Flaunting her charms in public without a trace of shame.

Xiao Qi was instantly frightened by his own fanciful thoughts, cold sweat breaking out over his body. Why was this impeccably dressed man, whose complexion was at odds with his attire, holding her hand and leading her—what on earth was he planning?

Yi Chen held Xiao Qi’s hand and walked calmly to the group of girls who had just spoken. He smiled at them gently.

The girls immediately blushed, their hearts pounding wildly. Wow, he smiled at me!

But Xiao Qi, who was being led, felt rather disgruntled. They called me infatuated, but aren’t they just the same? Flirting openly without the slightest sense of shame, hmph.

However...

The hand-holding was suddenly replaced by an arm wrapped around her waist. President Lin pulled Xiao Qi close with a familiar embrace and said in a pleasant voice, “She’s my girlfriend. I feed her, I provide for her, she’s entirely under my care. This fair and tender skin is nourished by my hand, so she’s mine to cherish.”

The girls: “...”

Xiao Qi: “...”

Though his words sounded rough, his intent was clearly to defend her. Xiao Qi looked at his profile, and for some reason, her heart began to race. She pressed her hand to her chest, trying to calm her rapidly beating heart.

A quickened heartbeat is normal, she reasoned. If it didn’t happen, she’d be dead.

She tried to convince herself.

Yes, yes, that’s it. If an ugly man or even a pig stood up for her, she’d be touched and her heart would race, let alone such a handsome president.

Exactly, that’s how it is.

After reassuring herself that she harbored no hidden feelings for President Lin, Xiao Qi’s heartbeat finally steadied.

Since he had stood up for her, she ought to do something for him in return. Dr. Pan had said she should make him happy.

Xiao Qi glanced at the microphone on stage, then beamed at Yi Chen. “Lin Yi Chen, I’m very happy today, so I want to sing a song for you.”

Yi Chen raised his eyebrows, recalling that she was tone-deaf. Still, the corners of his mouth lifted involuntarily at the thought.

Xiao Qi ran up to the stage, picked up the microphone, and looked at the man who stood out from the crowd. “Hello, everyone. I have a boyfriend, and in my heart, he is the most handsome man on earth. Our relationship is a stroke of luck. Perhaps one day, I might leave him, or maybe he’ll forget me, but at least for now, we’re together, and I want to sing a song for him—In Dreams...”

Before she could finish, that tall figure strode onto the stage, pulled her down, and led her away.

What was wrong with him? Why did he look angry?

No, it wasn’t just anger—it seemed like he was furious.

Why was he so upset?

He dragged her out of the store and pressed her against the wall, his expression dark. “Ye Xiyang, you’re not allowed to come to places like this again.”

Seriously? He was angry just because she came here?

“You’re overreacting...”

“The things you just said,” he cut her off, “were those your true feelings?”

Huh? The things she said just now?

Yes, those were her true feelings.

Xiao Qi nodded. “Yes, you and I aren’t the same kind of people, so sooner or later I’ll leave, and you’ll probably forget me eventually.”

I’m an alien, so leaving is inevitable, and I’m not really Ye Xiyang. When you realize I’m not her, you won’t keep me in your heart.

“Ye Xiyang,” Yi Chen’s gaze was somber, something roiling in his eyes, “you’re truly an ungrateful wretch. I spoil you and care for you, yet you remain unmoved.”

His eyes flickered to her neck, a sharp look in his eyes. “Is this how little you want to be entangled with me?”

“...”

Why was he so furious?

“President Lin, what do you mean?”

“I should be asking you!” Yi Chen’s anger intensified. “Tell me honestly—if I weren’t ill, would you leave without hesitation?”

That was the truth.

Xiao Qi wasn’t good at lying. Stammering, she said, “Honestly, I really want to leave TC, to live freely like Yi Yang. But Yi Yang is at TC now, so I...”

“So, because he’s here, you’re reluctant to leave?”

“...”

What kind of logic is that?

Didn’t I just say I wanted to leave TC?

Yi Chen released her, looking away, his words spilling out in a low, deliberate voice. “I’m a sick man. I forget every woman my age around me—except for you. I’ve always thought you were special, and I cherish you deeply. Now that you’re with me, I feel like my illness will heal, and I’m happy, because I want nothing more than to be with you forever. But now, I’m still sick. Ye Xiyang, I’m letting you go—”

He left.

Xiao Qi didn’t fully understand his words, but a dull ache settled in her heart.

Heartbeat, you were just leaping with joy—why do you seem so lifeless now? Are you dying?

She thumped her chest, feeling the urge to cry—yet the tears wouldn’t come.

...

The next day, Xiao Qi, frazzled and restless, paced outside TC’s entrance.

Muttering to herself.

He said he was letting me go, but he never mentioned firing me, so I still have to come to work.

If I skipped work without the president’s permission, that would count as absenteeism.

The unlucky one would be my purse.

She wouldn’t do anything so foolish!

With that thought, Xiao Qi marched confidently into TC.

She went to her post, greeted her colleagues as usual, but they treated her as if she were invisible.

Perplexed, Xiao Qi asked the gossip-loving coworker, who immediately dashed off to the restroom.

What was going on?

Why were they ignoring her?

Earthlings really are strange.

Yi Yang, sitting in his car, was scrolling through his phone when he suddenly saw a video that made his eyes widen.

He ordered the driver, “Drive faster.”

“Yes, sir!”

Yi Chen stepped out of the car, his face dark, Fang Li trembling in fear.

Looks like President Lin and Miss Ye have fallen out again.

Yi Chen walked to the elevator, spotting a familiar figure rushing toward the escalator.

He looked up—Yi Yang?

Fang Li wondered aloud, “Work hasn’t started yet. Why is the second young master in such a hurry?”

Yi Chen frowned but said nothing.

He exited the elevator just in time to see Yi Yang pulling Xiao Qi by the hand toward the hallway.

He frowned, then walked to the president’s office as if nothing had happened.

Fang Li, who hadn’t seen the two together, only felt that President Lin’s aura had grown even more chilling.

Yi Chen entered his office, feeling as though even the air was making him angry.

He loosened his tie, sat on the sofa, and his hand touched something hard. Looking down, he saw the bottle of essential oil Xiao Qi had used to massage him the day before.

Thinking of what Xiao Qi had done for him, his heart softened. He stood up, intending to find her, when a glint of light caught his eye.

He looked down—a necklace, all too familiar, lay wedged in the sofa cushions.