Of course they're attractive—their figures are absolutely stunning.

Xiao Qi suddenly opened her eyes and quickly withdrew her paw.

Utterly embarrassed, she slapped at her own unruly hand.

Why are you so hopelessly infatuated and disobedient?

Yi Chen glanced sideways at her, smiling, “How about I take off my jacket, so you can… study my chest muscles more thoroughly?”

“……”

“I… I wasn’t studying your chest muscles. I was… trying to get you to open up…”

He raised his brows at her, that half-smiling, half-not expression making Xiao Qi swoon again.

Steady, steady.

But it turned out she couldn’t quite steady herself.

Honestly, Xiao Qi the alien, you’re really hopeless! Facing this face every day, if you can’t even withstand this much temptation, how are you ever going to survive by his side?

……

After a bout of silence and inner conflict, Xiao Qi finally restored her composure, speaking calmly: “Mr. Lin, when I’m giving you a massage, please don’t interrupt. Otherwise, it won’t be effective.”

He was easygoing, “Alright, I’ll close my eyes and enjoy your technique, and you continue with your touch.”

“……”

Xiao Qi picked up the essential oil, dabbed a bit, and pressed his temples with a clear mind.

A few minutes later, she glanced at the man resting with his eyes closed—now was the perfect moment.

“Mr. Lin, look, I’m just a petite, defenseless girl. If I have something shiny on me, it’s definitely unsafe to go out like that, right?”

Yi Chen opened his eyes to look at her. Xiao Qi stopped her massage, gazing at him expectantly, hoping he’d understand and say, “Then I’ll take off the necklace and give it back to you!”

He did seem to grasp her meaning, replying, “You’re right, it’s unsafe for girls to wear sparkling things outside. So from now on, whenever you go out, I’ll accompany and protect you.”

“……”

Xiao Qi deflated.

Though she failed again, Xiao Qi was resilient and had found amusement in these battles, ready for a war of attrition, so it didn’t hit her too hard.

She launched a second attack.

“Mr. Lin, close your eyes and take a deep breath!”

He smiled and complied.

Xiao Qi glanced at him again.

Clearly, being upfront wasn’t working, so she’d have to try a stealthier approach.

Without hesitation, she removed the necklace and sneakily reached toward his pocket.

If she put the necklace in his pocket, it would count as returning it. Once he found it, he’d never let her wear it again. Nor would he keep it.

No matter how she fought, she’d lose anyway.

Might as well use this trick.

“Xi Yang!”

He suddenly spoke. Startled, her hand trembled and the necklace slipped into the sofa’s crevice.

Oh no, please don’t let him notice.

Yi Chen opened his eyes to look at her. Xiao Qi immediately acted nonchalant, massaging his temples. “Mr. Lin, I told you not to interrupt during the massage. If you have something to say, you can, just don’t open your eyes.”

Now the necklace wasn’t on her neck. If he saw, she’d be doomed.

While massaging, Xiao Qi kept glancing at the sofa.

Where did it fall? Why can’t I see it?

Yi Chen spoke languidly, “You admire Sister Liu because she has a master’s degree?”

Huh?

Xiao Qi didn’t understand but replied instinctively, “Yes, a master’s degree! Of course I admire her.”

“From tomorrow, your main job will be reading books about master’s degrees. Before you leave work every day, I’ll quiz you.”

“What?” Xiao Qi was flustered.

The necklace issue faded away, replaced by, “My job is reading books? About master’s degrees?”

Yi Chen answered with a calm “Mm.”

“What if you quiz me and I can’t answer?”

“Then your pay will be docked.”

“……”

Xiao Qi’s expression was spectacular.

She finally understood what it meant to dig one’s own grave.

Why did she bring up Sister Liu’s master’s degree?

See? She got herself trapped.

Suddenly, she thought, why bother putting the necklace in his pocket? Why not just toss it onto his desk when he’s not looking?

Why all this trouble…

Xiao Qi recalled her three mantras.

Against Heaven, she wins.

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Against Earth, she wins.

Against the CEO, she loses.

Now it should be:

Against Heaven, endless joy.

Against Earth, endless joy.

Against the CEO, endless stupidity.

This was a rare truth she’d realized!

“So, Mr. Lin, if I can’t answer, how much will you dock?”

“Not much, a hundred per question.”

“……”

Xiao Qi’s eyes went dark and she protested, “Isn’t that too much?”

Yi Chen was noncommittal, “What can a hundred yuan buy?”

“……”

For a wealthy CEO like you, not much. But for me…

I’m the poorest alien.

Xiao Qi struggled, “Can’t you give me a discount?”

Yi Chen smiled pleasantly, “Of course… not. But if you answer correctly… there’s a reward.”

Xiao Qi’s eyes lit up, “What reward?”

“I’ll treat you to a meal.”

That…

A meal as a reward was tempting.

But—but—

“Mr. Lin, can the meal be exchanged for cash?”

He was agreeable, “Sure, ten yuan.”

“……”

Xiao Qi looked miserable, her eyes a bit glazed.

As the saying goes, the first effort is energetic, the second wanes, and the third is exhausted.

After this round, she was utterly exhausted.

“Then I’ll take the meal,” she said, then realized—why am I reading books?

I’m here to work and earn money.

And now I’ll be quizzed.

If I get it wrong, pay is docked.

If I get it right, a meal—or ten yuan.

Damn—

Xiao Qi deeply felt that the capitalist CEO was just finding ways to dock her pay.

Truly a blood-sucking capitalist.

But he’s sick, so she can’t get mad at him.

Then she remembered the necklace.

Right, if he opens his eyes and sees her bare neck, will his illness worsen from anger?

No, absolutely not—he mustn’t see it. She couldn’t search for the necklace openly while he was there.

Better slip out first.

“Mr. Lin, the massage is about done. You rest for a bit, I’ll step out,” she said, then immediately dashed out.

“Wait—”

She was already gone.

Yi Chen sensed something odd and followed.

Xiao Qi panicked when she saw him coming.

Why is he chasing me?

No, escape is the best strategy.

She bolted.

Why is she running?

Xiao Qi saw the CEO still following.

No, she needed to get out of the company to be safe.

Watching her fleeing figure, Yi Chen frowned.

Was it because he told her to read books, so she ran away?

She really can’t take a joke.

He was just teasing her.

Of course, if she accepted, that would be ideal.

Reading is a good thing after all.

Li Cheng stood by the research department’s floor-to-ceiling window and happened to see two figures—one running, one chasing—from upstairs. He took off his anti-radiation goggles for a clearer look.

He thought for a moment, then went out and called Joanna.

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“Miss Qiao, let me tell you something. Mr. Lin was ruined over Ye Xiyang’s sapphire case, yet she’s still working at TC without a scratch. I just saw Mr. Lin chasing Ye Xiyang during office hours. Now, do you still think she’s a naive country girl?”

“She stole the sapphire, and he still kept her by his side,” Anna said, furious, her hand clenched and then relaxed, lips curling, “If Ye Xiyang leaves on her own, with Yi Chen’s pride, he would never go after her again.”

Li Cheng caught the hint, “Miss Qiao, you mean…”

“Didn’t you say your research department has an honest, upright employee? He hates people who do bad things, right?”

Li Cheng immediately understood, “Yes, he despises wrongdoers, especially thieves…”

Then he thought, “But if Ye Xiyang leaves now, what about the sapphire…”

“The sapphire isn’t important to me. Yi Chen is,” Anna narrowed her eyes. “You care about your project, but if Ye Xiyang doesn’t leave, I can’t get close to Yi Chen. Do you understand?”

Everyone knows if you take someone’s money, you do their bidding.

So Li Cheng would naturally do as Joanna asked.

……

……

Xiao Qi felt the persistent shadow behind her was really determined—he’d chased her all the way.

Wasn’t he tired?

She was nearly out of breath.

Still breathless, she kept running, when a blurry poster caught her eye.

She couldn’t help but run toward it.

Closer, closer, she focused and saw clearly—her eyes lit up, and she pounced on the poster, caressing it.

Wow, those chest muscles are amazing.

She stroked and sniffed.

Wow, pure testosterone.

Xiao Qi completely forgot she was supposed to be fleeing.

All her attention was absorbed by male hormones.

Without thinking, she dashed into the shop.

Yi Chen followed, looking up at the STYLE logo.

His face darkened instantly.

He strode inside.

Inside, the lights were dazzling, men and women drinking and dancing intimately.

The music was deafening.

Yi Chen’s handsome brows furrowed.

His dark eyes searched the wild crowd for that figure.

When he found her, his face could have been as black as outer space.

Because Xiao Qi’s paw was greedily reaching toward the chest of a muscular man nearby.

Damn, she actually dared touch another man.

For the first time, President Lin cursed.

Xiao Qi’s paw was about to grab the chest muscles.

Suddenly, another big hand caught her paw.

She turned and met a pair of blazing eyes.

Frightened and embarrassed, she realized she’d forgotten her own dangerous situation in the face of those chest muscles.

Caught, Xiao Qi knew she couldn’t resist, so she obediently let the CEO drag her out.

Suddenly she thought,

Why am I so stupid? Why didn’t I use my superpowers while escaping?

So utterly dumb.

Fighting the CEO really is endless stupidity.

Maybe now I can use my superpowers?

She stretched out her hand.

Well!

Still useless as long as he’s there.

Sigh! So tragic.

Then suddenly cheers erupted. Xiao Qi looked instinctively and saw three burly men take the stage.

Her eyes sparkled, and she pulled Yi Chen’s hand, “Look, look! They’re modeling up there!”

He gave a forced smile, “Nice to look at?”

Xiao Qi was filled with excitement and nodded rapidly, “Of course! Their physiques are perfect.”

“Better than mine?”

“Yours is just as good.”

Yi Chen narrowed his eyes at her, then let go of her hand. Xiao Qi was completely entranced by the male models on stage, oblivious to President Lin’s absence.

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