The CEO's Substitute Wife Is A Genius-Chapter 418: Morning Sickness?

Jiang Man was taken aback by the sudden alert sound.

She fumbled to take out her phone, frantically trying to turn off the notification.

But Yaya was quicker—she snatched the phone from her hands, glanced at it, and handed it to Nan Juefeng.

"It’s really her, President, look!"

Nan Juefeng took the phone and saw the popup notification.

He had never expected that Jiang Man would install tracking software on his phone?

"President, I have reason to suspect she is a spy sent by the Lu Family to steal Nan Corporation’s secrets. This is the best evidence. If we call the police, she could be sentenced to up to three years in prison."

Upon hearing the mention of calling the police and sentencing, Jiang Man freaked out.

"I didn’t steal any company secrets, I really didn’t. President, you have to believe me. I just like you too much and wanted to know your whereabouts at all times. I had no malicious intentions, really..."

She was panic-stricken, tears streaming down uncontrollably.

She clung to Nan Juefeng’s arm, trying to gain his sympathy.

But he felt nothing but disgust towards Jiang Man.

"I will keep this evidence and also preserve the right to prosecute you. For her sake, you may leave."

His tone softened significantly when he said ’her.’

Jiang Man knew that ’her’ referred to Jiang Man.

Damn Jiang Man!

"Aren’t you leaving? If you don’t leave now, I will call the police!" Yaya threatened.

Jiang Man didn’t dare stay any longer and scrambled away.

In her panic, she almost tripped and fell.

Yaya glanced at her staggering figure but felt no satisfaction.

What a joke? Aspiring to vie for President Nan?

Thank goodness the company’s security system was reliable, or else wouldn’t President Nan have been constantly monitored by this "infatuated woman"?

...

Jiang Man descended the stairs as if she had lost her soul.

Hu Hao, growing bored of waiting, sat down in the lobby resting area and played with his phone for quite some time.

He occasionally looked up, always watching for Jiang Man’s appearance.

So, when she appeared, he immediately got up to greet her.

"What’s wrong? You look awful."

"I’m fine..." Jiang Man waved it off, then suddenly hugged Hu Hao’s arm, leaning on his shoulder, "Can you take me home? I’m a bit tired."

"Sure."

...

An hour later, Hu Hao drove Jiang Man back to the old Lu residence.

Just as they entered the backyard, they heard Lu Xuemei’s loud voice, "You two are finally back! We have some good news at home today!"

"What good news?" Jiang Man forced herself to perk up.

Lu Xuemei pulled her aside and glanced at Hu Hao, "The brain-machine interface project in collaboration with the National Research Institute is very successful. It’s set for a global launch next week! With this project, the Lu Family can be secure for ten years, even decades!"

"That’s amazing?" Jiang Man was not interested in the family business since she didn’t understand it, and furthermore, it wasn’t her place to interfere with Lu Family affairs.

"Indeed, this is a new technological revolution!" Lu Xuemei was embarrassingly proud, a pride borne from familial glory.

However, Jiang Man lacked such empathy, not having the Lu Family blood flowing in her veins.

"That’s really great!" she replied perfunctorily, eager to end the conversation and go back to her room to recuperate.

But Lu Xuemei wasn’t ready to drop the topic, "Let’s organize a feast tonight, a celebration just for us, our family! I heard Yingxue is also part of the brain-machine interface project team, so let’s invite her as well."

"Okay." Jiang Man responded listlessly.

Seeing her poor mood, Hu Hao volunteered, "Is there anything I can help with? Manman seems to be feeling unwell."

"What’s wrong with her?" Lu Xuemei finally noticed her daughter’s wilted demeanor.

"She might have caught a cold, a little rest should do it." Jiang Man murmured, looking indeed very frail.

"Alright, go rest. I’ll take care of the celebration dinner. Hao, can you inform them then?"

...

As night fell.

Jiang Man, Hu Xianyun, and Lu Yingxue arrived together at ’Mei Xiang Yuan’.

This is a Chinese courtyard restaurant that only opens during the annual winter when the plum blossoms bloom.

The plum blossoms of Meixiang Garden are among the best places to view them in the northern city, making seating here highly sought after.

Many seats have to be booked a month in advance, requiring people to queue up for reservations.

Lu Xuemei and the owner of Meixiang Garden were college classmates, and she thought it was her old classmate giving her face.

Little did she know, Xuemei, Xuemei, this Meixiang Garden was opened just for her.

Inside the elegant private room, the heating was turned up high.

As the group entered the room, they began to take off their coats.

Lu Xingzhou had arrived early and was playing with a parrot in the room with the elderly lady.

The parrot could mimic speech and had the old lady laughing non-stop.

"Eh? How come the three of you arrived together?" Lu Xuemei felt it strange.

Manman said she had something on today but did not specify what.

Hu Xianyun mentioned being busy with work and where he went, nobody knew.

But Lu Yingxue’s whereabouts were well known to everyone.

She hadn’t come home for the New Year because her project needed to remain confidential, and her family didn’t even know what she was busy with.

Now, it was finally clear; she was busy with the brain instrument project!

"You two were on the way with Yingxue? The National Research Institute is so far away."

"Indeed, on the way." Hu Xianyun, not skilled at lying, spoke succinctly and did not wish to elaborate.

Jiang Man, always cool and aloof, didn’t want to explain; she could do without speaking.

"Aunt, it’s not easy to book a table at this place."

She sauntered towards Lu Xuemei, giving her an up and down look: "Tsk, even wore a cheongsam and full makeup."

Full makeup is the highest etiquette for a woman going out.

"Auntie, you even put on full makeup? Isn’t it just family here?"

Lu Yingxue moved forward and peered close to Lu Xuemei.

Lu Xuemei felt a bit embarrassed: "Well, this restaurant is run by my old classmate; I definitely need to dress up nicely. I can’t let him see me all unkempt, right?"

"Oh, I see," Lu Yingxue teased purposefully.

Lu Xuemei became annoyed and irritated: "You little wretch, what do you know?"

"Alright, alright, everyone is here now, so come on, take your seats. Tonight we have plum blossom wine; it’s incredibly tasty."

Under Lu Xuemei’s call, everyone gradually took their seats.

The old lady laughed and shook her head: "Xuemei, you’re just looking for an excuse to come here for some peach blossom brew, don’t think I don’t know you’re tempted."

"Oh come on, mom, let’s not point out the obvious," Lu Xuemei chuckled and asked the waiter to pour the wine.

"Come on, let’s have a toast. Here’s to the success of the brain instrument project!"

Lu Xuemei called everyone to cheer. freewёbnoνel.com

Everyone, including the old lady, lifted their glasses.

Just as Jiang Man was about to down her drink, Lu Xingzhou stopped her: "This wine is strong, drink it slowly."

She was not good with alcohol.

But she was tempted to drink.

"Weren’t you busy tonight?" Lu Xingzhou drank half of his glass, surveying her leisurely.

Jiang Man smirked and only drank half: "I really was tied up, but this place is so hard to book, when I heard it was this restaurant, I pushed other dinner plans aside."

"You had other dinner arrangements tonight?" Lu Xingzhou’s gaze was intense, trying to see through her.

But Jiang Man only gave a light laugh and moved on: "With Fanzi, Shaye, and the others."

"For your friends instead of your husband’s plans?" Lu Xingzhou felt a bit jealous.

"You jealous over friends?" Jiang Man couldn’t resist sipping the irresistibly fragrant wine again, as the enticing aroma lingered.

"Here it comes, tonight’s special dish, trotter stewed chicken! This is the signature dish of this restaurant!"

The waiter knocked and served the dish, and Lu Xuemei loudly introduced it as if she were the owner of the restaurant.

The smell of the trotter stewed chicken was very rich.

It was unclear whether it was because all the windows in the room were closed, keeping the heat without ventilation, or for some other reason.

Jiang Man smelled the strong scent, and instead of finding it fragrant, she felt it was too greasy.

She tried to hold back, but still ended up clutching her chest and retching...