A Message Sent to the Wrong Person Spells Disaster

"Lin Chen, what happened to the data in this report?

We need it for the meeting this afternoon. Are you trying to make me lose face in front of the directors?"

In the CEO's office, Yan Qingyue's icy gaze swept over him like a knife as her slender fingers tapped the document on the desk.

Morning light streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, outlining her delicate, sculpted profile and the long chestnut hair pinned up with meticulous care.

Lin Chen stood before the desk, calm and composed on the surface, while inside, his thoughts were already churning like rivers and seas.

I'm screwed. I was so caught up chatting with my online girlfriend last night that I missed a page when checking the data... But President Yan looks incredible in that white suit today. So cold and gorgeous, so buttoned-up. If only I could undo that button at her collar...

Yan Qingyue was about to continue her lecture when she suddenly heard a baffling voice.

She frowned slightly and looked around. She and Lin Chen were clearly the only people in the office, and the voice... was unmistakably his, yet his lips hadn't moved at all.

A hallucination? Have I been working too hard lately?

She collected herself and refocused on work. "I'm asking you a question. What happened to the data?"

"I'm sorry, President Yan. I'll check it again right away and get you the correct version within half an hour," Lin Chen answered respectfully, his expression sincere.

Good thing I backed up the correct data on my phone.

Speaking of which, Little Moon said last night that she's a workplace elite too. Could she be a strong career woman like President Yan?

But my Little Moon is much cuter, and she even sends shy stickers. Yan Iceberg only ever sends overtime notices...

Yan Qingyue heard the voice again, and this time she was certain it wasn't a hallucination.

She stared at Lin Chen. He still looked humble and earnest, but those inner thoughts...

Little Moon? Yan Qingyue recalled the chat screen she occasionally glimpsed on Lin Chen's phone.

So this guy slacks off at work to flirt with his girlfriend? And he even nicknamed me "Yan Iceberg"?

She forcibly suppressed her anger and said coldly, "Fifteen minutes. Now get out and get to work."

"Yes, President Yan." Lin Chen hurried out of the office, as though granted a full pardon.

As soon as the door closed, Yan Qingyue sank into thought. Could she hear Lin Chen's inner thoughts?

How was that possible? Yet those two passages had been so clear that she couldn't doubt them.

Meanwhile, Lin Chen returned to his workstation and hurriedly took out his phone.

Sure enough, his online girlfriend, Little Moon, had already sent him a good-morning message.

He and Little Moon had met on a literature forum and grown close while discussing a business-war novel.

Neither had revealed their real name or workplace. They only knew that they both worked at large companies.

Over the past three months, they had talked about everything from poetry and song to the philosophy of life. All that remained was the final step of meeting in person.

Lin Chen's fingers flew across the screen as he prepared today's offensive of sweet talk.

He had recently discovered a website called Complete Collection of Sweet Talk, which collected all kinds of flirtatious lines. It was just the thing to charm his literary-minded girlfriend.

Yan Iceberg's temper is awful today. She must be on her period again. My Little Moon is still the gentle, adorable one.

Yan Qingyue had just reached the door to give him instructions about something else when she happened to hear those thoughts. Her face immediately darkened.

She silently retreated into her office and closed the door.

Lin Chen knew nothing of this. He carefully picked out what he considered the most romantic line:

"My moon, you're like the infinite digits after the decimal point in pi. Even if I spent my whole life calculating, I could never reach the end of my love for you."

Mm, literary and smart. Just the style Little Moon likes. Send!

He put down his phone with satisfaction and began checking the data.

Five minutes later, his phone suddenly sounded a special alert—the emergency notification tone he had set for President Yan.

Lin Chen's heart skipped a beat, and an ominous premonition came over him. With trembling hands, he opened WeChat, and the screen before him instantly froze his blood.

He hadn't been in his chat window with Little Moon just now! He had actually sent the sweet talk to his work conversation with Yan Qingyue!

Even worse, Yan Qingyue's reply was already on the screen:

"Come to my office. Immediately."

I'm dead, I'm dead, I'm dead! I'm going to lose my job over this! What about my mortgage?

Mom keeps talking about setting me up on blind dates. If I lose my job, she'll nag me to death...

In her office, Yan Qingyue listened to his panicked thoughts, and the corners of her lips rose slightly of their own accord.

So this was what it felt like to tease someone. It was rather interesting.

She looked at the absurd line of sweet talk and couldn't resist reading it again.

Pi? He does know how to be clever.

A knock sounded, and Lin Chen walked in looking as though he were marching to his death.

"President Yan, you wanted to see me?" He did his best to stay calm.

Yan Qingyue waved her phone. "Care to explain?"

"I'm terribly sorry, President Yan. This is my... this is a submission I was preparing to send to a mathematics journal. I sent it to you by mistake," Lin Chen said, coming up with an excuse in a flash of desperation.

Who the hell would believe that? But I can't very well say it was sweet talk I planned to use to flirt with a girl! Yan Iceberg hates it when employees deal with personal matters during work hours...

Yan Qingyue raised an eyebrow. "Oh? A mathematics journal? I had no idea Assistant Lin had such a deep knowledge of mathematics."

She stood and walked slowly over to Lin Chen, her high heels clicking crisply against the floor.

A faint scent of perfume drifted into Lin Chen's nose. It was the cool, woody fragrance he knew Yan Qingyue often wore.

"Actually, I've always been very interested in mathematics," Lin Chen said, forcing himself to keep up the act.

Help! Why is she standing so close? I want to run so badly, but I can't get away... This perfume smells expensive. As expected of a female CEO with a ten-million annual salary...

Yan Qingyue nearly laughed out loud, but managed to maintain her cold expression. "In that case, for the company's joint project with the University of Science and Technology next week, you can attend the mathematics forum on my behalf."

Lin Chen was dumbfounded. "A mathematics forum?"

"What? Is that inconvenient?" Yan Qingyue raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you just say you knew a great deal about mathematics?"

I'm screwed. I overdid it! I never even passed high school math! Wait, could she be doing this to mess with me on purpose? But Yan Iceberg never jokes...

"Of course it's convenient. Thank you for giving me this opportunity, President Yan." Lin Chen forced a professional fake smile.

Yan Qingyue nodded in satisfaction. "You may go. Remember to bring me the report in fifteen minutes."

As though granted a full pardon, Lin Chen practically fled the office.

Back at his workstation, he grabbed at his hair in frustration.

His phone vibrated. It was a message from Little Moon: "What did you say just now? I didn't understand it~"

Lin Chen immediately perked up and hurriedly replied, "It was a line of sweet talk. It means my love for you is endless."

He hesitated, then added, "Actually, I meant to send it to you, but I accidentally sent it to my boss instead and got scolded [crying]."

In her office, Yan Qingyue looked at the chat screen with Little Moon on her phone and couldn't help letting out a soft laugh.

So she was Little Moon.

Three months ago, she had met Lin Chen by chance on a literature forum.

His incisive business insights and humorous conversation had left a deep impression on her.

To avoid the complications her position at the company might bring, she had deliberately concealed her real information and spoken to him as an ordinary working woman.

She had never expected that the online acquaintance who made her heart stir would turn out to be the assistant she scolded every day.

Still less had she expected that all the sweet talk that made her heart flutter like a startled fawn had come from Lin Chen.

Yan Qingyue took a sip of coffee, her gaze turning playful.

This game had suddenly become interesting.

She replied, "Wow, your boss is so fierce~ But I really like that line of sweet talk [shy]."

Lin Chen replied quickly: "I'm glad you like it! Are you free to video chat tonight? I want to see what you look like~"

Yan Qingyue's fingers froze. A video chat? Wouldn't that give me away?

As she was considering how to respond, someone knocked on her office door.

Marketing director Zhang Weiming came in uninvited, his face wreathed in smiles. "Qingyue, there's an industry cocktail party tonight. Want to go together? I've booked a table at a Michelin restaurant."

This annoying guy again. He relies on being the son of Uncle Zhang from the board of directors to pester her all day. She doesn't want to go, but it wouldn't be good to refuse him outright...

Yan Qingyue heard Lin Chen's inner thoughts again.

She glanced at the surveillance monitor and saw Lin Chen peeking into the office through a gap in the blinds.

An idea suddenly occurred to her.

"Sorry, I already have plans tonight."

She smiled as she answered Zhang Weiming, while picking up her phone and sending Lin Chen a message:

"Sure, let's video chat at nine tonight~ I'm really looking forward to seeing what you look like~"

Outside the door, Lin Chen saw the message and nearly jumped for joy.

Yes! Little Moon agreed to video chat! Wait, then I need to hurry and get a haircut and tidy up my apartment... But Yan Iceberg is still in her office. How am I supposed to sneak away early?

Listening to his thoughts, Yan Qingyue couldn't help smiling. She said to Zhang Weiming, "If there's nothing else, I need to prepare for this afternoon's meeting."

After Zhang Weiming left awkwardly, Yan Qingyue pressed the intercom. "Assistant Lin, come in for a moment."

Lin Chen walked in dejectedly, already prepared to work overtime.

Yan Qingyue handed him a document:

"I just remembered, this material needs to be delivered to the branch office in the east of the city immediately. Go now, and you can head straight home after you deliver it."

Lin Chen couldn't believe his ears. "Head straight home? But it's only three in the afternoon..."

"You don't want to?" Yan Qingyue raised an eyebrow.

"I do! I absolutely do! Thank you, President Yan!" Lin Chen took the document and practically ran out of the office.

Has Yan Iceberg had a change of heart today? She's actually being so merciful!

Never mind. First I'll get my hair done, then buy a bouquet to decorate the background. I have to make a good impression on Little Moon tonight!

Listening to his thoughts grow fainter and fainter, Yan Qingyue walked to the window and watched Lin Chen rush excitedly out of the building, a meaningful smile curving her lips.

"I'm looking forward to our video meeting tonight, Mr. Assistant."

What Lin Chen didn't know was that the video meeting that night would actually be a video call without showing their faces.