5 – Competing with the Manly Bitch for the Fish Pond
Yu Ai bumped into Li Ge who was coming in as she went out. She quickly lowered her head and apologized, “I’m sorry…”
“Hey!” Li Ge wanted to say something more, but Yu Ai had already run out.
“Why is she running so fast? I wanted to bring her along to the celebration banquet!”
Li Ge entered the lounge and glanced at Han Haoyu, who was radiating coldness. “What’s wrong? Did you two have a fight?”
Han Haoyu continued changing his clothes without responding.
“Hey, why do you always act like this when you’re around Xiao Ai? Weren’t you two fine before? I remember Xiao Ai just got married recently? She looked quite haggard—is her husband treating her poorly?”
After changing his clothes, Han Haoyu walked out, still emanating a cold aura.
“Hey! Where are you running off to? Aren’t you coming to the celebration banquet?” Li Ge called out from behind, “You’re the main star!”
“Not going!”
Li Ge sighed. Having known Han Haoyu for so long, he was already used to his unpredictable moods. Fortunately, this time it was all familiar faces, and he could handle things at the banquet himself.
On the old racetrack, Han Haoyu sped along furiously, a chill settling in his heart.
That foolish woman!
001 reported, “Master, Han Haoyu’s Affection Points have dropped into negative again. It’s now at -30.”
Meanwhile, Yu Ai was soaking comfortably in the bathtub, looking completely refreshed, with none of the weariness she had shown during her earlier performance.
“Oh~ That’s good.”
“Master, it’s negative points!” 001 was somewhat anxious, completely unable to understand its master’s thoughts.
“What’s the rush? This is just the beginning.”
“What is Han Haoyu doing right now?”
001 replied, “The system Locator shows he’s at an abandoned racetrack.”
“The old campus back mountain?”
“Master, you even know that? So smart!”
Yu Ai chuckled lightly. In the past, whenever Han Haoyu lost a competition or was in a bad mood, he would always go there to race, and the original host would inevitably go looking for him.
As Yu Ai had guessed, Han Haoyu had actually liked the original host before. After all, he couldn’t have her, and love turned into resentment. Otherwise, why would his Affection Points for her be lower than for a stranger he just met, despite knowing her for so many years?
Han Haoyu raced several laps on the old track before stopping. He stood by the track, quietly gazing at the stone pillar beside it.
Actually, what he had loved most in the past wasn’t car racing—it was motorcycles. He remembered how Yu Ai used to sit in that very spot, waiting for him to finish practicing before they went home together.
They were neighbors. His family had always opposed his interest in racing, and only Yu Ai had supported him. He didn’t know when she had started to change.
It must be because of that man! After that man appeared, she never came to watch him race again, even though she had never missed a single event before. She even said she hated men who raced?
Hah… Women are all the same, after all.
Only his Huihui is genuine. Yu Ai is just a hypocritical woman!
“Master… Han Haoyu’s Affection Points dropped another 20 points… It’s -50 now.”
“Isn’t that good? Quite a fluctuation.”
001: “But this isn’t normal fluctuation! It’s dropping points!”
“Shut up! It’s already past midnight. Don’t disturb my beauty sleep. Don’t wake me up during my rest time from now on!”
001: “…”
Could someone tell it what to do now?
…
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains, illuminating the room. The woman on the bed stretched lazily.
A good night’s sleep really does wonders for one’s spirits. Time to start another happy day.Yu Ai finished tidying up and glanced in the mirror before heading out. Not bad—this outfit was perfect for the “domineering CEO and cute secretary” scenario.
Since that day, Mo Yihan had often found himself unintentionally gazing through his office window at the executive office area. That woman hadn’t shown up for two days already.
Since when did employees take such long wedding leaves?
Suddenly, Mo Yihan narrowed his eyes.
He saw Yu Ai enter through the office door and start clearing her belongings at her workstation.
The area outside the CEO’s office housed the senior secretaries and administrative staff, and his inner window provided a clear view of her desk.
Lulu, who was working at the computer next to Yu Ai’s, looked up in surprise. “Yu Ai? Why are you back at work? Aren’t you on your wedding leave?”
The woman paused briefly, then smiled. “My husband is on a business trip, so I figured I might as well come back to work.”
“Seriously? He’s traveling right after your wedding? Isn’t your husband a university professor? How is he that busy?”
Yu Ai hesitated for a moment. “Y…yes, he’s busy with academic research.”
Lulu frowned disapprovingly. “Xiao Ai, let me tell you, you can’t spoil men. If he’s not coming home right after marriage, what will happen later? You have to keep him in check…”
As Lulu went on advising her to keep a tight rein on her husband, Yu Ai simply smiled faintly. Lulu was straightforward and outspoken—one of the few colleagues the original host had been close to in the company.
The moment Yu Ai entered the office area, Mo Yihan had risen and cracked his door open slightly to eavesdrop on their conversation.
He snorted coldly. With a husband who didn’t even enter the bridal chamber on their wedding night, it was obvious what kind of scumbag he was.
If Yu Ai could hear Mo Yihan’s inner thoughts at that moment, she’d probably laugh out loud—both were cut from the same cloth, equally worthless.
Noticing Yu Ai still clearing her things, Lulu asked, “What are you doing?”
“I applied to Sister Wang for a transfer to the floor below.”
Yu Ai tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and smiled. “She already approved. We can still have lunch together in the cafeteria.”
“Ah? Why transfer all of a sudden?” Both Yu Ai and Lulu had joined the executive office as newcomers last year. Among the many senior employees, the two had grown closest, often saving seats for each other in the crowded company cafeteria.
Lulu lowered her voice. “Is that old witch giving you a hard time again?”
The “old witch” she referred to was Sister Wang, the deputy secretary of the executive office—a divorced woman in her forties who couldn’t stand seeing young, pretty girls and often made things difficult for the two newcomers.
“Don’t overthink it. I requested the transfer myself.” Seeing Lulu about to ask more, Yu Ai said, “Let’s talk more at lunch. I should—”
Before she could finish, the CEO’s office door swung open.
Mo Yihan stepped out and said coldly, “Too much time for chit-chat? Get me a cup of coffee!”
Turning and seeing the familiar face, Yu Ai flinched in surprise.
Noticing Yu Ai’s stunned expression, Mo Yihan raised an eyebrow and pointed at her. “You! The one standing. Ten minutes.”
With that, he turned and went back into his office.
Lulu sat frozen in her chair, terrified.
She whispered to Yu Ai, “What do we do? Do you think the CEO heard us talking?”
Yu Ai shook her head. “I don’t know. I need to go make coffee quickly.”Lulu looked at Yu Ai with a pitying expression, giving her a cheering gesture. “Go for it! You can do it!”
Everyone in the CEO’s office knew how picky their big boss was—he only drank hand-ground, freshly brewed coffee. How could ten minutes possibly be enough?
Half an hour later, Yu Ai lingered anxiously outside the CEO’s office door for a long time before finally knocking.
“Come in.”
A man’s voice, deep and slightly hoarse.