"Mmph—!"
Before Zhao Jianing could finish, Qin Yuenan shot up and clamped a hand over her mouth. She glanced around nervously. Only after confirming no one was paying them any mind did she let out a soft sigh of relief.
"Don't say another word!"
Qin Yuenan said coldly, warning Zhao Jianing with her eyes.
After all, she knew all too well how her best friend loved to tell dirty jokes.
If she didn't shut her up, she could probably talk a man into blushing.
"I'm just telling the truth. Believe it or not, it's up to you."
Zhao Jianing shrugged.
"If you find a good man, he can help you take your career to the next level. A relationship is about complementing each other."
"You can't just shoulder everything yourself, can you? In the past twenty-eight years, have you never once had the slightest thought of relying on someone else?"
"..."
Qin Yuenan fell silent once again.
It was just as Zhao Jianing said. Her journey to becoming the marketing director of Pet Guardian Home in just three years was certainly not smooth sailing.
Only she knew the hardships and exhaustion involved.
More than once, she had felt completely drained, both mentally and physically, wanting to stop and take a good long rest.
But she couldn't.
Qin Yuenan's biggest dream was to buy a house and settle down in Modu, then bring her parents over from her hometown to live with her.
This was the only way for her to move up in social class!
So she couldn't rest. She had to work twice as hard!
But...
Qin Yuenan slumped onto the sofa, pinching the bridge of her nose and closing her eyes to rest.
Utterly exhausted, the image that now came to her mind was, surprisingly, of the time she went hiking with Lin Shen.
That weekend had been her happiest time in the past year.
Her mind had been empty and she was completely carefree. She didn't have to think about anything; she just had to enjoy her freedom.
Qin Yuenan suddenly started to seriously consider what Zhao Jianing had said.
"Helpful to you at work," "you'll be influenced by his personality"...
'No matter how I look at it, these traits seem to describe Lin Shen!'
Qin Yuenan's eyes suddenly widened. She pressed her thin lips together, hesitating for a long time before finally stammering.
"I... hired an assistant."
"A man or a woman?"
"A man."
!?
The moment the word "man" left Qin Yuenan's lips, Zhao Jianing's ears perked up. Her eyes went wide as she stared at her with undivided attention.
"Who is he?!"
"Let me make this clear first, I don't have any feelings for him or anything. I just purely appreciate his talent."
Qin Yuenan made sure to clarify, then slowly began to explain.
"He's one of my subordinates. His name is Lin Shen."
"Do you have a picture?"
'A picture...'
Qin Yuenan suddenly remembered that she and Lin Shen had taken a photo together while hiking.
Without thinking too much about it, she took out her phone and showed the photo to Zhao Jianing.
"Holy crap! He's so handsome!"
After seeing Lin Shen's selfie, Zhao Jianing was completely stunned. She grabbed the phone and started analyzing it.
"His facial proportions, his jawline... he's a total dreamboat! And his skin is so well-maintained. That's so rare for a guy!"
"And look! His eyes are sparkling!"
"That's because he's wearing contact lenses."
"Oh, my bad..."
Zhao Jianing stuck out her tongue, her eyes instantly filling with curiosity.
"Nannan, how come you never mentioned you had such a handsome guy working under you?"
"He only recently lost the weight."
Qin Yuenan explained softly.
"Half a month ago, he was plain-looking. He only changed this much recently because of a heartbreak."
"That proves he's patient, resilient, and not afraid of hard work. He's a good guy."
Zhao Jianing suddenly sighed softly.
"He probably just doesn't have much money."
"What's wrong with that?"
Qin Yuenan's brow furrowed slightly. Hearing Zhao Jianing talk about Lin Shen that way made her feel a little uncomfortable.
"Money isn't everything."
"But it can support everything."
Zhao Jianing handed the phone back to Qin Yuenan with a grin.
"But it's fine. You have money, so keeping him as a sugar baby is no problem."
"I'm employing him, not keeping him."
Qin Yuenan stressed coldly.
"His analysis of the pet industry is incredibly insightful, and he has a very sharp business sense. He's given me a lot of suggestions regarding operations."
"Then what have you done for him?"
?
Zhao Jianing's question made Qin Yuenan freeze.
'That's right!'
'Lin Shen has helped me so much. He even took great care of me when I got hurt during our hike.'
'And what have I given him in return?'
'A salary of just over four thousand a month?'
'That's clearly what he deserves for his work!'
"Do you have any suggestions?"
Qin Yuenan asked tentatively.
"You should know a lot about gifts for guys."
"Isn't that easy?"
Zhao Jianing gave a seductive smile.
"Put on some Balenciaga logo stockings and a pair of rhinestone-studded Valentino heels. Then, toss him a Bulgari Hotel room key and lean in to whisper in his ear..."
Zhao Jianing suddenly stood up and breathed softly into Qin Yuenan's ear.
"I'm safe today, so you'd better make it count."
"Get outta here!"
Qin Yuenan really couldn't stand her best friend's habit of cracking dirty jokes anytime, anywhere. She pushed her giggling face aside.
"Be serious!"
"Well then, it depends on what he likes."
Zhao Jianing sat back down in her seat, counting on her fingers.
"Gaming peripherals, computer graphics cards, game skins... or phones, clothes, bags, belts. Up to you."
"I..."
Qin Yuenan was at a loss for words.
She had been working with Lin Shen for half a month, yet she didn't even know what he liked.
'Besides the outdoors, does he have any other hobbies?'
Qin Yuenan felt that thinking about this was giving her more of a headache than her usual work. She rested her forehead on her hand, her expression conflicted.
"Looks like you don't know him well enough yet."
Zhao Jianing teased.
"Don't tell me all you two ever talk about is work?"
"Yeah."
"'Yeah?' You're such a workaholic!"
Zhao Jianing retorted sharply.
"The most important thing for you to do right now is talk to him about life! Got it?"
"How do I talk about that?"
This touched on a blind spot in Qin Yuenan's knowledge. Her eyes were incredibly clear, yet filled with confusion.
Seeing this, Zhao Jianing began to impart all sorts of conversational techniques to her dear friend.
As for how much Qin Yuenan actually learned, only she herself knew.
*
*
"Here it is!"
Unit 403, Building 5, Min'an District.
When Gu Wanqing carried the last dish, braised beef brisket with potatoes and tomatoes, from the kitchen to the dining table, Lin Shen realized she wasn't just bluffing about being able to cook.
Steamed egg custard, spicy chili chicken.
Although they were just ordinary home-cooked dishes, and the presentation wasn't perfect...
...the fragrant aroma that filled the air made Lin Shen's mouth water. After taking a deep breath, he couldn't help but praise her.
"It smells amazing!"
"Hee hee."
Gu Wanqing handed Lin Shen a bowl filled with rice. After hanging her apron back in its place, she sat down across from him, resting her chin on her hand with a sweet smile.
"These are all my specialty dishes! Go on, try them."
"Okay."
Lin Shen picked up his chopsticks, casually took a piece of the beef brisket, and popped it into his mouth.
The beef, infused with tomato, carried a hint of sourness that perfectly stimulated his taste buds, leaving a lingering, delightful aftertaste.
"Delicious."
Lin Shen suddenly felt an urge to cry.
'There's nothing more blissful in life than eating a piping hot, delicious meal!'