"Indeed. The Chairman had me tied up dealing with those Americans for a while. The sluggish overseas sales have a lot to do with the recent dollar fluctuations. Don't worry too much about it; the economy will pick up after a pause."

Xu Jing whispered, "As long as I have you, Brother Zhao, I fear nothing. I've learned so much these past few months. I will manage the company even better for you in the future, so you can focus on the bigger things without worry."

"Jingjing, don't be so good to me. The customers who shop will soon be your company. If you have difficulties, come to me. You, the Village Chief, and General Yu can decide how to develop things. I enjoy a carefree life; I don't like being constrained by these responsibilities."

Xu Jing flushed, "Brother Zhao, don't you need to spend time with your wives today? They don't know you're here, do they?"

The atmosphere grew somewhat ambiguous. I remarked, "They get so absorbed in their work they barely notice me. You aren't going to be like that too, are you?"

Xu Jing replied, "How could I? I'm overjoyed that you came to see me. I have nothing scheduled this morning. Brother Zhao, would you accompany me home to see my parents? They've asked several times about inviting you over for a meal."

I recalled the braised old hen I had tasted last time and said to Xu Jing, "How about we buy an old hen and braise it at home? The taste last time was excellent; I've been thinking about it for days."

"That's wonderful!" Xu Jing exclaimed happily. "I'll call my parents right away and tell them to slaughter a chicken and prepare. The ones bought outside won't do; they lack flavor. Only a free-range hen from our own yard will suffice."

When the call reached the production floor of the Tieniu Tofu Company, Xu's father and mother were delighted. They asked Xu Jing to bring Zhu Da along too, saying they would prepare more dishes for a midday feast.

After hanging up, Xu Jing sat in silence, the atmosphere becoming awkward. I instantly regretted coming.

"Brother Zhao, let me pour you a cup of coffee," Xu Jing said, rising. Perhaps her heels were too high, or she stood up too abruptly; Xu Jing swayed and started to fall sideways.

If she had fallen toward me, I could have taken advantage of the situation, but she was falling toward the hard floor. What if she hit her face and was disfigured? I sprang up and grabbed Xu Jing's arm, pulling her back.

Xu Jing used my support to steady herself, but perhaps I pulled too hard; she stumbled right into my embrace. My hands instinctively wrapped around her. Xu Jing breathed a soft ** near my ear.

"Brother Zhao, hold me tight."

If I pushed Xu Jing away in this situation, I feared hurting her feelings. Holding her meant something more was inevitable. Xu Jing's parents were of the old, traditional generation; would they accept a group of girls running wild with me?

As I held Xu Jing, I suddenly felt her body trembling. She was crying. A pang of heartache struck me. I had always known what she felt, but I was accustomed to being passive. Facing an introverted girl like Xu Jing, I was momentarily stumped.

"Jingjing, don't cry. Brother Zhao knows what you think, and I like you too. It's just that I already have so many girlfriends, I don't dare say those words to you. This has to be your free will."

"Brother Zhao, I love you! Let me join them. I can't endure this torment any longer. My life cannot be without you. Even receiving a tenth of your affection would satisfy me." Xu Jing's suppressed feelings of the past half-year finally burst forth.

I held Xu Jing and said, "Since you have made your decision, then don't cry. Truthfully, I've never treated you as an outsider."

Xu Jing sobbed softly, "I know. Entrusting the company to me was your way of showing your feelings. I was just too timid to confess before. Actually, there's something else that makes me feel unworthy of you, Brother Zhao."

I patted Xu Jing's back. "Don't cry, don't cry. Tell me slowly what it is. Your Brother Zhao isn't some royalty or nobility; I'm lazy and gluttonous. It's I who am unworthy of you."

Xu Jing slowly pulled away from my embrace and sat on the sofa. She composed herself. "Brother Zhao, I'm not a good girl, really. My body is no longer worthy of you, and I have no right to say I love you. I was too impulsive just now."

I thought to myself, Could it be that the question Xiao Chuchu asked me during that incident at the P City hotel is now coming true with Xu Jing? Was she brutally assaulted by some degenerate? It doesn't look like it.

I pulled Xu Jing back into my arms. "Whatever happened in your past, from this moment on, you belong only to me, Zhao Qian. Don't ever think about those other things again."

Xu Jing was deeply moved. She rested her head on my chest and whispered softly, "Brother Zhao, do you remember when my mother was hospitalized? Right before I met you that day, a lifelong, indelible shame befell me."

I racked my memory but found no clues. "If you don't want to recall it, don't mention it again. Forget about it from now on."

"No," Xu Jing insisted firmly. "I must tell you, or I will never have peace of mind. That morning, the hospital demanded a ten-thousand yuan deposit, or they would stop my mother's medication. My father went to kneel and beg for money on the street for that very purpose. But the meager amount he begged for was nowhere near enough. In desperation, I thought of Director Xiao, whom I met when I worked at the National Bank. I borrowed ten thousand yuan from him, promising to become his mistress. He... he touched me at the hospital."

Xu Jing couldn't continue, tears streaming down her face as she sobbed against my thigh. So, this is what happened before Zhu Da and I arrived at the hospital. That bastard named Xiao was courting death. Damn it, I should get revenge on him. But exactly how far did he go with Xu Jing? What level of 'touching' was it?

"Jingjing, be clear. I'll get revenge for you. Don't worry; Brother Zhao doesn't care about such minor trifles."

Xu Jing stopped crying and pointed at her chest with her head lowered. "He... he touched me here a few times in the corridor."

"Just that?" Realizing Xu Jing had not lost her virginity, I actually felt a slight urge to laugh. So, I reached out and grabbed Xu Jing's breast. "Was it like this?"

Xu Jing froze on the spot, completely taken aback by my sudden move. Then, blushing, she collapsed into my arms. "No, not as hard as that. He didn't use force."

One of my hands traced downwards from the