He suddenly felt that Miss Ye was a femme fatale.

Xiaoqi steadied herself and tried to calm the hulking emotions. "Mr. Lin, honestly, it's just a mild cold. A good night's sleep will fix it, so could you please turn the car around? I'll return these medicines..."

"Turning around is troublesome. Besides," Yichen glanced at her again, "it wastes gas money."

Xiaoqi stared wordlessly at the car ceiling.

"Hurry up and take them."

Why take medicine when you're not sick? Xiaoqi, proud and stubborn, tossed the medicine aside. "I'm not taking them."

"Not taking them?" The car stopped abruptly. Yichen narrowed his eyes, his tone harsh, his expression clearly threatening: "If you dare not take them, I'll deal with you right here."

Xiaoqi swallowed nervously, instinctively shrinking back, but summoned her courage to argue, "Mr. Lin, it's really just a mild cold. Spending so much money..." The CEO's gaze grew more intimidating.

Recognizing the situation, Xiaoqi quickly changed her tune, "I'll take them," she said, grabbing the bag, randomly opening a bottle, and pouring out a few pills to swallow.

A bottle of mineral water appeared before her.

She blinked in confusion.

"Open it."

"Oh!" Xiaoqi grumbled inwardly. Seriously, a grown man needs a girl to open his water bottle?

Truly lacking in manners. Once a rascal, now not only a rascal but also a tasteless, bloodsucking capitalist.

She unscrewed the cap and handed it to him.

Yichen frowned. "Why are you giving it to me? You're the one taking the medicine..."

She was already chewing, apparently having swallowed the pills.

Yichen was utterly defeated by her. Did chewing the pills make them less bitter for her?

The car started up again, and the rest of the journey was silent.

Xiaoqi spent the whole ride mourning her lost six hundred yuan.

By the time the car reached its destination, her heart ached for the money.

Yichen got out and escorted her to the door.

Xiaoqi would have preferred he didn't, but for the sake of her six hundred yuan, she let him walk with her, making him take more steps.

She opened the door. "Mr. Lin, I'm home now."

Any further and he'd be entering her room.

Yichen was expressionless. "Remember, from now on, don't let any man into your home except me. And don't ride in any man's car except mine."

"Why?"

"Because... it's not safe."

Ha! You're the least safe person of all!

"Understood?"

If not for the signal device, I wouldn't listen to you.

"Understood."

Yichen nodded with satisfaction. "Good night."

"Good night, um..." Xiaoqi awkwardly twisted her fingers. "Our relationship is just pretend, so going out alone for meals and such doesn't seem right. So..."

"Close the door and go to bed!"

He coldly tossed out those five words, strode to his car, and started the engine.

The car soon disappeared from sight.

Xiaoqi pouted. What a bad temper.

She closed the door and suddenly remembered something. She rushed to the bedside cabinet and shook awake Little White, who was dozing there. "Little White, I just took Earth's medicine. Is it okay?"

Little White immediately opened his cat eyes.

"Of course not. Just the fact that your blood is blue means you can't take Earth medicine."

Oh no, I need to get it out fast.

Xiaoqi dashed to the bathroom to retch.

She vomited for a long time, but finally managed to bring it up.

Exhausted, she lay over the sink.

She felt that sooner or later, Lin Yichen would be the death of her.

#

Yiyang rushed back to the Lin residence. His mother was perfectly fine, which made him angry. "Mom, today was the day of my art exhibition. Why did you lie to me?"

"If I didn't lie, would I just watch you stray down the wrong path?"

"Mom, you..."

"Do you know," Xu Lu rubbed her temples, "your father said he's given up on you. From now on, he won't care about your art exhibitions."

"Did Dad really say that?"

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"Yes, your father now doesn't..."

"That's wonderful," Yiyang laughed, "Now I can paint in peace."

"..."

"You child..."

Yiyang's phone rang. He answered, and at the words spoken, his face turned tense.

"Yiyang, where are you going?"

He seemed not to hear and left straight away.

Driving while dialing, Yiyang quickly got through. "Xiyang, are you all right?"

Someone from the exhibition had called, saying there was a fire, a girl had fainted trying to save it, and Lin sent her to the hospital.

Xiyang was bewildered. "I'm fine! Why..."

Suddenly, she realized, "Yiyang, your exhibition caught fire."

"I know," Yiyang said, "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm really fine. You can tell from my voice," Xiaoqi lay on the bed, sighing inwardly. If only she had the superpower to extinguish fires.

"By the way, how's your exhibition?"

"It's fine. Xiyang, next time don't risk yourself. Paintings aren't... life is more important."

"Mm, I understand."

The call ended.

Only the naive Xiyang would risk herself to put out a fire.

Yiyang felt a faint, nearly imperceptible unease.

####

Given that she had just started work and already lost six hundred yuan, Xiaoqi was up early the next day, determined to seek out the CEO and ask for tasks.

This time, Yichen didn't let her idle.

Sitting in his office, the CEO looked through the tempered glass window at the busy figure outside, a smile curling at his lips.

Fang Li pushed the door open and entered, immediately noticing the smile on Lin's lips.

He glanced sideways.

No wonder he had arranged for Miss Ye to work in that position—her every move could be watched through the window.

Fang Li stepped up to his desk, and Yichen's face instantly returned to a neutral expression.

Fang Li placed a file beside him and opened another. "Mr. Lin, Director Zhou from the project planning has contacted us. He's already taken the lead in signing a strategic cooperation agreement. Also, Mr. Wang, the investor from Sunshine Joint Venture, may need you to personally handle some of the contract terms. Xiao Liu from the project department just sent a report saying there’s a contract you should personally terminate. Director Li from the project planning needs your signature. Mr. Lin, also..."

He looked up, and saw Lin still smiling at the figure outside.

Fang Li suddenly thought Miss Ye was a femme fatale.

The work-obsessed Mr. Lin now seemed distracted from his duties.

Work efficiency would surely drop from now on.

This couldn't be good!

"Mr. Lin?"

Fang Li couldn't help but wave his fingers before his eyes.

Yichen calmly withdrew his gaze, picked up the file, glanced at it, then closed it and handed it back. "This report from the research department is unclear in some sections—take it back and have them revise it."

He barely glanced at it, yet could spot the unclear sections?

He was obviously rushing Fang Li away to focus on watching her.

Ah! Truly a femme fatale.

Even Lin had lost the mind for court affairs.

Xiaoqi saw Fang Li come out and her eyes accidentally caught the bold words on his file. She immediately got up and ran over. "Assistant Fang, is there anything else I can do?"

Fang Li adjusted his glasses. "Miss Ye, you should ask Mr. Lin about your work."

"But asking you is fine too," she pointed at his file. "Is this going to the research department? I could deliver it!"

"This..." Fang Li didn't dare make decisions, but couldn't directly refuse either. Who knows, this girl might be the future boss’s wife.

"How about this, I'll ask Mr. Lin first."

"Alright, hurry then."

She had told Lin Yichen that she admired scientists, so he’d likely agree to her request.

Sure enough, when Fang Li relayed it, Yichen nodded without much thought.

Most girls admired scientists.

Xiaoqi took the file and immediately ran to the research department.

There, learning she was delivering documents, they let her in.

Every time Xiaoqi entered, she felt the magnetic field here made her uncomfortable.

The room was empty, so she quickly went searching.

She immediately saw her signal device placed in a small purple box.

No wonder she couldn't sense its energy—it had been boxed up.

She quickly pocketed it.

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"Who are you?"

Xiaoqi jumped, turning to see the director of the research department.

"I—I came to deliver documents."

Director Li Cheng looked her over several times, then took the file. "Thank you."

"It's no trouble. I'll be going now."

"Mm."

Xiaoqi ran to a quiet spot and took out the box.

She stared at it in a daze.

She shook her head.

This is Earth, not my planet.

So, why am I hesitating!

"What are you doing here?"

"Ah?"

Xiaoqi turned and saw a man walking toward her.

She quickly hid her hand behind her.

Yichen narrowed his eyes. Your hand...

"Mr. Lin," Li Cheng ran over, giving Xiaoqi a glance.

Xiaoqi cursed inwardly.

How was she discovered so quickly?

She saw Li Cheng whisper something in Lin Yichen's ear.

Yichen's brows furrowed, his face visibly darkening. He approached Xiaoqi step by step, and after a long moment spoke in a low voice, "The sapphire in the research room was stolen five minutes ago. Five minutes ago, you were the only one who entered. So, did you take the sapphire?"

"I... How could I possibly take it?"

"If not you, then let us search you..."

Yichen shot a look, and Li Cheng fell silent.

"Tell me," Yichen said, enunciating each word, "Did you take the sapphire?"

"I..." Xiaoqi clenched the item tightly in her hand.

She didn't say a word for a long time.

Li Cheng spoke again, "Mr. Lin, maybe we should call the police."

Catching the man's gaze, Li Cheng fell silent once more.

Xiaoqi had a sudden idea. Seizing the moment when his gaze wasn't on her, she discreetly slipped the item into his pocket.

Yichen felt something move in his pocket and looked down.

"I accept being searched."

Hearing this, Yichen looked at her again.

Xiaoqi took off her jacket.

She wore only a T-shirt and pencil pants underneath.

Neither had pockets.

It was instantly clear she wasn't carrying anything.

"If you still want to search, I'll take more off."

Yichen grabbed her hand. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have doubted you."

This was his Xiyang. How could he suspect her of theft?

If she were greedy for money, she'd have married him long ago.

Xiaoqi yanked his hand away and ran toward the elevator.

"Xiyang!"

Yichen glanced at Li Cheng, then ran out.

Li Cheng found it odd.

She was the only one who had entered. He looked at the jacket on the floor.

Suddenly, he remembered.

Right, there was surveillance in the room.

He went to check the cameras, then immediately sought out Mr. Lin.

At the entrance, a colleague ran up to him. "Director, I found something. Take a look."

In the man's hand was a pale blue gemstone.

Li Cheng's eyes widened. He examined it closely.

This sapphire looked very similar to the missing one, but its color was paler.

"Where did you find it?"

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