Chapter 373: Just a Stranger

Book:The Selfish CEO Published:2024-6-2

“Zoey , are you alright?” Mrs. Cenri and Feng’s group came out from the R&D room and bumped into Zoey’s disoriented appearance. She immediately returned to her senses, lowered her head to straighten her emotions, and smiled lightly, “I’m fine, thank you for the president’s concern.”
“Uh-huh. Then bring the information into the conference room later.” Mrs. Shamli nodded faintly and instructed her.
“Okay.” Zoey nodded and held the box tightly, nodding to the crowd before heading back towards the studio. After calming her mind, she unwrapped the box. Underneath the beautifully wrapped box, her pair of high-heeled shoes lay quietly inside, with a note attached – “The weather is cool, don’t run around barefoot anymore. Take good care of your health.”
The simple words, the strong script, it seems to come from his hand. Zoey just held the note, read for a long time, and then … eyes, gradually blurred …
Taking a breath, she wiped away her tears. Crumpling the note into a ball, she threw it into the trash can. Everything, can not go back! The damage caused from before, had long been a foregone conclusion, and how could it be that with a single apology from him, a sentence of concern as if nothing had happened, he could pretend that nothing had happened?
She, couldn’t do it!
Glancing in the corner, she glanced at the medicine and ice pack she had gone downstairs earlier to buy for her face. She hesitated, wanting to throw them away, but in the end she didn’t.
Prepared the information and sent it into the meeting room. The meeting had not yet begun, she arranged a document, and gently placed the medicine bought in front of Jerry Xiao. The bottom of his eyes flashed a trace of surprise, there is also a trace of crystal bright, raised his eyes to look at Zoey .
Zoey, on the other hand, has an unruffled face. No words were spoken, just a pen drawn and written on white paper, “I’m sorry about your face. The kids think I’m too violent, so …”
She handed the note, handed it to him. He read it down, and his eyes, which were originally somewhat bright, gradually darkened, completely dull and lightless …
Pressured by her children, so that’s why she sent this to herself?
Loss, little by little, creeps in.
“Thanks.” Even the voice that spoke, was very permeated with loss, he sat down at the conference table and looked at her, “Say thank you for me and the kids.”
“I will.” She answered, turning to go out.
Jerry Xiao suddenly reached out to hold her hand, and in full view of everyone, Zoey felt that his palm was as hot as fire. Subconsciously looking around, she saw that everyone was busy reading the information and didn’t notice this side of the matter, before she jerked her hand back, looking like she was burned.
So embarrassed that she didn’t dare to make a sound either, she just stared at him with her jaws wide open, looking as if she was inquiring as to what exactly he was going to do. Looking at her embarrassed and uneasy appearance, Jerry Xiao only felt a little like laughing, and only silently raised his cell phone.
Zoey understood, he was asking for his phone number. She grimaced, “I don’t use a cell phone.”
Who are you kidding? The old wood clearly answered her phone call yesterday. Jerry Xiao sighed somewhat helplessly and wrote a row of words with a pen, “I need to keep in touch with the kids.”
She froze.
Quietly reddened. Turns out, he was just doing it for the kids, that’s all …
It’s true! It’s so self-indulgent!
He really wanted to scold himself, bit his lip, didn’t dare to look at his interested eyes, hurriedly left a series of numbers on the paper, and then whacked his head in chagrin and walked out of the conference room.
Looking at that fleeing back, and then looking at that row of numbers, Jerry Xiao couldn’t help but raise his lips. Coffee aroma wafted into his nostrils, he did not reach out to touch. Suddenly, very nostalgic, very nostalgic once milk …
Jerry Xiao and his party finished the meeting, already a few hours later. zoey did not want to care too much about their trip, but, I do not know whether it is her own illusion, she always felt that he came out of the face of the particularly bad, seems to be very tired. Ah Feng on the side, look especially nervous, as if always worried about him.
In the past, in the company, it was common for things to go on for hours of meetings, so naturally anyone would feel tired. He is also the same … However, in the work state, he will never allow himself to reveal this bad state.
It’s all so strange these days!
Could it be that he’s sick …?
Zoey s heart instantly tightened, and she shuddered to think if he was not cured at all. Also, her Nini …
“Zoey , it’s time to do something.” Zoey jerked back to her senses, only to see that Jerry Xiao and the others had already descended the stairs. She turned around and Mrs. Shamli was looking at her in a different way, “What are you looking at so intently?”
“Godmother.” Zoey called softly without answering. Mrs. Cenri also followed her line of sight and spoke absently, “He seems to be in poor health. With a trip to the gas base tomorrow, I doubt he’ll last.”
“Is he in really bad health? Is it a headache?” Zoey asked, not even realizing the urgency in her tone.
Mrs. Cenri raised the tip of her eyebrow, “Zoey , you still seem to care about him.”
Huh?
Zoey froze.
Why did one even care about him? It had been so long ago, and now they were nothing more than strangers passing by.
“I didn’t care about him very much, just … thinking about Nini.” The words that came out of his mouth were completely devoid of substance, and it seemed as if he couldn’t even convince himself of that.
Mrs. Cenri then only smiled meaningfully and did not beat around the bush on this topic, but instead explained to her, “Then get busy with the work at hand, move your hands from the last few days of work, and tomorrow at the natural gas base, you’ll go over there together with Yankee and Jing Si.”
“Me too?” Zoey was in a bit of a quandary. Jerry Xiao was there …
It’s been a couple of days since I’ve been there …
“Which trip to the base didn’t you make? Want to specialize this time?” Mrs. Cenri looked at her.
“No, there isn’t …” Zoey sheepishly and hurriedly shook her head. Mrs. Shamli nodded with satisfaction, handing over a set of keys in her hand to her, “As usual, the key to the villa over there. If you really can’t get used to the house over the base, go live in the villa.”
“Thanks, Godmother.” Zoey took the keys as usual. In fact, whenever she went to the base, she never specialized.
The location of the base is relatively remote, there are no hotels or guesthouses, and the houses are all built by the company, so the environment is naturally worse, and it is even difficult to drink water. For foreigners like them, if they are not accustomed to water and soil, the situation will be very bad. Fortunately, her body was more competitive, and she was fine every time. Therefore, although this key was held, it was never put to use.
Zoey collected her keys and went to clean up the conference room. Trying to summarize the information in the conference room, someone was already to sweeping the floor when she walked in. She puts away a piece of information left on the desk and pauses slightly as she walks to a spot.
This is where … Jerry Xiao sat …
Her eyes, falling on the cup of coffee in his place …
A cup of coffee, still full, without a trace of movement.
Heart, suddenly tightened. For a long time, could only stare blankly at the cup of coffee. Is it possible that his condition really hasn’t fully recovered? Thinking about that day in the desert, his state seemed to be on the weak side as well.
So, he actually asked her for a drink ticket? Has he been drinking? This will only aggravate it, doesn’t he know that?
Zoey frowns slightly.

In the evening, back at the house, Zoey is packing, and Owen and the two kids are sitting on the carpet on one side of the room, watching her.
“Zoey’s gonna be gone for three days?” Nini asked.
“Uh-huh. But if things can be done early, Zoey will be back early.”
“KK will miss you.”
“The environment there is so bad, so don’t hold out, it’s okay for you to go and live in a villa. After all, everyone knows you’re not from the area, and it’s not unusual for the water to be uncomfortable.” Owen was a little worried.
“Don’t worry, I have a sense of humor and won’t abuse myself.” Zoey laughed softly. Looking down and folding her clothes, her hair fell down and landed on her lips, so she had to use a red band to tie it casually.
Owen Baker stared at the scene with some bewilderment. She looked especially serene in the light, and her hair was silky and falling down casually, which he found exceptionally charming even when she did nothing.
The heartbeat can’t help but speed up, Owen, but don’t look away, no longer look, heart, hidden pain. Some people, even if it is close to the eyes, do not dare to openly look, for fear of scaring her, but also scared away now this back on track affection.
The children leaned into the crook of his arm, one on each side. Not noticing his heart fluttering at the moment, they only asked Zoey , “Zoey, in the three days you’re away, if Uncle comes for us, we can follow him to play, right?”
Zoey stopped her hand from cleaning up and looked up to level with the kids, “Uncle will be there too, so he won’t be coming to play with you guys at all.”
“Uncle will be there too?” The two children looked at each other in surprise, “Is Uncle going with Zoey, and has Zoey forgiven Uncle? Did you punish him for writing Chinese characters?”
Owen Baker hid the bitterness in his heart very well, just pursed his lips and didn’t say anything. He heard Zoey explain helplessly, “No, you guys are thinking too much. The reason why uncle will go along is also because of work. Zoey and uncle have work cooperation, understand?”
She looked at the two children.
Under her expectant eyes, the two children froze for a split second, and then, with a big shake of their heads, “I don’t get it. Anyway, it’s just that Zoey and Uncle will be together, isn’t it?!”
“Then I’m going too!” KK was the first to sign up.
“Me too!” Nini was close behind.
Zoey just got a headache, “Zoey is going to work, not on vacation, you guys aren’t allowed to have fun.”
“Zoey , you’re the best …” Nini pouted, tugging at the freshly folded clothes in her hand.
“I can’t hear you.” She simply kept her head down and didn’t look at the children.
“Zoey , we’ll be good, very good and stay out of trouble!” KK joined in the convincing.
Zoey looked at her daughter, “Are you sure you want to go? There’s a lot of desert flying insects out there that eat people!”
Nini is really showing her fear, but KK is tearing mommy down, “Zoey, you’ll grow a nose if you lie!”
Zoey had a black line and spread her hands helplessly, “Okay, Zoey admits to lying. However, the environment there is really, really bad. You guys will definitely not be able to stand it. By then, Mommy will have to work and won’t have time to take care of you.”
“It’s okay, we’ll take care of ourselves!”
“Aye, mustn’t need Zoey worrying about it.”
“You guys …” Zoey had a headache and looked at Owen for help , “Please, help me talk these two little grandparents down.”
As soon as Zoey’s words fell, Nini quickly stretched out her two small hands and covered Owen’s mouth. She looked at him with pitiful eyes, “Uncle, you are the best uncle in the whole world, you must be on the same side with us, aren’t you?”