The Female CEO Falls in Love with Me

(Today's surprise: discovered that Goose Exam made an appearance in the book review area, even the idol brother is reading Mixed, what an honor; but also frustration: heard another rather tragic news...)

Because of his own identity concerns, Li Yan is an experienced player in the world of entertainment, suppressing himself nowhere, but in terms of romance, he has always avoided it.

Even during the past two years when he took vacations in the city, he encountered all sorts of women, including some decent one-night stands where the other party had intentions for deeper development, but he never retained his feelings.

In matters of true feelings, he's no better at managing than a typical innocent boy. However, his experience, character, temperament, etc., just make it less apparent.

But that is only because he is unwilling to face romantic emotions. Once he truly faces them, with his observation and analytical skills, he would definitely accept it faster than a teen boy.

Queen is undoubtedly a very important person in his life. However, he used to consider her as a life-and-death friend, a loyal subordinate, and a competent partner all in one. Since they had spent many years together, and when he first brought her out, she was still a little girl, so he never had any romantic thoughts, instead feeling like she was family. So over the years, he never realized Queen's true thoughts.

But when she came around, Li Yan's emotional world had already been invaded by Zhang Yurong, Yu Xiaodi, and others one after another, already causing ripples, no longer peaceful.

Gradually, he discovered and focused on some details he previously ignored, especially the almost telepathic understanding between the two. From Queen's eyes, he more than once glimpsed her deepest thoughts. Reflecting thoughtfully on all the times, it wasn't hard to realize and guess her feelings.

However, Queen seemed very content with fulfilling her current role as Yue Yao. As long as she stayed by them as a best friend or sister, helping him handle matters, protecting Yurong's safety, it seemed she was satisfied. And from the time she arrived up to her recent words, everything was for bringing him and Zhang Yurong together, never considering herself.

Only someone who consistently persists in such a way is either a deeply scheming villain or someone willing to sacrifice and let go for accomplishment. Yue Yao is certainly not the former; she even has a bit of emotional martyrdom about her.

Having fully realized and seen through all this, Li Yan couldn't help but, after her thought-provoking words, say the words he had understood not long ago.

...

"Queen, what about you? What about you?"

Li Yan's voice was very soft, like a self-murmured sigh, but in Yue Yao's ears, it was like a thunderbolt on a clear day!

These words seemed to say nothing, but Yue Yao was very clear, he knew! He knew her feelings, and it was asked as 'Queen'.

But for her, this was not a surprise!

Because Yue Yao was not sure he would fall for her, otherwise, after so many years, there would have been some sign by now. She wasn't sure if Li Yan knew her feelings, but compared to the awkwardness after revealing them, she preferred the current calm.

"What are you talking about? I don't know what you're talking about..." Yue Yao avoided his gaze, looking outside the balcony.

"A certain entomologist and his businessman friend were strolling and chatting in a park. Suddenly, he stopped as if he heard something. His businessman friend asked what was wrong. The entomologist said excitedly he heard a cricket chirping, and it was a superior cricket. But the businessman struggled to hear anything..."

Yue Yao found it puzzling when Li Yan suddenly began telling a completely unrelated story, remaining silent as she listened to him continue.

"The entomologist ran to a nearby grove and soon found a big cricket. The businessman friend realized that not only did the entomologist truly hear it, but he could also distinguish the species. The entomologist explained that different sizes of crickets make different sounds, even crickets of different colors do, though the differences are extremely subtle, indescribable by words, and can only be distinguished by heart.

Later, they left the park and walked on a bustling sidewalk. Suddenly, the businessman also stopped, bent down, and picked up a coin that had fallen on the ground, while the entomologist hadn't heard the coin drop at all."

Yue Yao, familiar with Li Yan, couldn't figure out the connection between this story and his earlier words.

"What does this imply?"

"The entomologist's heart was with insects, so he could hear their chirping and distinguish differences. The businessman's heart was with money, so even the sound of a coin falling could be noticed. I suddenly remembered this story, wanting to talk about the differences between now and then..."

Li Yan looked at Yue Yao and continued, "In the past, my heart was all on tasks and 'them', so I couldn't observe other things; but recently, my heart has been increasingly towards other aspects, so I realized some situations that I previously ignored."

Yue Yao was silent. At this point, she already understood very well. Li Yan was explaining to her that he hadn't paid attention to her feelings before, so he overlooked them. Only recently, as he began to embrace emotions, did he start to notice.

Neither of them spoke.

After thinking for a while, Yue Yao gently parted her lips and softly said, "A entomologist discovering a cricket doesn't necessarily need to find it out, quietly leaving might be better. A businessman discovering a coin can also let it roll on its own. What he should focus on is the money ahead..."

Li Yan was silent for a moment and then asked, "But if it's not for show, but genuine concern?"

"Then you should think carefully about whether that's appropriate." Yue Yao was relieved she hadn't revealed more. She had already expressed her opinion. If it isn't right or appropriate, revealing it would only hurt everyone.

Understanding her thoughts, Li Yan nodded silently. At this moment, he really couldn't promise anything. Even knowing her feelings, he couldn't give her anything. So why bother? Perhaps if they continued talking, Yue Yao might choose to leave or keep her distance.

Maybe it would have been better not to say anything just now...

After another silent moment, Yue Yao smiled and said, "Alright, stop thinking so much. I'm fine. Listen to what I just said, and go have a good communication with Yurong!"

"Alright, you take an early rest." Li Yan turned and left.

Watching Li Yan's silhouette, Yue Yao stood there in a daze, looking both sorrowful and joyful... No matter what, the fact that he knew her feelings meant there was less regret.

...

Li Yan knocked on the door to Zhang Yurong's home office, where she was busy in front of the computer.

"Do you need something?"

At this hour, it could only be him or Yue Yao coming over. Zhang Yurong wasn't surprised at all.

Li Yan walked in and sat down on a rest sofa opposite the desk, then said, "Yurong, take a break. Let's have a good talk."

He patted the seat beside him, signaling Zhang Yurong to come over. Some things are better said when you're close rather than at a distance.

Zhang Yurong frowned slightly, seemingly guessing his intentions. Soon, she nodded, got up, and walked over to sit beside Li Yan.

"Yurong, your appearance, background, and abilities... In every respect, you are exceptional. Given your conditions, even being in a secret yet nominal marriage with me is quite a grievance, isn't it? I know you're doing it all for your father, out of filial duty..."

They had been together for more than half a year. In the past two months, they've only had several conversations and communications, but from the beginning to now, they've never touched upon a core issue. And that's the issue of their marriage!

This is what tied the two of them together, and it's also the biggest problem between them. From the start, everyone thought it wouldn't last long, so they avoided this issue. Mentioning it was equivalent to preparing for a breakup, for a divorce.

Now there was already a difference between them compared to before. Bringing this issue up no longer had the same impact, but discussing it for the first time brought back memories of those unendurable, forcedly smiling days from half a year ago. How could Zhang Yurong not feel wronged?

From a young age, she was exceptionally talented, completing her academic tasks much quicker than others. She founded her own investment company before she was even twenty and later merged it with the Paradise Group, moving into the company's management and eventually taking over as president. Everything in her career was within her grasp. Although becoming the president was due to her father Zhang Tianyi's health issues and was somewhat rushed and hurried, she was able to handle it. To her, it was just another challenge.

Zhang Yurong always felt lucky in the sense that in academics and career, her father gave her much leeway without much interference. He only required that she enters Paradise Group at the right time. Besides that, she never faced issues like marriages of convenience that other wealthy heirs may encounter for the sake of interest!

Even though she later withstood the pressure and achieved greatness, the larger the company grew, the greater the pressure became. Why do so many top national brands end up in foreign hands? Aside from considerations of capital operations and company development, such a move is often driven by competition pressures stemming from asymmetrical resources and policy differences. After all, the words "national brand" can't be cashed as checks. Zhang Tianyi later turned the company into a group, diversifying to dilute risks.

For entrepreneurs like him, with insufficient higher connections, marriage alliances are often a common strategy. For someone like Zhang Yurong, who has been outstanding since childhood, there's no shortage of elite wealthy families wanting her to become a daughter-in-law, nor a lack of talented young men hoping to become a son-in-law. But Zhang Tianyi always stood his ground under pressure, insisting that these decisions were up to his child with no consideration for profit.

This made Zhang Yurong very grateful. Being engrossed in her career, she still hadn't dated in her twenties. Originally, she planned to consider personal matters once she firmly held her position as president. Little did she expect her father's condition to worsen, and even more unexpected was that her father quietly arranged a marriage for her, forcing her into matrimony so simply and hastily! (Lend me 20 monthly passes, let Mixed reach seventh in the urban category!)

(Thanks to the brothers who gave rewards yesterday: Yi He, Forgot How to Love., If Only~Snow, Shao Yan Chicken Wings, Roaming Glue123, Playboy Under the Moon and Flowers, Leng Xingyu, dongmin8061, Past and Future, CP Pampas) (to be continued, to know what happens next, please log in to www.qidian.com, more chapters available, support the author, support legitimate reading!)