He stole his best friend's photos and fell for a tycoon's heir through online dating.

Zhang Nan exchanged a few words with Xia Ruo and then told her to wait for President Huo to come down at the front desk in the lobby.

Xia Ruo, clutching her bag, sat down on a chair next to the front desk, propping her arms on the table and resting her chin on her arms, looking like a wilted plant.

Working overtime again... working overtime again...

She picked up her phone and opened her chat with Zhou Siyan.

The chat history was still stuck on the few messages she sent at noon complaining about Huo Sinian.

There has been no reply from them yet.

Are you busy?

Or……

His scheme succeeded, and he gradually became indifferent to him?

Thinking of this, Xia Ruo felt a surge of secret joy, like bubbles rising one after another in sparkling water.

She couldn't help but smile slightly.

Let's press our advantage.

She tapped the input box and swiftly typed out a line of text:

"Brother, I have to work overtime again tonight. Just focus on your work, brother."

Xia Ruo stared at the message for two seconds and nodded in satisfaction.

If I can gradually make the male lead lose interest in me, thereby saving my life—then I'll work overtime! I'll work as many days as I want! I'll even work myself to death!

"bite--"

The elevator doors slowly opened.

Zhou Siyan stepped out of the elevator, looking down at her phone with a furrowed brow.

You little liar, you're lying again? Who made her work overtime?

His gaze shifted from the screen, and he looked up to see the young girl leaning over the front desk.

She was holding her phone, typing with a big smile on her face. The light from the screen reflected on her face, making her peach blossom eyes curve into two crescent moons, and the corners of her mouth turned up high.

Zhou Siyan's brows furrowed even more.

Who are you chatting with that's making you laugh like that?

A thought flashed through his mind, like a cold wind sneaking into his collar.

Could it be that she... cheated on him?

He walked up to Xia Ruo with a stern face, his voice radiating an undeniable chill: "Who are you waiting for here?"

Xia Ruo was startled and jumped up from her chair, her phone almost flying away.

She looked up, her peach blossom eyes wide open, her heart pounding in her chest.

Are you a cat? You walk without making a sound... It scared me to death.

"I'm asking you," Zhou Siyan said, looking into her eyes and enunciating each word clearly.

"Who are you waiting for? Who are you planning to go on a date with?"

"Huh?" Xia Ruo frowned, her mouth forming an exaggerated "O" shape, her face filled with shock as if to say, "Are you out of your mind?"

"I'm waiting for you, Mr. Huo. Sister Zhang asked me to go with her to a social event; didn't she tell you?"

Seriously, is this guy on fire? Why is he being so aggressive? I've been working overtime for two days straight and I'm not even angry!

Looking at her face, which was filled with grievance and displeasure, Zhou Siyan realized that his tone had indeed been too harsh.

There's been a misunderstanding.

He calmed himself down, his gaze momentarily shifting from her face, and then he raised a hand to touch his nose.

"Sorry, I spoke a little harshly."

He paused, then asked again, "But... why did Manager Zhang send you?"

Xia Ruo's inner voice had already rolled its eyes a hundred and eighty times.

Do you think I wanted to come here? If you don't like me, just let me leave!

Anyway, I told Zhou Siyan I was working overtime, and he's been ignoring me. I'm in a great mood right now. He won't let me come with him to celebrate.

She raised her face, a standard professional fake smile curving her lips:

"Mr. Huo, I also feel that I'm not suitable. How about I ask Manager Zhang to find someone else to accompany you?"

"Need not."

Zhou Siyan's lips curled into a half-smile, his tone carrying an ambiguous meaning, "You'll do."

Xia Ruo: "..."

You criticize me on one hand, but you still take me along on the other. What exactly do you mean by this?

Too lazy to ask any more questions, she turned and walked towards the parking lot.

Upon reaching the parking lot, Xia Ruo walked straight to the car, opened the passenger door, and got in.

As Zhou Siyan watched the small figure angrily climb into the passenger seat, the corners of his mouth curved into a deeper smile.

He walked leisurely to the driver's seat, opened the car door, got in, and fastened his seatbelt.

Xia Ruo turned her head to look out the window, her back to him.

"Isn't the driver going?"

"He has something to do, I'll drive."

"Oh." Whatever, I won't drive it anyway.

Xia Ruo was still angry and didn't want to talk to him.

She turned her face to the car window, took out her phone from her bag, opened a game, and tapped the screen with her fingertips, deliberately turning the volume up so that the game sound effects crashed through the quiet carriage.

Zhou Siyan turned her head and looked at it, like a cat with its fur standing on end, and shook her head helplessly.

Why are you so angry?

They're quite hard to coax.

However... I was indeed wrong.

He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, his fingertips striking the leather-wrapped rim.

I need to think of a way to coax her.

He didn't forbid her from using her phone like he did last time.

He had already silenced his phone beforehand and placed it face down on the center console.

-

"We've arrived, get off the bus."

Xia Ruo stopped playing the game, looked up at the window, and frowned slightly: "Where is this?"

She stepped out of the car and looked around—the brightly lit atrium of the shopping mall, with luxury stores lined up in a row, and mannequins in the windows wearing the latest seasonal styles.

"What are you doing here?" She turned her head, her peach blossom eyes filled with confusion.

Zhou Siyan glanced at her, his eyes swirling with something Xia Ruo couldn't understand: "Buy some gifts to apologize."

Xia Ruo was suddenly startled.

An apology? The person I was socializing with tonight was a woman?

Did Mr. Huo offend someone? So he brought her here to buy a gift, hoping she could act as a peacemaker later?

She knew it—bringing her to this social event was definitely not just about having a meal; her role as a "tool" had been upgraded from "messenger" to "apologetic gift box delivery person."

"Keep up."

He led Xia Ruo straight into the Bulgari counter, where a sales clerk immediately greeted them: "Hello sir, how can I help you?"

The sales assistant's gaze naturally slid to Xia Ruo behind Zhou Siyan, and she paused for a moment—

What a beautiful girl, she looks like she stepped out of a magazine.

"Sir, your girlfriend is so beautiful," the sales assistant complimented sincerely, her smile widening. "Our jewelry would be perfect for her."

As she spoke, she walked past Zhou Siyan and approached Xia Ruo warmly: "Miss, do you have a style you like? Let me help you try it on."

Xia Ruo's ears turned bright red instantly, and she quickly waved her hands, "No, no, I'm not his girlfriend, this is my boss..."

What kind of taste does she have? Who would want a boyfriend with that kind of temper?

"Take a look and see which one looks good, pick one." Zhou Siyan's voice came from behind.

Xia Ruo rolled her eyes inwardly:

Why let yourself choose? You're offending people and showing no sincerity. If you choose something and the other person doesn't like it, you'll end up blaming them for not doing a good job.

She turned to the sales assistant, a sweet smile curving her lips:

"I have a business dinner later, and this is a gift for the other party's boss. Hmm, she's a powerful businesswoman, so please choose someone with a good temperament, calm and generous demeanor."

The sales assistant was about to nod when the man behind her spoke up: "No need."

Xia Ruo turned to look at him.

"Just pick one that suits your taste."

What am I supposed to pick? It's not like it's a gift for me. Xia Ruo frowned slightly.

Could it be that they think my taste is good?

She lowered her head, lost in thought, her fingers unconsciously tracing patterns on the bag strap.

Zhou Siyan stood beside her, feeling a tightness in her chest as she looked at her absent-minded expression.

Online, it's so easy to coax them. Just a couple of sentences are enough. Send a transfer, send "Baby, be good," and the little girl will obediently say, "Brother is the best."

And now? He can't even give a gift. What will become of Zhou Siyan's reputation if word gets out?

"Stop being picky."

Xia Ruo raised her head.

"Sales assistant, pack up all the youthful styles in the store."