Today is my graduation ceremony, I received my graduation certificate and I got a placement in my dream company. Xin,ling and meng have also placed in their dream company.
After the graduation ceremony we had a party ,so we entered a restaurant and we placed our orders, while waiting for the food we recalled our memories and the things we had done , we were laughing and enjoyed it. But on the other side i didn't even know that, the phone zombie has also come with his friends and he was sitting on the other side .
After dinner, we went to wash
up.As I stepped into the restroom, a man walked out—his shoulders broad, his posture
familiar.My breath hitched. That silhouette… it looked just like him. As i was seeing him
seriously .Xin nudged me. Why are you staring?I grabbed her wrist. Look. That guy—his build… it's him ,hearing that Ling and ming peeked their heads Ling snorted.You still haven't gotten over him? Ming grinned. After all this time? Damn, Ye. Xin told me ,hey ye how he would be here , we told you know that he might have been married even if had come here he would have brought his wife .My hands shook. Xin was right—he probably had a wife now.
Forget it, I muttered. Just… my eyes playing tricks.Then we came outside and we talked
sometimes and went home . After reaching home in our group chat we made a video call and said all the best for their work. They told me in the chat.Ling told me, hey ye tomorrow you are going to start your work all the best , fighting, Ming told ,ye fire, all the best after entering the company message us we will wait for your message and Xin told , ye while taking the bus don't search for him , i know till now you are thinking about him , even if you saw him anywhere don't see him, he is not worthy for you , both of them nodded their head and i showed thumbs up and
a heart ,after finishing our chat we went to bed.
First day of work. I woke before dawn,
scrubbed my skin raw in the shower, and barely tasted my breakfast.The bus arrived in five minutes. No time to overthink.I reached my office as i entered i message my friends and went to my department and i asked the receptionist where should I see the department manager as she directed the way I took the lift and went to 5th floor ,before entering the manager room ,i took a
deep breath and knocked the door and she said to come in ,as i went in , at first when I saw her face she looked like a strict teacher but no. I said good morning to the manager ,she replied with a smile and said hello and she congratulated me as i got placed even though the interview was
tough .
We both smiled ,she stood up and grabbed my hand and went to our department and
she introduced me to my colleagues there were a total of 10 members in our department she showed my place and i took my seat . The team circled my desk. You're Zhou Ye? one
whispered. "Brace yourself. The department head? Total tyrant (a demon) .Another leaned in.
Looks calm, but cross him, and you'll be scrubbing floors on weekends.and said chorusly ,he always says, Anyone who doesn't finish work on time is a donkey! As a punishment they have to clean the office on weekends. I saw them and said I think he is not strict but his mind is crazy , i haven't seen a head to be this funny . As i said this they laughed and tapped my shoulders. But
we didn't know that our department head was standing behind us . As they laughed and turned they looked shocked and frozen where they stood.
I turned my head and saw them and tapped them but a deep voice raised ,I stood up and saw all of them even the manager was in fear I told them to move and bowed my head and said I am zhou ye the newcomer sir . After wishing him raised my head and saw his face ,i was literally in shock ,the one person I never want to see again , i swore he'd be the last person I'd ever want to see again ,but here it's totally reversed.
The one who made my heart flutter,-the one who made my night sleepless-the one
who broke my heart without a word-I saw him again as my department head. But I was praying internally that he should not remember me . As i raised my head ,he said , I see you are the one who got selected even in a tough interview .I nodded my head in fear that he would remember me . But that damn head he was seeing that phone again ,but I felt relieved he just saw me for 5 seconds .
He asked the manager, what are you guys doing here without doing your work do I
need to make you guys work overtime . They chorusly replied no no sir we were just welcomed by our new colleague and we were going to work but you came sir . He raised his eyebrow and left. I stood like frozen snow .
They called my name. What's wrong ?they asked and said now you can see his character.
He would always do this,don't feel sad. I said no..... He is really crazy ,how come you are all saying he is strict, they saw me in a confused way and asked do you know him , how do you know him that he is crazy, i...i was just saying based on your intro of him and i even saw him . They laughed and said you really got guts zhou ye , they shook my
hand and went to do their work .And again I was confused and went to do my work.I sat and saw him and told in my mind that -you... That phone will break one day or else I will bury that phone .
As he was walking he lightly slipped and turned around and saw if anyone saw him slip
, i laughed at him and started my work . At 11 o'clock ,it's a break time so my coworkers called me to join them , i picked up my phone and went . When I went to the cafeteria, i opened my mouth wide , because it was so big and all kinds of cakes were there and even the buffet system ,even in my college it was not like that .
After picking out plates i took my favourite dish and sat with my colleague and they were talking, i was messaging in our group chat that i saw my crush , i messaged and i kept my phone down it was not even 1 second, my phone has so many notifications, when I took it and i saw it was my friends, they asked hey how come you saw him?- where did you saw?-how is he?- did he change?. My colleagues saw me and said who are you talking with the notification sound doesn't stop , i smiled and said no...it's nothing ,i
was talking to my friends. In that one of my coworkers asked if it was a girl , is she beautiful.
My manager slapped his head and said you didn't even change right . With a smile I shook my head in playful disagreement and i laughed and said Man my friends are taken .
All of them laughed .
It was 4 o' clock , my colleagues asked me to keep a welcome party . I nodded my head happily and booked seats for 12 members. My manager asked ,why are you booking 12 seat zhou ye , i replied with a doubt - yeah me , you and other 10 members , does anyone want to join .
One of the coworkers said Yeah , zhou ye you need to understand many things for the welcome party we need to invite the head of the department to show our sincerity. I sighed and looked at my manager and asked .Do I really need to invite him. She replied if you want to escape from that devil you should pamper him .
Go and invite him. I replied.What I need to personally invite him for the party all of them nodded their heads . I sighed and went to my head's office ,i knocked the door and asked may I come in sir , his assistant came out and asked what do I need - i replied him with a forced smile , I want to invite Mr.Xiang for the welcome party, after saying that his
assistant went inside the next second and closed the door . Behind me , my colleagues are peeking at me , i turned to them and saw them , they signaled me to invite him .
I was angry because his assistant didn't even ask me to wait . I thought , this head finally found his match - in craziness . His assistant's just as mad. I kicked my foot towards the door and suddenly his assistant opened the door , unfortunately I hit him. He screamed in a low voice , i said sorry to him and asked if he was hurt . He replied noo....the head asked you to go inside . I raised my voice and asked what?-why? .
He looked up and said just do as he says , don't speak when you enter ,keep it in your mind , I looked at him and thought .He's boasting like we should be
trembling… I'm just trembling from trying not to laugh.
Then I forced a smile at him and said yes i will do as you say,sir. Then I went inside again and
that crazy man was seeing his phone I didn't know what he would be seeing on his phone He's so invested in it ,as if he was married to that phone.
I spoke , sir I would like to invite you for the
welcome party , are you free sir . He didn't even lift his head up and said yeah ,i will come.
I asked sir...sir with a high voice and he looked at me and asked what, i replied what would you like to eat or which restaurant do you like sir . He replied as you wish , when you are done just inform me i will be there. I forced a smile at him and said ok and turned to leave the cabin , but suddenly he called my name again it started,my heart is pounding again , i turned around slowly and asked do you need anything sir, he said when you leave the cabin close the door and go .
For a second I thought he remembered me ,but no . I left and closed the door quickly .My colleagues were waiting for me ,as i went to the war and returned with glory. They looked at me in an interesting way and asked if he said yes. Yeah he said ok and told me to inform him . They were all shocked and said.
Zhou ye i admire you , you are the best, and they salute me , i was confused and looked at my manager she said keep it up. I was like , what the hell is happening here ? It was likely 7 pm ,the dishes were placed on the table and all my coworkers came to the restaurant but my head didn't come , we were waiting 20 minutes for him , i told them to start
eating and said to my manager that I would go and call his assistant.
They nodded and i went to call his assistant. He picked up his phone and asked what happened, i replied the head is not
here when will he come , he replied the head is busy with his work once he finishes it he will join you , you can start your party don't wait for him.
I replied,we have already started the party it is
nearly half an hour since he didn't come and the dishes went cold if I leave them , they will go hungry and inform the head to come fast.
And i disconnected, the head asked who was on the phone , he replied it's the newcomer zhou ye , what she wants, he replied she said that dishes went cold and told you to join early.
He looked at him with his glasses and a pen in his hand and the lamp light fell on his half face and replied mm ... We will go after 5 minutes, his assistant replied,sir that newcomer seems to be bold to you , and you are different, actually you wouldn't attend the welcome party but now ,what happened?- he saw him with his murderous eyes and told him to prepare the car.
When they arrived to the restaurant only manager Li and zhou ye were there . When he entered he asked where the other members were, she replied hesitatingly and said they went home as the party was over, head Xiang .
Then why are two here,zhou ye got drunk after one can of juice ,my husband will pick me up sir, I have to go. She asked the head Xiang to keep an eye on her and she left.
Now there are only three of them , the
assistant knows what to do, he goes away silently without informing him. He went near her and tried to wake her up,but she didn't wake up , he called his assistant for help but there was no reply,he turned and saw he was not there .
Now he is confused ,he helped her to stand up ,he took her hand and placed them around the shoulder and he started to walk . But I was ready to annoy him, but I didn't walk properly and I fell , but he didn't catch me , and he asked are you okay ?- does it hurt? . I replied, You crazy man why are you always pushing me away he replied when I pushed you , she replied you don't have to know and I suddenly started crying and I stood up and started to walk .
He was confused and asked ,what happened now what are you crying , i didn't reply to him .He tried to catch me as i didn't walk steadily. Somehow he managed me and brought me near his car and he tried to make me sit in his car , but I was stubborn and i didn't enter I grabbed his car door and i didn't
leave it .He must be so annoyed as i was doing like this, he tried so many times later he made me sit in his car.
He closed the door and came to open the other side and he sat and turned to
the other seat and saw i was not there, because when he walked to the other side i silently opened the door , and crawled on the road.
He was shocked ,he was searching for me but I already walked half the distance I called my friend and told them that i was with him and told them to pick me up .
When he looked up ,he saw me walking and he got out of the car immediately,he ran towards me , as i didn't walk properly I was going to fall down but he caught
me like ,catching the fish.
He was annoyed that I could see through his voice, He said Zhou ye what do you want Why did you leave the car, I replied ,I don't want to travel in your car mr.head,he looked at me in his confused face and asked , why don't you want to travel in my car ?-i replied,i won't take strangers car , he was annoyed again and said why am I stranger to you, when he asked that I was sobered up and my heart ,what should I say to my heart i doesn't
obey me,whenever I saw him i would fall in love him again .
But i controlled myself and said
mr.head ,I am your employee ,not your girlfriend,you don't have to take care of me , you can leave mr.head,I have sobered up my friends will come to pick me up.
He replied with a little anger and annoyed ,then I will wait till your friend comes.I looked at him with my eye brow
raised ,he saw me and asked now what do you want , nothing I am thinking how you were in college days , you are a crazy man ,but your subordinates are calling you demon , it's crazy right.
He looked shocked and raised his voice like a baby and said Who are you calling crazy,
did you forget i am your boss. I replied that's why I am telling you this...mr.head.
Then the next second my friends arrived and saw me and hugged and said in a funny way, I am so proud of you girl, you succeeded right, who told you that I am successful , and i slept in Xin's arm , but he doesn't understand girls talk ,he was confused and said take care of her and give her some food to eat.
Xin,Ling and Meng saw him and told in a low voice so it was him right, then I suddenly woke up and said yes it was him again I slept in her arms. He looked like a poor thing
and he went to his car and really i think I was crazy at that time , I told him bye mr.bus,he was shocked and peeked from his window.
My friends tried to close my mouth and they put me in her car and we went to our house . But he was like a golden retriever looking at the road and he was suddenly thinking his assistant popped up and tapped his car and asked sir what happened? Why are you zoned out ? - what....me I am not zoned out i was just seeing that the road is neat and clean, our office should be like this assistant gu.
Gu was confused because the road was full of leaves and it wasn't cleaned properly.Xiang asked the assistant gu, where he
went . He replied it was a nature call xiang how can I control it. Xiang looked at him and said don't try to change the subject,I know what you think .But it's not like that.The next day I woke up in half sleep.I stretched my hands and placed my legs on the floor , and saw that my floor looked different from what I saw in my home.
There were three pairs of legs when I looked up it was my friends. I rubbed my eyes, thinking I was imagining things.....but it was them. I was shocked and asked them why they were here. They looked at each other and said to me that we brought you to Xin's home last night . Don't you remember what you did last night? I was breaking my head and thinking Ling told me ,zhou ye i thought you were a good girl ,but what you did last night was a disbelief for us. I was in shock and asked them what I did last night.
Xin came close to my face and said really you don't know what you did zhou ye. I shook my head and told them to say. Ming replied zhou ye when we arrived at the restaurant you were kissing your department head or your crush . Ling and Xin were smiling at me like I was a baby .
I didn't believe them because they would always prank me when I was in college so I acted with them , I stood up and walked near Xin and said mm..... haa now i know what happened yesterday.
Xin you were talking to your bf right and you ling and ming ,you were eating snacks late at night right . Three of them looked at me in disbelief and said , zhou ye, you know that we were lying right but , if you don't know how to prank us don't do it we can easily see through it.
I was embarrassed and gave a hit to three of them and they told me what I did last night while eating. When I was drinking soup, Ling told me zhou ye,I think your boss should have fallen in love with you, hearing that i spilled the soup on me ,in disbelief i asked are you crazy,he doesn't know that he is my crush, then why are you saying like that.
Ming replied last night that your
so-called boss told us to take care of you and told us to give her something to eat. I couldn't
believe them ,so I looked at Xin and asked with my facial expressions if it was true . Xin nodded her head with a smile . Three of them looked at me as if I had done something mysterious.I ate my breakfast in a hurry and left Xin house and I ran to the bus stop and i took a deep breath.
While I was waiting for the bus,I saw the bus where I made my memories with him crossing me .
I was smiling like an innocent baby. It came to my senses, and I took my bus. When I arrived at the office and entered, my coworkers were murmuring. I placed my bag at my seat and asked one of them what was going on.
He said, "The devil called our manager at 9 o'clock. They talked for one whole hour. We don't know what it was about."
As we talked, we continued working. After 10 minutes, the manager came out and called for a meeting. We all went to the meeting room as if we were entering a haunted house.
I was sitting in the second chair when I saw our department head, Xiang, come in. Immediately, I jumped to the last seat and sat there quietly.
In the meeting, he said our company needed to develop a software application. Each
department had to create a proposal and give a presentation to their head. The department with the best proposal would win a team trip, and their app idea would actually be developed.
Everyone clapped excitedly.
Then Xiang added, "You all need to work overtime until your proposals are done."
My coworker whispered to me, "Speak of the devil—he just revealed his true form."
I laughed under my breath. As the meeting ended, I somehow escaped from Xiang's gaze.
Meanwhile, Xiang turned to his assistant and asked, "Assistant Gu, do I look like a crazy
person?" Without hesitation, Gu replied, "Mm... yes. What's with the question?
Everyone knows you're
crazy. After finishing the line, Assistant Gu suddenly realized what he'd just said. He slapped a hand over his mouth.
Xiang turned to him — eyes wide, a dramatic mix of Did you just say that? and I might strangle you later.
He walked over, placed a hand on Gu's shoulder, and pressed down hard."You've gotten bold, huh? I'll deal with you later," he said, and left with a bombastic side eye.
The employees were working hard to create the best proposal for their department. It was 11 pm and all of them were working hard .
Assistant Gu came with 5 parcels of midnight snacks and he gave it to the
manager and said it was sent by the department head,Xiang . The manager was shocked onesecond and took it from assistant Gu ,gu said i know manager Li what you are thinking, even when Xiang gave these I was also shocked,he changed a lot right, manager Li nodded her in shock and told to convey her thanks on behalf of them . assistant gu went inside and told them that he gave his parcel to the manager. Xiang was looking at his computer and he nodded his head and assistant gu replied manager Li said thanks to you on behalf of them .
Again he nodded his head and he suddenly lifted his head and said only manager Li said thanks to me, does anyone told thanks other than manager Li . Assistant Gu raised an eyebrow like he was about to cause drama, leaned closer to Head Xiang, and said,"Sir… do you want Zhou Ye to thank you in person?"
Before Head Xiang could respond, Gu cleared his throat, struck a fake shy pose, fluttered his lashes, and in the most exaggerated girly voice he could muster, said:
"T-thank you, Sir Xiang… you're my hero~"
He even clasped his hands to his chest and gave the most tragic puppy eyes imaginable—like a K-drama heroine caught in the rain without an umbrella. Xiang coughed, clearly caught off guard, and casually tossed the pen from his hand like it betrayed him . Assistant Gu left the office without leaving his acting when he closed and he gave a flying kiss to Xiang and closed the door .
Xiang watched his acting and made a face like he just chugged a gallon of spoiled milk!.A week has passed and all the employees prepared a proposal, and started to explain Their proposal one by one to their department Head, Xiang. When zhou ye turn came, assistant gu said to Xiang that next is zhou ye,he immediately took his phone out and made his look neat when he kept his phone inside assistant gu again started to act like zhou ye , my hero~ you look handsome~~~. Xiang threw a paper at assistant gu .
Zhou ye entered the room and became a victim of their chaos , Xiang and assistant gu looked at zhou ye and zhou ye smiled awkwardly at both of them . Both of them coughed and Xiang asked her to submit the proposal and asked her to explain it , as she was explaining it , Xiang lost himself to her and he was eagerly listening to her speech . When she finishes her presentation,Xiang claps his hands like a baby .
Zhou ye looked at him in a confused way and smiled. While assistant gu went near and pampered his head . Zhou ye burst into laughter because the atmosphere was like a mother pampering his son , Xiang looked up and saw assistant gu 's hands was in his head,He awkwardly removed my hand, like, 'okay that's enough now.Zhou ye said sorry to them if she has offended them .
But assistant gu was acting like Xiang and said it's nothing you can take the proposal and leave the cabin thanks. Zhou ye smiled awkwardly and looked at Xiang ,Xiang looked at gu and said ,Mr.Gu come ,come and sit in my chair ,I can be an assistant for you . Gu said ,sir how can I...I ,it would not be appropriate for me to sit here. Xiang widened his eyes and looked at him gu became silent. Xiang turned around and said to wait for the results. I left the office and we waited for the results.
The next day, everyone in the office was nervously waiting for the board's decision. Our department head, Xiang, finally walked in and announced,
"Our department has been selected by the board!"
He said they were impressed with our proposal, and as a reward, we'd be getting a one-week tour pass and a bonus.
The office exploded in cheers. Everyone was clapping and jumping in joy.
In the middle of the celebration, I shouted, "To celebrate, shall we have a party today?"
Suddenly, silence. Everyone turned to look at Xiang.
He shifted from his usual serious expression to a rare, playful grin and said, "Yes, and it's my treat."
The cheers returned, louder this time. A few coworkers even hugged Xiang, and of course, Assistant Gu couldn't miss the moment—he started patting Xiang's head like he was a proud mom.
I couldn't help smiling as Xiang flashed a wide, toothy grin. But Gu wasn't done. His hand slid from Xiang's head to his chin, and then he gently pushed his jaw closed like he was sealing a container.Xiang's smile vanished. He shot Gu a sharp look.
And at that moment, I thought, If Assistant Gu pulls something like that again, he might be
holding a resignation letter tomorrow. That night, we all reached the restaurant. Xiang sat in the middle, I was on his left, and Assistant Gu was on his right.
Gu gave Xiang a playful elbow, like "You saw that, right?"
Xiang sighed and said, "Mr. Gu, I'm pleading with you—save your dignity… and mine."
Assistant Gu raised his eyebrows, like his older brother had just asked him to return his favorite chocolate. He replied, "If you want me to stop, then call me Mother."
Xiang forced a smile and awkwardly muttered, "Mother~~~."
Immediately, Gu placed a hand on Xiang's head and began patting him like a child.
Neither of them noticed that the others had started watching.
A few male coworkers grinned and asked playfully, "Are you guys…~~?"
Xiang pushed Gu aside, flustered. "W-we're not what you think! We were just joking, don't mind it."
He smiled awkwardly and took a quick sip of water, clearly trying to calm himself.
Meanwhile, the others were ordering food while I sat there, watching it all like a front-row
audience to a live comedy show.
Once the food arrived, we all started eating. After dinner, our manager ordered juice for a game of Truth or Dare.
When the drinks came, Manager Li set the rules. "If you refuse to answer a question, you drink two shots."
Everyone got excited. The bottle was spun and landed on one of the employees.
Manager Li asked, "Do you have a girlfriend—or ever had love at first sight?"
The guy smiled. "Yes, I had love at first sight… and I married her."
Everyone cheered. "Ohhhhhhh!" followed by applause.
Next, the bottle landed on Zhou Ye.
Manager Li asked, "Do you have a boyfriend?" Zhou Ye replied with a bit of disappointment, "No."
Li followed up, "But do you have a crush on anyone?"
While everyone was holding their breath for her answer, Xiang secretly looked excited.
Zhou Ye smiled and said, "Yes. I had a crush on someone during college."
Everyone leaned forward and asked in unison, "Was he handsome? Did you know his name?"
She laughed. "I don't know his name. I don't even think he knew I had a crush on him. I've
probably forgotten him by now."
Their expressions turned a bit sad—but not Xiang's. He looked delighted.
Assistant Gu leaned in and whispered, "Sir, this is your chance. Grab it before you lose it." He gave Xiang a thumbs-up.
Xiang smiled at him. "Gu… you're talented. I didn't even know I had a chance to woo her, but you found it before me. Are you happy to be this smart?"
He looked at Gu in disbelief, like, How did I end up with this guy as my assistant for so many years?
Then he narrowed his eyes and asked, "Gu, did you leave your shame behind when you joined me as an assistant?"
The resident comedy king didn't miss a beat. "Yeah, I left it at home the day I joined you," he
replied with a proud smirk. Xiang gave him a look like he was managing a very mischievous child.The next day was finally the tour we had all been waiting for.
Everyone packed their things for the week and loaded them onto the bus—which, to my
disappointment, turned out to be more of a mini-van with limited seating. My coworkers had already claimed their spots next to their friends. Even Manager Li betrayed me—she brought her husband along and was already having the time of her life.
When I turned around, I saw that only two seats were left. One for me... and the other next to Assistant Gu. But here's the twist—Head Xiang was sitting right between those two seats.
For a second, I genuinely questioned all my life choices. Do I really need to go on this tour? I thought. But clearly, fate had other plans.
I asked Assistant Gu where he was sitting, and without missing a beat, he pointed to the left of Xiang and instantly plopped down like I was about to steal his seat. That left me with the window seat—on Xiang's right.
As I sat down, old memories came flooding back. The guy I secretly had a crush on back in college is now my department head... and he's sitting beside me. My heart started pounding. I quickly took out my phone and messaged my friends:
"Guys. Xiang is sitting beside me. What do I do?!"
Xin replied:
"Lie on his shoulder."
I typed back:
"I'm awkwardly watching this mess unfold while also low-key judging it."
Ling and Ming both chimed in:
"Zhou Ye, she's right. And I know you smiled when you read her message."
Ye, it's your chance. Even if it's wild~~~~ just go for it!"
Xin and Ling sent together:
"I know this is wild and embarrassing, but we're totally here for it—and loving the chaos!"
I sighed and looked out the window, wondering if disappearing into the scenery was an option.
That's when Xiang tapped me.
"What happened? Why are you sighing?"
I replied, "No, it's just my friends. They're making fun of me."
He raised a brow. "Ohh... you have friends?"
I turned to him and said with mock pride,
"I do. They're rare, limited editions. Just like me."
Assistant Gu burst out laughing, practically choking on air. Xiang looked mildly offended—and went quiet, staring at his phone like it had all the answers.
Finally, I thought. He should've done that in the first place instead of talking to me .It was late at night, and while everyone else had fallen asleep, I remained wide awake. Of course, I couldn't sleep—this idiot beside me had been the reason for so many of my sleepless nights.
And now, here I was, sitting right next to him on the bus. How could I possibly rest?
Even though I felt a bit nervous, I couldn't help but feel grateful. I had actually prayed to sit
beside him, and now here I was, quietly admiring his veins. He hadn't changed at all.
His veins still popped out the same way they used to, and I found myself stifling a laugh. Without even thinking, I reached out and began to gently trace them with my fingers.
But what I forgot in that moment of weakness… was that Assistant Gu was a certified night owl.
I had no idea he saw me, not until much later. Meanwhile, the person I was touching so boldly?
Slept through it like a log.
By morning, we had arrived at the resort. It was massive and beautiful. Xiang told everyone to check in, and as we walked through the entrance, Assistant Gu called out to him.
Without warning, Gu took Xiang's hand and examined it. Xiang narrowed his eyes.
"What are you up to? I'm not agreeing to any weird demands," he said suspiciously.
But Gu was already deep into his dramatic act. Clutching Xiang's hand like a love-struck
heroine, he gasped, "Ugh, your veins… they're so smooth! Are you, like, sponsored by lotion or something?" Xiang pulled his hand away from Gu and muttered, "Smooth like butter~~," before placing his palm on
Gu's forehead to check his temperature.
"What are you doing?" Gu asked, confused.
Xiang replied seriously, "Mr. Gu, you don't even have a fever. So why are you acting like this today?" Then he paused, squinting suspiciously. "Wait… night owl, did you even sleep last night?"
Without waiting for a response, Xiang walked away. But Gu stared after him with a sly smirk, like an ex-girlfriend silently judging her former flame.
Later, when everyone assembled in the resort's main hall, Manager Li handed out room cards.
"Assistant Gu," she called out, "can you share a room with Xiang?"
Xiang turned to her with the expression of a betrayed child. "Why don't I have my own room?"
She apologized quickly. "Sir, I'm really sorry! Actually, that was supposed to be your room, but there was a booking mistake. The names got swapped. It's only for a week—can you adjust?
You and Assistant Gu are like brothers anyway."
We all stared, waiting for Xiang's reaction. But before he could say anything, Gu jumped in,
refusing to waste an opportunity to embarrass him. "He's not my brother."
Manager Li looked stunned. "Oh! Did I say something wrong?" she asked carefully. "If he's not your brother, then—oh, I get it now.
He's our boss. Sorry, Gu—I didn't mean to dismiss your feelings."
At that moment, Xiang looked like he'd just won a national award for enduring daily nonsense.
But Gu wasn't finished. "No, Manager Li," he said dramatically, "you misunderstood again." The room went silent. Then Gu declared, "He's like my son. I'll take care of him."
And with that, he patted Xiang's shoulder proudly.
The employees couldn't take it anymore—we were all choking on our laughter. I couldn't help joining in. Only Gu could roast Xiang to this level and still keep his job.
Xiang, on the other hand, looked like a man questioning every decision that led him to hire this assistant.The employees got settled into their rooms, freshened up, and headed down to the dining hall for breakfast.
In my room, I was on a video call with my friends — it was my first trip with coworkers, and I just had to tell them everything. As soon as they picked up, they screamed,
"Did you make any progress last night?!"
They looked like they were dying for the scoop.
I grinned and said,
"Yesss… I took my hand and—"
Before I could finish, they screamed again like total fangirls.
"What did you do?! Tell us!"
I tried to keep a straight face.
"I took my hand… and started tracing his veins."
They stared at me in dead silence, looking at me like I was completely hopeless. I couldn't stop laughing.
Xin finally said,"Zhou Ye… I can't help but laugh at you. You had the chance and this is what you did?"
"If it were me, I would've gone all in."
Me, Ling, and Ming gave her the side-eye and said, "Oh really? Is that why you fought with your boyfriend over a BTS edit?"
Xin stammered, "T-That's different! I just told him to keep his mouth shut while I was watching.
He kept distracting me!"
Ming chimed in,
"Xin, he's your boyfriend. Try treating him better than your imaginary bias next time."
Ling and I laughed,
"Big talk coming from someone who's just as bad."
We all cracked up.
Just then, someone knocked on my door. I was still on the call when I opened it — and of
course, it was Assistant Gu.
"Miss Ye, it's getting late. Why aren't you down for breakfast?"
I smiled, "I'll be there in five minutes. You go ahead, Gu. Don't wait for me."
He muttered, "I didn't want to wait for you. It's my son — he's being stubborn."
My friends on the video call gasped in unison,
"OHHHH~~"
They were shrieking behind me, but Gu had no idea I was on a call.
I gave Gu a look, raising my eyebrows and subtly signaling him. He got the hint and quickly said,
"Miss Ye, please carry on with your important call. I'll go eat my breakfast."
He closed the door gently behind him.
Leaning against the door, I listened to what he said next — and so did my friends on the call.
Gu walked away and told Xiang,
"She's on an important call, sir. Maybe we shouldn't disturb her. Shall we go eat?"
Xiang, clearly annoyed, replied,
"Mr. Gu, I have work to do. You can eat without me."
But come on… we all knew what Gu was going to do. He immediately said,
"Alright, my son! I'll eat my breakfast and then come back to feed you. Wait for me~"
The next second, Xiang gave him a swift kick to shut him up. And on my side of the call?
My friends and I were rolling with laughter. After lunch we were strolling around the resort , and there were many places to see and in that resort there were games , so some people gone to see the resort and some were playing games, i was putting on my sunglass and i was enjoying the view in my chair i was scrolling the phone and drinking juice.
But Mr Xiang was standing at a
distance and watching me like a spy . Assistant Gu was swimming in the pool,he was enjoying it. Gu asked Xiang to join him ,but he refused him . Xiang walked towards me and stood near me . I turned my head and i didn't spoke a word and i was continuing to see my phone.
He coughed at first i didn't see him. Second time he was streching his hands. Third time squat down . I looked down and asked. Mr.Xiang what do you want , he replied i was doing my work . I replied then continue your work , i will see my phone. At that time I drank 2 cans of juice ,i know i can't handle it ,but I drank.
I slept but he didn't notice and he started to say , zhou ye why are you mean to me ?, did I do any mistakes? I will change it, if i had done anything wrong? Will you forgive me? Why don't you say anything and he turned his head around and saw that i was asleep. He told see now also you are mean to me , you didn't even say that you are sleeping.
Behind Xiang , assistant Gu was saying, why should she tell you that she is sleeping,is she your gf or your assistant. Xiang turned around and said Gu can't you keep your mouth shut why are you always acting weridly around me .
Gu smirked and leaned back dramatically. "Xiang, I'm not ancient like you, okay? I'm a young, energetic boy—I still have fuel to be stupid. You, on the other hand... you're basically 30."
Xiang shot him a look and raised a brow. "I'm not 30. I'm 29." Gu gasped with fake innocence. "Haa~~ same thing! Just with extra back pain."
He strutted off with a proud grin, leaving Xiang muttering under his breath like a grumpy
grandpa.It was nearly 8 PM, and no one had noticed that I was still passed out in the same spot.
Everyone else had gone for dinner.
Manager Li glanced around and asked Assistant Gu, "Where's Zhou Ye?"
Gu replied casually, "Miss Ye was sleeping when I went for a swim. Haven't seen her since."
Xiang, who was wolfing down his food like he was training for a speed-eating competition,
suddenly stood up. "I'm going for a walk."
Everyone nodded and kept eating.
After a few steps, he turned back with a frown. "Why is no one searching for Zhou Ye?"
Manager Li looked up, unfazed. "We were just about to, Mr. Xiang. Since you've already finished dinner, maybe you can find her on your walk. Thanks in advance!"
He huffed. "I didn't say I was going to look for her. I just said I'm going for a walk."
Gu didn't even lift his head. "We're eating, old man. You're the one done early—go find her."
Xiang shot him a look like he'd lost his mind, but he still turned around and walked off. He
eventually found me—still on the same chair where he had spoken to me earlier.
I hadn't moved an inch. I was dead asleep.
He came over, gently patting my face to wake me up.I stirred, groggy and still tipsy. "Who are you? Why are you holding my hand?"
Xiang placed a hand on my shoulder like a motivational speaker giving a TED Talk.
"Don't youremember me? I'm your boss and I—"
"Stop." I raised a hand like I was calling for order in a courtroom. "I, Zhou Ye, don't need help from anyone. I can go home by myself."
He blinked. "Your house? You're going to walk from this resort to your house?"
I looked confused. "What resort? This is a restaurant, right?"
Xiang sighed, took my hand, and started to help me walk—but I plopped right back down like a sack of potatoes.
He squatted beside me, clearly at the end of his patience. "Zhou Ye, what are you doing?"
I squinted at him like I was trying to recognize a long-lost classmate. "Oh… it's you. I saw you at the restaurant. I told you then—I don't take rides from strangers."
Xiang looked thoroughly defeated. "You're even more troublesome than Gu. At this point, I think he's better than you."
I huffed. "Then go marry him. Why are you wasting time on me? I'm not worth it."
He didn't argue—just picked me up and carried me on his back like a reluctant hero and brought me to my room. He placed me gently on the bed.
"You kidnapped me from my friends," I mumbled, "they'll be worried if I don't wait for them."
He rolled his eyes. "They won't be worried."
"How do you know?"
"You video-called your Friends gang this morning, remember?" he said, adjusting the pillow under my head.
I reached out and grabbed his collar, eyes wide. "I know it's you. I'm seeing you after a long time. Where did you go?"
He paused, voice soft. "What are you talking about, Zhou Ye? Do you know me?"
I nodded. "I've known you for a long time. But not you… the young version of you."
His face fell like a sad puppy. "Is he the crush you mentioned at the party?"
I smiled dreamily. "Yeah… he is."
He gently removed his hand from under my head and stood up, clearly ready to leave.
But I caught his hand again and pulled him back. His face shifted from heartbroken to blushing in a flash.
"What are you doing, Ye? This isn't appropriate…"
I started unbuttoning the top of his shirt. His hands flew to stop mine.
"Do you know what you're doing, Zhou Ye? You'll regret this when you wake up."
"I've regretted not doing it before," I whispered. "I won't regret it now. Don't worry, I'm not going to do anything weird."
I unbuttoned the first three buttons and grinned. "See? Now you look cute."
He stared at me, stunned. "Why did you do that?"
"You wore your shirt like this once. Just three buttons undone—and I went crazy for you. It's
your fault."
Then I pushed him away and rolled over, ready to sleep.
He stood there silently, fixed my hair gently, and tucked the blanket over me before slipping out and closing the door quietly behind him.
The moment the door clicked shut, he started sweating like he had just finished a full-body
workout.
Right on cue, Assistant Gu popped up. "Mr. Xiang? Why are you sweating so much?"
Xiang coughed. "Nothing. I just… moved something heavy."
Gu squinted, noticing Xiang's half-unbuttoned shirt. "Wow. Moved something heavy, huh? Didn't know you were such a ~~~"
Xiang slapped Gu's shoulder.
"You! Stop talking nonsense! It's not what you think—I didn't do anything. It was Ye."
Gu's eyes widened. "So she does like you?"
Xiang's face dropped. "I don't know… she said she has a crush on someone."
Gu patted Xiang's back like a seasoned uncle. "It's okay, old man. Trying to correct a girl at your age? Totally understandable. Don't lose hope—I feel you."
For a brief second, Xiang blinked, genuinely touched. Wow… maybe he's finally maturing and being supportive.
But reality hit like a truck.
Nope. I judged too soon. This clown will never change.The next morning, I woke up with a
splitting headache. As I stepped outside my room, an odd, uneasy feeling crept in. I paused, looked around—nothing. No one was there. Shaking it off, I shut the door behind me and went to get some water.
Manager Li and the other employees were already having breakfast.
"Morning," I greeted them, and we all quietly resumed our tasks. But that weird feeling… it didn't go away. I couldn't shake it off.
Just as I took a sip of water, Xiang walked in—and the entire room gasped and burst into
laughter.
I turned around to see what the fuss was about, and I spat out the water I'd just drunk.
I couldn't believe my eyes.
He looked exactly like he did three years ago—the same shirt, the same pants, the same worn sports shoes… and, of course, his first three buttons unbuttoned, just like before.
That's when it hit me.
That was the bad feeling I had earlier. It wasn't some sixth sense about disaster—it was just
him.
On one side, the employees were fawning over him, praising how handsome he looked. On the other side, Assistant Gu appeared beside me, eyeing my stunned face.
"Why are you in shock?" he asked, nudging me.
"Look at Xiang," I said, still staring.
Gu gave him a glance and smirked. "Ohh, so he finally came to his senses."
I blinked at Gu and asked, "What… what happened?
Is he going through puberty or something?
Why is he acting like this?"
Gu laughed. "I joked yesterday about him being an old man. Guess he took it to heart and decided to 'transform'."
Both of us were genuinely in disbelief. Even if he wanted to look young again, there was
absolutely no need to unbutton the first three buttons. Right?
Still in shock, I set my glass down and started to walk away.
That's when Xiang ran up to me.
"Wait!" he called.
I stopped and turned around, forcing my voice to sound formal. "Do you need anything, Mr.
Xiang?"
He did a little spin and grinned. "How do I look?"
I stared at him and replied honestly, "You look like a lost kid in a dressing room—excited,
confused, and kinda proud."
For a moment, he went quiet. Then he whined, "Zhou Ye, can't you just praise me? Look how handsome I am!"
His confidence made my face twitch with awkwardness. I clapped slowly, gave him a thumbs up,and said flatly, "Yeah, yeah, you look handsome. Can I go now, Mr. Xiang?"
I turned to leave, but then he called out again, "Do you know what happened last night?"
He said it in a dramatic, haunted tone, like he was warning me before I stepped into a horror
movie.
I turned back and gave him the "I'm-not-convinced-but-go-on" look.
"What happened last night?" I asked cautiously.
"You were more mischievous than Gu," he said with a mock-serious face.
Assistant Gu happened to pass by right then and added smugly, "Hey! No one can beat me.
Mind it."
Xiang shot him a death glare, while I stood there, in disbelief. Does this man ever stop joking?
Even in serious moments?
Then Xiang leaned in and said, "You grabbed my hand… and pulled me close… and then you started to—"
"Stop!" I cut him off immediately. "What are you even saying, Xiang?! Don't you think before you speak?!"
"Why should I? It's what happened yesterday. You even said—"
"Said what?"
"That I looked like your crush."
My mouth dropped. I slapped my hand over it, mind racing like I was solving a math
problem—and failing miserably.
"I didn't say that!" I said, trying to salvage my dignity. "Are you making this up, Mr. Xiang?!"
He smirked like a villain in a K-drama. "Why would I make it up, Miss Ye?"
I ran to my room, slammed the door, and locked it.
Pacing around like a maniac, I grabbed my phone and called Xin.
"Now what did you do?" she answered casually. "Is it serious?"
"Yes!" I cried. "I did something I shouldn't have done!"
There was a beat of silence, then I screamed into the phone, "Xin~~~ can you stop with the
jokes? I'm serious!"
Xin sighed and tried to calm me down. "Okay, okay. Tell me what happened."I recounted the entire mess from this morning.
She literally screamed. "Ye! You should drink less! You know you can't handle it—why were you even drinking?!"
Then she laughed.
I groaned. "Xin! What do I do?!"
"Just act normal. Pretend it didn't happen. But also, think back—did you say anything that
connected to him… from three years ago?"
I fell silent and nodded slowly. "Yes... I did."
Xin squealed. "Then congratulations, my girl!
You finally made a move!"
And with that, she cut the call.
"Hey! I'm being serious here!" I yelled into the phone. "Why is everyone making fun of me?!"
It was the last day at the resort. We packed our things and boarded the bus. I thought I could finally sit in the front, away from him, but my energetic colleagues had already claimed their seats.
Once again, I had to take the window seat—the same one. I sat there, staring outside
when Assistant Gu arrived. I called out, "Mr. Gu, I want to talk to you. Can you sit here?"
He smiled and agreed, but behind him, Mr. Xiang was standing. I felt his glare burning into my back as I turned my head away.
Gu sat beside me and asked, "What do you want to talk about, Miss Ye?"
I nervously blurted out, "Are you married?"
Xiang peeked at me with a smirk, while Gu looked completely taken aback. His face fell as he replied, "Miss Ye… thanks for asking, but I don't even have a girlfriend."
Xiang burst out laughing, and I could only think Oh no, what am I even asking right now?! I quickly added, "Gu, it's not what you think. It was just a common question—don't take it to heart."
The bus started moving, and soon we were halfway back. I dozed off, bumping my head against the window every now and then. Seeing that, Xiang told Gu, "Switch seats with me."
Gu chuckled, "Finally come around, old man?"
Ignoring him, Xiang sat beside me and gently moved my head to rest on his shoulder.
It was midnight, and everyone else was asleep. I woke up groggily, thinking I was still leaning on Gu—only to realize I was wrapped up in Xiang's arm.
He'd placed his hand over my shoulder,
and it was basically a hug. I tried to shift away, but his grip was strong. I had no choice but to
stay like that… pressed against his chest.
Well, it was a perfect chance—so I sneakily took out my phone and snapped a photo of us.
The shutter sound gave me away. Xiang stirred, turned toward me, and instinctively pulled me in tighter. I blushed like crazy.
It hit me then—whenever I stood inside his arms, I always bumped against them. But now… I was completely inside his embrace. It felt like luck was finally on my side.
I gently patted his head and drifted back to sleep.
The next day, at around 5 AM, everyone was still asleep—except Xiang.
He slowly opened his eyes, only to find me curled up in his arms. A soft smile tugged at his lips as he gently tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear. His gaze lingered on my face, and just as he leaned forward—hesitating—he stopped himself.
But fate had other plans.
Still half-asleep, I shifted slightly, my head tilting upward… and before he could pull away, his lips brushed my forehead.
Startled, he pulled back. But then—unable to help himself—he leaned in again and kissed me once more, this time deliberately.
And that's when I caught him.
His eyes widened in shock, clearly panicking. Just as he opened his mouth to scream, I
clamped my hand over his lips.
A romantic moment instantly turned into an awkward mess.
Xiang's gaze dropped to my hand on his mouth, his face going completely red. I stared at him and slowly pulled my hand away and my heart was pounding,before that i would think , If I ever get a chance to get close to him like now i would have been happy that time .
Then I gave him a deadly glare.
"What did you just do?" I asked, my voice low.
He stuttered, "I—I was just helping you lie straight! You moved your head and made it happen!"
"Oh please," I rolled my eyes. "You think I don't know what you did? You're unbelievable, you crazy man."
Xiang looked at me like a kid caught stealing snacks before dinner—guilty and pouty. The
nickname golden retriever popped into my mind again. It suited him.
From the row behind, Assistant Gu snorted.
"You two lovebirds," he teased. "Keep your affection to yourselves. Don't make the rest of us jealous."
Both Xiang and I turned our heads to glare at him.
Xiang raised a hand and mock-threatened to strangle him.
I gave Xiang a light slap on the arm. "This is your fault! Don't act innocent now."
He immediately went quiet, like a scolded puppy.
Still, I couldn't help but smile.
Golden retriever and crazy man—they really did suit him well.We had finally reached home.
Xiang and Gu headed straight to the office after getting off the bus, while I made my way to my friend's house since mine was too far. I'd visit my family once I got some rest.
As I entered the house, I looked completely dazed. I dropped my bag and luggage in one corner and collapsed onto the couch. Xin, Ling, and Ming were already there—but I didn't even notice them at first. I was smiling to myself like a lovesick idiot, replaying the morning's incident over and over in my head.
Ming had to call my name three times before she finally smacked me lightly on the head.
"Hey! What's got you zoned out like that? Did something happen between you two?"
I blinked out of my dreamland and replied softly, "Yes..."
The three of them leapt from their seats, practically swarming me. "What?! What happened?!"
So I told them everything—every single heart-racing detail.
When I finished, they just stared at me in silence. Then, like I'd just achieved something
monumental, they gave me a collective thumbs-up and plopped back down like judges in a talent show.
I stood in front of the TV, flustered. "Guys! Come on! You have to help me. What should I do now? Should I ignore him or... pursue him?"
They looked at me, pretending to be innocent bystanders. Ling crossed her arms and said firmly, "Ye, you've already done what your heart wanted. You never crossed any lines back in college, and he never noticed you then. So why chase him now? Are you really that head over heels?"
I glanced at Xin and Ming for support, but they both nodded along with Ling like disciples
agreeing with their wise master.
I sighed. "Then what should I do?"
Ling leaned back with a small smile. "He doesn't know he was your crush, but now he's falling for the real you. That's a win-win, isn't it? He should be the one to pursue you. If he truly loves you, he'll make his move. Until then... wait."
I nodded like an obedient puppy, earning a round of laughter from all three of them.
Meanwhile, back at the office...
Xiang had just finished up the morning meeting for the software development project. He returned to his cabin, rolled up his sleeves, and poured himself a glass of water. But his mind was completely elsewhere.
His thoughts were a blur of stolen moments and quiet happiness. He leaned back in his chair, smiling unconsciously, unable to believe what had happened. For the first time in a long while, he was happy—and it was because of her.
Just then, Gu walked in and placed a stack of materials on Xiang's desk.
But Xiang didn't even glance at them—he was still lost in his thoughts, grinning like a boy in
love. Gu tapped the table twice and narrowed his eyes. "You fell in love, didn't you?"
Xiang looked up, his smile only getting brighter. "Yes."
Gu shielded his face dramatically with his hand. "No... no... please, your smile is too bright—my eyes are going to blur~~!"
Xiang laughed and threw a pen at him.
"Now stop joking and give me ideas to pursue her properly."
Gu leaned back and said, "First, you need to learn what she likes and what she doesn't like."
Xiang nodded slowly, like a bored student in math class who didn't understand a thing. He
clearly wasn't listening.
Gu narrowed his eyes, then grabbed Xiang's glasses, put them on, and tapped his index finger against the frame like a strict teacher.
"Are you even listening to your teacher?"
Xiang blinked at him. "What character are you playing now? Don't get cheesy. And hey—don't touch my glasses, give them back!"
Gu ignored him and tapped the table. "Silence. No backtalk in class."
Xiang flinched, sat back in his chair, and mumbled, "Now how do I escape from this idiot..."
Gu squinted at him. "What was that?"
Xiang quickly flashed an awkward smile. "Nothing, sir. Just thinking about where to start."
Gu gave a dramatic sigh and pushed a stack of materials toward him. "Read this first. Then
figure out how to win her over."
Xiang stood up and saluted. "Yes, sir. I'll follow your wise teachings." He walked Gu out of the
room.
But before Gu could fully exit, Xiang kicked him in the butt from behind and said, "Now go
gather some intel on Zhou Ye for me."
Gu stumbled forward, rubbing his backside. "Just wait, once I get that info, you're done for…"
Right then, Xiang opened the door again with a murderous look in his eyes. "Did you say
something?" Gu instantly transformed into the picture of innocence. "N-no! I didn't say a thing!" He scurried away like a scolded puppy.
Behind the closed door, Gu muttered, eyes wide and slightly wild, "This man… is chaos in
human form."
The next day, all the employees were back in the office, busy with their work. After a while,
Manager Li walked in holding an album filled with photos from the tour. Laughter filled the room as everyone gathered around, flipping through the memories.
Meanwhile, Assistant Gu entered Xiang's cabin with a report in hand. He placed it on the desk and said, "Mr. Xiang, everyone's enjoying the trip photos. Why don't you join them?"
"I already saw them," Xiang replied casually, finishing with a cute smile.
He then picked up the report — and instantly froze.
"Gu… what have you done?" Xiang looked up, horrified. "I asked for some background info,
not… this!"
He held up the report. The title read:
PLANS TO PURSUE MY FUTURE WIFE AND GIRLFRIEND ❤️
(My future sister-in-law – by Gu)
Xiang facepalmed. "Are you serious?! Why would you write something like that? And what's with the 'sister-in-law' title? Are you my sworn brother now?"
Gu gave him a sheepish grin. "It's just my way of congratulating you. What? Is that wrong?" he said, pouting like a kicked puppy.
Xiang sighed, beyond exasperated. He flipped through the report. It included everything — my name, college, likes, dislikes, even which bus I took to get to college. Every detail was there.
But as he scanned the page, his brow furrowed. The bus number caught his eye — it looked strangely familiar. He tilted his head, trying to remember. But, well, being the "old man" he is, the memory didn't click.
Still, Xiang looked up and muttered, "Thanks… for the effort, at least."
Gu nodded proudly and turned to leave. Just before closing the door, he threw a thumbs-up and a flying kiss.
Thwack! Xiang launched a pen at him.
Outside, Gu rubbed the back of his head — only to freeze when he saw me standing there.
I blinked in confusion, having just witnessed… whatever that was.
Awkwardly, I smiled and said, "Gu, thanks for the souvenir gift you gave us."
He chuckled. "Ah~~ that was both me and Mr. Xiang. Credit goes to him too."
I nodded, then leaned in a bit. "Gu, I have a question. Is it okay to ask?"
"Sure," he replied.
I hesitated. "Is he… married? He never goes home. Every time I work overtime, I see him
sleeping here."
Gu opened his mouth to respond, but I beat him to it, blinking in shock.
"Wait… is he sleeping on the street? Or is he… crashing at your place?"
Gu froze for a second, then sighed. "Miss Ye, you don't have to imagine such wild things.
Actually, his mother wanted him to join her company and take over, but Mr. Xiang insisted on staying here. You know how proud he is. They fought, and in the end, he rented a place near the office."
I raised an eyebrow. "So… does he still talk to her?"
Gu nodded. "Yeah, he does. But whenever she brings up taking over the company, they fight again."
I rolled my eyes and muttered under my breath, "He really is a golden retriever."
Gu gave me a look. "Miss Ye, Mr. Xiang is your superior. You should at least respect him a little— give him some face."
I laughed, tapping his shoulder. "If you'd known him three years ago, you wouldn't be saying that."
Still laughing, I turned and went back to work.
I had to work overtime because we had a mountain of files to organize. By 9 p.m., I finally took a break. Stretching my hands, I reached for my phone and started scrolling mindlessly.
Suddenly, the photo I took with Xiang on the bus popped up. A smile crept onto my face as my mind began to wander. I shut off my phone quickly, embarrassed by my own thoughts, and headed to the café to grab some coffee.
When I stepped in, I saw Xiang sitting alone by the window. I picked up my cup and walked over to him.
"Mr. Xiang, what are you doing here? Why don't you go home?" I asked.
He looked up. "Oh, it's you. What about you?
Why are you here?"
"I asked you first. Why are you always zoning out, Mr. Xiang?"
While I was teasing him, his eyes locked onto mine—as if he were mesmerized. I froze. His
gaze was intense, and for a moment, it felt like time slowed down. I thought, Even if I end up
heartbroken, maybe heaven sent him to piece me back together.
Trying to suppress the heat rising in my cheeks, I asked, "Why are you looking at me like that, Mr. Xiang?"
He replied, "Because I fell in love with you."
I choked on my own breath. His confession came out like someone announcing final exam results—sudden and shocking.
"W-what are you saying, Mr. Xiang? Are you… feeling alright?" I stammered, spinning around to escape.
But he stood up and blocked me with one arm, trapping me.
"Do you really have no idea what I'm talking about? Or are you just playing hard to get?" he asked, eyes narrowing.
For a second, I panicked. Does he know he's my crush? But no, he didn't.
I mustered a defense. "Why would I play hard to get with you, Mr. Xiang?"
He tilted his head. "Then why are you panicking?" His raised eyebrow made me want to crawl under the table.
I bent slightly, hoping to slip away, but he closed the distance between us until there was barely an inch left. My heart was thudding wildly.
"Just answer the question when I ask you, okay?" he said, like some arrogant CEO in a drama.
I nodded nervously. "Y-yes."
He leaned closer, lowering his voice. "I fell for you when you called me crazy while drunk."
Panicking, I blurted, "If you like me calling you crazy, I'll call you every day! But why do you have to be this close?!"
Just when I thought he might kiss me, I slipped under his arm—but he caught my wrist and gently pulled me back. With his other hand, he touched my head, cornering me against the wall.
"Don't try to change the subject, Miss Ye," he said with a smirk.
So I decided to play along. I leaned in, my lips close to his ear, and whispered, "Mr. Xiang, how can you fall for me? You've done so many things you don't even remember. You'll need to try harder if you want me to fall for you."
His heart was pounding—I could practically hear it—and his face turned the color of the evening sun.
I leaned back with a smirk and winked.
Seeing him blush like that… he looked cuter than I'd ever seen him. Like a shy girl. I couldn't help but laugh inwardly.
Come to think of it, every time I stood near him, he would grab the bus handle just to block me from falling. Hmph… does he really think I'll fall for him just because he acts like this~?
After I left, he took a deep breath and stared at me. (God is finally taking revenge for me!) When I was near his chest, he stood like a statue and didn't even flinch — but now? The man's overheating! When I got off the bus, I also took a deep breath and looked at him… but he didn't even care. (Thanks, heavens, for this sweet revenge.)
He tugged at his collar, fanning himself like he was about to boil over. Just then, Gu entered the café.
"Where's Xiang?" he asked.
I pointed inside. "He's in there. Mr. Gu, I think he might've caught a fever. He's literally boiling like a hot water bottle. Can you check on him?"
Gu nodded quickly and rushed in, clearly panicking.
I smiled and went back to work.
Inside, Gu ran up to Xiang, placed a hand on his forehead, and checked his temperature.
"What are you doing?" Xiang asked, clearly annoyed. "Why are you checking my temperature?"
"You don't have a fever," Gu replied. "But Miss Ye said you did…"
Xiang blinked, stunned. "She really said that?"
Gu nodded and slapped his hand on the table dramatically. "What's going on, Mr. Xiang? Why are you acting like this?"
Suddenly, Xiang took Gu's hands, looked at him with the expression of a baby asking for candy, and said, "Mr. Gu, help me pursue her. She's so tough — she totally flipped the script on me."
Gu burst out laughing. "What drama have you been watching lately? You acted like a full-blown K-drama male lead!"
Xiang glared, but Gu just patted his back playfully. "Still, she must be something. Even a stone-hearted old man like you melted — that's progress."
Xiang sighed. "Are you going to guide me or not?"
Gu nodded thoughtfully. "Actually, Miss Ye said something interesting… She told me, 'If you'd known him three years ago, you wouldn't be supporting him like this.'"
Xiang narrowed his eyes. "Why would she say that? Explain it."
So Gu told him everything.
Xiang frowned. "Why does she keep bringing up three years ago?"
Gu shrugged. "Even on the tour, she said, 'That's not him — the guy I knew used to unbutton the first three buttons of his shirt.'"
Gu smirked. "If that's her type, maybe you should go for the unbuttoned look."
Xiang instantly took off his shoe, ready to throw it at him.
"Okay okay! I was kidding!" Gu laughed. "But seriously, think back — can you remember how you were three years ago?"
Xiang lifted his chin proudly. "I was young."
Gu coughed. "Even I was young and handsome back then. That's not what I asked, Grandpa."
Xiang groaned. "Then what do I say?"
Gu leaned in. "Remember how you said the bus she takes seemed familiar? That might be the clue. We need to start from there — that bus might be the link to three years ago."
Xiang looked at Gu with sudden respect. "Assistant Gu, you've finally shown your potential."
Gu grinned. "If you've only just noticed that, then how come I've never seen your potential to handle something so simple? And I'm your assistant?"
He smirked and walked out.
Xiang stared after him, speechless — then made a fake strangling motion and muttered, "I'm going to end you one day…"
The next day, I went to the office and gave invitations to my friends for my birthday celebration.
They wished me, and we all got back to work.
At break time, I went down to pick up a parcel when I suddenly heard someone calling my
name. I turned around and saw my brother! I hadn't seen him in two years—he went abroad for his studies.
At that exact moment, Assistant Gu also came down to collect a parcel. He saw me smiling at a guy, and without even blinking, he left his parcel right there and dashed upstairs to inform Xiang.
They were both acting like I was talking to some sworn enemy or something.
Gu burst into Xiang's cabin, panting.
Xiang looked at him and said, "Gu, what is it now? Did you find something useful, or are you starting another one of your dumb games? If it's the latter, leave my cabin. I'm not interested in your nonsense."
Gu caught his breath and shouted, "This isn't a game, Mr. Xiang! But I think your future wife is about to be taken by someone else!"
Xiang stared blankly for a moment, then squinted. "What did you just say? Speak properly."
Gu quickly explained what he saw. Without another word, Xiang stood up, rolled up his sleeves, and marched out. They both hurried to the ground floor on foot, completely forgetting there was an elevator. I swear, sometimes their brains take unannounced breaks.
Meanwhile, I was still chatting with my brother, Zhou Yiren. I hugged him and patted his head
with a smile. On the other side, Xiang was literally boiling with jealousy.
"I came back yesterday," my brother said. "Went to see Mom and Dad. They're worried about you and asked me to check in."
"I'll go see them as soon as I get a break," I replied.
Just then, Xiang barged in and said coldly, "Miss Ye, what are you doing here without finishing your work?"
I raised a brow. "I was talking to a family member, Mr. Xiang. Does that hurt you somehow?"
Gu chimed in, suspicious. "Is he really that close to you, Miss Ye?"
"Yes, Mr. Gu," I replied with a smile. "I've known him since I was born."
Xiang's eyes practically turned green with jealousy.
My brother chuckled. "I'm Zhou Yiren—Zhou Ye's older brother."
Only then did the puzzle pieces fall into place for those two. Xiang's face went blank like his soul left his body, while Gu legit ran away on the spot. Xiang was this close to chasing him.
Yiren turned to Xiang. "And you are?"
"I'm her department head. Mr. Xiang."
They shook hands, awkwardly.
I asked, "Mr. Xiang, why did you come all the way down here?"
He fumbled. "I… I came to pick up my parcel.
Can't I come and collect it?"
I replied casually, "Yeah, yeah~ Go ahead and take it, sir."
He stood there for a second like a confused puppy, then finally walked off.
My brother turned to me and raised an eyebrow. "Your boss really doesn't look like he wants to part with you."
I chuckled. "It's not like that. He seems cold, but deep down, he's a total golden retriever."
Yiren laughed. "Anyway, I'm heading over to Mom and Dad's. Be good, okay? Don't cause a fuss like you usually do."
"I cause a fuss? It's you who acts like a drama queen at home!" I snapped playfully.
He patted my head and left laughing. I walked him out, then returned to the office and got back to work.
After work, I reminded my colleagues about my birthday and told them to be there. We got into a serious discussion about their favorite foods. Meanwhile, Mr. Xiang kept peeking through his door and wandering around his office like a lost puppy. He'd peek, walk around, peek again, and repeat.
Gu looked at him and said, "If you're going to roam like that, I'll hand you a broom to clean the office. At least then I can have my weekend off."
Xiang turned with his index finger raised. "Say one more word, and I'll stitch your mouth."
Gu replied without missing a beat, "If you stitch my mouth, how will I warn you when someone tries to steal your future wife?"
That shut Xiang up real quick.
He muttered to Gu, "Once their discussion ends, call Manager Li to my office. And only say what I told you to. Don't add your own drama."
Gu laughed. "Yes, sir," and left.
Later, Manager Li walked in. "Sir, is there any task I need to finish?"
"No," Xiang replied.
"Then… can I leave, sir?"
Gu struggled to hold in his laughter.
"I didn't even ask my question yet, Manager Li. Why are you in such a hurry?"
"N-no, sir. I have lots of work to do, that's all," she stammered.
Xiang leaned forward. "What were you all discussing with Miss Ye?"
She gulped. "Just work, sir."
Xiang squinted suspiciously. Gu joined in, copying Xiang's expression like a little mime. "Come on, spill it."
Manager Li gave in and told them everything.
After she left, Gu teased, "See, old man~~ if you keep acting like this, she won't even invite you to her wedding."
Xiang smiled when he heard the word "wedding." "I'm going to be her husband—why would she need to invite me?"
Gu sulked. "You old man… instead of daydreaming here, go prepare something nice for her birthday!"
Xiang warned, "Call me old man one more time, and I'll cut your salary."
Gu sat at his desk with a dramatic sigh.
"When did you ever pay me enough for that threat to work? Go ahead, cut it. I'll move into your house and take care of you, Xiang—how's that sound?"
Xiang bent down to grab a shoe and chucked it at him.
It was finally Sunday—my birthday!
We decorated my friend's house, laid out all the food, and waited for everyone to arrive.
Soon,the bell rang. Everyone came with gifts and snacks. But Manager Li looked a little awkward when she walked in.
"What's wrong, Li?" I asked.
She subtly pointed behind her. "Xiang is here."
"Ohh…" I said and let her go in. I stepped out to look, but I didn't see anyone. Just when I was about to close the door—bam! Xiang pushed it open, not realizing I was right behind it.
I stumbled and fell right into him.
He blushed—and to my shock, he was dressed exactly like how he looked three years ago. Theonly thing missing was his bag. And he smelled different. Not in a bad way.
There was this strong scent of rose clinging to him, mixing with his usual cologne. It was… nice. Snapping back to reality, I pushed him away and said, "Why are you here?"
"I'm your boss. I can come and go as I please. Don't stand in my way," he said and walked past me like I was blocking the entrance.
Then Assistant Gu walked in behind him carrying gifts and a cake. "These are from Xiang. Say thanks to him, Miss Ye."
I blinked, stunned.
He was seriously starting to win my heart, bit by bit.
After closing the door with a smile, I went inside and received gifts from my friends and
colleagues. There were two cakes—one from my friends and the other from Xiang. But on
Xiang's cake, something caught my eye. It was written like
three years ago:
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ZHOU YE"—followed by a smirk drawn in icing.
I looked at Xiang, then turned to my friends in confusion. They were just as puzzled. I didn't
know which cake to blow the candle on. I glanced at my friends again, and they gave me a little nod—they knew me too well.
So, I blew out the candle on Xiang's cake first, then moved to the one my friends had prepared. I cut both cakes equally and served all the guests with a happy heart.
The party went on, filled with laughter and singing. We each took turns, one by one. When it was Mr. Gu's turn, he dramatically cleared his throat like some professional singer and gave us a performance that had everyone in stitches.
Then came Xiang's turn. He chose a love song and started singing with a seriousness that made my friends turn to me with wide eyes, sending silent signals. I couldn't help but blush.
On the other side, Gu gave Xiang a thumbs up, clearly proud.
As the party came to an end, I walked my colleagues to the door. My friends, however, paused outside and said, "We have something to do. We'll come by tomorrow morning. Enjoy your night, girl."
I asked them, "Why are you leaving now?"
One of them glanced at Xiang and whispered to me, "Your so-called crush is waiting to talk to you. It's not really appropriate for us to be here."
I frowned. "Where will you stay?"
"We'll crash at Ling's house tonight," she said, smiling. "Just keep us updated on the progress."
They waved goodbye and left, leaving me to go back inside. I started unwrapping the gifts
they'd given me when Gu suddenly leaned over to whisper in Xiang's ear, "Xiang, my boy, this is your last chance. You'd better confess now, or you might never get a moment like this again."
He patted Xiang's back, then turned to me.
"Miss Ye, I have to leave early," he said, and he slipped and gave a thumbs up and left as if he has theft from the home and quickly made his exit.
When I returned to the hall, I thought no one was there. I heard a heartbeat and a scent of rose.But suddenly, the lights went off—and a single spotlight fell on me.
From the darkness, Xiang stepped into the light, holding a bouquet of roses. He walked toward me, got down on one knee, and said,
"Zhou Ye, I LOVE YOU.
Will you be my girlfriend forever?
If you were a summer—I'll be your winter.
If you were a spring—I'll be your autumn."
Or i will be your crazy man ,ye
I practiced this 100 times and still messed up—just like how I messed up not seeing you sooner.
I laughed and Tears streamed down my face. I had once thought I might never see him again…but fate had written a different story. One that fulfilled all the wishes I never dared to say aloud.
I stood frozen, crying and speechless. He gently stood up and opened a small box. Inside was a black ring. My heart stopped.
It was that ring—the one I'd always seen him wearing on his left hand. The one that had made me wonder… what if he was already married?
He held it out to me and said,
"I know you're confused. This ring… it's precious to me. My father used it to propose to my mother. He gave it to me and said,
'When you find your true love, give her this ring.'
He kneeled again and asked,
"Will you be my girlfriend, Zhou Ye?"
I said yes—immediately. I didn't even have the heart to play hard to get. Even though he never saw my feelings back then… somehow, he had fallen for me without even realizing it.
His hands shook as he held the ring—the same hands that always caught her on the bus.
He slipped the ring onto my finger, and I kissed him. He froze, shocked. I pulled back shyly—buthe pulled me closer by the waist… and kissed me back.
The next morning, Xiang woke up to find Zhou Ye sleeping peacefully in his arms. He gently
traced the outline of her face and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. When Ye stirred awake, he leaned in and kissed her.
She smiled sleepily and kissed him back, their foreheads resting against each other as they cuddled under the warm morning light.
After a few minutes of quiet warmth, they got up to make breakfast together—laughing, teasing,and stealing kisses in between. As Xiang got ready to leave, he turned at the door, gave her a soft peck on the lips, and walked out shyly, almost like a schoolgirl escaping after confessing her
crush. Zhou Ye stood at the doorway, stunned and smiling, her heart fluttering.
She grabbed her phone and messaged her friends.
Ye: "Where are you guys?"
They replied: "We're almost there! Any progress??"
She smiled and replied in a low voice, "Just come to my house first."
Moments later, they burst through the door and circled around her.
"Tell us what happened last night!" Xin asked eagerly.
"I... I can't believe it," Ye said with a small smile. "He proposed to me. And he gave me a black ring."
"A BLACK RING??" they all gasped at once.
She laughed softly and explained, "It was his father's ring—the one he used to propose to
Xiang's mother. He told me it's the most precious thing he owns."
Her friends were moved. Ling's eyes glistened with emotion. "That's so romantic…"
But Xin frowned gently. "Then why do you look... a little sad, Ye?"
Ye lowered her eyes. "Because he doesn't know about what happened three years ago...
Should I tell him? Or just let it be?"
The room fell quiet. Then Ling spoke up.
"Ye, if you feel comfortable and ready, you can tell him. But if it still hurts too much, maybe it's
okay to leave it behind. What matters is that he loves you now. He fell for you, just like you once fell for him at first sight. Fate brought you back together."
Xin nodded. "You deserve to be happy. Don't let the past steal that from you."
They pulled her into a group hug, their warmth surrounding her like a cocoon.
Zhou Ye smiled through misty eyes. Maybe... just maybe, it was finally time to stop aching over the past and start cherishing the present.
On the other hand, Xiang walked into the office like a happy child who had just received his favorite toy. The moment he stepped into the room, Gu threw a surprise celebration. A balloon popped overhead, showering him with rose petals, and a big banner read:
"CONGRATULATIONS MY SON, YOU'VE MADE PROGRESS!"
—complete with a blowing kiss emoji.
Xiang laughed and hugged Gu, whispering, "Thanks."
Gu blinked in surprise. "Why are you acting like me? Don't try to steal my spotlight!"
Xiang grinned. "I'm just in a good mood. Don't ruin it."
He flopped into his chair, rested his chin on his hand, and began replaying the proposal in his mind with a dreamy smile. Gu squinted at him and muttered, "Can you act normal? It's like the Earth suddenly started rotating backward."
Still smiling, Xiang threw him a flying kiss—just like Gu would. Gu shuddered and rushed out of the room, muttering, "Now he's even stealing my signature move…"
Meanwhile, Zhou Ye reached the office. Xiang was already waiting for her at the reception desk.
She raised an eyebrow and asked, "Why are you standing here, Xiang?"
He replied shyly, "I was waiting for my girlfriend."
He beamed. "It still feels like a dream."
She looked down and mumbled, "Oh…" then added softly, "Let's go to the office."
They walked toward the lift. As they waited in silence, Xiang glanced sideways at her.
Something felt off. She looked distant, quiet.
Was she disappointed by the proposal? Did I do something wrong? But he shook the thought away. Maybe I'm overthinking.
Inside the lift, he hesitated before finally reaching out to hold her hand. His palms were slightly trembling, but when she didn't pull away, he relaxed. She even gave him a small smile.
That made his heart flutter.
When they reached the fifth floor, Xiang asked hesitantly, "Ye… should we tell our colleagues?"
She gently pulled her hand away and said,
"No… not now. Let's wait a few more days. Is that okay?"
He nodded, though his heart sank a little. "Okay."
She walked ahead quietly, her steps heavy.
Xiang watched her, confused and a little hurt, then turned and walked toward his cabin.
Zhou Ye sat at her desk, her eyes fixed on the monitor but her thoughts far away. Her fingers
hovered over the keyboard, unmoving. Was it all real? she wondered. Or am I still dreaming?
On the other hand, when Xiang entered his cabin, the smile from earlier had completely
vanished. He sank into his chair, resting his chin in one hand while absentmindedly spinning a pen with the other.
Gu entered, carrying a stack of files, and placed them on Xiang's desk. But Xiang didn't even flinch—his gaze was lost in thought, fixated on the spinning pen.
"Are you planning to throw that pen at me, Xiang?" Gu asked, raising an eyebrow. "I haven't even started my performance, and you're already armed."
Still, Xiang didn't respond.
Gu blinked, noticing the shift in mood. "Hello?
What are you doing? Why are you ignoring me?" he asked in a mock-girly tone, trying to get a reaction.
But Xiang remained unresponsive, and Gu's playful expression dropped. Gently, he reached out and stopped the spinning pen.
That's when Xiang finally looked up—and his eyes were glossy, as if on the verge of tears.
"What happened?" Gu asked, voice softening. "You were beaming this morning. Did she say something? Do you want me to go talk to her?"
Xiang shook his head slowly. "It's not that," he said quietly. "I just… I think she regrets it. Or
maybe she's wondering why she said yes to me."
Gu's teasing demeanor faded completely. His eyes softened, and he placed a hand on Xiang's shoulder.
"Don't think like that," he said gently. "Maybe it's her first time being proposed to in such a way. It can be overwhelming."
Xiang's lips quivered as he confessed, "I think she's still thinking about her old crush… even
now."
Gu stepped closer and pulled him into a brief hug. "Xiang," he said, "don't overthink it. If
something feels off, just ask her. Don't keep it bottled up. You'll feel better once you know the truth."
Xiang nodded slowly, a hint of determination forming in his eyes.
During lunch break, I called Xin again. I was torn—should I tell him or not? The thought made my heart ache.
"Xin," I said quietly, "should I really tell him? It hurts."
She replied gently, "Zhou Ye, we already told you—if you feel confident, just tell him. Don't make things harder on yourself. We're with you, no matter what. And if anything happens, we'll help you. When you're ready, just do it... and message us."
While I was still talking with Xin, Xiang walked up beside me. He was about to tap my shoulder, but I didn't notice him and continued, "What if he finds out about the crush I had three years ago?"
Xiang froze.
His hand, mid-air, slowly fell to his side. Trembling, he turned and walked away—silently, but angry.
Xin said firmly on the phone, "Ye, don't be a coward. Face it boldly. You were brave enough to have a crush on him three years ago, remember? Back then, did you think he'd ignore you until college ended? No. You didn't know how he'd react—but you still liked him. So don't be scared now."
My voice shook. "Xin…"
"Just think it through," she said. "You'll find your answer." Then she hung up.
Meanwhile, Xiang was so upset that not even Gu could calm him down. He locked himself in his office and didn't come out until night.
When I saw him like that, it felt like I had betrayed him.
After finishing my work, I walked alone down the road. A strange feeling crept in—as if someone was following me. Suddenly, someone grabbed my hand. I spun around, startled.
It was Xiang.
"What are you doing?" I yelled. "Why are you grabbing me like some ghost? Can't you just call my name?!"
His expression darkened. Anger simmered in his eyes, but he held it back.
"Ye," he said slowly, "are you hiding something from me?"
I froze.
"This morning, you were happy. But once we got to the office, you changed. You avoided me. If you're hiding something, just tell me."
I pulled my hand away, voice trembling. "I'm not hiding anything, Xiang. I was just nervous… that's all. Don't take it seriously."
He didn't look convinced. His tone turned sharp. "Are you thinking about that crush you had three years ago?"
My eyes widened. He had found out.
"I knew it," he said, raising his voice. "I was right. You regret saying yes to my proposal, don't you?"
"No!" I cried. "It's not what you think!"
"Then what is it?" he asked bitterly. "You say you need time? Fine. Take all the time you want.
But if you don't tell me the truth, I'll find it myself."
And with that, he walked away.
I reached home and dropped my bag on the couch. My friends looked up and asked, "Ye, you're back! How was your day? Did you enjoy it?"
I couldn't answer. Instead, I burst into tears, unable to hold them back. Hearing me cry like that, they rushed to my side in panic. Ming grabbed my shoulders, "Ye, what's wrong?
Why are you crying like this?" Ling pulled me into a hug, but the moment I felt her arms around me, I cried even harder.
Between sobs, I choked out, "Ling… I don't think I should have met him in the first place. If I had just minded my own business in college… I should have known I couldn't handle this."
They tried their best to comfort me, but the more they tried, the harder I cried. Eventually, they gave me some space and sat quietly, confused and worried.
Meanwhile, Xin secretly picked up my phone and called Gu. "What happened between Ye and Xiang?" she asked, urgency in her voice.
Gu sighed and explained everything that happened—before he could finish, they hung up. He probably thought I was too much to handle. And now, even my friends were ignoring me… It felt like everyone was slipping away.
The next morning, I didn't go to the office. I sat in a patch of sunlight near the window, lost in
thought. My friends told me they were heading out to buy groceries. I simply nodded. But in reality, they were going to meet Xiang.
They called Gu again and asked him to bring Xiang to the café they mentioned. The three of them waited there like warriors preparing for battle.
Xiang walked into the café and immediately spotted Ye's friends. He turned around and looked at Gu with confusion.
Gu placed a hand on his shoulder. "Xiang, just hear them out. Don't jump to conclusions. If you want to understand her, listen first.
Please."
But Xiang brushed past him, frustrated, and sat at the table. Gu followed and sat beside him.
Xiang looked at them and said sharply, "You must know what she's hiding from me. If you're not going to speak, at least don't act like her."
Xin tapped the table, anger flaring. "You made her cry like that, Xiang."
His expression faltered. "She cried?"
We nodded. Xin's voice softened. "You don't know what happened three years ago, do you?"
Gu leaned forward. "We don't either, and we'd like to know."
Taking a deep breath, Ling began, "Back in college, Ye used to take the bus home—and that's where she first saw you. It was love at first sight. But you never noticed her… You were always glued to your phone."
"She would time her schedule just to see you.
She missed buses just to ride the one you were on. You made her heart bloom… but you also broke it without knowing. She told us how, during one of the exams, she saw you look at her—but even then, you walked away. She tried to move on after college. She really did."
"But fate had other plans," Ming added. "She saw you again at our graduation party… and then you showed up again as her boss. She thought it was destiny."
"She was so happy… she couldn't hide it," Xin continued. "But you didn't remember her. Still,
she accepted it. Yesterday, she called me crying. She said she felt like she was betraying you.
She asked whether she should tell you the truth."
Xiang's eyes softened. "But I gave her a chance to tell me. She didn't say anything."
Ling leaned forward, her voice firm. "Xiang, do you think it's easy to just blurt out your feelings to someone—especially when you've been hurt before? She hesitated for a reason.
She's had sleepless nights over this."
Gu crossed his arms and said seriously, "Old man, you didn't fall for her first—she fell for you.You broke her heart once. But fate gave you another chance. Don't mess it up this time… or you'll lose her for good."
Xiang stood still for a few minutes, processing everything.
He was in disbelief. She had loved me for three years? She had carried that feeling silently, living with the ache — while I, who acted like I fell for her, ended up doubting her, even yelling at her. And yet… she didn't yell back. She never raised her voice.
Overwhelmed with guilt, Xiang suddenly stood up, grabbed his car keys, and drove straight to her house.
Back at the café, Gu and her friends sighed in relief, knowing he had finally understood.
When Xiang arrived, he opened the door and stepped inside. I didn't even turn around,
assuming it was my friends. I was standing by the window, lost in thought.
"Ye," he called gently.
The moment I turned, he rushed to me and pulled me into a tight hug. I stood frozen, stunned by his sudden presence, still processing what was happening.
He leaned back, cupped my face, and whispered, "Ye… I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you or doubted you."
Tears welled up in my eyes as I choked out, "Xiang… actually, I betrayed you. I hid the truth. It's my fault. I shouldn't have kept it from you."
Xiang broke down too. "Ye, I know you loved me three years ago… and I was blind. I didn't see you, not back then. I don't deserve your forgiveness." He slapped himself and held out his hand.
"Punish me, Ye. I deserve it."
I held his hand gently and said, "You do deserve punishment… for breaking my heart and making me wait." Then I gave his hand a light slap and pulled him into a hug.
Xiang looked stunned. "Did you… really forgive me?"
I nodded, smiling through tears. "Yeah, I forgave you. But breaking my heart? You'll have to make it up to me."
"How?" he asked eagerly.
I shrugged. "Figure it out. I won't make it easy."
He smirked, leaned in, and kissed me.
"Crazy!" I said, laughing in surprise.
He kissed me again. "I told you — I love it when you call me crazy. And golden retriever."
"You're such a crazy man!" I said again.
Another kiss.
Meanwhile, my friends stood near the door, covering their eyes, blushing. Gu, watching proudly, looked like a proud mother seeing her son graduate from heartbreak.