“……”
He finished his bread in just a few bites, then stood up quickly.
“I’m ready. Let’s go.”
As he threw on his coat, Chi Zhan discreetly brought the robot vacuum inside. He remembered the system hadn’t finished what it wanted to say.
“You said there was something else?”
The system, still shaken from being so thoroughly “tormented” by Zhou Yanxing, managed to stammer, “Complete… the mission… as soon as possible…”
Even as it spoke, its wheels began to spin uncontrollably.
“Cleaning mode activated.”
Not even the system could escape the fate of a robot vacuum. And perhaps due to Zhou Yanxing’s proximity, it seemed the system was a little… scrambled.
Zhou Yanxing, growing impatient, shoved Chi Zhan into the car and told the driver, “To Xingyue.”
According to their original plan, they should have been heading straight to East Port. So what was this Xingyue place?
And more importantly…
Chi Zhan glanced sideways at Zhou Yanxing.
Could it be… Zhou Yanxing liked him?
The thought was so absurd it defied logic.
This morning had been utter chaos for Chi Zhan. First came the depressive spiral, then the revelation that Zhou Yanxing might actually be romantically interested in him. Before he could even begin to process any of that, the system dropped a non-negotiable new task on him—
—Pretend to already have a boyfriend in front of Zhou Yanxing, to get him to give up.
…Was he still dreaming?
Chi Zhan secretly pinched himself.
Ouch. Definitely not a dream.
Unfortunately, Zhou Yanxing caught that little gesture.
With one arm resting casually against the window, Zhou Yanxing glanced at him and smirked.
“Don’t tell me you’re so thrilled to be my date that you’re pinching yourself to make sure you’re not dreaming?”
Chi Zhan’s temple twitched.
Either he had lost his mind, or the world had.
There was no way Zhou Yanxing liked him.
And yet… memories started to surface—Zhou Yanxing’s supposed preferences in a partner. Thinking about it now, Chi Zhan seemed to check all the boxes. And he had secretly kept that crystal ball…
The more he thought about it, the more it seemed… plausible?
But something still felt off.
Head spinning with conflicting thoughts, Chi Zhan followed Zhou Yanxing into Xingyue. Zhou handed him off to someone and simply said, “You handle it.” Then walked off without a backward glance.
“…? President Zhou, wait—what exactly are you trying to do?”
“Don’t run now. Your President Zhou asked me to give you a full makeover. Time’s tight, so let’s get started,” the man said cheerfully.
So Xingyue was a fashion club.
Chi Zhan was forced into a wardrobe change and ushered into a styling session. He stared blankly at himself in the mirror.
He knew perfectly well that the real guest of honor at Young Master Bai’s banquet was Zhou Yanxing. He, just an NPC secretary, had no business standing out. The more low-key, the better.
But wanting meant nothing.
Zhou Yanxing was sitting outside in the lounge. There was no escape.
…Could it really be that he did like me?
Chi Zhan felt hopelessly confused. As narcissistic as the thought sounded, Zhou Yanxing’s recent actions all pointed in that direction.
So now what…?
Was he really supposed to find a boyfriend?
No, no—better to fake one.
Trouble was, there wasn’t anyone around Chi Zhan suitable for pretending to be his boyfriend. And bringing in a stranger would only make him uncomfortable. Worse, someone as sharp as Zhou Yanxing would see right through it in a heartbeat.
He spent most of the styling session lost in thought until someone tapped his shoulder.
“All done. Perfect. Time to report back to your President Zhou.”
Chi Zhan walked out of the room and, sure enough, Zhou Yanxing was lounging on the sofa in the main hall, one leg crossed over the other, flipping through a magazine. Chi Zhan hurried over.
“President Zhou, let’s go.”
Zhou Yanxing looked up, clearly annoyed by how long it had taken.
“Why did it take you so—”
“…?”
Zhou Yanxing paused.
“…so little time to get ready?”
“Little time?”
Chi Zhan glanced at the clock. It was already nine-thirty. He’d spent over an hour with the stylist.
Zhou Yanxing gave him a once-over, hiding the glint in his eyes.
“Acceptable.”
Chi Zhan’s usual look was a crisp white shirt and slacks—meticulously put together, but plain. Strip away the face, and he blended right into the sea of ordinary office workers. But today, the stylist had tousled his hair just enough, letting his fringe fall naturally, softening his usually reserved demeanor and making his features stand out sharply.
Chi Zhan felt distinctly uncomfortable. His outfit had over a dozen silk ties, feather accents brushing lightly against his skin, and a satin shirt that was already far too flashy. Topping it off was a pure white formal suit—with a design almost identical to Zhou Yanxing’s.
Only difference: Zhou wore black.
Three words popped into Chi Zhan’s head.
Matching couple outfits.
“President Zhou, is this really necessary?” Chi Zhan asked helplessly. “I’m just your secretary…”
“You’re not just my secretary today. Forgot already?” Zhou Yanxing shot him a glance. “My date can’t dress like some office drone. This—” he waved at the outfit, “—barely passes.”
He eyed Chi Zhan again.
“Come here.”
Chi Zhan sat stiffly, leaving a whole seat’s distance between them. He turned, puzzled.
“What is it?”
Zhou Yanxing clicked his tongue, clearly displeased with the ever-present buffer between them. He leaned in, and the gap between them vanished in an instant.
Chi Zhan instinctively tried to lean away, but Zhou Yanxing’s hand came down on his shoulder, holding him in place. Slowly, he leaned even closer.
“Don’t move,” Zhou Yanxing said firmly.
Then he lifted a hand, his fingers brushing against the side of Chi Zhan’s neck. Chi Zhan swallowed reflexively.
They were way too close.
Zhou Yanxing’s aura was overpowering. He even seemed to be wearing cologne—peppery with a hint of lemon—sharp and commanding. Anyone entering his personal space would instantly feel the pressure.
Chi Zhan’s ears turned pink without him realizing it.
“Why so tense?” Zhou Yanxing murmured. Then, he hooked something onto Chi Zhan’s chest and finally leaned back to a normal distance. Seeing that Chi Zhan was still frozen in place, he snapped his fingers. “Earth to Chi Zhan.”
