Chapter 144: So Much Fun in the Office? Sister-in-Law: Xu Hao Is My Husband:
The bustling Chu Group office was filled with whispers among the employees.
“It scared me to death this morning! People from so many departments came in to interrogate and arrest. I thought the company was done for!”
“Honestly, it’s all the CEO’s fault. Instead of managing the company well, he had to engage in illegal activities.”
“Be careful with what you say. Mr. Chu is history now, and we must show respect to CEO Yao.”
“The company was in complete chaos earlier. Even Mr. Chu’s wife couldn’t handle it. Thankfully, Mr. Xu stepped in. He calmed everyone down and helped her take over as CEO.”
“Yes! Mr. Xu is not only handsome but also polite and approachable. He doesn’t have any airs about him and is incredibly loyal to his friends. I wish I could transfer to the Xu Group!”
These excited conversations came from the employees as they discussed Xu Hao’s role in stabilizing the company.
Nearby, a man in maintenance clothes listened to their chatter, his expression dark as night.
If Xu Hao were present, he would immediately recognize him—it was none other than Zheng Feifan.
Ever since Zheng Feifan saw the news about Chu Xiong and the Chu Group, he felt something was off. Deciding to investigate for himself, he came to the Chu Group.
Upon entering, he was bombarded with praise for Xu Hao, which only deepened his dissatisfaction.
Before long, Zheng Feifan arrived at the CEO’s office.
He paused, recalling that Chu Xiong had been arrested, leaving his wife, Yao Xinrui, as the acting CEO.
The image of the beautiful, mature woman he had seen in Chu Xiong’s study surfaced in his mind.
Her figure, face, and temperament rivaled that of Lin Chuqing, yet her mature charm set her apart. The thought of such a stunning woman now holding a powerful position made his heart race.
“With Chu Xiong out of the picture, isn’t this my chance? “ Zheng Feifan’s thoughts wandered to inappropriate places.
Just as he was lost in his musings, the sound of a door opening pulled him back to reality.
He instinctively turned to appear as though inspecting the surroundings, but his eyes darted to the office door.
What he saw froze him in place.
Xu Hao emerged from the CEO’s office.
Zheng Feifan quickly lowered the brim of his cap, his heart seething with hatred and confusion.
Why was Xu Hao coming out of the CEO’s office?
Then he saw her.
Following Xu Hao was Yao Xinrui. Her face was slightly flushed, a faint sheen of sweat visible on her forehead, and her eyes carried a hint of springtime warmth. Her movements seemed a bit unsteady.
The implications were clear.
Alone in the office, a man and a woman… it wasn’t hard to guess what had transpired.
Zheng Feifan stood frozen in shock, his thoughts racing. Throughout the company, employees spoke of Xu Hao as Chu Xiong’s good friend, someone who shared tea and called him “brother.”
Is this how Xu Hao treats his so-called brother?
Barely after Chu Xiong’s arrest, Xu Hao was already entangled with his wife. And to think it happened right here, in the office.
Zheng Feifan’s disgust for Xu Hao deepened.
He had suspected Xu Hao of being ruthless enough to kill his father to seize shares, but this revelation exceeded even his worst assumptions.
“No matter how shameless you are, you don’t go after your friend’s wife!”
Even Zheng Feifan, despite his feelings for Lin Chuqing—his brother’s fiancée—had refrained from taking action. Of course, his double standards didn’t occur to him.
The more he observed Yao Xinrui’s and Xu Hao’s interaction, the more convinced he became that this wasn’t a recent development.
Could it be… Xu Hao and Yao Xinrui were together before Chu Xiong was arrested?
The realization hit him like a ton of bricks.
Xu Hao had carefully orchestrated everything.
Under the guise of friendship, he had taken advantage of his connections to Chu Xiong, gathered evidence, and had him sent to jail.
The pieces fit perfectly.
Chu Xiong’s illegal activities were highly secretive—ordinary people couldn’t uncover them.
Even Zheng Feifan, with his resources, would have needed considerable time to find such evidence. But Xu Hao had both the capability and the motive.
What a meticulous and ruthless plan, Zheng Feifan thought, his heart filling with murderous intent.
While others admired Xu Hao’s loyalty and righteousness, Zheng Feifan saw his true face—a man willing to betray his closest allies for power and gain.
[Ding! Zheng Feifan is furious. Emotional points +999.]
As Xu Hao exited the building, he noticed the maintenance worker—Zheng Feifan in disguise. Recognizing him immediately, Xu Hao chose to ignore him.
The emotional points he could draw from Zheng Feifan had diminished greatly, and his once-bright halo of luck was now faint and dim.
“When the time is right, I’ll deal with him and his sister together.” Xu Hao thought, smirking.
He stopped before leaving entirely, glancing back at Yao Xinrui.
“Why are you stopping, husband?” she asked, her tone carrying an unexpected warmth.
The word husband flowed naturally from her lips, filled with genuine affection.
In just one day, Xu Hao had transformed her life. He had taken her from a helpless position, struggling to manage the company amidst its turmoil, to the owner of a business empire worth tens of billions.
Looking at Xu Hao with gratitude, she felt an unshakable sense of security.
‘With him behind me, I have nothing to fear.’
Throughout this turbulent period, every obstacle and trouble was resolved by Xu Hao with ease. To oppose him was a nightmare, but to be on his side brought an overwhelming sense of security.
Even Yao Xinrui found herself increasingly trusting and dependent on Xu Hao, her thoughts now filled with his presence.
Not far away, Zheng Feifan pretended to inspect his surroundings while eavesdropping intently.
He overheard Yao Xinrui calling Xu Hao "husband," and his heart felt like it had been stabbed.
The realization that she was referring to Xu Hao only worsened the pain. His chest burned with envy and hatred, confirming his suspicions—Xu Hao and Yao Xinrui had been involved long before Chu Xiong’s downfall.
"Sister-in-law, do you truly want me to leave?" Xu Hao’s tone was teasing, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
Yao Xinrui was momentarily stunned.
They had done everything they shouldn’t have, even saying their goodbyes in the office moments ago. Why was Xu Hao asking such a question?
Despite her confusion, she replied softly, "Of course I don’t want you to go. I still want to be with you tonight. Didn’t you mention you had something to take care of at home?"
Zheng Feifan clenched his fists tightly.
Together tonight? For what? He couldn’t believe this mature and elegant woman could be so brazen.
He quickly rationalized it—this must be Xu Hao’s doing.
Xu Hao must have manipulated and trained her, just as he had likely done with others, like the landlady Xiao Wanling.
A thought sparked in Zheng Feifan’s mind: what if he revealed Xu Hao’s true nature to Yao Xinrui?
She was older and wiser than most; surely, she would see through Xu Hao and turn against him.
If she did, Xu Hao’s plans to embezzle the Chu family’s wealth would crumble.
“And when she leaves Xu Hao, I’ll step in and win her over. Then, the Chu Group will fall into my hands!”
Thinking this to himself, Zheng Feifan’s confidence grew, and a sly grin appeared across his face.
But his smirk vanished the moment he overheard Xu Hao’s next words.
"I can’t leave without a farewell ceremony, can I?" Xu Hao said playfully, his voice light and teasing.
Yao Xinrui instantly understood what he meant. Her face flushed as memories of their previous encounters surfaced. Those had been in private settings—hotels, her home, or a small office—not in the hallway of the Chu Group, where anyone could see them.
If someone caught her, the newly appointed CEO, in such a compromising situation, she wouldn’t be able to face anyone.
Yet, under Xu Hao’s unwavering gaze, she found it impossible to refuse. His assistance and influence had saved her and elevated her to this position. She owed him everything.
After nervously glancing around to ensure no one was watching, Yao Xinrui stood on tiptoes, intending to give him a quick peck to fulfill the “ceremony.” But as she leaned closer, Xu Hao tilted his head, drawing her into a deeper embrace.
Her eyes widened, her heart pounding wildly as she instinctively tried to pull away. But Xu Hao’s strength overpowered her.
[Ding! Yao Xinrui’s heartbeat speeds up. Emotional points +888.]
[Ding! Zheng Feifan’s mentality collapses. Emotional points +999.]
When Xu Hao finally released her, Yao Xinrui quickly stepped back, scanning the area in a panic. Her gaze froze when she noticed a maintenance worker not far behind Xu Hao.
"You..." she stammered, her body stiffening as she pointed toward the worker.
Xu Hao turned slightly, glancing at the man before replying nonchalantly, "He’s just a maintenance worker. Don’t worry about him."
"But what if he spreads rumors?" Yao Xinrui asked nervously.
Xu Hao’s calm and reassuring demeanor eased her fears. He was too cunning to let a minor oversight jeopardize their arrangement.
Still, Xu Hao had his suspicions about the maintenance man and chose to investigate further before leaving.
After Xu Hao departed, Yao Xinrui, regaining her composure, approached the worker to issue a warning.
"What did you see just now?" she asked coldly, her gaze sharp.
"I saw everything," Zheng Feifan replied, lifting his head to reveal his face.
"You... Zheng Feifan?" Yao Xinrui gasped in recognition. This was the same man who had stormed into Chu’s house to confront Chu Xiong.
Ignoring her shock, Zheng Feifan countered, "CEO Yao, why are you with that scumbag Xu Hao?"
Yao Xinrui hesitated, unsure of how to respond. Zheng Feifan’s anger indicated a deep grudge against Xu Hao.
Taking her silence as an opportunity, Zheng Feifan launched into an accusation. "Xu Hao isn’t who you think he is. He manipulates and deceives women for his gain. He did it to the landlady Xiao Wanling and even to Lin Chuqing. He uses drugs and cruel tricks to break people down."
He looked at her expectantly, waiting for outrage or disbelief.
But Yao Xinrui’s calm reaction stunned him.
"Is that all?" she asked indifferently, her tone filled with subtle amusement.
Zheng Feifan’s confidence wavered. "Aren’t you angry? Xu Hao is lying to you. He gathered evidence to send your husband to jail so he could steal the Chu family’s assets. He’s just using you as a tool to achieve his goals!"
Yao Xinrui’s eyes turned cold. "Are you finished?"
She had no illusions about Xu Hao’s character. He might have been calculating and ruthless, but he had always been honest with her. He had given her resources and support, treating her with a consideration that Chu Xiong never had.
"Let me be clear," she said, her voice firm. "Chu Xiong and I are over. Xu Hao is my husband now."
Zheng Feifan stared at her, dumbfounded, as the weight of her words sank in.