Zang Ling hadn’t been this happy in a long time. She strolled through the school with Yan Wenshu, admiring the scenery and savoring this brief but beautiful moment.

It was spring, and the air was filled with the faint fragrance of peach blossoms.

Suddenly, she pointed excitedly in a direction and suggested, “Let’s go take a picture over there!”

Zang Ling ran over eagerly. Yan Wenshu’s gaze followed her closely. There stood a peach blossom tree in full bloom, its delicate and pure pink flowers swaying gently in the breeze like a shy girl lowering her head with a quiet smile.

Zang Ling stood beneath the tree, waving at him excitedly.

“Yan Wenshu!”

Yan Wenshu stared at her radiant smile, his heart pounding uncontrollably. He forced himself to suppress this strange feeling and walked over to her.

The system, watching them stand shoulder to shoulder, their heads pressed together as they took photos, suddenly felt jealous.

It really wanted a companion to stick close to like that too! Once it returned to its home planet, it would definitely file a request with its developer!

Wait… developer?

The system blinked in confusion, when did it ever have a developer…?

Zang Ling scrolled through the photos on her phone, looking at their freshly taken pictures. Satisfied, she nodded approvingly, “Not bad! Finally captured at least one-tenth of your handsomeness. I’m going to frame this when we get back.”

Yan Wenshu chuckled, “That’s a bit over the top.”

“Can you send me this one?”

He pointed at a particular photo where the two of them looked into the camera, eyes filled with laughter. Zang Ling’s head leaned naturally toward him, her smile especially bright.

“Just this one? I’ll send them all to you.”

Yan Wenshu replied, “This one’s enough to be my lock screen.”

Hearing that, Zang Ling looked up at him, her lips involuntarily curling into a smile. “Then I’ll save this one too! I’ll even change my phone wallpaper, computer wallpaper, and WeChat background to this photo!”

“Feels like I’m losing to you here,” Yan Wenshu joked with a sigh.

Zang Ling replied boldly, “It’s fine, as long as you like me a little more every day.”

Just as Yan Wenshu was about to respond to her playful look, a girl suddenly appeared in front of them.

To be more precise, she stood right in front of Yan Wenshu.

The girl peeked shyly at him, hesitating for a long time without speaking. Zang Ling immediately understood. This girl is here for a confession.

She turned to glance at Yan Wenshu, thought for a moment, then quietly stepped aside.

Seeing that Zang Ling had walked away, the girl mustered her courage and said timidly, “Senior Yan, I heard what you said earlier today. It really inspired me. Thank you…!”

“You’re welcome,” 

But the girl didn’t leave. Instead, she stole a glance at him, bit her lip hesitantly, and asked, “Um… Senior Yan, do you have a girlfriend?”

Yan Wenshu answered directly, “Yes, the girl who was just walking with me is my girlfriend.”

The girl forced a bitter smile. When he mentioned his girlfriend, his gaze was so gentle. How could she not be moved by someone like him?

Everyone said he was a cold, untouchable iceberg, but clearly, someone had already managed to melt him.

The girl looked toward Zang Ling, Senior Yan’s girlfriend is so beautiful. The two of them standing together looked like they had walked straight out of a magazine…

She took a deep breath, straightened her back, and looked up firmly, “Senior, I like you. But since you already have a girlfriend, I wish you both happiness!”

After saying that, the girl lowered her head and hurried away.

“She’s done?” Zang Ling walked back to Yan Wenshu’s side. She thought she saw the girl wiping away tears as she left. “Why was she crying? What did you say to her?”

“I told her I have a girlfriend.”

Zang Ling sighed, “So this is what heartbreak looks like. Ah, youth.”

“Yan Wenshu, and you say you’re ordinary. Isn’t this exactly what being popular looks like?”

Yan Wenshu glanced down at her teasing eyes, feeling a little displeased. “Didn’t seeing someone confess to me make you jealous at all?”

“Jealous? Of course I was jealous!” Zang Ling said seriously, but then broke into a smile. “But I trust you.”

Yan Wenshu was clearly pleased by her trust, the tension between his brows gradually easing.

“But… I’m still a little jealous. So, what should we do about that, Yan Wenshu?”

Yan Wenshu asked, “Then… what do you want me to do?”

Zang Ling’s eyes sparkled mischievously, “Give me your hand.”

“One or both?”

“One.”

Yan Wenshu obediently offered one hand.

Zang Ling held his hand, interlacing their fingers tightly.

“Feeling better now?” Yan Wenshu blinked, then smiled at her sideways.

Zang Ling grinned foolishly, “Much better!”

——

Yan Wenshu’s good mood completely vanished the moment he returned to the company that afternoon.

He noticed the subtle glances people were casting his way, his brows furrowing slightly. Thinking of the message Chen Wenting had sent him, a trace of mockery flickered in his eyes.

Han Lanmeng really still loved to use this old trick.

When she was a child, whenever things didn’t go her way, she would incite others to ostracize the person who displeased her. And when things got out of hand, she’d simply play innocent and push all the blame onto someone else.

Back then, he’d been forced to take the blame for her more than once.

Chen Wenting was pacing anxiously outside his office. When she saw him arrive, she hurriedly pulled him aside and said, “You’re finally back! I’ve been waiting here forever for you!”

“Sorry, I got held up on the way.”

Yan Wenshu asked, “You’re here because of that incident?”

Seeing how calm he was, Chen Wenting was practically beside herself with worry. “Don’t you know what kind of rumors are spreading through the company right now?! They’re saying you’re two-timing — dating Chairman Zang while secretly seeing someone else. They’re calling you vain and arrogant, saying the only reason you got into Tianhai was because of Chairman Zang.”

There were plenty of even nastier things that she didn’t have the heart to tell Yan Wenshu.

“You know who’s behind this,” Yan Wenshu said coolly, “but there’s nothing you can do about it.”

Chen Wenting slumped her shoulders in frustration. “Yeah, his position is higher than mine. If he makes a move, I could get fired at any moment.”

“But there’s still one thing I don’t get — the new girl, Xiao Han, claims she’s your childhood sweetheart. And that jerk Yan Feng is saying you deceived her feelings, calling you a… gold digger.”

Chen Wenting lowered her head awkwardly. “Yan Wenshu, you didn’t really do those things… did you?”

“No,” Yan Wenshu smiled faintly, “it’s all just rumors. They’ll die down over time.”

“No, no, no!”

Chen Wenting hurriedly shook her head. “Right now, Yan Feng has rallied a ton of employees to sign a petition demanding your dismissal. The only way out is for you to earn Chairman Zang’s complete trust. Otherwise…”

Yan Wenshu understood.

Before he could say anything, Yan Feng arrived with a large group of people — and Han Lanmeng was among them.

Yan Feng sneered, “Well, well, look who’s back. The scumbag who toys with other people’s feelings.”

“Wenshu!” It was Han Lanmeng, happily calling his name. “What did you do this morning? I couldn’t find you anywhere.”

Yan Feng frowned. “Lanmeng, even now you’re still defending him? A person like him doesn’t deserve to work at our company. Yan Wenshu, once Chairman Zang finds out your true nature, your good days will be over.”

Yan Wenshu ignored him and looked at Han Lanmeng indifferently. “Did you say that?”

Han Lanmeng avoided his gaze. “No…”

“Wenshu, you’ve been ignoring me for a while now, and I don’t know what I did wrong. I just wanted to ask you and get it cleared up.”

Yan Feng added, “Yan Wenshu, it’s come to this, so stop pretending. Lanmeng has already told us everything. She saw it with her own eyes. You have another lover besides Chairman Zang. I heard it’s a rich woman too.”

Yan Wenshu’s eyes flickered slightly as he looked at Han Lanmeng. “You saw it with your own eyes?”

Han Lanmeng gave him a look that seemed to say, “Don’t lie to me.”

“Wenshu, wasn’t the lady at the banquet your girlfriend? She introduced you as her lover.”

Yan Wenshu smiled. “So that’s how it is…”

Seeing his smile, Han Lanmeng suddenly had a bad feeling. No, she hadn’t misunderstood. She calmed herself. This was originally Wenshu’s fault, having a girlfriend and still being with the boss of Tianhai.

She was right. No woman would forgive betrayal. Once Wenshu got abandoned by those two women… the only person who could help him would be her. He would definitely get back to normal.

Yan Feng sneered. “You’ve already climbed up to a rich person, why do you still have to fool Chairman Zang? Chairman Zang was just temporarily deceived by you. Once she comes back and knows the truth…”

Yan Feng said gloatingly, “You might as well resign now, at least you can leave with some dignity.”

Han Lanmeng also advised, “Wenshu, if you turn over a new leaf, I’ll explain things to the boss and make sure she doesn’t fire you.”

“You can be cold to me, but don’t joke with your future.”

Yan Wenshu stared at the self-righteous pair and sneered. “Do you have any evidence? If not, don’t spread rumors.”

“If you keep spreading rumors, I’ll have no choice but to call the police.”

“Call the police? For what?” Zang Ling, who had just gone home to grab something, was puzzled when she saw this scene. “What’s going on here?”

“Yan Wenshu, what’s wrong?”

Han Lanmeng’s pupils shook. How could this vulgar woman be here too?

Is she an employee here?

Before Yan Wenshu could speak, Yan Feng impatiently rushed to Zang Ling. “Chairman Zang, I need to report something to you. Your boyfriend is cheating. Besides you, he has another lover. A person who messes around like this could bring negative influence to the company. I strongly request that Yan Wenshu be fired!!”

Zang Ling was stunned. She turned to look at Yan Wenshu, who gave her a helpless smile. She immediately understood that this was all a misunderstanding.

“Chairman Zang…?!” Han Lanmeng’s eyes widened in shock. Then, she suddenly understood and looked at Zang Ling with an expression of jealousy. “You’re the boss of Tianhai?”

Zang Ling, a little surprised that she was also here, heard this and responded, “Yes, looking at your nameplate, you’ve joined my company?”

A trace of discomfort passed through Han Lanmeng’s eyes as she looked at Zang Ling with envy. She was so beautiful and came from a good family. How could someone like her exist in this world?

Yan Feng, still unaware that the plan had already failed, continued, “Chairman Zang, if you don’t fire Yan Wenshu, it might not be convincing to others.”

“I haven’t seen any evidence.”

Yan Wenshu had been observing Han Lanmeng’s expression and saw her facade crack, which made him feel a bit better. “Han Lanmeng, you just said you’ve seen my lover, so now please describe her appearance.”

“You should know her name. Go ahead, I don’t mind.”

Han Lanmeng’s expression froze. Yan Feng, confused, turned to urge, “Lanmeng, hurry up and tell Chairman Zang the name of that person. Once you say it, CHairman Zang will surely help you.”

Zang Ling narrowed her eyes as she watched Han Lanmeng’s reaction. Even a fool could tell she was lying.

“Go ahead, I’m also curious about who my boyfriend’s lover is.”

Han Lanmeng was sweating profusely. She caught sight of Zang Ling’s cold, indifferent gaze and felt an overwhelming sense of panic. The idiot beside her was completely oblivious, just dragging things on.

Listening to the whispers from the surrounding people, she couldn’t handle the pressure any longer and broke down, shouting, “I was wrong…!”

“Are you satisfied now?!”

Zang Ling smiled. “Satisfied? Miss Han, I didn’t expect this meeting to give us such a big surprise.”

“I don’t quite understand. Isn’t Yan Wenshu your friend? Why are you targeting him?”

“I’m not!” Han Lanmeng urgently defended. “I didn’t know Tianhai was your company. I misunderstood.”

Yan Feng was still confused and kept asking, “Lanmeng, what do you mean you misunderstood? Yan Wenshu didn’t cheat? Then who was the woman you saw at the banquet?”

Zang Ling couldn’t help but laugh. “It was me.”

“What are you going to do about it?”