Chapter 103: Reconciliation!

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When Wang Zheng woke up, it was already noon. His growling stomach served as his alarm clock, ringing promptly at mealtime. Besides, he hadn’t eaten breakfast today, so he needed to make up for it.

Yawning, he stepped out of his office, only to be stopped by something in front of him. Squinting his sleepy eyes, he was suddenly startled to see Lin Xiaolei standing outside the door. Lin Xiaolei was equally shocked by Wang Zheng abruptly opening the door. Originally hesitant and troubled, her expression turned panicked. Suddenly, she bowed her head and whispered, “I… I’m sorry!” Before Wang Zheng could respond, she hurriedly left.

Wang Zheng looked on in confusion at her retreating figure, his mind filled with question marks. What was going on? Sorry for what? He then turned his gaze to the work area. It was lunchtime, yet the office was completely empty, eerily silent like a morgue.

Could this still be a dream?

Wang Zheng staggered to the cafeteria, ordered a few of his favorite dishes, and carried his tray looking for a place to sit. Hmm? His eyes brightened as he spotted Lin Xiaolei eating alone with her head down.

With a “clack,” he set his tray on the table, smiled at her, and asked, “What did you mean just now when you said sorry?”

Lin Xiaolei lifted her head briefly, but upon seeing Wang Zheng sitting opposite her, she quickly lowered her head again. She ate quietly and said, “It… it means nothing. Just pretend you didn’t hear it.” She never met his gaze, which hurt Wang Zheng deeply.

Had he failed to make an impression? Or was it because he looked too off-putting?

Wang Zheng stared at Lin Xiaolei, hoping for a reasonable explanation. But seeing her bury her head in her food, treating him as if he were invisible, he had no choice but to pick up his chopsticks and eat. However, before he could even swallow the first bite, Lin Xiaolei suddenly put down her chopsticks.

“I’m full. You can eat slowly,” she said, then stood up and tried to leave.

If he let her leave just like that, wouldn’t he look foolish? His expression darkened as he suddenly raised his arm to block her path.

“Sit down,” he commanded, his tone leaving no room for refusal.

That tone reminded him of a dinner long ago when he and Lin Xiaolei ate together—it had worked wonders then. This time, Lin Xiaolei lowered her head obediently and sat down, staring at her unfinished meal. What was she thinking? Even she didn’t know why she was so afraid of him, why she listened so readily. Perhaps she would never understand.

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Wang Zheng looked at Lin Xiaolei, who seemed to have done something wrong, then glanced at her barely touched food. They had entered the cafeteria one after the other, yet her tray was almost untouched. She claimed to be full? Who would believe that?

“Keep eating. No leftovers allowed!” Wang Zheng said coldly, his expression and tone exactly as before.

Suddenly, he felt their relationship was returning to the early days when they first met. Though awkward, it was far better than the recent cold war between them—they were at least talking again, and Lin Xiaolei was listening. This was a positive sign for both of them.

Lin Xiaolei looked aggrieved but picked up her chopsticks and began to eat slowly again. Wang Zheng, who was nearly famished, followed suit once she continued eating. Of course, he had many things to say, but first, he needed to eat his fill.

The cafeteria was bustling with people, including employees of Zhongtian Company. Wang Zheng’s faction’s loyalists and Lin Xiaolei’s former subordinates were both present. They clearly noticed Wang Zheng and Lin Xiaolei together, and were surprised by Wang Zheng’s commanding tone toward her. Those who had been unclear about their relationship were now even more confused.

Wasn’t that man just the general manager’s assistant? Why was he ordering the general manager around? Who was really in charge? The assistant seemed to have more clout. Many questions crowded their minds, but no one dared to ask outright.

Wang Zheng’s loyalists were pleased, knowing he was on their side. However, Lin Xiaolei’s old followers felt uneasy, even frustrated.

Could the company be undergoing a major change? They’d better find an opportunity to ask the general manager later.

After finishing his meal, Wang Zheng asked Lin Xiaolei again, “Earlier you stood in front of my office and said ‘sorry’—what did you mean by that?”

Lin Xiaolei remained silent, continuing to eat slowly, unchanged as always. The only thing consistent about Lin Xiaolei was her turtle-like pace when eating.

That morning, Lin Xiaolei had intended to invite Wang Zheng to lunch. After so many days without communication, she felt uneasy, troubled, and repressed inside. Standing outside his office, she hesitated, unsure whether to enter since he might still be asleep. Just then, Wang Zheng opened the door, startling her so much she forgot her purpose and didn’t know what to say.

She suddenly recalled the moment earlier that morning when, while he was asleep, she had impulsively kissed his cheek. This made her even more flustered. Seeing Wang Zheng still watching her, she felt guilty and immediately apologized before fleeing.

The apology was for that secret kiss, yet she couldn’t confess it to him, leaving her conflicted and resorting to eating slowly to stall for time, hoping work would start soon.

Wang Zheng, however, was aware of the gentle kiss. Although pretending to be asleep, it was just a playful prank. He hadn’t expected Lin Xiaolei to do such a thing—especially someone as pure as her. He was both surprised and secretly pleased.

Reasons? They weren’t necessary. Which man wouldn’t be happy in such a circumstance? Not just a stroke of good fortune, but a romantic ordeal—any man would welcome it.

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A soldier who doesn’t want to be a general’s soldier isn’t a good soldier; a man who doesn’t want a romantic trial isn’t a good man.

Facing the silent Lin Xiaolei, Wang Zheng chose not to mention the kiss, knowing it would make their relationship even more awkward and perhaps cause her to avoid him out of shyness. Gradually, he seemed to understand the meaning behind her apology.

“So, what new plans do you have for the company’s development?” Wang Zheng asked lightly, skillfully changing the subject to prevent another silent mealtime. He knew Lin Xiaolei wanted to improve their relationship but her nature wouldn’t allow her to be as shameless as Bai Bing. So he took the initiative to ease the tension.

“Oh, the real estate plan has completely stalled since that night’s incident. Based on some information, I’ve reanalyzed the market and identified a few projects suitable for Zhongtian. We’re still investigating, and it will take at least a week to get results,” Lin Xiaolei spoke confidently. When it came to company matters, her mind became sharp and agile.

Wang Zheng nodded slightly. It seemed she chose to continue down this path. This matched his impression of her—a woman with pure ideals yet full of ambition.

Not bad.

However, with Lin Xiaolei’s current assets, pursuing large investments was nearly impossible. If successful, it would be great; if not, it would deal a heavy blow to her, potentially causing Zhongtian to suffer losses again.

Small investments, on the other hand, were inconsequential to Zhongtian—better to play it safe in the familiar tea market, even if profits were modest.

“Two months until the new tea matures, right?” Wang Zheng asked calmly, sipping water. His expression suggested little concern, yet he appeared unusually focused. What was he thinking?

“Yes, two months left.”

Two months… What would she do in that time? Everything would come to light before the new tea hit the market. Success or failure, victory or defeat—for Zhongtian and Lin Xiaolei, it was truly something to look forward to!