A coworker raised a phone, taking a photo of the flowers, whispering: “Valentine’s Day yesterday… could someone have sent this to the big boss? Bold.”
“Who put it here? And in a vase, no less.”
“No idea, it was here when we came in.”
“Who got here first?”
“Apparently, someone did.”
“Wow, amazing. Openly admiring the big boss.”
…
The coworkers gossiped on, but He Xiaoyuan bit back his smile, keeping his lips from curling too much.
Of course he knew what was going on. Yesterday, he’d placed a single flower in a vase and sent a photo to Lu Chen. Today, Lu Chen had responded with a huge bouquet of roses.
He Xiaoyuan’s lips twitched in a smirk—quite skillful, really.
Everyone else was taking photos, so he lifted his phone too, pretending to join in the fun. After snapping a picture, he weaved past the lingering coworkers back to his desk. Slowly, the crowd dispersed.
Just then, Chang Bei strode into the office, all energy and fire, and spotted the roses on Lu Chen’s desk. Eyebrows raised, he exclaimed: “Ha! Who did this? Valentine’s Day was fine yesterday—why rush to tempt fate?”
He Xiaoyuan: “……”
Chang Bei turned toward He Xiaoyuan, expecting him to spill the details.
He Xiaoyuan kept a straight face, booted up his computer, and replied: “No idea who put them here. They were here when I arrived.”
Chang Bei pivoted, asking loudly to the office: “Who?”
Someone said: “Boss Chang, I was the first in. It was here when I arrived.”
Another added: “Wasn’t Xiao Han the last one to leave yesterday?”
Xiao Han, the colleague in question, replied: “There were no flowers when I left.”
Chang Bei sat down: “Sending flowers to the office—this is blatant, bold as brass.”
While everyone resumed their gossip, He Xiaoyuan quietly sent the photo he had just taken to Lu Chen: 【Photo】
He Xiaoyuan: 【?】
He Xiaoyuan: 【Was that you?】
At that moment, Chang Bei suddenly asked: “Xiaoyuan, did you celebrate Valentine’s yesterday?”
He Xiaoyuan nearly jumped, feeling guilty.
A coworker answered for him: “Working overtime.”
Chang Bei sighed dramatically: “Nowadays, even handsome guys don’t have anyone to celebrate with.”
He Xiaoyuan touched his nose—well, the handsome guy had a “heart-pounding” Valentine’s yesterday. That night, he’d officially gone from single to taken.
His phone vibrated.
Lu Chen: 【Mm, you like it?】
Predictable—but those last three words made He Xiaoyuan’s lips twitch. Could he not like it?
He Xiaoyuan: 【You put it in the office… everyone thinks someone else sent it, and they’re all talking.】
Lu Chen: 【I know, let them talk.】
Lu Chen: 【It was originally meant for your desk, but with so many people around, it wouldn’t have been good for you. So I placed it at mine instead.】
Makes sense. Indeed, with such a big bouquet, anywhere he put it would attract attention.
Lu Chen: 【Making up for yesterday’s flowers.】
He Xiaoyuan: 【There were flowers yesterday.】
Even one is still a flower.
Lu Chen: 【Not enough.】
Lu Chen: 【Look at today’s—enough now?】
He Xiaoyuan glanced at the lavish reds in front of him, resisting a grin: 【Enough.】
Very enough.
Lu Chen: 【Big dinosaur hugs little dinosaur.jpg】
Lu Chen: 【Big dinosaur kisses little dinosaur.jpg】
He Xiaoyuan set down his phone, trying not to smile—but the expression on his face betrayed it completely.
So this is being in a relationship?
Feels… quite nice.
He Xiaoyuan chuckled secretly to himself.
The OA icon blinked. Opening it, it was Xu Ruomeng.
Xu Ruomeng: 【Smile.jpg】
Xu Ruomeng: 【I just realized this morning.】
Xu Ruomeng: 【You successfully went from single! I’m still a dog!】
Xu Ruomeng: 【On the path of progress, you betrayed the organization first.】
Xu Ruomeng: 【Smile.jpg】
Xu Ruomeng: 【Punishment: every day you must share at least one cute love scene.】
He Xiaoyuan couldn’t resist sending the rose photo he’d just taken.
Xu Ruomeng: 【? What?】
He Xiaoyuan typed: Boyfr—
Deleted.
He Xiaoyuan: 【He sent it to me, this morning, at the office, placed in front of my desk. No one else knew—just me.】
Xu Ruomeng: 【Ahhhhhh!】
Xu Ruomeng: 【Shipping complete! Shipping complete!】
Xu Ruomeng: 【Kneeling down, headbang.jpg】
He Xiaoyuan finally laughed, breaking his composure, mouth stretching into a huge grin.
Chang Bei glanced over: “What are you laughing at, grinning like that?”
He Xiaoyuan restrained himself, “Nothing, just… helping with some work.”
Secret joy aside, work still had to get done.
…
He Xiaoyuan worked with focus. Once concentrated, he wasn’t easily distracted—single no more, in love or not.
After helping Chang Bei scan a file and handling some trivial tasks, time quickly passed to just after ten.
Someone in the office said loudly: “Anyone want coffee?”
“Order it?”
“Too late, lunch time’s almost here.”
“I’ll make it and bring it over.”
“Good, me too.”
“Me too.”
He Xiaoyuan, sitting at his desk, stretched his neck, resting for a moment.
Once he had a spare moment, he immediately thought of Lu Chen, reaching for his phone.
No messages—unsurprising. He knew Lu Chen wouldn’t be chatting while working.
He Xiaoyuan hesitated: Should he send a message now?
Finally, he sent: 【.】
Set the phone aside, assuming Lu Chen wouldn’t reply quickly.
Seconds later, the phone vibrated.
He Xiaoyuan picked it up.
Lu Chen: 【.】
Lu Chen: 【Here.】
He Xiaoyuan smiled immediately.
He Xiaoyuan: 【How are you always so quick to reply?】
He Xiaoyuan: 【Not busy today?】
Lu Chen: 【Not busy.】
Lu Chen: 【I figured you’d reach out once you were free. Phone’s been on me the whole time.】
Usually, He Xiaoyuan could easily fill the chat with small talk, but today… he froze.
He Xiaoyuan: 【Are you at the office?】
Lu Chen: 【Mm, in the office.】
A few back-and-forth messages passed, then Lu Chen asked: 【Not busy now? Want to come up to the 11th floor?】
Just then, two coworkers returned with coffee and started handing cups out. One offered He Xiaoyuan a cup—he accepted: “Thanks.”
After a sip, he messaged: 【Not going up now, still some work.】
Lu Chen: 【Okay.】
Lu Chen: 【Still shy after all night?】
He Xiaoyuan nearly choked on the coffee: “Cough, cough, cough!”
Not shy at all!
Trying to sound composed, he typed seriously: 【I didn’t have time this morning, still some work left. Lunch soon—maybe afternoon then.】
Lu Chen: 【Okay.】
Lu Chen: 【Lunch together at noon?】
He Xiaoyuan: 【I remember you don’t eat in the cafeteria.】
Lu Chen: 【11th floor?】
Lu Chen: 【Wait for me, I’ll bring food over.】
Lunch together wasn’t in He Xiaoyuan’s plan. He’d usually eat in the cafeteria, or maybe just wanted a bit more time to digest and postpone meeting. But since Lu Chen suggested it, he didn’t want to seem timid, so he agreed. To make it seem casual in text, he added a particle: 【Sure.】
At noon, coworkers trickled out in small groups.
He Xiaoyuan stayed at his desk, working.
Chang Bei stood and said: “Still busy?”
Qin Chengfei, who occasionally ate with He Xiaoyuan, asked: “Together?”
He Xiaoyuan: “You go ahead.”
Qin Chengfei left, others followed, leaving He Xiaoyuan alone in the office.
He deliberately glanced around—good, just him.
After waiting a bit, he grabbed his work badge and quickly headed out.
The trip to the 11th floor felt like “sneaking at midnight,” cautious not to run into anyone.
Stepping out of the elevator, he craned his neck, scanning the floor—no one in sight.
He made his way to the terrace.
Swiping his badge and pushing the door, he chuckled at himself: Why so nervous?
Inside, he closed the door behind him, and froze. The entire terrace was a sea of flowers—pink, green, white—roses, lilies, irises. Tables, walls, under windows—all decorated like a dream.
He Xiaoyuan’s eyes widened as he stepped in, taking it all in.
This… this was all Lu Chen?
Surely. A knowing smile spread across his face—no pretenses here.
How had he never noticed Lu Chen’s romantic side before? He’d seen celebratory banners before and thought Lu Chen was a straight-arrow type.
But standing amidst the flowers, feeling the thought behind it, He Xiaoyuan couldn’t help but smile.
Lu Chen could really do this.
Not surprising, though—he’d always been thoughtful and intentional. Remember the banner, the silent gifts on New Year’s Eve? Lu Chen always made him feel special.
He Xiaoyuan, touched, raised his phone and recorded a video of the flower-filled terrace.
As he finished, the door clicked—badge recognition—and a push sounded.
He looked up from the phone to see Lu Chen entering, carrying two paper bags.
Lu Chen smiled, expression calm: “Thought you’d be late.”
He Xiaoyuan casually shrugged in reply.
They both moved toward the only table on the terrace.
Lu Chen set down the bags, stood by the chair, and removed his jacket. He Xiaoyuan pulled out a chair, sat, and opened a food container from one of the bags.
Placing his jacket over the chairback, Lu Chen’s calm voice said: “Heard from Qiao Sixing that someone from Tang Xingzhou’s side wants to transfer you to another department?”
He Xiaoyuan opened the container and nodded: “Mm.”
This had been brewing for days; managers from the department and HR had approached him earlier. He hadn’t agreed.
He Xiaoyuan pushed one container toward Lu Chen and handed him utensils, picking up his own chopsticks: “They want to move me to the mobile games team. I didn’t agree.”
Lu Chen acknowledged.
He Xiaoyuan looked at his meal, continuing: “When I rotated and worked on ‘Meow Meow,’ I realized I really don’t know much about games. I barely understand anything.”
He ate as he spoke: “Although work isn’t like school—won’t always do what you’re skilled at—still, compared to games, I’d rather stay in the project team.”
Lu Chen replied while eating: “You’re a management trainee. Moving isn’t a demotion—it’s a step up.”
He added: “Last reporting meeting, someone from Tang Xingzhou’s team thought you were good, wanted to move you to nurture you.”
He Xiaoyuan frowned: “Sounds like they’re trying to win me over.”
Especially the word “nurture.”
Lu Chen: “Normal—leaders prefer having their own people around.”
He Xiaoyuan: “…”
Inside, his heart was racing. Why ask something so obvious? Surely the big boss of the project team could figure it out on his own.
Lu Chen continued: “Xiaoyuan, just answer me. Even an ‘Mm’ is fine.”
He Xiaoyuan: “…”
Mm? Seriously?
In his head, a whole basket of “Mm”s piled up, but he still raised his leg to signal Lu Chen to leave—now! Immediately!
Lu Chen got kicked in the shin: “Xiaoyuan.”
He Xiaoyuan: “Mm!”
A loud, emphatic “Mm” escaped, and he kicked again, gesturing for Lu Chen to go, thankful he was only in slippers—otherwise, those pants’ hems would have been in trouble.
Lu Chen released his hand from He Xiaoyuan’s shoulder, laughing while enduring the “shadow kick”: “Alright, alright, I’m leaving.”
He added: “You go in first, I’ll close the door for you.”
Go—!
He Xiaoyuan’s frustration was at its peak.
Just then, a soft, warm breath brushed against his ear and temple. Lu Chen whispered close by: “I’m leaving.”
He Xiaoyuan froze, hearing footsteps retreat.
A moment later, quiet. He lifted his head, stunned—Lu Chen had… just kissed him?
Kissed him!?
He Xiaoyuan’s eyes widened as he craned his neck to check the hallway—empty. He really had left.
He touched his temple where the kiss had landed, almost in disbelief.
A few seconds later, a thought hit: 💥 Ten-thousand-level earthquake.
Entering his apartment, He Xiaoyuan closed the door, still touching the spot, smiling uncontrollably. His heart was as sweet as honey.
He walked down to the roses by the stairs, glancing at the glass vase, hand on his temple, grinning: Just a kiss? And no warning?
And to “come confirm in person”? He’d already sent the photo, made it clear, and it was so late… why the in-person check? Asking if he had feelings too?
Ridiculous.
He Xiaoyuan stood proudly by the flowers, playing with his phone under the warm desk lamp, finally understanding why Lu Chen had given him such an expensive brooch before—he liked him.
The next morning, punctual as ever, He Xiaoyuan got ready for work.
In the parking garage, strapping in, he realized he’d been driving the X7 recently. Smiling quietly—Lu Chen wasn’t being subtle, maybe he arranged it deliberately.
At the office, he headed upstairs, pushing open the glass doors, ready to greet everyone, only to see a crowd near Lu Chen’s desk.
Huh?
Walking closer, he saw a massive bouquet of red roses, perfectly arranged in a vase, right across from his desk.