Chapter 54

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Could this person really be here because of Yin Yin?

Qiao Ziman was still deep in thought when a colleague called out from behind her.

“Qiao Qiao, Elvis wants to see you.”

Tang Xiaoxiao immediately bolted like a rabbit. “Welp, you go ahead!”

Qiao Ziman acknowledged with a nod, grabbed her work documents, and headed to meet the new director. Standing outside the office, she straightened her blouse and took a deep breath. Then, lifting her hand, she knocked three times.

“Come in.”

The voice from inside was cold. Not just in tone, but in the weight of the emotion behind it—an almost tangible chill that carried an oppressive pressure.

Qiao Ziman felt an involuntary shiver creep down her spine. It took her a second to shake off the sudden freeze before she squared her shoulders, stood tall, and pushed the door open.

Same office. Same layout. Same decor.

Only the person sitting behind the desk had changed.

Qiao Ziman couldn’t help but take a moment to silently acknowledge the shift in power before turning her attention to the new director, Elvis. 

The woman stood with her back to the window, her silhouette sharp and commanding. Tall, poised, exuding an air of unshakable authority. Her jet-black hair was neatly pinned into a flawless bun, not a single strand out of place. Dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, the fabric crisp and untouched by a single wrinkle. Both sleeve cuffs were casually unbuttoned, and the sleeves were rolled up to her forearms with precise symmetry—not a millimeter off on either side.

Everything about her screamed control.

A commanding presence radiated from her entire being. 

Yet one detail struck Qiao Ziman as odd—despite the mild autumn weather, Elvis was wearing leather gloves. Does she have a cleanliness obsession too?

Qiao Ziman speculated internally, her gaze drifting toward the coffee cup on the desk. She narrowed her eyes, focusing on the label.

“Medium Americano.”

Hah. Even her habits are similar.

At that moment, Elvis turned around, and their eyes met. 

The woman’s face was sharp and angular, her features deeply defined. Dark emerald-green eyes bore into her with a piercing coldness—calculating, predatory, and devoid of warmth. Like a snake.

Qiao Ziman handed over the documents. “Here’s the progress report for White Fox Master.”

Elvis moved fluidly, circling the desk before lightly tapping on the surface, signaling her to place the files down. Then, without looking at the documents, she just stared at Qiao Ziman.

That unwavering gaze sent an eerie sensation crawling up Qiao Ziman’s spine. It felt like she was being studied.

No—hunted.

Her brows furrowed slightly as she suppressed her discomfort. “Do you need anything else?”

Elvis suddenly smiled. The expression was deeply unsettling—lips curved, but her eyes remained void of amusement.

“Yes,” she said.

Qiao Ziman instinctively rubbed her arm, trying to shake off the goosebumps. “Go ahead.”

The smile vanished. Elvis stepped forward, towering over her. With a voice as cold as the depths of winter, she asked, “How is Yin?”

Qiao Ziman scoffed internally. Ha. Knew it.

This woman was definitely here for Chi Yin. But what did she want?

A confrontation? A warning?

Though Elvis had a few centimeters on her in height, Qiao Ziman’s presence was just as strong, if not stronger. She met Elvis’s gaze head-on.

“And what identity are you asking this question under?” she said coolly. “You’re a company executive—personally violating the very policy you just enforced. That doesn’t seem very professional, does it?”

Elvis clearly hadn’t expected Qiao Ziman to turn the company’s own rule against her. For a brief moment, she actually looked stunned. Then, lips barely moving, she responded in a clipped tone, “An old acquaintance.”

“Oh, an old acquaintance?” Qiao Ziman’s polite smile never wavered.

Yeah, right.

Chi Yin had explicitly said she didn’t have many close friends. Who was supposed to believe this?

“Wouldn’t know,” Qiao Ziman said simply.

Elvis: “???”

Wouldn’t know?

Qiao Ziman gave her a pointed look. “Why don’t you call and ask her yourself?”

“But…” she added with a sweet, dagger-edged smile, “right now, my girlfriend is out shopping with my mom. Might not be the best time to take a call.”

Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel and strode gracefully out of the office. She didn’t bother to look back.

Which meant she completely missed the moment Elvis’s expression turned cold, her eyes flashing with something sharp and dangerous.

—

Back at her desk, Qiao Ziman whipped out her phone and started typing furiously.

[Little demon!!!]

Chi Yin replied almost instantly.

[I’m here.]

Qiao Ziman: “…”

Not even a little modest, huh?

Damn. She suddenly really missed Yin Yin.

Wait—no! She was still keeping score. She couldn’t let herself smile now!

Pressing down the corners of her lips, she forced herself to type with a serious face.

[You little minx, who are you trying to seduce?]

Always attracting love rivals for her!

Chi Yin replied instantly.

[You.]

Qiao Ziman slapped both hands over her face. The smile she’d been holding back slipped through her fingers.

That was it. She wanted to go home.

After grinning like an idiot for a full minute, she checked her phone again.

Only an hour had passed?! Seriously?

“Qiao-jie, the modeling department just came by asking for an update,” Xiao Jing’s voice suddenly cut in from beside her.

Qiao Ziman nearly jumped out of her seat, slamming her phone screen-down onto her desk.

Xiao Jing: “…”

Qiao Ziman cleared her throat. “Got it.”

After a long vacation, she was already behind schedule. Time to focus.

“You go handle your tasks first—I’ll check in with them later.”

She pulled out her tablet and got to work.

…But not before sending one last message to the little minx.

[Just wait until I get home—I’m going to deal with you properly.]

Chi Yin responded with a meme.

[(Come on, have some fun.jpg)]

Qiao Ziman: “…”

She couldn’t take it anymore. Who else’s girlfriend completely transformed after getting into a relationship?!

[Give me back my elegant, mature goddess!!!]

No. Enough. Qiao Ziman couldn’t keep getting distracted by beauty and neglecting her work.

With great difficulty, she closed the chat window and forced herself to focus.

—

Chunsheng Restaurant. Private Dining Room.

Yu Shuyan lounged lazily in her chair, swirling a glass of red wine. Across from her, Chi Yin hadn’t stopped smiling at her phone for the past ten minutes.

Yu Shuyan smirked. “Well, well, big boss. So this is what happens when you’re in love, huh?”

Chi Yin finally looked up, giving her a brief glance before immediately lowering her gaze again. “You asked me out just to apologize, or is there something else?”

Yu Shuyan clicked her tongue. “Damn, you don’t even want to talk to me anymore? Aren’t I your best friend?”

Chi Yin responded flatly, “You could also not be.”

“Whoa, hold on.” Yu Shuyan sat up straight, hands clasped together in a dramatic plea. “Don’t be so heartless! I swear from now on, whenever I see your little fairy, I’ll be super respectful. I’ll weld a steel gate onto my mouth—anything I shouldn’t say, I won’t say!”

Chi Yin cast a glance at the table full of food and casually remarked, “You’re paying for this meal.”

“Of course, of course! Gotta make it up to you, right?” Yu Shuyan patted her chest. “But… can you at least cut me a little discount? You know how miserable my salary is. Funds are tight.”

Chi Yin’s eyes flicked to the high-end wine glass in Yu Shuyan’s hand. Without hesitation, she deadpanned, “Tight on funds but drinking several-thousand-yuan wine?”

Yu Shuyan leaned back, a carefree smirk tugging at her lips. “Life is short. Gotta enjoy it while we can.”

Chi Yin casually picked up her phone and snapped a picture of the lavish spread on the table.

Yu Shuyan couldn’t resist teasing. “Seriously, big boss? Reporting your every move now? Your cool, untouchable image is crumbling before my eyes.”

Chi Yin ignored her, added a quick filter to the photo, and sent it to Qiao Ziman with a message.

[The peacock is treating.]

A reply came almost immediately.

[Eat more. Bleed her dry.]

Chi Yin chuckled softly.

[Understood. Want me to pack something for you?]

[Wouldn’t that be a bit unfair to the peacock? But… I won’t say no.]

After sending the messages, Chi Yin finally looked up, completely unbothered. “It’s not reporting, it’s sharing.”

Tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, she added, “Sharing is one of the best ways to express love. Not that you’d understand—you’re still single.”

Yu Shuyan clutched her chest in mock agony.

Damn it. She hadn’t even started eating yet, but she was already full on dog food.

“Could you at least tone it down? Some of us are still suffering over here,” she groaned.

Chi Yin had just picked up her wine glass when her phone buzzed. When she glanced at the screen—an unknown number. Without hesitation, she declined the call.

Not even a second later, the same number rang again.

Chi Yin frowned, pressed the power button, and shut off the screen entirely. The phone vibrated once more—this time, a message notification.

[Yin, I saw her.]

That familiar way of addressing her—

Chi Yin’s entire body went rigid. It felt like an invisible hand had clenched around her heart, squeezing so tightly that she could barely breathe. A restless anxiety flared up inside her like a wildfire, consuming her in mere seconds.

Then, the phone rang again. Same unknown number.

Chi Yin took a deep breath, forcing her trembling fingers to hit answer.

Her voice was icy, tense. “What do you mean?”

For a few seconds, there was only silence. Then, a voice—low, emotionless, disturbingly calm.

Elvis.

“Are you still planning to hide from me?”

The unease in Chi Yin’s chest surged into pure, unfiltered rage. Her grip on the wine glass tightened—then snapped. The glass shattered against the floor, shards scattering everywhere.

Chi Yin’s patience erupted, completely breaking apart.

“Stay the hell away from Qiao Ziman and I, you lunatic!”