Confessing To An Annoying Boss

“I wasn’t eavesdropping. You were just speaking too loudly,” came the reply.

“Hmm, perfectly aboveboard,” Chi Yin said, walking back to her seat with an unmistakable smile in her eyes. She suddenly turned and, with her expression returning to normal, said, “Qiao Ziman, come sit next to me.”

Qiao Ziman, puzzled, pointed at herself. “Me?” This didn’t seem appropriate.

One of the vice presidents next to Chi Yin automatically moved his seat to the right, and Qiao Ziman, braving the gazes of everyone, sat down next to Chi Yin. Seeing the disgruntled look from the senior manager, Qiao Ziman raised an eyebrow, feeling quite pleased.

“Alright, let’s get to the main topic. Today’s meeting has three main points. First, our work plan for the second half of the year. After discussing with the shareholders yesterday, our company has decided to launch two new frameworks: overseas markets and IP transformation.”

While taking meeting minutes, Qiao Ziman occasionally stole glances at Chi Yin, who spoke confidently and eloquently. Confident and composed, Chi Yin exuded a charming charisma at work, naturally becoming the focus of attention, as if she radiated light. Qiao Ziman’s attention was involuntarily drawn to her, unable to snap out of it for a long time.

The meeting lasted nearly three hours. Afterward, Qiao Ziman was ravenously hungry.

Back at her desk, she hesitated about whether to take out the lunch she had prepared. She had originally planned to reconcile in the morning, but now, given the implicit meaning of keeping their distances, delivering the lunch would be like slapping herself in the face. But this woman seemed to be defending herself during the meeting. If she didn’t care, would it make her look petty?

After some consideration, Qiao Ziman took the two boxes of lunch to the tea room. After heating them in the microwave, Qiao Ziman went to Chi Yin’s office.

“Chi Yin.”

Chi Yin looked up from behind her desk. “What’s the matter?”

Qiao Ziman walked over slowly, placed the lunch boxes down, and took out new cutlery to set before her, succinctly saying, “Lunch.”

Chi Yin looked at her, puzzled. “Hmm?”

Still acting, she really deserves an Oscar. Qiao Ziman smiled. “Feel free to eat or not.”

“You made this specifically for me?”

Qiao Ziman: “.” Why was this person so annoying?

“By the way,” Chi Yin smiled. “I remember someone seemed eager to distance herself from me.”

Enough already. Qiao Ziman was certain that Chi Yin had clearly understood her earlier words. She turned to take the lunch back, but Chi Yin hurriedly grabbed her hand. “I’m just joking. Thank you.”

The warmth from her hand was incongruous with the hot weather. Qiao Ziman stared at their hands clasped together, feeling suspicious. Why is it so cold?

Chi Yin did not release her hand for a long time, even lightly rubbing it with her fingertips. Qiao Ziman was on the edge of exploding, yanking her hand away and frowning, “Have you had enough?”

Chi Yin smiled and pointed to her own chest. “We’re even now.”

Qiao Ziman suddenly remembered the accidental groping incident from the morning, and her gaze moved to that area, causing her ears to flush. She snorted coldly and turned to sit in the corner of the sofa, keeping a safe distance from Chi Yin. She almost forgot that this person held grudges.

Qiao Ziman, feeling frustrated, opened the lunchbox and stuffed rice into her mouth. Glancing out of the corner of her eye at Chi Yin, who was smiling with a satisfied expression, she was feeling a bit defeated. “The lunchboxes are new, and so are the utensils.”

Chi Yin asked, puzzled, “What do you mean?”

“Aren’t you a germaphobe?”

“How do you know?”

Qiao Ziman picked up a piece of stir-fried meat with her chopsticks and sneered, “The other day, when I fell asleep in the car and accidentally drooled, you should have seen your face. And the way you change outfits every day—if one didn’t know better, they’d think you were going to a fashion show. Also, you’d rather not eat than go to an outside restaurant.”

Chi Yin was surprised that Qiao Ziman had observed so closely and was momentarily stunned. “So, do I look pretty when I dress up?”

Qiao Ziman: “???” This sudden change of topic caught her off guard. She answered honestly, “Yes, pretty.”

Chi Yin: “That’s good.”

Qiao Ziman: “.” Why was that strange feeling coming up again?

The silence spread invisibly between them. Qiao Ziman even felt Chi Yin’s gaze continuously on her, making her feel restless. She suddenly looked up and asked, “Aren’t you going to eat?”

“Yes,” Chi Yin said slowly, opening the lunchbox. Upon seeing the contents, she furrowed her brows.

What did that mean? Although her cooking skills weren’t perfect, it shouldn’t warrant such a look of disgust. This was her specialty: stir-fried meat and spicy diced chicken. Aside from some flaws in the knife work, it should be fine.

Qiao Ziman was fuming, though. “There’s no need to put yourself through this.”

Chi Yin’s face paled for a moment, but she hesitantly picked up a piece and chewed it slowly. “It’s good.”

Hmph, that’s quite insincere. Qiao Ziman ignored her, focusing on her meal, and after finishing, she tidied up by herself.

When she returned to the office, Chi Yin had already put down her chopsticks. The lunchbox on the desk was still full.

Hmph, if I cook for her again, I’m a dog! Qiao Ziman gritted her teeth in her mind, feeling frustrated as she huddled in the corner of the sofa, flipping through meeting notes.

At some point, Chi Yin had sat next to her, and they were very close.

“Is there anything you don’t understand?”

Qiao Ziman was startled and instinctively tried to pull away, but Chi Yin moved closer again.

Qiao Ziman awkwardly turned her head, “Some of the technical terms are unclear, and I didn’t catch some of the faster explanations.”

Chi Yin chuckled softly and began to review everything from the start with her.

Time passed, and the sun began to set.

“Chi Yin, is this data correct?”

The person next to her suddenly went still. As Qiao Ziman was puzzled, she felt a heavy weight on her shoulder. Warm breath was right by her neck, causing a shiver to run through her.

“What are you doing?”

Qiao Ziman turned her head and saw Chi Yin leaning on her shoulder, her face pale, her lips drained of color, her brows furrowed with beads of sweat on her forehead, clearly in pain. Qiao Ziman lost all her anger instantly and asked urgently, “Chi Yin, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Do you need to go to the hospital?”

“It’s nothing. Just let me lean here for a while.”

Her voice grew weak, and Qiao Ziman became even more anxious. “Then I’ll call 120!”

“Don’t,” Chi Yin grasped Qiao Ziman’s clothes, “It’s a stomach ache. There are stomach medicines in the drawer.”

“Got it,” Qiao Ziman gently helped her lean against the sofa cushion, got up to fetch the stomach medicine from the drawer, and poured a glass of warm water to help her take it.

After a while, seeing that Chi Yin’s complexion had returned to normal, Qiao Ziman finally relaxed.

“Chi Yin, if there’s nothing else at the company, I can take you home.”

Chi Yin thought for a moment and replied, “You drive yourself home today. I have something to do.”

Qiao Ziman instinctively asked, “What’s the matter?” As soon as she said it, she realized she might be overstepping, as Chi Yin didn’t need to explain to her.

“I have a meeting with a friend.”

Qiao Ziman: “.”

“Female.”

Qiao Ziman: “.” A meeting?

Suddenly, Qiao Ziman’s distant memories were triggered.

“A meeting?”

“Come to my place?”

Chi Yin’s earlier weak appearance almost made Qiao Ziman forget her usual frivolous demeanor. Her gaze darted towards the locked cabinet, “Alright, be careful on the road.”

She then added earnestly, “It’s best to exercise moderation today.” Don’t overindulge.

Chi Yin: “???”

Author’s note:

Moderation?

Chi Yin: My wife’s thought process is truly incomprehensible. But it seems quite exciting.