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

Xia Ruo stood outside President Huo's office, her palms slightly sweaty.

She took a deep breath, mentally prepared herself, and then raised her hand to knock on the door.

"Enter."

She pushed open the door and went in, trying to make her steps appear unhurried.

Huo Sinian was sitting behind his desk, looking at documents.

"Mr. Huo."

"What's wrong? Is something the matter?"

"Um... Wanwan said there's a banquet at her house tonight and she'd like to invite you. I was wondering if you, Mr. Huo, have time? If not, that's fine."

"From the Lin family?"

"Yes."

Zhou Siyan looked up at her, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment: "Why are you the one asking me?"

Xia Ruo was stunned for a moment.

Huh? Oh, I almost forgot—Boss, you're interested in Wanwan, so of course Wanwan should come and ask you herself to show her sincerity.

and many more.

A thought struck her like lightning—could it be that last night, he mistook me for Wanwan?

She froze, as if someone had pressed the pause button. Last night he was drunk, his mind clouded, leaning against her, his lips brushing against the corner of hers…

If he's thinking of Wanwan, then what is she? A substitute? A tool?

An indescribable bitterness welled up from the bottom of my heart and got stuck in my throat.

"Hmm?" Zhou Siyan asked, his voice slightly nasal as he heard her remain silent.

Xia Ruo snapped out of her reverie, lowered her eyes, and replied dejectedly, "Wanwan had something to do, so she asked me to ask."

"Does that mean you're going too?"

"Maybe...maybe...I have to go." She replied absentmindedly, looking down at him without looking up.

"Okay, tell me the location."

"You agreed just like that?" Xia Ruo was stunned for a moment, then realized—of course she agreed, because it was Wanwan who invited her.

The bitterness in her heart stirred again.

"Then I'll get back to work, Mr. Huo." She turned to leave.

"etc!"

Xia Ruo turned around.

Zhou Siyan took a gift box out of the drawer, stood up, walked around the desk, and stood in front of her.

She asked softly, "Why are you suddenly unhappy?"

Xia Ruo looked up in surprise—President Huo is quite perceptive.

She had just started to feel a little disappointed, and before she could even figure out what that emotion was, he noticed it.

"It's nothing..." she said, her voice muffled as she lowered her eyes.

"Then why are you unhappy?"

Huh? Why are you keeping bringing this up? What's it to you...?

"It's really nothing, Mr. Huo," she looked up and forced a smile, "I just didn't sleep well last night and was a little distracted."

"Is it really just because you didn't get enough rest?"

"right!"

He raised his hand. Xia Ruo's pupils contracted slightly, and her body instinctively leaned back half an inch. He gently tucked a stray hair behind her ear.

His fingertips brushed against her earlobe, the coolness and warmth mingling, sending a shiver down her spine.

"Go back and rest if you're tired. There's nothing much to do today. You and Wanzhi go home. I'll be waiting for you at the banquet tonight."

Wait for him? Well, the boss has never been to the Lin family before, so he'll definitely have to lead the way and introduce them to the locals.

As for his behavior just now... well... there's nothing wrong with it, after all, as his secretary, my image is very important.

"Thank you, Mr. Huo. I'll head out now."

"Wait a minute."

Zhou Siyan glanced down at the deep red gift box in her hand. "You forgot to bring this yesterday."

Xia Ruo looked down and saw that it was the necklace she had picked out herself at Bulgari yesterday.

"A gift for me?" Peach Blossom's eyes were filled with uncertainty.

"Otherwise what?" A very slight smile curved the corners of his mouth.

Xia Ruo was stunned for a moment.

"What are you standing there for?" Zhou Siyan's voice carried a hint of a half-smile. "Want me to put it on for you?"

"Oh, no, no." Xia Ruo hurriedly stepped forward, clutching the box in her hand, thinking that she could leave now.

"Secretary Xia."

She stopped in her tracks again.

Secretary Xia—this title hasn't changed since last night, but it suddenly sounds a little different now.

"You don't have the habit of reselling gifts given to you, do you?"

Xia Ruo's back stiffened.

She remembered the Tiffany necklace the male lead had given her, which she had then given to Wanwan...

"Mr. Huo, you're joking," she said, puffing out her cheeks slightly, looking both angry and indignant.

"How could I possibly give away a gift that someone gave me? That would be so rude!"

Zhou Siyan's lips curved into a very shallow smile.

"That's good."

He paused, his gaze falling on the gift box in her hand.

"Wear it at the dinner party. I want to see it."

Xia Ruo silently rolled her eyes in her mind: So many demands!!!

-

"How did it go? What did President Huo say?" Lin Wanzhi, who had been lying on the table playing on her phone, immediately sat up when she saw Xia Ruo come in.

"He said he'd go." Xia Ruo pulled out a chair and sat down, her tone as calm as possible.

"Really?!" Lin Wanzhi's eyes widened even more, her whole body lit up, and her voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement.

"That's great! My dad will be so happy!"

"Also, we can go home now."

"Go home?" Lin Wanzhi was taken aback and tilted her head to look at her.

"Yes, President Huo said we've worked hard and gave us a day off." Xia Ruo lowered her head and sorted through her folders. She didn't dare to reveal the real reason for the day off, feeling very guilty.

"Is it hard?" Lin Wanzhi rested her chin on her hand, thought seriously for a moment, and said, "You're the only one who's had a hard time. I've been slacking off these past few days at work..."

She suddenly narrowed her eyes, leaned forward, and whispered to Xia Ruo, "Ruo Ruo, I feel like the boss is taking special care of you."

"How is that possible?" Xia Ruo frowned, her hands still moving, her tone nonchalant.

"Really, Ruoruo!" Lin Wanzhi exclaimed anxiously, reaching out to tug at her sleeve.

"During yesterday's meeting, the boss kept looking at you. You said before that the boss was interested in me, but I haven't spoken to him at all these past few days, and he hasn't even glanced at me."

"When I give a presentation at the meeting, he'll definitely look at me."

Xia Ruo didn't even look up, zipped up her bag, and said, "Don't overthink it."

"Hmm... I still think..." Lin Wanzhi's brows furrowed into a small knot, clearly still struggling with the decision.

"Alright, alright, let's not talk about this anymore, Wanwan," Xia Ruo raised her head, her voice filled with a hint of pleading, "Let's go back to school first, I really want to sleep."

-

The Lin family villa was unusually lively today.

The two entered through the side door and went directly to Lin Wanzhi's room on the second floor.

"You're back? Take a look and see if you like the dress." Lin's mother had been waiting there for a while. When she saw the two of them come in, she greeted them with a smile, her eyes full of tenderness.

Two dresses were laid out on the bed, one misty blue and the other champagne pink. The fabric shimmered softly under the light, and two pairs of high heels in the same color were neatly arranged beside them.

"Ruo Ruo, which one do you like?" Lin Wanzhi picked up the two dresses and compared them on herself, then turned to look at Xia Ruo.

"It's blue, isn't it?" Xia Ruo's gaze lingered on the misty blue dress for a moment.

"We're so in sync! I love this pink one." Lin Wanzhi's eyes lit up, and she happily twirled around in place.

Lin's mother even specially invited a makeup artist to their home.

While applying makeup, Xia Ruo's phone vibrated. She picked it up and saw it was a message from Zhou Siyan.

Zero: [Baby, what are you doing?]

Xia Ruo's finger hovered above the screen for two seconds before she typed: "Just got off work, about to eat~ Where's my brother?"

"Who is it?" Lin Wanzhi asked casually.

"Nobody. Spam text."

Zhou Siyan gripped her phone tightly: "You lied to me again! I shouldn't have felt sorry for her and let her go home to rest!"