It was just as expected. The moment he spoke, his voice was cold and menacing. His brows furrowed, and the pressure emanating from him made the two people before him sweat.
"Wei Yumeng, who do you think is eager to have children with you? Stop being so deluded."
"Then what do you want me to do?"
She wanted ability, but she had none. Besides not causing him trouble, what else could she do?
Zhan Mohan walked up to her, his intense gaze locking onto hers.
"I want you... to stay of your own free will."
As for when this game would end, that was still up to him.
But the control had to be in his hands.
Wei Yumeng finally understood Zhan Mohan's thinking. He just wanted control; he could only feel at ease if everything was firmly in his grasp.
Once she agreed, unless Zhan Mohan chose to call it off, she would be confined to the Zhan family forever.
For Xin Ran's sake, she couldn't afford to worry about that anymore. Even if she didn't agree, Zhan Mohan wouldn't let her go anyway; the outcome would be the same.
Weighing the pros and cons, she nodded.
"I agree."
The man's cold fingertips gripped her chin. "This time, you'd better remember what you've said."
It was a calm statement, yet Wei Yumeng felt cold sweat trickling down her forehead and an inexplicable unease in her heart.
Wei Yumeng swallowed with difficulty. "Then when can you let Xin Ran out?"
"The day after tomorrow."
Wei Yumeng murmured, "The day after tomorrow..."
Xin's mother should still be able to hold on.
Seeing her brow furrowed, Zhan Mohan let out a mocking laugh.
"What, are you so eager to meet your lover?"
The day after tomorrow still felt too long.
Wei Yumeng didn't want to hide anything from him to avoid further misunderstandings.
"It was Xin Ran's mother who called me. She's very worried outside, so..."
"So you came to beg me?"
"Yes."
Hearing this, Zhan Mohan seemed to be in a much better mood.
"Go make me a cup of coffee."
"Okay." Wei Yumeng agreed readily. No matter what, Zhan Mohan was willing to let Xin Ran out, and that was good enough.
She went downstairs and brought a cup of coffee up to him.
"I didn't add milk. If you don't like it, I can make you another one."
Zhan Mohan took a sip but remained silent. Wei Yumeng watched him intently, afraid it wouldn't suit his taste.
"Is it... not good? I'll make you another one."
As she spoke, she reached out to take his cup, but Zhan Mohan pulled his hand away. Wei Yumeng looked bewildered.
The cold white light in the room cast a clear, defined outline on Zhan Mohan's face. His eyes were cast down, his long, dense eyelashes making his brown eyes appear even more profound, shimmering with faint light.
"From now on, you'll make the coffee in my office."
"Huh?"
Fang Xun quickly nudged Wei Yumeng towards the door.
"Mr. Zhan means that he likes the coffee you make, and from now on, you'll be in charge of his coffee at the company."
Wasn't she basically becoming an assistant?
Fang Xun walked Wei Yumeng to the door. "Madam, please get some rest. You don't need to wait for Mr. Zhan tonight; we might be working until tomorrow morning."
Wei Yumeng replied with embarrassment, "Who said I was waiting for him..."
It was better if he didn't come back to the room; it would avoid awkwardness lying in the same bed.
Tonight, she could finally sleep comfortably and peacefully.
The next morning, Wei Yumeng received a call from Ning Tao.
"Hello, Director Ning, what is it?"
"Wei Yumeng, did you take so much leave that you've forgotten your own name?"
"Wait a moment."
Wei Yumeng glanced at her phone screen and realized her leave had ended today, and she should be back at work.
"I'll be at the company immediately."
"Hurry up. You're attending a meeting with me today."
"Okay."
She threw off the covers and got up, getting ready as quickly as possible to leave.
By the time she rushed to the company, Ning Tao cast an irritable glance at her.
"If you take a few more days off, you might forget how to find the company."
"Sorry."
"Take these documents and come in with me. There's a problem with the Golden Harbor project, and Mr. Zhan has called a meeting for all middle management and above. However, with your position, you wouldn't normally be invited. I'll let you in today to broaden your horizons."
Wei Yumeng had no desire to broaden her horizons. Who wanted to face Zhan Mohan?
Ning Tao was clearly doing this on purpose.
Upon entering the conference room, before Wei Yumeng could even sit down, she felt the oppressive atmosphere. She cautiously scanned her surroundings and noticed that everyone else looked fearful.
Could this be related to Zhan Mohan and Fang Xun working overtime last night?
Before she could figure it out, she heard a hushed voice from the crowd.
"Mr. Zhan is here."
Wei Yumeng instinctively turned her head. Zhan Mohan strode in with a steady gait, exuding an aura of elite professionalism, aloof and distant. His well-tailored suit was as crisp as could be, without a single wrinkle.
She quickly averted her gaze.
However, the crowd erupted as if a pot had boiled over.
"How did Mr. Zhan's leg get better?"
"I don't know. Weren't they saying he was paralyzed and would have trouble standing up in this lifetime?"
"That must be good luck. I always thought Mr. Zhan was handsome, but now that he's standing, he's even more so."
"That's true. While he was handsome before, his charisma is even greater now. And look at those long legs, I'm so envious."
Ning Tao hadn't taken her eyes off Zhan Mohan since he entered.
"How can there be someone in this world as good-looking as him?"
Wei Yumeng noticed that all the female colleagues present were staring at Zhan Mohan. She also glanced at him again.
He was indeed very handsome. Even his every movement exuded an unattainable, almost ascetic aura.
Zhan Mohan opened the file and scanned everyone present with his sharp, hawk-like eyes.
"First, report to me the problems with the Golden Harbor project. All those responsible for this project will be held accountable. According to company regulations, not a single one will be spared."
Some people gasped in dismay.
"Not a single one... will be spared? But Mr. Zhan, this project went wrong because of Manager Ding's own issues. Even if there's accountability, shouldn't it just be him, without implicating others?"
Zhan Mohan's gaze was deep and dark, devoid of any light. His slightly raised brows carried a hint of cold mockery.
"If there's a problem in your department, am I not held responsible?"
This was to serve as a warning to people in other departments.
Fang Xun stood straight beside him, unsurprised by Mr. Zhan's decision.
He was always strict when it came to work, believing that no one would want to bear the severe consequences of making a mistake.
The subordinates still had objections.
"Mr. Zhan, won't the lower-level employees be too innocent?"
"Innocent?" The man raised his eyebrows in surprise, his deep, sharp eyes radiating a dangerous, wicked charm. "If today's crisis had endangered the interests or livelihoods of everyone present, would you still say that?"
The person lowered his head, completely silenced.
The conference room was silent, yet the atmosphere grew even more tense.
This was the first time Wei Yumeng had seen Zhan Mohan so angry. There were no shouts, just simple narration, yet it brought an invisible pressure.
Moreover, this man's methods were incredibly decisive. He gave those who made mistakes absolutely no leeway.
Fang Xun cleared his throat. "Does anyone else have any questions? If not, we can adjourn."
Everyone else stood up, gathering their files and leaving.
Ning Tao glanced at Wei Yumeng's surprised expression and said with a scornful smile.
"See? This isn't even Mr. Zhan's true capabilities. He cannot tolerate his employees making mistakes. If you don't behave yourself at the company, I can have you fired at any time!"
With a single mistake, she could be packing her bags the next day.
Only now did Wei Yumeng understand why Ning Tao had brought her to the conference room. It wasn't to promote her or teach her anything, but to warn her.
Indeed, people's hearts were unfathomable in this company. If a superior wanted you to make a mistake, you might end up taking the blame without even knowing why.
Ning Tao walked up to Zhan Mohan with her documents, her face once again adorned with a warm smile.
"Mr. Zhan, I think your decision just now was correct. As employees of the company, no matter what they do, they must take responsibility. They can't shirk their duties just because it wasn't their direct fault."
Zhan Mohan remained silent. He tidied the files on the table, then looked past Ning Tao at Wei Yumeng.
"Wait and bring a cup of coffee to my office later. The same taste as last night."