12. “Do you know Assistant Han is married?”
Ling Xi only wanted to get a bit closer to her boss. She had not expected Zhou Mingye to react like that.
She lowered her head awkwardly and pursed her lips. She had thought he would like that candle.
If he didn’t want to use it, then so be it. Ling Xi did not take his attitude to heart. She glanced at Zhou Mingye and saw his lips pressed into a thin line, his expression dark.
“Are you in a bad mood?” Ling Xi suddenly lifted her face and asked softly.
Zhou Mingye looked at Ling Xi. Her eyes were bright, and there was not the slightest trace of the disappointment one would expect after being spoken to coldly.
The words “How do you know?” almost slipped out, but by the time they reached his lips, they turned into a cool response. “No.”
With a ding, the elevator arrived at the first floor and the doors opened. Ling Xi slung her bag over her shoulder, turned, and ran out. “Goodbye, President Zhou.”
Zhou Mingye stared at her lively retreating figure and only felt the irritation in his chest deepen.
*
At night, Zhou Mingye pushed open the door to his home. The motion-sensor light in the entryway turned on, illuminating an empty, quiet room.
He tugged off his tie, undid the top buttons of his shirt, and leaned lazily against the sofa, exhaustion seeping out from deep in his bones.
After showering and returning to the living room, Zhou Mingye’s gaze casually swept over the side cabinet, and the pale blue cake-shaped candle caught his eye.
When Ling Xi had given it to him, he had scoffed at this kind of scented product. Yet now, as if possessed, he walked over, took out a lighter, and lit the wick.
A small cluster of warm flame flickered to life, and what spread with it was the dry scent of cedarwood mixed with the fresh sweetness of apple.
It actually smelled quite nice.
Zhou Mingye half reclined on the sofa, turned on the television, and randomly switched to a channel.
When he came back from his brief daze, he realized that the irritability that had lingered for so long had actually eased by more than half.
Sinking into the soft sofa, breathing in the reassuring scent in the air, he unexpectedly did not toss and turn. He quickly fell into a deep, heavy sleep.
*
The next morning, when Ling Xi walked into the office building, she saw that the queue was longer than usual.
She stood on tiptoe and looked inside. There was a yellow warning sign placed at the entrance of one elevator. It was under maintenance.
Ling Xi chose a line with fewer people and stared fixedly at the time on her phone.
After waiting a few minutes, the doors of Elevator No. 1 by her side suddenly opened. Ling Xi turned her head and saw Zhou Mingye standing inside alone.
Today, he was wearing a workwear-style shirt. It made him look less stern than usual and added a refreshing, youthful air. His complexion was also much better than yesterday’s cold expression.
“Good morning, boss.” Ling Xi immediately put on her professional fake smile.
Zhou Mingye lifted his gaze and looked her over. Behind her, the line had already curved into a long loop.
A few seconds passed, and the elevator doors still had not closed. Ling Xi thought to herself, could the executive elevator be broken too? Suddenly, she heard Zhou Mingye ask, “Aren’t you coming in?”
Ling Xi looked left and right. Was he asking her?
Zhou Mingye did not respond, only looked at her with an expression that clearly said, “If not you, then who?”
There were two minutes left before clock-in time. Ling Xi did not want to lose her attendance bonus in her first month.
“I’m coming!” She reached out to hold the door and stepped inside.
There were only two people in the elevator. Ling Xi stood with some distance between herself and Zhou Mingye. After settling in place, she could not help yawning.
She had originally planned to sleep early last night, but the drama she was following had an update. Ling Xi could not resist and watched until midnight. Rubbing her eyes, she had gulped down several mouthfuls of coffee to stay alert.
In the mirror on the elevator wall, Ling Xi’s actions were clearly reflected, all falling into Zhou Mingye’s eyes.
After being watched by Zhou Mingye for several seconds, Ling Xi finally realized it. She chuckled and shook the coffee cup in her hand. “I stayed up watching a show last night. After I finish this coffee, I’ll be full of energy.”
Zhou Mingye let out an almost inaudible hum.
Ling Xi spoke again to change the subject. “Have you had breakfast?”
Zhou Mingye’s reply was very brief. “I have.”
Oh? Why didn’t he eat Assistant Han’s lovingly prepared bento today?
“I asked Assistant Han where he bought the breakfast he brought you, but he wouldn’t tell me.” Ling Xi made something up smoothly.
Zhou Mingye glanced sideways and actually saw a trace of disappointment on Ling Xi’s face.
He withdrew his gaze. A familiar scent suddenly lingered around his nose. He frowned slightly and sneezed.
Ling Xi had been in a rush when she went out this morning and had sprayed a bit too much perfume. In the enclosed space, the scent was infinitely amplified.
Zhou Mingye suddenly felt that the smell on Ling Xi was very familiar. After a moment of contemplation, he asked her, “Are you using the same perfume as Assistant Han?”
This perfume was something Ling Xi had bought when she went shopping with Su Wanwan. It was a unisex scent that both men and women could use. She liked it, so she bought a bottle for herself as well.
Zhou Mingye was actually the one who brought up Han Zhao first?
Inside, Ling Xi shouted yes! See how long you can keep pretending.
So sensitive to this scent. You must be used to smelling it in private.
Ling Xi nodded with a smile. “I really like this scent, so I bought the same one.”
Zhou Mingye lowered his gaze to look at her. What was she smiling about?
This woman was really strange. Could it be that what he said last night had been too hurtful and stimulated her, making her behavior even more odd?
Regardless of what she was thinking, as her boss, Zhou Mingye felt it necessary to remind Ling Xi.
Ling Xi lowered her head, secretly delighted. Zhou Mingye had finally shown a crack.
Who would have thought Zhou Mingye would speak calmly? “Do you know Assistant Han is married?”
Ling Xi: “……”
Of course, she knew. What she really wanted to ask was, do you know or not?
The elevator doors opened. Ling Xi walked out, not yet processing the deeper meaning in Zhou Mingye’s words, when she suddenly heard Xu Jing calling her at the front desk. “Xixi, hurry up and clock in!”
Ling Xi dashed a few steps to the time clock. Face recognition successful!
When she lifted her head, Zhou Mingye had already walked far away. Ling Xi took out her phone and opened her notes app, recording today’s takeaway: Zhou Mingye is familiar with Han Zhao’s perfume scent.
*
When she reached her workstation, Ling Xi set her bag down. Fang Ming, the business department manager, walked straight up to her. “Xiao Ling, I need a favor.”
“Go ahead.”
“Our department has an important client to receive on short notice. Help arrange Meeting Room No. 1.”
Ling Xi opened the company system and checked. “Sorry, Manager Fang. The Sales Department reserved Meeting Room No. 1 a few days ago. They’re also using it this morning.”
How could Fang Ming not know? He worked in business, had many clients on hand, and often relied on his performance to bend the rules.
“Just have them switch to another one.”
Ling Xi had been at Ruisii for half a month and had roughly figured out her role.
Her daily work was not difficult. It mainly involved serving the boss. The only truly demanding part was handling emergencies and coordination.
Situations like today were not the first time Ling Xi had encountered them.
When there was a sudden reception to arrange immediately, or when approval documents from other departments needed to be expedited, it would fall to her to urge the boss.
Especially when she had to stand up to certain executives’ “privileged” demands.
Ling Xi smiled at Fang Ming. “Manager Fang, the Sales Department has already notified the meeting participants, and there are advertising partners attending as well. If they arrive later and accidentally go to the wrong meeting room, that probably wouldn’t be good.”
Ling Xi always handled matters according to regulations and never tailored her attitude based on who the person was.
She had no intention of staying here long anyway. Aside from her direct superior and the big boss, she did not concern herself with anyone else’s mood.
The pleasant look on Fang Ming’s face faded. “Then what am I supposed to do?”
“Meeting Room No. 2 is also spacious and can be used. I’ll go set it up right now.”
As she said this, Han Zhao happened to arrive at the department.
Ling Xi turned her head and, seeing her only colleague, looked as if she had spotted a savior. “Assistant Han, are you busy right now?”
Han Zhao had heard most of the conversation just now and immediately understood what Ling Xi meant. “I’m not busy. I’ll go prepare Meeting Room No. 2 right away. Manager Fang, will you need to connect the projection equipment?”
Han Zhao was the president’s assistant, and Fang Ming was usually polite toward him. This time, though reluctant, he still agreed. “We’ll probably need it. Thanks for the trouble.”
After Fang Ming left, Ling Xi followed to the meeting room and quietly said thank you to Han Zhao.
Han Zhao adhered to the principle of not chatting much with Ling Xi at work and simply gave a slight nod.
*
After getting off work, Ling Xi stayed half an hour late to make up a weekly report.
When she reached the ground floor of the office building, she realized it had started to drizzle.
It was hard to get a taxi during the evening rush, and Ling Xi did not want to walk to the subway station in the rain. She casually picked a restaurant downstairs, pushed the door open, and discovered Han Zhao was inside as well.
Since they were no longer in the office, there was no need to deliberately avoid suspicion. Ling Xi ordered a bowl of noodles and sat across from him. “Thanks for this morning.”
“It was part of my job. No need to be polite.” Han Zhao looked at her, expression normal.
After taking a bite of noodles, he asked, “Are you adapting to the job?”
“Pretty well.”
Ling Xi had not interacted much with Han Zhao in the past, and he was a man of few words. She lifted a strand of noodles with her chopsticks and asked casually, “Why are you eating downstairs instead of at home? Didn’t Wanwan cook?”
Su Wanwan used to like cooking, with Han Zhao helping her. Ever since they started sleeping separately, Su Wanwan no longer cooked dinner at home.
Han Zhao raised a hand to adjust his glasses. “She’s been quite busy lately. I still have something to do later, so I’m eating outside.”
Still had something to do after getting off work? Ling Xi feigned casualness and asked, “Don’t tell me the boss called you to work overtime with him again?”
Han Zhao’s expression did not change. He shook his head. “Personal matters.”
After the meal, Ling Xi insisted on paying, saying it was to thank Han Zhao for helping her in the morning.
When they stepped outside, the rain had already lightened. The two of them stood by the roadside waiting for taxis together.
Ling Xi was curious about where Han Zhao was going. She claimed she had already called a ride on her phone and that the driver had not arrived yet, letting Han Zhao hail one first.
She casually tested the waters. “There’s a Beijing-style lamb hotpot that opened near my place. One day, when you’re free, I’ll call Wanwan and we can all go eat together.” She deliberately acted as if she did not know there was a third party in their relationship.
Han Zhao’s expression remained calm. He smiled at her. “Alright.”
After waiting a few minutes, they did not get a taxi. Instead, a familiar black sedan arrived.
The car stopped by the roadside, the window rolled down, and inside was Zhou Mingye’s expressionless profile. His gaze paused on Ling Xi’s face for a moment before sweeping indifferently over Han Zhao.