The moment Zhou Yanxing stepped onto the bus, the atmosphere shifted. No one dared speak loudly anymore—conversations dropped to hushed murmurs, and the cabin quieted considerably.
Chi Zhan set his phone aside and leaned against the window, dozing off. By the time he woke, they had arrived at their destination.
Everyone filed off the bus, and Chi Zhan followed suit. Just as he looked up, a collective “Whoa—!” rippled through the group.
The scenery was breathtaking.
The resort sat on three sides of a winding river, with one edge backed by towering, snowcapped mountains. From a distance, the buildings looked like cozy cabins from a Christmas fairytale—warm hearths, fluffy snow, like something straight out of Santa Claus’s storybook. Everyone immediately whipped out their phones to take pictures.
Inside the resort, it was even more charming. A row of cute snowmen lined the pathways, welcoming guests, while the other side featured steaming outdoor hot springs.
It was utterly delightful.
Chi Zhan couldn’t help but pull out his phone to snap some photos himself.
More buses arrived one after another. A staffer stood nearby, calling out, “Secretarial Department, this way please.”
There were nine people in the secretary team. Each room was a double occupancy, with each department grouped together. Chi Zhan received his room key and couldn’t help thinking—so much for Chu Xingxiao’s plan.
He opened the door… and paused.
Why is this a king-sized bed?
Chi Zhan didn’t yet know who his roommate was. When he asked around, everyone else just shook their heads in confusion. Apparently, everyone else had already paired off into standard double rooms. His was the only exception.
“Chi-ge!” an excited voice called out behind him. He turned to see Jiang Yi.
“What a coincidence!” Jiang Yi beamed. “You’re here on vacation too?”
Chi Zhan had assumed Jiang Yi had quit gaming after resigning, but apparently not—he’d opened a flower shop and now lived on snacks and leisure. Since money spent in-game wasn’t real, he figured he could gorge all he wanted without gaining weight.
Chi Zhan was a little envious. For an NPC, losing weight was tough—if he gained even a bit, it took relentless trips to the gym to shed it again.
“The hot springs here are amazing,” Jiang Yi said enthusiastically. “Chi-ge, let’s go soak after dinner!”
Chi Zhan agreed with a smile.
He didn’t see Zhou Yanxing anywhere—probably off enjoying his own luxury accommodations. Unlike the public open-air pools, someone like Zhou would no doubt prefer a private soak.
After dinner and a short break, Chi Zhan and Jiang Yi took a stroll through the snowy resort. The halls were full of people—mostly colleagues from various departments. The entertainment team hadn’t arrived yet; word was their bus broke down midway and they were still figuring things out.
“……”
No wonder Chu Xingxiao had sent him a flood of crying emojis earlier.
Not that it mattered. Even if Chu had arrived, he wasn’t about to share a room with him. Sleeping alone was far more comfortable.
Later, Chi Zhan joined Jiang Yi and a few other coworkers in the outdoor hot spring. As they soaked, gossip flowed just as freely as the hot water.
The juiciest, most debated rumor of the night?
Was Demon King Zhou secretly frigid?
Chi Zhan nearly spat out his cocktail.
To be fair… he had wondered the same thing before.
If Zhou Yanxing were just some regular guy, it wouldn’t matter. But the thing was—he wasn’t just a guy. He was the male lead in a romance simulation game! Was it really plausible for someone so ascetic to be the center of a love story?
Still, as Zhou Yanxing’s personal secretary, Chi Zhan felt obligated to defend his boss.
“President Zhou actually brought his blind date here this weekend. They might even get engaged soon.”
“No way! The Demon King went on a blind date?”
“Seriously, who could even handle that temper of his? I guess if it’s for the money…”
“Hey, don’t say that. President Zhou can be considerate.”
“Oh yeah? Like when?”
“Like when Secretary Chi is around…”
“……”
The water was a little too hot. Dizziness crept in, so Chi Zhan bid his colleagues farewell and left early.
“Chi-ge, let’s soak again tomorrow, okay?” Jiang Yi called after him, reluctant to part.
There was a shortcut from the hot springs to the guest rooms that didn’t require changing clothes. Still wrapped in his bathrobe, Chi Zhan hurried down the path and returned to his room.
He pushed open the door. The room was dark.
He fumbled around for the light switch—but in the next second, something felt wrong.
In the pitch black, a pair of hands seized his wrists and twisted his arms behind him, pinning him to the wall. Chi Zhan jolted in shock, nearly cried out—
Then he caught a whiff of something familiar: cool mint.
As his eyes adjusted, vague outlines came into view. His racing heart finally began to settle.
“President Zhou…?” he asked, breathless. “What are you doing here?”
“Not your boyfriend—are you disappointed?”Â
Zhou Yanxing’s voice was cold and sharp in the dark.
“……”
Why are you still hung up on this? Didn’t we already move past it?
“That’s none of your business. I’ve paid the fine. I’m in compliance with company policy.”
Zhou Yanxing stared at him in silence. Then his hand tilted Chi Zhan’s chin upward.
His hair was still damp from the hot spring, and because he hadn’t tied the robe tightly, the sudden movement had loosened the belt. The plush fabric slipped open slightly, revealing smooth, pale skin that almost glowed in the darkness.
Zhou Yanxing’s gaze sharpened, like a predator spotting prey.
“Secretary Chi,” he said slowly, “break up with him.”
