Chen Xiao had outstanding looks, personality, and fashion sense, making him a “high-quality young man.” Coupled with his hidden agenda, he became even more irresistibly attractive. 

Inexperienced girls easily developed feelings for him. 

Liking him wasn’t embarrassing. 

It’s not embarrassing, just a bit silly. 

No wonder he called me ‘silly girl’ back then. He must have noticed my feelings for him. 

The teasing quickly snapped Lu Nan out of her reminiscing. Glancing around, she noticed He Manlin’s restraint, Sasha’s displeasure, Xu Yao’s excitement, Xiang Feifei’s curiosity, and Dong Hui’s malice—all weaving together into a tapestry of human interactions.” 

Chen Xiao held a note that read ‘Pass on a kiss’. 

He pleaded helplessly, “Isn’t this a bit too much… Can we change it?” 

“No! Absolutely not!” 

“Don’t play coy!” 

Chen Xiao turned his head to glance at Lu Nan, as if saying, ‘I tried my best, I have no other choice…’ He walked over from where he had drawn the penalty slip, and Lu Nan sat on a chair with Sasha seated to her right. 

Bending down slowly, Chen Xiao approached Lu Nan, and the restlessness around was silenced by a shushing sound from someone. 

This time, the rational Lu Nan even had a moment to think. The so-called silence is an environment created by people. I thought it was an illusion caused by my accelerated heartbeat and everything else was being calm. 

Lu Nan lifted her head and stared directly at Chen Xiao. When he was less than half a meter away, she reached out her right hand, slightly raised it, and placed it in front of Chen Xiao. 

About ten centimeters from Chen Xiao’s nose. 

Chen Xiao instantly understood her meaning. He took Lu Nan’s hand and lightly touched his lips to the back of her hand. 

“I think this should do, right?” Lu Nan nodded, withdrew her hand, still sitting, still sounding like she was discussing, but when she glanced around, surprisingly no one voiced any objection. 

Sasha immediately chimed in, “I think this is fine too. Let’s not overdo it while playing.” 

After the punishment was over, Sasha, with a dark face, said she was sleepy and wanted to leave first. Lu Nan replied, “Wait for me, I’m going back too.” 

Other colleagues who wanted to persuade her to stay were discreetly tugged at their sleeves and remained silent. 

As Lu Nan left, she caught a glimpse of Dong Hui’s face; it was obvious that she couldn’t hide her enjoyment of the spectacle. 

Chen Lu was somewhat worried. 

Do they think I’ll be teased by Sasha when I return to the room? They really don’t understand this beautiful and wealthy young lady. 

“Alright, it’s quite late now. We have meetings and training tomorrow, so let’s all disperse and get some sleep.” Chen Xiao also stood up, patting the shoulder of a slightly tanned colleague with white teeth beside him. “Let’s go.” 

… 

Back in the room, Sasha flopped onto the bed with a forceful sigh and was clearly not in the mood to talk. 

“At this moment, saying anything wouldn’t be appropriate. They were originally just playing games, it’s not like Lu Nan wanted it this way. 

“Do you need to use the bathroom?”  

Sasha shook her head. 

Lu Nan went to freshen up first. 

When she came back, she saw Sasha leaning against her bed and playing with her phone. 

“I’m going to sleep first.” Lu Nan turned off half of her bedside lamp and got under the thin blanket. 

“Lu Nan,” Sasha suddenly spoke up. “Let’s… talk for a bit.” 

“Okay.” Lu Nan felt that Sasha probably wanted someone to listen to her, so she waited for her to continue speaking. 

After a few minutes of silence, Sasha couldn’t help but say, “Chen Xiao, he’s very likable to girls, isn’t he?” 

Yeah… Lu Nan didn’t speak. She silently sighed in her heart and continued to listen quietly to Sasha. 

“He was transferred to Hailin City in January this year. At that time, I was the key account manager for Yuan Chuan Classic Wine in Fengyun County. The distributor sent me to the city for training. Just my luck, after the training, I had a flat tire near the office.” Sasha recalled. “Winter in Hailin City is very cold, the sea breeze is strong, the repair service was untimely, and I was impatient waiting. I couldn’t even start to change the spare tire. Chen Xiao happened to pass by…” 

Lu Nan’s objective evaluation. The hero saves the damsel in distress, and there is the adrenaline rush often mentioned in idol dramas. 

“My family conditions are pretty good. Since my student days, there have been many boys around me. But Chen Xiao is different. In front of him, I even feel a bit clumsy because he’s really amazing. He seems to be capable at everything at work and has perfect life skills. Look at how handsome he is. He must have been a school idol in the past, but he is not arrogant at all. You don’t know, he also cooks delicious food…” 

Actually, I do know… Lu Nan again summarized Sasha’s change in mindset, entering the stage of ‘ you’re a very good, man, your uniqueness has successfully caught my attention’. 

Sasha continued, “But later I found out, he’s actually good to everyone. I wasn’t the only one receiving special treatment. He’s good to He Manlin, good to Xu Yao, takes good care of newcomers… and he’s good to you too.” 

If you keep talking like this, I won’t feel good. 

“Just now, I called Chen Xiao. I asked him if he wanted to go for a drink together. He said it’s too late and inappropriate. He asked me to go to bed early.” 

“You see, his kindness to everyone is just his upbringing, nothing more. I was just being presumptuous. Actually, starting from May, after I tried to initiate plans with him several times without success, he started subtly keeping his distance from me. I didn’t notice the first few times, but after so many times, I’m not stupid. I’m just unwilling to accept it. He Manlin is a bit smarter than me. She didn’t express her feelings as obviously as I did, so she can still maintain boundaries between colleagues and friends while caring about Chen Xiao in various ways. But she’s not smarter than me in the end. She underestimated Chen Xiao’s sensitivity to such matters. He Manlin hasn’t realized yet, but now Chen Xiao is starting to avoid being alone with her as much as possible.” Sasha tilted her head, using the light from her bedside lamp to scrutinize Lu Nan.  

Lu Nan, lying on her side, had a calm expression on her face, showing neither relief nor sympathy. 

Sasha laughed, “You’re so calm. Don’t you think I’m pitiful?” 

Lu Nan turned her head to face straight ahead, staring at the beige ceiling wallpaper. “Is it really that pitiful when a beautiful and wealthy young lady, in her moments of sadness, soaks in a private hot spring, applies luxury face masks, and holds a glass of red wine, while shedding tears in Prada?” 

Her flat tone made Sasha, who had been self-pitying, suddenly laugh until she couldn’t breathe. 

After she finished laughing, she asked again, “Isn’t Chen Xiao good?” 

How could anyone answer that? 

Lu Nan replied briefly, “We haven’t interacted much, so I can’t judge.” 

Her direct response left Sasha momentarily speechless. “Don’t worry, I don’t harbor any ill will towards you—honestly, my impression of you is pretty good. You’re certainly better than that new girl who keeps sneakily eyeing my clothes and bags; her eyes are insincere. So, tell me, what do you think of Chen Xiao?” 

If Sasha had maintained her haughty princess tone, Lu Nan might not have said anything. But seeing the girl who usually carried Chanel bags and clacked in high heels looking so disheartened during the day, Lu Nan softened a bit. 

“Well, our interactions have been limited. He’s very capable at work…” Lu Nan sat up from under the blanket and leaned against the headboard, “Privately, I’m not sure. But judging from what you’ve said—I might be more pessimistic in my judgments of people and situations. Those qualities you mentioned about Chen Xiao, in my view, might just be his gentlemanly demeanor, or maybe… just his fishing skills.”