Chapter 3

Chapter 3

I took two days of annual leave.

During the day, we curled up together on the sofa and watched movies. At night, we tangled together endlessly, whispering every sweet nothing we could think of.

Even if we were destined to part,

I still wanted to leave myself with one beautiful memory.

On the third day, I went back to work.

My colleagues swarmed me with a piece of news: Manager Fang had been dismissed for accepting bribes, and headquarters had parachuted in a new leader.

Manager Fang loved nothing more than announcing meetings right before clock-out.

Now that he was gone, everyone was thrilled.

That afternoon, Secretary Guan sent a message in the group chat saying the new boss was treating everyone to a seafood feast tonight-888 per person.

The chat instantly filled with a string of kneeling emojis and “Thank you, boss!”

I waged an internal war for quite a while, then gave up.

I couldn’t give in to a moment’s craving.

My character setting had to stay intact.

Only by staying steady could I win.

The next day, I was called to the general manager’s office.

My young superior sat behind the desk in a crisp suit, his handsome face cool and distant as he flipped through a document Secretary Guan had given him.

When I walked in, he didn’t even look up. He only said flatly, “You were the only one who didn’t attend yesterday’s dinner. Any particular reason?”

I pressed my lips together and slowly lowered my head.

After two seconds of silence,

sure enough, Secretary Guan vouched for me from the side.

“President Li, her husband has a bad temper and keeps a tight leash on her. I briefly mentioned it to you before…”

“A bad temper?”

A very soft chuckle came from across the desk. “Don’t tell me he actually hits her.”

I lifted my head, ready to put on that pale, resigned smile I had long since mastered.

Then I suddenly narrowed my eyes and hesitated.

“I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere before…”

Secretary Guan jabbed me hard in the lower back with one finger. “Jiang Yao, this is not the time to try and cozy up to him.”

I stared at the young man across from me.

He sat back in his leather chair with one leg crossed over the other, his thin lips pressed together, head slightly tilted, wearing an expression that was almost a smile and yet not.

That expression…

“Li Chengfeng? Little Fatty?!”

The words slipped out before I could stop them.

The corner of Li Chengfeng’s mouth twitched. His face was full of mockery as he spoke in an unhurried tone.

“So you’re telling me that Jiang Yao, the great class monitor who used to chase boys all over the schoolyard with a pointer, has now become a love-addled fool? And if she comes home late, her husband beats her?”

My heart gave a hard thud.

Oh no.

Back then, my nickname had been “Jiang the Tyrant.” With the homeroom teacher’s authorization, I was in charge of disciplining all the naughty boys in the class, and I had been insufferably arrogant about it.

The Li Chengfeng standing before me was one of the boys I had beaten back then-and the one I had beaten the worst.

Not only because he had been chubby and ran slowly, but also because he had a vicious mouth.

Every time I pinned him down, he would still crane his neck and yell, “Jiang Yao, you’ll never get married in this lifetime!” and “When the time comes, don’t come begging me to marry you!”

Who would have thought a boy could change so much after growing up?

The Little Fatty from back then had transformed into a tall, handsome rising star in the workplace. Even that broken-gong voice of his had turned into a deep baritone!

I adjusted quickly.

Surprise, regret, and nostalgia flashed across my face one after another. Finally, my eyes reddened, and I forced out a self-deprecating smile.

“That’s all in the past. We were young and ignorant back then. All I can say is… well, there’s always someone who can bring you to heel.”

Li Chengfeng said nothing, his arms folded across his chest. A mocking curve hung at the corner of his lips, and a few words were practically written all over his face:

Like hell I believe you.

After I came out of the general manager’s office,

Secretary Guan looked at me with a complicated expression.

“Jiang Yao, are you totally screwed?”