I have always been a generous employer, and you know that well.

As the three of them sat with their own thoughts, lunch quickly came to an end.

Xiaoqi clung to Anna’s arm as they walked to Yichen’s car. “Beautiful sister, you take the front seat.”

Anna glanced at the man beside her, whose expression was unreadable, and smiled. “Alright!”

Yichen’s dark eyes shot a glare at Xiaoqi.

Xiaoqi acted as if she hadn’t noticed, humming as she got into the car, “I am a little blossom of my motherland, blooming so bright and fair...”

…

Once inside, the car was filled with silence.

From the back seat, Xiaoqi’s large eyes stared at the pair.

Anna tried to start a conversation. “It feels like it’s been over a month since we last met.”

“Yes, over a month,” Yichen replied without expression, glancing in the rearview mirror and suddenly slamming on the brakes.

Caught off guard, Xiaoqi pitched forward. Luckily, she braced herself with her hands on the seat in front; otherwise, her forehead would have collided with the backrest.

She was about to burst out, but when she glanced up, the driver wore a look of calm indifference.

Fine! He’s the big boss, and she—a commoner newly arrived to Earth—was supposed to curry favor with the likes of him.

So she held her tongue.

“You promised to treat me to a meal once the art exhibition wrapped up—do you still remember?”

“Mm.” He nodded faintly.

“Yichen,” Anna said, her tone laden with meaning, “I haven’t visited your parents in so long. When you’re free, we should go together. After all, last time I was at your house, your father clearly approved of me.”

Xiaoqi was stunned.

Wait, could there really be something between these two?

And yet that fellow had forced her to say they were just friends? What a shameless CEO.

“I wasn’t aware you visited last time,” Yichen replied blandly as he drove. “And my father didn’t mean what you think.”

Anna looked a bit embarrassed. “I was just joking, no need to take it seriously.”

Just a joke?

Xiaoqi immediately felt a pang of pity.

Alas! She leaned back and sighed, feeling that she was now even more prone to wild imaginings and sentimental thoughts than Earth’s own people.

But truly, such a handsome man and beautiful woman—what a pity if they weren’t together.

She saw, from the rearview mirror, that someone was about to speak, but then—another sharp turn.

Xiaoqi was suddenly thrown against the car door.

Fortunately, her reflexes were quick. Otherwise, she’d have hit her head again.

Darn it.

That jerk.

“Are you alright?”

Joanna’s voice came from the front.

“I’m fine,” Xiaoqi said, straightening up.

“She’s tough,” Yichen said, the corners of his mouth lifting. “Don’t worry about her.”

Damn.

Stay calm, stay calm—she needed to keep in this CEO’s good graces.

I’ll let it go.

Anna glanced at Yichen and clearly saw the subtle smile at the edge of his brow.

She tightened her hand hanging at her side.

………………

At the Lin residence, Lin Bosen stormed in, furious.

Xu Lu, seeing his anger, asked in confusion, “Bosen, what’s wrong?”

He glanced at her, then sat on the sofa. “Why did you secretly investigate Yichen behind his back?”

Her face instantly paled, but she recovered quickly. “Bosen, what are you talking about? Why would I investigate Yichen?”

“You think I wouldn’t look into who sent that anonymous letter exposing my son’s illness?” he snapped. “If that delivery girl hadn’t stepped forward, Yichen would have been blamed.”

“You really misunderstand, I swear I didn’t do it.”

“You still won’t admit it?” Yichen’s voice was cold. “You won’t tell the truth?”

“I…” If she denied it any longer, Bosen really might lose his temper. “I didn’t mean any harm. I was just worried about Yichen…”

“I know exactly what your intentions are,” Lin Bosen said, standing up. “Let me tell you, with someone like you, letting Yiyang join the company would be courting disaster.”

With that, he strode upstairs.

“Bosen… please, listen to me…”

But he was already in his room.

—

Xu Lu immediately took out her phone. “Xuhui, Bosen knows what I did. What should I do?”

On the other end, there was a pause. “Sis, don’t panic. Isn’t the art exhibition today?”

“What do you mean?”

………………………

“Wow, Yiyang, your paintings are beautiful!”

With shining eyes, Xiaoqi gazed at the oil paintings on the wall.

Yiyang smiled, glancing at his brother and Anna nearby. “Xiyang, those two are together—doesn’t it bother you?”

Xiaoqi looked over and replied cheerfully, “Why should it? Look at them—so well matched, a perfect couple!”

“…”

“But you’re my brother’s girlfriend now.”

“But that’s just pretend! It’s not real.”

Yiyang’s eyes widened. “You’re pretending?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because… well, we needed to pretend, so we did.”

“…”

“Oh, by the way, you’re the star today. Why haven’t you given your speech yet?”

“I’m waiting for my parents to arrive.”

Yiyang’s phone rang. It was Xuhui. “Yiyang, come quick—something’s happened to Mom!”

“What happened to Mom?”

“Just hurry, come now—” The call ended.

Something happened to Mom?

Yiyang looked over at his brother and Anna, who were enjoying the art and chatting, lost in conversation. He then looked at Xiaoqi.

She was heading toward the restroom.

Forget it, he’d better go home and check.

Yichen noticed Xiaoqi was gone, and Yiyang had disappeared too. His brow furrowed.

“Anna, I’ll go check over there—”

“Yichen,” Anna grabbed his sleeve.

He looked over at her.

She let go, forcing a smile. “You were so… lively at lunch and in the car today.”

More genuine than he’d ever been with her.

“Really?” Yichen’s handsome face softened with a smile. “She’s too much trouble, so I have to set her straight, or she’ll never behave.”

Speaking of her, his eyes shone with warmth.

“Yichen, you…”

She wanted to say that he liked her, but couldn’t bring herself to, afraid of hearing the answer.

Seeing her hesitation, he spoke directly, “Anna, don’t waste your time on me anymore. I’ll never fall in love with you.”

With that, he turned and walked away.

Never fall in love with her?

That hurt less than when he’d denied knowing her.

Yichen, why can’t you love me? What do I lack compared to that delivery girl?

After using the restroom, Xiaoqi suddenly smelled something burning.

Where was that coming from?

She followed the scent and found a room aflame.

Oh no, there’s a fire! And all those sketches inside…

Without hesitating, Xiaoqi rushed in, took off her jacket, and began beating at the flames.

The zipper scraped her finger, and blue blood immediately welled up, dripping down to form a pale blue gem.

Xiaoqi didn’t notice, her mind consumed with putting out the fire.

If these sketches burned, the exhibition would be ruined.

“Xiyang, what are you doing?” Yichen rushed in and dragged her out.

“Can’t you see I’m putting out the fire? Come help!”

“The fire’s too big, it can’t be put out. Let’s get out of here.”

“I can’t leave—if I do, the paintings will be destroyed!”

As the fire grew, Yichen simply scooped her up.

“Put me down, I have to put out the fire! Let me go…” Xiaoqi kicked her legs, but the CEO ignored her.

—

“If you go back in, it won’t be the fire you’re putting out—it’ll be the fire that puts you out!”

Did she have no sense of danger at all?

“How do you know if you don’t try? Put me down.”

Yichen ignored her, striding out.

Seeing he wouldn’t budge, she bit his arm. Yichen grunted and his grip slackened.

Seizing the chance, Xiaoqi pushed away and dashed back inside.

Yichen reached out and grabbed her by the nape. “You really need some sense knocked into you.”

She was about to retort when a sudden pain shot down her spine, and everything went black.

She fainted.

He carried Xiaoqi out. By now, the exhibition was in chaos.

Anna rushed over. “Yichen, are you alright?”

“I’m fine. I’ll take Xiyang home first,” he said, not sparing her a glance as he carried the unconscious Xiaoqi to the car.

Driving away, Yichen glanced at a pharmacy out of the corner of his eye, then looked at Xiaoqi in the passenger seat, eyes closed.

He stopped the car and went inside.

Xiaoqi’s eyelids fluttered.

Suddenly she opened her eyes.

Her first thought: Damn, he actually knocked me out.

Her eyes burned with fury.

But then…

The car door opened and the expressionless man got in. Seeing she was awake, he said nothing, started the engine, and drove off.

He looked as if he was, perhaps, extremely, extremely angry.

The fire in Xiaoqi’s eyes was unconsciously snuffed out.

Forget it. She needed to stay in this CEO’s good graces—otherwise, she’d never get her beacon working.

She sat quietly.

“Sit up straight,” Yichen suddenly barked, harsh and stern.

Instinctively, Xiaoqi placed her hands on her knees, back ramrod straight, eyes fixed ahead like a model student.

Yichen glanced at her, suppressing a smile, but kept his face blank.

With a stony face, he tossed her a bag of medicine. “Didn’t you say you had a cold? Pick one and take it.”

“…”

Xiaoqi looked at the bulging bag. Did he expect her to eat medicine like snacks?

“President Lin, it’s just a little cold. You bought all this medicine; what a waste.”

Yichen, driving, shot her a cold glance. “Don’t worry, I’ll deduct it from your salary.”

“…”

She hadn’t earned a cent yet and he was already deducting her pay?

Besides, she never even asked him to buy the medicine.

Bloodsucking capitalist.

Suddenly, Xiaoqi thought of a serious problem. “President Lin, how much did all this cost you—er, me?”

“Not much. One thousand five hundred and sixty yuan.”

“…”

Over a thousand? That’s outright robbery.

“Relax,” the CEO said magnanimously. “I’ll give you a discount. Only six hundred will be deducted from your pay. No need to thank me. I’m always a generous boss, you know that.”

“…”

Know what! Six hundred for a bit of medicine was still a rip-off. That could buy several hotpot dinners.

Vampiric capitalist.

Xiaoqi steadied her temper. “President Lin, honestly, if I just get some sleep I’ll be fine, so could you please turn around so I can return the medicine—”

“Turning around is a hassle, and,” Yichen glanced at her again, “it wastes gas.”

“…”

Xiaoqi stared wordlessly at the ceiling.

“Hurry up and take it.”

“…”

Why take medicine when she wasn’t sick? With full dignity, Xiaoqi tossed the medicine aside. “I’m not taking it.”