Can following the rules be called rebirth?

Chapter 317, Section 315: Offering My Everything (5k)

The night is darker.

The guesthouse is warm and inviting, with its wabi-sabi-style beige walls isolating the noise and leaving only a soft ray of light overhead mixed with the starry sky, giving the interior a soft filter.

Enveloped by the man's body temperature and breath, He Min felt her breath catch in her throat for several seconds.

A slight buzz from alcohol not only pushes the boundaries of reason but also makes the body's sensory cells exceptionally acute.

Extremely greedy.

He Min could clearly feel the firm lines of the man's arm muscles through his shirt.

She could clearly hear his hot breath so close to hers, brushing against the stray hairs by her ear.

Zhou Mingyuan seemed to appreciate her self-awareness.

He didn't speak, his fingertips lingering and caressing the waist, back, and even the full, perky curves of her body through her bodycon nightgown.

But when He Min took the initiative again, the anticipated further intimacy did not materialize.

Zhou Mingyuan actually let go of her hand.

He turned his head, his gaze passing over the girl's head, surveying the cozy little living room, skimming over the soft sofa, and then over the empty beer cans on the coffee table.

Finally, it settled on the table not far away.

The table was neatly arranged with several exquisite gift boxes and bags, each categorized and arranged in its own way.

Zhou Mingyuan was also very familiar with one of them.

These are Hangzhou-style souvenirs prepared for them by their partner, Dai Ying.

There's an old Chinese saying: "It's the Lunar New Year, and since we're already here..."

When these two meet, how could Dai Ying, a small business owner who is well-versed in human relationships, not express her gratitude?
These souvenirs

Zhou Mingyuan asked with a smile.

"Are these all your spoils of war today?"

"."

He Min felt as if his brain had been struck by a heavy hammer, his ears were ringing instantly, and he could barely hear what he said afterward.

Why is the boss asking these questions at this time?
She had thought that perhaps the atmosphere would continue to develop, and that on this night full of ritual, there might be a little more intimacy than usual.

Just a little bit.

but
It seems he didn't mean that?
Or is it that he doesn't need me even for this kind of thing?
An indescribable sense of loss and embarrassment quietly swept over her.

He Min felt as if her body, which was leaning against the other person's arm, was starting to stiffen, with every muscle tense up.

So tight, so tight.

The little flame that had just ignited in my heart was extinguished by those "more important things," leaving not even a trace of struggling smoke, but only cold ashes.

He Min took a deep breath.

"Yes."

The girl straightened up slightly and created some distance between them.

She awoke completely from her dream.

Force yourself to detach from your chaotic emotions and focus your attention on the task of reporting your work.

It can't really be called a report.

As the saying goes, if the boss has a solid foundation, the assistant will not.

Having spent a long time by Zhou Mingyuan's side, He Min's greatest and fastest growth in skills was in empathy and execution.

The moment He Min saw the gifts Dai Ying gave to the group from Jieyou Media, she noticed Zhou Mingyuan's thoughtful expression.

Why did the boss fall into deep thought?
That's because, of course, the meticulous man quickly realized that since he had come all the way to Hangzhou, he should prepare gifts for the girls around him.

The slight sadness of not being together during the Lunar New Year will surely be offset by the surprise of small gifts.

So after receiving the gift, she had already consulted Zhou Mingyuan.

And he spent most of the day driving around Hangzhou several times to find gifts to give to different girls.

"What are all these things?"

Zhou Mingyuan asked casually.

"Um"

He Min slowed down her speech. Seeing that he didn't intend to open them one by one, she remained seated and explained from a distance.

"That little box is for Zhong Yujun. Everyone says there are many shamans in the north, and she probably believes in things like fate and luck."

The assistant carefully chose her words, trying to avoid revealing any emotion.

“I did my research beforehand and asked a few local friends in Hangzhou. They all said that Lingyin Temple is particularly efficacious, especially the blessed bracelets from their temple, which are very popular.”

"Oh?"

Zhou Mingyuan took a sip of his wine and couldn't help but become curious.

"So you got her a bracelet?"

"Yes."

He Min nodded.

“I got her a string of the best quality Rudraksha beads. According to the monks at the temple, it symbolizes increased wisdom and protection from all evil.”

"That's really good."

Zhou Mingyuan was surprised to find that the gifts He Min had chosen on her behalf were actually quite thoughtful and meaningful.

When Mingming asked him if he wanted to prepare anything, the man simply nodded casually to indicate that he could.

He was thinking that he would go to the mall with his assistant to choose the items.

Ke Hemin's execution ability is really a bit exaggerated.

In just one day, she had already taken care of everything.

But what surprised him even more was yet to come.

"Give a slightly larger gift box to Gu Caiwei. She has a sweet tooth and likes desserts and pastries."

He Min pointed to a corner of the table and continued.

"There are many traditional local pastries in Hangzhou, such as Dingsheng cake, osmanthus cake, and Tiaotou cake, but I didn't choose any near the tourist attractions because I felt they were all mass-produced."

"When I asked Sister Dai, she told me to avoid the main street of Hefang Street where tourists flock, and recommended an old shop to me called Zhiweiguan."

"."

Zhou Mingyuan listened intently.

"The Dingsheng cake from Zhiweiguan is steamed in small batches using traditional methods. I tried it and found it to be exceptionally delicious, sweet, soft, and not sticky."

He Min smiled, as if she were just talking about some trivial little thing.

"The box next to it is for Li Zhi, she likes to drink tea."

Seeing that Zhou Mingyuan didn't respond, the assistant continued the introduction.

"Choosing a gift for her isn't that complicated; just find a teahouse."

"Qingqian Longjing tea from the Shifeng Mountain production area should be suitable."

"It is indeed suitable."

Zhou Mingyuan nodded: "Little Lychee will definitely like these."

"What about the last box?"

"That one is for Sister Yun."

He Min replied without changing her expression, as if the other party were asking a question they already knew the answer to.

"Choosing a gift for Sister Yun was the hardest. I compared many options over a long period of time before finally deciding to give her a high-end custom silk scarf from Wansili."

"You put your heart into it."

Zhou Mingyuan couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions, and also a newfound respect for him.

Choosing four gifts that are different from each person's and suit their preferences in a short period of time is no easy task.
In fact, if Zhou Mingyuan himself spent time and effort carefully selecting items, the most he could do was optimize the budget.

Perhaps we could do better, but not by much.

"No."

"It's all just running errands."

He Min lowered her head, saying something that didn't reflect her true feelings.

She really put a lot of thought into it.

She traveled all over Hangzhou, climbed mountains, stood in line, talked herself hoarse, and endured all sorts of hardships.

Picking out gifts for the boss's other women.

But what about him?
He was so calm, so natural, and so considerate of whether others would like it.
I like gifts that I carefully choose myself.

Couldn't you have asked these questions a little later?

No, it's not possible.
He Min bit her lip almost imperceptibly, clenching her fingers to remain silent.

Even though she was right in front of him, even though she had just been held in his arms and played with at will, even though she had let him do whatever he wanted to her.

Her tireless efforts, her painstaking work, her unwavering dedication, her...
It's Chinese New Year today.

What exactly is that little bit of secret expectation?
Okay, I'm just an assistant.

A competent and useful assistant who is very thoughtful, pays attention to detail, has good taste.

Work reports always come first.

This realization was like a dull knife, repeatedly cutting into her heart.

An indescribable emotion quietly arose.

Is that ok?

Now that we've finished discussing the work, shouldn't we go to...?
Breathe, breathe again, take deep breaths repeatedly.

She could only try to suppress the feelings that shouldn't exist, completely relax herself, and simply lay down, just like a little kitten, resting her head on Zhou Mingyuan's thigh.

Her beautiful hair cascaded down the side of the man's legs, and her face was turned inward.

This action allowed her to almost smell Zhou Mingyuan's overwhelming masculine scent through her nose.

"Boss~"

He Min murmured softly, her voice gentle as water, as if she were talking to herself, or perhaps it was a monologue from her soul.

"Ok?"

"Today is New Year's Day, I'm very happy, I can do it."

She couldn't find anything to say for a moment, so she blurted out this sentence out of nowhere.

"."

She couldn't see Zhou Mingyuan's expression.

"I'm fine with whatever you want, I'm willing to do anything."

"."

She turned her face to the side, but actually only to Zhou Mingyuan's legs.

She couldn't see the man's expression. But she knew perfectly well that her emotions were about to overflow, and she couldn't wait any longer.

In a matter of seconds, she transformed into an obedient expression, gently moving her slender fingers to her chest.

She curled up on Zhou Mingyuan's lap, one pill after another.

flutter.

One pill, and your skin will be as smooth and white as snow.

flutter.

One, with a delicate and soft body.

flutter.

One after another.

A carefully prepared outfit, showcasing her own unique beauty, blossoms in this small guesthouse.

Her nose still felt a little sore, but He Min knew she had to hide her emotions.

A qualified assistant may only be second to certain tasks.

Some?

No, it's behind far too many things.

She even secretly gritted her teeth and decided to perform an even more alluring move for Zhou Mingyuan, so that she could fully display her body.

A slightly cold hand grabbed He Min's wrist, stopping her from making any further moves.

"?"

He Min looked up in surprise.

This is the second time.

She wasn't an ignorant little girl.

She knew that although she couldn't be considered a stunning beauty like Gu Caiwei, she was definitely a pretty girl.

A beautiful woman, in front of a man's crotch, unbuttoned her nightgown to this extent.
No matter how proactive he was, how could Zhou Mingyuan have the composure to repeatedly stop himself from acting at this moment?

Unless you really don't like it.

not interested.

He Min took another deep breath, trying her best to keep her eyes from turning red.

The man's hand gently brushed against her high, firm breasts and began to straighten the hem of her nightgown.

Zhou Mingyuan actually
Buttoning up your clothes?
He Min was a little at a loss.

Gentle and gradual, meticulous and thoughtful.

One.

One.
Of course, she would still be somewhat disheveled, full of spring vibes. At this moment, her hair was messy and her neckline was alluring, but she was still captivated by the most delightful spring scenery.

Zhou Mingyuan even helped himself up.

She still relied on this man.

The man still put his arm around her shoulder.

But it feels much warmer now.

She doesn't seem like a female subordinate who merely fulfills the boss's needs, but rather more like a warm couple, gently cuddling together.

"Minmin."

"boss?"

"I came to see you not just for this reason."

Zhou Mingyuan's voice was as gentle as water.

"."

"You don't need to be in such a hurry."

"."

He Min's eyes dimmed.

"Of course, it's not that I don't want to, let's start later."

"I'll stay here with you tonight, so you can sleep in a little later tomorrow. I know how much alcohol Nuonuo can handle; she'll definitely sleep until noon."

"Um"

Her mood suddenly took a rollercoaster ride, and He Min couldn't quite describe her feelings, only that she felt tears welling up in her eyes.

A few words, yet incredibly gentle.

She was already burdened with worries, but deep down she was still a girl, and at that moment she felt almost drunk.

She even felt a sense of bewilderment she had never experienced before.

She didn't know what to say to this man to express her love, submission, gratitude, and dependence.

But Zhou Mingyuan, who was beside him, was still muttering to himself, as if he were really confiding in someone.

"Minmin."

"Ok?"

There are some things I've always wanted to tell you, but I haven't been able to find the right time, and I'm afraid of misunderstanding you, or you misunderstanding me.

"?"

Do you sometimes feel that I'm not good enough to you? Or, are there other ways to help you?

No, no, why do you say that?

He Min was not only surprised by this topic, but also felt somewhat apprehensive.

Zhou Mingyuan ignored her and continued talking.

"Do you ever wonder, for example, why is Nono able to become such a glamorous streamer on Douyu?"

"And you, despite doing so much for me, can only stay by my side as a lowly assistant with little money and little fame."

No, no, there isn't.

He Min never expected this.

The dark side of my own heart, those most sensitive little thoughts that I dared not even think about, were actually pointed out by Zhou Mingyuan to my face.

She didn't even know how to deny it thoroughly.

But Zhou Mingyuan seemed to be talking to himself, or perhaps apologetically, as he smiled at her and explained.

"That's true. Sometimes I also feel that it's impossible for one person to fully understand another person's thoughts."

"The human heart is a very difficult thing to fathom. Sometimes, even we ourselves may not fully understand what we are thinking. We may not even be able to sort out our own thoughts and feelings."

"Outsiders, needless to say, always seem to understand about 70-80% of it, but in reality, it's all just guessing. Everyone's feelings are so subtle; what they like and dislike is often just a fleeting feeling. How can it be understood by simply calculating gains and losses?"

"."

He Min was somewhat confused, but she was certain that Zhou Mingyuan wasn't entirely referring to herself.

"I actually saw those gifts and it made me think about how you felt."

"Originally, I wanted to go shopping with you at the mall and pick out some things, but I didn't expect you to buy them all so quickly."

Seeing his assistant's red-rimmed eyes and the way he was shaking his head, Zhou Mingyuan smiled and continued.

"Compared to the others around me, even those with the same working relationship and superior-subordinate relationship, Nuonuo may indeed be very glamorous, and it's not just superficial; she has truly entered the inner circle."

"The future development prospects are bound to be very broad."

"In comparison, your public work is hard to compare with hers."

"I shouldn't assume you're completely indifferent, should I? I should at least be understanding of some of your feelings."

No. I'm not.

He Min wanted to explain, but she didn't know how.

She could no longer hold back her tears, and two large drops, like broken pearls, fell down her cheeks.

What I really wanted to say was, I'm sorry.

"Some things are just beyond our control."

"Of course I know, you are very sensible, you should be able to know and understand these things."

“Everyone has a different role. For example, Nono has a solid foundation. She is a professionally trained actress, has good expression skills, and has a good image.”

"So, she might be more suited for projects like live streaming."

“But in some aspects, you don’t have her as good innate qualities. You have a more stable personality, can endure more hardship, and are more suitable to stay by my side and do things that are more suitable for you.”

"I know you understand all of this."

"There are some things I may not have done well enough, and I'm sorry. Really."

"no no"

He Min shook her head as she cried, her face streaked with tears.

She tried to calm herself down, but it was all in vain.

"So, I owe you an explanation, and I hope you can understand that, in some ways, I trust you even more."

"You are different from everyone else."

"You took the initiative to knock on my door, you took the initiative to seize the destiny you wanted. I admire that very much."

"So, in fact, you and I have indeed become closer."

"I can't promise you anything, but I also don't feel that what I've given you is all you deserve."

"You deserve more, and I'll give you even more in return. I'm a little embarrassed today; I might be a bit drunk, and I don't know if I expressed myself clearly."

He Min's tears had stopped, but they were still glistening in her pupils. She stared at the man, listening intently to what he had to say.

She is no longer the He Min who took the initiative to seek employment that night.

She understood that at this moment, her boss was putting her feelings first.

All her confusion and bitterness vanished in that instant, and she felt an indescribable power fill her body.

At least, the boss is considering his own feelings and emotions.

That's more than enough.

She held Zhou Mingyuan's hand, even pulling it slightly to counteract his resistance, and firmly placed that hand on her heart.

It seemed that only by making such a move could she present her body and her heartbeat to this man.

"boss"

"."

"."

Everything I have is yours.

She said it very seriously.

(End of this chapter)