The Emperors Pampered Wife

The pitter-patter of water droplets on the bright sunny day suddenly sent everyone in a panic. Mothers picked up their children and those crossing in the road or walking down the street instantly held their hands up to cover their heads and ran at full speed. The drowned-out voice of the droplets suddenly boomed as it became deadly and strong. The wind accompanied it in its journey making skirts and dresses blossom like a rose. Everyone ran away from the open instantly filling in the empty restaurants and places.

Everyone hid, except the CEO of one of the great companies in the Imperial. Jian Lan Group's CEO, Hou Guanyu walked out of his office after grabbing his coat and strode towards the elevator. He was in a hurry and his employee can see it clearly. Normally, he'd walk down slow and greet them but today seems different. His long time assistant, Chu Jin and the new secretary Miss Yuri was behind him, both also wearing their professional look.

"Did you see CEO Hou? Do we have important visitors today?" one of the employees asked right after the elevator doors closed.

Those who were holding their breath suddenly sighed in relief. They thought it was the end of their career. As they were new there they thought that if the CEO becomes like that someone ought to get kicked out.

"I thought he was going to fire someone" they cried out.

The ones who had been there for a long time only shook their head. "If it were important visitors, CEO would normally be happy"

Her friend nodded her head in agreement. "Something must have happened back at their household"

A young woman in her 20s suddenly exclaimed "It must be terrible for the CEO to be like that"

There was silence at the older one's table. Instead of agreeing with her, they smiled and proceeded with their work. Shi Yuan, one of the closest employees to the CEO shook her head at them. "He may seem stoic...but he's actually holding back his joy. This only means she's coming back"

The other employees gave her a confused look but Shi Yuan had already returned to her office without even explaining anything in detail. She was such a cliffhanger, now everyone wants to find out who she's referring to.

.....

Meanwhile, inside the elevator, an oblivious Chen Yuri stood behind CEO Hou. As his secretary, she ought to know who he's meeting or if any visitors had suddenly shown up. She was supposed to be the one who gets their call first...but she received none that would warrant their CEO to take eager steps.

"Sir, the driver is waiting outside, shall I ask someone to wait outside the airport?" Assistant Chu Jin said and was ready to call someone.

But Guanyu suddenly spoke. "She wants her car, let someone drive it there and give it to her"

Now Yuri was much more confused. [Did his daughter go abroad?]

That can't be, she fetched Young Lady Jei Li yesterday and Miss Chungsa went to make trouble again yesterday so she can't possibly be abroad. Besides, if she did go, the possibility of her returning right afterward is only 5%. She's a spoiled little princess, she'd go shopping and touring first before she decides to return.

She wants to ask but she'd be admitting her shortcomings for not knowing what's going on. So she decided to just stand back and go with the flow.

"Are you not going there, sir? She's finally back in the country, shouldn't  you be there to greet her?" Chu Jin asked boldly. Yuri however was not surprised.

In her short time, she had already noticed that the CEO does not treat Chu Jin as a mere assistant. Even if Chu Jin asks or says something that seems insulting to others, CEO Hou only acknowledges the insult and even thank him for the criticism. Perhaps it's because he's been with him for a very long time...or his insults simply made sense.

Guanyu looked at Chu Jin and nodded his head. "I want to, but you know her well. Now that she has a job she'd focus on that first. Worse, she might kick me if I go there with all the cars and the guards"

This time, Yuri was more convinced they weren't talking about Hou Chungsa or Hou Jei Li. If it was her she'd ask CEO Hou to bring all the cars he can get and all the men he can hire to show off her wealth. Hou Jei Li is so young to have a job. So who are they talking about?

"I understand your predicament. The young miss is indeed a hard one to handle, but it would still work out fine if you went" Chu Jin answered with all honesty.

"I'll meet her when it's time. That daughter of mine...she can do fine even without me around" their CEO answered with both disappointment and adoration.

He does miss her, but what can he do? He had done a terrible job as his father forcing her to leave the country. If she ever does hold resentment, he'll feel so bad he might get sick. So he needs to fortify himself. Until he can accept his daughter's words, he'll delay their meeting.

Yuri fell into a complete thinking mode. [Does the CEO have other daughters than Jei Li and Chungsa?]

Suddenly, she took an analyzing glance at their CEO. [Such a mighty man, the possibility of him having an illegitimate daughter is high. He might even have a lot of it]

Chu Jin took a glance at Yuri and noticed the slight change in her expression. He smiled, fully knowing what's running in her head.

A ting sound interrupted his staring as the elevator halted and opened up. Guanyu took the first step, followed by Chu Jin and Yuri. The men he had arranged greeted them and handed Chu Jin two pairs of umbrellas. Yuri took one and Chu Jin had the big one.

Once outside, Chu Jin made sure not a single drop of water touched their CEO. He was doing this job for a long time and knows very well how Guanyu hated getting damp.

"I'll be preparing the house for her, make sure you bring the things I asked you tonight" Guanyu ordered as he boarded the car.

"Well then, I'll be leaving. Call me if anything happens" he added and finally closed the window. Chu Jin and Yuri bowed down, each now holding their umbrella. The car drove at high speed at Guanyu's command leaving the two under the rain.

Yuri looked at Chu Jin and opened her mouth. But she was too nervous that a word never came out. If she asks, isn't she stepping out of bounds? The matter is much personal that if she asks Chu Jin might lash out at her for being nosy.

"I know what you're going to ask. But ask anyway. I know it's not a matter that can warrant your dismissal" he said and looked at her. Yuri nodded her head and gulped before looking at the empty road their CEO took.

"Does the CEO have an illegitimate daughter?"

Chu Jin sighed and shook his head. "He only has two daughters and has no illegitimate ones at all. You met Young Lady Jei Li already"

Yuri looked at him confused. But their CEO said 'that daughter of mine'. In shock, she looked at him. "Then he has a mistress, and he calls her daughter?"

This question took Chu Jin by surprise. He doesn't know if he was ought to laugh or bring her to a psychiatrist for thinking such a thing.

Who would even dare call their mistress, daughter? Such a question was idiotic but he does not blame her at all. She had only entered the company 3 months ago and she knew nothing like the others.

"Do you think Chungsa's attitude is what a lady of the Hou Household would act...much more a daughter he took care and raised?" he asked and turned around.

Yuri ran behind him, still confused about the matter. "You mean she was adopted?"

"No. She's merely someone leeching off others' wealth" he said and took a halt as he began thinking of Fe Chungsa who was reining on the throne that wasn't hers.

Fe Chungsa is not the real daughter. Chu Jin's question also implied she wasn't his illegitimate child. She's not adopted either. Which only means she's the daughter of his wife from another man.

[But why does he treat her like her own?]

"How come no one knows of his real daughter? He hid her so the daughter of his wife can take her place?" that thought was so sinister. But is their CEO really that kind of man?

[Is he the kind of blind husband that'd prefer the arrangements of his wife than the welfare of his daughter?]

Chu Jin shook his head. "It's not like CEO is hiding her, they just didn't try to find out who the real daughter was"

Yuri followed behind with tons of questions still lingering in her mind. [Why is he raising Chungsa like a spoiled brat while his daughter gets shrouded by mystery? Is he protecting her from someone? Maybe Fe Chungsa's mother schemed all this! Then the daughter could possibly be returning after she escaped the scheme?]

"Where is the real daughter now?" she was only asking it in her mind, but it slipped out.

Honestly, she does not like Fe Chungsa at all. She was a pampered brat and her attitude towards employees may seem great but she's nothing but a loathsome person in a mask. So she's curious where the real daughter is because perhaps she's a much better person. She'd want her around Jian Lan than the fake one.

Chu Jin went inside the elevator and Yuri not wanting to end the conversation followed suit. He does not want her to remain oblivious so he looked at her, analyzed her, and thought that she knows that the matter was not something she can spill out and interfere with. It's probably okay to tell her.

"She's at the airport and probably going to Yi Lan afterward for her first day of work"

Yuri's eyes went wide.

"The young lady is a doctor?" she asked which was only replied by a curt nod.

Unbelievable!

Becoming a doctor is hard work, much more working as one. She could just work at her father's company and spend more money than earn. But she actually decided to leave and become a doctor which warrants a lot of time and effort. It's also very dangerous because it exposes her to sickness.

[An heiress like her actually chose that than plainly being wealthy?!]

"What happened to them? Why is the CEO's daughter working like that?"

Chu Jin looked at her. "It's not appropriate to discuss it at such a place. But...is working as a doctor bad?"

In an instant, Yuri fell into a panic. She shook her head vigorously and gulped down. "No. I don't think so. It's just that... it's a virtuous job...and I think I like her already for becoming one. I pay great respect to doctors"

He nodded his head and understood her. At first, he too did not believe she abandoned her studies on finance and worked her ass out to become a doctor. However, he thinks she's much more charming now that she had become a doctor than a plain heiress who was bounded to Hansang.

"What's her name?" Yuri asked curiously.

Chu Jin looked at her before he looked away with a smile. "Doctor Hou Wei Yan...the rightful owner of Jian Lan Group"

.....

The sun was just rising at that time, everyone was practically sleeping in the neighborhood but the young doctor Hou was already up. She slung her back backpack with a key chain stating 'World's Most Awesome Doctor' written in it.

It wasn't like she was bragging but the key chain held a special meaning to her. It was the first thing that commemorated her arrival to her dreams of becoming a full-fledged doctor.

A profession she once thought was a pipe dream but through many struggles, she finally made it.

But now, she had to leave the country that made her realize her dream. A sad smile dominated her face as she looked around her apartment. It was full of memories, both good and bad.

She glanced at her kitchen which witnessed her journey from a terrible cook who burns even hot dogs, to a woman who one can call a great wife to be.

Then she lingers her eyes in her living room which practically saw all her mood shifts. It stood witness to how she still watches cartoons and idolizes young men whose great at singing and performing.

[Ahh, great times]

Lastly, her mini-library was there when she's gloomy or overly excited for a good read. It was the witness of how her passion for romance grew and how her dream guy came to be.

Such a great apartment, but she had to leave it because she had already achieved her reason for coming to America. "Don't worry, I'll come back when I have time" she mumbled to the wind as though comforting the apartment.

"Madame Rouche will take care of you while I'm gone" she added and took one final glance at the apartment.