Cen Chi said coolly, “Excessive suspicion is a condition, too. President Zhou, you shouldn’t shy away from treating it.”
“Oh please, I think you’re the one who needs help. Constantly accusing others of being sick—that’s a sickness in itself,” Zhou Yanxing shot back. “Maybe you should check yourself into a hospital first. Ever heard the phrase ‘a doctor can’t cure himself’?”
“Please don’t argue, President Zhou…”
“And you,” Zhou Yanxing suddenly turned his sharp gaze toward Chi Zhan, tone laced with mockery, “don’t you think you owe me an explanation for being late this morning? Was breakfast with that pretty boy so distracting that you forgot you had a job?”
This was the first Cen Chi had heard about Chi Zhan’s tardiness. He mused aloud, “Secretary Chi, late? Now that’s a rare sight…”
You two should take your comedy act on the road. Chi Zhan resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
“It was just that Chu Xingxiao got recognized by fans during breakfast, so—” Chi Zhan tried to explain calmly, keeping his tone objective. “If he’d been mobbed by them, I’m sure you’d be even more annoyed, President Zhou.”
That last line, couched in his signature “all for the company” logic, was surprisingly effective in calming down the CEO’s jealousy.
Cen Chi smiled without speaking the entire time, waiting until Zhou Yanxing’s expression softened before chiming in lightly, “Secretary Chi certainly seems to take good care of him—even gave him a scarf. What about yourself? It’s the middle of winter… aren’t you cold?”
He could still hear that brat’s smug voice ringing in his ears from earlier.
Zhou Yanxing’s chest tightened with fresh irritation.
Even he hadn’t received any kind of gift from Secretary Chi—just a crystal ball, which he’d gone through great effort to retrieve, and which he admired daily.
Meanwhile, that kid got a scarf with zero effort.
And beyond that, all current clues pointed toward Chu Xingxiao. He was most likely the one who had hurt Chi Zhan on the cruise ship…
But Zhou Yanxing was a rational adult. He wouldn’t let Cen Chi manipulate him that easily. He gave him a sidelong glance.
“If someone’s sick, it’s perfectly normal to offer them a scarf. No need to act like sour grapes and accuse others of hidden motives.”
“How magnanimous of you,” Cen Chi nodded, his smile perfectly composed. “I suppose I’m just being petty.”
Zhou Yanxing snorted coldly.
“Well, since President Zhou cares so much about employee well-being,” Cen Chi continued, turning his gaze to Chi Zhan as if considering something, “and since Secretary Chi’s mobility is still limited, why not let him stay at my place for now? He won’t need to go out, and I can give him regular massages at home.”
Chi Zhan froze.
Wait… that’s even an option?
“Wouldn’t that be too much trouble for you?”
Cen Chi’s eyes softened.
“Not at all. It’s been snowing a lot lately, the roads are slippery—it’s safer and more convenient. I’ve also been practicing some new massage techniques. They’d really help your recovery.” Then, without missing a beat, he glanced at Zhou Yanxing and smiled politely. “A generous person like you wouldn’t object, would you, President Zhou?”
“……”
Now he saw it clearly—this sly old fox had been setting him up from the beginning. All that talk had just been groundwork for moving Chi Zhan into his house.
If Zhou Yanxing just let it happen, he wouldn’t be Zhou Yanxing.
“I do care about employee health—especially Secretary Chi’s. His injury is considered work-related, and as such, the company has a responsibility. But you, Doctor Cen, are only helping as a favor. This isn’t your actual job. There are still plenty of patients waiting on you, and any delay wouldn’t be appropriate.”
Chi Zhan was stunned. This was the first time he’d ever heard Zhou Yanxing say something so… thoughtful.
Cen Chi’s smile didn’t falter.
“So what are you trying to say, President Zhou?”
“My secretary,” Zhou Yanxing said firmly, “will be taken care of by me, personally. Secretary Chi, you’ll come home with me. The housekeeper will handle your meals, and I’ll drive you to the clinic in the mornings. You won’t be inconvenienced at all.”
“…??”
He was completely dumbfounded. Why was Zhou Yanxing asking him to live with him?
Wait, this was… allowed?
“N-no, that’s really not appropriate, President Zhou,” Chi Zhan blurted out instinctively.
“What’s inappropriate about it?” Zhou Yanxing countered. But seeing Chi Zhan’s stunned face, which clearly wasn’t faking it, he paused. His tone lowered, voice turning almost heavy. “You’d rather inconvenience Cen Chi than stay at my place?”
Chi Zhan wanted to scream: he’d never said anything of the sort! Zhou Yanxing was totally twisting his words.
As Zhou Yanxing watched Chi Zhan hesitate—clearly weighing whether to accept Cen Chi’s offer—his chest tightened. It felt like someone had squeezed a lemon right into his heart.
He was actually worried Chi Zhan might say yes.
He couldn’t.
After all… you’re my secretary.
Zhou Yanxing suddenly remembered that night at the bar, when he’d run a little experiment to see who Chi Zhan cared more about.
He’d won. Chi Zhan had chosen him. And yet it had been Cen Chi who took Chi Zhan home.
“If we did it all over again,” Cen Chi’s voice still echoed in his mind, “the one Secretary Chi would choose… wouldn’t be you.”
“Cen Chi, get out,” Zhou Yanxing said, suppressing the turmoil rising in his chest. “I need to speak with him alone.”
Cen Chi hesitated. He met Zhou Yanxing’s eyes and saw it—clear as day.
Zhou Yanxing cared about Chi Zhan.
No, it was more than that.
Back in school, Zhou Yanxing had never bothered to hide his feelings. If he liked someone, he showed it. If he didn’t, he didn’t pretend. There was no blurry line between the two.
These days, he could fake politeness toward people he disliked—but only in a professional setting.
Cen Chi knew him well. He’d studied psychology deeply. Dislike could be masked—but true affection couldn’t be hidden.
“I’ll be just outside.”
With Zhou Yanxing’s personality, going head-to-head would only backfire—and might even hurt Chi Zhan. So for now, Cen Chi backed off. But that didn’t mean he would back off forever.
The door closed with a soft click—and locked.
