The next day, Shi Ying arrived early. As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, she heard an enraged voice coming from the president’s office.
“Uncle, are you serious? You’re sending me to Africa?”
The office door wasn’t closed. It was still before working hours, and the outside was quiet, making the furious voice especially clear.
Shang Chenyuan leaned back in his chair, looking at the documents in his hand without even lifting his head. “You have a problem with that?”
Shang Yu’s eyes widened. “Of course I have a problem!”
Then what had he been ranting about just now—for nothing?
“Uncle…” Seeing that force wouldn’t work, Shang Yu softened his tone. He slammed his hands on the desk. “What did I do wrong for you to send me away?”
“I’ve been behaving myself lately, doing my work properly. You made me go to that godforsaken place for market research, and I went! What exactly did I do to offend you?”
Only then did Shang Chenyuan look up at him.
Shang Yu was a senior at Jiang City University, in his early twenties—youthful and energetic, exactly the type girls liked.
“You’re an eyesore.”
Furious, Shang Yu ruffled his short hair into a mess. “I’m not going! I haven’t even graduated yet—I still have classes!”
“I’m going to tell Grandpa. If you’ve got the guts, drag me onto a plane yourself!”
He turned and stormed out, slamming the door behind him. His steps were quick and heavy. Passing by the pantry, he wasn’t paying attention and collided with someone.
Shi Ying had just gotten some water and was heading back when she bumped into him coming out.
Warm water splashed onto both of them.
She instinctively tried to dodge, but lost her balance and fell backward.
“Careful.”
Shang Yu reached out with his long arm and caught her by the waist.
Still shaken, Shi Ying grabbed his collar, their eyes meeting unexpectedly.
Shang Yu had a pair of charming peach-blossom eyes, with a few soft strands of hair falling over his forehead. With a slight exertion of his arm, he helped her steady herself.
“Th-thank you…” Shi Ying swallowed, her heart still racing from the sudden incident.
Shang Yu raised an eyebrow. “You’re new?”
She nodded.
Sneaking a glance at him, she recalled the voice from the office earlier and studied his face more closely.
So he was Shang Yu? Her one million?
At that thought, her eyes lit up instantly.
She put on a perfect smile. “Sorry for bumping into you. Your clothes got wet—let me help you wipe it?”
She reached for some tissues from the counter, but before she could do anything—
“Bang!”
The sudden sound startled her so much that the tissues fell from her hands.
Both of them turned toward the source.
Shang Chenyuan had come out of the office at some point. He stood in the corridor, tall and straight, backlit by the light from the window, his expression unreadable.
“Did I interrupt you?”
Shi Ying hurriedly withdrew her hand.
If the boss caught her slacking during work hours, would she get fired?
But it wasn’t even working hours yet—there were still ten minutes left.
Her mind raced, trying to come up with an excuse.
Shang Yu, however, didn’t notice the man’s displeasure. He casually grabbed some tissues and wiped himself. “Uncle—”
“Get lost.”
Before he could finish, Shang Chenyuan shot him a cold look.
Shang Yu immediately fell silent.
Since childhood, he had feared nothing—except his uncle.
Especially after five years ago, when Shang Chenyuan had become… somewhat unhinged.
“I’ll get lost right now!” Shang Yu hurried off.
“President Shang, I—”
Shi Ying had already prepared her explanation and was about to speak when Shang Chenyuan turned and went back into the office. “Come in.”
She shuffled in with small steps.
Her expression looked like she was heading to her doom, making Shang Chenyuan feel a mix of emotions.
“President Shang, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left my post during work hours. I know I was wrong.” Shi Ying shut her eyes and blurted it out.
He looked at her expressionlessly, but those moist, deer-like eyes made a dull ache spread through his chest.
How could he ever bear to blame her?
This was all Shang Yu’s fault.
“Mm.” After a long pause, instead of reprimand, she heard his low, husky voice. “Go get your computer and bring it in. Work here.”
He tapped the black desk.
“Here?” Shi Ying was stunned.
Working with the boss—what kind of modern torture was this?
He might as well just scold her.
Dejected, she carried her laptop in. Shang Chenyuan pointed to a spot beside him, and she sat down with a pout.
All morning, she felt like she was sitting on pins and needles, staring at her screen without daring to move, even replying to messages cautiously.
Her obedient reflection appeared faintly in the glass. Shang Chenyuan breathed in the air mixed with her presence, every breath making his soul tremble.
Shi Ying couldn’t take it anymore. She picked up her cup, took a sip, then stood up. “President Shang, are you thirsty? I’ll make you some coffee?”
Without looking up from his computer, he gave a cold “Mm.”
She quickly grabbed his cup and jogged out cheerfully.
The air outside the office felt so fresh!
She planned to linger in the pantry for a while.
After she left, Shang Chenyuan lifted his head, his gaze falling on the spot where she had just been.
His fingers gently brushed the chair she had sat on. He picked up her coat from the back of the chair and brought it to his nose, inhaling deeply, almost obsessively.
His Adam’s apple bobbed rapidly, his heart pounding wildly in his chest.
She was really back!
His hands trembled as he picked up her cup. Pressing his lips to the rim she had just touched, he kissed it in a daze.
“Clack!”
The sound snapped him out of it.
He turned his head and saw Shi Ying standing at the doorway, staring at him blankly. A puddle of coffee had spilled at her feet.
“Pr-President Shang…” She couldn’t believe what she had just seen. He was drinking from her cup?
His expression remained calm. Raising an eyebrow, he glanced at the cup in his hand. “Is this yours?”
“Sorry.” He set it down naturally. “It was on my desk. I forgot it wasn’t mine.”
Shi Ying didn’t know what she was thinking, but even her ears turned red.
She hurried over and quickly grabbed her cup.
Looking at her flustered state, Shang Chenyuan said hoarsely, “I’ll buy you a new one.”
“N-no need.” She lowered her head. “I’ll just wash it.”
He gave a soft “Mm,” showing no embarrassment at all, making Shi Ying feel like she was overreacting.
“I have a meeting. Stay here and work.”
“President Shang, can I go back outside—”
He interrupted her. “Jiang Wen is away for the next two days. You’ll take over his duties. Stay by my side. Don’t leave.”
Shi Ying clicked her tongue inwardly. Did Secretary Jiang really have to stick to him all the time?
No wonder people in the company thought they were a couple.
An hour later.
Shang Chenyuan returned from the meeting and pushed open the door, only to find his black desk holding just his own computer.
The office felt empty—just like every day for the past five years, with only him sitting there alone.
His face turned pale instantly.
He spun around and rushed out.
Almost colliding with someone entering.
Shi Ying reacted quickly, grabbing the doorframe to avoid being knocked over for the second time that day.
“President Shang, is something urgent?”
He stared at her blankly, his eyes bloodshot.
His lips trembled. It took him a long time to find his voice.
“Where did you go?”
She found his expression strange but didn’t think much of it. Lifting her laptop slightly, she explained, “Director Cheng said she’d help me install some files, so I stepped out for a bit.”
Shang Chenyuan said nothing.
He stood there, listening to his own rapid, chaotic heartbeat, unable to calm down for a long time.