Black Bellied President Dotes on Wife Chapter 1648 - The meddlesome woman

Lou Ziling offered a smile when he realized Jing Xi knew. "It's merely a trivial matter. If I were to tell you, you would only become jealous again, and that's hardly worthwhile!"

"This is most certainly not a small matter! I absolutely will not permit them to bully you!"

Jing Xi invariably became enraged whenever the Zuo family was brought up. She yearned to teach Zuo Jia a lesson, but Lou Ziling consistently prevented her. Furthermore, given her current pregnant state, engaging in any form of conflict was ill-advised, compelling her to relinquish the idea.

"I shall inform my father and brother to confront Zuo Yan directly! What makes being a Mayor so special? He ought to be incarcerated for his abuse of power!"

Lou Ziling tenderly embraced Jing Xi, bestowing a kiss upon her temple. "This is my own concern, and you need not fret over it. I am fully capable of managing it; there is no necessity to involve them."

It would be utterly mortifying to burden his father-in-law with resolving such issues!

Nevertheless, this particular predicament left Lou Ziling with a considerable headache.

He sought out Zuo Jia, anticipating she would swiftly eliminate all impediments, much like in days past. Yet, to his surprise, the obstacles only seemed to multiply.

It was then that Lou Ziling truly grasped the extent of Zuo Jia's past contributions on his behalf.

He had, in fact, grown accustomed to Zuo Jia's discreet efforts and her unwavering support.

During her tenure at the company, everything had proceeded without a hitch. He recalled embarking on an extended journey with Jing Xi, and upon their return, the company remained remarkably stable. He had, at the time, presumed its growth was attributable to sound management. It was only after Zuo Jia's departure that the truth emerged: she had toiled tirelessly during those days, resolving every single issue that arose.

Zuo Jia represented the sole viable solution to the intricate problem involving the government's network connections.

Lou Ziling was acutely aware of this critical fact.

Consequently, he decided to approach Zuo Jia once more, this time arriving with an exceptionally valuable gift.

Given the considerable number of people present at her place of work, Lou Ziling opted against another visit there. Instead, he extended an invitation for her to meet at a secluded coffee shop for a private discussion.

Zuo Jia felt a wave of apprehension wash over her. She sensed a betrayal of Fu Rongting's trust by agreeing to meet Lou Ziling. However, her sentiments towards Lou Ziling were far from ordinary, and she found herself unable to simply abandon him in his time of need.

Overcome with nervousness, she failed to notice the cafe's steps upon entering, nearly tumbling down.

Lou Ziling instinctively reached out to steady her, but startled, she recoiled violently, succumbing to the fall.

Maintaining a composed demeanor, Lou Ziling grasped her arm and assisted her to her feet. "Zuo Jia, you are far too tense. Please, take a moment to relax."

Zuo Jia's forehead was already beaded with perspiration, and a noticeable pallor had settled on her face. "I am quite alright. Let us proceed inside!"

Lou Ziling observed her strained expression and felt a sense of bewilderment. Why was she acting as if they were engaged in an illicit affair, when their meeting was purely professional?

Her extreme agitation created an impression that would lead any observer to believe they were involved in something clandestine, despite the complete absence of any such impropriety between them!

It was apparent that Zuo Jia held her husband in high regard and harbored a deep fear of incurring his displeasure.

Lou Ziling could readily empathize with her concerns. After all, he acknowledged that Jing Xi would undoubtedly experience jealousy and anger if she were to learn of his meeting with Zuo Jia.

Thus, upon entering the cafe, he chose a discreet corner table and immediately broached the subject. "I require your assistance. I am prepared to relinquish all past grievances. Please accept this bank card containing five million Yuan as an initial deposit for our collaboration. Moving forward, the company will issue annual dividends, and you will be responsible for managing all government-related connections."

Lou Ziling placed the bank card into Zuo Jia's hand, but she promptly pushed it back. "No, I cannot possibly accept this! I have already discussed your situation with my father, but I have yet to sway his opinion. Please do not be overly anxious; await his cooling temper, and I shall endeavor to resolve these matters for you."

From Zuo Jia's perspective, she felt a personal obligation to help Lou Ziling extricate himself from the predicament she had inadvertently caused.

She found the idea of accepting Lou Ziling's money unbearable, as it would weigh heavily on her conscience.

Lou Ziling, however, remained resolute in his intention to provide her with financial compensation. He believed that accepting the money would alleviate her unease and motivate her to exert her utmost effort in assisting him.

He had always adopted a pragmatic approach towards others; with the exception of Jing Xi, all other women were merely instruments to be leveraged for the expansion of his resources.

Yet, Zuo Jia stood apart from his previous romantic entanglements. She had once genuinely offered him her heart, and as a result, Lou Ziling could not bring himself to pursue her further.

"Please, take the money. The dividends will be transferred to this account henceforth. This arrangement is solely a professional collaboration, devoid of any other implications. Once my current issue is resolved, I shall cease all contact to prevent any potential misunderstandings."

Unable to refuse his insistent offer, Zuo Jia accepted the card.

She departed from the cafe before him, retrieving her handbag and entering the brand-new vehicle that Fu Rongting had purchased for her.

Glancing back, she observed Lou Ziling emerge from the cafe. A wry smile touched her lips as she watched him enter his car and drive away with an impassive expression.

Having now extricated herself from that particular emotional entanglement, she finally perceived Lou Ziling for the undeniably cold individual he truly was.

When she was useful, he would utilize her without a second thought. When she was no longer of use, he would cruelly cast her aside. Was this man's heart made of stone?

Or perhaps, his heart was warm and tender, but that softness was reserved solely for Jing Xi. Zuo Jia lightly brushed her fingers against the bank card. Lou Ziling's body temperature seemed to linger on the plastic, yet it conveyed only a chilling sensation. At times, wealth could signify a man's affection for a woman; at other times, it could starkly reveal his ruthlessness. In dramatic television series, the classic method for a man to dismiss a woman involved presenting a hefty sum of money with the command, "Please leave!"

Leaning against the steering wheel, Zuo Jia gradually regained her bearings. The last vestiges of her affection for Lou Ziling had vanished completely. An overwhelming sense of loneliness washed over her, and her yearning for Fu Rongting intensified as never before.

Meanwhile, Fu Rongting, the very subject of Zuo Jia's longing, received a collection of photographs on his mobile device. Every image captured Zuo Jia and Lou Ziling together, with the final one depicting Lou Ziling driving away. Zuo Jia was seated inside the car, gazing intently at him. The photographer's skill was evident; the quality suggested professional training.

Shortly after the images were sent, Fu Rongting's phone chimed. A distinctly familiar female voice purred, "Rongting, what a coincidence. Your wife stopped by my café for coffee. I thought you'd want to know she's seeing another man behind your back. You won't fault me for meddling, will you?" The woman's voice flowed like water, distinct from Zuo Jia's gentler tone. Hers possessed a captivating allure, with a lingering cadence at the end that could make one blush and their heart quicken. Merely hearing the voice conjured a single descriptor: a stunner. Yet, Fu Rongting remained utterly unmoved. His gaze turned icy, and his voice cut through the air like frost, "Wu Wei, your reach is too long!"

The photographer's professionalism indicated this wasn't a spontaneous shot of Zuo Jia and Lou Ziling. It was clearly a premeditated act, likely with the photographer anticipating their rendezvous. Wu Wei, her scheme exposed, showed no sign of embarrassment. She chuckled charmingly, "Indeed, my reach is long. Who asked you not to favor me? If I can't have happiness, seeing you happy will only make me incredibly jealous!" Ever since being callously abandoned by Ji Muxuan, Wu Wei had begun leveraging her beauty to ensnare powerful men. She had identified Fu Rongting as a prime prospect, a man of immense potential, yet her attempts to seduce him had repeatedly failed.