Chapter 543: Chapter 261: The Secretary Falls in Love

Leilei was probably one of them.

A pang of pain shot through Zhang Xu’s heart for a moment. With a dejected expression, he withdrew his gaze and walked away, his shoulders hunched.

The sunset stretched his shadow long, making it look desolate and lonely.

After getting out of the car, Lin Shen gave him a casual glance, not paying much attention to Zhang Xu.

He didn’t even care much about Xu Lei’s recent relationship experience. ’After all, things like this will probably happen more and more in the future.’

However, as a boss, he needed to show some concern for his subordinate. It was a way to earn her unwavering loyalty at a minimal cost.

"Are you okay?"

Lin Shen walked up to Xu Lei and asked with gentle concern.

"What did he say to you?"

"He said he’s leaving."

Xu Lei hugged her shoulders and hung her head. Though her expression was hidden, her frail and lonely figure couldn’t help but evoke a sense of pity.

Moreover, her center of gravity was shifted slightly forward—an unconscious behavior of women seeking comfort and support when feeling helpless.

Lin Shen’s sharp eyes noticed this detail. Realizing the vast emptiness and longing in Xu Lei’s heart, he gave her a big, warm hug.

This had nothing to do with romantic feelings, nor was it an attempt to take advantage of her. It was simply a boss offering his subordinate encouragement and comfort.

Lin Shen put his arms around Xu Lei’s shoulders, pulling her into his embrace, and spoke softly.

"In life, you meet many people, and you part with many people. If you can’t bear to see him go, you can always ask him to stay."

"It’s not that I’m sad to see him go... I just feel like I’ve wronged him."

Perhaps moved by Lin Shen’s words, or perhaps because his embrace was so considerate, ripples suddenly spread through the emptiness in Xu Lei’s heart, stirring up a throbbing, feverish, and inexplicable emotion.

She proactively wrapped her arms around Lin Shen’s waist. The strength in his embrace gradually calmed her restless heart.

That, combined with the distinct, masculine scent of male hormones lingering at the tip of her nose, made Xu Lei’s delicate body go limp. It seemed she wanted Lin Shen to hold her like this forever.

Her consciousness grew slightly hazy. Lin Shen’s sudden closeness left her at a loss, but it also caused her ambition to swell.

The desires that had been buried deep in her heart were being unearthed, bit by bit.

"President Lin, do you think I’m a terrible person?"

Xu Lei asked softly, hoping to receive more care and consideration from Lin Shen. But to her surprise, he gave an incredibly blunt reply.

"Yeah."

"So you really think so too."

A hint of bitterness and disappointment washed over Xu Lei, but Lin Shen’s next words made her dim eyes shine again.

"Actually, I’m a scumbag too. Subconsciously, everyone is a scumbag. We’re all selfish people. We just don’t show it because of moral constraints, because we care about our image in others’ eyes."

"However, once you let go of that and go back to being yourself, you’ll find the world suddenly becomes a much better place."

"Think more for yourself. Only indulge others when it doesn’t come at your own expense. If a situation makes you uncomfortable, leave. If someone pisses you off, tell them off. Don’t suppress yourself. Just say what you’re thinking."

"Life doesn’t become happier because you take care of others. On the contrary, life becomes better because you are good to yourself."

"..."

Xu Lei looked slightly stunned, silently digesting the philosophy Lin Shen had just shared with her.

Even though he was only twenty-five, it was as if he had seen through to the very essence of life.

He was young, yet rich in worldly experience, which gave him the paradoxical air of a mature young adult.

This was a quality Xu Lei liked very much.

He possessed the vibrant energy and bold confidence of a young man, yet also had the steady maturity and rational open-mindedness of an adult.

"President Lin, thank you for telling me all this."

After Lin Shen’s guidance, Xu Lei seemed to have figured things out. In her heart, her feelings for him began to shift from admiration to an uncontrollable adoration.

She tilted up her pretty face, which looked incredibly smooth and gentle under the sunset’s glow. Her slightly narrowed, beautiful eyes seemed to ripple with deep emotion.

Her hands explored Lin Shen’s back, feeling his firm and well-proportioned muscles as she pressed her weight against him again.

Even as the fullness of her chest, wrapped in a white blouse, was gradually compressed out of shape, she didn’t mind being taken advantage of in this way at all.

In fact, it was more like she was actively letting Lin Shen take advantage of her.

As an old hand in the game of love, Lin Shen naturally understood what Xu Lei wanted when he felt her delicate body pressing closer to his.

After all, her tiptoes and slightly closed, beautiful eyes were clear hints.

Her tempting, lipstick-coated lips were left unguarded, even making a Zhang Xi motion that seemed to invite a taste.

It was a pity, but Lin Shen had no intention of accepting Xu Lei’s "seduction" at that moment.

He knew very well that the reason Xu Lei could let down her guard as a woman today was mainly because she had just suffered a major emotional blow, turning her into an empty shell in an instant.

His comfort was like sweet spring dew to her, filling her heart and completely molding her to his shape.

Combined with the wonderful atmosphere of the setting sunset, it led Xu Lei to make such a bold move.

But Lin Shen didn’t get carried away. On the contrary, he was perfectly calm.

If he accepted Xu Lei at this moment, although it would rapidly heat up their relationship, it would be detrimental to both of their developments.

His career was on the rise, and he already had enough women around him. He didn’t have the time to handle another relationship.

Besides, acting on impulse would only lead to regret.

Lin Shen’s plan was to have Xu Lei come to him only after she had truly realized what she wanted in her own heart.

Not like this, throwing herself at him out of gratitude.

"It’s getting late, and it looks like your mood has mostly recovered."

Lin Shen released Xu Lei from his embrace, took a step back, and ruffled her hair in an indulgent and intimate way, chuckling softly.

"I have something to do, so I’ll be going now. Contact me on WeChat if you need anything."

Huh?

Staring at Lin Shen’s back as he left without a hint of hesitation, Xu Lei was a bit stunned.

’In my impression, Lin Shen has extremely high EQ, and with his rich experience in relationships, he should have understood my hints just now.’

’But he didn’t reciprocate. Why?’

’Is it because I’m ugly? President Lin doesn’t like me?’

’Or is it that he doesn’t want to betray President Qin?’

Whatever the reason, Xu Lei felt an extreme sense of loss.

Of course, she was also ashamed of her rash and impulsive behavior just now.

’Just a while ago, I was thinking about focusing on my work and nothing else.’

’But then I completely fell for him after just a few words of comfort, and even wanted to come between him and President Qin!’

’I’m so shameless!’

SLAP—!

Xu Lei lightly slapped herself in the face. She couldn’t help but sigh softly, clenching and unclenching her hands as if reminiscing.

To be honest, Lin Shen’s warm embrace had made her sink so deep that she almost blurted out what was on her mind.

Now that her heated mind was gradually cooling down, Xu Lei felt a lingering fear.

She couldn’t possibly imagine how far things would have gone if Lin Shen had actually reciprocated just now.

At the very least, it wouldn’t have ended as cleanly as it did today.

Their relationship would have become much more complicated.

"Thank goodness."

Xu Lei let out a sigh of relief, then pursed her lips. A trace of resentment still lingered in her heart.

Although she wasn’t one of those women with confidence disproportionate to her looks, with everyone around her praising her beauty, she considered her own physical appearance to be quite good.

Whether it was her figure or her face, she was in the top tier among women.

Black stockings, long legs, an office-lady uniform with a hip-hugging skirt.

’As a female secretary, my outfits are all tailored to men’s tastes!’

’Why hasn’t President Lin ever checked me out with that kind of predatory gaze?’

’Is it because he’s surrounded by too many beautiful women that he’s really not interested in me?’

Xu Lei’s confidence as a woman took a bit of a hit, but this only fueled her competitive spirit even more.

’Maybe I have to be the one to make a move!’

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