Chapter 35

◎Are you going to punish me?◎

“So? So? Spill it!” Yu You’an sat across from Chen Yi’s workstation. Seeing her fall silent after checking her phone, Yu You’an grew anxious deep down. She planted both hands on the desk and leaned straight toward Chen Yi, looking every bit like a frantic sidekick when the boss couldn’t care less.

“What did she say?”

Chen Yi dragged her wandering soul back into her body and met Yu You’an’s gaze. The two stared at each other, wide-eyed.

“I don’t know.”

Yu You’an’s chest felt like it was being clawed by a tiny kitten, meowing and wailing away. Her curiosity was bubbling over. If she didn’t get to the bottom of this right now, she wouldn’t be able to focus on work later. Hearing Chen Yi’s response, Yu You’an was this close to snatching the phone outright.

“How could you not know?!”

Chen Yi’s mind was a mushy blur of pink bubbles. What was she supposed to know right now? She was floating on cloud nine.

“I have a feeling,” she said suddenly.

“What kind of feeling?”

“I feel like I’m about to start dating someone.”

Yu You’an’s eyes widened, her mouth dropping open. She held back a scream and whispered, “With the person you just mentioned?”

“So she confessed to you too?!”

“Not exactly.” Chen Yi tilted her head, thinking it over. “But I think it’s pretty much the same.”

If she hadn’t misunderstood, that was.

“Aaaaaah——” Yu You’an blinked her big eyes at Chen Yi twice, cupping her cheek hopefully. “Sis Chen, lemme see! How’d you two confess? Share some with your little sis.” Let the kid snag a bite of that sweet couple candy.

Chen Yi’s eyes sparkled with mischief. She wagged a fingertip at Yu You’an in refusal. “Nope.”

“It’s our little secret.”

Yu You’an clapped a hand over her mouth, her eyes welling up with tears. “We’re not friends anymore.”

Chen Yi couldn’t stand seeing her look so pitiful. She gave in. “Mainly ’cause it’s not official yet. Once it is, I’ll tell you everything, okay?”

Yu You’an nodded vigorously.

“Chen Yi, you have to be happy,” she said. “Your happiness is my happiness.”

Chen Yi: “…”

“Sis, that sounds kinda weird.”

Yu You’an: “You wouldn’t get it. That’s how us CP fans roll.”

“You don’t even know who she is, and you’re already shipping us?”

“You really don’t get it.” Yu You’an shot Chen Yi a profound look. “It’s not that I trust her. I trust you.”

They say you shouldn’t befriend coworkers, and Yu You’an had thought the same before interning at Shine. But Chen Yi changed her mind. After spending time together, she knew Chen Yi was the kind of friend worth having. Their bond wasn’t super deep yet, but Yu You’an sincerely hoped she’d find happiness.

She remembered how Chen Yi always shielded her instinctively on the subway after work, the warm coffee in the mornings, and all the little trinkets Chen Yi had brought to clutter the desk.

“You have to be happy,” Yu You’an repeated.

Chen Yi paused, then curved her lips upward. “I’ll do my best.”

“Also, that sounded like some kinda pre-quit resignation speech.”

Yu You’an snapped back to work reality. “Aaaah!!”

“Don’t remind me!! That client I’m dealing with is a total asshole!” Her venting floodgates flew open.

Chen Yi listened with a smile as Yu You’an ranted, then helped her sort out the communication issues. By the time they wrapped up, it was lunchtime. They headed out to eat at the shop nearby that they called the “company cafeteria.” Chen Yi pulled out her phone to order and pay when she suddenly remembered something huge.

She froze in place.

Yu You’an: “What’s up?”

Chen Yi stood rigid, realizing too late. “I got so excited earlier, I forgot to reply.”

Yu You’an: “Just reply now.”

“Wait—”

“You mean the maybe-confession one?!”

Regret hit Chen Yi hard. The big drumstick on her tray instantly lost its appeal. She nodded fiercely at Yu You’an.

Without a word, Yu You’an snatched the tray from her hands. “Then what are you eating for? Go reply to her!”

Chen Yi: “???”

Yu You’an shooed her to a table seat to wait patiently.

Her phone screen lit up, but Fade hadn’t sent anything new. Chen Yi tapped into the chat. It was still just that one message.

She was asking if it was okay.

It had been nearly two hours since their last exchange.

Would replying with a simple “Okay” now come off as abrupt and weird?

Chen Yi decided to play it indirect.

Chen Yi: Was busy earlier~

Fade replied fast.

Fade: Got it.

Chen Yi quietly typed out a line: [Does that mean Master’s line is yours for the pulling?]. Before she could send it, a new message from Fade popped up.

Fade: Had lunch yet?

Chen Yi deleted her text and replied: About to.

She snapped a photo for Fade.

Chen Yi: Xitu Lanya Restaurant’s pretty good. Tasty and not pricey.

Fade: Really? Haven’t been there.

Chen Yi: Hehe, next time I’ll bring Master along!

Fade: Okay.

Just one simple word, and Chen Yi’s lips curved up again.

She could sense Fade’s shift.

Back in the day, Fade would’ve never said “okay” straight up.

She’d send an emoji or change the subject—anything but a direct answer.

These little clues on her phone pieced together into a tiny thread of sweetness in Chen Yi’s heart.

Chen Yi: What’re you eating today, Master~~?

Fade: Haven’t decided. Will order takeout later.

Chen Yi checked the time.

Chen Yi: Hurry up! Otherwise, by the time it arrives, it’ll be one or two. Too late!

Fade: It’s fine. I’m used to it.

Chen Yi: = =#

Chen Yi: No! Way!

Chen Yi: From today on, I’m supervising Master~~’s meals!

Chen Yi: If you don’t wanna order now, give me your address and I’ll do it for you.

Chen Yi: Isn’t this your apology gift to me? Take good care of yourself as the apology, okay~?

Sitting in her office, Xu Yan could picture the expression on Chen Yi’s face as she typed those lines.

The little puppy sure knew how to push her luck.

The moment she sensed even a tiny softening, she’d seize that crack and barge right into her life.

Xu Yan propped her chin on one hand. Her high heel hid under the desk, tapping the floor lightly with each swing of her long leg.

Her free hand picked up the phone and recorded a voice message.

“Okay, you’re cute. I’ll do whatever you say.”

Chen Yi tapped it open without noticing it was on speaker. Whoosh—it played right out. The noisy restaurant buzzed with chatter about life and work. Yu You’an was still in line at the counter ordering. Chen Yi sat alone at their two-person table, a little bubble of isolation amid the din. In that bubble, only Fade’s voice rang out, leaving her cheeks burning.

Chen Yi fired back a cute emoji.

She looked up to see Yu You’an struggling with trays of food. She quickly messaged Fade that she was eating now, pocketed her phone, and went to help.

As soon as Chen Yi approached, Yu You’an grilled her like a foreman. “So? Any progress?”

Chen Yi laughed at her reaction. “Yu You’an! You’re more invested in my love life than my mom.”

“Hey, who says mom fans aren’t moms?”

“Give me a break!”

The two bantered and laughed as they sat down.

Chen Yi usually ignored her phone during meals, but today her mind kept wandering. Before picking up her chopsticks, she instinctively pulled it out for a check. No new messages.

Yu You’an caught the move. She snapped open her disposable chopsticks, grabbed a piece of rib, popped it in her mouth, and mumbled around it, “Waiting for what? Love’s reply?”

Chen Yi swung her leg to kick her. “You’re so annoying.”

Yu You’an burst out laughing, only to choke on her rice. Somehow, a grain shot up her nose. Chaos erupted at the table. Chen Yi shoved tissues at her and circled around to pat her back.

Finally calming down, Yu You’an’s eyes brimmed with tears.

“I’ll never gossip again,” she whined pathetically. “Maybe this is heaven’s punishment.”

Chen Yi shook her head helplessly. “Be more careful when you eat.”

After that hiccup, Yu You’an behaved herself. Once they finished eating, she dragged Chen Yi to buy milk tea to soothe her wounded soul.

While waiting in line for the drinks, Chen Yi felt her phone vibrate.

She checked it.

Fade: [Picture]

Fade: Got it.

Was she sick or something? Chen Yi wondered to herself. Just three simple words, maybe a period. But because it was from Fade, one glance made it adorable.

Right then, Yu You’an grabbed their milk teas and spotted Chen Yi’s face. She shook her head with a sigh and stealthily whipped out her phone to record every bit of Chen Yi’s reaction.

Chen Yi stood off to the side, typing on her phone: Yay! [Fireworks]

Chen Yi: Master~~’s awesome!

Fade: Awesome just for eating lunch?

Chen Yi: Of course!

Chen Yi: Taking care of yourself on time is super awesome!

Chen Yi: What? Can’t I praise you?

Fade: Nah /rubs face

She just wasn’t used to it.

For Xu Yan, if she didn’t do something to the absolute best of her ability, she didn’t deserve any reward. This twisted perfectionism was reserved solely for herself, which had earned her the nickname of the perfectionist Female Demon Head in the industry. It was the first time someone had said something like that to her—telling her that even the simplest things in everyday life were impressive once accomplished.

On second thought, it wasn’t the first time.

Chen Yi had always been this way.

Xu Yan speared a small cherry tomato and popped it into her mouth. The tiny fruit exploded with sweetness that flooded her mouth the instant her teeth broke the skin. She often ordered light meals from this place; their tomatoes were usually nicely tangy. Strange… why were they so especially sweet today?

Chen Yi was still talking. She sent a voice message.

“Hard to type while walking. Master~~, from now on, you have to eat properly every day—right on time, okay? I’ll be checking!”

In the voice message, Xu Yan could hear the wind outside the building, the blare of traffic horns, and Chen Yi’s breathing as she walked.

She typed back: What if I don’t?

[Are you going to punish me?]

The instant Chen Yi saw that message, alarms went off in her head like blaring horns. Her face turned as red as a tomato, steam practically rising from her head.

No way?!

Punish… punish—?!

While waiting for the elevator to take her upstairs, she hurriedly typed: Master! This isn’t a trip to kindergarten!!

Fade: What are you even thinking?

Chen Yi: @#￥*（￥（￥）

Just as Chen Yi was racking her brain for an explanation, the elevator doors slid open.

She was still glued to her phone when Yu You’an poked her in the back with a finger. Chen Yi looked up, and the moment she spotted Xu Yan, the flush drained from her face. She flipped instantly into ruthless corporate drone mode, tucking away her shy smile and replacing it with pure reverence.

“Chief Editor Xu!”