Wen An had initially found it odd. Qi Song was usually strict, yes, but he never handed out tasks during their downtime. Why the sudden shift today? Then, after asking for the full story, his lips twitched.
“Honestly, the fact that he didn’t hit you means you got off easy. Not everyone’s like you,” Wen An added coldly. “Everyone moves at their own pace. Quit being so nosy about other people’s relationships. You really need to fix that meddling, big-mouth personality of yours. Anyway, I’m off to eat. Come down after you finish your mission.”
“……”
***
By the time Chi Zhan returned to his room, the sky had already begun to darken. His window faced the sea, and the sunset outside was breathtaking. The sky glowed crimson, streaked with fiery clouds, and the ocean shimmered in a soft blend of blue and rose. Chi Zhan stood by the window for a while, admiring the view, when he heard the door open behind him.
Zhou Yanxing was back.
“Heard you guys had a good time today.” Zhou Yanxing had just returned as well. He tossed his coat aside and tugged at his tie, clearly irritated from a busy day. “What’d you get up to?”
They’d run into Cen Chi and Qi Song at a café.
Bought a few souvenirs from a tiny, unremarkable shop.
And built snowmen with Qi Song.
Chi Zhan wisely chose just one.
“Checked out a souvenir shop.”
Zhou Yanxing raised a brow.
“Didn’t buy anything?”
Chi Zhan neither confirmed nor denied. He’d been about to say, “I got you something too,” but a mischievous thought struck him.
“I picked up a few gifts for some friends.”
Which very clearly did not include Zhou Yanxing.
Zhou Yanxing studied him with deliberate calm.
“Are you trying to piss me off on purpose?”
Bullseye. He kept a straight face and feigned innocence.
“What are you talking about? I don’t follow.”
Zhou Yanxing didn’t reply. He poured himself some water and happened to glance at a small trinket Chi Zhan had left on the table.
It was a tiny, cat-shaped item—purpose unclear, but very much something that screamed “Chi Zhan.”
If it wasn’t something pastel pink, it was something cutesy. Secretary Chi simply couldn’t resist anything adorable—including people.
Like that Chu Xingxiao, who was always putting on the poor, pitiful act around Chi Zhan.
“This for one of your friends?”
Zhou Yanxing examined the cat-shaped item. He couldn’t tell what it was, just assumed it was some basic ornament.
Chi Zhan hesitated.
“That… uh, no.”
Zhou Yanxing clicked his tongue, clearly displeased that Chi Zhan hadn’t brought him anything. But he didn’t get angry—his expression remained neutral.
“Some poor CEOs out there spend every day wondering when their secretaries will finally give them a gift. Oh.” Zhou Yanxing glanced at Chi Zhan and added, “Wasn’t talking about you.”
“……”
That just made it more obvious, okay?
“You free tonight?”
“Do we have work?” Chi Zhan thought of Seven’s invite and felt a twinge of regret. He might have to cancel.
“No.” Zhou Yanxing glanced at him again. “I booked a hot spring. Come with me tonight?”
Chi Zhan froze. He hadn’t expected Zhou Yanxing to invite him to a hot spring too.
“Just… me and you?”
“What, are you hoping for that?” Zhou Yanxing quirked a brow. “Secretary Chi, are you secretly dying to soak with me alone? I mean, I could make that happen.”
Zhou Yanxing really had the whole domineering CEO persona down pat.
So assertive, so matter-of-fact—if anyone else said something like that, it’d reek of harassment. But from Zhou Yanxing, it somehow felt… par for the course.
“I just think it’s a bit of a waste—such a big pool for only two people.”
Zhou Yanxing’s lips curled slightly, not bothering to play verbal judo.
“So? You coming or not?”
Soaking with my boss—definitely weird. Especially considering that same boss had “maybe” confessed to him just last night.
Flatly refusing felt too harsh.
As he was mulling over how to gently decline, Zhou Yanxing said, “There’ll be others there too—someone you really want to see.”
That threw Chi Zhan even more off balance.
Someone he really wanted to see…?
“Let me think about it.”
“Sure.” Zhou Yanxing nodded. “But just so we’re clear—if you don’t come, you’ll regret it.”
“……”
That sounded so much like a threat. Not democratic in the slightest.
Still, the very fact that Zhou Yanxing was offering a choice was already something of a miracle. In Chi Zhan’s experience, Zhou Yanxing was always a “yes or no” kind of man—his decisions swift and absolute. Just last night, Chi Zhan had half-expected him to blurt out, “If you don’t date me, I’ll make you bankrupt.”
Thankfully, that hadn’t happened.
But this comment had stirred Chi Zhan’s curiosity. Who exactly was this person he was “longing” to see?
Zhou Yanxing was fixing his hair in front of the mirror—looked like he was heading back out. Chi Zhan watched as he took a call.
“You’re here? Tell him to wait a bit.”
Then Zhou Yanxing crooked a finger at Chi Zhan.
“Let’s see if your tie-tying skills have improved.”
Chi Zhan stepped forward to help him with his tie.
Like a wolf, Zhou Yanxing leaned in close, sniffing lightly near Chi Zhan’s neck without actually touching him.
“Coffee. So you went to a café today?”
Chi Zhan hadn’t expected his sense of smell to be that sharp. His fingers paused mid-motion, a little guilty.
“It was snowing when we were out, so we stopped in a café for a while.”
Apparently, Zhou Yanxing didn’t know Cen Chi had been there too.
“Still drinking bitter coffee,” he muttered with a frown, turning his head slightly.
President Zhou had an aversion to all things bitter—coffee, dark chocolate, bitter melon… the list went on.
