Chapter 517 Le''s Ploy Works


    Le sat quietly for a long time, carefully thinking what to do. She was still unable to make up her mind.


    After Chris left, Le kept thinking about her suggestion. Le felt what Chris proposed sounded quite


    reasonable. Yes, she wanted to marry Charles, and the best way to get intimate with the man was to


    spend more time with him.


    Love, she believed, would follow in time.


    But Le still had certain misgivings. Voluntarily applying for a position in the Shining Company was not


    a good move. Charles would easily see her real intention. She needed to figure out a n. ''How can I


    make Charles ask me back to hispany?'' Le thought.


    As usual, Charles called Le that evening to ask her out for drinks. She hesitated but then finally


    declined his invitation. "Mr. Lu, much as I also want to have a drink with you, I''m too tired to go out,"


    she said with an excuse. "You know I have to work hard to raise my son. I''ve been at the supermarket


    the whole day, and I am exhausted, so I want to rest early tonight," Le told Charles.


    "You''re working at a supermarket?" Charles couldn''t keep the surprise out of his voice. He knew Le


    waspetent and highly educated but now she was just working as a salesperson to earn a living for


    her son. Her revtion shocked Charles, and he wanted to know why.


    "Why are you working at the supermarket?" he inquired. Charles hoped his question did not offend her.


    He held the phone and couldn''t help feeling baffled at Le''s current employment situation.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    The woman he knew was arrogant, so it was difficult to imagine her epting a job as lowly as a


    supermarket salesperson.


    "Yes, I am working at a supermarket as a saleswoman now," Le admitted. "You sound surprised.


    Why? Is it because you never expected me to be doing this?" she asked. He couldn''t see her smiling


    bitterly. Le drew in a breath before continuing,"You do know I am a single mom. So I need to make


    money to support our life, and take care of my son." Le saw the opportunity to set her n in motion.


    "I had offers from somepanies before, but I had to refuse them because I had to take care of my


    son. When I tried applying again, I was told to stop working and look for another job when my son is big


    enough and doesn''t need too much attention," she said lengthily.


    There was a pause as she thought of what to say next. "Mr. Lu, you were born into a prominent family,


    and don''t have to worry about such trivial matters. But, like most everybody else, I have to work hard to


    earn a living. If I don''t work, I won''t have a source of ie," she wove her story smiling. Sighing, she


    ended with,"So, I''m afraid I can''t go out drinking with you anymore."


    Le was taking a huge risk with this strategy. Each time Charles asked her out for drinks was a


    chance to be closer to him. But their past outings got her nowhere.


    She now knew that to get more intimate with Charles required a reckless move such as this.


    If this risk paid off, then things would hopefully fall into ce. But if she failed, Le knew she would


    lose herst chance at bing close to Charles again.


    As she ended her tale, Le fidgeted while waiting for Charles to say something. He was silent for a


    long time, making her even more nervous. Le was on her way to getting upset, with a sinking feeling


    that it was over. She was close to epting defeat.


    She began to regret all that she just told Charles, but there wasn''t anything she could do to remedy the


    situation. Instead she smiled bitterly and said,"Mr. Lu, I am so sorry. I have to hang up now." Still no


    reaction. "I need to give my son a bath."


    It truly disappointed her that she screwed her chances with Charles, so she took a deep breath and


    was ready to hang up.


    But before she could do so, Charles suddenly spoke up,"Wait a minute, Le."


    Hearing his voice suddenly made Le nervous. Was the situation about to change? She didn''t realize


    how tight she held the phone, but her voice was shaky as she asked,"Do you want to say something,


    Mr. Lu?"


    After realizing Le''s situation, Charles began thinking how desperately he needed people to help him


    manage the day-to-daypany affairs. Le could help him manage thepany. It would also be


    good to have her around to remind him of his missing wife. Charles was sure that if Autumn were still


    alive, she, too, would be a single mother, like Le.


    He considered all this and became determined to help his former secretary. Charles thought it would


    also make him feel better to help Le at this point in her life. He also hoped that Autumn would meet


    someone who would want to do the same for her.


    He drew in a deep breath and asked,"Are you avable tomorrow?" Before she could respond, he


    added,"If you''re free,e to Shining Company. I want to talk to you." Charles couldn''t believe how


    rxed he sounded while speaking. And Le was beside herself with joy.


    Cheerfully, she replied,"Yes, of course, Mr. Lu. I will be there tomorrow."


    But she controlled her excitement and pretended to cough slightly to ease her embarrassment. "I mean


    I will be free after bringing my son to school in the morning," she told Charles. "I''ll be free around ten


    o''clock, Mr. Lu. Is that a good time for you? Will you be in a meeting then?" she asked politely. "I don''t


    want to inconvenience you," Le hastened to add.


    "So, I''ll see you at ten o''clock tomorrow. Just wait for me if my meeting isn''t over," Charles told her. He


    hesitated before speaking again. "Anyway, get a good night''s rest. I''ll hang up now."


    Le hung up and couldn''t control her excitement. She did it! The woman could not stop giggling as


    she slumped on the couch. Charlie looked at her with disdain. He got up and was about to leave the


    room when Le stopped him.


    "Charlie, mom will have a new job by tomorrow. Are you happy for me?" She shared her good news


    with the boy. It was a big deal for Le, but Charlie remained indifferent. He didn''t care about her good


    news and looked at her with cold eyes.


    The boy looked Le in the eye and mocked,"Don''t be so cheerful. I''m sure that in a few days, they will


    dismiss you."


    Le was not discouraged by his words. "No, Charlie. I can assure you it will be different this time. Now,


    I have a better chance to keep my job," she told him. Le flushed in embarrassment at Charlie''s


    words. To earn a living, Le had been forced to ept jobs she did not like. But because she was


    educated and overqualified, she would be arrogant andin about everything. Eventually,


    she would be fired or would resign. And Charlie was aware of her employment history in thest


    several years.


    Nothing could change her mood, not even the boy''s apathetic attitude. "Charlie, you have to trust me


    this time," she said. "I promise that this time, I will work hard to provide you with a better life," Le said


    emphatically.


    "And I will not only make a lot of money but also bring your father back," she added.


    Herst words made Charlie stare at Le. His expression remained passive, but he asked,"Really?"


    His tone aloof, Charlie mockingly said,"Well, congrattions!"


    Charlie may be a young boy, but he was more mature than most children at his age. Though Le


    always treated him well, he found it difficult to show affection for her. And he could never figure out why


    he never felt close to Le, except that it was like instinct to stay away.


    And this instinct told him to seek advantages but avoid disadvantages.


    "So, what do you want for breakfast tomorrow?" she asked the boy. Smiling, Le offered,"I will prepare


    it for you." While waiting for his response, she heaved a sigh of relief.


    "Thanks, but there is no need to prepare breakfast especially for me," Charlie declined. His tone was


    cold, but Le ignored this. He walked back to his bedroom.


    Le was grinning from ear to ear, as she leaned on the couch to rejoice over her victory.


    The next day, Le still cooked a hearty breakfast for Charlie and kept urging the boy to eat some


    more.


    He stared at the egg Le handed him, and then frowned. Charlie set it aside quietly and said,"I am


    already full."


    After a few moments, he announced,"It''s time to go to school." Charlie put his fork down, wiped his


    mouth gently and looked at Le to signal he was ready. Today, there were no mood swings.


    She was surprised by his desire to leave for school. Le asked to be sure,"Have you finished eating


    breakfast? Please give me a moment so I can walk you to school." Le quickly stood up to clear the


    dishes and got ready.


    Unlike most children who held their parents'' hands while walking, Charlie always walked by himself,


    with Le by his side. He had never walked hand-in-hand with his mom.


    He always looked like a young adult in a suit.