Assistant Zhong pushed up his glasses.
He kept feeling that something was off.
He checked one list. Then another.
Then he sank into thought.
Something didn’t feel right—was it just his imagination?
“Ready?”
Zong Cheng strode over, long legs cutting through the office floor.
His cuffs were neatly rolled back, revealing strong, muscular forearms.
Assistant Zhong couldn’t help stealing a glance.
Rumors had been circulating around the company lately: apparently, their CEO had been secretly training. Some even said—Zong Cheng’s pectoral muscles had reached a new level.
Maybe he didn’t notice, staring at him every day, but the female staff in the office were all “Leuwen Hook girls,” so…
Zhong’s gaze lingered briefly on Zong Cheng’s—tie.
Quickly, he withdrew his eyes.
What were you looking at? If Zong Cheng noticed, would he even want to keep working here?
Besides…
Zong Cheng already had a boyfriend. It wasn’t right to be staring at someone else’s partner.
Despite the swirling thoughts, on the surface Assistant Zhong remained composed.
“All ready, CEO.”
He handed over the documents.
Zong Cheng glanced at them and, unusually, praised him.
“Not bad.”
Receiving approval from Zong Cheng, Zhong exhaled slowly, feeling a small relief. At last, it felt like all the effort he’d put in—covering up and liaising with Assistant A-Mao—was worth it.
He thought, feeling a little awkward.
Assistant A-Mao was really quite decent, even teaching him a lot about being an effective assistant.
As for him… from start to finish, he’d only been using A-Mao.
Although it was under CEO Zong’s orders, and not exactly malicious, it still left a bitter taste in his conscience.
Every day, his mind silently reproached him.
ε=(ο｀*))) sigh.
“Assistant Zhong, everything you conveyed from CEO Yin has been reported,” Assistant A-Mao stated calmly in front of Yin Chen’s office.
“Is that so?”
Well done.
Yin Chen’s eyes carried appreciation.
“I’ll notify finance later—this month, you’ll receive a bonus.”
No wonder he had noticed that recently, A-Mao didn’t seem so timid. He must be feeling more confident? Yin Chen smiled at the thought.
“Thank you, CEO Yin.”
A-Mao remained composed, then quietly closed the door behind him.
Back at his desk, the secretary team immediately surrounded him.
The head male secretary spoke first.
“We just got news! CEO Yin said you’re getting a bonus this month! Brother! What’s going on? Is there something we should know?”
Other secretaries stared at A-Mao expectantly.
A-Mao felt a little nervous. Were these people too well-informed?
He’d just walked from CEO Yin’s office! How did they already know?
Then again… never mind.
Compared to his daily charade, pretending to be nice to Assistant Zhong while subtly feeding information, this was small potatoes.
A-Mao smiled faintly.
“Not ready to tell yet. But I can say this—you’ll know soon enough.”
“Tch—!”
“Huh—!”
“Tsk!”
The secretary team looked disappointed.
No fresh gossip in hand, it wasn’t worth it.
Meanwhile, Yin Chen took the time to ‘visit’ Dongfang Lie in prison.
The prison was quiet. Cold, empty, with a hint of lifeless chill.
In short, Yin Chen was very pleased.
Thinking that Dongfang Lie and the others would spend the rest of their lives paying the price for their deeds, sitting in this cold place… Yin Chen’s mind flashed one word: satisfying.
Dongfang Lie emerged, eyes cloudy upon seeing Yin Chen.
He sat slowly and said,
“You still managed to slip away.”
Yin Chen’s expression remained unreadable.
For the old man Dongfang, even giving a smile would feel extravagant.
“You do this, and you’re not afraid I’ll extend your stay in here?”
He truly couldn’t understand why Dongfang Lie would go after him at this point.
Dongfang Lie looked at the young, strong, handsome man before him.
Even his neck showed faint, lingering kiss marks under the ear—a trace of possessive passion.
Dongfang Lie’s laugh was suddenly cold and sinister.
“I’m already in here. How many years I stay doesn’t matter. But you, the head of Yin Corporation, are being suppressed by a nobody. Do you really think he genuinely likes you? Likes a man sincerely?”
Hmm?
Yin Chen was slightly surprised. Dongfang Lie held such opinions about him? That was unexpected.
He stroked his neck, smirking faintly.
“As the saying goes, you reap what you sow. I sowed melons, so naturally I harvest melons. But it seems even this basic truth eludes you?”
Dongfang Lie sneered.
“Reap what you sow? Then tell me—you dare tell that kid you once liked Wan’er’s boyfriend? You wouldn’t dare.”
Between two men, so-called emotions were nonsense.
Yin Chen’s gaze softened into faint sympathy and pity. He looked at Dongfang Lie, his tone drawn out.
“I didn’t expect that even in this era, you still think so rigidly. No wonder Dongfang Group follows Yin’s lead and can’t produce any of their own projects.”
“What are you talking about!”
Dongfang Lie’s pupils dilated slightly, alarmed. Was he speaking nonsense?
Yin Chen feigned a smile.
“You don’t think I wouldn’t notice Dongfang Group always tailing Yin’s projects, do you?”
He wasn’t as naïve as Dongfang Lie.
A few investments, okay. Twice, three times—always following Yin’s new projects. That spoke volumes.
“…The market is huge; Yin isn’t the only one eyeing promising projects. Dongfang Group has a mature team—it’s only a matter of time before they develop suitable projects themselves.”
Dongfang Lie’s tone stiffened.
“Say what you want. Dongfang Group’s finished anyway.”
And he had no interest in continuing this dull conversation with the old man.
Just a few steps out, Yin Chen decided to ‘visit’ Dongfang Wan while he was at it.
Dongfang Wan was quickly brought over.
Upon seeing him, Yin Chen froze.
Who was this?
Disheveled, messy, beaten-looking—who?
Yin Chen scanned him, expression unreadable.
Neck marks, bruises from fights—by all accounts, Dongfang Wan was worse off than the old man.
Dongfang Wan hadn’t expected Yin Chen to visit. First shocked, then anger and resentment flashed across his face, before returning to calm.
After a moment, he spoke slowly.
“I thought, besides my parents, the only one coming to see me would be Lin Yuhan.”
?
Yin Chen’s gaze turned odd.
What gave him such confidence?
He thought for a moment, then reached out.
“Lin Yuhan’s wrist was broken, Lin Yuhan was followed by you, Lin Yuhan was bullied at the company, Lin Yuhan was looked down on by your uncle…”
He counted off, then spread his hands.
“Where does your confidence come from? After the way you treated Lin Yuhan, would he even come see you?”
Dongfang Wan’s calmness faltered, anger replacing it instantly.
“I knew you’ve been thinking about him! Hmph! He likes me!”
Yin Chen remained indifferent.
“Believe what you want. I think he’ll never come see you in this lifetime.”
Not because the hotpot was bad, or because the cats and dogs at Lin Yuhan’s family’s pet shop were unworthy. If he weren’t curious about the play, he wouldn’t have bothered.
Dongfang Wan choked, powerless with rage.
After a while, he calmed, eyes hard and sinister.
“It’s you. It’s you behind all of this, isn’t it? It must be you!”
Yin Chen!
Of course it’s him!
Hmm? Smart at last?
Yin Chen smiled faintly, saying nothing.
If it were him, he hadn’t really done much—he only, with Lawyer Gao, kindly relayed some family information the Dongfangs didn’t know about each other.
Neither illegal nor malicious. He truly was a good man.
After enjoying Dongfang Wan’s impotent fury, Yin Chen rose calmly.
Just as he stepped out, he paused.
Dusk had fallen.
The sunset was ordinary—like every other day.
Standing a moment, Yin Chen received a message.
It was Zong Cheng.
「Dinner tonight? I’ve finished work and won’t be staying late.」
Hmm?
Good news!
Then he might not need his own bed tonight?
Yin Chen smiled, sending a location calmly.
Since the boyfriend was free, why drive himself?
Hmm? Wait… driving himself? That didn’t quite make sense.
But on second thought, maybe it did.
Checking the time, summer was almost here. When would timid Zong Cheng make his move?
Meanwhile, Zong Cheng drove while calling.
“Do you think it’s suitable?”
“Perfect! I think it’s extremely suitable!”
Tang’s voice came through the phone, excitement tinged with anticipation.
“I think you shouldn’t wait! Tomorrow! I think tomorrow’s a perfect day! Then you just—”
“I’ve planned everything.”
Zong Cheng interrupted decisively.
Tang froze.
Huh?
He took a deep breath and repeated,
“I’ve planned everything.”
So Tang’s opinion this time didn’t matter—it only gave him a little courage.