Lin Xi remained perfectly composed despite Song Xu’s thunderous roar. She strolled over and asked through the closed door, “President Song, what’s the matter?”

The door flew open. Song Xu stormed out, eyes blazing with fury. He pointed a trembling finger at a row of purple, star-shaped marks on his forehead. “What is this?”

“Gua Sha,” Lin Xi explained tonelessly. “It’s a treatment for headaches. Didn’t you have a migraine last night?”

Song Xu spun in a frustrated circle. “How am I supposed to see anyone looking like this?”

“What’s the big deal?” Lin Xi replied with a shrug. “It’s not like you did something shameful.”

She turned to retrieve the thermometer gun and clicked it against the ‘stars’ on his brow. Thirty-six point five. “Your fever is gone. You don’t need any more medicine.”

Recovered quickly, she thought. He’s back to normal in just a day.

The mere mention of medicine made Song Xu’s stomach churn. Thinking about how he had been force-fed that bitter decoction yesterday only fueled his irritation.

He couldn’t exactly do anything to her right now, so he simply pointed at her for a long moment before snapping, “Lin Xi, this is insubordination! Do you think I won’t dock your pay?”

That hit her right where it hurt. She looked at him in disbelief. “I took care of you, and I’m the one in the wrong? Was I supposed to just watch you burn up?”

Lin Xi felt a wave of indignation crashing inside her, but her expression remained as smooth as glass. “Besides, Madam Song called me personally. She gave me strict instructions to make sure you took your medicine.”

“My mother called you?” Song Xu’s focus shifted instantly. “What else did she say?”

“Nothing much,” Lin Xi said indifferently. “She just happened to mention that you’re afraid of needles and medicine.”

Song Xu turned on his heel and stormed back into his room.

—

Lin Xi sat on her bed, unable to find the humor in the situation. She was still trying to figure out how she had migrated from the sofa to the bed.

There’s no way I was sleepwalking. She was a heavy sleeper, but she didn’t have a history of wandering. The most likely explanation was that someone had carried her. It wasn’t hard to guess who.

Song Xu had woken up full of energy; he must have recovered his strength during the night. Lin Xi checked herself over and was relieved to find no suspicious marks.

From now on, I have to lock my door.

Song Xu, meanwhile, was scrolling through a mountain of unread messages and missed calls. He had to go to the office today.

He took a shower and discovered another large purple mark on the back of his neck. His mood soured further. In a single night, Lin Xi had absolutely wrecked his image. It was practically inhumane.

He grabbed a baseball cap, pulling it low to hide the “Seven-Star Alignment” on his forehead.

When he entered the dining area, Lin Xi looked up from the breakfast she was preparing. Seeing him in casual wear and a cap, she realized he actually looked like someone her own age.

She placed his breakfast in front of him. “Are you going to the office today, President Song?”

“Mm,” he grunted, keeping his head down.

“Can you sign the contract before you leave?” Lin Xi hadn’t forgotten her main priority. She wanted to list his items on her platform as soon as possible.

“No time,” he said coldly.

Lin Xi looked confused. “But it’s only six o’clock. You don’t usually head in until after eight.”

Song Xu checked his watch. It really was only six. He must have slept too much yesterday.

He glared at her, remembering that she usually woke up at five. It seemed yesterday hadn’t tired her out at all.

One of these days, he thought darkly, I’ll make sure she’s too exhausted to even get out of bed.

“Go print it out. I’ll sign.”

“Right away, President Song.”

Lin Xi smiled and hurried to his room to print two copies. Song Xu reviewed the document carefully. It was well-written; the restrictions on the items for sale were strict and wouldn’t negatively impact him. He picked up a pen and signed his name.

Lin Xi added her signature and handed him a copy. “President Song, is there anything you want to sell right now?”

Song Xu’s wardrobe was updated every season by Xu Wan. With the weather turning cold, a new batch of clothes would be arriving soon. He only needed to keep a few staples.

“Sell off the summer clothes in the walk-in closet. You decide which ones.”

—

The roads were empty, and Song Xu arrived at the office before seven. He was stopped at the entrance by a security guard. “Who goes there? The office isn’t open yet.”

Song Xu pulled his ID badge from his briefcase and flashed it.

The guard’s eyes widened as he read the name, and a cold sweat broke out across his back. He stole a glance at the face beneath the cap and recognized his boss. He hurried to return the badge. “President Song! My apologies. You’re here quite early today.”

Song Xu offered a curt nod and headed for the elevator.

Aside from the guards and the cleaning crew, the building was deserted. He began tackling yesterday’s backlog, and without a care for the time, he started harassing Zhang Qing.

Zhang Qing was jolted awake by his phone’s vibration. Who would call this early? He pressed the phone to his ear with his eyes still closed. “Who is it?” he groaned.

“It’s me. Send me the minutes from yesterday’s executive meeting,” Song Xu’s deep voice rang out.

Zhang Qing bolted upright like a startled fish. He checked the screen—7:10 AM. Caller: Young President Song.

“President Song? You’re at the office?”

“Mm,” Song Xu replied. “You called me fifty-six times yesterday.”

Zhang Qing swallowed hard. “I… I just couldn’t get ahold of you, sir.”

“You have me now,” Song Xu said, his tone unreadable. “Send the files. Now.”

He hung up.

Zhang Qing rubbed his face. He couldn’t send them from home; he hadn’t brought his laptop back with him.

At 7:40 AM, Zhang Qing scurried into Song Xu’s office. He found a man in a baseball cap and casual clothes sitting behind the desk.

Zhang Qing leaned down, trying to peek under the brim, only to meet Song Xu’s icy stare.

“President Song,” Zhang Qing said, straightening up immediately. “Why the hat today? I almost didn’t recognize you.”

Song Xu wasn’t about to explain. “Just bring me the documents that need signing.”

“Yes, sir.”

Song Xu worked straight through until eleven o’clock. Just as he was about to take a breather, his internal line buzzed.

“Dad?”

“Come up to my office,” Song Qingshi said before hanging up.

Song Xu took the elevator to the 23rd floor and walked into the Chairman’s office. “Dad, you wanted to see me?”

Song Qingshi frowned at him, his tone displeased. “What are you doing wearing a hat in the office? Take it off.”

Song Xu didn’t dare defy his father. Taking a deep breath, he removed the cap. Since his hair was styled in a short, textured cut, there was nothing to hide his forehead.

Song Qingshi stared, completely stunned. “What happened to your face? Did something bite you?”