“So, that’s why you went to the bar that day to get drunk, right?”

I nodded instinctively. Then, I suddenly realized something.

“…How do you know?”

From the angle I couldn’t see, a trace of regret flashed across Duan Heng’s face. His grip on the steering wheel tightened, but his tone remained casual.

“Just a guess. One day at work, you looked pretty off, like you had a hangover.”

Oh, that makes sense.

I didn’t suspect anything. Just thought to myself, ‘Of course, a boss like him has sharp observational skills.’

Before I knew it, we had arrived at my apartment. Just as I was about to get out of the car, I heard Duan Heng speak.

“If he ever comes to bother you again, no matter where, tell me immediately.”

He said this with such seriousness, leaving no room for refusal.

Both of us knew exactly how my e-bike got damaged, but we simply chose not to argue with Jiang Yi.

Would he come back? And if he did, what childish stunt would he pull next?

That’s uncertain for now.

So, when Duan Heng said to tell him immediately no matter where, I was filled with gratitude. I couldn’t help but feel how lucky I was to have such a fantastic boss—he’s kind, low-maintenance, handsome, and always willing to help. Simply perfect.

“Alright, Mr. Duan. Thank you.”

“Hm, head on in.”

---

Over the next month, Duan Heng fully solidified his image as the “perfect boss” in my mind.

Jiang Yi would still show up from time to time, suddenly appearing out of nowhere, saying he’d changed, that he was ready to take responsibility now, or that Duan Heng was unreliable, clearly a pretentious hypocrite…

It was getting on my nerves. I started taking different routes to work every day.

When Duan Heng found out, he sneered, “Starting today, I’ll pick you up and drop you off at work.”

Uh…

I hesitated for a moment. Having the CEO as my driver—doesn’t that seem a bit off?

But seeing how he didn’t think anything of it, I didn’t say anything either.

And so, I got to witness firsthand just how easily my “partner” could handle things.

With just a few words, he’d leave Jiang Yi speechless, his dignity thoroughly crushed.

Gradually, Jiang Yi must’ve realized that he and Duan Heng weren’t in the same league, and he stopped showing up.

But Duan Heng’s rides to and from work didn’t stop. Every morning, when I went downstairs, his car was already waiting for me.

One morning, feeling a bit guilty, I told him he didn’t need to pick me up anymore.

He thought about it for a moment and nodded in agreement.

That very afternoon, during the company’s Mid-Autumn Festival event, I won the first prize.

A brand-new SUV…

I asked Duan Heng if it was arranged by him. He just replied casually, “Coincidence.”

---

At work, he showed me extraordinary patience.

“Trust your instincts. It’s okay if you make mistakes. I’ll back you up. Just don’t repeat the same mistake twice.”

Under Duan Heng’s guidance, I started making fewer mistakes. Without realizing it, I was becoming more like what a “CEO’s assistant” should be.

Sometimes Fang Mingrui would comment on how quickly I was improving, even saying that he’d feel confident leaving for a branch office soon.

I just smiled at that.

But then Fang Mingrui added, “Mr. Duan is really tolerant with you. I remember when I first started, Mr. Duan was barely in his twenties but already more intimidating than some fifty-year-old veteran bosses. I made mistakes a few times and got scolded to the point of tears.”

“If I didn’t know better, I’d almost think he likes you.”

I laughed it off with a couple of chuckles.

“How could that be? Mr. Duan, he’s just… he’s just…”

Just what, though?

I found myself unable to finish the sentence, and in that moment, my heartbeat went off rhythm.

---

Duan Heng was drunk.

Ironically, it was because he’d been shielding me from drinks.

Today, we had a dinner meeting with a client. Duan Heng brought me and a few members of the project team.

At the dinner table, I, being the youngest and most inexperienced, naturally became the target of the other company’s toasts.

And of course, I couldn’t refuse, so I drank along with them.

But just after two drinks, when I raised the third glass, the man next to me suddenly stopped my hand.

“My assistant doesn’t handle alcohol well. I’ll take it from here.”

With that, Duan Heng took my glass and downed it in one gulp.

Seeing this, the other company’s people got even more excited and kept pouring.

Eventually, the deal was closed, and, unsurprisingly, Duan Heng was drunk.

The driver and I helped him upstairs to his apartment and then left.

I looked at the man on the sofa.

His cheeks were tinged with a faint blush, his eyes half-open, unfocused. Maybe because the car ride had been stuffy, he had loosened his tie, and the top two buttons of his shirt were undone, revealing a glimpse of his collarbone…

I quickly averted my gaze.

“Uh, Mr. Duan, do you want to change into something more comfortable?”

Duan Heng stared straight at me without answering.

Alright then.

I found some casual clothes from his closet and walked over to help him change. But just as I started taking off his jacket, he suddenly grabbed my hand.

“Qin Fan, I’m not a male model. I’m Duan Heng.”^[1]Translator’s note: Qin Fan is the whole name of Xiao Qin “Xiao” means “little.” Chinese people put Xiao before a name of someone to emphazise kinship or closeness.

I was baffled.

Where did that come from?

“I know, you’re Duan Heng, the CEO of Hengyan. How could you be a male model?”

“Hm.”

The next second, Duan Heng hooked an arm around my neck, pulling me down onto the sofa.

Then, he leaned down and kissed me.

My eyes widened in shock, frozen in place.

---

The scent of alcohol enveloped me. His tongue anxiously traced along the seam of my lips, trying to part them, but being so inexperienced, he couldn’t quite manage.

“Qin Fan, open your mouth,” he said, sounding a little hurt.

That voice snapped me out of my daze.

I quickly pushed him away and stood up, backing away until I bumped into something behind me.

Looking back, I saw it was a display cabinet.

Inside were various collectibles, but one shiny item caught my eye.

It was… a seal?