Chapter 47 Jealousy

The aftermath of Tai Feng Resources' fatal blow struck like a deep-sea bomb, stirring monstrous waves within Genesis Tower and the Hongyuan Group.

Wang Dehai's face, transforming from arrogant and supercilious to ashen and bloodless, became one of the most impactful images in Yu Ling's career. Following the deathly silence in the meeting room was the panicked and disheveled retreat of the Hongyuan representatives, followed by the immense, explosive joy of Lin Wei and the Genesis top brass after their initial shock. That comprehensive investigative report, spearheaded by her and backed by a complete chain of evidence, had not only thoroughly shattered Wang Dehai's harassment but also transformed into an unparalleled bargaining chip for Genesis at the negotiating table!

The subsequent handling was astonishingly swift. Wang Dehai was urgently recalled to Hongyuan Group's headquarters, reportedly facing severe accountability. Hongyuan not only retracted all unreasonable demands, greenlighting Genesis's new proposal, but even proactively offered to increase the project budget to demonstrate sincerity. Meanwhile, Tai Feng Resources' Southeast Asian branch faced overwhelming international media condemnation, strict investigation and heavy penalties from local governments, and the surging fury of shareholders. Wang Jun's career was essentially declared over.

Overnight, Yu Ling's name became a legend within Genesis. From a cast-off almost designated for "replacement" to the meritorious hero who turned the tide with a single decisive stroke, this massive reversal earned her unprecedented praise, awe, and... attention.

Lin Wei personally applied for a generous project bonus and an exceptional promotion nomination for her. In executive meetings, her name was repeatedly mentioned with undisguised appreciation. Colleagues who had once questioned her ability now regarded her with nothing more than admiration and a trace of hard-to-detect detachment. As for Zhou Qian, the woman who had almost driven her to absolute ruin, she vanished completely, reportedly transferred to a marginal department.

Walking down the company corridors, Yu Ling could clearly feel the gazes cast upon her—probing, envious, and even carrying a hint of cautious flattery. Next to her workstation, people began proactively sharing snacks and asking for advice. She was no longer the cautious newcomer who had to tread on thin ice, but a core backbone wielding true authority and weight.

All this halo and transformation gave Yu Ling a surreal, dreamlike sense of unreality. She reveled in the sense of achievement and respect earned through wisdom and courage (and... someone's precise "hints"), while the small shadow in the back of her mind concerning Zhao Chen's secret seemed temporarily washed away by this career high. She even began proactively working overtime, immersing herself in the fulfilling momentum of the smooth project progression, attempting to fill the deliberate ignorance of her lingering unease with busyness.

Friday evening, downstairs at Genesis Tower.

The setting sun melted like gold, gilding the glass curtain walls with a warm hue. The rush hour traffic was already turning clamorous. Just as Yu Ling stepped out of the revolving doors, she was called by a bright, clear voice.

"Sister Ling! Wait up!"

Turning around, Yu Ling saw Chen Mo, the intern newly transferred to their project team, jogging to catch up. Chen Mo was a master's graduate who had studied abroad; sunny, handsome, exceptionally capable, and cheerful, he had won everyone's affection shortly after arrival with his outstanding communication and coordination skills. At this moment, his face carried the vitality characteristic of a young man accompanied by a trace of shyness.

"Sister Ling, regarding the detailed agenda for next week's kickoff meeting with Hongyuan, I've sorted out a few more optimization points. I wanted to run them by you to see if you have a moment," Chen Mo said, handing over a tablet. The screen displayed densely packed yet well-organized meeting schedules. "It's mainly about the parallel processes in the technical integration phase. I think we can compress the time further to boost efficiency." His gaze was focused, brimming with passion for work and a pursuit of perfection.

Yu Ling held a very favorable impression of this smart and hardworking intern. She took the tablet and, standing right under the bright light at the building entrance, began to look it over carefully. Chen Mo's ideas were indeed constructive, and his adjustment points all hit the crucial marks.

"Mm, this parallel setup logic is quite good," Yu Ling said, pointing at the screen with an approving smile on her face. "Especially moving the data validation forward to run synchronously during the testing phase—it can save at least half a day! Chen Mo, your efficiency awareness is quite something!" She raised her head to look at Chen Mo, her eyes holding pure appreciation for a subordinate's capability.

Chen Mo was slightly embarrassed by her direct praise, scratching the back of his head with a radiant smile. "Sister Lingflatters me! It's mainly because the framework you laid out earlier was so clear; optimizing downward from there felt much smoother. And this part here..." He leaned in slightly closer, his finger sliding across the screen to explain another adjustment point in detail. The two were not standing overly close, but in the bustling doorway, their absorbed figures cast long shadows in the setting sun, appearing somewhat... intimate.

Yu Ling was listening intently to Chen Mo's analysis, nodding from time to time, the corners of her lips curved in the pleasant satisfaction of work progressing smoothly.

Right at that moment, a low, gentle voice carrying a trace of imperceptible chill abruptly inserted itself between them like a ghost:

"Lingling?"

Startled, Yu Ling and Chen Mo raised their heads simultaneously.

Without warning, Zhao Chen was already standing beside them, close enough that the trace of cool evening breeze he carried was almost palpable. He was still wearing that washed-white pair of jeans and a simple white T-shirt, looking as fresh as a college student just stepping off campus. A mild, harmless smile hung on his face. His gaze first landed on Chen Mo's face with a well-calibrated politeness and a hint of a stranger's detachment, before instantly shifting back to Yu Ling, his eyes softening into an inquiring smile.

"What are you two chatting about? So engrossed?" His tone was as natural as a casual question, yet his arm moved with absolute naturalness and an unquestionable possessiveness, gently wrapping around Yu Ling's waist and pulling her slightly toward his side. The movement was as fluid as breathing, instantly shattering the subtle "colleague" boundary between Yu Ling and Chen Mo.

Flushed by his sudden closeness and territorial gesture, Yu Ling instinctively leaned half a step into his embrace before introducing him with some embarrassment, "Oh, this is Chen Mo, an intern from the project team. We were discussing the agenda for next week's kickoff meeting." She turned to the somewhat bewildered Chen Mo. "Chen Mo, this is my husband, Zhao Chen."

"Hello, Mr. Zhao!" Chen Mo reacted immediately, a polite smile plastering his face as he extended a hand. "Pleasure to meet you! Sister Ling talks about how considerate you are all the time at the office!" His words carried the cleverness and flattery typical of a young man.

"Hello, Chen Mo." Zhao Chen extended a hand for a light shake. His smile remained gentle, but his gaze operated like a precision scanner, lingering for a fraction of a second on Chen Mo's sunny, handsome face and slightly constrained posture before releasing his hand. His tone remained casual. "Lingling is dedicated to her work; I hope she hasn't been giving you too much trouble. You two go ahead and chat; I'll wait for her over here." As he spoke, his hand resting on Yu Ling's waist showed no intention of letting go. He merely shifted sideways slightly to give the appearance of not intruding, though his eyes remained fixed on the pair with a silent, intensely palpable presence.

Chen Mo felt somewhat uneasy under this gentle yet oppressive gaze, especially given Zhao Chen's hand resting on Yu Ling's waist like an invisible barrier. Even if he were dense, he could sense the subtle "territorial claim" hanging in the air. He hastily shoved the tablet back into Yu Ling's hands and sped up his speech, "Sister Ling, I've emailed the specific adjustments to you! Just take a look when you have a chance! I won't disturb you and Mr. Zhao any longer! Have a great weekend!" With that, he practically bolted like a fugitive, hurrying away to merge into the stream of departing commuters.

Looking at Chen Mo's hasty retreat and then at Zhao Chen beside her, who wore a gentle smile as if nothing had happened, Yu Ling was torn between laughter and tears. "What are you doing? You scared the poor kid!" She gave him a light poke in the ribs with her elbow, her tone carrying a hint of playful reproach.

"Kid?" Zhao Chen raised an eyebrow, lowering his gaze to look at her. His amber eyes were filled with innocence and a trace of well-hidden grievance. "I thought he looked pretty tall, handsome, and capable, chatting so intensely with you. I figured some powerful new talent had joined your project team." His tone carried a hint of sourness, and the arm around her waist tightened slightly, guiding her toward the direction of the parking lot. "Lingling is a major contributor to the company now, and even new interns idolize you. This 'househusband' is feeling a lot of pressure."