In the end, after some discussion, Xu Yan and Chen Yi decided to hold off on going public for now. Chen Yi even felt that “going public” was too grand a term for their situation. After all, she and Xu Yan weren’t celebrities. The most they’d have to do was exercise some restraint at the office and maintain a polite, professional superior-subordinate relationship.
That said, the moment Chen Yi stepped out of Xu Yan’s office that day, she updated her enterprise WeChat signature.
【Love work, love my wife.】
The first half was fake; the second half was true.
If anyone lacking self-awareness dared to approach her with ideas, she’d shut them down cleanly and decisively—short of plastering “I have a girlfriend” across her forehead.
Most of the pests were the company’s run-of-the-mill nice guys, the type who fancied themselves as the male protagonists from a Qidian web novel, destined to be swept off their feet by some rich heiress at first sight.
For those types, Chen Yi figured she was showing mercy by not spitting in their faces.
A few days passed like this—polite and distant at work, but inseparable and passionate at home—before Chen Yi’s last day arrived.
On her final day, she picked up one last task: heading to a shoot with Yu You’an to lend a hand.
Ever since Zhouyu’s previous collaboration with the magazine, she’d become a regular. Today’s shoot featured her latest designs. The moment Zhouyu spotted Chen Yi, she announced that she and some colleagues had planned a get-together that evening to celebrate the end of Chen Yi’s internship, with Yu You’an invited too.
The guest model was a stranger to Chen Yi. Yu You’an explained he was a recently popular small traffic star.
“You haven’t seen his dramas?” Yu You’an asked, puzzled. “He had a web series that blew up.”
Chen Yi shook her head.
She wasn’t much into real-world media, especially anything with a male lead.
“Why’d they book him?” Chen Yi wondered.
Yu You’an replied, “Teacher Zhou’s designs this time lean androgynous, and he’s got decent buzz, so they slotted him for the interior pages.”
Chen Yi gave a noncommittal “oh” and lost interest, slumping in a corner and stifling yawns.
Unlike her, Yu You’an’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she darted around the set, thoroughly enjoying herself despite the hustle.
Chen Yi resolved to stay invisible. Once she survived this afternoon’s shoot, she’d be free.
No more clocking in.
Of course—
That also meant she couldn’t keep eyes on Xu Yan twenty-four-seven.
Yes, twenty-four hours a day.
Ever since they got together, she and Xu Yan had been glued at the hip. They saw each other constantly at the office during the day, and after work, well… Sometimes Xu Yan came to her place; other times, they crashed at Xu Yan’s.
Whenever that happened, Xu Yixiao would chime in: “Little Aunt, you guys really don’t need to worry about me. I do great on my own! You don’t have to come back!”
Xu Yan’s return meant the end of Xu Yixiao’s solo reign over the TV, computer, and phone.
She wasn’t thrilled about that.
“No way,” Chen Yi would say. “A family’s supposed to eat together.”
If Xu Yixiao weren’t such a fan of Chen Yi’s, she’d have kicked her out herself.
It wasn’t about meals!
It was about unrestricted surfing!
Chen Yi had grown so accustomed to this routine that the thought of not seeing Xu Yan during the day felt off.
Plus, judging by her past streaming schedule, if she kept her old habits post-resignation, they might end up living in the same complex but on totally different time zones.
Staying up till three or four a.m. for streams was routine for her.
She’d sleep till afternoon at least.
By the time she woke up fully, Xu Yan would be wrapping up work if she wasn’t swamped.
Chen Yi decided she needed to fix that.
Early to bed, early to rise! For her health, sure—but mostly to sync with Xu Yan’s schedule. Only if their rhythms matched would their lives truly harmonize.
Lost in these thoughts, Chen Yi barely registered someone approaching until they spoke. She blinked up blankly.
Oh.
A familiar face.
The small traffic star Yu You’an had mentioned.
Chen Yi shot to her feet, bowing politely. “Teacher, is there anything I can help with?”
In entertainment and fashion circles alike, “teacher” was a safe bet when you didn’t know what else to call someone.
“I don’t need any help, really,” he said. “Just saw you all working hard all day. Want to grab dinner together? My treat?”
A massive question mark popped up over Chen Yi’s head.
Dude, are you blind? Which eye saw her working hard?
“You’re talking to my colleague, right?” Chen Yi waved Yu You’an over. “You’an, he says you’re beat and wants to treat you to dinner.”
Yu You’an flashed her practiced smile. “Oh, no, Teacher—this is all part of the job. Dinner’s too much trouble for you.”
Undeterred, the small traffic star pressed them both. “Can’t we just eat?”
He addressed them together, but his eyes lingered on Chen Yi.
If she weren’t still on the clock, she’d have rolled her eyes sky-high and told him to scram.
As if she were his ticket to Chen Nanyun… The scheming was blatant.
Chen Yi was pondering how to shut him down sharply yet satisfyingly when Zhouyu approached. “Sorry, she’s got plans with me tonight.”
“What’s going on?” A sharp voice cut in from behind.
Everyone turned. Xu Yan had appeared at the set, though she was supposed to be tied up at the office.
Xu Yan’s name carried serious weight in the industry.
The small traffic star recognized her instantly and hurried over with eager greetings.
Xu Yan offered a polite smile before letting it fade. “Is something wrong with our shoot?”
He shook his head vigorously.
“Then what?”
He waved it off, mumbling it was nothing—just chatting.
Zhouyu, ever the instigator, chimed in gleefully. “Oh, right—Teacher here saw us slaving away all afternoon and offered to buy dinner. Isn’t that right, Chen Yi?”
Chen Yi shot Zhouyu a glare.
Why drag this into the open and rile Xu Yan up?
Especially with everyone around.
Couldn’t they keep it private?
Zhouyu scratched her head with a grin, ignoring the dirty look.
Xu Yan got it immediately. She strode over and positioned herself beside Chen Yi.
“No need for dinner,” she said, taking Chen Yi’s hand under her stunned gaze. “Miss Chen’s with me tonight.”
Yu You’an barely stifled the squeal rising in her throat.
Claiming her territory!
Chief Editor Xu was claiming her territory!
“By the way, you’re still young,” Xu Yan said to him, her smile icy as a frozen lake. “Best to keep your nose clean and your feet on the straight path. No shortcuts. Don’t you think?”
What could he say?
He wished he could slap his past self silly for listening to his agent and hitting on Chen Yi. Who knew she was Xu Yan’s girl? Now he’d struck out with Chen Yi and thoroughly pissed off Xu Yan.
Forget resources—he might lose the gigs he was close to landing.
He muttered agreement and slunk away with his team.
The remaining staff had one thought: So! The super woman’s girlfriend is Chief Editor Xu!
Holy shit!
What a shift!
Front-row seats to the melon drop!
“Why’d you come?” Chen Yi asked Xu Yan.
“What do you think?” Xu Yan countered.
Chen Yi grinned. “No idea.”
“I don’t recall Chief Editor Xu’s schedule including a set visit today.”
Xu Yan squeezed her palm. “Need me to spell it out?”
“Mm, you can keep it to yourself.”
Xu Yan sighed and leaned in to whisper, “Missed you.”
“Wrapped up early, heard your shoot was done, so I came to take you home.”
“Might not head back right away,” Chen Yi said. “It’s my last day—Teacher Zhou and the others set up a farewell dinner. I just found out; forgot to mention it.”
Xu Yan pressed her lips together.
“Want to join?” Chen Yi ventured.
“Tempting, but no,” Xu Yan replied. “You’d all be awkward with me there.”
“Not me,” Chen Yi said, eyes sparkling. “I know you’re all bark, soft heart.”
Xu Yan chuckled softly.
“Better if only you know.”
“I’ll head home first. Have fun, then call me when you’re done. I’ll pick you up.”
Chen Yi nodded. As Xu Yan turned to leave, she followed, a bit anxious. “So I really go to the dinner alone?”
Xu Yan paused, pinching her cheek.
“Go on.”
“I’d love to take you home, but this farewell’s a rare thing for you. Enjoy it.”
Chen Yi beamed. “Okay.” For the first time in front of so many people, she couldn’t hold back and planted a kiss on Xu Yan’s cheek.
The colleagues who had been watching this little scene couldn’t hold back their gossipy gasps of surprise.
Chen Yi’s neck flushed completely red.
“Does letting you go out to play make you this happy?” Xu Yan reached out to rub her girlfriend’s nape, her fingertip slowly caressing the spot where delicate veins pulsed gently beneath the skin.
“Not at all.” Chen Yi gazed at her with a beaming smile and said, “I’m not happy just because I get to go out and play.”
“This is a reward, you know.”
“A reward for our little Xu Yan so boldly expressing her true thoughts today.”
Xu Yan paused in stunned surprise, then broke into a warm smile.
She blinked, tilted her head, and whispered into Chen Yi’s ear.
“Just a kiss?”
Her hand hooked onto Chen Yi’s fingertip, gliding lightly and tenderly over her skin—from the neatly trimmed, rounded nail down to the soft skin at the base of the finger, then circling back again. Up and down, inside and out, she traced it thoroughly.
“But I want a different kind of reward.”
