Zhan Zilang asked, "What's wrong, Sister Zhou?"
Zhou Zhuofei snapped out of her thoughts, shook her head, and said it was nothing.
The person who had messaged her was Han Chubin. He had sent two messages—the first was an emoji, and the second read, [Are you free?]
In situations like this, Zhou Zhuofei usually assumed the other person didn’t have anything urgent. After all, if it were truly important, they’d get straight to the point.
She replied, [Yes, I am.]
The message box immediately showed that he was typing.
[Am I interrupting your work?]
[Not too busy right now. Did you need something?]
[Yes, I wanted to ask for your help. It’s Du Yu’s birthday at the end of the month, and I’m not sure what to get her. I was hoping you could give me some ideas.]
[You could just ask her directly.]
[If I ask her, there’d be no surprise. That’s why I thought of you—you’ve known her for so long, so you’d understand her better than I do.]
Zhou Zhuofei used to love helping people brainstorm, but as she got older, she became less enthusiastic—partly because she’d learned some hard lessons along the way. Still, when it came to Du Yu, she was willing to lend a hand.
[Well, why don’t you tell me your budget first?]
[Money isn’t an issue.]
Zhou Zhuofei’s fingers suddenly stilled. For some reason, she no longer felt like helping.
She set her phone down and began tapping her fingers impatiently on the desk, drawing Zhan Zilang’s attention.
"Sister Zhou, what’s going on?"
"Nothing. Just another day of being reminded how rich some people are."
Seeing the confusion on Zhan Zilang’s face, she quickly added, "Not you."
His expression immediately brightened, curiosity taking over. "Then who?"
So Zhou Zhuofei briefly explained the situation. When Zhan Zilang heard the last part—"Money isn’t an issue"—he raised an eyebrow with amusement. "This guy’s interesting."
"What do you mean?"
Zhan Zilang pursed his lips. "If money really weren’t an issue, why would he need to ask you for advice?"
"Huh? I’m his girlfriend’s best friend. Of course I’d know her best."
"Sister Zhou, you’re missing my point," Zhan Zilang explained patiently. "Picking a gift within a set budget is one thing, but if there’s no limit, does the choice even matter? Here’s a simple example—if I gave you a seaside villa, would you care what flowers are planted in the garden?"
Now Zhou Zhuofei understood. When a gift’s value reaches a certain level, the meaning behind it becomes irrelevant.
Come to think of it, that made sense.
"Forget a villa—if someone gave me a one-bedroom apartment in the city, they’d be my savior."
"Sister Zhou, are you looking for a place? I have a few apartments I could rent to you."
Zhou Zhuofei shot him a glare and waved him off. "Stay on topic! But from what my friend says, her boyfriend really is loaded."
She noticed the faint smirk on Zhan Zilang’s lips. Though he said nothing, she knew it was sarcasm.
Still, she felt the need to defend Han Chubin. "Maybe that’s just how he is. As long as he treats my friend well, that’s what matters."
"Then tell him to buy your friend’s company and make her the boss," Zhan Zilang said lightly, spreading his hands. "Better to be the employer than the employee. After all, money isn’t an issue."
Zhou Zhuofei couldn’t help it—she burst out laughing, even though she knew she shouldn’t. But her sense of humor was easily triggered.
"That’s just mean, hahaha…"
"Didn’t he say it himself? You asked for a budget, and he said money wasn’t a problem. So why hold back?"
"Fair point."
If he’d given a specific amount, she could’ve found something suitable within that range. But with no limits? The possibilities were endless.
Honestly, Zhan Zilang’s suggestion sounded great. After years of being an employee, who wouldn’t want to be the boss?
While they were talking, Han Chubin sent a few more messages.
[Did I make this too difficult for you?]
[I just want Du Yu to be happy. The cost doesn’t matter.]
Seeing how earnest he sounded, Zhou Zhuofei replied with her honest advice.
[Without a budget, the options are overwhelming. Why not just give her a big red envelope and let her buy whatever she wants? I think that’s the simplest solution.]
After sending it, she noticed Zhan Zilang staring at her, his expression practically begging for details.
She waved her phone at him. "Want to know what he said?"
Zhan Zilang nodded eagerly. "Of course! You can’t leave a story half-finished."
"I told him to give my friend a big red envelope. She’s practical, so I think that’s the best approach."
"That’s it?" Zhan Zilang looked disappointed. "Sister Zhou, you’re being way too polite with him. If it were anyone else, you’d be roasting them by now."
"It’s because we’re not close. Being polite is normal, right? Jumping straight to sarcasm would be rude."
Still, after this exchange, Zhou Zhuofei’s impression of Han Chubin had soured.
To avoid future complications, it’d be best to keep their interactions minimal—no need to put Du Yu in an awkward position.
"True."
Thinking back on recent events, Zhou Zhuofei studied Zhan Zilang and found herself appreciating him more.
"You know, Zhan Zilang, you’re actually pretty great."
He perked up immediately. "I like hearing that. Go on, praise me some more."
"Hmm…" Zhou Zhuofei thought seriously for a moment, then shrugged. "That’s all."
"That’s it?"
"How else do you want me to praise you? Pay me, and I’ll give you a five-star review for fifty cents. One-star reviews cost a dollar."
"Why are bad reviews more expensive?"
"Because they require emotional compensation."
As their break was ending, Zhou Zhuofei motioned for Zhan Zilang to head back to the office. But he kept pestering her about the reviews, demanding an explanation.
Zhou Zhuofei was getting a headache. Since entering the workforce, she’d never met anyone so noisy.
Finally, she couldn’t take it anymore and barked, "Quiet!"
Zhan Zilang instantly shut up.
The sudden silence was bliss. Zhou Zhuofei nodded in satisfaction, especially since no coworkers were around to witness it.
But at that exact moment, the elevator doors slid open—revealing Xiao Wang, who had clearly heard Zhou Zhuofei’s outburst and looked mildly startled.
Zhan Zilang, ever cheerful, greeted him with a grin. "Good afternoon, Secretary Xiao."
"Afternoon." Xiao Wang held the door open, glancing at Zhou Zhuofei questioningly. "Aren’t you coming in?"
Snapping out of her embarrassment, Zhou Zhuofei hurried into the elevator.
It seems she still needs to work on her patience—how could she lose her cool just because Zhan Zilang provoked her a little?
Fortunately, Xiao Wang didn’t bring up what had just happened either. Like her, everyone here knew how to keep things civil.
In contrast, Zhan Zilang hadn’t taken it to heart at all. His mindset hadn’t fully transitioned into that of a workplace professional yet, so he saw bickering with Zhou Zhuofei as perfectly normal.
If you could dish out jokes, you had to be able to take them too—otherwise, wouldn’t that just be hypocritical?
So, acting as if nothing had happened, he picked up the conversation with Zhou Zhuofei again.
“Zhou-jie, if he says giving a red packet is too lazy, how would you respond?”
Truthfully, Zhan Zilang felt he understood this type of person better than Zhou Zhuofei did. He had plenty of people like that around him—ones who were great at making empty promises and painting grand visions but never followed through.
“Then I’d just send the money directly to my friend and let her choose. If this guy wants to buy it, he can. If not, then he’s just full of—”
Zhou Zhuofei didn’t say the last word out loud, only mouthing it silently. After all, Secretary Xiao was still here, and one had to maintain some decorum.
Zhan Zilang burst into laughter without restraint—his Zhou-jie was no hypocrite, that was for sure!
Zhou Zhuofei quickly glanced at Xiao Wang’s expression. The other party seemed unfazed, so she didn’t say anything further.
Once his laughter subsided, Zhan Zilang realized he might have been a bit too loud and composed himself, apologizing sheepishly to Xiao Wang. “Sorry, Secretary Xiao. Did I disturb you?”
“Not at all. Seems like you’ve settled into your role quite well.”
“Oh, absolutely. Mostly thanks to Zhou-jie’s guidance.” Zhan Zilang knew a thing or two about workplace politics—praising Zhou Zhuofei in front of Xiao Wang was always a safe bet.
Zhou Zhuofei immediately deflected the compliment. “It’s not just me. Zilang’s sharp and picks things up quickly.”
“Zhou-jie, you’re too kind. I’ve learned so much just by following you.”
Xiao Wang watched their back-and-forth, amused. It was like watching a comedy duo—no need to ask to know Zhan Zilang was thriving in the admin department.
Then again, it made sense. The admin department was a support function, free from internal or external competitive pressure. Add in a lenient supervisor, and the atmosphere was naturally relaxed. And with Zhou Zhuofei mentoring Zhan Zilang? Even better.
When he first learned Zhan Zilang had chosen the admin department, Xiao Wang immediately thought of Zhou Zhuofei. They were around the same age, shared similar interests, and having her guide him would benefit both sides.
For Zhan Zilang, it’d ease his transition into the workplace. For Zhou Zhuofei, it was an opportunity.
But staffing decisions were internal to the admin department. He could influence things but shouldn’t interfere directly. So he’d merely suggested assigning Zhan Zilang to Ye Ru’s team to increase the odds of Zhou Zhuofei being chosen—and, as it turned out, his hunch was right.
“Keep up the good work.”
The elevator reached Xiao Wang’s floor first. After exchanging goodbyes, he stepped out but then turned back abruptly, a polite smile still on his face. “Though next time, maybe mind your volume in public spaces.”
Caught off guard, Zhan Zilang nodded. “Oh, right. Got it.”
Xiao Wang gave him a slight nod, then glanced at Zhou Zhuofei with a friendly look before walking away.
As soon as the elevator doors closed, Zhou Zhuofei burst into laughter—now it was her turn.
Zhan Zilang slowly realized something was off. “Zhou-jie, what’s so funny?”
Still chuckling, Zhou Zhuofei held out her hand. “Give me a dollar.”
“Huh? Why?”
She counted off on her fingers. “What kind of memory do you have? Didn’t we just talk about five cents for a good review? I praised you for being sharp and quick to learn. Doesn’t that mean you owe me a dollar?”
Zhan Zilang was speechless. He obediently reached for his wallet but rummaged through his pockets without finding any change.
“What if I don’t have a dollar?”
Zhou Zhuofei waved a hand dismissively. “Then save it up. Give me a lump sum when it hits a hundred.”
After work, Zhou Zhuofei received another message from Han Chubin. Unsurprisingly, he wasn’t keen on her red packet idea. Though he phrased it diplomatically, she’d already lost all patience. Without hesitation, she forwarded the entire chat history to Du Yu.
At the end, she added three words:
[Handle it!]
This happened to be Du Yu’s peak online hours, and a reply came instantly.
[Ugh, I can’t decide what to ask for!]
Zhou Zhuofei immediately recalled Zhan Zilang’s suggestion and typed back enthusiastically.
[Then tell him to buy your company and make you the boss!]
[LOL, he’s not that loaded.]
[Well, what do you want me to say? Hurry up!]
[Wait, wait!]
A moment later, Du Yu sent a photo of a handbag.
[This one. I’ve been eyeing it for a while.]
Zhou Zhuofei zoomed in and recognized the logo—a trendy, affordable luxury brand popular among young professionals, including many of her colleagues.
[Got it. I’ll send it to him. Play dumb later, okay?]
[Don’t worry, that’s my specialty.]
Zhou Zhuofei switched back to her chat with Han Chubin, forwarding the photo along with the address of a local boutique.
Coincidentally, there was a high-end mall near Huanyu with that very brand.
She’d practically handed him a step-by-step guide. If he still didn’t take the hint… well, maybe he should stop asking for advice altogether.
This time, however, Han Chubin didn’t raise any objections. He agreed readily and even thanked her.
Zhou Zhuofei didn’t dwell on it, just glad to have helped her friend take a small step forward in her romantic life.
But the next afternoon, she got another message from Han Chubin.
Attached was a photo of the exact bag Du Yu wanted, taken in what looked like the boutique.
She hadn’t expected him to move so fast—though from another angle, it showed he cared enough to act promptly.
The thought instantly improved her impression of him.
People were funny that way. Quick to slap labels on strangers, just as quick to revise their judgments over one detail.
[Zhuofei, could you confirm if this is the right one?]
[That’s the one.]
[Great. They’re running a promotion here—I’m thinking of buying a few more things to qualify. Could you help me pick?]
[Sure, what are you looking at?]
[Well… there’s a lot here. If possible, could you come by and take a look in person?]
[Which store are you at?]
He sent a location pin immediately. Zhou Zhuofei checked—what a coincidence, it was right near her.
Fine. Better she pick things Du Yu would actually like than leave it to Han Chubin’s questionable taste.
[Be right there,] she replied, getting up to leave.
On her way, she thought she shouldn’t make the trip for nothing and decided to stop by a nearby handmade chocolate shop to pick up some treats.
The mall was relatively quiet during the lunch hour. From a distance, Zhou Zhuofei spotted Han Chubin standing by a boutique counter, accompanied by a professional sales assistant.
He was wearing an asymmetrical gray trench coat paired with combat boots, a style similar to the last time she saw him. Combined with his handsome features, he was certainly easy on the eyes.
Du Yu really knows how to pick them, Zhou Zhuofei mused to herself before walking into the boutique.
"I’m here."
The moment Han Chubin heard Zhou Zhuofei’s voice, he turned around. Her outfit immediately caught his attention.
If his last encounter with her had left him merely intrigued by her unique aura, this time, seeing her in professional attire, she appeared in her most perfect form—hitting every note of his preferences.
He had always thought he was only attracted to Du Yu’s type…
Zhou Zhuofei didn’t notice Han Chubin’s shifting expression; her attention was entirely captured by the dazzling array of handbags in the store.
"So, what’s the situation now?"
At her question, Han Chubin snapped out of his thoughts, but the sales assistant was quicker to respond, succinctly explaining the details.
In short, the store was running a promotion where a minimum spending threshold was required for a free gift. After deducting the price of the bag Du Yu had chosen, they were still a bit short.
Zhou Zhuofei zeroed in on the key number and immediately began scanning the store. First, she eliminated anything priced too high, then narrowed down the remaining options that fit the budget.
She remained mostly silent throughout, and Han Chubin naturally followed her lead.
The experienced sales assistant quickly identified who the real decision-maker was and eagerly began pitching products to Zhou Zhuofei.
Han Chubin kept stealing glances at her, realizing that she only wore a polite smile when interacting with others. Once focused, her expression turned neutral, yet it didn’t come off as cold—instead, it carried a unique charm.
It reminded him of the elegant, intelligent, and captivating career women he had admired during his student days.
"What do you think of this one?" Zhou Zhuofei picked up a small handbag—compact but just big enough to fit a phone. "It should be convenient for comic conventions."
Han Chubin examined it carefully before replying, "Looks good, but I’m not really an expert. I’ll trust your judgment."
"Miss, you might want to check out this one," the sales assistant chimed in, presenting another bag. "This is our flagship design for the year. The burgundy red is a limited-edition color, and this is the last one in our store."
Zhou Zhuofei glanced at it and agreed it was nice, but the price was way beyond their budget.
"You can try it on if you’d like."
Unable to resist the assistant’s enthusiastic suggestion, Zhou Zhuofei gave it a quick try before handing it back.
In the end, she picked a few items, barely exceeding the required amount—a fact she took some pride in.
"That should do it. Let’s go with these."
Without even checking, Han Chubin immediately told the assistant to wrap them up, projecting complete trust in Zhou Zhuofei’s choices.
This improved her impression of him. Though he could be a bit boastful, he was certainly generous when it came to spending.
Checking the time, she realized she could still make it to the chocolate shop, so she bid farewell to Han Chubin, who was waiting to settle the bill.
"Everything’s sorted, so I’ll head out now."
"Already?" Han Chubin turned to her, looking reluctant to let her go. "I feel bad—I was going to treat you to coffee."
"No need for coffee. I’m not a fan. Let’s catch up another time."
"Alright." He sighed in disappointment. "I won’t keep you from your work, then."
"No worries. See you."
With a wave, Zhou Zhuofei left the boutique and made a beeline for the chocolate shop to stock up on her favorite snacks.
On her way back, she didn’t forget to update Du Yu, letting her know the bag had been purchased. As for the rest, she kept it vague, hinting only at an extra surprise.
[So mysterious?]
[Well, surprises should be mysterious. But I have to revise my opinion of him—the guy’s got quick reflexes when it comes to shopping.]
[That’s true. He’s impulsive with everything, including spending.]
Zhou Zhuofei returned to the office with her chocolates and had barely sat down when she noticed Zhan Zilang staring at her. She beckoned him over.
He approached immediately. "What’s up, Zhou-jie?"
"Here, have something sweet." She offered him the chocolates. "Try one—they’re not too sugary."
Zhan Zilang took a piece and praised them obligingly.
To her surprise, the next day, he brought her an entire large box of chocolates.
"Zhou-jie, these are for you."
Zhou Zhuofei was stunned. "This whole box?"
"Yep. I went home yesterday and found a bunch of chocolates lying around, so I picked the biggest box for you." He even winked at her proudly. "Pretty thoughtful, huh?"
"Extremely thoughtful." The box was so big she could barely hold it with one hand. Though she didn’t recognize the brand, anything from Zhan Zilang’s household had to be high-end.
"Of course. Finish this, and I’ll bring you another."
Zhou Zhuofei quickly waved it off. "Let’s see. This one alone will take me ages to finish. I might not even want more after this."
The oversized box was impossible to miss. Luo Jing couldn’t resist teasing her. "Such a huge box of chocolates, and only Zhou-jie gets one?"
"Look at you, getting jealous." Zhou Zhuofei pretended to tear open the packaging. "Fine, I’ll share some with you right now."
Luo Jing hurriedly stopped her. "No, no, I was just joking!"
Zhan Zilang chimed in, "No need." He pulled out an identical box from his bag. "Luo-ge, you can have this one. I brought a few extra for everyone to try."
"Nice one, Zhan Zilang. Came prepared, huh?"
Even Zhou Zhuofei was impressed by his thoroughness. "Not bad at all. Very considerate."
Zhan Zilang joked, "Zhou-jie, does that compliment cost me fifty cents?"
"Nope, consider it free. You gave me such a huge box—how could I charge you?" She waved it off. "In fact, I’ll waive the last dollar too. Tomorrow, I’ll treat you to afternoon tea—order whatever you want, the most expensive thing on the menu!"
"Zhou-jie, you’re the best!"
Zhou Zhuofei looked down at the chocolates in her hands, momentarily speechless.
Who was really the generous one here?
Maybe this was the difference between someone born into wealth and an ordinary background.
Her instinct was to repay any kindness immediately, but Zhan Zilang treated it so casually, as if it meant nothing.
In other words, money meant little to him—he didn’t care about the cost.
"What’s wrong, Zhou-jie? Moved to tears by Zhan Zilang’s kindness?"
"Wishful thinking. I won’t cry—Huanyu doesn’t believe in tears."
After the joke, Zhou Zhuofei handed Zhan Zilang the box to distribute the chocolates. He immediately obliged, moving around the office like a dutiful school monitor, offering chocolates to everyone and asking if they wanted any.
Watching this, Zhou Zhuofei couldn’t help but laugh. Why was she overthinking things? With a colleague like Zhan Zilang, work became a little more enjoyable.
Not that it would make her fall in love with her job, but finding joy in the grind wasn’t so bad.
During lunch break, Zhou Zhuofei walked out of the cafeteria with Ye Ru and Qiao Qi. By now, Zhan Zilang had already bonded with nearby coworkers, so he no longer joined her for meals.
Ye Ru was venting about her struggles with her mother-in-law, and Zhou Zhuofei listened intently—until her phone buzzed with a notification. To her surprise, it was another message from Han Chubin.
As usual, it started with a sticker, followed by a classic line:
[You there?]
