The engagement was with the younger brother, but I've fallen for the older brother.

Si Yimian turned her gaze away.

Didn't you choke on that glass of champagne that you drank so fast?

To hook a rich guy, you need to use push and pull; to pursue a man, you need to use reverse psychology.

A man like He Sichen doesn't know how much he desires unless he's provoked.

She suddenly had a wicked idea.

"Okay, Brother Nanxian."

She placed her hand in He Nanxian's palm and smiled obediently.

He Nanxian grasped her hand, his fingers tightening slightly.

It was as if he was afraid she would change her mind, or as if he was confirming something.

He Sichen stared at the hand resting in He Nanxian's palm, his knuckles tightening.

He lowered his eyes and downed the rest of his drink in one gulp.

At that moment, Huo Siyue's voice cut in.

"He Nanxian!"

"Are you blind? Didn't you see Si Ningyou run away crying?"

He Nanxian paused and turned to look.

Through the gaps in the crowd, Si Ningyou's figure was walking out of the banquet hall, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Huo Siyue rushed over in two or three steps and grabbed He Nanxian's sleeve.

"What are you standing there for? The girl left crying, it's dark and cold outside, what if something happens to her? Will you take responsibility?"

He glanced back at Si Yimian, then looked towards the door, his brows furrowing.

The familiar pulling sensation, just like every time before.

"Mianmian, I..."

"Go."

Si Yimian withdrew her hand and smiled understandingly.

"My sister is in a bad mood. Go check on her, just in case something happens."

He Nanxian's face was a mixture of guilt and anxiety, and his foot had already veered in that direction.

"Big brother!"

He turned and called out to He Sichen, as if grasping at a straw.

"Please take care of Mianmian for me, don't leave her alone!"

He Sichen did not respond.

He was placing the wine glass onto the waiter's tray.

He Nanxian had already chased after Si Ningyou, his steps hurried.

Huo Siyue glanced at the direction He Nanxian had chased after and rolled her eyes.

"I knew it, he'd run away the moment that green tea b*tch started crying."

"Like a dog hearing a whistle, it's a conditioned reflex."

Si Yimian was amused by her.

"Your analogy is so convincing, even a dog would want to sue you."

She turned to look at Si Yimian and saw that she was still standing there, so she quickly went over to her.

"Mianmian, are you alright?"

Si Yimian shook her head and smiled.

"What could possibly be wrong?"

She never considered He Nanxian as an option for herself.

A man who might abandon her for another woman at any time is not worth her emotional waste.

Si Yimian withdrew her gaze and turned to Huo Siyue.

"Yueyue, what do you think of me and He Nanxian...?"

Huo Siyue interrupted her directly.

"Nauseating, filthy."

"I'm exhausted from constantly advising people to break up these incompatible species."

"Anyway, long live breakups! He tui~"

Si Yimian smiled and asked another question.

"So what do you think about me and He Sichen...?"

Huo Siyue's eyes lit up, her expression changed instantly, and she gave a thumbs up.

"A perfect match, a top-tier match, a match made in heaven!"

"You two have excellent taste. It would be a waste if you didn't sleep together."

"The Civil Affairs Bureau will arrange a match for you on-site!"

Huo Siyue grabbed her wrist, her eyes burning.

"My sweet little Mianhua has finally figured it out!"

"You wait, I'll get you the real thing!"

She turned her head and saw He Sichen still standing in the same spot.

His eyes darted around, and suddenly an idea came to him.

She pulled Si Yimian forward.

"Your brother ran away, aren't you going to do anything about it?"

He Sichen said in a nonchalant tone: "His legs are his own."

Huo Siyue suddenly reached out and pushed Si Yimian away.

Si Yimian lost her balance and leaned forward, bumping directly into He Sichen's arms.

My nose bumped against his chest; it was hard and a little painful.

He Sichen instinctively reached out and supported her waist.

The two of them froze for a moment the instant their palms touched.

"Your brother said he wants you to help him take care of his wife."

"I'm entrusting the person to you. Take good care of them."

She paused, then added.

"Sister-in-law, we're not outsiders."

Huo Siyue.

He Sichen looked up at Huo Siyue, his voice lowering.

Huo Siyue shrugged: "Don't glare at me, I'm just a messenger."

"If you're not happy, let go."

He Sichen didn't let go; his hand was still on Si Yimian's waist.

Huo Siyue made a heart shape with her hands for him from the crowd.

He was about to speak when Huo Siyue turned and slipped away.

His silhouette moved faster than a rabbit.

The surrounding crowd began to surge onto the dance floor, and the music changed to a slower tempo.

The crowd pushed them inside, and He Sichen subconsciously tightened his arms, pulling her to the side to avoid bumping into her shoulder.

The lights dimmed, creating a relaxed yet ambiguous atmosphere.

"Dr. He, it seems we can't get out."

He Sichen looked down at her, then looked up and glanced around.

There's really no way out.

He paused for two seconds, then reached out his hand.

Give me your hand.

Si Yimian placed her hand in his palm, and he held it, while placing his other hand on her waist.

The posture was perfect, but the distance was deliberately kept a little too far, just right.

"Follow me, but don't step on my shoes."

Si Yimian nodded and followed his steps.

I will try my best.

Neither of them spoke after that.

The atmosphere was so awkward, like two people forced to work as tools.

Just as Si Yimian was trying to find something to talk about to break the silence, his voice suddenly came from above her head.

I sent you a message a couple of days ago, why didn't you reply?

Si Yimian paused for a moment, then looked up.

"information?"

"Didn't you see it?"

"Yes, I saw it."

"Then why don't you reply?"

To be honest, she did it on purpose.

She accepted the reprimand she received in his office last time, but she held a grudge against him personally.

So she decided to teach him a lesson.

When training a dog, you need to strike a balance between firmness and relaxation.

One bite feeds you, three bites go hungry.

Let things cool down a bit, and then we'll know who's in charge.

However, judging from his current accusatory attitude, he must be quite hungry.

Okay, it's time to feed them.

"You only sent two words, without saying anything."

Si Yimian sighed, her tone sincere.

"I thought you sent it to the wrong person, so I didn't reply."

"Dr. He, just say what you need next time. I'll definitely reply when I see it."

He Sichen took a deep breath.

"Miss Si."

He spoke, his voice neither too loud nor too soft.

"I am Chenxi's business partner and your superior/liaison. From now on, you must reply to my messages."

Regardless of content or time.

"If you see something, you should respond; that's a matter of work attitude."

He paused, looked down at her, his gaze calm.

"I don't want to have to ask you why you didn't reply after I read your message next time."

Si Yimian suppressed a laugh, nodded, and maintained a proper attitude.

"Okay, I've got it."

"I'll reply to your messages instantly from now on."

"Pin it to the top of WeChat and set it as a special follow."

He Sichen's Adam's apple bobbed.

Even though she was using only work-related jargon, every sentence she uttered sounded like she was flirting with him.

He found that when talking to this woman, she always had the upper hand.

"Um."

He responded and looked away.

Silence fell again.

"Dr. Crane."

Si Yimian suddenly spoke.

"Thank you for speaking up for me today."

He Sichen did not respond.

"But I'm more curious about something else."

She raised her face again, her voice a little softer.

"Are you upset that they're bullying others, or do you just not want to see me being bullied?"

He Sichen paused for a moment.

"Is there a difference?"

"Of course."

Si Yimian spoke earnestly.

"The former is Dr. He's principle of conduct, while the latter is He Sichen's personal choice."

"I want to know, am I being protected by principles, or am I being secretly favored by you?"