Chapter Twenty-One: The Despicable Scoundrel

Li Ran had already started looking for a job online. By chance, she came across a company nearby that was recruiting a sales manager. The requirements seemed to fit her experience, and since she had time, she decided to come for an interview.

The receptionist returned quickly and said, “Please follow me. You’re in luck—our boss is here today and will interview you directly.”

“The boss will interview me himself?” Li Ran was surprised and a little at a loss. “Isn’t it too much trouble to bother your boss? It’s just a sales manager position—a simple interview would suffice.”

The receptionist simply replied, “Miss Li, you may not know this, but our boss is rarely in the office, and he’s a very busy man. Not everyone gets to meet him. You’re quite fortunate.”

When Li Ran pushed open the door and saw the man sitting before her, she instantly understood what the receptionist meant by “fortunate.”

Had she known that the owner of Huiteng Company was Ye Huai, she wouldn’t have come, no matter how high the manager’s salary was. But now, it was too late to leave.

From the moment she entered, Ye Huai’s gaze was fixed on her.

Ding Lei, ever tactful, ushered the receptionist out, leaving the two of them alone.

Ye Huai sat upright at his desk in a dark gray suit. If she hadn’t encountered him before, she might have thought, at first glance, that he was a gentleman.

Unfortunately, he was not.

A long silence followed. Ye Huai showed no intention of speaking, and Li Ran could no longer suppress her impatience. “If you’re not going to interview me, President Ye, then I’ll take my leave.”

With that, she turned to open the door.

Ye Huai moved. “Did I say you could leave?”

“You’re not interviewing me, just wasting my time. Why shouldn’t I leave? If I’d known it was you, I wouldn’t have come at all.” Li Ran made no effort to hide her thoughts.

Ye Huai let out a cold laugh, stood up, walked over to her, and pinched her chin, forcing her to look at him. “Wasting your time? Do you know how much money I make in an hour on average?”

“What’s that to me? It’s not my money.” Li Ran jerked her face away from his hand.

Ye Huai wasn’t angry. He asked instead, “What are your requirements for the job?”

“I had some requirements, but after seeing that you’re the boss, I regret coming and have no intention of working for your company.”

Li Ran hadn’t forgotten that this man harbored ill intentions toward her. If she worked under him, who knew how he might deal with her in the future?

“You’ve got quite a backbone.” Ye Huai reluctantly praised her, his gaze dropping to her belly. “It’s not easy for a pregnant woman to find a job. Are you sure you don’t want to work here?”

“That’s none of your concern, President Ye.” Li Ran had already reached the door, her hand on the knob. Suddenly, she remembered something important and turned to look at him.

Ye Huai remained as composed as ever, entirely different from the last time at the hospital. Coupled with what the receptionist had said and the sequence of events today, Li Ran couldn’t help but feel as if everything had been orchestrated.

She’d been dismissed from her job, and immediately a suitable position opened at Huiteng. The boss just happened to be in the office and insisted on interviewing her personally. How could all these coincidences line up so perfectly?

Li Ran strode up to Ye Huai and spat out, “You are truly despicable!”

“Oh? In what way am I despicable?” Ye Huai wasn’t angry; he merely asked in return.

“You know it’s hard for me to find a job in my condition, so you planned everything—waiting for me to come to you, to beg you for a job, and maybe even to save my broken marriage?”

A faint smile appeared on Ye Huai’s face. He applauded lightly. “Not a bad analysis. Anything you’d like to add?”

“You’re mistaken. I will never beg you. Not in this lifetime!” Li Ran declared firmly, meeting his eyes.

Ye Huai saw the determination in her gaze. Suddenly, he reached out, gripping her chin tightly and pulling her into his arms. Her yet-to-show belly pressed against his.

“What are you doing!”

“I’m also giving you a definite answer—you will come to me for help.”