The smile on Zang Ling’s face grew even brighter, and her mood, which had just been affected by Yuan Haolang, gradually improved.

Yan Wenshu’s gaze fell on her now-empty hands, and he pressed his lips together.

“…Didn’t you take the flowers today?”

“I returned them to their rightful owner.” Zang Ling answered seriously, “I misunderstood before. I thought you gave them to me, that’s why I accepted them.”

“When I get home, I’m going to burn all those flowers and turn them into fertilizer!”

The tight knot in Yan Wenshu’s heart seemed to slowly loosen, and before he realized it, a smile crept onto his face.

Zang Ling stared blankly at him, dazed, and muttered, “Yan Wenshu, you really look good when you smile. You should smile more often.”

Yan Wenshu replied, “…Mm, but I’ll only smile for you.”

Zang Ling’s heart was practically bursting with joy, though on the surface she still pretended to decline modestly, “That’s too embarrassing. I’m not the kind of person who forces others.”

But Yan Wenshu understood exactly what she meant and chuckled deeply, “It’s something I want to do myself.”

The corners of Zang Ling’s mouth curled upward playfully. “Well, you said it yourself. I didn’t force you, okay?”

Yan Wenshu nodded. “I swear.”

“Alright, alright, I get what you mean. I was just joking just then, don’t take it seriously. Yan Wenshu, you can smile at others, and you can cry in front of me too. It’s okay, I like it all.”

Zang Ling cheerfully added, “Of course, I hope you can always be happy. And even if you are troubled by anything, you can talk to me about them. I’m a night owl — available 24/7, always at your service.”

Yan Wenshu’s lashes trembled slightly, suppressing the stirring in his heart. He looked up and smiled, “I seem to remember someone complaining about hair loss. Zang Ling, don’t stay up so late. It’s bad for your health.”

Zang Ling suddenly realized something, “Wait a minute, I don’t think you’ve ever called me Lingling, have you? We agreed to use cute nicknames, but I’m the only one doing it. That’s not fair.”

“—Or… do you actually prefer calling me baby?” She deliberately raised her eyebrows at him.

Yan Wenshu couldn’t help but laugh. “I just thought of a nickname that suits you even better.”

“Oh? Let’s hear it.”

“What do you think of… Ling’er^[1]The pronunciation sounds the same as the word ghost in Chinese?”

He deliberately lowered his voice, making it even deeper and more magnetic.

Zang Ling’s eyes widened in horror, and she immediately clapped her hand over his mouth. “Please don’t say such terrifying things with that lovely mouth of yours! Change it back right now!”

As soon as the words left her mouth, she met his smiling eyes and instantly understood. She played along, putting on an angry face. “Oh, so that’s how it is, Yan Wenshu, you actually dared to tease me.”

Yan Wenshu couldn’t help blurting out, “I’m sorry, you’re just too cute.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he froze, not believing those words had actually come out of his own mouth. He lowered his gaze in silence, ignoring the system even when it came out to bug him.

Zang Ling was overjoyed, putting on an exaggeratedly bashful act, “Aiya~ you sweet-talker, saying stuff like that is gonna make me all shy~”

At first, she tried to hold back her laughter, giggling delicately, but in the end, she couldn’t help herself, and burst out laughing like a silly goose.

“…”

He looked at her with a trace of helplessness in his eyes. After she finished laughing, he handed her a tissue to wipe her tears.

Zang Ling looked at him. The more she looked, the more she liked him. Unable to control herself, she quickly leaned in and gave him a swift kiss on the side of his face, then immediately fled to her own office.

Yan Wenshu sat there in silence for a moment, calmly resuming the task he had just left unfinished.

[Host, you wrote the wrong character.]

Without any change in expression, he crossed it out and rewrote it.

——

Han Lanmeng also saw that photo in the company group chat. She glared hard at Yuan Haolang, this was what he meant by standing up for her?

Zang Ling. Zang Ling again. Why is it always her!

Wenshu had already been bewitched by her, and now even Yuan Haolang wasn’t spared?

Right now, in Tianhai, Han Lanmeng was like a rat crossing the street, no one wanted to talk to her. If it weren’t for a nagging feeling that she couldn’t lose Yan Wenshu, she would’ve left long ago.

She stood alone in a corner for a long time, then dialed Yuan Haolang’s number. But no one picked up. No matter how many times she called, the result was the same.

Han Lanmeng suddenly pictured a terrifying scene in her mind. Furious, she hurled her phone to the ground with all her strength, shattering it completely.

Xia Siyu was startled and frowned at her. “Xiao Han, what’s wrong with you? No matter how angry you are, you shouldn’t be throwing things around in public!”

Only then did Han Lanmeng snap back to her senses. She picked up the broken phone and forced a smile. “Sorry, Sister Xia, I didn’t mean to. It’s just… someone in my family is sick, and I really didn’t know what else to do…”

Xia Siyu’s expression softened with concern. “What illness?”

“A tumor. The chance of recovery is only forty-five percent.”

Looking at her pained expression, Xia Siyu felt a little sympathy. “Maybe the surgery will be successful. Don’t worry too much.”

Han Lanmeng wiped her tears and choked up, “Sister Xia, could I take a leave of absence later? Just for three days… My family member’s condition has worsened a bit, and I want to go take care of them.”

Xia Siyu thought for a moment and said, “Go ahead. If you need more time later, just let me know. The company won’t fire you over something like this, so don’t worry.”

Han Lanmeng bowed to her gratefully. “Thank you so much!”

“You’re welcome, family comes first.”

After securing her leave and walking out of the company, Han Lanmeng’s sorrowful expression instantly turned cold. She glanced at the leave form in her hand and stuffed it carelessly into her handbag.

It was time to head somewhere else.