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

She swallowed hard, and squeezed out a sentence with difficulty:

"Wanwan, listen to me, President Huo didn't actually leave me alone in the hospital, he—"

"You're still defending him?" Lin Wanzhi's eyes widened, her face showing a pained expression as if she thought, "You've been manipulated."

"Ruoruo, have you been brainwashed by him? This is a typical scumbag's tactic!"

First they treat you well, then they switch their attitude from hot to cold, making you feel insecure and anxious, until finally you don't want to leave!

"...Actually, he arranged for someone to take care of me," Xia Ruo said with difficulty.

"I had just woken up when you called, and he happened to have gone out to buy food."

"Arrange for someone else?" Lin Wanzhi's voice rose again.

Why doesn't he take care of you himself?

"Wanwan, you've really misunderstood... President Huo actually..."

Xia Ruo wanted to say "That's good," but Lin Wanzhi didn't give her a chance to finish.

"What's so good about it? Does it mean you're being dumped on someone else?" Lin Wanzhi stood with her hands on her hips, relentlessly pressing the issue. "Ruoruo, wake up!"

"Wanwan, he really had an emergency and left this morning. He stayed with me all night. It's normal for men to prioritize their careers!"

Just then—

"cough."

The two turned their heads at the same time, and Zhou Siyan was already standing at the door.

"Secretary Lin, the finance department just called. There's a problem with your expense report from last month. Please check it."

Lin Wanzhi opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but when she met his unfathomable eyes, she swallowed the words back.

She shrank her neck, "...Oh."

She walked away, turning back every few steps.

The office fell silent, and Xia Ruo guiltily turned her gaze to the window.

"Baby,"

"I'm brainwashed? I'm a jerk? I'm unreliable? I'm useless? I'm all looks and no substance? What's the difference between me and a pretty face? I prioritize my career?"

He leans forward an inch with each word he utters.

When he finished speaking the last word, he had already stood up from his chair, placed his hands on either side of her desk, and shielded her with his entire body.

"What other good things did you say for me? Tell me all at once, I want to hear it." He was smiling, but that smile sent a chill down Xia Ruo's spine.

Xia Ruo's eyes widened, her survival instincts instantly kicking in.

"...I didn't say that. It was Wanwan who said it. I've been explaining it to you! Didn't you hear me?"

"So, do you think she's right or wrong?"

"No! Of course not! You're the most reliable and capable!"

Zhou Siyan stared at her for two seconds, seeing that her peach blossom eyes were filled with "I swear what I said is true", and finally slowly straightened up and took half a step back. The oppressive feeling instantly lessened a lot.

"Baby," Zhou Siyan looked at her earnestly.

"Don't ever say things like 'I prioritize work' again. Compared to you, work is nothing. I would never abandon you for work, understand?"

Xia Ruo's eyelashes trembled, and her heart skipped a beat. She lowered her head and gave a muffled "hmm".

"I need to go back to headquarters today." He reached up and tucked a stray strand of hair behind Xia Ruo's ear.

"Explain things clearly to Lin Wanzhi at the company. Although I was very unhappy with what she said—"

He paused, a very faint smile curving his lips.

"But she's very sincere towards you. I also know you care about her a lot, so I don't want her to be an obstacle for us."

-

Outside the door, at the end of the corridor, Lin Wanzhi returned from the finance department, holding a stack of forms in her hand.

As soon as I looked up, I saw Zhou Siyan walking out of the secretary's office.

"Mr. Huo," Lin Wanzhi hesitated for a moment before speaking.

Zhou Siyan stopped and turned to look at her.

Lin Wanzhi took a deep breath, raised her chin slightly, and tried to make herself look less guilty:

"Ruoruo...she's a very naive person. If you're not serious, don't mess with her."

Zhou Siyan glanced at her.

Just when she thought he was going to say something, he only uttered one word: "Okay." Then he turned and left.

Lin Wanzhi stood there, stunned for a long while. Was it really that simple?

She had prepared a whole host of words—such as "If you dare to bully Ruoruo, I'll never forgive you," and "Our Lin family isn't to be trifled with"—but she didn't use a single one of them.

-

"Ruo Ruo!" Lin Wanzhi pushed open the door, slammed the form on the table, and looked Xia Ruo up and down again.

"Mr. Huo didn't do anything to you just now, did he?"

"No..." Xia Ruo quickly waved her hand, her smile a little guilty, "Wanwan, you're worrying too much."

Lin Wanzhi breathed a sigh of relief, plopped down in her chair, picked up her water glass, and took a big gulp.

Xia Ruo hesitated for a moment, "Wanwan, do you really not like President Huo? Don't you have any feelings at all?"

"Pfft—" Lin Wanzhi almost spat out the water in her mouth, and hurriedly wiped her mouth with her sleeve.

"Ruo Ruo, ever since we started our internship, you've been saying that President Huo likes me. But I can't feel it at all."

I could never like a guy like that. He acts like a complete idiot all the time…

She suddenly realized halfway through her sentence that he was the person Ruoruo liked.

Her expression changed quickly, and she chuckled dryly twice.

"Ruo Ruo, that's not what I meant... I meant that I don't like this aloof personality, it's too scary."

If I absolutely had to choose, I'd pick someone with a lively personality. But right now, I definitely don't like anyone—not a single one!

Lin Wanzhi sighed after speaking, and leaned back in her chair:

"I can see it now. Ruoruo, you're really bewitched by this Huo Sinian. I truly regret agreeing to let you work here..."

"I didn't!" Xia Ruo exclaimed anxiously, her ears turning a dark red.

"You still say you didn't!" Lin Wanzhi sprang up from her chair, walked over to Xia Ruo, and put her hands on her hips.

"You've been defending him the whole time!"

For every bad thing I say about him, you reply with three good things—when have you ever defended a man like this?

"Hmph, I'm even a little jealous!"

Xia Ruo opened her mouth, wanting to refute, but found that she couldn't utter a single word.

Lin Wanzhi sighed as she looked at her embarrassed and ashamed expression, and reached out to rub her head:

"Okay, okay, it's your business who you like, I support you. But Ruoruo—"

Her voice suddenly became serious.

"If he bullies you, you must tell me. No matter who he is, I will not let him get away with it."

Xia Ruo raised her head and met Lin Wanzhi's eyes, which were filled with "I'm serious," and a bittersweet warmth welled up in her heart.

"Okay." Her voice was a little hoarse. "I promise you."

"Come home with me after get off work," Lin Wanzhi said with a smile. "My mom said she wants to help you recover."

As if anticipating Xia Ruo's refusal, she added, "Just consider it keeping me company, okay? One hour at most!!! I promise!"