Although Chu Xingxiao had deliberately eased up last night, his natural skin sensitivity meant the red mark lingered longer than expected. This morning, Chi Zhan had been so out of it—his mind a mess and his expression dazed—that he’d rushed through his morning routine and completely forgotten about it.
“Probably… a mosquito.”
Zhou Yanxing didn’t respond. He simply stared at the area in question. The faint redness trailed from just beneath Chi Zhan’s ear down along his neck, disappearing beneath the neatly fastened buttons of his robe. Beyond that, it was hidden from view.
“Secretary Chi,” Zhou Yanxing smiled faintly—but there wasn’t a trace of warmth in it. His voice was quiet, but the sudden shift in mood sent an involuntary shiver down Chi Zhan’s spine. “Do you take me for Chu Xingxiao? Just toss out some flimsy excuse and think I’ll let it go? It was him, wasn’t it?”
It wasn’t even a question. When Zhou Yanxing looked up, the sharp glint in his eyes pierced straight through Chi Zhan, stripping him bare. The intensity of his gaze left Chi Zhan utterly speechless.
When Zhou Yanxing began heading toward the kitchen, Chi Zhan panicked and grabbed his sleeve without thinking.
Zhou Yanxing halted. After a beat, he nodded slowly.
“Good. Very good. You’ve made up your mind to protect him, haven’t you?”
When Zhou Yanxing was angry, he usually made noise but didn’t act. It was when his voice was flat, his tone perfectly calm—that was when things got truly dangerous.
Chi Zhan didn’t want a confrontation between Zhou Yanxing and Chu Xingxiao—not now, not like this. But he couldn’t think of a single viable excuse.
Just then, the doorbell rang.
Qi Song couldn’t find out that he and Chu Xingxiao had once pretended to be a couple.
Nor could Zhou Yanxing be allowed to say anything about what had happened between him and Chu Xingxiao the night before.
And yet, Zhou Yanxing looked like a volcano ready to erupt—one that didn’t even need a spark.
What the hell was he supposed to do?
Chi Zhan’s mind went completely blank. When he saw Zhou Yanxing about to move again, likely to confront Chu Xingxiao, desperation surged. He grabbed Zhou Yanxing’s collar, pulled him close, and looked up—intending to speak.
Instead, he accidentally crashed into his lips.
***
The accidental kiss left both of them stunned.
Their lips pressed together, the contact stark and unmistakable. The sensation was impossible to ignore.
Chi Zhan quickly let go, not even daring to check Zhou Yanxing’s expression. He took a hurried step back and turned toward the door.
Zhou Yanxing said nothing. He didn’t call out or stop him.
Standing at the door, Chi Zhan suddenly remembered to straighten his collar and tug it up to cover the mark on his neck.
Outside stood Qi Song.
He wasn’t wearing his usual down jacket today, but a slim-cut black trench coat that accentuated his tall, lean figure. His deep black eyes fixed on Chi Zhan. His hair was slightly tousled, as if he’d casually run a hand through it—messy in the most effortlessly handsome way.
For some reason, the moment Chi Zhan saw Seven, the suffocating tension dissipated.
“There’s a bit of a… surprise today.”
He stepped aside to let Qi Song in. The moment Qi Song glanced up, he immediately understood what that “surprise” was.
It was Chi Zhan’s boss—Zhou Yanxing.
Qi Song had only met Zhou Yanxing a few times, but he remembered him clearly. Not just because Zhou was a partner of Panda Live, but because his attitude toward Chi Zhan was… peculiar.
His eyes were constantly on Chi Zhan. Though he tried to make it look casual, anyone paying close attention could tell. Outsiders might chalk it up to a boss valuing a competent secretary—but Qi Song wasn’t fooled.
He gave a polite nod.
“President Zhou.”
Qi Song rarely smiled when he wasn’t alone with Chi Zhan. His demeanor remained cool and distant.
Zhou Yanxing was even colder. He glanced at Chi Zhan.
“Another guest?”
Chi Zhan had a feeling Zhou wanted to say, Why is it this livestreamer again? But at least this time, he held back a little.
“I’ll go check on the kitchen. You two have a seat,” Chi Zhan said quickly.
In the kitchen, Chu Xingxiao was still busy chopping—no, butchering—meat. When Chi Zhan entered, he didn’t even look up. His face was taut, his hands flying as he sliced scallions, ginger, and garlic, then began prepping the meat sauce.
Chi Zhan had thought he was just tossing together a quick stir-fry. This elaborate setup caught him off guard.
“I thought it was just mixed noodles?”
“Zhájiàng noodles. Don’t like it?”
Chi Zhan had tried zhajiangmian at noodle shops before. The taste had always been so-so—nothing that made him want a second helping.
“Smells pretty good. What’s cooking in the pot?”
He pointed to the clay pot that had been simmering ever since he entered the kitchen. Chu Xingxiao had refused to let him lift the lid, claiming it would ruin the flavor. That only made Chi Zhan more curious.
“You’ll see soon enough,” Chu Xingxiao said with a teasing smile as he dropped a bundle of noodles into the pot.
Of everyone here tonight, Chu Xingxiao might’ve been the youngest—but his cooking was hands down the best.
He didn’t want Chi Zhan stepping out again, so he kept him occupied—peeling garlic, tasting the noodles. He had zero interest in the two men sitting outside.
Then the doorbell rang again.
Who could it possibly be at this hour…?
Chi Zhan had just stepped out when Zhou Yanxing—closest to the door—opened it first.
Standing outside was Cen Chi, holding a bouquet of fresh flowers.
“……”
Zhou Yanxing raised an eyebrow when he saw Cen Chi. He shot a look toward Chi Zhan.
“What are you doing here?”
Cen Chi clearly hadn’t expected Zhou Yanxing to answer the door. His expression froze briefly before smoothing into a polite smile.
“I happened to be nearby and remembered I left some clothes here. Thought I’d swing by to pick them up.”
“You too?”
Zhou Yanxing’s gaze turned frigid as he looked back at Chi Zhan, eyes full of unspoken questions:
Why does he have clothes at your place?
Cen Chi continued smiling, seemingly oblivious to the icy tension radiating from Zhou Yanxing. He turned to Chi Zhan and asked with a warm tone, “Is this a bad time?”
Chi Zhan picked up his phone. Cen Chi had, in fact, messaged him earlier, saying he’d stop by to grab his things. So technically, he wasn’t an uninvited guest.
The only one who’d truly shown up unannounced… was President Zhou.
