Marrying My Ex-Wife's Mortal Enemy (GL) - Chapter 15

Naturally, Dou Huan had no reason to approach Zhao Xi at work—if she had questions, she could just ask Zhou Wei, and for anything that required approval, she’d go to Miss Lu.

There was absolutely no scenario where an intern like her would bypass protocol and report directly to the director.

She didn’t tell anyone about bumping into Zhao Xi earlier. But during lunch, Zhou Wei, ever the gossip, leaned over and asked how she managed to find out about Zhao Xi and Liu Xinxing’s relationship so quickly.

Dou Huan didn’t hide it. She simply said she’d come back for her car keys and happened to walk in on them in the director’s office…

She gave an exaggerated shiver. “You know.”

Zhou Wei nodded seriously. “Oh, I know, I know.”

Dou Huan had zero interest in their business, but Zhou Wei seemed delighted to have found a gossip buddy and launched into story mode.

“Liu Xinxing and I joined the company the same year. We were pretty close back then. Director Zhao even tried to get close to me once, but I turned him down.” Zhou Wei poked at her rice with her chopsticks, her gaze drifting to Liu Xinxing, who was chatting happily nearby. There was a trace of frustration in her voice. “I don’t know what she’s thinking—she knew he had a family, and she still went for it.”

After hearing Tong Yi’s twisted logic the other day, Dou Huan could actually understand Liu Xinxing’s mindset.

Maybe women like that didn’t see themselves as trying to replace the wife, but they also refused to admit they were the ‘other woman.’

So what were they, exactly?

Maybe, in their minds, they were just “friends with benefits”—just looking for a rich guy to hook up with. Mutual benefit, nothing more.

“We can’t control what other people do,” Dou Huan said, picking a piece of spare rib and putting it in Zhou Wei’s bowl. “Let’s just focus on ourselves. Eat.”

“Yeah.” Zhou Wei gave a bitter smile. “She’s doing just fine without me worrying about her.”

She took a bite of her rice, then mumbled through her mouthful, “But seriously, stay far away from Director Zhao. Sure, Liu Xinxing looks like she’s living the life—buying clothes and bags like it’s nothing—but trading away your best years for someone who doesn’t even love you and ending up with a bad reputation… it’s just not worth it.”

“I know,” Dou Huan said. She found Zhao Xi gross, but seeing how seriously Zhou Wei was trying to warn her made her laugh. “I’ve got high standards, trust me—I’m not interested.”

“You’re not even tempted by someone with his income?”

Zhou Wei swallowed hard, took a sip of soup, and said, “Wow, your standards really are high.”

“Of course,” Dou Huan joked. “I wouldn’t even look twice unless he makes as much as President Jing.”

Zhou Wei finally caught the joke and laughed. “You’re something else, little sis~~~”

*****

That afternoon, the office was so quiet it could lull anyone to sleep. Zhou Wei was working on her computer, and Dou Huan sat beside her sketching. As she kept drawing, drowsiness crept in.

She was just about to drift off when someone called from outside:

“Miss Liu Xinxing? Is there a Miss Liu Xinxing here? A flower delivery for you!”

Dou Huan jerked upright, rubbing her eyes and slapping her cheeks to wake up, just in time to hear the excited chatter of the other women in the office.

“Wow~~~ What a huge bouquet of roses!”

“Xinxing, you’re so lucky!”

Several women swarmed around Liu Xinxing and her roses, snapping photos like they’d received the flowers themselves.

“I wish someone would send me flowers…”

Dou Huan glanced at Zhou Wei, who was staring longingly at Liu Xinxing, her face was dreamy and full of envy—as if she might run over and bury her face in those roses at any moment.

“Hey, hey…” Dou Huan waved her hand in front of her eyes. “If you stare any harder, your eyeballs are gonna fall out.”

Zhou Wei chuckled and looked away. “I’m just a little jealous. Must be nice to have someone send you flowers.”

Dou Huan leaned closer and whispered, “What if those flowers were from Director Zhao? Still jealous?”

“Then forget it.”

Zhou Wei turned back to her work.

Dou Huan laughed. She was fully awake now and returned to her sketching.

Meanwhile, Liu Xinxing placed the bouquet on her desk, opened WeChat, and messaged Zhao Xi:
“I got the flowers. They’re beautiful. I really like them.”

“Glad you like them,” he replied.

A moment later, he followed up with:

“What’s the name of that new girl in your office?”

“Why? Planning to hit on her?”

There was no jealousy in Liu Xinxing’s tone. In fact, she sounded more like she saw an opportunity to get something out of this.

“If you won’t tell me, I’ll just ask Lu Qing.”

“Dou Huan,” she said. “Director Zhao, do you want me to set something up for you?”

“What do you want?”

Seeing how direct he was, Liu Xinxing smiled.
“I’m almost out of perfume.”

“Send me the link.”

Liu Xinxing had been eyeing a particular perfume for a while but never wanted to spend the money. Now that the opportunity had fallen into her lap, she immediately sent him the payment link, and Zhao Xi paid without hesitation.

“At your service, Boss Zhao.”

“I’m heading to a meeting with President Jing soon and need to send up a document. It’s on my desk—someone can bring it up in fifteen minutes.”

“Got it.”

After putting down her phone, Liu Xinxing looked over at Dou Huan, still buried in her design work, and felt a wave of smug satisfaction.

She sniffed the roses like they carried the scent of her beloved perfume and smiled blissfully.

Fifteen minutes later, she walked over and asked, “Huanhuan, are you busy right now?”

Dou Huan looked up, unsure what this was about, and shook her head.

“It’s like this,” Liu Xinxing said kindly. “Director Zhao forgot a document he needs for a meeting with President Jing on the third floor. I’d take it myself, but I’m tied up at the moment. Could I trouble you to deliver it?”

She spoke with such sincerity that Dou Huan didn’t suspect a thing. She really wasn’t busy anyway, and it was just a document—no big deal. So she nodded. “Sure.”

“It’s right here.” Liu Xinxing handed it over. “Do you know where President Jing’s office is?”

“I can find it.”

“Thanks so much. Hurry now—Director Zhao’s waiting.”

Dou Huan took the file and headed to Jing Yu’s office. Jiang Shan was waiting outside. When she saw her arrive, she stood up politely. “Miss Dou, President Jing is in a meeting. Can I help you?”

The formality threw Dou Huan off a bit. She smiled awkwardly. “Director Zhao asked me to deliver a document.”

“Give it to me, then.”

Just as Jiang Shan reached out to take it, the office door suddenly opened with a soft click. Zhao Xi stood in the doorway and looked at Dou Huan.

“Bring the document in.”

Jiang Shan retracted her hand and returned to her seat.

Left with no choice, Dou Huan followed Zhao Xi inside. She saw Jing Yu sitting on the sofa. That beautiful, distant face registered a flicker of surprise at seeing her, but it vanished in a heartbeat as she returned to her usual calm and pretended not to recognize her.

Zhao Xi motioned toward Jing Yu. “Hand the document to President Jing.”

“Oh…” Dou Huan walked up and handed over the file. “President Jing.”

With her innocent demeanor, she really did look like a fresh-out-of-school graduate.

Jing Yu accepted the file without a word. Then Dou Huan said, “President Jing, Director Zhao—if there’s nothing else, I’ll head back.”

“Hold on.” Zhao Xi lifted his coffee cup with a smile. “Since you’re here, could you do me a favor and grab me a refill?”

He turned to Jing Yu. “President Jing, would you like more coffee?”

“No, thank you,” she replied.

Seeing the cup already extended toward her, Dou Huan hesitated but took it and left the room.

Zhao Xi watched her graceful figure as she walked away, a faint smirk playing on his lips.

“Director Zhao, is there something amusing?”

Zhao Xi turned around and saw Jing Yu watching him. He looked a bit guilty as he said, “I was just thinking about how well the new jewelry collection might be received. Got a little excited.”

“Is that so?”

Jing Yu flipped through a few more design drafts. “But I still feel like something’s missing in this collection. I looked at Tianyi’s latest designs—they’ve made some bold breakthroughs. I’m hoping Jingtian can do the same. Take this draft back and revise it.”

Zhao Xi tensed up immediately. “But President Jing… you’ve already reviewed the initial drafts. If we revise them now, I’m afraid we might not make the deadline.”

Jing Yu stood up from the sofa and walked back to her desk. “Letting a subpar design represent Jingtian isn’t just disrespecting the craft—it’s being irresponsible to the brand. As the design director, I assume you care about perfection. If you get started now and bring me the revised version tomorrow, it’ll still be on time.”

Zhao Xi dared not argue further and simply nodded. “I’ll get on it right away.”

A few minutes after Zhao Xi left, Dou Huan came in with the coffee. Seeing he was gone, she instinctively asked, “Where’s Director Zhao?”

Jing Yu looked at her, saying nothing.

Dou Huan blinked, realizing her tone had been too casual. She corrected herself. “Excuse me, President Jing. May I ask where Director Zhao went?”

Instead of answering, Jing Yu asked, “Miss Dou, why did you join Jingtian?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

The question threw Dou Huan off.

Jing Yu stepped forward, arms crossed, and looked her in the eye. “Why did you come to Jingtian?”

Though she didn’t understand the purpose behind the question, Dou Huan answered honestly, “To become a jewelry designer.”

“There are so many jewelry companies in the country. Why Jingtian?”

“Is there something wrong with that?” Dou Huan looked at her, confused. “No one said I couldn’t work at Jingtian.”

Jing Yu didn’t beat around the bush anymore. “You joined to spite Chu Li, didn’t you?”

“What?” Dou Huan was stunned.

“Chu Li and I have always been rivals. You divorced her, and then deliberately applied to work at my company—trying to get under her skin, right?”

Dou Huan frowned. “Okay, maybe that was part of it. But I really did come here because I want to be a jewelry designer. If you can’t stand me because of some old grudge, that’s just petty.”

She looked directly at Jing Yu, annoyed and defiant.

Jing Yu suddenly smiled. “When did I say I couldn’t stand you? Miss Dou, don’t go around accusing me now.”

Her smile was so poised it made Dou Huan even more irritated—but Jing Yu’s softened tone took the edge off.

“You didn’t say it outright, but everything you’re saying makes it feel like you don’t want me here.”

Jing Yu returned to her seat and looked at her calmly. “I can let the past go. You’re welcome to stay at Jingtian—but only if you agree to one thing.”

Dou Huan’s brows furrowed. “What thing?”

Jing Yu pushed the car keys on the desk forward. “Be my driver for a month.”

Driver?!

Dou Huan immediately looked displeased. “And if I say no?”

“Then I’m afraid we’ll have to ask you to leave,” Jing Yu replied, completely unfazed.

“And you say you’re not trying to push me out!”

Jing Yu ignored her anger and continued smoothly, “If a month’s too long, three weeks is fine.”

Dou Huan was so mad her logic short-circuited. “Three weeks is still too long!”

“Then let’s stick with a month.”

“Jing Yu! You’re being completely unreasonable!”

Dou Huan stormed up to her, fists clenched in frustration.

But Jing Yu just looked at her with that composed smile and said lazily, “No one’s forcing you, Miss Dou. If this is too much, you’re always free to leave Jingtian. Just don’t go around saying we forced you out.”

It was clear she was trying to drive her away.

Which only made Dou Huan more determined to stay.

If Jing Yu wanted her gone, then she’d stay and prove herself—make a name at Jingtian and then leave on her own terms, just to make Jing Yu regret it.

Three weeks of driving? No big deal.

She drove herself to and from work every day anyway.

“Fine!” she snapped, grabbing the car keys off the desk. “Three weeks, right? You got it. President Jing—see you after work!”

Jing Yu hadn’t expected her to actually agree. Smiling, she nodded. “Alright.”

After Dou Huan stormed out, still fuming, Jing Yu called Jiang Shan into the room.

“You don’t need to drive me for the next three weeks.”

Jiang Shan hesitated. “You’ve hired a new driver?”

“Yes. Just now.”

Thinking of Dou Huan’s furious little face, Jing Yu couldn’t help but laugh.