"Wait a minute!" Thankfully, Yao Yao reacted quickly and pushed away his mischievous hand. "Aren't we just pretending? Why are you—"
"Exactly," Ao Tian replied with a smirk, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "But a convincing act requires a little more effort, doesn't it?"
Yao Yao's expression darkened. "What do you mean by that? Isn't this going too far?"
With an exaggerated sigh, Ao Tian leaned back slightly, crossing his arms. "Relax. It's all part of the performance. Do you want the manager outside to think we're not taking this seriously?" His tone was teasing, but his eyes held a glimmer of seriousness.
Yao Yao tried to suppress her growing discomfort. "Fine, but stay within limits, or I'll report you to HR!"
Ao Tian chuckled lightly, his playful demeanor unwavering. "You're quite feisty, aren't you? I'll admit—it's an endearing quality."
"Enough!" Yao Yao snapped, her patience wearing thin. She stepped back, trying to keep some distance. "Let's just find another way to wrap this up."
Ao Tian paused, sensing her unease. After a moment of silence, his smirk softened into a more neutral expression. "You're smarter than I expected," he admitted. "But you still don't get it, do you?"
"What are you talking about?" she asked warily, her brows furrowing.
"You think I'm the bad guy here?" Ao Tian's voice dropped to a quieter, almost conspiratorial tone. "News flash, little one—this isn't just about me. Dragon Manager outside? He's been orchestrating this whole thing from the start. It's his idea, not mine."
Yao Yao froze, her mind racing as she processed his words. "Wait... you mean you and Manager Long are working together?"
Ao Tian shrugged casually, his expression unreadable. "Let's just say we have an understanding."
"Unbelievable!" Yao Yao's frustration bubbled over. "So all that talk about consequences and getting fired was just a lie? You were never at risk, were you?"
Ao Tian raised an eyebrow, his gaze unwavering. "Not entirely a lie. But you're quick to catch on—impressive."
Her eyes narrowed. "You're a fraud. All of this—your help, your excuses—it's all an act!"
Ao Tian leaned in slightly, his smirk returning. "And yet, here we are. What's your next move, little one?"
Yao Yao's jaw clenched, determination flashing in her eyes. "My next move? Reporting both of you to someone higher up. Whatever kind of game this is, I won't play along."
For a moment, Ao Tian seemed caught off guard, but then he laughed softly, shaking his head. "You're full of surprises, aren't you? Maybe you're more trouble than you're worth."
With that, he stepped back, giving her space. The tension in the room lingered, but Yao Yao didn't back down, standing tall despite her racing heart.
"Let's see how far you get," Ao Tian added, his voice low but laced with intrigue. "But be careful—you might find this company has more secrets than you're ready to uncover."