42: No Flirting with Company Employees

Su Muqing swiftly locked the bathroom door, taking a few ragged breaths.

“This is just my luck, to run into something like this!” she fumed. “No, wait, what if he did it on purpose?!”

Su Muqing’s cheeks burned crimson. She was used to living alone in this villa and had never bothered to lock the bathroom door before.

But Shen Yifei had moved in, and as luck—or rather, misfortune—would have it, their bathroom schedules had inconveniently clashed, leading to this awkward encounter.

Outside the bathroom, Shen Yifei took a deep breath. Such a tempting sight so early in the morning had his ears burning and heart pounding.

After a good while, Su Muqing still hadn’t emerged. Shen Yifei’s expression soured. He couldn't help but bellow, “Hurry up! I need to go too!”

A few moments later, Shen Yifei was truly desperate. He rapped on the bathroom door. “Are you done yet?”

“No!” Su Muqing snapped.

“Please, hurry up! I can’t hold it any longer!” Shen Yifei yelled.

“That’ll teach the pervert for peeking!” Su Muqing thought, a faint smirk playing on her lips.

Su Muqing was doing this on purpose, intent on thoroughly vexing Shen Yifei.

“General Manager Su (Su Zong, a respectful but exasperated address), my dear lady, for heaven’s sake, hurry up! If you don’t speed up, I’ll have to… resolve the situation right here and now!” Shen Yifei groaned, his voice cracking from the strain.

Su Muqing muffled a giggle with her hand. Deciding enough time had passed, she wiped the amusement from her face, adopted a cool expression once more, and pushed open the bathroom door.

Shen Yifei darted in like a desperate monkey, slamming the door shut to finally relieve himself.

Su Muqing felt a slight sense of vindication, but the thought of that scoundrel having seen what he shouldn’t still left an unpleasant taste in her mouth.

“Oh no, I’m going to be late!”

She had spent a little longer in the bathroom than usual, all to torment Shen Yifei, and now office hours were fast approaching.

“It’s all your fault! You made me almost late!” Su Muqing stamped her foot in exasperation.

Shen Yifei felt a surge of irritation. “And wasn’t it *you*, miss, who hogged the bathroom and refused to open the door?”

“Miss Su (Su Daxiaojie, a term for a young, often pampered, lady), I’m returning that accusation right back to you. *You* made *me* almost late. My boss specifically targets me, and if I’m late today, she’ll absolutely drive me crazy.” Shen Yifei sighed helplessly, knowing full well that Liu Xiaoxiao—that woman—already held a grudge against him and would undoubtedly find new ways to torment him.

Su Muqing’s delicate brows subtly furrowed.

She had never known what kind of job Shen Yifei held. Without a degree or any formal qualifications, what reputable company would even hire him?

“What sort of backwater company are you even working for?” she scoffed. “I offered you a position at *my* company as a French translator, which would surely be a far better job than whatever you’re doing now, wouldn’t it?”

Su Muqing still harbored no romantic feelings for Shen Yifei, but her initial resentment had softened. After all, his attitude towards her was undeniably good. She was slowly coming to terms with their shared living situation, reasoning that instead of constant friction, it was better to set aside her emotions and try to coexist with him.

Shen Yifei chuckled. “The company I joined is perfectly fine,” he said, “it’s just that the director and the CEO are a little… small-minded.”

Su Muqing pursed her lips. “At best, it’s a fly-by-night operation (pibao gongsi, a shell company with little substance), and I doubt the director or CEO are any good either.”

Shen Yifei couldn’t help but find it amusing. If Su Muqing knew she was describing *herself*, he wondered what expression she’d make.

“Never mind,” Shen Yifei said with a smile. “I’m quite satisfied with my current job, no need to change.”

Su Muqing gave a faint huff. “Suit yourself, then. If you don’t appreciate my offer, there’s nothing I can do.”

She had clearly intended to arrange a good job for Shen Yifei, and Su Muqing couldn’t fathom why he was so unwilling.

Yet, she couldn’t deny a faint stir of concern for Shen Yifei. Had she started to care?

Su Muqing shook her head, dismissing the thought. “Impossible. Nothing could ever happen between us.”

Without dwelling on it further, Su Muqing hurried out of the villa, got into her Audi convertible, and drove away from the upscale residential compound.

Shen Yifei also changed into his suit and hailed a taxi outside.

Upon arriving at the Lingya International Building, Shen Yifei quickly stepped into the elevator. He still had plenty of time.

Just as Shen Yifei stepped out of the elevator, a figure abruptly collided with him.

A fragrant scent enveloped him, accompanied by a soft, yielding touch. The young woman who had bumped into him had delicate features, a dainty mouth, and a small, upturned nose (qiong bi, a classic descriptor for beauty), and a petite frame.

It was none other than Lin Cai’er, and the stack of documents she had been carrying scattered across the floor.

Lin Cai’er tumbled to the ground, gritting her teeth. Her fair arm pressed against her hip, a grimace of pain twisting her delicate features as she hissed through her lips, trying to soothe the sting.

It looked like she had taken quite a fall on her rear.

“Oh, I’m so sorry! I’m so sorry!” Before Shen Yifei could even speak, Lin Cai’er was already apologizing profusely.

“Cai’er, are you alright?” Shen Yifei quickly grasped her small hand, pulling her to her feet. The touch was soft and smooth beneath his fingers.

“Bro Lang (Lang Ge, an affectionate nickname)?” Lin Cai’er’s eyes lit up. “I’m fine, really! Don’t worry about me.”

Shen Yifei quickly began gathering the scattered documents from the floor. “My apologies,” he murmured, “I arrived a little late.”

“It’s alright, it’s just the start of office hours,” Lin Cai’er replied with a faint smile, crouching down and sweeping her long hair back as she began to help him pick up the papers.

They fell into an easy conversation as they worked.

Meanwhile, Liu Xiaoxiao strode into the office, clad in a sleek professional suit (OL zhifu, or ‘Office Lady’ attire) and black stockings, looking as striking and alluring as ever.

“Good morning, Director!”

“Good morning, Director Liu!”

Along the way, employees continually greeted her, and Liu Xiaoxiao offered subtle nods in return.

Her first order of business upon arriving was to head straight to the Public Relations department.

Seeing Shen Yifei cheerfully chatting with Lin Cai’er by the elevators, Liu Xiaoxiao’s temper flared. She marched over and said, her voice like ice, “Manager Shen, during working hours, there will be no flirting with company employees!”

“D-Director Liu (Liu Zongjian)! Bro Lang didn’t… he wasn’t…” Lin Cai’er stammered, her voice trailing off.

“Cough, cough…”

Liu Xiaoxiao nearly choked. She coughed violently a few times. *Bro Lang?* That nickname was far too intimate, wasn’t it?

They’d only known each other a few days! Shen Yifei must have tricked or manipulated Lin Cai’er somehow.

“Shen Yifei, you… you beast! Assistant Lin is an innocent girl. If you dare lay a hand on her, I swear I won’t let you get away with it!” Liu Xiaoxiao glared at Shen Yifei with a vengeful look.

Shen Yifei’s face darkened. He retorted, annoyed, “What do you mean, ‘beast’? Director Liu, can you please refrain from using such harsh language?”

“Director,” Lin Cai’er interjected, waving her hands frantically, a blush creeping onto her face. “Manager Shen and I weren’t…”

Shen Yifei grinned at Lin Cai’er. “It’s fine,” he said. “Even if we *were*, it’s none of Director Liu’s business. She’s an outsider, we don’t need to pay her any mind.”

Liu Xiaoxiao’s chest heaved with fury. “Shen Yifei! Do you have any respect for me as your director?!”

Shen Yifei turned to Liu Xiaoxiao. He chuckled. “Alright, Director Liu, let’s keep professional and private matters separate, shall we? Work has already begun, so perhaps we should focus on business now?”

“Then get to your office, quickly! I have something to discuss with you.” Liu Xiaoxiao shot Shen Yifei a withering glare. Her eyes practically screamed that she wanted to flay him alive.

The memory of her pristine body (bingqing yujie, literally ‘ice-pure and jade-clean,’ implying purity) potentially being seen by Shen Yifei still burned her. Liu Xiaoxiao yearned to kick the man across the room. Having suffered such a humiliation, she could barely hold her head high; she had never been so thoroughly disgraced.

While she couldn’t openly forbid Shen Yifei from brazenly flirting (liaomei, literally ‘picking up girls’) in the office, Liu Xiaoxiao absolutely loathed his smug demeanor.

No, this insult *had* to be avenged! Liu Xiaoxiao’s eyes gleamed as a brilliant idea sparked in her mind.