079: The capitalist tycoon is invincible in strength and can only be outwitted by cunning.

Wasn’t the topic about giving the gift to Sister Liu? How did it turn into calling me stupid?

“Director Lin, so what about this necklace...?”

“She’s definitely smarter than you.”

“...”

So is this thing to be given or not?

Why must capitalists always speak in riddles? Can’t they just give a straightforward answer?

Little Seven felt dizzy from his roundabout way of talking.

“If you wear this around your foolish neck,” Yichen snorted coldly, “it’s just perfect!”

“...”

Every sentence was a personal attack. Little Seven was on the verge of exploding.

But then she remembered his illness.

She endured.

Seeing her on the brink of anger yet forcing herself to hold back—in truth, a look of grievance—Yichen’s mood noticeably improved. He pulled her over and clasped the necklace around her neck.

“I don’t want it.”

Little Seven deftly shrank her neck away.

Yichen’s expression darkened again.

Little Seven ignored his shifting moods and stammered, “If I keep accepting your gifts and eating your food, and you keep giving, and I keep taking, over and over, wouldn’t I just go from a regular employee to an indentured servant?”

Yichen: “...”

Indentured servant... Little Seven shuddered, feeling a chill run down her spine. On the spot, she declared, “I absolutely refuse to accept this necklace! If I take it once, there’ll be no end to it. I’ll never have a day to call my own. Refusing a gift might be a matter of character, but accepting would be a matter of life! I’d rather offend the president than become an indentured servant.”

“...”

Yichen was completely thrown off by her words.

At last he sighed. “Xiyang, today is my birthday.”

Honey?

Wait—that can’t be right. She blurted out, “Shouldn’t I be giving you something for your birthday, not you giving me something?”

Yichen smiled enchantingly. “Mm, you should give me something. But you didn’t. So this gift is your punishment.” As he spoke, he deftly fastened the necklace around her neck. He smiled again, impossibly charming. “That’s done. I haven’t finished my meal yet. You can leave now.”

“Oh!”

Only after returning to her desk and touching the necklace at her throat did Little Seven come back to herself.

Ahhh! This capitalist is so cunning. The carrot-and-stick isn’t enough—he even played the pretty-boy trick and lied about it being his birthday. If it really were his birthday, Assistant Fang would definitely have told her so she could prepare a gift and please him.

But the worst part was—she’d actually fallen for it.

What exactly was this necklace made of, to be so expensive?

She hadn’t looked at it closely before. When he took it out, it seemed to flash with a golden light.

She pulled out a vanity mirror and inspected the necklace around her neck up close.

She was instantly stunned.

Good heavens, the entire chain was set with tiny, intricate diamonds.

She was even more afraid to wear it now.

But if she took it off now and the capitalist saw, wouldn’t he skin her alive?

After these two rounds of sparring, Little Seven realized: the capitalist boss was not to be confronted head-on—only to be outwitted.

Being direct wouldn’t work, and taking it off outright would be even worse. She’d have to come up with a tactful and subtle plan.

So...

Ten minutes later, Little Seven drifted back into the president’s office. Sure enough, Director Lin had just put down his chopsticks.

She immediately tidied up, then, smiling sweetly, pulled Yichen to the sofa.

“Director Lin, you’re always so busy—come, let me give you a massage to help you relax.”

Yichen let her pull him onto the sofa. Little Seven took out some aromatic oil, poured a little into her hand, and gently massaged his temples.

“Director Lin, close your eyes, breathe deeply, relax your mind and body. Let the rhythm of my fingers bring your weary cells to life, and slowly open yourself up...”

Yichen’s lips relaxed into a gentle smile, and he obediently closed his eyes. The soft, boneless hands on his temples really were soothing.

With the fragrance of the oil, even the air felt relaxing.

But then...

Those hands, which had been massaging his temples, suddenly turned into claws, wandering downward.

They traveled to his firm chest, squeezing and kneading.

Yichen’s face was lined with black but he couldn’t help but find it amusing.

Just how much did she love his chest muscles?

But he rather liked her fangirl ways.

He opened his eyes and looked up—she had her eyes closed, completely lost in bliss.

She was entirely entranced by the feel of his chest under her hands.

Little Seven marveled—oh, these chest muscles, this tactile sensation! Truly unrivaled in all the world.

“Xiyang, if you keep feeling around like that, I might not be able to take it.”

“...”

Little Seven’s eyes flew open and she snatched her hands away.

Utter embarrassment.

She slapped her mischievous hands.

Why were they so smitten, so disobedient?

Yichen glanced at her with a smile. “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 just... helping you open up...”

He raised his brows, giving her that half-smile that made Little Seven want to swoon all over again.

Stay calm, stay calm.

But she found it hard to steady herself.

Come on, alien Little Seven, you’re hopeless! You face this face every day, and you still can’t build up a little resistance? How are you supposed to survive by his side?

...

After a moment of silence and internal struggle, Little Seven finally regained her composure and said smoothly, “Director Lin, when I’m massaging you, please don’t interrupt, or it won’t have any effect.”

He was easygoing. “Alright, I’ll close my eyes and enjoy your technique. You just keep enjoying the feel of my body.”

“...”

Little Seven took up the aromatic oil again and, clearing her mind, gently massaged his temples.

A few minutes later, she glanced at the man with his eyes closed, resting. Now was the perfect time.

“Director Lin, look—I’m just a petite, defenseless girl. If I go out wearing something so shiny, it’s definitely unsafe, right?”

Yichen opened his eyes and looked at her. Little Seven paused, gazing at him with hopeful eyes, wishing he’d get the hint and say, “Alright, take off the necklace and give it back to me.”

Yichen, looking utterly enlightened, nodded. “You’re right. It’s not safe for a girl to wear such sparkly things outside. So from now on, whenever you go out, I’ll be by your side to protect you.”

“...”

Little Seven wilted.

Another failed attempt, but she was resilient. She’d found some fun in this battle and was ready for a long-term campaign, so she wasn’t too discouraged.

Time for round two.

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

He smiled and obliged.

Little Seven glanced at him again.

Obvious tactics wouldn’t work. Time to be sneaky.

She took off the necklace without a care and stealthily reached for his pocket.

If she slipped the necklace into his pocket, it would be back in his possession. Once he found it, he’d never try to put it on her again.

She’d lose the fight anyway, so she might as well use this trick.

“Xiyang!”

He suddenly spoke, and her hand jerked. The necklace slipped into the crack of the sofa.

Oh no, oh no—please don’t let him notice.

Yichen opened his eyes and looked at her. Little Seven immediately pretended nothing had happened, resuming her massage. “Director Lin, I told you not to interrupt during a massage. But if you have something to say, that’s fine—just don’t open your eyes.”

Now the necklace was off her neck. If he saw, she’d be doomed.

Little Seven kept massaging, her eyes searching the sofa.

Where did it go? Why couldn’t she see it?

Yichen drawled, “Do you admire Sister Liu for being a master’s degree holder?”

Huh?

Little Seven was confused, but reflexively answered, “Of course! She has a master’s! Of course I admire her.”

“Then starting tomorrow, your main job will be reading books—about master’s degrees. Before you leave each day, I’ll quiz you.”

“What?” Little Seven lost her composure.

The necklace was forgotten in an instant. “My job is reading? Books about master’s degrees?”

Yichen answered languidly, “Mm.”

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

“Then I’ll dock your pay.”

“...”

Little Seven’s expression was a masterpiece.

She finally understood what it meant to shoot oneself in the foot.

Why had she ever mentioned Sister Liu’s master’s degree?

See, she’d gotten herself into trouble.

Suddenly, she wondered—why did she have to slip the necklace into his pocket? Why not just wait until he wasn’t looking and toss it on his desk?

Why go to so much trouble...

Little Seven recalled her old mantra.

Against the heavens, she always won.

Against the earth, she always won.

Against the president, she always lost.

Now it had to change.

Against the heavens—endless delight.

Against the earth—endless delight.

Against the president—endless foolishness.

That was the rare truth she’d finally grasped!

“So, Director Lin, if I can’t answer your questions, how much will you dock from me?”

“Not much. A hundred per question.”

“...”

Little Seven’s eyes went dark. “That’s not much?”

Yichen was noncommittal. “What can a hundred yuan buy?”

“...”

A hundred yuan may be nothing to you, rich president, but to me...

I’m the poorest alien there is.

Little Seven made a dying struggle. “Can’t you give me a discount?”

Yichen, in high spirits, smiled and replied easily, “Of course... not. But if you get it right... there’ll be a reward.”

Little Seven’s eyes lit up. “What reward?”

“If you get it right, I’ll treat you to a meal.”

Well...

Food as a reward was exciting.

But, but...

“Director Lin, can you turn the meal reward into cash?”

He was as agreeable as ever. “Yes, ten yuan in cash.”

“...”

Little Seven looked utterly defeated, eyes going a bit gray.

As they say—strike while the iron’s hot, but by the third round, the spirit’s gone.

After this battle, Little Seven was totally spent.

“Fine, I’ll take the meal,” she muttered—wait, why should I be reading books? I came here to work and earn money.

And now there would be tests.

Get it wrong, lose pay.

Get it right, get fed—or at best, a measly ten yuan.

Damn—

Little Seven was convinced: the capitalist president was just finding roundabout ways to dock her pay.

A real bloodsucker.

But he was ill. She couldn’t risk upsetting him.

And then she remembered the necklace.

Right—if he opened his eyes and saw her neck bare, would he get so mad his illness would worsen?

No, no, she mustn’t let him see. And she couldn’t blatantly search for the necklace while he was here.

Better slip out first.

“Director Lin, the massage is about done. Why don’t you rest a bit with your eyes closed? I’ll head out now.” And with that she bolted out the door.

“Wait—”

But she was already gone.

Yichen sensed something was off and followed her out.

Little Seven panicked at the sight of him.

Why was he coming out now?