Lunch deliveries are limited to one hour; for every minute over, a hundred yuan will be deducted.

Yichen wanted to treat Xiyang with a rational and icy attitude.

But he faltered, unable to do so in the slightest.

No one knew what he felt when he heard the words, “Miss Ye committed suicide for love.” It was as if his heart had stopped beating the moment those words left someone’s lips, yet it continued to lie in his chest, throbbing with unbearable pain.

When he rushed into the room and saw a certain someone mumbling under the covers, that heart that threatened to halt finally returned to its normal rhythm.

He yanked off the quilt.

“Auntie, I told you I want to be a fasting beauty. Can’t you let me quietly—”

“Fasting only makes you a hideous starving ghost.”

Seeing who it was, Xiao Qi turned her gaze away. “What are you doing here?”

“If I hadn’t come, would you have become a hideous starving ghost?”

“…”

Xiao Qi retorted stubbornly, “It’s none of your business anyway. You told me to get lost. Now I’m telling you to get lost. Get out—”

“You really are asking for trouble,” Yichen said with a chilling look. “You want to die, is that it? Fine. Tomorrow, you’ll resign, then die as you please, because I don’t want rumors spreading about my subordinate’s foolish suicide.”

“…”

Having said his piece, Yichen turned and walked out.

Xiao Qi was beside herself with anger. “You scoundrel, capitalist, crook, tasteless man… Fine, I’ll resign. Who cares!”

Little Bai, off to the side, nudged her gently. “Xiao Qi, don’t be angry. Don’t get so mad you drop dead.”

“…”

“Wouldn’t dropping dead be better? Saves me from fasting.”

“But it’s not worth it!”

“Either way, it’s all dying. What’s not worth it?” Xiao Qi lay back down.

Yiyang called Xiyang, but her phone was off. He called his brother, but his brother didn’t pick up. Then he called Fang Li, who only said that President Lin seemed to have quarreled with Miss Ye.

So Yiyang ran to the restaurant to find Xiyang.

But Xiyang pulled the covers over herself and refused to see him. No matter what he said, she wouldn’t show her face.

He had no choice but to leave.

On the way, his mother called. He didn’t want to answer, but he was her only son.

As soon as Xu Lu got through, she pleaded, “Yiyang, just go to the company, won’t you? As long as you go, I’ll stop targeting Yichen, alright?”

“And those around my brother.”

Xu Lu immediately laughed. “Yichen, does that mean you agree?”

Yiyang didn’t know why he’d said those words, but they’d already left his mouth.

And…

“Yes, as long as you promise not to hurt my brother or those around him, I’ll go to the company tomorrow.”

“Good, good, as long as you’re willing to go, your mother will agree to anything.”

………………

The next morning, Xiao Qi stormed into TC and marched straight to the president’s office, flinging her resignation letter in front of President Lin and declaring loudly, “I quit. Hurry up and sign.”

Yichen glanced at the resignation letter, then picked up his fountain pen…

Correcting papers.

As if the person before him was invisible.

Xiao Qi’s indignation boiled over. “Hey, that’s my resignation letter. Would you please sign it, President Lin?”

He replied lightly, “I won’t sign.”

“…”

“Why not?”

“No time.”

“…”

“Hey,” Xiao Qi braced her hands on the desk, eyes blazing. “Are you messing with me?”

Yichen looked up at her, speaking smoothly, “Perhaps you aren’t aware, but when you joined the company, you signed a five-year contract with me, a non-compete agreement, and a top-level confidentiality agreement. If you really want to leave, you owe me a million in breach-of-contract damages and will face a lawsuit. Will you still insist on resigning?”

“…”

Xiao Qi was bewildered. “When did I sign a contract with you?”

Yichen calmly pulled out an employee contract from the side, opened it, and laid it before her, pointing to the signature at the bottom.

Xiao Qi looked and, sure enough, it was her name.

She was about to pick it up and read, but President Lin closed the contract. “One, pay a million in breach-of-contract damages and face a lawsuit. Two, continue working here with a high salary. Which will you choose?”

“…”

Only an idiot would choose the first, but…

Xiao Qi said defiantly, “I have no money, only my life. Do as you please!”

Hmph, does he think he can scare me? Besides, whatever I do, I won’t die. Good, let’s see how he handles it.

Yichen tapped his finger thoughtfully on the table. “So you choose the first. That’s fine. Your aunt’s restaurant is booming. Use it as collateral, and you might have enough for the million. Go tell your aunt to prepare for the court summons…”

“Ah, ah, how can you be so despicable?”

“Thank you for the compliment,” Yichen shot her a glance. “Either work hard for a high salary or go tell your aunt…”

“I’m no fool,” Xiao Qi gritted her teeth. “Of course I’ll take the high salary.” She strode out indignantly.

Fang Li watched her storm out of the president’s office and silently mourned for her for a few seconds.

Only this silly Miss Ye could be tricked by President Lin’s fake contract.

But this style of deception—no, this masterful scheming—suited President Lin perfectly.

This time, it was Fang Li who arranged Xiao Qi’s tasks.

Xiao Qi, still seething, began her work, but her efficiency was abysmally low.

Several hours passed, and she accomplished nothing.

Fuming, she wandered to the restroom.

“Yiyang,” Xu Hui led Yiyang into the spacious office. “This is your office, and your father specifically arranged the new position of Project Development Director for you. You can fully exercise your artistic talents, focusing on developing projects for the female market. This is a key area for the company’s future growth…”

“Take your time. I don’t care.”

“…”

Yiyang stood at the office’s floor-to-ceiling window, exuding an aura of aloofness and coldness.

“I’ll leave you to it. If you need anything, just call me.”

“Mm.”

Once Xu Hui left, Yiyang turned and stepped out of the office.

He headed to the restroom and ran into Xiao Qi.

Seeing Yiyang in a suit, Xiao Qi was spellbound. “Wow, Yiyang, you look amazing in that outfit.”

Yiyang smiled gently. “Do I look like my brother? Like a business elite?”

“He’s no elite. He’s practically a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” Xiao Qi muttered.

“Xiyang, what did you say?”

“Oh, nothing.” Suddenly remembering, she asked, “Right, why are you in the company?”

“I’ll formally introduce myself,” Yiyang adjusted his tie seriously. “I’m the new Project Development Director.”

Then he looked down at her. “Xiyang, what happened yesterday? Did you quarrel with my brother?”

Page (2/3)

“It was more than a quarrel,” Xiao Qi fumed. “I can’t stand to share the same sky with him.”

“…”

Yiyang was confused. “What did he do to upset you?”

“He…” Xiao Qi took a breath. “He told me to resign, so I obediently handed in my resignation. But this morning, he claimed I’d signed a contract with him and if I quit, I’d have to pay a million in damages. I’ve never seen anyone so despicable.”

Yiyang instantly knew his brother was “scheming” against Xiyang again.

But he naturally defended his brother, “My brother isn’t so bad. He’s just stubborn. When he decides on something, not even the gods can change his mind.”

Xiao Qi picked at her fingertips. “I don’t want to see him now, but if I leave the company, I’ll have to pay damages. Oh! My life is so hard.”

Yiyang thought for a moment. “Xiyang, how about this: I’ll transfer you to my department. That way, even though you’re in the same company, with such a big place, you might not see my brother.”

“Do you think your brother will agree?”

“That’s true.”

“No matter,” Xiao Qi suddenly perked up. “With the power of the cosmic little witch, how can I not beat him? Just wait! Sooner or later, I’ll pull out all your brother’s hair and teeth, make him uglier than ever.”

“…”

………………

Our self-styled cosmic little witch, Xiao Qi, had just gotten to her post when Fang Li came with President Lin’s orders: “Miss Ye, it’s lunchtime. President Lin wants you to deliver lunch from your aunt’s restaurant.”

Xiao Qi was dumbfounded. “I have to deliver lunch to him?”

“Yes,” Fang Li replied seriously. “President Lin also said that from now on, you must bring lunch every day. You can leave at ten, return at eleven; an hour is more than enough for a round trip by taxi. President Lin is generous—your cab fare will be reimbursed.”

“…”

Xiao Qi forced a smile. “Did President Lin also say the dishes must change daily, no repeats, and the cooking methods must change as well—boiled today, not boiled tomorrow, no repeats with stir-frying…”

“President Lin is an extraordinary man, so what you just said, he might well insist upon.”

“…”

Damn, Fang Li and that capitalist are two peas in a pod.

“Miss Ye,” Fang Li added seriously, “President Lin said lunch must be delivered within an hour. Every minute late deducts a hundred yuan.”

“…”

So Xiao Qi worked two jobs for one salary.

But TC paid well, so Xiao Qi felt a bit better.

Until she didn’t.

At exactly eleven, Xiao Qi delivered lunch to the president’s office.

She wondered why the capitalist wasn’t there. Maybe he was in a meeting.

Just then, the conference room door opened. That tall figure emerged, surrounded by a group of managers.

So he’d been meeting inside!

The managers all nodded politely to Xiao Qi. “Hello, Miss Ye!”

Awkward!

Why were they so respectful? She was just a junior employee, and new at that.

Yichen glanced at her and suddenly said, “Xiyang, put the food on the coffee table and open it for me to see.”

“Oh!” Though puzzled, Xiao Qi obediently complied.

She opened the containers, then saw a dozen people sitting on the sofas, President Lin in his armchair, reviewing papers and occasionally discussing incomprehensible projects with them.

Huh! Weren’t they done with their meeting? Why keep talking after?

Xiao Qi didn’t think much of it. Since they were all focused on their meeting, she quietly slipped out.

But—

“Xiyang,” President Lin, who had been discussing projects with the executives, suddenly turned his head to her. “Bring the food here to me.”

“Oh!”