Shen Yanci sat at his desk, his glowing phone screen displaying 00:12.
He took off his glasses, looking exhausted, and rubbed between his brows with his fingertips.
He still hadn't finished dealing with the documents piling up in his inbox, and a stack of contracts remained unsigned.
At some point, all these obscure, incomprehensible words had become exceptionally familiar.
Ten years ago, when Shen Yanci had been young and reckless, the sort of person he'd hated most was exactly what he had now become.
He pressed a button on his phone. There were still no notifications on the lock screen.
Shen Yanci stood up, swiped the screen, and called someone.
"Ring... ring... ring..." The phone rang on and on.
The call connected at the very last second.
"Holy shit, that smell is seriously overpowering! I can smell it through a pheromone-blocking mask. Toss him inside!" Jiang Huaizhi's muffled voice came through the phone.
"You! Stay by the door! Don't come in!" Meng Ruo's anxious voice sounded on the other end.
There was a click as a door closed.
Shen Yanci's brows drew tightly together. "What's going on?" he asked in a low voice.
Leaning against the cold marble wall, Jiang Huaizhi pulled off his mask. "When are you going to stop checking in at all hours of the day and night?"
"Song Yunxing has a high fever. We just got back from the hospital."
Shen Yanci snatched the jacket off his office chair and strode out of the study. "Address."
"You'd better not come. Meng Ruo's looking after him. If someone spots you..."
"Address!"
Jiang Huaizhi choked on his words. "Come on, give me a break. Do you know how much attention you two are getting right now? If you end up trending, Meng Ruo will murder me!"
"I'll wear