He curled his lips into a smile. “Mm, I’m hanging up.”
After the call ended, Shen Nuan guessed that she had sounded too deliberate, which was why he had cut the conversation short.
【Little Nine, do I say sweet words so often that it’s becoming a case of crying wolf?】
999 didn’t think so. 【Not at all. I think it’s pretty good.】
【Maybe he’s immune to sweet talk. He wasn’t moved at all.】
【Maybe the male lead is secretly enjoying it. People with meticulous minds don’t deliberately reveal their emotions.】 he analyzed.
【I can only comfort myself with that.】
Fu Corporation, President’s Office.
Knock knock knock.
“Come in.”
“President Fu, this is the material for this afternoon’s meeting.”
Without even glancing at it, he said, “Cancel the meeting.”
Xiao Ang was secretly startled. Why had the meeting suddenly been canceled?
“Yes, President Fu.”
Fu Shijing stood up. “I have personal matters to attend to this afternoon. Don’t call me unless it’s something important.”
“Understood, President Fu.”
So the boss was getting off work early?
What kind of personal matter was so important? He didn’t dare ask, nor did he have the courage to.
Halfway Mountain Forest Villa.
At lunchtime, when Shen Nuan arrived at the staff cafeteria, she didn’t see Aunt Wang, so she took her food first and sat by the window to wait for her.
Liu Hao approached with his tray and asked with concern, “Nuan Nuan, I heard you caught a cold. Are you feeling better?”
“Much better.”
Because he had been fined because of her last time, Shen Nuan felt guilty and said,
“Liu Hao, I’ll pay back the money you lost. I’m sorry.”
“Why apologize? It was my fault, not yours. If they docked my pay, then so be it. It’s fine.”
He enthusiastically grabbed her arm.
“You still don’t look very healthy. You need more rest. Come on, sit down. I’ll get your food for you.”
Startled by his enthusiasm, Shen Nuan quickly said, “I can do it myself.”
“Why be so polite? We’re coworkers. Your business is my business.”
When she saw Aunt Wang approaching, Shen Nuan felt as if she had seen her savior.
“Aunt Wang, over here.”
“Nuan Nuan, so you’re here.” Aunt Wang walked over. “Liu Hao, you’re here too?”
“Aunt Wang, let’s eat together.”
“Sit, sit.”
Since they were coworkers and Aunt Wang had already said so, Shen Nuan couldn’t exactly chase him away.
Not noticing Shen Nuan’s discomfort, Aunt Wang asked, “Nuan Nuan, how are you feeling? No more fever, right?”
“No. Thanks to you for telling Butler Zhou to have the doctor prescribe medicine for me. I wonder if he made things difficult for you?”
Aunt Wang smiled.
“Don’t let Butler Zhou’s strictness fool you. When he heard you were sick, he was even more anxious than I was.”
“Butler Zhou is really kind-hearted.”
Shen Nuan hadn’t expected him to be so approachable.
Seeing that he couldn’t join their conversation, Liu Hao picked up some crispy pork from his own plate and offered it to her.
“Nuan Nuan, the crispy pork is delicious. Give it a try.”
“No thanks. I don’t like crispy pork.”
This time, Shen Nuan refused directly instead of being tactful.
In reality, she didn’t dislike it. She simply couldn’t accept it.
“I see.”
Liu Hao was slow-witted and thought she merely disliked the dish, not anything else.
Seeing how attentive he was, Aunt Wang teased him.
“Liu Hao, do you like Nuan Nuan?”
Shen Nuan secretly tugged at her sleeve.
“Aunt Wang, don’t joke around.”
Immediately understanding, Aunt Wang laughed awkwardly.
“Look at my mouth. Just joking, just joking.”
Unexpectedly, Liu Hao scratched his head with a silly grin.
“Is it that obvious, Aunt Wang?”
Shen Nuan nearly choked on her food.
“Cough, cough, cough…”
“Nuan Nuan, are you alright?”
Her face had turned red. Liu Hao anxiously reached out to help.
Shen Nuan avoided his hand, quickly drank some soup, and finally calmed down.
She seized the opportunity to leave.
“I’m full. Aunt Wang, Liu Hao, enjoy your meal. I still have something to do.”
Aunt Wang understood her intention and cooperated.
“Alright, Nuan Nuan. Go ahead.”
Shen Nuan hurried out of the staff cafeteria.
Unexpectedly, Liu Hao followed her. Since things had already reached this point, he decided to confess.
“Nuan Nuan, I have something to tell you.”
【Boss, maybe you should make things clear. If you don’t, he might misunderstand.】999 suggested.
【I think so too.】
Liu Hao took out a wooden flower carving from his pocket.
“Nuan Nuan, I carved this flower myself. Will you accept it?”
【Boss, don’t accept it! If you do, that’ll mean you’ve agreed. If the male lead finds out, you won’t be able to keep licking him.】999 hurriedly warned.
【How could I accept it? Forget whether I like him or not, my life is more important.】
“Liu Hao, sorry, but I don’t like flowers and I don’t want it.”
She thought she had made herself clear enough and that he would give up.
Liu Hao felt embarrassed. Thinking that he hadn’t been clear enough, he continued,
“Nuan Nuan, the flower isn’t important. What I mean is that I like you. My mother has been urging me to go on blind dates lately, and I was planning to resign. If you’re willing, we can leave this place together.”
Shen Nuan had overestimated his intelligence.
She had worked so hard to get into this place. Why would she risk her life by resigning?
Was she crazy?
If he wanted to resign, he shouldn’t drag her into it.
Just as she was about to reject him, a cold voice came from nearby.
“You can get lost right now.”
The moment Fu Shijing returned, he saw some fool confessing, and the target was Shen Nuan. The idiot even wanted to take her away.
What right did he have?
What bothered Fu Shijing the most was that she hadn’t rejected him immediately.
Liu Hao’s face turned deathly pale when he saw the boss.
Shen Nuan also saw Fu Shijing and inwardly cried in despair.
How unlucky could she be? Of all things, he had to witness this.
Following behind him, Butler Zhou quickly cleared the area.
“S-Sir, I…”
Liu Hao stammered.
Fu Shijing spoke coldly.
“Butler Zhou, throw him out.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Trying to steal the woman Sir liked, he really had a death wish.
Butler Zhou summoned several security guards, who immediately restrained Liu Hao.
Unable to break free, Liu Hao anxiously asked, “Nuan Nuan, are you willing to leave with me?”
Fu Shijing clenched his fist behind his back, suppressing the anger inside him as he waited to hear her answer.
Shen Nuan immediately clarified her position.
“Liu Hao, I think you’ve misunderstood. I’m not resigning, and I’ve only ever seen you as a coworker.”
Though it would hurt him, giving him no hope was the best thing she could do.
Liu Hao froze. So she had only seen him as a coworker.
He allowed himself to be dragged away by the guards.
Stealing a glance at the expressionless man beside her, Shen Nuan had no idea what he was thinking.
Anyway, apologizing first was the safest option.
“Sir, I didn’t know things would turn out like this.”
“Someone wanted to take you away. Why didn’t you go?”
“I like you, Sir, and I came here to work,” she said softly.
Hearing that, all the gloom in his heart disappeared.
【Ding! Two hundred thousand yuan has been credited.】
Seeing her looking wronged like a bullied little wife, Fu Shijing couldn’t bear it either.
“Come to my room.”
“Yes.”
Shen Nuan hurriedly followed him.
【That scared me to death. It’s good that the male lead isn’t angry. Boss finally managed to build a decent relationship with him.】999 sighed in relief.
【Who knew he’d happen to see it? I never expected Liu Hao to be so aggressive. I should’ve made things clear immediately.】
【It’s not too late now.】
After entering the bedroom, Fu Shijing kicked the door shut.
Seeing his actions, Shen Nuan knew he was still angry.
His sharp gaze fixed on her as he slowly approached.
“What were you thinking about just now?”
Just now?
Probably when she had been talking to Little Nine and spacing out.
“Nothing, Sir.”
Someone asked sourly, “Reluctant to part with that man?”
???
How could that be?
Shen Nuan immediately denied it.
“No.”
【Why does that sound a little jealous? Or am I imagining things?】999 said.
【I don’t think so. I feel it too.】
Fu Shijing tapped her forehead.
“If I see something like this again, it’ll be your fault.”
Shen Nuan felt utterly wronged.
“Why?” she asked pitifully.
His long fingers lifted her delicate chin.
“You don’t maintain proper boundaries with others and caused this misunderstanding. Isn’t that your problem?”
In the past, he might have been happy if she had left with another man.
But now, it’s impossible.
Fu Shijing knew he shouldn’t care about anything concerning her.
Yet he cared too much.
Feeling wronged, Shen Nuan defended herself.
“I do have boundaries.”
“You do?”
Fu Shijing narrowed his eyes and wrapped an arm around her slender waist, pulling her into his embrace.
“Really? Weren’t you the one who wanted to hug me? Weren’t you the one who wanted to kiss me?”
Flustered, Shen Nuan hurriedly explained.
“I’m only like that with you, Sir. I’ve never treated another man that way.”
His tone rose slightly.
“Really?”
“Really, I swear.”
Her expression was utterly sincere.
The corners of Fu Shijing’s lips curved slightly, satisfied with her answer.
【Ding! Five hundred thousand yuan has been credited.】
Overjoyed, Shen Nuan asked,【Little Nine, why is the reward so high this time?】
【Maybe because Boss showed genuine feelings and the male lead believed you.】
Even 999 couldn’t explain it clearly. Though he was the system, he wasn’t in charge of the money.
【Then what about all the times before? Didn’t he believe me?】
【Perhaps.】999 wasn’t certain.
Shen Nuan decided to test it again and find out the reason.
Looking up at him with affection, she said, “I like you, Sir. No matter where I am or when it is, I only like you.”
His heart pounded as he unconsciously pulled her closer.
【Ding! Two hundred thousand yuan has been credited.】
He seemed to believe her again, but why was the reward lower than before?
Just as she was wondering, 999 spoke.
【I know now, Boss.】
【Know what?】
【The system rewards you because of external influences.】
【External influences? You mean Liu Hao?】
【Exactly. Another man confessed to you, but Boss sincerely declared that you liked only the male lead, so the system detected your dog-licking behavior.】
Shen Nuan finally understood.
“Sir, let me help you remove your tie.”
She smiled brightly.
Standing close enough to smell her faint fragrance, he found her unconsciously alluring.
After neatly folding his tie and putting it away, Shen Nuan returned and noticed that he had unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt.
Was he going to bathe?
“Sir, are you taking a bath?”
Bathing in the afternoon?
Was he staying home?
That was good news for Shen Nuan.
Fu Shijing gave a quiet hum, leaving unsaid that simply looking at her had made him feel hot.
Quick-witted, she said,
“Then I’ll prepare the bathwater.”
【Ding! Fifty thousand yuan has been credited.】
After preparing the bath, she took several deep breaths and bravely asked,
“Sir, may I scrub your back?”
On the very first night after arriving at Halfway Mountain Forest Villa, she had asked the same question and had been coldly driven out by him.
With time running out, she had to shamelessly continue her pursuit.
“Scrub my back?”
Fu Shijing looked at her hands.
“Have your hands healed?”
“They’ve healed. They’re perfectly fine.”
She stretched out both hands for him to see.
“Help me take off my clothes.”
He intentionally made an unreasonable request, hoping she would retreat.
Such a wonderful opportunity?
Shen Nuan nodded happily and reached out.
【Ding! One hundred thousand yuan has been credited.】
Fu Shijing knew she was a woman of action, but he hadn’t expected her to move so quickly.
One button, then another.
As his ears turned red, he grabbed her hand.
“What’s wrong?”
Her fair face was flushed.
At this moment, Shen Nuan had no room for embarrassment.
She only wanted to earn money.
“You don’t know how to refuse? If someone tells you to do something, you’ll do it?”
If it had been someone else, would she have done the same?
The thought instantly replaced his joy with jealousy.
Blinking her beautiful eyes, Shen Nuan said,
“Taking off the clothes of someone I like makes me happy.”
Someone I like!!!
Fu Shijing stared at her rosy lips.
Ever since childhood, he had seen countless people trying to flatter, curry favor, and fawn over him. Confessions were even more common.
He had never cared.
Even the previous Shen Nuan had been no exception.
But now, the sincerity she revealed unintentionally brought him joy.
【Ding! Three hundred thousand yuan has been credited.】
Whether because of that sentence or some other reason, Shen Nuan successfully removed his clothes.
Looking at the broad-shouldered, narrow-waisted man with his perfectly sculpted eight-pack abs, Shen Nuan silently praised him.
His mother truly favored him.
Not only had she given the male lead a privileged background and handsome looks, but also a perfect body.
Shen Nuan wanted to praise him, but she worried that he might dislike it and throw her out, leaving her unable to continue flattering him.
Caught in inner conflict, she froze.
Seeing her staring at his chest without blinking, Fu Shijing’s smile widened.
“Do you like what you see?”
Caught red-handed, Shen Nuan lowered her eyes.
“Ahem, Sir’s physique is really wonderful. I’m sure many girls like it.”
He held her delicate chin and forced her to look up.
His well-defined chest was right before her eyes.
Lowering himself to her ear, he whispered gently, “Do you like it?”
Her ears nearly melted.
Nervous and cautious, she answered, “If I say I do, will you throw me out?”
Fu Shijing deliberately teased her.
“Try me.”
He clearly knew what she was thinking, yet he still asked.
There had to be a trap.
After thinking for a few seconds, Shen Nuan decided she had no choice but to push forward, or her character setting would collapse.
“I like it. I really, really like it.”
To prove her sincerity, she even pressed her hand against him.
“Sss…”
Fu Shijing’s expression became slightly unnatural, and an inexplicable blush spread across his face.
Her soft little hand moved carelessly over him, and it felt unbelievably good.