As soon as the plane landed, Xiang Ri swiftly dragged the unwilling Fang Yingying, who was clearly repelled by any physical contact with him, off the aircraft.
This urgency stemmed not only from his inability to tolerate the persistent gossipmongers around him who had retrieved their lost money but also from the guilty conscience of a thief. Taking advantage of the chaos while redistributing the recovered loot, he discreetly pocketed a small blue notebook. Surely, no one would notice such a minor detail—after all, anyone who might have cared was already dead. The unlucky white-bearded old man, unable to escape the laws of nature, had finally returned to his maker.
"Let go of me!" Fang Yingying could no longer endure the intimate gestures of this shameless playboy. The moment they exited the terminal, she furiously shook off his hand.
"Hey, I was looking out for you. Didn't you notice the enthusiasm of that crowd? If you weren't careful, someone might have taken advantage of you, and that would have been a real loss." Xiang Ri, elated by acquiring an item worth more than a plane and its hundreds of hostages combined, was in such high spirits that he didn't bother arguing with the fiery-tempered secretary.
"Better them than you!" Fang Yingying glared at him, her fury unabated.
"Fine, say whatever you like." Xiang Ri shrugged indifferently before abruptly changing the subject. "By the way, didn't you say someone was coming to pick you up? Where are they?"
"Maybe they got delayed." Fang Yingying frowned, her tone uncertain.
"Then we'll wait." Xiang Ri sighed, tempted to pull out the notebook and flip through it, but the bustling terminal was hardly the place for such a reckless move.
Fang Yingying, feeling equally bored, suddenly remembered something and glanced at the flamboyant young master beside her. Hesitating, she asked, "Do you speak French?"
"Why, is that surprising?" Xiang Ri retorted, a sly smile playing on his lips, as he recalled how someone had mocked him earlier on the plane for not knowing French.
"No, not really." Startled by his peculiar expression, Fang Yingying felt a wave of discomfort wash over her and quickly took a few steps back to maintain a safe distance.
Though mildly curious about his proficiency in French, Fang Yingying quickly rationalized it. This frivolous man, born into wealth and privilege, had plenty of free time. Learning a few foreign languages wasn't all that unusual—it probably made seducing women all the easier. At this thought, her expression grew cold once more.
Xiáng Ri, oblivious to her changing mood, suddenly leaned closer and said, "Honestly, we don't have any deep grudges. What do you say we bury the hatchet?"
Startled by his proximity, Fang Yingying instinctively stepped back. But upon processing his words, her eyes widened in disbelief. Was this really coming from him? Had she misheard?
Her suspicions quickly turned cynical. This notorious playboy was never kind without an ulterior motive. Although she couldn't yet discern his exact intentions, Fang Yingying remained wary, responding to his proposal with a cold huff.
"Hey, are you agreeing or not?" Xiang Ri pressed, watching the secretary's icy demeanor with faint amusement. Though he already knew her answer, he found the constant back-and-forth with her tiresome. If he could ease their tension, so much the better.
"What do you think?" Fang Yingying snapped back, her tone dripping with sarcasm. Did he really not understand her obvious rejection? He was as dense as a brick!
"So, that's a yes?" Xiang Ri exclaimed, feigning surprise and delight.
Fang Yingying was about to retort when a sudden thought crossed her mind. Her tone shifted, hesitant yet deliberate. "Actually, reconciliation isn't impossible—if you agree to one condition."
"Name it," Xiang Ri replied readily. "As long as it's not too unreasonable, I'll agree." He dared not be too confident; with her low opinion of him, she might just demand something absurd, like pulling the moon down from the sky.
"You said it!" Fang Yingying pointed at him as if to ensure he couldn't back out. "Promise me you'll leave Chairman Su alone. From now on, we'll maintain a strictly professional superior-subordinate relationship."
"What do you mean?" Xiang Ri frowned, half-understanding her words. The latter half was clear—she was drawing a strict line between them, emphasizing their purely professional relationship with no room for anything more.
"Don't harbor any inappropriate thoughts about Chairman Su!" Fang Yingying finally voiced the words she had been holding back for days.
"Huh?" Xiang Ri's expression grew strange. At first, he thought she was warning him not to have designs on her, but her words revealed just how wrong he had been. Was she jealous? That would explain her hostility toward him. She was likely infatuated with Chairman Su herself, seeing him as a rival threatening her "beloved."
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Fang Yingying shivered under his odd gaze, feeling her scalp tingle with unease.
"Oh, nothing." Xiang Ri quickly masked his thoughts. "Don't worry. I have no inappropriate intentions toward your precious Chairman Su."
"Is what you're saying true?" Fang Yingying interrupted him before he could finish.
"Truer than pearls," Xiang Ri replied with a wry smile. Observing how deeply the girl cared for her superior, he decided not to provoke her further. Still, he couldn't help but lament inwardly—the notion of such a voluptuous woman, with her enviable 36F figure, being attracted to women seemed like a tragic waste.
"Then swear it," Fang Yingying demanded, unwilling to take the young master's word at face value. Even a sworn oath wouldn't entirely convince her, but it was better than nothing.
"Are you kidding me? I said I won't go after your lover, and now you want me to swear it too?" Xiang Ri's irritation flared, not because he was afraid to swear but because of how absurdly distrustful she seemed. Did his words carry so little weight that she needed an oath to validate them?
"Of course," Fang Yingying replied with a cold snort, her brows furrowing suddenly. "Wait—what lover are you talking about?"
Xiang Ri, thinking she was feigning ignorance, gave her a knowing look. "I understand... It's a bit unconventional, but don't worry. I'll keep your secret."
Fang Yingying stared at him, utterly confused. But as she caught sight of the sly expression on his face, realization dawned. She couldn't help but feel both exasperated and amused. "You think I'm with Chairman Su?"
"Got it, got it," Xiang Ri interrupted with an exaggerated nod, his grin tinged with mischief.
Fang Yingying's expression darkened. As a perfectly normal woman, being mistaken for someone with an unconventional orientation—especially by someone she regarded with disdain—only deepened her fury. Ignoring the fact that Xiang Ri was technically her boss, she raised her finger and began to curse, "You son of a—"
The words caught in her throat. An idea flashed through her mind: perhaps letting him believe this misunderstanding wasn't such a bad idea after all. It provided a convenient cover for her boss and, more importantly, could dissuade this young master from harboring any inappropriate thoughts about her.
Her reasoning wasn't far-fetched. While Fang Yingying didn't consider herself more beautiful than her boss, she was confident she wasn't far behind. Combined with her curvaceous figure, which had always attracted unwanted attention, this strategy seemed both effective and necessary.
Xiang Ri, oblivious to the whirlwind of thoughts in her mind, mistook her changing expressions as a sign of guilt. Concerned she might cause a scene in such a public space, he leaned in and whispered, "Honestly, it's no big deal that I found out. I won't spread it around. Besides, don't you think we'd make great brothers?"
"Brothers? With you?" Fang Yingying snapped, though her tone softened almost immediately. "You're the boss. I'm just an employee. I wouldn't dare climb above my station."
"Come on, don't talk about climbing stations. It's bad for camaraderie," Xiang Ri replied nonchalantly, as though they were already close. His expression left no doubt that he had decided on their relationship.
Fang Yingying could only scorn his thick-skinned attitude inwardly. Just as she was about to retort, a jubilant voice called out from behind her.
"Yingying! I finally found you—I've been looking everywhere!"
The voice grated on Xiang Ri's nerves. He turned to see a well-dressed man in his late twenties, clad in a designer suit and holding an enormous bouquet of roses, his face plastered with a smug, punchable smile.
Fang Yingying turned as well, her expression immediately turning icy. "Manager Lu, what's the meaning of this? Didn't we agree you'd come early to pick me up? Look at the time! And please address me as Secretary Fang or Miss Fang!"
The dashing young man's face flushed with embarrassment. He clutched the flowers tighter, hesitating under her sharp gaze. Mustering a sheepish smile, he stammered, "My apologies, Secretary Fang. I was delayed by an important meeting."
"I don't want excuses!" Fang Yingying snapped, cutting him off. "Explain yourself to Chairman Su."
Lu's face fell further. What he had assumed was a minor delay had now escalated into a serious issue. Trying to change the subject, he turned to Xiang Ri with a strained smile. "You must be Mr. Xiang, the representative from headquarters. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Likewise, likewise," Xiang Ri replied in an overly casual manner, giving a slight bow. He couldn't help but pity the man, who seemed the type to depend on flattery for survival. Noticing the roses, Xiang Ri deduced their intended recipient and couldn't suppress a twinge of sympathy. Poor guy—what a waste of effort.
Feeling generous, Xiang Ri reached out and grabbed the bouquet. "Manager Lu, you're too kind! Welcoming us with flowers is such a thoughtful gesture. Thank you!"
"It's nothing, really," Lu muttered awkwardly. Relieved that the tension seemed to have eased, he gestured politely. "Mr. Xiang, Miss Fang, I've arranged rooms for you at the hotel. Shall we head there now?"
"Let's go," Xiang Ri agreed before Fang Yingying could reply. He was eager to find a private moment to examine the blue notebook in his possession, hoping it held surprises worth all this trouble.