World 1: Gloomy, Manipulative Third-Generation Retired Soldier × Original Female

“Mr. Huo.”

Fu Yu turned her head and met the sharp line of Huo Hanting’s nose.

There was a faint fragrance on her—subtle in her own home, but now, in this vast space, it had been diluted and compressed.

But once you caught a whiff of it, you couldn’t help becoming addicted and immersed.

Huo Hanting pressed down on her arm.

“I’m here for you.”

Fu Yu blinked. “I don’t handle business development. I can help you find the appropriate contact.”

“I came specifically to find you.”

“More precisely, to poach you.”

Fu Yu was a member of the R&D Group One team. While she was skilled, there were still two top-level tech experts above her, so her chances of standing out were slim.

The Chen Corporation had been guarding against the Huo Corporation poaching those two key talents.

Who would’ve thought Huo Hanting would make such a grand entrance—just to poach Fu Yu?

“Senior researcher. Independent lab. Ample funding. Salary five times what Chen Corp pays you.”

This offer would be enticing anywhere in the industry.

---

Chen Manzi ran all the way back to her office, nearly collapsing in exhaustion.

She quickly told her secretary to bring her some coffee.

The secretary, still shaken, brought in an iced Americano.

“President Chen, your lunch buddy just got poached.”

“Huh?”

“Mr. Huo Hanting from Huo Corp came in person. He’s inviting Miss Fu Yu to join Huo Corporation.”

What?!

Chen Manzi remembered that, in the original version of events, she had accidentally kissed Huo Hanting’s chin that night.

But now Fu Yu had ended up kissing his chin instead… and yet—

Just because of that, Huo Hanting fell for Fu Yu?

Impossible!

Absolutely impossible.

Chen Manzi admitted she owed Fu Yu.

Everyone in Deep City knew Huo Hanting’s methods.

In her past life, she had accidentally “harassed” Huo Hanting, and instead of being silenced, she was spoiled to the skies.

Wasn’t it just because of her famously beautiful face?

If it had been anyone else, they would’ve been torn to pieces.

So when she heard Fu Yu had kissed Huo Hanting and even talked back to him on her behalf, Chen Manzi was convinced Huo Hanting would definitely take revenge.

Yes, that had to be it!

All those generous conditions and high salaries—lies!

He was just luring Fu Yu in so he could slowly torment her, play with her.

Chen Manzi instinctively put down her coffee and was about to head to the R&D department to stop Fu Yu from making a huge mistake.

But just as she reached the door, her steps froze.

Right now, Huo Hanting was in R&D too—if she barged in recklessly, wouldn’t she end up tangled with him again?

What if he fell for her all over again and latched on?

Suddenly, her phone rang in her hand.

It was Fu Yu.

Right, no need to meet in person—she could just warn her over the phone.

She stared at Fu Yu’s name flashing on the screen… but couldn’t bring herself to press “accept.”

If—hypothetically—Huo Hanting really did focus all his attention on punishing Fu Yu, wouldn’t that give her peace?

Once she and Gu Huai became a thing, she and Huo Hanting would go their separate ways, never crossing paths again.

Besides, who knew what little schemes Fu Yu had?

Sure, she looked cold and quiet, reserved and modest.

But she’d taken a man she just met home?

Could it be that she did have feelings for Huo Hanting?

And Huo Hanting was Deep City’s most eligible third-generation heir—handsome, rich, and most importantly, scandal-free.

Why expose Fu Yu’s little ploy?

Even if she warned her, would Fu Yu believe her?

Would she believe that the seemingly mature, aloof Huo Hanting was actually a mentally unstable man with a pathological need for control?

Fu Yu might even blame her for ruining her chance to become Mrs. Huo!

Chen Manzi clenched her phone until the ringing and vibration finally stopped.

“President Chen, was that a call for you? Do you need to call back?”

Chen Manzi took a deep breath. “Spam call. No need to bother.”

“Tell HR—don’t hold up Fu Yu’s resignation. If she wants to leave, process it quickly.”

“Oh.”

The secretary gave her a puzzled glance but passed on the message to HR.

Fu Yu had already signed the resignation form.

At the very last minute before end of day, her departure was finalized.

She officially became part of Huo Corporation.

---

Lately, Chen Manzi had been sleeping poorly. Every night, she dreamed of Fu Yu as a headless corpse, seeking revenge. Even Gu Huai seemed to be growing distant.

And it wasn’t just about Fu Yu.

That night she worked late, she thought it would be just her and Gu Huai.

But there was another girl—a company intern who volunteered for overtime often.

Chen Manzi disliked her for no particular reason and wanted Gu Huai to fire her, but it’s not easy for a startup to replace people.

Gu Huai’s evasive replies only left her more disheartened.

What she wanted was unconditional favoritism—not hesitation or indecision.

That afternoon, Gu Huai arrived at her office with 999 roses, dropping to one knee.

It was cliché—but Chen Manzi loved it.

She liked showing the world that such a talented, handsome man was hers.

---

“President Chen, Miss Fu Yu did go to Huo Corporation—but not a subsidiary. She went to the headquarters…”

Cradling the flowers, Chen Manzi was still immersed in her happiness. “You must’ve heard wrong. Huo Corp HQ’s core business has nothing to do with drones. What would Fu Yu be doing there?”

The secretary swallowed hard. “That’s… correct. But Mr. Huo cleared out the top floor for Fu Yu’s lab. Also, he shares an office with her now.”

“What?”

Chen Manzi froze.

She understood every word—but couldn’t comprehend the meaning when strung together.

The secretary took a deep breath. “I mean, Mr. Huo put a desk in his office just for Fu Yu.”

It was like getting smacked in the head.

This wasn’t right—none of it was going the way she imagined!

Ding—her phone buzzed.

It was the alumni group chat from Deep University. She’d quietly joined it to snoop on any junior girls flirting with Gu Huai.

Now, the whole group was flooded with photos of Fu Yu’s desk.

“No way… can this desk get any closer?”

“I heard the top floor of Huo Corp is now her private lab. Damn, is this how rich heirs chase women? Should I lose weight and work harder?”

“Girl, even if you lose weight, you’re not bagging a rich heir. Go do your experiments.”

Thud—

Chen Manzi’s phone fell to the floor.

This… this wasn’t right.