Wife Takes the Reins: The Calm CEO

Chapter 32: The Hidden Crisis Across the Ocean

Inside the Feng Family Mansion, after receiving a call from Yu Feilan, Feng Lingzheng’s face instantly darkened like that of Judge Bao, as if a dark cloud were hanging overhead—one that continued to spread, as if it were about to engulf the entire vast mansion. However, upon further reflection, her outlook suddenly brightened, and Feng Lingzheng’s expression began to clear. She picked up the cell phone beside her and dialed Yu Feilan back. “Lan, go ahead and sign her resignation papers!” Feng Lingzheng said without a hint of hesitation. “Zheng, have you really thought this through? A company isn’t a place where you can just come and go as you please.” Yu Feilan was somewhat worried that Feng Lingzheng might change her mind. Although they were close friends, and the entire company belonged to Feng Lingzheng, there were still company policies to follow—they absolutely couldn’t compromise the company’s rules for personal gain. “Lan, I’ve never gone back on my word.” Feng Lingzheng understood Yu Feilan’s concerns. In Feng Lingzheng’s eyes, Yu Feilan was both a brother and a friend. Given his exceptional management talents, appointing him as general manager of a branch office was clearly a case of underutilizing his abilities. However, this was precisely the effect he, Yu Feilan, and the entire Fengyi Group and Yu Group were aiming for: a position that was neither too flashy nor too low-key—one that appeared and disappeared just enough to serve as a smokescreen while ensuring they were not underestimated, all the while facilitating special behind-the-scenes operations. “Zheng, with you saying that, I can sign this with complete confidence.” Without a moment’s hesitation, Yu Feilan picked up a pen from nearby and signed Li Xiaowan’s resignation paperwork. “Lan, Ying just sent word that things over in the United States are getting tricky… I’m afraid it won’t be easy to handle. I think I’ll have to go back to the United States myself,” Feng Lingzheng said in a tone of deep concern—a rare display of anxiety for her. “Zheng, don’t worry. It hasn’t reached the point where you’re absolutely indispensable. I’ll go back on my own.” Yu Feilan knew full well that the situation had escalated to the point of being nearly unmanageable, but he still didn’t forget to reassure his good friend. Moreover, given that this mission was fraught with danger, he absolutely could not stand by and watch his good friend fall into a trap that others had long since set. “Lan…” Feng Lingzheng had barely uttered a single word when Yu Feilan cut him off. “Zheng, please don’t say things that make it seem like we’re strangers. Among us, we all know each other’s personalities inside and out. Besides, am I the kind of person who lets others walk all over me?” Yu Feilan cut Feng Lingzheng off before she could continue; they were both looking out for each other. “Since you’ve said all that, I won’t say anything more. Once you arrive in the United States, be careful in everything you do. I’ll have Ying and the others coordinate with your actions at all times.” Feng Lingzheng’s tone was full of concern. “Come on, Zheng, since when did you start being so overprotective? This isn’t like the decisive and decisive Zheng I know,” Yu Feilan said, feigning nonchalance. “I’ll throw a huge victory banquet at the Feng Family Estate to welcome you back.” Feng Lingzheng said this partly to cheer Yu Feilan on, but more importantly, she hoped Yu Feilan would return safely, just as she always had. They had gone through so many life-and-death situations side by side—experiencing both desperate helplessness and prolonged torment. In truth, among them, there were no longer any distinctions; they had long since come to value each other’s lives more than their own. “It has to be prepared by your family’s top chef, or don’t blame me for saving face later! Also, don’t be so harsh on Li Xiaowan. As far as I’m concerned, the two of you aren’t just bound by a contract—I’ve always felt there’s a special bond between you,” Yu Feilan said earnestly. “From the moment ‘she’ betrayed me and left, any so-called fate has long since vanished from my life’s dictionary. And besides, when it comes to a wild girl from the backwoods, she’s not even worthy of mentioning the word ‘fate.’ ”” Feng Lingzheng said, his words contradicting his true feelings. Deep down, he didn’t actually care about differences in social status; he simply loathed that familiar face. “Zheng, why say such things in the heat of the moment? All right, while I’m gone, take some time to think it over. I’m going back to pack a few essentials. Also, call Xu for me and tell him to be at the helipad on the dot in an hour.” Yu Feilan dropped the carefree expression she’d been feigning and instantly became extremely serious. Xu was not only Feng Lingzheng’s personal pilot but also one of the most outstanding bodyguards by her side. “Lan, I wish you the best of luck!” Feng Lingzheng said before hanging up. He had to make even more meticulous arrangements for Yu Feilan; there could be no mishaps on this trip. As for that woman, he’d let her enjoy a couple of carefree days for now. “Xiaowan, didn’t you say President Yu told you to wait two days before leaving? How come they let you come back so soon?” As soon as Qi Xin'er saw Li Xiaowan open the door and walk in, she hurried over and asked in confusion. “I’m not sure why either. President Yu just told me simply that I could go and that we’d stay in touch by phone, and then he didn’t say anything else.” Li Xiaowan was quite puzzled herself. “It’s really impossible to figure out what those bigwigs are thinking. But if we could easily read their minds, maybe we’d already be bosses ourselves by now, instead of having to work for them, right, Xiaowan?” Qi Xin'er sat back down on the sofa. “Yeah, but that’s not something we need to dwell on anymore. Anyway, we’ll never have to put up with all that gossip at Company again, and we won’t have to see those scowls directed at me the moment I walk in.” Just thinking about it made Li Xiaowan feel a wave of relief wash over her. She tossed the suitcase she’d packed before leaving Company onto the coffee table and stretched out on the sofa in the most comfortable position she could find. “Xiaowan, you’re right—we’re finally free!” Qi Xin'er, perhaps caught up in Li Xiaowan’s enthusiasm, bounced up and down on the sofa as she spoke. “That’s right. We’ll never have to work in that suffocating environment at the Company again. I propose we go to the night market tonight and have a proper meal.” Li Xiaowan wasn’t just thinking about food; she hadn’t seen Uncle Qiangzi, Aunt Yu, and the others in quite a while, and she really missed them. “Xiaowan, I hereby declare that your proposal has been approved unanimously,” Qi Xin'er said dramatically. “Look at you! Get up and put on your makeup—you’ve got to look your best before we head out,” Li Xiaowan said cheerfully. “What about you?” Qi Xin'er wasn’t stupid—she’d caught on. “As your knight in shining armor, I don’t need to dress up all fancy.” Li Xiaowan stuck out her tongue at Qi Xin'er, then darted into her room in a flash, leaving Qi Xin'er standing there dumbfounded. “You little rascal, Li Xiaowan! You’re just trying to make fun of me—don’t think I didn’t catch on,” Qi Xin'er stomped her foot in frustration, but she still obediently walked over to the vanity in her room. You may not love others, but you must love yourself. After a bit of fussing, the stunning beauty Qi Xin'er finally made her glamorous entrance. “Hey, Xin'er, didn’t it take you a little too long to get ready today?” Li Xiaowan kept eyeing Qi Xin'er up and down, but couldn’t see anything different from usual—on the contrary, it had taken her at least twice as long as usual to get ready. “Xiaowan, what’s wrong with your eyes? Can’t you see I’m dressed very ladylike today?” Qi Xin'er said discontentedly. All that time she’d spent carefully getting ready had been for nothing—someone had already poured cold water on her before she’d even left the house. “Xin'er, I was wrong. You look absolutely stunning today. When you walk out there, you’re definitely going to make a whole bunch of handsome guys swoon and drive a whole bunch of beautiful girls crazy with envy.” Li Xiaowan looked at Qi Xin'er with innocent, pitiful eyes, making Qi Xin'er feel as if she were the stepmother from Snow White. “Hmm… I think I’ll stay away from you for a bit. Otherwise, I might start hallucinating that I’m some kind of villain.” Qi Xin'er pretended to shiver all over and immediately retreated to her room. “Xin'er, you’re acting way too convincingly. Come on, check the time—what time is it now? You’ve been dawdling from the afternoon all the way into the evening,” Li Xiaowan couldn’t resist reminding her; Qi Xin'er really knew how to keep things going. “Oh my gosh! It’s already seven o’clock! Xiaowan, why didn’t you tell me sooner?” Qi Xin'er exclaimed loudly from her room. “This isn’t the first time something like this has happened. There was that time you said you were going to dress up all nice for a job interview, but by the time we rushed over, the recruiters had already left. You even blamed them for leaving too early back then—it wasn’t until I showed you the time on your phone that you realized you were the one who was late,” Li Xiaowan said with a sigh of exasperation. “All right, Xiaowan, stop giving me a hard time. Let’s go!” Qi Xin'er realized she’d really taken too long. She silently warned herself to be more careful next time—though, since the earliest opportunity wouldn’t be until tomorrow, who could say for sure? Haha! “Xin'er, I really don’t want to scold you anymore—I’m absolutely in awe of you,” Li Xiaowan couldn’t help but add one more remark. “All right, Xiaowan. To make up for making you wait so long, I’ll down three shots as punishment later.” You could tell just how sincere Qi Xin'er’s apology was. “You’re clearly a lady, yet you insist on acting as carefree as a boy,” Li Xiaowan said. “You’re one to talk—aren’t you the same?” Qi Xin'er retorted, not to be outdone. Good times are always fleeting, and no one can remain in calm waters for a lifetime. If a person stays in a state of comfort for too long, living a routine life, they’re highly likely to become complacent and of no value to society; conversely, if a person is constantly caught in the whirlpool of life’s storms, they’ll either become overly sensitive or swim against the current to achieve great success. Even the moon has its phases of waxing and waning, let alone life itself. “Knock, knock, knock...” Early in the morning, Qi Xin'er, still fast asleep, was roused by the loud pounding on her door. “Who is it? It’s one thing not to get a good night’s sleep when I’m working, but why can’t I even sleep peacefully now that I’ve quit my job?” Qi Xin'er rubbed her sleepy eyes and shouted angrily toward the door.