After that, Zhou Zhuofei never ran into Xie Ya again. The "something important" Xie Ya had mentioned needing to discuss with her seemed to have dissolved into thin air.
But later, Zhou Zhuofei pondered the situation further and uncovered more questions. First, why had Xie Ya been smoking downstairs? Most likely, he was hiding it from Cen Huan. And considering Zhou Zhuofei had borrowed a lighter from Cen Huan before—if Cen Huan knew Xie Ya smoked, why bother asking her? Xie Ya could’ve just lent one himself.
So, the truth was obvious—Cen Huan had no idea Xie Ya smoked.
Were there just too many holes in this guy’s act?
Zhou Zhuofei didn’t even need to investigate to notice so much. If it were Jiang Shen digging into this, who knew how many more secrets he’d uncover.
And yet, Cen Huan seemed completely oblivious. Was Xie Ya just that good at acting, or was Cen Huan simply too naive?
Zhou Zhuofei shook her head. No wonder she wasn’t cut out to be the heroine. Compare her reaction—interrogating, picking apart flaws—to the typical female lead’s response: kindly taking someone in and caring for them without question.
Before she knew it, Tuesday arrived, and Du Yu finally returned from her business trip. She immediately arranged to meet Zhou Zhuofei for dinner.
Though they’d talked plenty over the phone the previous week, some things were better discussed in person.
So after work, Zhou Zhuofei took a cab to the small restaurant she and Du Yu often visited. It was an ordinary place near their alma mater, popular for its affordability and cozy atmosphere, perfect for long conversations.
Even as their incomes grew after graduation, allowing them to dine at fancier places, they still returned here occasionally to relive their college days.
For Zhou Zhuofei, there was another reason: over 90% of the customers were students. Office workers like her were the minority, meaning she wouldn’t overhear neighboring tables discussing work, housing prices, or other stressful adult topics. It was a rare escape.
"You’re here?"
As soon as Zhou Zhuofei stepped inside, she spotted Du Yu waving at her from their usual spot.
"How’d you get here so fast?"
"I hitched a ride with my boss," Du Yu said with a grin. "He’s pretty funny. During the trip, he asked how things were with my boyfriend, and I said we were about to break up. The look on his face—like he’d just stepped in it—was hilarious."
"That’s a normal reaction. No one expects you to drop a bombshell like that out of nowhere."
"Right? Ever since, he’s been extra nice to me. When I mentioned I was meeting a friend for dinner, he offered to drive me."
"Your boss really is a decent guy."
Zhou Zhuofei had met him before when she attended a local comic convention where Du Yu worked. Unlike most businessmen, he came across as an unassuming, good-natured geek.
"Oh, here."
Du Yu pulled a plastic-wrapped item from her bag and quickly shoved it into Zhou Zhuofei’s hands.
"What’s this?" Zhou Zhuofei started to unwrap it, but Du Yu stopped her.
"Wait!"
"Geez, you scared me!" Zhou Zhuofei clutched her chest, startled.
Du Yu softened her tone but remained firm. "Open it at home."
Now thoroughly intrigued, Zhou Zhuofei resisted the urge to peek. Instead, she squeezed the package, feeling a rigid, rectangular box inside.
Her friend coughed awkwardly, then said meaningfully, "Trust me, it’s way better than any man."
"…" Realization dawned, and Zhou Zhuofei immediately stopped fiddling with it, tossing it into her bag.
"Good lookin’ out. How much do I owe you?"
"Just treat me to dinner," Du Yu replied with a wink.
They then turned to more serious matters. Over the past few days, Du Yu had stayed in touch with Jiang Shen, who’d been updating her on new findings.
Han Chubin’s list of misdeeds had grown—cheating, two-timing, hookups, even sabotaging other relationships only to dump the girls shortly after.
Halfway through the recap, Zhou Zhuofei covered her ears. "I feel violated just listening to this."
"Most of it happened a few years ago. He’s been slightly better lately, probably because he’s trying to maintain a respectable image at work."
"Oh, so the scumbag wants to clean up his act now?"
"As if," Du Yu scoffed, rolling her eyes. "I already told him I’m throwing a cosplay-themed birthday party and asked him to invite some friends."
"That’s quite the setup. Venue booked?"
"Yep, at New World."
New World was a high-end chain hotel Zhou Zhuofei knew well—Huanyu’s go-to for corporate events.
"Renting a ballroom there can’t be cheap."
"Jiang Shen said he can get us an insider discount, so it’s not too bad. Han Chubin offered to cover the cost, but I’ll pay him back in cash at the party."
Jiang Shen’s arrangements exceeded Zhou Zhuofei’s expectations. She’d assumed he’d book a rented villa at most, not a luxury hotel.
Du Yu explained that hotels offered better facilities, easier crowd control, and—crucially—a sense of legitimacy that would keep Han Chubin from suspecting anything while making it simpler to invite his friends.
After a moment’s thought, Zhou Zhuofei had to admit it made sense.
Jiang Shen really was a master of human psychology.
"In that case, mind if I bring a coworker?"
"Bring ’em! The more, the merrier," Du Yu said, then paused. "Wait, you mean that rich kid with the sports car?"
"Yep. He even said he’d get you a birthday gift."
"No need for that! Though if he’s up for taking me on a joyride, I wouldn’t say no."
"I’ll ask. Pretty sure he’ll respond with something like, ‘Sure! Which car?’ in that annoyingly cheerful way of his."
Overall, Du Yu was in high spirits. With her revenge plan nearing fruition, everything else felt manageable.
As for costs, Jiang Shen had apparently been so incensed on her behalf that he’d offered a discount.
Initially, Zhou Zhuofei had balked at his fees, but seeing how efficient and empathetic he was, she now felt he earned every penny.
The fact that he didn’t even need the money yet still took his job so seriously almost made her respect him.
The next day, during a lull at work, Zhou Zhuofei relayed Du Yu’s message to Zhan Zilang.
The other person's reaction was exactly as she had expected—naturally, they agreed without hesitation to a simple request like going for a drive.
"Of course I have to fulfill the birthday girl's wishes," they said.
"Oh, and one more thing—it's a cosplay-themed birthday party, so you’ll need to dress up to attend."
"That sounds fun!" Zhan Zilang grew even more excited. "I’ll have to prepare properly then."
Zhou Zhuofei had dabbled in cosplay for a few years during university. Though she had cleared out most of her gear after graduation, she had kept one or two sets that held special meaning, so this wasn’t a challenge for her.
Before leaving work, she went to deliver some documents as usual.
Unexpectedly, the moment she stepped out of the elevator, she ran straight into Ling Yu and Xiao Wang, who were walking toward her.
Zhou Zhuofei immediately greeted them. Though the hallway was wide enough that she didn’t block Ling Yu’s path, she still instinctively moved aside to make way.
Ling Yu, not yet thirty, had sharp brows, piercing eyes, a straight nose, and a strong jaw—exuding an intimidating presence that perfectly matched the description of a young, handsome, capable, yet aloof CEO in novels.
In reality, Zhou Zhuofei had worked at the company for three years and had barely any opportunity to speak with Ling Yu.
All work-related matters requiring Ling Yu’s attention were actually handled through Xiao Wang.
The most common topics she overheard about Ling Yu at the office weren’t rumors about his perpetual single status or exaggerated praise of the Ling family’s influence, but rather practical questions like whether the CEO was in the office or who to approach for signatures lately.
So, reality and fiction did have their differences. If employees spent all their time obsessing over their boss’s personal life, Huanyu probably wouldn’t have reached its current heights, no matter how shrewd its leadership.
Ling Yu responded to Zhou Zhuofei’s greeting with a slight nod. No one would criticize his cold response—either because they were used to it or because it was simply expected.
Even Zhou Zhuofei herself thought nothing of it.
To her, work was like a grand adventure game, and the company was the game map. She was the player, while Ling Yu was a storyline NPC who randomly spawned in various corners of the office.
Unless the player triggered specific conditions, the NPC would only repeat meaningless lines—just like how Ling Yu would nod when she greeted him.
Who would hold a grudge against an NPC?
Still, it wouldn’t be long before this NPC embarked on his own storyline. The thought was oddly fascinating.
Zhou Zhuofei took a few steps before glancing back.
Ling Yu strode confidently toward the elevator, his relaxed yet powerful gait radiating self-assurance, like a lion patrolling its territory.
In contrast, Xiao Wang was far more low-key, always maintaining a half-step distance behind Ling Yu, following at a steady pace.
At that moment, Xiao Wang seemed to sense something and turned around—just in time to catch Zhou Zhuofei’s "sneaky glance."
Zhou Zhuofei wasn’t flustered. Instead, she waved at Xiao Wang. So what if she’d been caught? Someone as easygoing as Xiao Wang wouldn’t make a fuss.
Wasn’t it normal for employees to be curious about their CEO?
As expected, Xiao Wang didn’t mind. He simply smiled back at her, his expression warm and genuine.
When Zhou Zhuofei entered the lobby and began sorting through the documents, her phone buzzed with a notification.
To her surprise, it was a message from Xiao Wang.
[Xiao Zhou, have you left yet?]
[Not yet.]
[Could you do me a favor then? Grab the blue folder labeled "XXX Project" from my desk and take it to Chu Qing in the project department?]
[Sure, I’ll go check.]
Zhou Zhuofei stepped into Xiao Wang’s office. Though she’d been there countless times, this was the first time she’d entered without him present.
Even though she was alone, she instinctively moved more carefully, as if afraid of causing some mishap.
When she reached the front of the desk, she couldn’t help but fixate on trivial details.
This was where Xiao Wang usually worked. His desk was neat and tidy, unlike hers, which was cluttered with figurines and knickknacks—so much so that even ants would get lost for three years trying to navigate it.
Aside from essential office supplies, the only personal item on the desk was a photo of Xiao Wang skiing. The setting looked like somewhere abroad—Switzerland or Canada, she couldn’t tell.
Normally, she stood on the other side of the desk, so she’d never noticed the photo’s content until now. It turned out to be a travel snapshot.
The Xiao Wang in the photo looked much younger, his features still boyish—it had to be from several years ago.
But Zhou Zhuofei remembered she was here for a task and didn’t linger. She quickly located the folder, snapped a photo to confirm with Xiao Wang, and once verified, took it with her, making sure to grab her own documents on the way out.
As soon as she stepped into the hallway, she spotted Chu Qing.
What luck!
Zhou Zhuofei brightened—this meant one less trip. She hurried over. "I was just about to look for you."
Chu Qing smiled. "Oh? What’s up?"
Zhou Zhuofei handed her the folder. "Xiao Wang asked me to give this to you."
Chu Qing seemed surprised. Instead of checking the contents first, her immediate reaction was to question Zhou Zhuofei.
"Xiao Wang isn’t here? When did he ask you to do this?"
"He just left with Ling Yu. I happened to be picking up some files, so he had me pass this along."
Zhou Zhuofei deliberately omitted the part about the text message—the gist of the story still matched.
Noticing Chu Qing still seemed distracted, she reminded her, "You should check if everything’s in order."
Only then did Chu Qing open the folder and skim through it. When she confirmed it was fine, Zhou Zhuofei prepared to leave.
"I’ll head back then. See you later."
By the time Zhou Zhuofei had taken a few steps, Chu Qing suddenly snapped out of it and hurried after her in her heels. "Wait—I’ll walk with you."
"Sure."
Once inside the elevator, Chu Qing noticed Zhou Zhuofei texting someone and instantly recognized Xiao Wang’s profile picture.
Pretending it was a casual observation, she asked, "Are you talking to Xiao Wang?"
"Yeah, just letting him know I gave you the folder."
Seeing that Zhou Zhuofei was using a personal messaging app instead of the company’s internal system, Chu Qing felt something was off.
The company’s internal platform was well-developed, covering all work-related communication needs, so private contacts weren’t strictly necessary. Most colleagues stuck to the official channels.
Not everyone had their coworkers’ personal social media accounts.
Chu Qing did have Xiao Wang’s private contact, but he had always insisted on keeping work discussions off personal platforms, so she could only reach him through the company system.
Now, seeing someone achieve what she never could, her mood turned slightly complicated.
Her close colleagues had all advised her to give up on Xiao Wang sooner rather than later. He had remained single all these years at the company, clearly uninterested in office romances—not to mention he was famously known as a staunch bachelor.
What was the point of pursuing him anyway?
It would lead nowhere.
But Chu Qing didn’t see it that way. Romance didn’t necessarily have to end in marriage, and Xiao Wang checked every box of her ideal type. What harm was there in trying?
What she hadn’t anticipated was how much harder it would be than she imagined. With his easygoing demeanor, she assumed winning him over would be a breeze. Yet, time and again, he effortlessly shut down every opening without so much as a word.
After facing repeated rejections, it finally dawned on her—she had been naive. How could someone who held the position of the CEO’s personal secretary truly be as mild-mannered and accommodating as he appeared?
Still, the setback didn’t discourage her much.
She wanted to try again. Just like work, a project that didn’t require effort wasn’t worth investing in.
With that thought, she glanced at Zhou Zhuofei, who was in the middle of texting Xiao Wang, and took out her phone.
“Zhuofei, I don’t think we’ve added each other yet, have we? Let’s connect!”
