“You… are you Chu Xingxiao?” The boy looked stunned, disbelief all over his face. “Oh my god, I—I’m a huge fan! Could I get your autograph?”
Chu Xingxiao set down his spoon, forced himself to perk up, and signed his name for the boy. Unfortunately, this small gesture didn’t go unnoticed. Someone nearby spotted him and wasn’t nearly as composed, letting out a piercing scream: “Chu Xingxiao! It’s really Chu Xingxiao!”
At that shout, half the restaurant turned to look.
“……”
“……”
Chi Zhan had never witnessed something like this before, but he could instantly tell this was bad. Thankfully, they’d already paid for breakfast. Without hesitation, he grabbed the dazed Chu Xingxiao and made a break for the door.
The crowd was silent for a heartbeat—then chaos erupted.
“Sign mine too!”
“I love you so much, Chu Xingxiao! Can we take a photo?”
“Ahhhhh!”
It was like a zombie siege.
Chi Zhan had barely taken a few steps when he suddenly remembered—
“Where’s Dabai?”
Chu Xingxiao raised his hand and whistled. Dabai came bounding out of a nearby pet shop, leash in mouth.
“Run!”
Two men and a dog took off, breathless, with Dabai thinking it was all just a fun game. He was thrilled. Chu Xingxiao, on the other hand, was coughing as he ran, shielding his face with one hand as they turned a corner and finally stopped.
Chu Xingxiao couldn’t hold it in any longer. He covered his mouth and started coughing in earnest.
“Where’s your hat?” Chi Zhan asked, suddenly realizing something. Chu Xingxiao usually wore a baseball cap, but he hadn’t put one on today.
“I forgot…” Chu Xingxiao looked clearly frustrated. “I’ll go buy one.”
“There’s no store nearby.”
Chi Zhan pressed a hand on his shoulder to stop him.
Compared to usual, his face was alarmingly pale. The sunny, energetic idol was now completely wilted, like a drooping cabbage.
Chu Xingxiao hadn’t expected things to blow up like this.
He’d just wanted to have breakfast with Chi Zhan. They hadn’t even finished eating before they ended up being chased by a mob.
Total disaster.
Just as he was about to say something, a scarf was stuffed into his hand.
“Use this to cover up,” Chi Zhan said with a smile. “Good thing I grabbed it before we ran.”
Chu Xingxiao looked up at him.
There wasn’t a trace of blame on Chi Zhan’s face. Instead, he ruffled Chu Xingxiao’s hair.
Dabai barked enthusiastically beside them, wagging his head back and forth, clearly signaling that he wanted Chi Zhan to pet him too.
Chu Xingxiao wrapped the scarf around himself, one hand in his pocket, watching as Chi Zhan reached out and patted Dabai on the head.
“Gege…” he murmured softly.
Are you this kind to everyone?
“With things like this, training is probably off the table, huh?” Chi Zhan asked. “Let’s go to the hospital first, then head home and rest. Want me to call your company and ask for time off?”
Chu Xingxiao shook his head.
“I’m fine.”
Because of the morning’s chaos, Chi Zhan was late to work for the first time ever.
While being late wasn’t unusual in their office—someone showed up late nearly every day—it typically just meant losing a bit of pay or missing the perfect attendance bonus.
But Secretary Chi being late? That was a big deal.
At exactly 9:00 a.m., Zhou Yanxing still hadn’t received his morning coffee.
Chi Zhan’s desk sat conspicuously empty. Not even a clock-in record.
At 9:20, Chi Zhan finally rushed back to his desk, only to find that Zhou Yanxing had already gone to the morning meeting.
He quickly asked around and was relieved to learn that someone else from the secretary team had gone in his place. Only then did he settle in to start the day’s work.
Originally, the company had been planning to collaborate with the Bai family on an idol-themed variety show. But after negotiations with Young Master Bai fell through, the whole project was quietly shelved.
Still, Zhou Rui Group’s reputation in the industry meant they never lacked suitors. Every day, their inbox was flooded with partnership proposals.
Chu Xingxiao didn’t seem particularly fond of being an idol. If he were to do an idol variety show… would that really make him happy?
One proposal in particular caught Chi Zhan’s eye. It was a singing competition focused purely on talent. Every contestant was a powerhouse vocalist, and the show insisted on live singing only—no lip-syncing.
He flagged the email and glanced at the production company.
Xie Corporation.
Xie… why does that sound familiar?
Chi Zhan immediately thought of “Xie Clan” and searched it online. The moment he clicked the first image, he recognized them.
It really was that group of players!
They actually started a company?
This was the first time Chi Zhan had seen such… ambitious gamers.
Suddenly, the phone rang.
“Secretary Chi, a few gentlemen are here to see President Zhou. They have an appointment.”
Chi Zhan flipped through the booking log.
“President Zhou had an emergency meeting added this morning. Could you ask if they’re available this afternoon instead?”
“Understood. Apologies, but President Zhou is—hey! You can’t go in there!”
The line dissolved into chaos. Chi Zhan had a sinking feeling in his gut.
When the morning meeting ended, dozens of high-level executives streamed past, blocking Chi Zhan’s path.
“We had an appointment! Why won’t you let us in? This is discrimination!”
A swarm of people surged forward—it was the Xie Clan.
Chi Zhan tried to maintain his professional smile. “Gentlemen, President Zhou truly has urgent business today. Please, if you could just—”
He was quickly surrounded. Everyone was dressed in sharp suits, faces blank, but one guy with dyed red-and-blue hair suddenly recognized him.
“Secretary Chi?”
Chi Zhan glanced at his nametag: Thanks You’re My Dad.
Apparently, he was now a deputy general manager.
Chi Zhan gave him a polite smile.
“Manager Xie.”
Red-and-blue hair scratched his head, grinning.
“Hehe, you still haven’t quit? Want to come work for us? Honestly, our company’s benefits are just as good as—”
Before he could finish, he suddenly felt a frigid glare drilling into his back, sharp enough to kill. Zhou Yanxing’s voice cut through the air, cold and calm.
“May I ask what business you gentlemen have?”
Instantly, the group deflated as Zhou Yanxing’s icy gaze swept over them. It was as if they’d collectively shrunk a few inches, looking around at one another in awkward silence.
