He Li was really starting to sweat. He had thought that his encounter with Yu Qingge yesterday was just a chance meeting… that they’d have nothing more to do with each other… yet here she was again the very next day? And to make matters worse, Yu Qingge was actually the new CEO of the company?
Thinking back to how forward she’d been yesterday… how could he possibly expect peaceful days ahead under her command?
He Li couldn’t help but worry about his future. “Should I… just quit?” he thought helplessly.
Yu Qingge, unaware of his inner turmoil, was now dressed in a professional outfit, sitting tall and dignified with an icy, serious expression and an authoritative aura that made it hard for anyone to meet her gaze. Yet behind that cold demeanor, she was secretly glancing at He Li from the corner of her eye.
Being able to see He Li again made her genuinely happy. She couldn’t help but think back to their interactions yesterday… the closeness, the subtle chemistry… and how, after everything, she had kept thinking about him, wondering how to meet him again.
Then, while reviewing employee profiles last night to get familiar with the company, she was thrilled to discover He Li’s name among the outstanding staff. That led to this morning’s setup.
Yu Qingge had called him over not for business… but simply because she wanted to see him again.
Now that she’d gotten what she wanted, she was secretly delighted. “It must be fate. Even the heavens are trying to match us together. Hehe, with this kind of opportunity, how could I not win you over?”
As she thought this, she saw He Li return to his senses and deliberately pretend not to know her, sitting in the back corner with his head lowered. She cleared her throat and said, “Today’s meeting is very important, so everyone should try to sit closer to the front.”
“Otherwise, you might not hear clearly!”
“Especially you, He Li. Your story designs are excellent and worth discussing and learning from.”
“You’re here today because of that.”
“Everyone should learn from your experience.”
“So don’t sit in the back. Sit up front.”
“Right next to me,” she added, pointing at the empty seat beside her.
The reasoning sounded fair enough. To others, it appeared as recognition—an indication that the new CEO valued He Li’s talent and intended to mentor him. Many of the senior staff looked at He Li with surprise and envy.
But He Li’s eyelids twitched wildly, and a sense of dread settled over him.
Yesterday, Yu Qingge had already kept bothering him. He’d expected that she’d use her position to mess with him, but he didn’t think she’d act this fast—dragging him up front on the very first day?
“What kind of nonsense is this? This room’s not even big, who the hell can’t hear clearly?” he thought bitterly.
He gave a forced smile and muttered, “That’s not necessary, right? I can hear perfectly fine from back here…”
“I think you can’t hear clearly.” Before he could finish, Yu Qingge’s cool, commanding aura overwhelmed him. He Li’s lips twitched, and he felt like thousands of grass mud horses trampled through his heart.
You think I can’t hear clearly? Are you serious?
“Come sit over here,” Yu Qingge ordered again. Her voice was calm but left no room for argument. Combined with her aloof expression, she looked just like the classic domineering CEO straight out of a novel.
He Li had no choice but to move. Even then, he kept a noticeable distance from her. Sitting beside her, he folded his arms and sat stiffly, careful not to touch her. But Yu Qingge noticed his avoidance and instantly felt a bit unhappy.
“This blockhead… what’s his deal? Other men would kill for a chance to get close to me, and he’s keeping his distance?”
“Hmph, you don’t want to get close to me?”
“Then what if I get close to you?” Her eyes gleamed with mischief.
She subtly leaned toward him. He Li sensed it and tried to edge away, but Yu Qingge was quicker. Under the table, her hand grabbed his shirt and wouldn’t let go. He couldn’t pull away, nor could he move farther. Her shoulder had already brushed against his.
Stuck, He Li turned to look at her helplessly.
A familiar fragrance wafted into his nose…
He Li instinctively sniffed, only to hear Yu Qingge’s familiar teasing voice, “What are you doing? Smelling my scent? Do you want me to get even closer so you can smell me better?”
That question… stirred something inside him.
Imagine a beautiful woman sitting beside you, asking if she should lean closer to let you smell her fragrance… who could resist?
Why is this woman so good at flirting?
He Li was suspicious, and his gaze involuntarily fell on her face. She still had a hint of shyness, and when she saw him staring, her face grew even more tense.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked, then followed up quickly, “Answer me! Do you want me to get closer?”
“Nothing. Just wanted to take a good look at you,” He Li replied casually. Yu Qingge thought he was admiring her beauty and started smiling, but then he added, “Just wanted to see how a pretty woman like you can be so bold without any shame. You actually said you’d get closer so I could smell you.”
“You… you’re such a clueless blockhead!” Yu Qingge huffed and turned away angrily.
The two were whispering, and because they sat close and kept their voices low, no one else could hear them. But their proximity didn’t escape the notice of others.
“…Hey, you think the new CEO’s into He Li?”
“Why else would she be so close to him?”
“Come on, she’s into He Li? You’ve gotta be kidding.”
“Yu Qingge is the chairman’s daughter, born into wealth, and cold as ice. How could she fall for a regular guy like him?”
“Maybe she’s impressed with his talent and wants to bring him closer as a trusted aide…”
“Yeah, that makes more sense. Still, I envy the guy. To be this close to an ice-cold goddess like Yu Qingge… damn.”
…
Listening to the whispers, He Li recalled that Yu Qingge shared the same surname as the chairman. It wasn’t until today that he realized… of course they shared a surname—they were father and daughter.
But cold and aloof?
Please, give him a break. He’d seen how outgoing and forward she was yesterday.
The people in the office had clearly been fooled by her.
Thinking of this, He Li shook his head. If it weren’t for what happened yesterday, he might’ve been fooled too.
“Forget it, better focus on the meeting. I’ll listen for a bit, then go play a few rounds of Dungeon Survival to unwind.”
He Li was still musing when the room filled up. Just as he thought the meeting was finally about to begin, Yu Qingge suddenly turned and asked, “So, do you want me to get closer so you can smell me or not?”
He Li nearly lost it.
“Seriously? Are you not done yet? Where’s your cold, aloof CEO act?”
“That’s for everyone else, not for you!”
“Come on, tell me. Do I smell nice? Do you want me to get closer?”
“Hmph, I’m a working man with a strong will. I would never…”
Before he could finish, the scent grew stronger.
The beauty beside him leaned in even more—he could even feel the warmth of her smooth thighs through his clothes…
Yu Qingge smiled, “Would never what?”
“Would never refuse a suggestion like that!” He Li inhaled her scent greedily. Yu Qingge, watching him enjoy it, lowered her voice and blushed, asking, “Then… about what I said yesterday, about you being my boyfriend…”
“Not happening!” He Li cut her off firmly.
Seeing his outright rejection, Yu Qingge was annoyed and wanted to ask why. After all, she was a catch by any standard.
But with everyone waiting for her to speak, she had to hold back for now.
Still, seeing He Li so lost in her scent, so clearly enjoying it, she couldn’t help but feel a little flutter in her heart—like she was needed, like she was liked. That illusion made her smile brilliantly.
That smile was stunning, like a snow lotus blooming atop a frozen mountain.
But perhaps realizing she was losing her composure, Yu Qingge immediately resumed her icy, aloof expression.
Even so, a few sharp-eyed staff caught her momentary smile. Though it was fleeting, it was so dazzling that they questioned whether they had imagined it.
“…No way, did I just…”
“I think… I saw the goddess CEO smile?”
“Bro, are you drunk or just not fully awake? Our CEO is known as the Ice Goddess. When would she ever smile?”
“And even if she did, it wouldn’t be for people like us.”
“Yeah, man, be real.”
“No, I’m serious. I really saw—”
“Shh, shut up. The CEO’s about to speak. Listen carefully!”
“…Weird. Did I really see wrong?”