Chapter 40: The Shady Secret That Cannot See the Light

Melinda jerked her head up and found Ye Zehong smiling at her, sending her heart racing wildly.

She fluttered her lashes and put on a coquettish smile. “Yes, Sister Wan’er and I get along splendidly.”

“Is that so?”

Ye Zehong eyed her coldly, his lips curling in mockery as he watched her force that flirtatious expression. “Funny, because I heard from her that you only win projects by cozying up to your clients.”

“What? What did you say?” Melinda didn’t catch the underlying meaning of his words at first.

Ye Zehong turned to Liang Yi, his tone half-amused, half-serious. “Vice President Liang, what do you think?”

Liang Yi’s face went pale with panic. He shot an uneasy glance at Melinda, parted his lips nervously, but couldn’t utter a single word.

He was terrified—afraid that Ye Zehong, newly in charge, would use him as an example.

“Vice President Liang?”

Liang Yi looked at Ye Zehong in a daze for a long moment before he finally found his voice. “Young Master Ye, I… I think I might have heard something about Linda too… she…”

Melinda’s mind finally caught up, and her face drained of all color in fright. Ye Zehong’s words were nothing short of a public humiliation.

The implication was so clear that anyone could guess there was something improper between her and Liang Yi.

Though Lu Yao didn’t know why Ye Zehong would bring up Melinda’s disgraceful conduct in such a setting, seeing Melinda thoroughly embarrassed and flustered brought a hidden satisfaction to her heart.

Serves her right! she thought.

“Just a joke,” Ye Zehong said, curling his lips in a smile at Melinda and Liang Yi. “You both look so nervous—surely there isn’t anything going on?”

Melinda broke out in a cold sweat down her back and could only force a weak smile, shrinking away involuntarily.

Liang Yi’s face was ashen, and he dared not make a sound, terrified that the more he said, the more mistakes he’d make.

“The joke’s over, and I’ve asked all my questions,” Ye Zehong said, turning to review the proposals from both law firms with a serious air. It didn’t take him long to reach a decision.

He looked at Lu Yao and said mildly, “Miss Lu, congratulations.”

Lu Yao was momentarily stunned.

She stared at him blankly, as if her mind had frozen.

Ye Zehong saw the dazed look on her face and couldn’t help but smile softly. His woman was being silly again.

He raised his hand and led the applause; the others quickly joined in.

Amid the resounding applause, Lu Yao finally came to her senses. She looked at Ye Zehong in disbelief, never having expected that he would…

“Lawyer Lu, have you nothing to say?” Ye Zehong’s deep voice teased.

“I…” Lu Yao stood up slowly, her face lit with irrepressible excitement. “Thank you so much, President Ye, for giving me this opportunity. I will give my utmost to assist you in successfully acquiring Xunda Technology, and I will do everything I can to safeguard your interests.”

Only after speaking did she realize her words were inappropriate. Blushing, she hastily corrected herself, “I mean, the interests of Ye Group.”

Ye Zehong smiled faintly, the coldness in his eyes softened.

Melinda watched the scene, her face suddenly turning cold and twisted with jealousy.

She shot a vicious glare at Liang Yi, then looked back at Ye Zehong’s infatuated gaze toward Lu Yao, suspicion rising in her heart.

Earlier, it had seemed as if Ye Zehong was making things difficult for Lu Yao, but in truth, he had helped her dispel everyone’s doubts. Could it be that there was something unspeakable between Lu Yao and Ye Zehong?

She instinctively glanced at Lu Yao, her gaze scrutinizing, her mind racing with calculations…

When a man helps a woman, it’s always for some benefit.

Ye Zehong lacked neither power nor money, nor beauty by his side. What, then, was he after by helping Lu Yao?