The year-end gala had finally ended.
Zong Cheng’s racing, anxious heart had also calmed—almost a little cool now.
He watched Yin Chen take the stage to draw the grand prize of the Yin Corporation year-end gala. On stage, the man was confident and dazzling, seemingly different from the private person Zong Cheng knew—but unmistakably the same man.
He couldn’t help but stare, oblivious that all the employees in the audience were watching him instead.
Internal department chats were ablaze:
“Look at him, he’s staring, he’s staring, he’s staring! Ugh, I’m jealous! He’s been staring at Mr. Yin since he went on stage—this is too lovesick!”
“Another day crying over someone else’s love! By the way, who even is this guy? Could he really become the future Mrs. Yin?”
“? You’re sure about ‘Mrs.’? He’s so big and strong!”
“? So you think Mr. Yin is the wife?”
The gossiping departments shuddered collectively and tacitly dropped the topic.
A joke like that?
Do they not want to enjoy next year?
Who dares arrange the payroll for their golden benefactor?
Yin Chen, on stage, for the first time realized how obvious Zong Cheng’s gaze was.
Focused, intense.
He felt a strange heat from it. Tugging at his collar to reveal his throat, the gaze seemed to burn even hotter.
Thinking back, how had he ever ignored such a searing stare before?
Curious, Yin Chen reflected on every moment since meeting Zong Cheng. Perhaps…
It was because the food had been too delicious?
So he ignored the intense gaze?
…
As expected of me.jpg
That gaze lingered, sticking to him like glue.
Odd?
Yin Chen continued the prize draw, inwardly shocked by this strange feeling.
Truly strange.
After drawing the grand prize, he stepped down from the stage.
Walking, his eyes naturally met Zong Cheng’s again.
Still blazing, still timid.
The gaze shrank the instant it met his, but Yin Chen, seemingly expressionless, mentally stamped:
Zong Cheng, far too timid.
Yet…
His eyes drifted to Zong Cheng’s strong, perfect frame, the V-neck Ali had picked for him. Memories of the perfect chest muscles flashed in Yin Chen’s mind—he paused for a moment.
Everything else was impressive too.
Ali… well done.
That V-neck suited Zong Cheng perfectly.
“Want to come to my place for a drink tonight? Celebration party?”
Okay, casual, natural tone, same as usual.
Yin Chen gave himself a mental perfect score and looked at Zong Cheng.
Some things still needed confirmation.
The best way to confirm?
Yin Chen’s lips curved mysteriously.
What’s faster than getting Zong Cheng drunk?
“Celebration party?”
And again at your place?
Zong Cheng thought of last night, of everything he missed without knowing, and felt irritated.
Finally getting inside—
That was his beloved’s house!
Sure, he had been there before, but last night was different!
Yet he simply fell asleep!
Fell asleep!
Sleep…
Am I a pig?
Expressionless, his heart cried a storm.
“Hmm, coming?”
After all, the reason was just an excuse—the point was to get him to drink.
Yin Chen calculated quietly, calm on the outside.
A bit flustered.
Zong Cheng was a bit flustered.
But…
“I’ll come.”
He spoke low and husky, his voice sexy as ever, surprising Yin Chen.
So Zong Cheng’s voice was this sexy?
Had he never noticed before?
Or did Zong Cheng learn voice acting?
That seemed unlikely.
Still…
Yin Chen couldn’t help stealing several glances.
The tips of his ears flushed.
Adorable?
Yin Chen squinted, fingers twitching slightly.
Kind of want to touch.jpg
The gala had finally ended. Yin Corporation dominated several trending searches.
Because the livestream had been rushed, initially attracting few viewers, the numbers soared to nearly ten million, shocking even the DYX officials.
Contemporary netizens, what’s with you?
All this free time?
Other companies’ galas—what’s so watchable about them?
Is it just that ours is better?
Then, after scrolling the trending topics, they fell silent.
#BelievingInLoveCEOAndCEOID
#DidYouSharkTheBossToday
#OneHundredWaysToPerishWithMyBoss
#YinCorporationInsanePerks
Especially the first hashtag, still wildly popular.
“Ugh. I only came to watch gossip and got fed a mouthful of romance. Seeing these two familiar IDs, I should have known! This livestream isn’t for me! I shouldn’t be watching!”
“Came late, missed fresh gossip. Can someone explain what this trending topic is?”
“Scroll up, watch the trending topics yourself.”
“…Scrolled. Holy crap? Really? Mr. Yin already has a partner? And they’re so good at gaming! Rich people’s happiness, I just can’t imagine!”
“? The way you summarize it, I never expected it.”
Then the conversation drifted elsewhere.
“So, to get a partner, you must be good at the game!”
“I agree. If I recall correctly, Mr. Yin’s skills in that video were average, a newbie stage. But last night? Wow, where did he learn such rapid PUBG skills? I want to go too!”
“? Are you kidding? Mr. Yin’s rapid PUBG skills are clearly learned from his boyfriend’s chest muscles!”
?
That’s… wrong.
People paused in shock.
“Could that be the same genius who used chest muscles instead of shoulders before?!”
“I bet a coin—most likely! So flashy! Few can do that!”
“But isn’t the real question, did Mr. Yin actually practice on his boyfriend’s chest muscles?”
“? Practice what? PUBG♂skills?”
“…If this topic continues, I’ll call the cops! Officer! There’s a group of perverts here!”
High Lawyer, who had been watching the trending chatter, sipped black coffee, then set it down.
…
Forget it.
Tonight, Dongfang Wan wouldn’t achieve anything.
Even if he tried, with the netizens’ bizarre logic? Probably impossible.
Looking at the time, okay, still some time before eleven.
Perfect to wash up and sleep.
High Lawyer closed his laptop, satisfied.
Early to bed, early to rise.
Dongfang Group.
Dongfang Wan, shaking with rage, listened to the leader of his troll team demand payment over the phone.
“You dare ask me for money? I sent you to attack Yin Chen, did you succeed?”
Nothing was achieved, yet they demand money?
?
Was he planning to cheat them?
The troll leader was wary.
“Boss, that’s not how it is. We did exactly what you arranged. Even if it didn’t work, that’s not our fault. One thing at a time—we still deserve our pay!”
Even if unsuccessful, it was the boss’s own faulty strategy! Not their responsibility!
“How is it not your problem? You took my money but failed, isn’t that your problem?”
Dongfang Wan’s tone was annoyed.
Finally, he had a chance, but his team’s incompetence ruined it—he didn’t capture Yin Chen.
Yet they got paid fast?
Dream on!
The troll leader laughed angrily.
“Boss, you didn’t say we had to completely destroy Mr. Yin. If you had, no studio would accept the order! Thinking about this stunt now… we must’ve been crazy!”
Mostly because Dongfang Wan paid well.
Otherwise?
No way.
This was dangerous!
Excuses!
All excuses!
Dongfang Wan blew up.
He argued with the troll leader for two full hours.
“This loss compensation isn’t even settled. You tried to attack Yin Chen but almost got me exposed! That’s on you!”
???
Meow?
The troll leader was shocked.
Does this boss even have face?
If not for him doing it first, trying to target someone else, would netizens have dragged him out?
Whose fault is that?
Two hours of back-and-forth later…
Enough!
No chance of getting that money now!
Might as well offer a free ‘after-service’!
Yin Corporation’s trending heat finally cooled, when a new wave of trolls suddenly emerged.
They weren’t attacking, weren’t jealous—they were comparing Yin Chen’s performance to Dongfang Wan’s antics.
Some even uploaded a video!
Curious netizens clicked—kaboom, mind-blowing.
Yin Chen’s flawless beauty vs. Dongfang Wan, filmed from below the nose and chin, looking a little questionable but indistinct—contrast: Yin Chen wins.
Then the footage of Dongfang Wan’s substitute being exposed vs. Yin Chen and Zong Cheng exchanging smiles seamlessly—Yin Chen wins again.
Finally, Dongfang Wan scurried away, tail between legs. Yin Corporation employees cheered as their beautiful CEO received the grand prize—three consecutive victories.
High Lawyer, with alerts set, opened his phone.
After watching, he slowly flipped to a small notebook on his desk.
Something was off.
Weren’t these commentators the ones who previously attacked Mr. Yin?
Was his memory faulty?
He clicked into their Weibo accounts, seeing several newly joining a super-topic—sweet romance between two CEOs.
Looking closer, these users were posting excitedly, like clucking in a coop. High Lawyer’s calm facade slowly cracked.
He understood the logic—but you trolls, first attacking your boss, now fangirling over the CEO couple?