Chapter 3
The story had twelve important checkpoints. Each involved Qin Ruanruan and me performing broadly similar steamy scenes in different locations, including but not limited to Zhou Bai’s home, the office pantry, the general manager’s office, a restaurant bathroom, the hotel used for the company retreat… and Zhou Bai’s bed.
I paled in horror. “Zhou Bai is joining us too?!”
The system was equally horrified. “That’s the kind of thing you’re into?!”
…Sometimes I felt brain-computer interfaces could not be invented soon enough. Otherwise, I would already have deleted this filthy thing like a virus.
I stood in the general manager’s private elevator and watched the floor numbers climb until I reached the eighty-eighth floor.
Tch. What a tacky number.
But the moment I saw the lavishly gilded office and enormous private lounge, I could not help applauding.
This was the life of decadent luxury I wanted!
I straightened my tie and studied the face in the mirror. Its eyes and brows were almost identical to mine when I was a woman, and I marveled at the system’s intelligence.
It had masculinized my appearance outright, erasing its seductive charm and replacing it with a refined, dashing air.
Honestly, though, I would have preferred a little more rugged masculinity.
Back in my original world, men had been inventing sexual rumors about me ever since middle school because of my looks. It had been endlessly irritating.
The office’s digital clock soon read eleven thirty. I sat in a genuine leather chair and watched my assistant open the office door from outside. Qin Ruanruan entered in a soft apricot-colored dress, carrying a lunch box. Behind her came Zhou Bai, radiating maximum wholesome-husband energy.
Thinking back over the plot, I felt that apart from his fairly handsome face, everything about Zhou Bai was tedious and dull. No wonder his wife later became infatuated with me.
No—infatuated with the male lead of an adult film.
The boring Zhou Bai opened the lunch box, placed it in front of me, and handed me the chopsticks with both hands.
I continued examining him. There were faint shadows under his eyes, and he wore an even more boring white-and-gray striped shirt. The employee badge around his neck looked like a dog collar, binding every part of his life.
As though he belonged to me?
What the hell kind of thought was that?
I took the chopsticks and invited Qin Ruanruan to sit down with a smile.
“Come, Miss Qin. Eat with me.”
Overwhelmed by the favor, Qin Ruanruan shook her head. She hid behind Zhou Bai, revealing only half of her lovely profile. “Mr. Lin, y-you only asked us to deliver lunch.”
Tch. How was I supposed to say my lines if she only delivered the food? I shot Zhou Bai a displeased glance, then gestured for him to leave with my assistant.
Zhou Bai smiled faintly. “Mr. Lin, if there’s nothing else, Ruanruan and I will be going.” With that, he made to escape with his young wife.
I stood at once and seized Zhou Bai by the wrist. Only then did I realize that even though he was six foot one, I still stood almost a forehead taller.
In my original world, men had always looked me over with malicious eyes and speculated about me with filthy thoughts.
Now, for once, I could look down on a man from above.
A mischievous streak suddenly stirred in me.
Keeping hold of Zhou Bai, I forcefully pulled him down into a chair, then wrapped my other arm around Qin Ruanruan’s shoulders.
Qin Ruanruan’s face went white as I pressed her into one of the lounge chairs.
The married couple sat before my table, wearing identically rigid expressions.
Much later, I asked Zhou Bai and Qin Ruanruan what they had been thinking at the time. To my surprise, their thoughts had been identical too.
Qin Ruanruan: It’s over. He wants to sleep with me.
Zhou Bai: …It’s over. He wants to sleep with me?
I let out a short laugh and lowered my voice. “Don’t worry. This is the general manager’s private lounge. No one will come in.”
First line: achieved!
I set the food on the table and looked at Zhou Bai. “Where are your lunches? Go get them. For the next month, you’ll both eat lunch with me.”
Zhou Bai’s face went cold. “Mr. Lin, that counts as overtime.”
“Then call it overtime. The overtime pay will be deposited into your account.” I tilted my head with a smile. “Why are you still standing there? Go get the food.”
Zhou Bai left. Qin Ruanruan watched the doorway uneasily, then stole a cautious glance at me.
Chewing a piece of beef, I suddenly asked, “Miss Qin, do you always dress like this?”
She froze, then followed my gaze to the clothes she was wearing that day.
A skintight skirt that barely covered the tops of her thighs, a blouse with three buttons undone, and wine-red lingerie visible beneath it.
She blushed, bewildered. “Not usually. I only…” Her voice faltered, as though she could not remember why she had chosen this outfit.
I politely lowered my gaze. “This outfit is a little too enticing.” The second line was complete.
“If this is what you enjoy wearing, I completely respect that. But if you’re only doing it to please someone else, I think you should wear something more comfortable from now on.” That was what I genuinely believed.
Qin Ruanruan stared at me.
“If you like, you can dress casually whenever you come to see me. Loose cotton clothes would be best.”
“They might keep you warmer too.” As I spoke, I picked up the air-conditioner remote beside the table and raised the temperature. Goosebumps had been covering her arms for some time.
Zhou Bai returned carrying two reheated meals.
He stopped in the doorway, taken aback. “Ruanruan, why is your face so red?”
Qin Ruanruan glanced almost imperceptibly at me, then lowered her head.
Her pale, slender hands nervously twisted the hem of her dress. “Zhou Bai, I… I want to go home and change.”
Now I was the one who froze.
Don’t! I hadn’t completed the important plot point yet.
Qin Ruanruan might have looked sweet and docile, but she was unexpectedly stubborn. Ignoring both Zhou Bai’s and my attempts to stop her, she simply left.
Zhou Bai and I stared at each other.
An excruciating silence descended over the room.