Ever since Zhang Xiyue had added Chen Ming on WeChat, the frequency of their chats had shot straight up. They were practically close friends now.
After chatting with him so many times, this was the first time she had ever seen him mention someone other than his grandmother.
Zhang Xiyue immediately sensed something unusual in those two otherwise unremarkable lines.
She raised an eyebrow and replied: What makes her special?
Chen Ming spent a long time typing before sending: She talks a lot.
After a while, he added: But I don’t dislike it.
Ooh, the unmistakable scent of a heart beginning to flutter.
Zhang Xiyue let out a soft laugh and was just about to press him for more details when a large hand suddenly covered her phone screen.
Following the arm upward, Zhang Xiyue found Cheng Mingjiao standing in front of her. She had no idea when he had come around from the other side of the table. He was looking at her with obvious displeasure.
“Zhang Xiyue, who were you smiling at?” he asked.
Zhang Xiyue looked completely baffled. “Who was I smiling at?”
“I saw you,” Cheng Mingjiao said bluntly, making no attempt to hide his jealousy. “You were staring at your phone and smiling so happily.”
Zhang Xiyue was speechless for a moment before bursting into laughter. “I wasn’t that happy. I was just reading a message from a friend.”
“Which friend?” Cheng Mingjiao moved his hand away, but unfortunately, her phone had already gone dark.
Never mind. It wasn’t as if he actually wanted to look.
Zhang Xiyue put down her chopsticks. “Are you done eating?”
Cheng Mingjiao was very dissatisfied with her attempt to change the subject.
He might not want to look, but that didn’t mean she was allowed to refuse to show him.
“I’m so tired. I want to take a nap.” Zhang Xiyue opened her arms toward him.
Zhang Xiyue was playing dirty.
Cheng Mingjiao gave a quiet snort before bending down and picking her up.
Zhang Xiyue had an extraordinarily exhausting nap. She started out asleep at the dining table, then slept in the hallway, and finally ended up in Cheng Mingjiao’s bedroom.
By the time she truly fell asleep, more than an hour had passed. She was sprawled in Cheng Mingjiao’s arms. The sweat on her body had already dried, but the damp heat still lingered around her.
Strong and vigorous, Cheng Mingjiao had clearly gotten a taste for her. Patiently waiting until she woke up, he extended another invitation.
“…The faucet at my place is broken. I need to go back and fix it,” Zhang Xiyue said calmly, refusing him.
“I’ll go back with you.”
“No need!” Zhang Xiyue answered quickly. “I can handle it myself.”
Cheng Mingjiao paused, still wanting to say something.
Suddenly, Zhang Xiyue planted a forceful kiss on his forehead. The crisp smack seemed to release all the pressure in him at once.
“See you tomorrow morning,” she said with a bright smile.
Cheng Mingjiao touched his forehead and obediently replied, “See you tomorrow morning.”
He escorted Zhang Xiyue all the way to her car. After returning home alone, he went upstairs and worked out in the gym for two hours before officially entering the night.
At ten-thirty that evening, he went to bed right on schedule. Even in his dreams, all he could see was Zhang Xiyue’s face.
Cheng Mingjiao slept more soundly than ever before. The next morning, he got up before his alarm even went off.
He washed up, changed clothes, and sprayed on cologne.
After staring at himself in the mirror for three minutes and confirming that everything was flawless, he walked downstairs with light, quick steps.
“Good morning, Mr. Cheng.” Zhou Ce was wearing the apron Zhang Xiyue wore most often and holding the spatula she frequently used. He even waved in greeting just like Zhang Xiyue.
Cheng Mingjiao suspected that he was still asleep.
Zhou Ce suspected that he was still asleep, too.
No… Before coming over, he had checked repeatedly. There were no appointments that morning. Shouldn’t the Emperor have come downstairs in his pajamas, looking lazy and disheveled, eaten breakfast, returned to his room to rest for an hour, and then gone to the gym for a two-hour workout?
As an excellent executive assistant, Zhou Ce remained calm and enthusiastic on the surface despite his confusion.
“Mr. Cheng, breakfast is ready. Please, have a seat.”
Cheng Mingjiao was still standing where he was.
“I made you sword-flower soup. It’s ready to come off the heat now.”
Considering that this was his first day back at work, Zhou Ce had gotten up two hours early to simmer the soup, all to put the Emperor in a good mood and make a successful first impression.
Only after hearing that Zhou Ce had made soup did Cheng Mingjiao finally react. He slowly walked over to the dining table and sat down.
Zhou Ce immediately brought over the breakfast and looked at him expectantly.
Cheng Mingjiao took a reluctant sip. The sweet, fresh flavor instantly spread through his mouth.
Freshly simmered soup really did taste worlds apart from prepackaged meals. He couldn’t believe Zhang Xiyue had managed to fool him so easily before.
Cheng Mingjiao thought of the prepared dishes hidden in the refrigerator, and the corners of his lips curved upward slightly.
Seeing his mysterious smile, Zhou Ce was instantly encouraged. “Mr. Cheng, how does it taste?”
Cheng Mingjiao’s smile disappeared at once.
Zhou Ce: “?”
Cheng Mingjiao accused him, “Weren’t you supposed to return to work tomorrow?”
Zhou Ce was genuinely touched that his boss had remembered his return date. “I was originally planning to come back tomorrow, but there was nothing to do at home anyway, so I came in early.”
“You can continue doing nothing.”
Zhou Ce: “?”
“An injury to the muscles and bones takes a hundred days to heal. Don’t push yourself. The company won’t sideline you just because you take an extended leave.”
Zhou Ce discovered that he apparently had a strong masochistic streak. Otherwise, how could a few human-sounding words from the Emperor make all his resentment disappear?
Waaah, the Emperor was showing signs of humanity. He suddenly wanted to devote himself to the Emperor’s service until the day he died.
“Don’t worry, Mr. Cheng. I’m not pushing myself.” He wiped at the nonexistent tears in the corner of his eye, then raised his spatula in a show of loyalty. “I can be your executive assistant for the rest of my life!”
Cheng Mingjiao’s expression turned cold.
Zhou Ce: “?”
The Emperor didn’t seem to have any intention of working out that day. As soon as he finished breakfast, he demanded to go to the office.
Zhou Ce was puzzled, but he readily agreed.
The Emperor’s mood remained gloomy all the way into the car, as though the thoughtfulness and humanity he had shown moments earlier had merely been a hallucination on Zhou Ce’s part.
In the face of such an Emperor, Zhou Ce’s gratitude vanished without a trace. He cursed himself for being such a masochist—he had been living comfortably at home, yet had insisted on returning to work early—and at the same time, he felt as though he had slipped back into his comfort zone.
While washing the dishes earlier, he had asked Zhang Xiyue about the day’s schedule and confirmed that there was nothing particularly important that morning.
He had no idea why the Emperor was so eager to go to the office, but as long as there were no problems with his own work, he might as well cooperate.
Zhou Ce had followed Cheng Mingjiao for three years and had long since developed a resilient heart. Even when cold air seemed to pour off the Emperor in waves, he could still drive with perfect steadiness.
At nine-thirty that morning, Mr. Cheng and Assistant Zhou arrived at the company.
Cheng Mingjiao had a clear destination in mind. He strode through the office, his coat flaring behind him, and finally stopped outside the assistants’ office. With a loud bang, he pushed the door open.
Everyone who had been pretending to work seriously looked up in unison and greeted Cheng Mingjiao.
Zhang Xiyue blended in with the crowd. “Good morning, Mr. Cheng.”
Cheng Mingjiao carried his rude persona through to the end, ignoring everyone as he looked straight at Zhang Xiyue.
The corners of Zhang Xiyue’s mouth twitched. She maintained her smile while frantically signaling with her eyes for him not to make it so obvious.
Cheng Mingjiao ignored her and simply kept staring.
The others noticed that something was off, too. They exchanged glances, but all they found in one another’s eyes was confusion. Not one of them had managed to see through the situation.
The atmosphere was becoming far too strange. Zhang Xiyue had no choice but to stand up.
“Mr. Cheng, did you need me for something?”
Cheng Mingjiao seized the convenient opening. “Come to my office.”
With that, he turned and walked away.
Zhou Ce hurried after him, but when he reached the doorway, Cheng Mingjiao blocked him.
“Zhang Xiyue is coming alone,” he said without turning his head.
There was nothing Zhou Ce could do but stop. When Zhang Xiyue caught up with him, he lowered his voice and quickly asked, “How did you offend him?”
Zhang Xiyue gave him a helpless smile and went inside.
The office door closed. The Emperor, who had been fuming just moments ago, lowered the corners of his mouth and pulled her into his arms.
Cheng Mingjiao hugged her so tightly that she could barely breathe. She pushed at him twice without success, only to be held even tighter.
“…I can’t breathe.” Her face was pressed against his chest, making her voice sound muffled.
Only then did Cheng Mingjiao loosen his hold.
“You’re lying.” He stared at her accusingly.
Zhang Xiyue laughed at him. “When did I lie?”
“You knew Assistant Zhou was coming in this morning. He must have told you in advance. You knew perfectly well that you didn’t need to come pick me up today, yet you still told me, ‘See you this morning.’” Cheng Mingjiao unhappily listed her offenses. “You were lying to me.”
Zhang Xiyue said, “I wasn’t lying. It’s nine-thirty in the morning, and haven’t we seen each other?”
“You’re changing the subject.”
Zhang Xiyue spread her hands. “Just tell me—have we seen each other now or not?”
She was still being stubborn.
Zhang Xiyue was incorrigible.
She deserved to be sentenced to life imprisonment and locked in his room, never allowed to go anywhere.
She deserved to be kissed until she couldn’t say another word, just like yesterday at the dining table, until her whole body trembled and she had no strength left for anything except breathing, loving him, and telling the truth.
Zhang Xiyue…
Zhang Xiyue rose onto her toes and kissed him on the lips.
The wicked thoughts in Cheng Mingjiao’s mind immediately faded by half.
“I’m sorry,” Zhang Xiyue said after kissing him, taking the initiative to slip her arms around his neck. “Assistant Zhou did tell me last night that he was going to pick you up today, but I refused at the time. I told him I would go pick up Mr. Cheng.”
Cheng Mingjiao’s eyes flickered, but he didn’t believe her so easily. “If that’s what you really said, then why was he the one who came to pick me up today?”
Zhang Xiyue pressed herself against his chest and complained mournfully, “Because my waist hurts.”
Cheng Mingjiao: “…”
Zhang Xiyue continued, “My legs hurt too. A lot of places are uncomfortable, and I really didn’t have the strength to go pick you up.”
“Where exactly does it hurt?” Cheng Mingjiao immediately put an arm around her waist to keep her from having to stand too long.
Zhang Xiyue carefully assessed herself, then looked up. “I can’t really say. I just feel exhausted all over. My legs hurt the most. You pressed too hard yesterday.”
She whispered something else into his ear, and Cheng Mingjiao’s face turned red.
The last of the wicked thoughts in Cheng Mingjiao’s mind vanished completely. He wished he could bear all that discomfort in her place.
Without saying another word, he picked Zhang Xiyue up and carried her around the desk, placing her in his chair.
It was Zhang Xiyue’s first time sitting in the chair. The moment she sank into it, the memory foam adjusted itself to the perfect curve and supported her firmly.
“…This chair is pretty comfortable. No wonder you like sitting here to fold paper airplanes.” Zhang Xiyue ran her hand over the leather armrest.
Cheng Mingjiao knelt on one knee and gently massaged her lower leg. “We can switch seats in a moment.”
“No.” Zhang Xiyue refused at once. “That would be too obvious.”
Then she remembered how Cheng Mingjiao had made such a grand display of calling her into the office and quickly reminded him, “Don’t do this again next time. I’m worried they’ll get suspicious.”
Cheng Mingjiao gave her an unhappy look.
At first, they had decided to keep their relationship secret in front of their colleagues because their positions were unequal. He had been afraid that their relationship would cause Zhang Xiyue trouble if it came to light.
But looking at things now, keeping it secret meant that he couldn’t even give her his chair, which only made things more inconvenient for her.
As though she knew what he was thinking, Zhang Xiyue reassured him, “I’m much better now. If I were still uncomfortable, one chair wouldn’t solve anything anyway. I’d be better off taking the day off.”
“Then take the day off now,” Cheng Mingjiao said.
Zhang Xiyue laughed. “I’m perfectly fine now. Why would I take leave?”
Cheng Mingjiao’s lips moved, and his argumentative personality began to stir.
Zhang Xiyue said, “If I take the day off, I won’t be able to see you whenever I want.”
Cheng Mingjiao’s argumentative personality died instantly.
He said nothing and focused on massaging her.
After her lower legs came her thighs, then the roots of her thighs, before his hands traveled upward to massage her waist and knead her shoulders. He worked with the dedication of a thirty-year veteran of the massage business.
There was actually a rest area in the office, with a bed identical to the one at home. Cheng Mingjiao had originally wanted her to lie down there, but Zhang Xiyue didn’t seem to like beds. The moment he brought it up, she refused.
In the end, the Emperor personally waited on her for half an hour, and Zhang Xiyue felt completely relaxed.
“Zhuangzhuang, you’re amazing.” She gave him a thumbs-up.
Cheng Mingjiao: “…You’re so childish.”
“Thank you, Zhuangzhuang.” Zhang Xiyue kissed him again.
Cheng Mingjiao reluctantly accepted the nickname.
Zhang Xiyue smiled and held out her hand.
Cheng Mingjiao gave her a haughty look. For the sake of someone who liked him so much, he took her hand and gave it a firm tug, pulling her up from the chair.
“Mr. Cheng, if there’s nothing else, I’ll get back to work.” She returned to her businesslike tone.
Seeing her pretending to be distant, Cheng Mingjiao felt an itch in his heart and didn’t want her to leave.
Zhang Xiyue pretended not to notice what he was trying to do. She said goodbye and hurried away.
Zhou Ce had already been waiting outside for quite some time. He had expected the door to open and reveal a battered-looking Zhang Xiyue.
Instead, Zhang Xiyue emerged glowing with health, without the slightest sign that she had been reprimanded.
“You…” Zhou Ce hesitated.
Zhang Xiyue immediately schooled her expression. “Mr. Cheng called me in to deal with some backlog.”
“What kind of work?” As the chief assistant, Zhou Ce couldn’t remember any work that had been left unfinished.
Zhang Xiyue cleared her throat and shifted the blame onto Cheng Mingjiao. “Mr. Cheng said I’m not allowed to tell anyone.”
Zhou Ce let out a disappointed “Oh.” He didn’t dare ask Cheng Mingjiao, so he could only swallow his doubts.
Zhang Xiyue used the same excuse to deal with several other colleagues.
Everyone enjoyed gossip, but they had always been able to distinguish it from work. Once they heard the words “Mr. Cheng said not to tell,” they tactfully stopped asking.
Zhang Xiyue finally let out a sigh of relief.
She truly didn’t want anyone to know that she and Cheng Mingjiao were dating.
It wasn’t because she was afraid her colleagues would treat her differently, nor because she feared rumors. It was simply because she felt that she would leave sooner or later.
Once she completed her mission, she would return to the real world. By then, she didn’t know whether the people in this world would remember her or whether all memories of her would be erased.
If it was the latter, that would be fine. But if it was the former…
The more people who knew they were together, the more attention would gather around Cheng Mingjiao after she left.
Given Cheng Mingjiao’s personality, he probably wouldn’t want to be treated like someone who had just been dumped, much less be subjected to other people’s pity.
So keeping their relationship secret was a good thing. Once she completed her mission, she would break up with Cheng Mingjiao, return home safely, and ensure that his life was not affected in any way.
After sorting out her thoughts, Zhang Xiyue threw herself into the day’s work.
Compared with the chief assistant’s position, the workload of an ordinary assistant was more fixed and repetitive. It truly followed a predictable routine…
That is, as long as a certain someone cooperated.
At ten-thirty, Zhang Xiyue had just finished reading a document when she was called into the president’s office.
Right in front of Zhou Ce, Zhang Xiyue put on a serious face. “Mr. Cheng, did you need me for something?”
“Make me a cup of coffee.” Cheng Mingjiao held out his cup.
When Zhang Xiyue reached for it, Cheng Mingjiao secretly gave her finger a little squeeze.
Zhang Xiyue instinctively glanced at Zhou Ce, who had his head lowered, focused on the data.
She let out a sigh of relief and shot Cheng Mingjiao a warning look before walking out.
Zhou Ce happened to look up while taking a break from work, and caught the smile at the corner of Cheng Mingjiao’s lips.
…Why was the Emperor smiling for no reason? How terrifying.
A chill ran down Zhou Ce’s back, and he wondered if he was hallucinating.
Zhang Xiyue quickly returned with the coffee. To prevent Cheng Mingjiao from causing trouble, she didn’t hand it directly to him, but placed it on the desk instead.
“Mr. Cheng, if that’s all, I’ll be heading out,” she said sweetly.
Cheng Mingjiao didn’t want her to leave, but when he met her warning gaze, he could only let her go.
Zhang Xiyue left.
Twenty minutes later, he called her back in.
“Mr. Cheng, what is it this time?” she asked helplessly.
Cheng Mingjiao looked solemn. “I think there’s something wrong with this data.”
Zhang Xiyue glanced at the project proposal in his hand. “Assistant Zhou is in charge of this project now.”
Hearing his name, Zhou Ce looked up. “Which project?”
“Stay out of it.” Cheng Mingjiao refused to let him get involved.
Zhou Ce: “…”
“Zhang Xiyue, come over and check it against the original,” Cheng Mingjiao insisted.
Seeing that this had nothing to do with him, Zhou Ce lowered his head and continued working.
Zhang Xiyue closed her eyes for a moment, then walked around the desk and came to Cheng Mingjiao.
They had been apart for only twenty minutes, but Zhang Xiyue still smelled wonderful.
Cheng Mingjiao wanted to hug his sweet-smelling Zhang Xiyue.
He suddenly hated work.
While Cheng Mingjiao was distracted, Zhang Xiyue’s hand had already settled on his arm.
He looked up in surprise. The next second, a sharp pain shot through his arm.
“Mm…”
He accidentally let out a muffled groan. Zhou Ce looked up again.
Mr. Cheng was still Mr. Cheng, and Assistant Zhang was still Assistant Zhang. The two of them were earnestly working over a project proposal.
…But somehow, something felt off.
A flicker of suspicion crossed Zhou Ce’s eyes, but he didn’t pursue it.
Once Zhang Xiyue noticed that Zhou Ce had looked away, she finally relaxed. Frowning, she turned to Cheng Mingjiao.
“Zhang Xiyue,” Cheng Mingjiao whispered, “do you want to take an extended vacation?”
Zhang Xiyue: “…”
Cheng Mingjiao continued, “I own a private island in the Bahamas. Let’s go on vacation. If you want, you can even run naked on the beach. No one will see you.”
Zhou Ce: “…”
What was Mr. Cheng mumbling about? He couldn’t make out the words, but somehow he could still hear them.
Zhang Xiyue was speechless. Once again, she found herself wondering whether dating the male supporting character could really make him give up his obsession with the heroine and turn him into a productive, upstanding member of society.
Well, he seemed to have given up on the heroine. As long as he didn’t see her, he acted perfectly normal. He hadn’t asked Zhou Ce to investigate her entire family tree, at least.
As for turning into a productive, upstanding member of society…
Ha. Before they started dating, he might not have liked working, but at least he came to the office every day. After they started dating, he immediately wanted to take an extended vacation.
Zhang Xiyue stared at Cheng Mingjiao expressionlessly.
Knowing that he had received his answer, Cheng Mingjiao frowned. “Boring…”
Zhang Xiyue glanced at Zhou Ce again, then lowered her voice. “Come outside with me.”
Cheng Mingjiao immediately started to stand.
The next second, his phone vibrated.
It was a message from Zhang Xiyue: Wait five minutes!
Cheng Mingjiao rubbed his nose and obediently waited five minutes. The moment the time was up, he grabbed his phone and went outside.
Zhou Ce watched his back in confusion but didn’t follow him.
By the time Zhang Xiyue was waiting for him in the stairwell, she had already composed herself. As soon as he arrived, she looked at him calmly.
“Want to kiss?” Cheng Mingjiao asked considerately.
Zhang Xiyue: “…”
“Mr. Cheng, do you know when I like you the most?”
Seeing how serious she looked, Cheng Mingjiao straightened up as well. “When?”
“When you’re working seriously.”
Cheng Mingjiao: “…”
“Every time I see you working hard for this company, I’m completely captivated by you. My heart starts racing, and my head fills with thoughts of you…”
“All right, all right…” Her sudden confession left Cheng Mingjiao at a loss. His face reddened as he hurriedly stopped her. “I get it.”
Zhang Xiyue smiled. “Could you show me how seriously you can work right now?”
“…You’re not in the same office as me. Even if I work seriously, you won’t be able to see it.” Cheng Mingjiao began considering whether he should banish Zhou Ce to the frontier.
Zhang Xiyue saved Zhou Ce’s life. “It’s fine. Even if I can’t see you, I can imagine it.”
To Cheng Mingjiao, those words were equivalent to: Even if we’re in different rooms, I’ll be thinking about you every moment.
Zhang Xiyue had deliberately called him out just to whisper sweet nothings to him.
Zhang Xiyue really liked him.
Cheng Mingjiao cleared his throat. “I know.”
“So will Zhuangzhuang work hard today?” Zhang Xiyue asked with a gentle smile, like a kindergarten teacher addressing her students.
Cheng Mingjiao didn’t dare look at her. After a brief moment of eye contact, he quickly looked away.
After a while, he nodded.
Having received his promise, Zhang Xiyue turned to leave. As she opened the stairwell door, she didn’t forget to remind him, “Don’t call me again unless it’s necessary. Even Cheng Mingjiao himself isn’t allowed to interrupt me while I’m thinking about Cheng Mingjiao in another room.”
Cheng Mingjiao: “…”
Had Zhang Xiyue eaten too much candy while waiting for him? Otherwise, why did even her words taste so sweet?
Zhang Xiyue was playing dirty.
He wanted to tuck her into his pocket.
Zhang Xiyue returned to the assistants’ office and could finally get back to her normal work.
Cheng Mingjiao didn’t bother her again for the entire morning… Though he did come to the assistants’ office twice, both times he was there to discuss something with someone else.
Zhang Xiyue enjoyed the peace and quiet. But the moment lunch break arrived, Cheng Mingjiao sent her a message saying that Zhou Ce was asking what he wanted to eat.
Zhang Xiyue immediately understood what he meant. She also suddenly realized that stepping down from the position of executive assistant had made everything much more complicated.
At least when she had been Mr. Cheng’s executive assistant, the two of them could spend twenty-four hours together without arousing suspicion. Now that she was an ordinary assistant, even eating together in the company cafeteria could make other people suspicious.
After thinking it over, she replied: Let’s eat out.
Cheng Mingjiao responded instantly: Okay.
Zhang Xiyue: Go downstairs first and wait in the car. I’ll be there in five minutes.
Cheng Mingjiao clicked his tongue. He looked up at Zhou Ce, whom he had just refused when the other man invited him to lunch, and once again considered banishing him to the frontier.
Zhou Ce, who had been delighted that he wouldn’t have to eat lunch with his boss, suddenly shivered.
Cheng Mingjiao rubbed the space between his brows and went to the underground parking garage first.
He had only just gotten into the car when he saw Zhang Xiyue approaching furtively.
The corners of his lips immediately curled up. The moment she got into the car, he leaned over and gave her a long, lingering kiss.
When they parted, both of them were breathing a little unevenly. Their gazes held an indescribable new intensity.
“I worked seriously all morning,” Cheng Mingjiao said.
Zhang Xiyue smiled silently and replied, “No wonder I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”
Cheng Mingjiao quietly turned his head to look out the window.
The two of them had lunch out, then took a nap together in the car. When they returned to the office, they instantly went from a couple deep in the throes of love to a distant boss and assistant.
Cheng Mingjiao behaved himself that afternoon as well. After Zhang Xiyue finished all her work, she saw that there were still two hours until the end of the workday and began wondering whether she should go across the hall to see Cheng Mingjiao.
Before she could make up her mind, her phone vibrated.
It was a message from Chen Ming:
Sis Yue, it seems like she already likes someone.
Zhang Xiyue’s brows twitched.
Chen Ming: That person seems really outstanding.
Since yesterday, Chen Ming had been sending her bits and pieces of information about the girl. Although he chose his words carefully and reservedly, Zhang Xiyue could tell that he really liked her.
She just hadn’t expected to see a message like this before even twenty-four hours had passed.
Zhang Xiyue didn’t know what to say either. After holding it in for a long while, she finally sent two words:
My condolences…
Chen Ming: …
Chen Ming: Sis Yue, you’re really bad at comforting people.
Zhang Xiyue sent him an apologetic sticker.
Chen Ming: I don’t plan to give up.
Zhang Xiyue’s eyelid twitched.
Then what do you plan to do?
Chen Ming: I’m going to pursue her.
Zhang Xiyue: Doesn’t she already like someone?
Chen Ming: They’re not together yet.
So what if they got together? If his appearance could make them break up, that would only prove that they were never meant to be.
Of course, he didn’t say that aloud.
He had known from a very young age that many of his thoughts were different from those of normal people. Because of that, many people were afraid of him and kept their distance.
Sis Yue was a good person. He didn’t want her to be afraid of him.
Even so, Zhang Xiyue frowned when she saw his message.
Perhaps it was simply a difference in personal values. She had always believed that relationships should develop naturally. If someone already had feelings for another person, would continuing to pursue them cause trouble?
Then again, there was nothing wrong with young people trying to fight for what they wanted.
After thinking for a long time, Zhang Xiyue replied:
You said the person she likes is very outstanding, didn’t you? Even you admit that he’s impressive, so he must be exceptionally capable. Do you think she’ll give up on him because of you?
Chen Ming fell silent.
Zhang Xiyue scrolled through their chat history and felt that she might have been too blunt.
It had probably hurt him.
She hurriedly tried to make up for it:
You’re outstanding too, and you’re very smart. You’re no worse than anyone else!
Chen Ming replied with a helpless, amused sticker.
Since he had responded with a sticker, he probably wasn’t angry.
Zhang Xiyue breathed a sigh of relief. She was just about to say a few more words when Chen Ming sent another message:
I’ll become better than him.
Good.
Regardless of whether he ultimately got what he wanted, at least his desire to become better was a healthy mindset.
Zhang Xiyue praised him a couple more times, then grabbed a random file and headed across the hall.
Zhou Ce had gone out to deliver some documents, so Cheng Mingjiao was the only one in the office. Zhang Xiyue stayed with him for a few minutes before leaving. After work, she spent another two hours clinging to him, finally returning home after it was completely dark.
She hadn’t accomplished much actual work all day, yet she felt as exhausted as if she’d been through a battle.
After taking a shower, Zhang Xiyue lay down on the bed and habitually glanced at the progress bar—
25%.
She sat bolt upright.
She focused and looked several more times, confirming that the number was real. Zhang Xiyue immediately reviewed everything she had done that day—
Comforted Cheng Mingjiao, talked with him in the stairwell, eaten with Cheng Mingjiao, comforted Cheng Mingjiao, comforted Cheng Mingjiao, comforted Cheng Mingjiao…
Talked.
Zhang Xiyue let out a laugh and rolled around under the covers twice.
Over the next several days, Zhang Xiyue seemed to figure out the pattern. Every day, she had to hint to Cheng Mingjiao several times that she liked seeing him work seriously, firmly planting that impression in his mind.
The trick really did work. Cheng Mingjiao’s enthusiasm for work had increased greatly, and her progress bar slowly crawled forward. Although it didn’t leap straight from five percent to twenty-five percent like last time, after creeping upward for seven or eight days, it reached thirty-one percent.
At this rate, returning home was just around the corner.
And a good boy who cooperated with her mission always deserved a reward.
After they finished another intimate encounter, Zhang Xiyue got dressed and turned to look at Cheng Mingjiao on the bed.
“I’m going home now, Zhuangzhuang.”
Zhuangzhuang hesitated, torn.
He wanted her to stay. He wanted to live with her. He wanted to wake up every morning after sleeping in each other’s arms.
But he couldn’t bring himself to say it.
Although he had always been accustomed to doing things his own way, when it came to love, he would rather follow Zhang Xiyue’s pace than make her accommodate his.
Besides, Zhang Xiyue liked him far too much. If he suggested that they move in together, she would agree even if she didn’t actually want to.
He didn’t want her to force herself.
“What’s wrong?” Zhang Xiyue asked, amused by the struggle playing out across his face.
Cheng Mingjiao couldn’t say what he wanted to say, but he wasn’t good at hiding his emotions either. After remaining silent for a long while, he finally said, “You leave as soon as we’re done. You don’t even stay and cuddle with me. It makes us look like we’re in some kind of improper relationship.”
Zhang Xiyue understood. Her high-demand Zhuangzhuang was tactfully hinting that he wanted her to stay with him.
She thought for a moment, then pulled five yuan from her pocket.
She normally didn’t like carrying cash. She had received the money as change after buying breakfast, when she’d discovered that the red-bean buns she wanted were sold out and the shopkeeper had refunded her.
Zhang Xiyue tossed the money onto Cheng Mingjiao’s bare body and raised an eyebrow.
“This is what an improper relationship looks like.”
Cheng Mingjiao: “…”
Seeing his expression, Zhang Xiyue laughed even harder, barely able to keep her balance as she held on to the bed.
Cheng Mingjiao had been a little annoyed at first, but when he saw how happy she was, the corners of his lips rose uncontrollably as well.
“Zhang Xiyue, you’re really annoying.” The childish Emperor pretended to be angry.
Zhang Xiyue took off her clothes again, lifted the covers, and squeezed into his arms.
“I’m not leaving tonight.” She wrapped her arms around his waist.
Cheng Mingjiao froze for a moment. First came the sweetness, followed by helplessness.
Sure enough, Zhang Xiyue already loved him so much that she had lost all sense of self. She would compromise at the drop of a hat just because of something he said.
How could he dare suggest that they live together without knowing what she truly wanted?
Cheng Mingjiao had enjoyed a smooth and effortless life for thirty years, yet once again, Zhang Xiyue had left him caught between two impossible choices.
The weather grew hotter and hotter, while the summer in Phoenix City seemed to have no end.
Before they knew it, it was already mid-September—the time when the sickly, obsessive male supporting character was supposed to appear in the original story had already passed.
Cheng Mingjiao hadn’t gone bankrupt, nor had he turned into an extreme yandere. He continued to exercise properly, eat well, and strictly follow the daily schedule he had set for himself.
Zhang Xiyue’s progress bar had also reached forty-three percent.
Life moved forward in a balanced and stable manner. The only accident to occur between the two of them during this period was an unexpected encounter with Gu Feng and Qing Tian at a furniture store.
When they learned that Qing Tian was currently staying at Gu Feng’s place, Zhang Xiyue immediately checked Cheng Mingjiao’s reaction. Sure enough, she caught a trace of displeasure in his expression.
Zhang Xiyue had been having things go so smoothly lately that his slight unhappiness didn’t affect her. Instead, she felt relieved.
After all, in the original story, the male supporting character had completely lost control and gone mad the moment he found out that the male and female leads were living together. Cheng Mingjiao, on the other hand, was merely a little unhappy.
But she never expected that his displeasure would last for several days—and affect her progress bar.
It was an ordinary night. She had just lain down in bed and was about to check the progress bar when Chen Ming sent her a message.
[Sis Yue, is it really useless no matter how hard I try?]
Zhang Xiyue sat up and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Chen Ming was silent for a long time before replying, “It’s nothing.”
After that, no matter what Zhang Xiyue asked, he didn’t respond.
A little worried, Zhang Xiyue called him directly.
The phone rang nine times before Chen Ming finally answered.
Hearing his hurried breathing, Zhang Xiyue asked, “Are you all right?”
Chen Ming was quiet for a moment. “Mm…”
“What happened?” Zhang Xiyue asked again.
Chen Ming’s breathing slowed. After a long pause, he said hoarsely, “I just found out about something. I’m feeling a little awful.”
“Do you need to talk about it?” Zhang Xiyue asked.
“No, Sis Yue. I want to be alone for a while.” Chen Ming had sent her that message on impulse, and now he already regretted it.
Zhang Xiyue had always been good at respecting boundaries. Since he had said that, she comforted him a few more times before hanging up.
It was probably related to the person he liked.
That made Zhang Xiyue think of Cheng Mingjiao, who had been in a bad mood these past two days.
She wondered which was more painful: failing to win over the person you liked, or dating someone you didn’t like while having to watch the person you loved live with someone else.
Zhang Xiyue fell back onto the bed and focused her attention on the progress bar—
0？？？!!!
All right. Now she could be sure.
Neither of those situations was as painful as hers—finally getting the progress bar nearly halfway up, only for it to drop back to zero.
That was what truly hurt.
She sat up again and called Cheng Mingjiao.
Cheng Mingjiao had already fallen asleep, but the call from a specially marked contact forcibly jolted him awake.
Grumbling sleepily, he fumbled for his phone and complained indistinctly, “Zhang Xiyue, what are you—”
“Zhuangzhuang, let’s move in together.”
Cheng Mingjiao opened his eyes, instantly wide awake.
