Even though a lot had already happened this morning, I didn’t have much time to stop and think.
As a first-year college student, my schedule wasn’t exactly open, so I had to use the afternoon to seriously review all the PowerPoint slides our professors had left us.
Since I had finished most of the chores in the morning, I wasn’t bothered by much after getting back from the supermarket.
I was able to reset and focus on the work I had to get done.
But just as the sun started to sink westward, Yan Dong’s voice barged in and shattered my train of thought.
“Lin! Go to my dad’s office! He left a document at home!”
His voice broke through the door, wrapped in the sound effects of a video game kill.
I was in the middle of working out Maxwell’s equations on scratch paper.
The pen in my hand scratched a long, jagged line across the sheet, startling the tabby cat curled up asleep on my lap.
I had to admit—Yan Dong really knew how to boss people around.
Couldn’t he just use a courier? I’m not his personal errand girl.
Why is it always me wasting time running around?
Face dark, I walked to his bedroom door.
It was already wide open, and unlike earlier in the day when he was supposedly studying, Yan Dong was now curled up at his computer desk, playing a game.
I knocked lightly on the doorframe.
He didn’t respond, just turned his face slightly and glanced at the document on the desk and the car keys beside it.
Next to them was a brand-new black motorcycle helmet.
Riding on the Fourth Ring Road?
I thought that was just some nonsense he’d said earlier, but he’d actually gone and bought the whole setup in just one afternoon.
Sigh… must be nice to be rich.
I was used to his ridiculous behavior by now, so I walked straight over and picked up the car keys and document folder.
But just as I picked up the folder, I happened to catch sight of something half-visible in an unlocked drawer—it was an old photo peeking out.
A photo from a tennis tournament award ceremony.
Standing in second place was a much younger Yan Dong, his face gloomy and withdrawn.
He looked like he was in junior high.
His gaze seemed locked on the boy standing in the champion’s spot.
Before I could get a better look at what other secrets he kept in that drawer—the one he usually never let me near—Yan Dong had already turned his head and looked right at me.
Our eyes met.
Besides the awkwardness I couldn’t quite describe, what I saw in his expression was something even more confusing… was that hesitation?
But only a moment later, his face returned to its usual arrogant, aloof default.
“Go to my sister’s room and put on a bra before you leave.”
“What the…”
A chill shot down my spine and crawled up the back of my neck. I instinctively crossed my arms tightly over my chest and stepped back half a pace, my face icing over.
“Young Master, you really are just like that uncle. So considerate of me.”
I spat out the sarcastic thanks, my voice cold and devoid of any warmth.
But Yan Dong clearly saw it coming.
He didn’t even bother looking at me. He just turned back toward his game, clicking away without a care.
“Give me a break. I’m not interested in a cold, uptight stick like you. Like I said—if you walk out dressed like that, it’s not just your dignity you’re losing. Or what—did you wear that on purpose to get my attention?”
On purpose?
Seriously, what the hell is wrong with this guy?
I’ve met plenty of narcissists, but I’ve never seen anyone as self-absorbed as him.
Why doesn’t he just say I’m destined to marry him or something?
“I’ll wash it and return it later.”
Not wanting to exchange another word with him, I just replied coldly out of habit, then turned and walked straight out of the room…
As much as I hated Yan Dong—and I really did—I still figured I should at least dress properly, if only for my own sake.
That said… how the hell do you even wear a bra?
Frowning, I stared at the dresser drawer in Yan Qiuzhi’s room, which was packed full of neatly folded underwear.
Besides the growing embarrassment, my mind had pretty much gone completely blank.
How do you pick the right size?
I’d been staring at online guides for ages and still couldn’t make any sense of them.
Come to think of it, I hadn’t even really looked at my own body since this morning. Is it illegal to look at yourself?
“……”
God, what am I even doing…
I shook my head hard, trying to get rid of the mess of ridiculous thoughts.
After a moment’s hesitation, my fingers hovered above the lace straps before finally picking out a basic mist-gray bra.
I had to admit—living in a one-unit-per-floor apartment building was a pretty great experience. The elevator led straight down to the garage.
Seeing all the luxury cars lined up side by side, I couldn’t pretend I wasn’t a little envious.
But for someone like me—a maid and part-time chauffeur—owning a car like that was just a fantasy.
I stopped in front of a Porsche 911 Carrera in agate gray.
Under the cold light of the garage, its body shimmered like liquid mercury.
I couldn’t help feeling a little conflicted inside.
After all, the cost of this car was about the same as the debt I’d spend twenty years repaying through labor.
Sliding into the driver’s seat, I buckled my seatbelt, sighed, turned the key, shifted gears, pressed the gas, and drove out of the underground garage, heading toward the company where Yan Dong’s father worked.
I had to say, the heated seats in luxury cars were almost too effective.
I’d barely been driving when a thin layer of sweat formed in my palms gripping the steering wheel.
A soft scent of violet from Yan Qiuzhi’s underwear drifted up through my collar, stirring my already uneasy thoughts.
Stopped at a red light, feeling hot and stifled, I instinctively unfastened the top button of my shirt.
But when my fingers brushed the second button, the cold press of the underwire against my ribs suddenly became very noticeable.
Looking in the rearview mirror, I caught a glimpse of the lace strap curving faintly across my shoulder, and my mind flashed back to that unfamiliar silhouette in the mirror this morning—the same teardrop mole, but porcelain skin and graceful curves.
“I forgot… I’m a girl now.”
Realizing that things were different now—that I needed to be more careful—I let out a quiet sigh and reached up to button my shirt back up.
Uncle Yan was the head of a major local company.
So how did someone like me, a nobody from the bottom, end up connected to a man like that?
The answer wasn’t complicated.
My father had served in the military with Uncle Yan.
That connection was the reason he’d been willing to lend our family money.
“Xiaxia, it’s been so long since you came by. Everyone’s missed you.”
I offered an apologetic smile to the young woman escorting me to the elevator.
“Sorry, Sister Yang, I’ve just been really busy lately and haven’t had time to stop by.”
The woman I addressed as Sister Yang, standing shoulder to shoulder with me, let out a soft laugh and casually rested a hand on my shoulder.
“I know you’re always busy, Xiaxia, but don’t forget to take care of yourself, okay? Once you’re done here, don’t rush off—I’ve got a few face masks for you to take home.”
“Thanks in advance~”
I gave a slight bow, cradling the document folder in my hands.
My fingers absentmindedly rubbed the matte seal, my fifteen-degree smile as polished as ever.
“Sister Yang’s care always finds its way right to my heart.”
“Aww, Xiaxia, you’ve got such a sweet mouth. But let’s not talk about that—I wanna hear the gossip between you and Yan Dong~”
“……”
Good grief.
Just—good grief.
I’d love nothing more than to tear Yan Dong apart with my bare hands.
Gossip? What gossip?
My eyelid twitched involuntarily, and I nearly lost control of my expression.
Glancing at the elevator panel out of the corner of my eye, I quickly and bluntly changed the subject.
“Sister Yang, we’re at the chairman’s floor.”
“Aww, what a shame.”
Sister Yang lingered on the floor button with her cherry-red manicure, her pearl earrings swaying with her amused laughter.
“But really, Xiaxia, you’re getting more and more womanly by the day.”
“……”
Uncle Yan’s company was no small operation.
In my eyes, a business that could own an entire ten-plus-story building was already massively impressive.
After getting out of the elevator, we walked a bit further until we reached a deep-colored door that looked expensive just at a glance.
Sister Yang gave it a soft knock and guided me in before heading off to take care of her own work.
I paused at the doorway, straightened my jacket to make sure I looked presentable, then gently pushed open the classically styled office door.
The decor inside was just like those upscale corporate offices on TV—quiet, restrained, and serious.
The entire color palette leaned dark, and every corner of the room exuded a sense of gravity.
Uncle Yan’s expression matched the setting, but he wasn’t working—in fact, he was sitting at the tea table, hunched over a game of Chinese chess with another slightly gray-haired man.
The two of them were deep in thought, heads bowed, completely focused on their next moves.
Neither of them spared so much as a glance at me standing quietly at the doorway.
Normally, I’d just drop the folder on the desk and leave, but it was only 3:30 PM.
If I delivered the document this early, I’d have to head back and make dinner for Yan Dong.
And honestly, I’d rather stand here and watch Uncle Yan play chess than breathe the same air as that guy.
So I stayed, quietly standing off to the side, watching their game in silence—going so far as to pour each of them a cup of tea just as they neared the end of the match.
It wasn’t about trying to butter up Uncle Yan.
It was just a small gesture of respect and gratitude from me, as someone younger.
“Old Li, good game, good game—I win. Dinner’s on you tonight.”
“Pshh, Old Yan, you call yourself a big-shot boss and a single meal makes you this happy?”
The two shared a hearty laugh.
Uncle Yan casually reached for the cup of hot tea I’d placed beside him and took a sip.
Only after drinking did he finally notice me, still quietly standing nearby.
“Look at me! Got so into the game I completely forgot you were there. Sorry about that, girl.”
Girl?
It was true—Uncle Yan used to call me “Xiao Xia” or “Wa Wa.”
But now… I wasn’t used to this.
Even Uncle Yan didn’t recognize me anymore.
Even though that realization left me a little disheartened, I still kept my gentle smile.
“It’s fine, Uncle Yan. I just got here a moment ago. This is the file you needed.”
“Just set it on the desk. Come sit down and take a break, girl. Let me introduce you to your Uncle Li.”
I didn’t particularly enjoy getting caught up in complicated social formalities, but I still knew how to be polite—especially when it came to someone I viewed as family, like Uncle Yan.
So after offering a sweet and obedient smile, I sat properly on the sofa next to him.
“Old Li, this is Old Lin’s daughter, Lin Yunxia.”
“Wait—Old Lin? Could it be that Old Lin?”
“Yeah, the one who used to carry a rifle alongside us back in the day.”
“Has it really been that long? I can’t believe his daughter’s already grown this much.”
The man called Uncle Li looked me over for a moment, then gave me a warm smile just like Uncle Yan’s.
“I even held you once when you were just born, Xiaxia.”
Uncle Li, Uncle Yan, and my father were once comrades-in-arms.
The three of them must’ve been the kind of friends who understood each other deeply—real confidants.
I remembered the look on my father’s face every time he recalled their old days—it was the same warm expression Uncle Li had just now.
I think, back then, my dad must’ve truly felt lucky to have met those two.
“Sigh… what a shame about Old Lin…”
…
such good friends and still enslaves his daughter for 20 years?