Actually, I'm Both Beautiful and Talented

August 8th. The summer heat hadn't dissipated, and the weather remained stiflingly hot. As Lily stepped out of her car, carrying a food container, a wave of heat enveloped her, seeping into every pore, making her feel as if she were inside a steamer.

Franklin knew she would arrive around this time and came down ten minutes early to wait for her. When he saw her, he was momentarily stunned.

The beauty in front of him was wearing a white dress with a cheongsam collar, her makeup meticulously done. A simple chrysanthemum hairpin held her hair up, and the dress was adorned with delicate daisy patterns. Around her swan-like neck was a pearl necklace. Her demeanor was gentle and refined, embodying a subtle and graceful beauty.

She looked like an immortal dwelling in moonlight.

Franklin quickly ran over, took the food container and her bag, and asked for her car keys.

"I'll register your license plate in the system. Next time you come, you can drive directly to the parking space on the B1 level and take the elevator up. No need to bake in the sun."

He signaled a security guard, tossed him the car keys, gave a few instructions, and then walked Lily to the entrance.

"Why are you dressed like this today? This isn't your usual style."

He had expected her to flaunt her sexy style and turn heads as she usually did.

Lily raised her hand to shield her eyes from the sun. "You don't get it. In places with lots of women, you need to stand out. This is where you work; you need to be more composed. Mainly, my face is so good-looking that if I dress too brightly, I'll come off as a mere pretty face."

She sighed. "Sigh, it's a bit unfair. I'm both beautiful and talented."

Franklin was speechless.

Ignoring his reaction, Lily pointed to her dress. "Besides, style isn't what matters. What matters is that your Uncle Edmond likes it. This dress was bought by him, so it must suit his taste."

Feeling proud, Lily was about to continue when Franklin interjected with a dampening comment. "Auntie, I don't mean to burst your bubble, but sometimes, what a man likes isn't about looks or clothes, it's about how he feels."

Lily puffed her cheeks, saying nothing more.

Wasn't that the truth? Comparing herself to Nadia, where did she fall short? Nadia wasn't as pretty as she was, didn't have a better figure, yet Royce still ran off with Nadia.

It was because of Royce that she was so anxious now. Given Edmond's age and status, he must have seen countless beauties, many prettier than her. He hadn't shown interest in anyone else before, nor had there been any rumors. But now there was suddenly another woman.

If it were anyone else warning her, she'd think it was a lie. After all, Edmond had been nothing but good to her since they married. The key thing was that it was Franklin who had cautioned her, which meant this wasn't simple.

Her looks alone might not be enough to win.

Feeling frustrated, Lily sought to gather more information. "So who exactly is this woman? What does she do? How old is she? Am I prettier than she is?"

She had asked these questions over the phone, but Franklin told her to come and see for herself before hanging up.

When she asked again, Franklin's eyes darted around, avoiding her gaze. "Her background… she's a major client of Jingxiu. In my eyes, you're definitely prettier. But in Uncle Edmond's eyes… it's hard to say. I think he's quite fond of her. You'll need to observe for yourself."

A major client of Jingxiu? That means she can't be offended. Lily's sense of crisis intensified instantly. If it were someone in Edmond's company, she could handle it like when Nadia was Royce's secretary—she could slap her in anger.

But a major client? If she offended Jingxiu's major client, Edmond would surely be angry. Even if he was a gentleman, the shareholders with their vested interests in the company could crush her. She'd be done for if she, as the boss's wife, caused the company to lose a major client out of jealousy.

What kind of bad luck was this? Her first love ran off with his secretary, and now her husband was being targeted by a major client.

Annoying!

In the lobby on the first floor, the receptionist, known for her good looks and high qualifications, stood up immediately upon seeing Franklin, greeting him as Manager Zhou.

Franklin was now the manager of the Investment Department II. Royce was the manager of Department I. To differentiate between them, Franklin had people add 'Little' before his title.

Since starting at Jingxiu, Franklin had abandoned his previous flamboyant fashion. Today, he wore a suit, albeit in a bold light pink, which his handsome face managed to pull off. Any less attractive person might look like a hooligan.

The receptionist occasionally glanced at Lily, thinking the two of them looked like a well-matched couple. Seeing Franklin help her with her bag and open the door for her, she assumed they were dating.

However—

"This is my aunt. Remember her face, and let her pass directly next time."

The receptionist was stunned.

Aunt… Manager Zhou's aunt… that means she's Mrs. Zhou? The receptionist at Jingxiu wasn't just anyone; they were selected from thousands of applicants, with quick reactions and high professionalism. Despite her shock, she quickly suppressed her curiosity.

Responding to Franklin, she bowed respectfully to Lily. "Hello, madam."

"Hello," Lily responded with a bright smile.

As they walked away, the receptionist finally allowed herself to show her surprise and curiosity.

If this was Mrs. Zhou, wasn't she Lily? Who didn't know about Lily? At the end of last year, she publicly confessed to Mr. Zhou on the giant LED screen opposite the company. It played from New Year's Eve to the Lunar New Year, a week-long display by someone truly wealthy.

The receptionist had started after the incident but heard about it from colleagues—three major pieces of gossip.

The first: Lily and Mr. Zhou's nephew, Royce, were childhood sweethearts with a marriage arranged by their families. Later, Lily went abroad for school, and Royce fell for his secretary, Nadia.

The second: Lily fell from a building, her memory muddled, and she mistook Mr. Zhou for her love, clinging to him relentlessly. Mr. Zhou couldn't avoid her.

The third: Royce married Nadia, and Mr. Zhou married Lily.

When the news of Mr. Zhou and Lily's marriage broke, no one believed it. They thought it was a rumor. After all, how could Mr. Zhou marry the woman who almost became his nephew's wife?

As the gossip spread, someone noticed Mr. Zhou wearing a ring on his ring finger—clearly a wedding ring. When someone privately asked Mr. Pan about it, he merely adjusted his glasses and said, "Don't pry into things you shouldn't know."

Knowing Mr. Pan's nature, if it were false, he would have denied it outright. Thus, it was confirmed: Mr. Zhou had indeed married Lily.

The receptionist, having started after May Day, hadn't seen Lily before but had heard she was a spoiled rich girl, beautiful but arrogant and domineering.

But that didn't seem right. The boss's wife didn't look like a seductress. She wore a white cheongsam-style dress, her skin fair and tender, her beauty striking. She stood there, radiating a serene and dignified aura. Who could call such a graceful woman a seductress? Clearly, whoever said that was jealous.

However, both Mr. Zhou and Royce were in the company today. What if they ran into each other? How awkward would that be?

Lily was feeling quite awkward at the moment. Franklin took her up to the 88th floor, the elevator dinged, and the doors opened to reveal a man and woman waiting.

The man wore a well-tailored black suit, tall and imposing, with chiseled features and an aristocratic air. Handsome beyond measure.

Coincidentally, she knew this man—her husband, Edmond.

The woman beside him, whom she didn't recognize, was in her thirties, well-maintained, dressed in a sleek blue suit. Her short, neatly styled hair was tucked behind her ears, adorned with stylish earrings. She exuded the charm of a mature, professional woman.

As the doors opened, they were in mid-conversation, standing an arm's length apart. The woman tilted her head, speaking to Edmond, who wore a faint smile, seeming in good spirits. However, upon seeing Lily, his dark eyes dimmed, his gaze sweeping over her, his smile fading, his brows knitting together.

"What are you doing here?"

His tone was indifferent, with a hint of displeasure, his eyes flashing with irritation.

Lily's heart sank at his cold tone. Damn, no wonder Franklin was so anxious, calling her to deliver food and check out the situation. This was serious! What the heck? Didn't he like her wearing cheongsam? Although this was just a cheongsam-style dress, he had picked it out himself. She had worn it specifically to please him.