The agreed hour was nearly approaching and the president's secretary wasn't anywhere ready as she prepares to face what might be by far the most terrible crisis she had encountered throughout her career.

Xiu Mei grew even more nervous by the second which was quite unusual given that she was already quite used to having important meetings like this one. However… that was only possible because she could interact with them comfortably on her own and with her own mouth. But this time around, that was just purely impossible.

Her finger subconsciously tapping the table as her anxiety doubled. After squeezing every single cell in her brain, an idea finally hit her. Her head spun to glance at her busy assistant who was clearly drowning in papers yet Xiu Mei only flashed a grin as she thought of her plan.

At Paradise Dia Restaurant.

"Ms.Xiu, is this really fine?

" Her assistant asked for the third time while waiting in the private room.

Xiu Mei gave her a smile of confidence and wrote, 'It's far better to have you speak on my behalf than wasting President Ji's kindness by making him wait for me to finish typing in my answers just to converse with him.'

"But…

"

'You'll have to get used to attending this sort of meetings in the future, so just take this as an early practice.' Xiu Mei typed perfunctorily however her assistant thought otherwise as her eyes sparkled.

Xiu Mei's assistant:... Is Ms.Xiu being officially promoted as the lady boss sooner than expected?!

Her assistant nodded her head vigorously in excitement as her head was filled with the soon-to-be wedding. Xiu Mei didn't think much about her weird expression and just nodded while smiling thinking that her assistant must have understood her intention.

Clearly, she was just thinking that since her recovery doesn't seem to be coming anytime soon, and she couldn't just always rely on Lu Shao in attending this type of company-related activities given that he has his own share of work in the first place, then Xiu Mei could only pass these responsibilities to her assistant, whom she was originally training in the first place.

The two people with different thoughts patiently waited for their guests. A few minutes later, the Ji Group's President and two other people, whom Xiu Mei recognized to be the secretary and the other to be the Director of Operations of the Ji Group in the country, finally arrived.

Xiu Mei and her assistant quickly stood up and greeted the guests, extending her hand for a polite handshake.

"Ms. Xiu, we apologize for pushing you to go through with this meeting even though you've already requested for this to be rescheduled.

" The Director opened his mouth first as he expressed his sincere apology after sitting down on the opposite side of the table following after the President and the secretary.

Xiu Mei would have quickly replied however she could only nod and put a smile on her face as she gestured for her assistant to speak on her behalf.

"It should be us who should be apologizing. We were originally the ones who requested for this meeting to be rescheduled even though it might affect President Ji's activities. We are terribly sorry if we inconvenienced you in some way.

" Her assistant said in an apologizing tone. Both Xiu Mei and her assistant saw the change in their expressions as soon as her assistant spoke.

Xiu Mei instantly understood their thoughts. They must have thought that her assistant speaking first when the Director was talking to Xiu Mei was inappropriate or probably a bit disrespectful.

Her assistant wasn't stupid and quickly explained herself according to what she and Xiu Mei previously discussed before.

"Oh, apologies! Ms. Xiu is currently sick and she is temporarily unable to speak for the time being hence, I'll be doing the discussion on her behalf as her personal aide and Ms.Xiu will also be trying to communicate with us through the text-to-speech function in her phone if you have any questions.

"

The three people on the other side were expressionless, but they knew that the Ji Group's President and his other subordinates are scrutinizing the two of them, not as a person but as the Lu Group's secretary and her aide.

Xiu Mei didn't want to anger them but this was the only thing she could think of since they couldn't postpone this meeting.

The Ji Group's President first opened his mouth, signifying that her assistant could continue talking making Xiu Mei secretly sigh in relief. At least, he was willing to proceed with their meeting.

The late lunch concluded an hour later. After sending off the Ji Group's President and the others, Xiu Mei returned to the office with her assistant.

The meeting didn't turn bad but it wasn't the best either….was what Xiu Mei thought while traveling back to the office. She wasn't satisfied with the results of the meeting, but because of her inability, she could only do so much and it seems that she'll have to further train her assistant in a lot of stuff if she is to be the President's secretary in the future.

The two of them took the private elevator heading straight to the top floor, and so, Xiu Mei dived into Lu Shao's table to check if there are any doc.u.ments that need immediate attention while her assistant started working on the conclusion of their meeting with the Ji Group.

Xiu Mei would often check her phone every half an hour, hoping that person would at least send her a short message to where he was or if he's fine or just anything.

At least, just to let her know that he's alive or anything.

She didn't stay too long at the office after finishing some urgent doc.u.ments. After sending orders and instructions to her assistant on what she needs to do for the rest of the day and tomorrow, just in case that the Lu Chen and Lu Shao are still not around.

She picked up Lu Qiang before going home and spent most of her time with her son. It was already late when she finished tucking him to bed yet her husband showed no hints of contacting her or returning home.

Xiu Mei sat at the edge of the bed, the side where Lu Chen usually sleeps beside her. She couldn't help but reach out to touch his pillow.

It was cold. Just like his owner.

Xiu Mei silently let out a half-suppressed laugh. She sat still there a little longer before laying down on Lu Chen's cold pillow. Her gaze lingered on the big space beside her.

This...since when did her bed felt this spacious?

To think that Lu Chen had only been gone for a day and she was already missing him this much already...truly, since when did she turn like this?

She had already been apart from Lu Chen far longer than this but somehow… she thought that this was the first time she felt this worst not seeing him at all.

Eventually, her eyes closed and she fell into slumber while worrying about Lu Chen.