Today was Su Hao’s first official day taking over Chen Yu’s duties. Her workstation was moved to Chen Yu’s former desk, which placed her right next to Lu Mimi.

 

Su Hao’s original desk would have worked as well, but too many documents needed to be transferred. Moving everything back and forth would have been a hassle, so she took over Chen Yu’s seat instead. The plan was to assign any new hires to Su Hao’s old desk later on. Lu Mimi was busy all morning, constantly going in and out, not sparing Su Hao even a single glance.

 

And today, she was dressed especially beautifully—in a tight-fitting skirt.

 

As soon as work started, Su Hao was already overwhelmed. Back when she was only assisting, she hadn’t realized just how many small details were involved. Now that she was handling things herself, every time she dealt with documents or money, she had to stay extremely alert. Online transfers had to be checked repeatedly; once money was received, it had to be verified again, clearly labeled—what transaction it belonged to, and when it came in—before promptly entering it into the accounts.

 

In contrast, Lu Mimi and Zhang Xian in the office were much more relaxed. After all, they were already very familiar with the work. Lu Mimi watched Su Hao rushing back and forth, a trace of amusement flickering in her eyes, as if watching a show.

 

Zhang Xian, on the other hand, asked several times, “Su Hao, do you need any help?”

 

Su Hao shook her head. “No, thank you, Sister Zhang Xian.”

 

“Then be careful.”

 

“Okay.”

 

After that, Su Hao went right back to work. Even going to the restroom felt rushed. She was so busy that she didn’t even realize lunchtime had arrived. It wasn’t until Tang Yu from the sales department came upstairs looking for President Zeng and was about to leave that she saw her. Tang Yu knocked on the door of the finance office and called out, “Su Hao, it’s time to get off work and eat.”

 

Su Hao froze for a moment and looked up at her computer.

 

It was already past twelve.

 

She immediately closed her notebook, shut down the software, put the computer on standby, then stood up, grabbed her phone, and headed for the door.

 

Tang Yu was still standing there and smiled at her.

 

Su Hao returned the smile.

 

Tang Yu had the same type of looks as Lu Mimi—more precisely, they were both the type that Zhou Yang liked. The two of them walked downstairs together.

 

Tang Yu found Su Hao’s aura very gentle and picked a few topics to chat about. Su Hao replied lightly, neither cold nor overly warm. Surprisingly, this made Tang Yu—someone from sales who was good at reading people—feel comfortable instead.

 

She said, “Don’t take what people say in the group chat too seriously. Whenever Zhou Zong comes up, they start spinning all kinds of conspiracy theories.”

 

Su Hao nodded. “Mm. I didn’t take it seriously.”

 

She simply couldn’t be bothered to look. She knew that after Chen Yu was fired, many people had shifted their attention to her—and even dragged Zhou Yang into it.

 

“That’s good. A company is basically a small society; all kinds of people exist. Zhou Zong didn’t come to the meeting this morning, and the group chat went crazy again. They said Miss Li’s birthday was yesterday, so today things must have been finalized… tsk.” Tang Yu laughed as she finished, and Su Hao laughed along with her.

 

They reached the second floor, where many people were still eating. There were barely any empty seats. Fei Jie’s cafeteria was excellent—calling it a cafeteria hardly did it justice. It was clean, well-decorated like a restaurant, and the dishes never repeated throughout the five-day workweek. Occasionally, there was bird’s nest, white fungus, or even sea cucumber. Fruit, snacks, and desserts were always provided, with balanced nutrition.

 

Su Hao took braised beef ribs, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, a chicken drumstick, a small piece of fish, plus broccoli and water spinach. For soup, she chose chicken soup with winter melon.

 

After getting her food, someone happened to finish eating, freeing up a four-person table. Su Hao carried her tray over, sat down, and took a sip of soup. Tang Yu came over after getting her food and sat beside her. The moment she saw the amount of meat on Su Hao’s tray, she immediately turned her head away.

 

“Oh my god, eating with you is pure torture.”

 

Su Hao glanced at Tang Yu’s tray.

 

Tang Yu had only taken fried rice and a fruit salad.

 

“You’re dieting?” Su Hao asked.

 

“Yeah.” Tang Yu forked a leaf of greens. “I’m dieting every day, but I never lose any weight.”

 

Su Hao hummed and continued eating. Tang Yu stared enviously at Su Hao’s food, practically drooling, but could only force herself to eat the fried rice.

 

It was their first time eating together. Su Hao ate quietly, and Tang Yu followed suit. Just then, a tray was placed down across from them.

 

A bespectacled man sat down, looking refined and polite as he smiled. “Su Hao, Manager Tang.”

 

Both women looked up.

 

It was Assistant Lu.

 

“Assistant Lu, eating at the company today?” Tang Yu asked with a smile, resting her chin on her hand.

 

Assistant Lu smiled and took a sip of soup. “I’m here to handle things on Zhou Zong’s behalf.”

 

“We just saw each other at a meeting earlier, Manager Tang. You’re acting a bit too surprised.”

 

“Haha, I really am surprised.” Tang Yu glanced at Su Hao. Had she heard correctly just now? Assistant Lu actually knew Su Hao? Or… was he pursuing her?

 

Su Hao lifted her eyes and nodded lightly to Assistant Lu without saying much. Assistant Lu smiled faintly, picked up some vegetables, and took a bite. After that, Tang Yu and Assistant Lu chatted on and off.

 

Tang Yu hadn’t even taken soup and finished quickly. Just then, she got a phone call. She picked up her empty tray and left.

 

Su Hao, having taken more food, wasn’t finished yet.

 

After finishing his soup, Assistant Lu wiped the corner of his mouth with a napkin. Before getting up with his tray, he bent slightly and said in a low voice, “Miss Su, Zhou Zong asked me to tell you that he’s sick.”

 

Su Hao didn’t move.

 

Assistant Lu added, “He has a fever.”

 

“Tell him to take medicine. What’s the point of telling me?” she replied calmly.

 

Assistant Lu: “…!!”

 

“Alright,” he said, straightening up and heading to return the tray. After setting it down, he pulled out his phone and typed.

 

Assistant Lu: Zhou Zong, Miss Su told you to take medicine.
Zhou Yang: …What kind of wording is that?

 

Only then did Assistant Lu realize it sounded a bit like scolding. He quickly edited:

 

Assistant Lu: She said to take fever medicine and that telling her is useless.

 

There was no reply from the other side.

 

Assistant Lu let out a sigh of relief. Only if Miss Su remained truly hard-hearted would Zhou Zong finally give up.

 

He left the restaurant.

 

After hanging up her call, Tang Yu glanced toward the entrance and then at Su Hao. She had happened to see Assistant Lu lean down to whisper to Su Hao earlier. So Assistant Lu really was pursuing Su Hao.

 

After lunch, Tang Yu went back to her office for a nap. Su Hao didn’t have time for that—she plunged straight back into work. For the next half month, she would likely remain in this extremely busy state.

 

Around two in the afternoon, Zhang Xian and Lu Mimi returned from their lunch break, and the three of them focused on their own tasks.

 

Lu Mimi chatted on WeChat from time to time.

 

Chen Yu: How is she?
Lu Mimi: Looks pretty busy.
Chen Yu: Really? Has she gotten the hang of it?
Lu Mimi: If she’s that busy, how could she? She seems much dumber than you.
Chen Yu: Oh.
Lu Mimi: Aren’t you secretly happy? I told you before to be careful at work. Look what happened.
Chen Yu: I know, I was wrong.
Lu Mimi: Zhou Zong seems to be sick today. I saw him in the hallway earlier—felt so bad for him.
Chen Yu: Go show your concern.

 

Just then, Zhang Xian received a call and called out to Su Hao. Su Hao looked up as Zhang Xian pushed some documents forward.

 

“President Zeng’s assistant is on a business trip. Help deliver these to him.”

 

Su Hao put down her pen, responded, picked up the stack of documents, and left.

 

The door to President Zeng’s office wasn’t fully closed, leaving a small gap. Su Hao gently pushed it open.

 

At a glance, she saw Zhou Yang leaning against the desk, covering his mouth as he coughed while speaking with President Zeng. Hearing the movement, the man paused and lifted his eyes.

 

Their gazes collided.

 

Su Hao pressed her lips together, walked in, and said, “President Zeng, the documents are here.”

 

She placed them down.

 

President Zeng cleared his throat, his eyes drifting slightly, then said, “Alright, put them here.”

 

No one had done anything wrong—yet the atmosphere felt oddly strange.

 

President Zeng casually asked Su Hao a few questions.

 

“How does it feel, taking over the work?”

 

“It’s okay.”

 

“If you need help, remember to ask Zhang Xian.”

 

“Alright.”

 

Su Hao answered calmly.

 

Zhou Yang raised an eyebrow, leaning lazily against the desk as he watched her. Today, his collar was buttoned tightly, one hand casually tucked into his pocket. President Zeng glanced at Zhou Yang’s undisguised gaze, then at Su Hao’s composed expression, and sighed inwardly.

 

He really shouldn’t have watched that surveillance footage. Knowing too much about the boss’s private affairs was bad for one’s health.

 

It was hard not to want to watch the drama unfold.

 

“Alright, you can go,” President Zeng said after a moment’s consideration.

 

Su Hao smiled and turned to leave, not sparing Zhou Yang a single glance. Just as her hand touched the door handle, a large hand reached out from behind and pressed down on hers.

 

The hand was scorching hot.

 

Su Hao froze and tried to pull away, but Zhou Yang held firm. His body pressed against her back, completely enveloping her.

 

“Let go,” Su Hao said.

 

He must have been burning up—his chest radiated heat.

 

She frowned.

 

Above her head, Zhou Yang’s low voice sounded, carrying a hint of grievance. “I have a fever.”

 

“I know. Take medicine.” She was as calm as a machine.

 

Zhou Yang fell silent for a second.

 

Then he dropped that trace of grievance, his voice low and warm with breath. “My mom wants you to come to the family home on Wednesday. I’ll pick you up.”

 

“Got it. Can you let go now?” Su Hao twisted her wrist. The door was about to open.

 

Zhou Yang narrowed his eyes. The fever only made him want to cling closer to the woman in his arms. He helped open the door a little—then suddenly shoved it shut again.

 

Bang.

 

The posture didn’t change. The movement didn’t change. The atmosphere didn’t change.

 

He lowered his head slightly and murmured, “Su Hao, you smell so good.”

 

“Cough—oh dear, how did this fall down?” Immediately after, documents clattered loudly onto the floor, completely shattering the tension.

 

Zhou Yang turned his head, his narrow eyes locking straight onto President Zeng.

 

Taking advantage of the moment, Su Hao yanked the door open, strode out, and slammed it shut behind her.

 

President Zeng met Zhou Yang’s gaze, froze, then forced a smile. “Everything fell.”

 

He pointed at the pile of documents on the floor.

 

Zhou Yang walked over, picked up the cigarette pack and lighter from the desk. His long neck was flushed red. Tilting his head, he glanced sideways.

 

“President Zeng, you’re really scheming.”

 

“You could win an Oscar.”

 

He put the cigarette between his lips, his tone slow and casual.

 

President Zeng clutched the documents and didn’t move for a long time.

 

He thought: to keep my job, should I pretend I didn’t see anything next time?

 

But what if they really end up together?

 

Wouldn’t I be offending the future boss’s wife?

 

This is way too hard…

 

After returning to the office, Su Hao turned on her computer and continued working. Once she finished a task, she picked up her phone and checked WeChat.

 

As expected, there was a message from Su Qian.

 

Su Qian: Haohao, come home on Wednesday, okay? Muah~

 

Su Hao hesitated, tapping her chin, thinking about how to refuse. At that moment, another message popped up, forcing her to switch chats.

 

Li Xiu: Sister Su Hao, I’m so sad.
Li Xiu: Sister Su Hao, is Zhou Yang at the company?

 

Su Hao hadn’t wanted to reply, but after a few seconds, she typed back.

 

Su Hao: He is. He has a fever.

 

Li Xiu: A fever? How did that happen? Did he take medicine?

 

Su Hao didn’t reply again. She put down her phone, planning to call Su Qian in the evening.

 

Around three thirty, it was time for afternoon tea. Busy people didn’t go; those who weren’t busy gathered in small groups to head to the second-floor restaurant. The sixteenth floor was unusually busy that day, and no one went down.

 

Just then, the elevator doors opened.

 

A strikingly beautiful figure stepped out—it was Li Xiu, who hadn’t been to the company in a long time.

 

Everyone was surprised to see her.

 

Li Xiu carried a small shopping bag and a cup of coffee, her heels clicking as she headed straight for the CEO’s office. She peeked through the blinds.

 

Inside, she only saw the man leaning against the desk, reading documents.

 

She pushed the door open.

 

“Zhou Yang,” her sweet voice rang out, especially clear.

 

Inside, Zhou Yang lifted his eyes. The fever left him with no smile, even a hint of hostility between his brows. Seeing Li Xiu didn’t improve his expression.

 

“What are you doing here?” he asked coldly.

 

Li Xiu froze, then immediately raised the small bag. “I brought you fever medicine.”

 

“Who told you I had a fever?”

 

“Sister Su Hao!” Li Xiu replied brightly.

 

Zhou Yang clenched his teeth. “……”