She had to help him deepen his memory, so that later, when he remembered the snow-white glutinous rice cake she made, he would crave it and disdain all others.

Shen Mi changed her approach: “Can you tell the difference in the fillings this morning?”

Xie Rongzhuo lifted his eyelids slightly: “Can you tell the difference in people’s voices?”

Of course she could! She wasn’t stupid…

But Xie Rongzhuo wouldn’t ask such a simple and boring question. Shen Mi chewed on the words, but couldn’t figure out the meaning behind his question.

She hesitated: “I can?”

“I can’t?”

Xie Rongzhuo: “Are you trying to guess the answer?”

“…”

Shen Mi hung up the suit jacket and handed him the tie, saying: “Someone you know, definitely.”

Xie Rongzhuo glanced at the tie resting on her hand, but didn’t take it.

“Are you familiar with me?”

How was she supposed to answer that?

Saying she was familiar, in case he replied with “We’re not that familiar,” would be too awkward.

Saying she wasn’t familiar, he was her boss and superior, saying “Not familiar” would be a bit hurtful.

“Boss, I recently learned the Windsor knot,” Shen Mi held up the tie, her expression natural. “Can I help you with it?”

Xie Rongzhuo: “Whatever.”

When the boss says whatever, it means it’s okay.

Successfully avoiding the awkwardness, Shen Mi stood on her tiptoes: “Boss, can you lower your head a bit?”

Xie Rongzhuo cooperated, bending slightly and lowering his neck to make it easier for her.

He had a clean, almost refreshing scent, faint and barely noticeable, yet domineering and impossible to ignore. Shen Mi didn’t like the smell of sweat on men, but Xie Rongzhuo didn’t have that. She loved the way he smelled.

In fact, Shen Mi had practiced the different tie knots countless times, and had already mastered them all. It was just that Xie Rongzhuo never let her get close, leaving her skills unused.

“What time did you work until last night?” Xie Rongzhuo suddenly asked.

Shen Mi, standing on her tiptoes, gently slid her arm around his neck, adjusting the tie with both hands before standing up straight. “One thirty,” she replied.

Xie Rongzhuo: “That’s not your job. Don’t do it anymore.”

Shen Mi continued to tie the tie while probing: “Boss, actually, I majored in finance in college, and I have all the necessary certificates. I applied for the secretary position because I didn’t have any work experience, and no one else would hire me.”

Xie Rongzhuo looked down at her: “Do you think I’ll hire you?”

Shen Mi wasn’t the type to wallow in self-pity. If she wanted something, she would fight for it with all her might. She wouldn’t be deterred by just one sentence. In fact, she had a bit of a rebellious streak. The more people told her she “couldn’t do it,” the more it fueled her strong desire to fight.

If Xie Rongzhuo didn’t want her, she would find a way to make him want her!

“I know, I’m not qualified to work on projects with my current abilities, but I can learn! I’ll work for free, doing odd jobs for the company, no salary.” Shen Mi observed Xie Rongzhuo’s expression. Seeing no obvious sign of rejection, she slowed her movements and continued, “Didn’t Mr. Zhong ask… for me to learn from you?”

Xie Rongzhuo: “Using uncle to pressure me?”

“How could I dare?”

Her tone, laced with weakness, sounded like she was being coy.

Xie Rongzhuo looked at her, not replying.

His lack of a definite refusal meant there was still hope.

Shen Mi threaded the end of the tie through the loop, her fingers nimble as she crossed them over: “I just don’t want to disappoint Mr. Zhong’s appreciation for me.”

Even a renowned banker like Mr. Zhong had praised her. Xie Rongzhuo couldn’t possibly dismiss a senior’s opinion, could he?

She was so clever!

Xie Rongzhuo: “You mean I’m blind?”

He wouldn’t fall for it!

Shen Mi was taken aback, subconsciously looking into Xie Rongzhuo’s eyes. As she lifted her gaze, she noticed he was also looking at her. The lashes behind his glasses were as black as crow feathers, his eyes slightly upturned, his dark pupils gleaming with an ambiguous light. It didn’t seem like he was teasing her, but rather, he was playing with her.

“Hmm? Why aren’t you saying anything?”

Hearing the sound of his “hmm,” Shen Mi suddenly held her breath.

That “hmm,” how was it so similar to Master’s?

Xie Rongzhuo lowered his head, “What are you spacing out about?”

Feeling the light breath falling on her head, Shen Mi realized their distance was too ambiguous. If she tilted her head up slightly, she would touch Xie Rongzhuo’s lips.

She was inexplicably flustered, adjusted the Windsor knot, retracted her hand, and quickly retreated to the side. “Sorry, old—” Her toe kicked the closet door, the pain suddenly hit her forehead, and Shen Mi’s feet went weak. Xie Rongzhuo suddenly reached out and grabbed her back, supporting her body and pulling her forward.

Perhaps he hadn’t expected her to be so light, he didn’t control his strength. Shen Mi was pulled into his arms.

She was wearing flat slippers, and Xie Rongzhuo was much taller than her. With a sudden lunge, her forehead hit his collarbone. Shen Mi gasped again.

Unlucky people always have misfortune after misfortune. Xie Rongzhuo’s body was harder than the closet!

This time it was a real head-on collision. Shen Mi tried very hard to maintain her elegance and dignity.

She gritted her teeth and adjusted her attitude.

As the pain subsided slightly, the temperature of the large hand on her back suddenly became intense.

Xie Rongzhuo’s arm circled around her shoulder, almost enclosing her in his arms. Shen Mi could feel the strength of the muscles slightly bulging in his arm.

Neither of them wore coats, and through the thin fabric, their body temperature and heartbeats seemed to be out of control.

Thump.

Thump thump.

Shen Mi could hear her own heartbeat.

That night, when she accidentally heard Master’s voice, her heart also “thumped” like this.

“Thump” for Master at night, “thump” for the boss during the day.

Is this heart a big radish, so fickle!

Author’s Note:

It’s not you who’s fickle, it’s someone who pretends to be serious on the surface but secretly wears a different persona! ~