After Tu Yiyi returned home, Zhuo Jin immediately caught the scent of cooking fumes clinging to his lady—beef bone, pork, flour, eggs, and several kinds of vegetables.
Before he could even speak, Tu Yiyi gave her orders: Go next door to wash the dishes and clean the kitchen. If Miss Gu has any leftovers she doesn’t want, you are granted permission to eat them.
Zhuo Jin was overjoyed. He loved leftovers the most.
Next door, Gu Xiaofeng had just swallowed her last sip of soup and let out a long, melancholy sigh. Her calorie intake today had definitely exceeded the limit—pulled noodles and braised pork… She figured she’d have to run at least ten kilometers tonight.
The doorbell rang. It was Zhuo Jin. “My lady sent me to handle the aftermath and tidy the kitchen.
Zhuo Jin set to work. His efficiency left Gu Xiaofeng speechless; the kitchen was soon sparkling and refreshed, without a single trace of grease.
Miss Gu, this flour is expired! Do you still want it?
Gu Xiaofeng wondered if she was imagining it, but Zhuo Jin seemed to be barely masking an intense excitement, as if he desperately wanted that expired flour.
I don’t want it. You take it.
This soy sauce is also expired.
Take it.
This Italian pasta is damp.
Take it.
Zhuo Jin produced a large bag from somewhere and, with a beaming smile, stuffed all the expired, moldy, and spoiled items inside.
“What is your mistress doing?” Xiaofeng asked.
“Miss is holding the photo frame, laughing and crying. She said she’s going to hold it while she sleeps after her bath.
Gu Xiaofeng:
She hesitated for a moment before asking, “Did something happen to your lady in the past? What kind of illness did she have?”
Zhuo Jin, squatting on the floor, pulled a box of Cordyceps out from a cabinet—something stuffed back there and forgotten ages ago. He held it like a precious treasure. “Miss Gu, this?
“Take it.
“I haven’t ben serving the lady for very long,” Zhuo Jin said. “Back then, she was lying in bed… asleep the whole time. She only woke up this spring. I heard later that she had been stabbed right through from the back with a sword. It was very close to her heart, just a tiny bit off. She fell into a coma because of that heavy injury.
Gu Xiaofeng recalled Yiyi telling her she was “stabbed by a knife” while “acting heroically.
Who did it?
I don’t know, no one told me,” Zhuo Jin’s expression suddenly darkened. “Miss is such a good person. I truly can’t imagine who could be so cruel as to do such a thing to her.
Late that night, after running ten kilometers on the treadmill, Gu Xiaofeng soaked in the bathtub and reflected on Zhuo Jin’s words. She pictured that clear, clean face—those eyes brighter than starlight when she smiled, and those lips sweeter than honey.
Who could have the heart to hurt someone so pure and lovely?
The next day, upon arriving at ZL, Tu Yiyi took the private elevator straight to the office of the CEO, Lin Ai.
No one at ZL—from the Vice Presidents down to the cleaning ladies—found it strange anymore that she skipped every level of hierarchy to see the big boss. Everyone knew President Lin favored this beautiful girl; whenever she was at headquarters, she’d call Yiyi into her office. They’d stay behind closed doors for an hour. Meanwhile, meeting a VP usually only took ten minutes of Lin Ai’s time.
The entire company suspected the relationship was “unusual.” President Lin was the ultimate bachelorette queen—beautiful, wealthy, and holding the world’s most cutting-edge technology. Yet, she was cold to everyone except this pretty receptionist.
Rumors flew: the Ferrari was a gift from Lin Ai. The 500-million-yuan villa at Royal Palace? Also from Lin Ai.
Unaware of the gossip, the two “protagonists” were in the spacious office, drinking coffee and chatting.
Lin Ai’s office took up an entire floor, surrounded by windows with a panoramic view of the city. She held her coffee, her gaze sweeping over the surroundings with a queen-like air of disdain for the world.
“Alright, the recording and eavesdropping systems are off. We can speak freely.”
Tu Yiyi took a sip of her coffee and frowned. “Too bitter. Not sweet enough, not enough milk.”
Lin Ai remained expressionless. “I strongly disagree with your opinion. I believe you have no taste, and my data suggests you are just being difficult. What facial expression should I use right now?”
Tu Yiyi thought for a bit. “You should roll your eyes at me.”
Lin Ai nodded, and in the next second, she rolled her eyes at Yiyi.
“So, where’s my sugar and milk?”
“There is none in the office right now. If I ask my assistant to bring some from her pantry, factoring in her walking time and the room temperature, the temperature of the coffee in your hand will drop by 5°C before the milk arrives. After adding cold milk—based on your usual amount—it will drop another 12°C. Oh, sorry, while we’ve been talking, it has already dropped nearly 3°C…”
Fine, stop! I don’t want sugar or milk anymore.
Is that just for this time, or forever?
Just this once!” Yiyi felt like she was being driven mad by this “non-human.
“Your mood is not very pleasant,” Lin Ai concluded after scanning her facial expressions.
Yiyi ignored her and took another sip of the bitter coffee.
To improve your mood, I will order a Star-Papa coffee for you in an hour, plus that Tiramisu you like.
Really The easily swayed Yiyi immediately beamed.
“Can we get to the point?” Lin Ai sat perfectly straight, watching Yiyi. Over the past few months, Yiyi had grown used to her meticulous behavior.
I was injured and slept for a long time—about two hundred years. Since waking up, I feel different. There’s something very important I don’t remember, and I can’t recall it no matter how hard I try. Yiyi looked troubled. “What should I do, President Lin? I really want to remember.
You mean you have a memory gap?
Yes.
Lin Ai crossed her fingers, her eyes blinking rapidly her habitual thinking pose. “One reason could be brain trauma impact, poisoning, microbial invasion, etc.” She flashed a standard smile. “I can take you to the group’s medical-biological subsidiary for a full check-up.
Great! When?
Tomorrow at 1:00 PM. I’ll pick you up at Royal Palace.
Tu Yiyi left the CEO’s office and returned to the front desk under the curious gazes of her coworkers. She leaned back in her comfortable chair, closing her eyes to recall her life. From her first steps to stealing chickens with her siblings, to when she first took human form and couldn’t walk right on two legs… maybe she hit her head while playing?
She went over it in her mind. Small injuries were common, but she didn’t recall a head injury.
Just then, the delivery arrived—Star-Papa coffee and cake.
The assistant at the front desk asked, “Yiyi, President Lin’s treat again?
Yeah. I already had a cup in her office, but it was bad. Tsk, President Lin’s taste is really troubling…
The assistant immediately lost the desire to talk to her. Total humble-brag! Everyone knew President Lin used the world’s top coffee beans.
Ever since they knew the big boss had a thing for her, the male employees stopped fantasizing about her. Tu Yiyi, however, just held her coffee and continued to greet everyone she knew with a radiant smile.
The administrative manager passed by and felt genuine pity for President Lin! The boss treated her so well, yet this vixen was probably still thinking about other young men!