Shen Mi simply spoke for her: “Boss, Qingqing wants to continue studying.”

“You can, stay in China and take the postgraduate entrance exam.”

That’s still working.

Zhang Zhiqing gave up struggling and awkwardly changed the subject: “By the way, Mimi, do you still play games?”

Shen Mi understood her meaning immediately: “Occasionally, what about you?”

“I haven’t played much. Are you still on the same server?” Zhang Zhiqing tried to save face by making small talk.

Shen Mi cooperated: “Yes.”

“Is your master still playing?”

“He is.”

Mentioning (Very Mysterious), Zhang Zhiqing suddenly got excited: “I’ve always been curious, is your master male or female? Do you know?”

“I know, male.”

“You’ve met him?!”

“Not yet.”

Shen Mi glanced at Xie Rongzhuo beside her, using her eyes to signal Zhang Zhiqing that there was a big Buddha next to her!

Zhang Zhiqing, remembering her glorious achievements in gaming during college, forgot everything for a moment: “He’s actually a guy? I thought it was a cool older sister! He’s so good!”

Xie Rongzhuo’s voice suddenly rang out: “What’s so good about a man who’s obsessed with games all day?”

Zhang Zhiqing immediately shut up.

Quiet for two seconds, Shen Mi whispered: “He’s not that obsessed.”

“He’s usually pretty busy.”

Xie Rongzhuo: “Through the internet, how can you tell the truth from lies?”

Shen Mi: “He’s real.”

Xie Rongzhuo: “You trust a stranger you’ve never met.”

Not sure which nerve was touched, Shen Mi suddenly became very serious: “I don’t need to meet him, I believe him.”

Xie Rongzhuo slowly lifted his eyelids: “Then do you believe me?”

Shen Mi: “You’re different from him.”

Xie Rongzhuo’s eyes turned cold behind the lenses: “How so?”

“You’re you, he’s him.” As if to prove something, Shen Mi unreservedly defended her master.

“Then if you had to choose one, who would you choose to believe?”

Xie Rongzhuo’s tone was calm, but the question was aggressive.

“I’m sorry, boss, I’m selling you my time and labor, not my thoughts and values.” Shen Mi gave her answer.

Xie Rongzhuo didn’t say anything.

Zhang Zhiqing looked at Xie Rongzhuo and then at Shen Mi, sensing a tense atmosphere. Her uncle seemed to have a strong opinion about Shen Mi’s master.

She felt that if they continued talking, her uncle would get angry.

“Mimi, I suddenly remembered that I have something to do. We’re going the same way, I’ll drive you home.” Zhang Zhiqing pulled Shen Mi, eager to leave.

“Okay.” Shen Mi stood up: “Boss, enjoy your meal.”

It was an unhappy parting.

Walking out of the restaurant, Zhang Zhiqing kept apologizing: “I’m sorry, Mimi. I shouldn’t have called you over. My uncle probably said that because he’s afraid you’re being deceived. Don’t be angry.”

This was the first time Shen Mi had contradicted Xie Rongzhuo. He had no idea what she and her master had been through together, and he had no right to judge her master’s character, which is why she spoke a little sharply.

But even if she had another chance, she would still choose to defend her master.

 And it was after work hours, her mouth belonged to her, she had no obligation to cater to the boss’s mood.

That was true, but Shen Mi thought about her time with Xie Rongzhuo, his care for her, his guidance at work, and that heartwarming New Year’s Eve dinner…

It was unclear whether it was guilt or something else, but she suddenly felt empty inside.

She began to regret her attitude earlier.

“Qingqing, was I really rude just now?”

Zhang Zhiqing opened her eyes wide in shock and nodded: “I’ve never seen you so cold. It’s like you’re treating my uncle as an enemy.”

“It’s not that bad, is it?”

“It really is. Even though you didn’t say much, I felt like you were about to kill my uncle for your master.”

“…”

Shen Mi had no idea.

“Done, I’m definitely not going to have a good day tomorrow.”

•  

The next morning, old Zhou was waiting downstairs on time.

“Morning.” Shen Mi got into the car and smelled a faint floral fragrance. She turned her head and saw a bouquet of roses on the passenger seat.

She was startled and immediately told Old Zhou to pull over.

Xie Rongzhuo was allergic to flowers, that was common knowledge.

Shen Mi threw the flowers into the trunk.

Old Zhou: “Secretary Shen—”

“Let’s go.” Shen Mi nodded, indicating that she would keep it a secret.

Old Zhou: “Okay, okay.”

Old Zhou was a good guy, after a while, Shen Mi couldn’t help but remind him: “Old Zhou, don’t be so obvious next time.”

Old Zhou was confused: “What?”

Shen Mi: “You’re using the boss’s car like this, it’s easy to get caught.” Xie Rongzhuo has a keen sense of smell.

Old Zhou slammed on the brakes, turning pale as he glanced back: “Thanks to Secretary Shen for the reminder.”

It turned out the boss had already discovered that he was using the car to take his nephew to school and had been giving him chances all along.

……

Shen Mi pushed open the president’s office door; Xie Rongzhuo hadn’t asked her to come and pick him up today. Shen Mi placed the uneaten breakfast on his desk and anxiously sat back at her workstation to draft an apology.

Impetuosity is the devil.

Why didn’t she know to hold back for a moment?

•  

As the car left the luxury residential area, Old Zhou cautiously glanced at the rearview mirror.

Xie Rongzhuo leaned back in his chair and asked in a calm voice, “Where are the flowers?”

Old Zhou observed the boss’s expression: “They were… thrown away by Secretary Shen.”

Xie Rongzhuo took off his glasses and began to clean them, remaining silent.

Usually, Old Zhou would first pick up Shen Mi, then go to Xie Rongzhuo’s place to pick him up, and then drive them both to the company together. But today, he was asked to pick them up separately.

Old Zhou suspected that Xie Rongzhuo and Shen Mi had quarreled, so he couldn’t help but say, “Boss, Secretary Shen just graduated not long ago, she’s a young girl in her early twenties, very stubborn. If you coax her once and it doesn’t work, maybe coaxing her twice will do the trick.”

Xie Rongzhuo remained expressionless.

After a while, he put on his glasses and said indifferently, “Bring her another bouquet of flowers tomorrow.”

Old Zhou: “Okay!”

•  

Shen Mi had reviewed her draft for the fifth time when Xie Rongzhuo finally arrived. But he didn’t look at her, he went straight into his office, and the door closed behind him.

He didn’t even give her a chance to speak.

“…”

Half an hour later, the office door opened. Assistant Zhang came out first, handing Shen Mi some documents. Xie Rongzhuo came out after him, paused briefly in front of her workstation. Shen Mi immediately grabbed her bag and followed him.

He had an interview today, and Assistant Zhang gave her the interview script.

“Ding” –

The elevator door opened, and Shen Mi stepped aside to let Xie Rongzhuo go in first.

She reached out to press the floor button, but Xie Rongzhuo had already pressed it before her. His fingertips accidentally brushed against her hand, and Shen Mi quickly retracted her hand.

In the narrow space of the elevator, Xie Rongzhuo stood next to her. His simple and sleek suit outlined his good figure, his profile was handsome and striking, making Shen Mi unable to help but look at him a few more times.

It wasn’t that she had just discovered his stunning looks. Shen Mi was observing his expression, looking for a chance to apologize.

“What are you looking at?” The man beside her turned his head and suddenly chuckled, his voice devoid of warmth: “Never seen a player before?”^[1]Shen Mi told his master in chapter 2 about her boss looking like a total player.

Author’s Note:

Today’s interview content: Uncle Xie, do you feel like you can’t compete, so you don’t want to try anymore and are willingly letting your identity be revealed and just lying flat?

Xie Rongzhuo: Shut up.