Zang Ling silently stared at Yuan Haolang, who suddenly flashed a devilish and arrogant grin. Goosebumps rose all over her body. So cringing. Why is this guy here again? He can’t even be chased away.

“How did you even get up here?”

Yuan Haolang finally seemed to notice her presence. He lazily leaned back in his chair, not even bothering to move. Lifting his chin, he called out, “I can come up whenever I want. Zang Ling, we should really talk about our engagement again. Don’t come crying to me when you regret it later.”

Zang Ling scoffed. “Stop flattering yourself. I already feel like crying right now, because I just saw an ugly man.”

“Ugly?! Are you blind?!” Yuan Haolang roared.

Zang Ling responded seriously, “Yes. Not only are you ugly on the outside, but you’re even uglier on the inside.” As she spoke, she quickly diverted her gaze, disgust practically written all over her face.

Yuan Haolang’s calculating, composed expression slowly faded. He sat up straight and glared coldly at her. “Zang Ling, I’ve been tolerating you because you’re a woman, but don’t push your luck! Is this how the Zang family treats their guests?”

Zang Ling smiled faintly. “Since you’re a ‘man’, should I help you call a mental hospital? Next time, don’t come out and harm people without taking your meds.”

Yuan Haolang exploded, “What’s wrong with you, woman? You’ve got no manners at all. You think you can be so arrogant just because you’re now the boss of Tianhai? Who knows what shady methods you used to get this position!”

“That’s slander, Mr. Yuan. We can sue you for that,” Yan Wenshu cut in coldly.

“Hah, sue me if you dare!” Yuan Haolang sneered. “With trash like you who lives off a woman, what qualifications do you have? You should know your own place. If I really saw you as a rival, I’d have countless ways to destroy your reputation.”

[Host, he actually insulted you like this! When we regain our freedom, we have to teach him a lesson…]

Yan Wenshu’s calm gaze didn’t waver. Silly system, even if I regain my freedom, how could I possibly deal with people from the upper class? Just like Yuan Haolang said, only when you have the power can you stand against them.

The system grew dispirited. [I’m sorry, I’ve almost run out of energy. The little I have left is only enough to sustain myself. I’m so useless. I can’t help you at all except for cheering you on.]

Yan Wenshu’s eyes darkened. [You gave me the chance to be reborn. Without you, I’d already be dead.]

The system teared up emotionally. [Host~]

Zang Ling frowned. “Yuan-whatever, you can insult me all you like, but how dare you insult my boyfriend?”

Yuan Haolang gritted his teeth and roared, “My name is Yuan Haolang! And after all this time, you still haven’t remembered it?!”

“And! What slander? Everything I said is true. A fresh graduate with nothing to his name becoming the secretary to the CEO of a Fortune 500 company — don’t you find that suspicious? If you keep hanging around him, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

“Only a dirty mind sees everything as dirty.”

“Zang Ling, what kind of love potion did this man give you? He’s just an orphan. He can’t help you with anything.”

“You investigated him?” Zang Ling narrowed her eyes and surprisingly softened her voice, “Alright then, don’t blame me for being impolite.”

Yuan Haolang stepped closer, leaning in teasingly, “Oh? And how are you going to be impolite, hmm?”

Without changing her expression, Zang Ling slapped him hard across the face. “You m*therf**king piece of shit.”

Yuan Haolang stood there, covering his face in shock, Huh??

Then, under the stunned gazes of both men, Zang Ling proceeded to verbally destroy Yuan Haolang for a solid half an hour.

After taking a deep breath, Zang Ling smiled sweetly and concluded, “So, Yuan-whatever, still wanna marry me? Don’t you already have true love? Or is this just playing house? Never thought the heir to the Yuan family was still a diaper-wearing baby.”

She deliberately stretched out the word, “Isn’t that right, baby Yuan?”

That last sarcastic jab almost made Yuan Haolang cough up blood. His face darkened. “I’ll say it one more time! My name is Yuan Haolang — not Yuan-whatever, not baby Yuan! Zang Ling, I used to think you were a lady, but now I see you have no manners at all. I’m so disappointed in you.”

He paused, then seemed to think of something. Forcing down his anger, his expression softened. “Zang Ling, you act like you don’t care about me, but aren’t you still paying attention to me in secret? If you break up with your lover right now, I’ll let bygones be bygones. But as a woman, you should be more gentle. After we get married, you’ll have to break this habit of hitting people.”

Zang Ling rolled her eyes and threw three words at him: “In your dreams.”

“I only hit idiots.”

Yuan Haolang’s veins popped on his forehead. Rude. This woman is way too rude! Mom, she’s nothing like the cultured, well-mannered lady you said she was!

Just as Yuan Haolang was about to argue back, he accidentally caught a glimpse of Yan Wenshu’s smiling face. This pretty boy was hiding behind Zang Ling, watching him make a fool of himself…

Realizing this, he suddenly couldn’t breathe, his vision went dark, and he fainted on the spot.

Zang Ling was surprised, “…He’s this fragile?” What a weakling.

She shook her hand, feeling a little bored. Not gonna lie, my hand kinda hurts from that slap.

Yan Wenshu also looked slightly surprised. He had never seen Yuan Haolang like this before.

After a moment of hesitation, he replied, “Maybe…”

A few minutes later, as the ambulance downstairs slowly drove away, Zang Ling turned around, patted her chest, and muttered curiously, “Finally, that delusional man is gone. What the hell did he even come here for today? Just to say all that useless crap?”

Yan Wenshu lowered his head. “That young master seems to really want to marry you.”

Zang Ling’s internal radar went off — am I in trouble?

“Don’t listen to his nonsense. Contract marriage? Impossible! If he dares to come again, I’ll have security throw him out.”

“You don’t need to explain to me. After all, I’m just temporarily acting as your boyfriend.”

Zang Ling replied, “Fake can become real too.”

“Would you want that?”

For a moment, Yan Wenshu opened his mouth to speak, but Zang Ling raised her hand solemnly to stop him. “Forget it. Don’t tell me now — wait until after work. I’m afraid I can’t handle it.”

“Alright…”

Seeing Zang Ling walking back to her office looking downcast, he couldn’t help but say, “Just then… you’re really impressive.”

“Really?” Zang Ling immediately stopped and turned around, eyes shining with surprise.

“Then tell me, how was I impressive?”

Looking into her bright eyes, Yan Wenshu suddenly didn’t know what to say. His gaze shifted slightly, landing on the green plant behind her.

He stammered, “Everything.”

Seeing the slight crack in his expression, Zang Ling sighed dramatically. “I get it. Your image of me has been shattered. If possible, please forget the scene of me swearing like a sailor. Thank you.”

“It’s not shattered.” Yan Wenshu looked up. “On the contrary, I thought it was cool, because…”

“I know why you did it.”

Zang Ling glanced at him. Their eyes met briefly, only to quickly shift away again.

Zang Ling coughed, “There’s still something I want to tell you.”

“Yuan Haolang and I had an arranged engagement since childhood. I just found out recently. His family never brought it up before, but now they suddenly want to enforce it. I want to date freely. That old-fashioned stuff doesn’t work on me. My parents fully support me. So… if you ever hear him calling himself my fiancé, don’t listen, don’t believe it. If you have any doubts, come straight to me. I’ll give you the answer.”

“Or if he offends you, don’t hold back, just beat him up.”

Yan Wenshu frowned slightly. “But wouldn’t that cause you trouble? Our company is currently working with Yuan Family’s Corporation on a renewable energy project. Offending their heir might not be a good idea.”

“I’ll back you up.”

Zang Ling spoke firmly. “It’s just a few hundred million. Tianhai is stronger than the Yuan Family Corporation. We’re not afraid of that kind of loss. If relations break down, they’re the ones who’ll be anxious. If Yuan Family Corporation targets us just because of an unannounced heir like him, then it’s better to end the cooperation early.”

“As far as I know, the current head of the Yuan Family Corporation has several illegitimate children. Whether Yuan Haolang can stand out among them is still unknown.”

Yan Wenshu wasn’t surprised she knew all this. The upper-class circle was that small. It was only a matter of time before she found out.

Zang Ling snorted, “If he really pisses me off, I’ll make sure the Yuan Family Corporation goes cold.”

Seeing the look in her eyes that faintly begged for praises, Yan Wenshu couldn’t help but laugh. “You really are amazing.”

Zang Ling was pleased but pretended to stay reserved. “Mm, you’re also outstanding. Standing up bravely against evil forces. Not bad, not bad.”

She added casually, “Sigh, I really hope to hear some good news tonight.”

Yan Wenshu’s lips curved into a subtle smile. “I hope all your wishes come true.”

Zang Ling stared at him, then slowly smiled. “I’ll borrow your lucky words.”

Just then, Yan Feng suddenly pushed the door open. Seeing the two people standing in the middle of the room, he froze. Had he known Zang Ling was here too, he would have knocked first.

Although he regretted it a little, he could still salvage the situation.

His thoughts flashed quickly. He hurriedly bypassed Yan Wenshu and walked straight to Zang Ling, asking worriedly, “Chairman Zang, are you alright? Your fiancé was suddenly carried downstairs, and an ambulance came. I thought something had happened to you.”

“Looks like I was worried for nothing. I’m glad you’re okay,” Yan Feng said with relief.

But Zang Ling found it odd. She wasn’t close to Yan Feng. Why was he so concerned about her?

But that wasn’t the point.

“Mm, thank you. But I don’t have a fiancé. I believe I’ve already said that Yan Wenshu is my boyfriend.”

The smile at the corner of Yan Feng’s mouth froze, and he replied awkwardly, “Ah, I probably wasn’t here that day.”

“So Secretary Yan is Chairman Zang’s boyfriend. My apologies for any offense during the last meeting. Please forgive me.”

Yan Wenshu smiled calmly. “You were just doing your job. I understand. In the company, I’m the same as everyone else.”

Seeing that Zang Ling didn’t give any reaction, Yan Feng felt reassured — Yan Wenshu was probably just a plaything. From Zang Ling’s attitude, it seemed treating him like an ordinary employee was enough.

He immediately lowered his guard, his gaze toward Yan Wenshu now revealing contempt and arrogance. Climbing up the ranks through Chairman Zang but not taking advantage of it? Serving with looks would never last long anyway.

Yan Feng couldn’t wait for the day when Yan Wenshu would be thrown out.

“But… Manager Yan, do you perhaps misunderstand me?” Yan Wenshu hesitated. “I entered the company through the proper application process. I didn’t rely on anyone.”

“No, no.”

Yan Feng almost couldn’t hold back his laughter. He’ll  act like he didn’t hear it. Like hell he believed that. Not relying on others? Was his girlfriend not “someone else”?

What a hypocrite.

Zang Ling noticed the contempt in Yan Feng’s eyes and suddenly realized something, feeling a slight dislike for him. She said coldly, “Yan Feng, are you perhaps suspecting me of abusing my position for personal gain? Well, too bad — I didn’t. You’d better get rid of those dirty thoughts as soon as possible, or don’t blame me for not warning you.”

Yan Feng was shocked. “No, it’s…!”

“Do you have anything else to say?”

Zang Ling quickly cut him off. “If not, then please help me throw away that chair in my office…”

Yan Feng begrudgingly went over and carried the reclining chair out. He rarely exercised, so moving this chair had him stopping every few steps to catch his breath.

Seeing this, Zang Ling said mercilessly, “Are you sure you can do it? If not, I can go get security.”

Yan Feng gritted his teeth and forced a smile. “I can do it!” A man can’t say no to that.

Yan Wenshu added, “Manager Yan, do you need a hand?”

Panting heavily, Yan Feng set the chair down, pushed Yan Wenshu’s hand away, and couldn’t help snapping irritably, “No need!”

As soon as he said that, he saw Yan Wenshu walk away looking hurt. A bad feeling suddenly rose in Yan Feng’s heart.

Yan Feng immediately turned to look at Zang Ling, only to find her gazing at Yan Wenshu with a look full of pity.

In that instant, realization dawned on him. This guy was totally using him to win Zang Ling’s favor.

What a scheming man!

He wasn’t going to let him get away with this. But afraid Yan Wenshu might set him up again, Yan Feng practically scrambled away, dragging the chair with him in a sorry state.

Zang Ling sighed, “This Yan Feng’s got a bad back and isn’t all that impressive. He could’ve just walked away, but he just had to act all weak in front of me, thinking I’d fall for it? How naive!”

The real one acting weak — Yan Wenshu smiled faintly, “Yeah, I didn’t expect Manager Yan to be that kind of person either.”