17 Honesty and respect

Ying Yue's light citrusy scent permeated through his nostrils. It was refreshing, much unlike the heavily-perfumed smell of women who hoped to seduce him. Fei Huangjin reluctantly released her.

He turned to the couple at the doorway with an apologetic look. "My apologies, President Cheng."

Ying Yue chewed on her bottom lip and lowered her head, pushing herself away from the man beside her. If she was going to act like Fei Huangjin's woman, they surely had to settle some boundaries--you know, like no kissing. If she didn't dodge on time earlier, Fei Huangjin would've stolen her first kiss.

Cheng Jinyao did not look displeased at what he'd seen, in fact, he seemed amused. He turned to his wife and she winked back at him. She knew what her husband was thinking. It turned out that they were wrong to assume that Fei Huangjin did not know a thing about love. It was apparent to them that the rumors were wrong. No wonder the man previously wouldn't say anything when he was asked about the possibilities of him getting married. He was still in the process of chasing the woman he was in love with.

"He's just like you, Jinyao." Mrs. Cheng whispered as they took their seats.

Hoping to stir the conversation away from her and Fei Huangjin, Ying Yue turned to Mrs. Cheng with a smile. "Mrs. Cheng, if I may ask, what's the story between you and President Cheng?"

Cheng Jinyao chuckled while his wife's eyes shone in delight. "Oh dear. It's been a long time since someone's asked me that."

Fei Huangjin thought that his secretary was truly clever, quickly diverting the attention towards Cheng Jinyao and his wife. The corners of his mouth hooked up and he stretched one arm behind her, his hand settling on her opposite shoulder. He could feel her slightly tensing under her touch.

He liked that he was affecting her, and his fingers started to trace random scribbles on her skin. It was a good thing she was wearing a turtleneck sleeveless top today with her blazer left in the car.

Ying Yue ignored him, completely focusing her attention on Mrs. Cheng. Fei Huangjin didn't mind. He licked his lips absentmindedly and only pretended to listen. He didn't care about the old couple's love story. He was here to get his business deal.

He thought back to what Ying Yue had told him earlier. She said that he was deceiving an old couple who was about to entrust him with their company. He could laugh at that. Sun Tzu said that "all warfare is based on deception," and he took that to heart. You could call him ruthless and he wouldn't blink.

"Cheng Entertainment was still a small company back in the day, and I was a new artist who signed up with them. Jinyao here suddenly popped out of nowhere and told me he liked me." Mrs. Cheng laughed. "I was mortified. I had never even seen him before."

Ying Yue grinned. Cheng Jinyao was such a bold man, after all.

"I took one look at her and decided she was the one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with." President Cheng took his wife's hand and held it. His eyes were distant. He was reminiscing those early memories of decades ago.

Mrs. Cheng glanced at her husband and gave Ying Yue a knowing look. "I thought he was such a playboy. Imagine meeting the president for the first time and he makes a move on you. I was still 21 and fresh out of college. How could I ever think he was being serious?"

Cheng Jinyao's voice grew serious. "Oh, but I was serious…"

"Yes, he was. And over time I saw that. And it was love." She gave Ying Yue a bright smile. "We got married two months later."

"Two months?" Ying Yue's eyes widened. Wasn't that rushing things? "How did you know it was the right decision?" She tried to shake off Fei Huangjin who was still lightly caressing her shoulder, but he just moved his hand to toy with her hair.

This man… for someone who refused to date women, he was surely adept at pretending to be a boyfriend.

Fei Huangjin's eyebrows rose up at her question. How did you know it was the right decision? Why was this woman curious about something like that?

"Sweetheart, you'll just know. Romance can be fleeting, but when there's honesty and respect in the relationship, you can't let that kind of love go."

Ying Yue echoed her words. "Honesty and respect…"

Cheng Jinyao nodded in agreement. "Don't you think so too, CEO Fei?"

Fei Huangjin cleared his throat. Frankly, he didn't think it was so. Trust, consistency, and respect were more important to him in a relationship than "honesty." There were always some things you can't afford to let someone know. But since he was banking on pleasing the old man for the day, he softened his facial features and pretended to agree. "Yes, I believe so."

When the lunch meeting ended, Cheng Jinyao was more pleased with Fei Huangjin than he was with him in their previous meetings. He had to admit, although Fei Huangjin's offer was the best, he was thinking about declining the young man and accepting the offer from Yushen Corporation instead. Fei Huangjin always appeared cold and calculating to him. It was a good thing he saw the other side of him today.

The two pairs were at the lobby entrance of the Jade Palace. Cheng Jinyao signaled for Fei Huangjin to remain with him.

Turning to Ying Yue, Fei Huangjin took her hand and gave her a gentle smile. It was the last act for the day and he wasn't going to waste it. "Could you wait for me in the car? I'll just have a short chat with President Cheng."

Her eyes were wary and she glanced briefly at the couple beside them before nodding at Fei Huangjin. "Okay." Ying Yue turned to face the other two and gave them a bow. "President Cheng, Mrs. Cheng, it was nice to meet you."

Mrs. Cheng stepped forward and gave her a hug, releasing her with a smile.

As she walked farther away from them, Cheng Jinyao eyed the young lady who reminded him of his wife, and then directed his attention to Fei Huangjin who was eyeing him curiously. "She's a nice woman. I hope you're serious about her."

Fei Huangjin nodded, "I am."

"Well then, let's sign the contract when she agrees to marry you."