it’s not unfounded."

Yet Evan merely cast her a glare, "Are you here to work and learn or to spread rumors?"

Stella’s face paled.

Just wait, soon you’ll be overshadowed with green.

Before Juliana could come closer, a staff member hurried over to Jared, reporting, "The data stream for the battery group in the reality showcase is abnormal, posing a definite safety risk, but we can’t handle it at the moment."

Jared furrowed his brows, "Noticing this at such a time, do you want me to abort today’s launch?"

The staff member bowed his head, "Everything was normal during the morning inspection."

Jared’s gaze suddenly fell upon Juliana, he smiled softly, "Miss Jacobs, it’s perfect timing for help. Maybe we can settle the account?"

Juliana pondered slightly, "Sure, lead the way."

Elias Langley watched Juliana’s slow departure, his gaze deepened, suddenly speaking to Jared, "You handle the guests, I’ll go over and take a look."

Jared quickly nodded.

Juliana noted Elias Langley catching up with her, opened her mouth, but ultimately didn’t speak.

Because it was a 1:1 perfect replica, even the intelligent central control and battery systems that controlled the entire house were genuinely embedded in the walls, indistinguishable from ordinary home setups.

Juliana glanced at the flickering overhead light, feeling puzzled, and said to the staff, "Go to the main control room and check if the LED’s driver code is normal."

As the staff left the room, the door lock clicked into place.

The flickering headlight abruptly extinguished, a dim white emergency light illuminated, casting Elias Langley’s face in shadowy obscurity.