As evening fell, the setting sun bathed the city in light, stretching shadows long against the pavement.
Lin Qian walked home alone, a thin layer of sweat on her forehead. The weather was getting hotter by the day. As she neared her apartment complex, she heard the loud rumble of construction.
Looking ahead, she saw that a previously vacant storefront was undergoing a major renovation. Lin Qian watched curiously. This shop had been empty for nearly half a year. Since this was an old neighborhood with few residents most of whom were elderly with limited spending power and zero foot traffic, most businesses here were doomed to fail. Vacant shops were a common sight.
“It’s a joke,” the lady who owned the local convenience store remarked, cracking sunflower seeds in her slippers as she gossiped at the entrance. “Opening an unmanned store? Half the people in this complex are seniors who can barely figure out how to scan a QR code, let alone use a self-service shop.”
“Just another case of more money than brains. Young people these days start businesses without looking at the market. They’re just waiting to lose money.”
“Right you are…”
An unmanned store? Hearing this, Lin Qian stopped in her tracks and looked at the storefront with a gleam of excitement.
Lin Qian was currently lugging a heavy bag of supplies she had bought at the unmanned store near her office. Hauling groceries back and forth like this was tiring and a huge hassle. She looked down at the bulky bag; if an unmanned store opened right here, she wouldn’t have to shop near work anymore. No more aching hands from the long walk home.
Lin Qian felt a surge of joy, and her steps became noticeably lighter. She couldn’t wait to share the news with the little cat, and once she got home, she shared it with her gaming friend as well.
Gui Yin: Ahhh, I’m so happy!
Qing: What happened to make you so happy?
Gui Yin: An unmanned store is opening right under my apartment! I love it! I’m so excited—I won’t have to take the long way around to buy things anymore.
Qing: I’m so jealous.
Gui Yin: ?
Qing: I wish I had a shop like that near me. The owner of the little supermarket under my place corners me for a chat every time I go in. It’s quite annoying.
Gui Yin: High five! A kindred spirit!!!
The more she chatted with Qing, the more she felt their personalities were perfectly aligned—it was almost as if she were talking to another version of herself. They got along so well, but most importantly, Qing never sent voice messages, never asked for photos, and never requested video calls. Everything that could be settled with text was done via text.
It was incredibly comfortable. In Lin Qian’s mental ranking of “comfort levels while communicating,” Qing was now second only to Big Fatty.
While chatting with Qing, Lin Qian tapped on her other pinned chat. She wanted to share her joy with a friend.
But then, she remembered what Chu Xiaoyu had said to her before: “You’re way too introverted; you need to change. Who on earth is this afraid of talking to strangers?”
Lin Qian exited the chat. Never mind.
Her gaze then drifted to her other pinned contact: Su Qingmo. She hesitated for a long time, but ultimately, she didn’t share her happiness with either of her real-life “friends.”
Chu Xiaoyu said her personality was bad and needed fixing. Su Qingmo would probably think the same; after all, her personality was far too timid. Rather than sharing her excitement only to receive “well-meaning advice” on how to change, it was better to keep it to herself.
Lin Qian went back to chatting with Qing.
Inside her study, Su Qingmo was chatting on her computer while glancing fitfully at her phone. She felt a faint sense of disappointment.
If she’s this happy, why is she only sharing it with an online friend and not me?
She probably shared it with the cat, too. But did she share it with Chu Xiaoyu?
She definitely did! Su Qingmo thought grumpily.
So, the cat got the news, the gaming friend got the news, and Chu Xiaoyu probably got the news. She was the only one left out, wasn’t she?
She could understand the cat—the cat had been with her for a long time. She could grudgingly understand Chu Xiaoyu—they’d known each other forever. But how had a gaming friend already surpassed her?
Why was she at the bottom of the list?
Su Qingmo looked at the rabbit plushie on her desk, pouting. Finally, she threw a punch at the rabbit’s face. While “bullying” the plushie, she muttered, “You bad rabbit.”
Gui Yin: Xiao Qingqing, I’m heading off. Time for bed. Let’s talk tomorrow.
Su Qingmo’s eyes narrowed slightly as she stared at the name “Xiao Qingqing.”
The cat had the name “Big Fatty.” Chu Xiaoyu was “Sister Xiaoyu.” The gaming friend was “Xiao Qingqing.” What did she have?
Most of the time she was called “President Su,” and only on very rare occasions was she called by her full name. Compared to “Big Fatty,” “Sister Xiaoyu,” and “Xiao Qingqing,” names like “President Su” or “Su Qingmo” were far too cold and distant.
The more she compared, the angrier she got. She punched the rabbit plushie again.
Despite her frustration, she didn’t forget to reply: Okay, go to sleep. Chat tomorrow!
Knock, knock, knock.
The study door sounded. Su Qingmo closed her laptop, wiped the expression from her face, and said coldly, “Come in.”
Li Linlin entered. “President Su, the paperwork for the unmanned store is almost complete. It can open in three days at the latest.”
Su Qingmo nodded.
“I’ve prepared three outfits for the day you go to the concert with Miss Lin. Please take a look.” Following Li Linlin’s words, three assistants walked in, each holding a set of clothes.
The styles varied, but they all had one thing in common: strong traditional Gufeng elements.
Lately, this had been Li Linlin’s biggest headache. Su Qingmo had been picking an outfit for ages, never satisfied with anything.
Su Qingmo glanced at them. “None of them will do.”
Li Linlin wasn’t surprised. “Understood.”
The three retreated and returned shortly with three new options. Su Qingmo scanned them and shook her head again.
The cycle repeated…
Until a pale purple dress appeared. Su Qingmo’s gaze lingered for a moment. “This one.”
Li Linlin’s relief was palpable. “Wonderful!”
Finally, the outfit was decided. The torture was over. Li Linlin let out a sigh of relief, finally able to go home. She turned to leave.
“Secretary Li,” Su Qingmo called out.
Li Linlin’s lip twitched, but she immediately donned her professional smile. “President Su? You aren’t changing your mind, are you? I really think Miss Lin will love that one.”
Su Qingmo’s expression was neutral. “The neckline on that dress is too high. Lower it.”
Li Linlin: “How low, specifically?”
Su Qingmo: “Enough to see the collarbones.”
Li Linlin bit her lip, clearly stifling a laugh. Su Qingmo shot her a freezing look, and Li Linlin forced her smile back down.
Once outside, Li Linlin instructed the clothing designer: “Lower the neckline on this one. Show the collarbones. Make it subtle—a ‘now you see it, now you don’t’ kind of vibe. You get it?”
The designer looked half-confused.
Li Linlin decided to be blunt: “It’s for seduction. Like a peacock spreading its feathers. Sexy, but not crude. It needs to be irresistible—the focus is temptation. Subtle, invisible temptation. Do I make myself clear?”
The designer paused, then nodded. “Understood.”
Li Linlin: “Don’t you dare say that in front of President Su. We all know what’s going on, but let’s not say it out loud.”
“I get it,” the designer replied.
The outfit was settled, but a bigger problem remained. Watching Su Qingmo’s progress bar in pursuing Lin Qian—which hadn’t moved an inch—Li Linlin felt anxious. Or rather, the old Chairman Su was anxious. Su Zongguang didn’t dare nag Su Qingmo directly, so he picked on the “soft persimmon,” nagging Li Linlin every single day.
“Xiao Lin, how are those two doing?” “Push her a bit.” “Hurry them up.” “Hurry, hurry!”
Li Linlin: “…” Chairman, you don’t dare push her yourself, so you want me to do it?!
The humble employee was forced to take action. She hesitated before speaking.
Su Qingmo put down her documents and looked at Li Linlin with a frown. “You’ve been acting shifty all day. If you have something to say, say it.”
Li Linlin cleared her throat. “President Su, how about I order a bouquet of flowers for Miss Lin? Maybe with a card that looks like a confession?”
Su Qingmo glanced at her. “Are you trying to teach me how to pursue someone?”
Li Linlin waved her hands. “No, no! Not teaching, just a friendly suggestion.”
Su Qingmo: “You’ve never even been in a relationship. What kind of suggestion is that?”
Li Linlin was stunned, then slightly annoyed. “President Su, that was a personal attack!”
Su Qingmo went back to her work. “Stop hovering in front of me. Get out.”
Li Linlin wanted to leave, but remembering the old Chairman’s “strict orders,” she had to push through. “I haven’t been in a relationship, but you know Junior CEO Xu, right? She’s dated many people. The Chairman even sent her over once to give you some advice. Maybe you could follow her lead—flowers, bags, clothes…”
Su Qingmo: “Out.”
Li Linlin: “Yes, ma’am.”
Outside the villa, Li Linlin sighed.
The driver, Xiao Wang, chuckled. “Secretary Li, give it a rest. You’re more worried than the person involved.”
Li Linlin rubbed her forehead. “Am I the one who’s worried? I don’t want to do this either, but I have to report back.”
“Aren’t flowers good? Don’t you give flowers to show your affection? If you don’t say anything, how will she know what you mean? Besides, what girl doesn’t like receiving flowers?”
Xiao Wang: “That’s where you’re wrong.”
Li Linlin looked at the “old bachelor” in his forties. “Forget it. There’s no way you know more about this than me.”
Xiao Wang: “…”
Xiao Wang continued: “Whether to send flowers or clearly express feelings, the Second Miss knows better than anyone. Stop giving her unreliable ideas. I actually think she’s handling the pace perfectly. Miss Lin is clearly a ‘slow-heat’ type of person. In this era of fast food, there aren’t many people willing to slow down for you.”