Lin Zhi came out of the restroom and saw Zhou Congli and Assistant Zhang standing nearby. Assistant Zhang quickly asked, "Do you want to go to the hospital? You seem to be throwing up really badly."
Zhou Congli looked at her. "Last time you said you were going to the hospital, did you end up going? If not, go right now."
Lin Zhi felt completely drained. "No need. I'll go to the hospital when I have time off. I just need to go back and rest today, and I'll be fine." She shot Zhou Congli a somewhat resentful glance. Even if she went to the hospital, they couldn't cure her morning sickness!
She didn't know if it was some sort of father-child telepathy, but she hadn't reacted much to meat and greasy food before, yet just now she had thrown up violently.
Right now, she had absolutely no appetite and just wanted to go back to sleep.
Zhou Congli's expression was grim. "If you're sick, go see a doctor. Dragging it out will only make it worse."
Lin Zhi sighed helplessly inwardly and smiled at him. "Mr. Zhou, I'm really fine. I wouldn't joke around with my own health. You and Assistant Zhang should hurry and eat. I'll head back to the hotel first."
Given her condition, there was no way Zhou Congli would agree to that. He grabbed his coat. "I'll take you back."
Assistant Zhang quickly went to settle the bill for the meal.
Back at the hotel, Lin Zhi said her goodbyes and returned to her room to rest. Zhou Congli and Assistant Zhang took the elevator back to their respective floors.
Assistant Zhang remarked casually, "Why does it feel like Miss Lin's condition is a bit like... pregnancy?"
Zhou Congli paused, looking at him expressionlessly.
Assistant Zhang scratched his head. "That's exactly how my sister was when she was pregnant. She couldn't stand the smell of meat, threw up at the sight of fish, and could only eat things like fruit. She suffered a lot."
Zhou Congli's brows furrowed little by little. He wondered if Zhou Ye had taken advantage of the girl and hadn't even used protection.
"Mr. Zhou," Assistant Zhang said hesitantly. "Why did you tell me to stop investigating Miss Lin last time? What if..."
He wondered what they would do if the child was his boss's.
Zhou Congli shot him a cold glance. "She's my younger brother's girlfriend."
"Huh???"
Assistant Zhang's mouth fell open in shock. He felt like his brain was short-circuiting. Lin Zhi was his boss's younger brother's girlfriend?
"But then how could that pair of cufflinks—"
"That's why I told you to investigate."
Despite this, Zhou Congli's expression remained dark. He originally hadn't wanted to interfere in his brother's affairs, especially since Zhou Ye hadn't seemed all that into Lin Zhi the last time he saw him. At most, Zhou Ye had just thought she was pretty and pursued her out of a boy's natural curiosity about girls. They would probably break up before long anyway.
But now this mess had happened. If she was actually pregnant... He thought of how Lin Zhi had cried in his car.
He felt a headache coming on again.
"What did your sister eat?"
"Huh?" Assistant Zhang suddenly processed the question and thought for a moment. "Whatever was expensive. Durians, cherries, kiwis, strawberries..."
"Go to the hotel restaurant, see what they have, and send it to her. Some cake and things like that, too."
Lin Zhi had just finished showering and was lying in bed when she heard a knock at the door. When she opened it, she found Assistant Zhang delivering some fruit and small cakes.
"Mr. Zhou saw that you didn't eat tonight, so he asked me to bring these over," he said.
The way he looked at Lin Zhi now was completely different. Before, he had thought she was just a woman trying to climb into his boss's bed. But now, oh boy, it turned out she was Second Young Master Zhou's girlfriend! And seeing as how the boss also knew her identity, she had clearly already met the family. How impressive.
At the sight of the durian, Lin Zhi's mouth involuntarily watered. She smiled and took the food. "Please thank Mr. Zhou for me."
Assistant Zhang smiled brightly. "Get some rest early then. Bye-bye."
Lin Zhi nodded and closed the door. Looking at the items on the tray, she sat at the table and tasted them one by one. She found that the durian flavor suited her best and devoured it without hesitation, even polishing off a durian-flavored pizza.
Lying in bed, she looked down and rubbed her belly, musing that the little thing sure knew how to pick the expensive stuff to eat.
The next day, when she woke up and went downstairs for breakfast, she didn't see Assistant Zhang or Zhou Congli, but she paid it no mind. After eating, she contacted the food factory again, only to be told to wait once more.
Her expression darkened a little. Was President Zhang going to keep making things difficult for her?
She decided to go to the factory and see for herself. However, when she took a taxi there, she was told that President Zhang had gone out to discuss business with a partner and that she could go find him there.
Lin Zhi had no choice but to head over. When she arrived and realized it was a high-end private club, her expression completely clouded over.
It seemed someone had specifically left instructions, because as soon as she entered, she was led to a private room. The atmosphere inside was foul and smoggy. There were five or six older men, each with a scantily clad woman draped over his arms.
"Miss Lin is here? Come, sit." President Zhang patted the empty seat beside him.
Lin Zhi stood rooted to her spot. "President Zhang, I'm heading back today. When exactly do you plan to give me the report?"
President Zhang took a drag of his cigarette and puffed out a cloud of smoke. "I'll definitely give you the report. But Miss Lin, you made me a little unhappy last night. If you can drink these two bottles of liquor, I'll give it to you right away. How about it?"
Enduring the foul stench of smoke, Lin Zhi asked, "And if I don't drink them?"
"If you don't drink... well, I'm quite busy here and don't have the time to help you find any documents. Miss Lin, you'll just have to keep waiting here in C City." His shameless look had the men around him roaring with laughter, and the women in their arms giggled along.
"Miss, you'd better hurry up and drink. Otherwise, President Zhang isn't going to let you off the hook."
"Yeah, miss, it's just two bottles. You'll finish them in no time."
Lin Zhi furrowed her brows. "President Zhang, why make things difficult for a lowly employee like me? I'm just here to pick up some documents. I'll leave as soon as I have them."
President Zhang sneered. "Now you know how to talk softly to me? Too late! Yesterday, I asked you to drink a glass of wine and you absolutely refused to give me face! Let me tell you the truth: today, not only do you have to drink, but you also have to spend the night with me. Otherwise, don't even think about taking those documents back. And even when you return to Dongning, I won't let you off easily!"
His gloomy face was full of arrogance and ruthlessness.
Lin Zhi was speechless. Was this a classic case of a petty tyrant abusing his meager power? Making things difficult for a lowly employee was bad enough, but he was actually threatening her to sleep with him!
BZZZ BZZZ.
Her phone vibrated. She glanced at it, saw it was an unknown number, and silenced it. Looking at President Zhang, she said, "If that's the case, then I'll come back for the report tomorrow." She turned to leave.
President Zhang's face instantly darkened. He took large strides after her. "Trying to leave? Stop her!"
A waiter quickly shut the door to block her. Lin Zhi swung her bag and smashed it right into the waiter's face. While the man clutched his nose in pain, she seized the chance to shove the door back open. By this time, President Zhang had reached the doorway. She yelled at the top of her lungs, "Just try and touch me!"
President Zhang chuckled darkly. "You have no background and no connections. So what if I touch you?" He reached out to grab her.
Furious, Lin Zhi swung her bag and beat President Zhang with it as hard as she could. Suddenly, her wrist was grabbed. Startled, she snapped her head around, only to see Zhou Congli's dark, thunderous expression.
She froze. "Mr. Zhou?"
Zhou Congli pulled her into his arms and stepped back. Assistant Zhang and the three business partners from the night before charged forward and began pummeling President Zhang.
Lin Zhi watched in a daze. Seeing the three business partners scratch red marks all over President Zhang's face, she quickly turned her head away and buried her face in Zhou Congli's chest.
Zhou Congli stiffened slightly and looked down at her.
Lin Zhi blinked innocently. "I'm scared."