A grown man like you, and a CEO at that, yet you’re fighting me for a steak.

Early the next morning, Xiao Qi carefully groomed herself and arrived at TC ahead of time.

Since she was personally appointed by the big boss himself, all the usual onboarding procedures were waived.

She didn’t even need to bother with the finance department; President Lin would transfer her salary directly to her account.

This account, of course, had already been prepared in advance.

Since she had no ID card on Earth, naturally there was no account under her name. The account holder, therefore, was Fang Yun.

Xiao Qi’s reasoning was simple: “Auntie, all the money I earn from now on will be yours. You can use it however you like.”

Fang Yun was deeply moved by this!

Yet as her aunt, Fang Yun would never actually spend Xiao Qi’s earnings. She planned to save it for Xiao Qi’s dowry in the future.

Still, Xiao Qi thought it wasn’t ideal not to have an ID card on Earth, so she told her aunt it was lost. Fang Yun simply chided her for being careless and went to get a new one with her photo.

Fang Li assigned her a workstation. “Miss Ye, this will be your desk. Here’s your employee access card.”

“Oh, thank you!” Xiao Qi’s big eyes sparkled. “Assistant Fang, can this card get me into every department in the company?”

“Yes,” Fang Li replied, “except for the highly confidential R&D Department. They have special access cards due to the sensitive nature of their work.”

So even with this card, it was useless for that department.

But she wouldn’t be discouraged—she was determined to be as tenacious as a cockroach for the sake of the signal device.

“Miss Ye…” Fang Li, thinking of his boss’s interests, put on a serious face. “President Lin is in a meeting right now, but it will be over soon. I’ll take you to see him when he’s done.”

Huh? Why take her to him?

Sensing her thoughts, Fang Li explained formally, “Miss Ye, since you were brought in by President Lin himself, introducing you to the company might spark unnecessary gossip. So your work assignment has to be handled personally by him. That’s why I need to take you to see President Lin.”

Xiao Qi was a little muddled by this. She instinctively said, “No need to take me. We’re close enough—when he’s done, I’ll just go find him myself.”

“Of course, Miss Ye.”

Sitting at her desk, Xiao Qi kept feeling like something about Assistant Fang’s words was off.

But she didn’t dwell on it. Her mind was full of thoughts about her signal device.

Her phone rang. It took her a while to realize the call was coming in.

It was Yiyang. “Xiyang, my art exhibition is today! Hurry over and see my masterpieces. You won’t need a ticket.”

“Today?” Xiao Qi scratched her head. “But I’m working at TC today! How about I come after work?”

Working at TC? On second thought, since Xiyang was now his brother’s girlfriend, working at TC was certainly better than delivering food.

This must have been arranged by his brother.

His brother moved quickly—as always, calculating by nature. Yiyang understood perfectly.

As for Mom and Uncle…

There was nothing to worry about; his brother could handle anything.

“Yiyang, is it okay if I come after work?”

She waited a long time without a response and thought he was upset.

“Aren’t you at TC? That’s perfect—my brother will be there soon. You two can come together. Oh right, do you want to display that painting of yours?”

“Better not. It doesn’t look much like what I intended.”

“Alright then! I’ll wait for you!”

“Okay!”

After hanging up, Xiao Qi suddenly saw things clearly.

No wonder something about Assistant Fang’s words felt off.

Even if she was parachuted in, introducing her to the staff would raise eyebrows, but as an assistant, he could have assigned her work himself. Why involve the president?

Xiao Qi felt she should go reason with Fang Li.

Just as she was about to get up, a tall figure emerged to her left.

He seemed to radiate light, drawing her gaze irresistibly.

The man walked slowly, exuding a calm and steady presence.

For a moment, everything around Xiao Qi faded into illusion. He seemed like a deity stepping out from an ink-wash painting.

The lighting outlined his flawless features, making him impossibly captivating.

Xiao Qi was momentarily entranced.

She watched as the man turned toward her, his features becoming increasingly distinct.

His eyes and brows were exquisitely shaped, but his aura was so powerful it almost overshadowed his refined appearance.

She suddenly felt something warm trickling from her nose.

Quickly, she covered her nose—heavens, was she getting a nosebleed?

She immediately looked away and grabbed a tissue to stuff her nose.

She would be mortified if he saw her with a nosebleed—she’d lose all dignity for her home planet.

Xiao Bai would never let her live it down for swooning to the point of bleeding.

“Xiyang?” Yichen had already come over and glanced at her lowered head. “What are you doing?”

“N-nothing…”

“Turn your face toward me.”

“No.”

No sooner had she spoken than a large hand turned her face toward him.

He frowned when he saw the tissue stuffed in her nose. “What happened to your nose?”

“Oh, I—I have a little cold. I didn’t want to spread it to anyone at work, so I plugged my nose.”

She pried his hand off her face.

Geez, he’d already turned her face, why wouldn’t he let go?

But the more she looked at him, the more she wanted to jump on him and take a bite.

Calm down, Xiao Qi, she cautioned herself.

Don’t get carried away.

He’d probably love for her to throw herself at him!

She quickly shifted her gaze. “Could you, um, take your paw off me?”

Yichen chuckled at her choice of words. “I’ll take you to the hospital, alright?”

“No, no, it’s just a minor cold—no need to make a fuss. You should get back to work!”

He pinched her cheek. “You look awful like this—like a woolly mammoth.”

“…”

Yichen’s affectionate gesture left several nearby staff so stunned their jaws nearly dropped.

President Lin! He—he—

He was being so… gentle and intimate with a brand-new female employee!

If they recalled correctly, this girl used to deliver meals to President Lin.

Now she’d joined TC.

Management hadn’t introduced her yet.

Their suspicions were instantly confirmed: President Lin must have taken a liking to this little delivery girl and brought her under his wing.

It was unbelievable! President Lin, who was always cold toward women, actually doted on a girl like this.

They’d always thought President Lin’s aloofness with women was inborn, but apparently, when the right person came along, he could be this… tender.

This was a huge blow to the company’s female staff!

Xiao Qi realized too that her colleagues were watching.

She quickly stepped back to a safe distance, not forgetting her real purpose in joining TC.

“President Lin, weren’t you going to assign me a job? Actually, I’m very interested in the R&D Department.”

Yichen’s eyes narrowed perceptively. “Interested in R&D?”

“Yes, yes,” Xiao Qi nodded eagerly. “I really admire scientists! So, President Lin, could you arrange for me to work in R&D? Or at least give me tasks related to it?”

“Alright!” Yichen said quietly, “Since it’s your first day, I’ll take you out for lunch.”

What?

Why take her out on her first day?

But lunch was lunch—she wasn’t about to turn down a meal.

All morning, Xiao Qi pondered how she could get into R&D.

She was so preoccupied she didn’t realize she’d spent the entire morning just sitting there daydreaming.

She only snapped out of it when Yichen called her out for lunch and she found herself in the passenger seat of his car.

“President Lin, you haven’t assigned me any work yet this morning!”

“Tomorrow. Come to my office and I’ll give you your duties,” Yichen replied, eyes on the road.

“Why tomorrow? What should I do this afternoon?”

“After lunch, I’ll take you to Yiyang’s art exhibition.”

At that, Xiao Qi slapped her forehead.

Honestly, she’d forgotten all about it.

The car stopped outside a luxurious Western restaurant.

Blinking her big eyes, she realized she’d never eaten anywhere this fancy before.

Yichen had brought her here to make up for the dinner they’d once planned but failed to have together due to a certain someone.

As soon as they got out, they unexpectedly ran into Joanna.

Xiao Qi immediately distanced herself from him, and Yichen frowned.

Joanna approached them. “What’s going on here?”

“I’m taking her—”

“I’m his employee now,” Xiao Qi cut him off. “He just brought me out for lunch.”

Xiao Qi thought, if Lin Yichen got together with this beautiful lady, he’d stop bothering her.

After all, they weren’t even from the same planet. It was impossible.

Since it couldn’t work between them, she might as well help this beautiful woman out.

“You work at TC?” Joanna glanced at her. “If I’m not mistaken, you were working as a waitress just recently.”

“I…”

“I brought Xiyang to TC,” Yichen interrupted, his face as distant as ever. “Sorry, we need to go in for lunch.”

“I’m here for lunch too,” Joanna smiled. “You don’t mind if I join you, do you?”

Yichen was about to refuse.

“Of course not,” Xiao Qi answered breezily, linking arms with Joanna. “It’s our pleasure to dine with such a beautiful lady.”

Joanna smiled.

The man beside them, however, looked displeased.

Their lunch for two had turned into a party of three.

The meal was both silent and awkward.

Xiao Qi kept her head down, eating diligently.

But her eyes darted around, and suddenly she looked up. “Beautiful lady, after lunch, we’re off to the art exhibition. Why don’t you join us?”

Yichen shot her a look.

She ignored it.

For the first time in his life, Yichen did something he’d thought he’d never do.

Stealthily, he tried to step on her foot under the table.

But Xiao Qi seemed to anticipate his move, nimbly dodging out of the way.

Yichen gritted his teeth.

She simply kept smiling sweetly at Joanna.

“Alright!” Joanna replied gracefully, laying down her cutlery. “I was actually planning to attend the exhibition too; I even helped plan it.”

Xiao Qi beamed, but her steak was abruptly snatched away by a slender hand, and then the entire plate was taken.

She looked on as President Lin elegantly began eating her steak.

He did it so naturally, as if he’d always done things like this.

Xiao Qi blinked blankly for a long moment before realizing what was happening.

“Hey, that’s my steak!”

He ignored her.

Now it was Xiao Qi’s turn to grit her teeth. She snatched the steak back, took his knife and fork, glared at Yichen, and resumed eating with dignity.

She’d barely eaten a few bites before his long arm reclaimed the plate again.

…

In the tug-of-war over the steak, the dish was nearly finished.

Joanna frowned as she watched but said nothing.

Seeing her steak nearly gone, Xiao Qi slammed the table, looking fierce. “Lin Yichen, you’re a grown man—a CEO, even! Why are you stealing my steak? You—you—mmph—”

Before she could finish, he stuffed a piece of beef in her mouth.

Yichen smirked. “Here’s your beef.”

Xiao Qi was speechless.

Honestly, she wanted to dramatically fling the meat at his face. But what a waste of delicious beef that would be.

Waste was a crime, so she ate it.

She chewed with all her might, pretending the beef was him, then grabbed the steak near Yichen and started eating, not caring that he’d already taken a few bites.

Yichen said nothing, but the corners of his mouth lifted.

Now Xiao Qi felt completely satisfied, already planning what to do after lunch…

Joanna, who had been quietly eating, lowered her eyes, her long lashes casting a shadow.

With everyone lost in their own thoughts, lunch soon ended.

Xiao Qi linked arms with Joanna as they walked to Yichen’s car. “Beautiful lady, you take the front seat!”