Summary: When Tong Yao knocks on Lu Sicheng's office door, she's not just carrying a folder—she's carrying intent. What follows is more than just mentorship or business; it's the beginning of something unspoken yet undeniable. A boardroom, a meeting, a carefully chosen seat—each moment reveals more than it says. By the time the conversation shifts and the eyes in the room settle, the truth becomes clear: influence isn't always seized. Sometimes, it simply walks in, takes notes, and listens.
Chapter Fourteen
A week later, Yao found herself standing outside Sicheng's office, clutching a neatly organized folder of documents against her chest, her fingers absently smoothing over the edges as she tried to gather her nerves. She had thought about this for hours—no, days—since signing over the trust fund. She had read through every detail, every financial breakdown, every investment possibility she could find, but in the end, no amount of research had settled her nerves. Because no matter how many scenarios she ran through in her head, she still knew she needed help. And there was only one person she trusted enough to ask. Taking a slow, steadying breath, she finally raised her fist and knocked lightly on the office door.
There was a brief pause before a smooth, familiar voice answered from inside.
"Come in."
Yao hesitated for just a second—just long enough for doubt to creep in—before she pushed the door open and stepped inside, immediately feeling the shift in atmosphere that always seemed to settle around Sicheng when he was working.
The office was exactly how she remembered—clean, efficient, organized to perfection, with multiple screens flickering softly against the dim lighting, financial reports, and team management documents open across the desk.
Sicheng was seated at the large executive desk, his sharp amber gaze flicking up the second she entered, his attention locking onto her immediately.
And just like that, her nerves doubled. She fidgeted slightly, tightening her grip on the folder in her hands, her breath hitching slightly as she suddenly found herself unable to meet his gaze directly.
Sicheng, ever observant, immediately picked up on her hesitation. His head tilted slightly, his gaze narrowing just a fraction before he finally spoke, his voice as smooth as ever. "Something wrong?"
Yao swallowed hard. Okay. This was it. She took a small, slow step forward, her fingers tugging at the edge of her sleeves as she carefully placed the folder on his desk, her voice soft, hesitant, and carrying just the faintest stutter. "…I-I know you own ZGDX."
Sicheng didn't react, didn't acknowledge the statement immediately, because he knew there was more. So he waited.
Waited as she exhaled softly, shifting slightly as she tried to put her thoughts into words, waited as she finally looked up, her hazel eyes filled with something determined despite the nervous edge behind them. "…I know you built it from the ground up."
His brows lifted slightly, just the barest flicker of intrigue crossing his expression.
Yao, sensing his attention, tightened her hands into small fists, her voice growing even quieter, but no less certain. "I… I've studied you."
Sicheng blinked. Just once. Slowly. That caught his attention.
She fidgeted harder, her face growing warm as she hurriedly continued. "I-I mean! I've studied your business strategies! Your financial decisions! H-How you built ZGDX and how you grew it into one of the top teams in the OPL." She peeked up at him through her lashes, still struggling to hold eye contact, but pushing through regardless. "…You're smart, Sicheng. I know you are. And I…" She hesitated, her fingers twitching before she finally forced herself to say it outright. "…I want to grow what I have. I want to be smart about it. And I… I want you to help me."
Silence.
For a long, heavy moment, Sicheng just stared at her. Not because he was surprised—no, he had always known Yao was practical, intelligent, someone who thought about the long term rather than just the present. But because… She had come to him. Out of everyone. She had chosen him. Not Rui. Not an independent financial advisor.
Him.
Something in his chest shifted, settled, curled. He didn't let it show. Didn't let a single flicker of his thoughts reach his expression. Instead, he leaned back slightly in his chair, his gaze sweeping over her, taking in the way she was still fidgeting slightly, still clearly flustered, still tugging at the sleeves of his hoodie like a nervous habit. Then, after another long pause, his lips curled into something infuriatingly unreadable, something slow, calculated, and entirely amused.
"…You've studied me, huh?"
Yao's entire face burned red. "…T-That's not the point!"
Sicheng exhaled through his nose, the amusement in his eyes growing. But even as he smirked slightly at her flustered panic, his voice, when he finally spoke, was completely serious. "Alright, Xiǎo Tùzǐ."
"You're really going to help me?" Yao blinked, caught off guard by how easily he had accepted.
Sicheng leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk, his sharp gaze locking onto hers with an intensity that made her pulse jump slightly. "Of course I am." Like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Sicheng was just about to shift gears, just about to dive straight into business, when something in his mind nagged at him, pulling his attention away from the trust fund for just a moment. His amber gaze flickered toward her, toward the way she was still wrapped up in his hoodie, the oversized fabric swallowing her frame, making her look even smaller, even softer, even more impossibly untouchable. And before he could stop himself—before he even really thought about it—the words slipped out.
"Are you ever going to give that back?"
Yao blinked, momentarily thrown off by the sudden shift in conversation, her fingers subconsciously gripping the sleeves tighter, as if she had just been reminded that she was still wearing it. She opened her mouth, probably to stammer out an excuse, but then something unexpected happened. Instead of immediately trying to return it, instead of mumbling an apology, instead of flustering herself into a spiral like usual. She hesitated. Her fingers curled into the fabric. And then, in a voice so soft, so utterly shy, so completely unguarded, she whispered—
"Do I have to?"
Sicheng froze as his entire body locked up instantly, his breath stalling, his thoughts grinding to a complete halt as the weight of those three words hit him like a wrecking ball.
"Wearing it makes me feel safe."
Fucking hell.
His jaw tightened, his pulse kicked hard against his ribs, his grip on the edge of the desk subtly flexing as he processed what she had just said. She hadn't meant for it to be anything big. Hadn't meant for it to wreck him the way it just did. But it had. Because she wasn't just holding onto it out of convenience. She wasn't just keeping it because it was comfortable. She was holding onto it because it was his. Because something about wearing his hoodie, something about being wrapped in his clothes, in his scent, in something that belonged to him, made her feel safe.
And the worst part?
She didn't even realize what she had just done. Didn't realize the effect that those words had on him. Didn't realize that if she had said that with just a little less innocence, a little more awareness, he would've lost the last shred of restraint he had left.
Sicheng exhaled slowly, forcing himself to relax, forcing himself to keep his expression unreadable, even as his mind spiraled into something darker, something rougher, something he had to shove down before she caught onto it. Finally, after a long pause, he hummed, leaning back in his chair, his gaze unreadable as he tilted his head slightly. "Then keep it."
"You… don't want it back?" Yao blinked, clearly surprised.
Sicheng's lips curled into something lazy, something unreadable, something that gave away nothing of the absolute chaos happening in his mind. "It's an old hoodie." He shrugged smoothly. "Do whatever you want with it." What he didn't say? What he would never say? That he didn't care about the damn hoodie. That he liked seeing her in it. That he liked knowing she was wrapped up in something that belonged to him. That he liked the fact that wearing it made her feel safe. And most of all? That now that she had said it, now that she had given him that tiny, unguarded truth— She wasn't ever getting rid of it.
Sicheng had gone into this fully prepared to explain things carefully, to break things down in a way that would make sense to someone who wasn't already familiar with investing and financial strategy. But what he hadn't expected or perhaps he should have expected, considering who she was—was how quickly and naturally she absorbed everything he was saying. He watched her closely as he explained the different types of investments, the way risk was managed, how portfolios should be structured to ensure steady growth while minimizing loss.
She didn't just nod along blindly or pretend to understand. No, she was actively listening, her eyes sharp and focused, her hand moving quickly but neatly across the page of her notebook as she jotted down notes, organized key points, absorbed the information like a sponge. But what impressed him even more? She asked questions. And not just basic ones, not the kind of hesitant, surface-level questions that someone might ask just to keep a conversation going. No, Yao's questions were sharp, intentional, clearly thought out. She was already thinking ahead, already piecing things together, already processing how things worked and applying logic to every concept he introduced.
And for the first time in a long time, Sicheng felt something rare flicker through him. Genuine admiration. Not that he was surprised, he had always known she was smart, that she had the kind of analytical mind that could process layers of information at a speed that most people couldn't keep up with. But to see it in action like this… To see the way she leaned forward slightly when he introduced a new concept, the way her brows furrowed in deep thought, the way she instinctively began working through solutions before even needing him to spell them out—
It was impressive. And, if he was being completely honest with himself… It was also incredibly attractive. Not in a shallow way, not in the way that most people might think. But in the way that made him want to keep pushing her, to see just how much she could handle, to see how far her mind could go, to see what it would be like to have someone beside him who truly understood the way he thought.
And that?
That was rare.
As she finished writing down another note, her head tilted slightly in thought before she looked back up at him, her hazel eyes sharp with interest. "If I diversify too aggressively, won't that slow the long-term growth rate? Wouldn't I be better off balancing high-risk, high-return investments with a percentage of stable assets rather than spreading it too thin across too many industries?"
Sicheng blinked once, slowly. Then, without meaning to, his lips curled just slightly.
Damn.
She really was catching on fast.
Leaning back slightly, he exhaled through his nose, his amber eyes gleaming with something rare—something like approval, something like intrigue. "That's exactly right."
And the way her face lit up just slightly at his acknowledgment?
Yeah.
That definitely did something to him.
Yao, her fingers still gripping her pen, tilted her head slightly, her expression deeply thoughtful as she tapped the end of her pen lightly against the edge of her notebook, clearly working through something in her mind before finally speaking. "I have another question."
Sicheng, who had been leaning back in his chair, watching her with interest, nodded once. "Go on."
She hesitated for just a second, as if sorting through her thoughts carefully, before finally voicing it. "Even though you own ZGDX, have you ever thought about investing in an E-Sports team? Not as an owner, but maybe as a sponsor or something close to it?"
Sicheng's brows lifted slightly. Now that was an interesting question. He exhaled slowly, shifting slightly in his seat, his fingers tapping against the desk as he considered her words. She wasn't just thinking about basic investments anymore. She was already thinking bigger. Thinking long-term. Thinking about the industry itself, about influence, about how money moved within E-Sports beyond just team ownership.
And that?
That was impressive.
He let a small hum escape him, tilting his head slightly as he studied her. "You're asking if I would ever financially back a team without actually running it myself?"
Yao nodded quickly, leaning forward slightly, her fingers tightening around her pen. "Yeah. Like, using your knowledge and financial resources to build another team up, not as a direct competitor to ZGDX, but as a long-term investment."
Sicheng let out a slow breath, his gaze flickering slightly before returning to hers. "It's not impossible. But there's a risk in it. More than most investments." he admitted smoothly, his voice calm, measured.
"Because of instability in the industry?" Yao's brows furrowed, her curiosity growing.
His lips curled just slightly at that. "Partially. E-Sports teams are heavily dependent on sponsorships, tournament placements, and public perception. Without solid management, a team can fall apart faster than an investment portfolio during a market crash."
Yao absorbed this, her mind clearly working through the possibilities. "But what if it was a team with potential? A newer one, but with the right structure in place?"
Sicheng's fingers tapped idly against the desk, his sharp amber gaze narrowing just slightly as he watched her. She wasn't just asking hypothetically. She was actually considering the idea. And that? That was far more interesting. "Are you thinking of investing in a team yourself, Xiǎo Tùzǐ?" he asked, his voice smooth but carrying a hint of amusement, curiosity barely concealed beneath the surface.
Yao, clearly caught off guard by the question, immediately shook her head, her cheeks tinting slightly. "N-No! I was just thinking about… potential future opportunities. Hypothetically."
Sicheng hummed, his gaze still sharp, still calculating. But he didn't push her on it. Instead, after a brief pause, he nodded slightly, acknowledging the idea with a rare look of approval. "It's an interesting concept. And not a bad one, if done right."
"Really?" Yao blinked, clearly surprised.
He smirked slightly. "You're thinking beyond just passive investments now. That's good."
She flushed, ducking her head slightly, her fingers gripping her pen tightly, clearly both pleased and embarrassed by the rare praise.
"You want to learn?" Sicheng leaned forward then, resting his forearms against the desk, his gaze still locked onto her with the same unshakable intensity.
Yao hesitated, but then—
She nodded.
Slowly.
But with certainty.
And that?
That made something sharp flicker in Sicheng's chest, something rare, something almost like satisfaction. Because if she was going to ask him for help. Then he was going to make sure she did it right. Sicheng exhaled slowly, watching the way Yao processed everything he had said, her expression thoughtful, her fingers absently tapping against her notebook as if she were already working through the possibilities in her head.
She was serious about this. Not just about the trust fund. Not just about making safe investments and growing her assets. She was thinking ahead, thinking about opportunities, about influence, about expanding beyond just personal finance into something that could impact an industry.
And that?
That was rare.
For someone her age, for someone who had spent her entire life studying, playing games, focusing on academia, for someone who had never been in a position where she had to consider how money shaped an industry. The fact that she was thinking about it now? It told him everything he needed to know. She wasn't just intelligent. She was capable of more. And the more he thought about it, the more the idea settled into something concrete. She could do this. She could be more than just a Data Analyst. More than just someone working behind the scenes. If she wanted to—if she had the right guidance, the right push, the right person to make sure she didn't waste her potential— She could be powerful.
Sicheng's fingers tapped idly against the desk, his mind already working through different scenarios, different strategies, different paths she could take if she was willing to go beyond just simple investing. After a long moment, he finally spoke. "If you're serious about this, I'll help you."
"…You will?" Yao blinked up at him, her hazel eyes wide, as if she hadn't expected him to agree so easily.
He nodded once, leaning forward slightly, resting his elbows against the desk as he studied her. "But I'm not going to hold your hand through it."
She straightened slightly, her fingers curling into the fabric of her sleeves, her lips pressing together in quiet determination. "I don't want you to. I just want to learn."
Something in his chest settled.
Good.
That was the right answer.
"Then I'll teach you." His voice was smooth, certain, carrying the weight of something that was already decided. "Not just about investing. Not just about growing what you have." He let his amber gaze settle fully on her, watching as she absorbed every word, every subtle shift in his tone. "I'll teach you how to move through this industry the way I do. How to understand not just the numbers, but the influence behind them."
Yao's breath hitched slightly, her eyes widening even more. Because now she understood. This wasn't just about her trust fund. This was about something bigger. "I…" she hesitated, her fingers twitching slightly, but then, after a brief pause, she exhaled softly and nodded. "I want to learn."
Sicheng tilted his head slightly, watching her closely, before smirking just slightly. "Then don't waste my time."
Yao nodded again, more firmly this time, her determination completely visible now.
Sicheng leaned back, exhaling slowly, already knowing this was going to be interesting. Because if she was serious about this. If she really wanted to learn. Then he wasn't just going to teach her how to invest. He was going to teach her how to win.
Sicheng didn't waste time. The moment Yao nodded, the moment he saw that flicker of determination settle behind her hazel eyes, he was already thinking three steps ahead. If she was serious, if she was really going to learn, then he wasn't going to ease her into it with basic, safe investments and minor risk calculations.
No.
She was going to learn how things worked in real time.
"Be ready in two hours." His voice was smooth, steady, carrying an unmistakable authority that left no room for hesitation.
"…Ready for what?" Yao blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in pace.
Sicheng's gaze didn't waver. "You're coming with me to HQ."
She stiffened slightly, her fingers tightening around her pen. "HQ? You mean ZGDX's main offices?"
"Obviously." He leaned back slightly, his amber eyes glinting with something unreadable. "There's a board meeting in two hours. You're going to be there to observe."
"A—A board meeting? But why—" Yao's breath hitched audibly, her entire body going rigid.
"Because you need to see how things work firsthand." Sicheng's lips curled just slightly, not amused, not teasing, just utterly, undeniably serious.
Yao stared at him, her brain scrambling to keep up with the sudden escalation of events. She had thought he would start her with books, articles, financial models—something simple, something academic. But instead? A board meeting? She barely managed to swallow past the sudden lump in her throat, her voice small but certain. "What… what do you want me to do there?"
Sicheng's gaze was steady, deliberate. "Watch. Listen. Take notes."
A pause.
Then, after a moment, he added, "And dress properly. Business wear. No hoodies."
Yao, still trying to process the sheer speed of this development, let out a small, breathless noise, her fingers clenching her notebook like it would somehow stabilize her. "O-Okay. I—Okay."
Sicheng, satisfied with her answer, nodded once before glancing at his watch. "Two hours. Don't be late." Then, without waiting for further argument, he stood, grabbed his phone, and left the room—leaving Yao sitting there, flustered, confused, but already feeling the weight of what she had just agreed to. This wasn't just about learning. This was about stepping into his world and she was already in it now.
An hour and a half later, just thirty minutes before they had to leave, the sound of Yao's light footsteps descending the staircase pulled everyone's attention toward the far end of the base.
And the moment they saw her—
The room went silent.
Yao stepped down from her apartment, her usual shy demeanor still present, but something about her was undeniably different. She was dressed in a sleek, form-fitting black pencil skirt that hugged her waist perfectly before stopping just above her knees, the elegant silhouette making her petite frame appear even more refined. A pair of black pumps added just enough height to her usual stature, the sharp contrast to her usual sneakers giving her an air of quiet sophistication. The deep sapphire-blue blouse she had chosen was tucked neatly into the waistband of her skirt, the fabric smooth and structured, yet soft enough to hint at the natural curve of her form. Over it, she wore a black blazer, unzipped, effortlessly fitted, adding a level of professionalism that made it clear she wasn't just here to observe—she was here to learn. Her platinum hair, usually left loose or in soft braids, was now twisted into a neat updo, secured effortlessly with a simple hair stick that added a delicate touch to her look.
And to complete the transformation?
Her face, though still carrying that familiar soft innocence, had the lightest dusting of makeup, a natural glow enhancing her features, a touch of mascara defining her hazel eyes, a soft pink tint bringing life to her lips.
She was stunning. And absolutely no one was ready for it. The entire team, who had previously been chatting, lounging, or playing games while waiting for Sicheng and Yao to leave, completely froze.
Lao K, who had been stretching, paused mid-motion, his arms still half-raised before he let out a low, appreciative whistle, his brows lifting as he openly assessed the transformation before him. "Damn, Yao."
Pang, previously leaning against the kitchen counter with a snack in hand, completely stopped mid-bite, blinking at her as if trying to reconcile the girl who usually sat cross-legged in oversized hoodies with the one standing before them now. "She cleaned up way too well," he muttered under his breath before his expression shifted into something closer to horror. "Wait—how do we keep people from falling in love with her at first sight?"
Lao Mao, ever the most even-tempered among them, exhaled deeply, shaking his head with something dangerously close to amusement before tilting his head. "I don't think we can."
Ming, whose gaze had been carefully observing her since she stepped into view, took a brief moment before giving a small, approving nod. "Professional. Good choice."
Yue, who had been reclining lazily on the couch just seconds ago, suddenly sat forward, his sharp eyes scanning her from head to toe with an unmistakable gleam of mischief lighting up his expression.
And that?
That was dangerous.
Yao, already mildly flustered by the unexpected attention, fidgeted slightly, adjusting the strap of the black leather bag she carried over her shoulder, before blinking at Yue with hesitation. "…What?"
The younger Lu brother's lips curled into a lazy but undeniably wicked smirk as he propped his chin up on his palm, his tone carrying just enough amusement to make her wary. "You look like a CEO's wife."
Absolute.
Utter.
Chaos.
Lao K let out a sharp bark of laughter, slapping his knee as he shook his head. "Oh, that was dirty—he went straight for the kill."
Pang, who had barely been holding it together, immediately collapsed against the counter, wheezing out a laugh as he shook his head. "Oh my god, Yue—have mercy, Sicheng hasn't even entered the room yet!"
Ming, usually the composed one, simply exhaled and murmured, "Unnecessary, but not incorrect."
Rui, who had just entered the common area, took one glance at the scene unfolding before him, let out a long-suffering sigh, and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I am going to have to field so many inquiries about her after today."
Yao, who had already turned a noticeable shade of pink, buried her face slightly into her shoulder, pulling at the edges of her blazer as if she could physically shield herself from their reactions. "I-I don't even know why you're all acting like this!"
And then—
The temperature in the room shifted. The easy, teasing atmosphere stilled as the team collectively became aware of someone else stepping into the room.
Lu Sicheng. The second his sharp amber gaze landed on her, he stopped mid-step, his entire frame going unnaturally still. The team, who had been so loud just moments ago, immediately held their breath, every single one of them turning their attention toward their Captain. Because for all his teasing, for all his unbothered, unreadable expressions, there was one undeniable fact they all understood.
Lu Sicheng did not like surprises.
And right now?
Yao was a surprise. His gaze flickered, just once, taking in the sight of her from head to toe, the shift from soft hoodies and oversized sleeves to something sleek, professional, utterly poised. The faintest twitch of his fingers, subtle, nearly imperceptible, but there nonetheless. The slow clench of his jaw, the brief but unmistakable moment where his amber eyes darkened, flickering with something that wasn't just approval—something that wasn't just intrigue.
And then, finally—
Yao, still flustered, still oblivious to the way Sicheng's entire demeanor had changed, peeked up at him, still pulling at her sleeves as she hesitantly asked, "Do I look okay?"
For a moment, the team thought he wasn't going to answer. But then, after a brief silence, Sicheng's jaw shifted slightly, his voice coming low, smooth, but carrying something unspoken beneath the surface. "You'll do." And then, without another word, he turned toward the door, his movements sharp, precise, controlled, as if he were deliberately keeping something restrained.
Yue, still watching, let out a low whistle, smirking as he tilted his head. "Oh wow, you just realized it, huh?"
Sicheng didn't acknowledge him. Didn't react at all. But the way his shoulders tensed, just slightly, just barely noticeable as he held the door open for Yao— That was enough.
As Yao hurried after him, still unaware, still oblivious to the tension she had just left behind, the rest of the team simply watched.
Pang sighed. "Oh man. He's not gonna handle this well."
Lao K nodded, stretching his arms. "I'd give him a week before we start seeing casualties."
Ming, always the observer, simply murmured, "He might already be one."
Not even half an hour into the meeting, Sicheng was already regretting his decision to bring Yao with him.
Not because she was a hassle. Not because she was causing trouble. In fact, she had been perfectly behaved. She had entered the boardroom quietly, her posture straight but reserved, her hands folded neatly over her notebook as she sat beside him, taking careful notes, her attention sharp, absorbing every discussion, every exchange with an intensity that told him she was fully engaged. She wasn't distracting. She wasn't nervous or out of place. She wasn't doing anything at all. And that was the problem. Because the real issue wasn't her. It was every single goddamn person in the room.
Sicheng, his sharp amber gaze scanning the length of the table with a barely concealed sense of absolute loathing, could see it clearly.
Every.
Single.
Board member.
All of them—all these stuffy, uptight, self-important old men who had never once expressed a single ounce of warmth toward him in the years he had run this team—
Were completely and utterly smitten.
Not just mildly intrigued.
Not just curious.
Utterly. Fucking. Smitten.
The second Yao had stepped into the boardroom with him and his mother, every single one of them had tripped over themselves, straightening their ties, clearing their throats, suddenly remembering their manners as they hurried to introduce themselves to the quiet, beautiful young woman who had, for the first time in history, made them act like civilized human beings.
Even CEO Bao, the most insufferable man in the room, the one person Sicheng had been expecting to give him problems today, had suddenly turned into a doting old uncle, glancing at Yao before clearing his throat and asking, with far too much enthusiasm, if he should have his secretary bring her some tea.
Tea.
This was the same cold, indifferent man who had once barely looked up from his paperwork when Sicheng had walked into a board meeting.
Now?
Now he was offering to personally arrange refreshments for Yao like she was some honored guest at a royal banquet.
Sicheng's jaw ticked sharply, his fingers flexing slightly against the armrest of his chair, because if that wasn't bad enough— The real fucking problem was sitting on the other side of Yao. His mother. Lu Wang Lan, who had been fiercely protective of Yao from the beginning, who had taken on the role of shielding her from the world, who had always been calculating and discerning with the people she allowed near her— Was utterly entertained.
Sicheng didn't need to look directly at her to know. He could feel her amusement radiating beside him, could sense the subtle quiver of her shoulders, the way she had barely resisted the urge to let out an outright laugh when the board members had stumbled over themselves to shake Yao's hand. She was watching all of this unfold with great interest, sitting there in her place at the table, fully enjoying the sight of these grouchy, stubborn old bastards practically falling over themselves in the presence of his quiet, shy, and utterly oblivious Xiǎo Tùzǐ.
And the worst part?
Yao didn't even notice. She sat there, completely unaware of the absolute devastation she was causing, completely oblivious to the fact that these men, who had once been impossible to deal with, were suddenly treating this meeting like it was some grand event simply because she was here. She didn't see the way their expressions softened when they looked at her, the way their voices turned a fraction warmer, the way they adjusted their posture as if they actually cared about appearances for once.
And Sicheng?
Sicheng saw all of it.
And he hated it.
His fingers tightened slightly, his jaw locking, his body stiff as he exhaled slowly, trying to suppress the murderous urge to tell every single one of them to focus on the damn meeting instead of whatever fantasy they were indulging in about his woman sitting beside him. Because that's what she was. Even if they didn't know it yet. Even if she didn't know it yet. And if they thought for a second that he was going to sit here, watch this disaster unfold, and do nothing about it— They were sorely mistaken.
Sicheng sat there fighting the urge to twitch even more as, his expression unreadable, his posture composed, but beneath the surface, he was already seething. The meeting had started as usual, financial reports, performance projections, sponsorship renewals, all of the routine matters he had dealt with countless times before. But today, everything was different. Because today, every single goddamn board member was distracted. Their attention wasn't on the numbers, wasn't on the contracts, wasn't on the business of running one of the most dominant teams in the OPL.
No.
Their attention was on Yao.
It was in the way they glanced at her between discussions, the way their expressions softened just slightly when she turned her hazel eyes toward them, the way they subtly angled their bodies as if to better include her in the conversation—even when she wasn't speaking.
And the worst part?
She wasn't even trying. She sat there, completely focused, absorbing everything being said, her hands moving fluidly over the notebook in front of her as she took notes with quiet precision. Every now and then, she would tilt her head slightly in thought, her brows furrowing just a little, her lips parting as if she were processing information at lightning speed. She was doing exactly what he had brought her here to do—watch, listen, learn.
But these old bastards?
They were acting like she had personally descended from the heavens to grace them with her presence.
Sicheng clenched his jaw, his fingers tapping once against the polished wood of the table, his amber gaze scanning the room with a dark sharpness as he cataloged each and every one of their reactions.
CEO Bao, the most insufferable man at the table, had already been caught checking on her multiple times, going so far as to lean slightly forward as if to gauge whether or not she needed anything.
The CFO, normally a cold, calculating businessman, had actually cracked a faint smile when she had politely thanked him for explaining something earlier. And the legal advisor, a man Sicheng had never seen so much as acknowledge anyone outside of business dealings, had even gone so far as to offer to forward her some documents he thought might help her understand the business side of things better.
That was it.
He had had enough. His mother, seated on the other side of Yao, was visibly entertained, her fingers idly tracing the rim of her tea cup as she watched everything unfold. She had yet to intervene, but she hadn't discouraged it either, and that only pushed Sicheng's irritation further.
Lu Wang Lan was watching her son lose his patience in real time, and she was enjoying every second of it.
Sicheng exhaled slowly, reining in his temper, his control still intact—but barely. And then, without any preamble, without warning, without even looking up from the financial documents in front of him, his voice cut through the room with smooth precision. "If everyone is quite done fawning over my analyst, perhaps we can get back to business."
Silence.
Complete, unnatural, heavy silence.
Yao's head snapped up, blinking rapidly as she turned toward him, completely confused.
The rest of the board members shifted awkwardly, clearing their throats, adjusting their ties, suddenly very aware that they had been caught. CEO Bao stiffened, his fingers pausing mid-motion as he had just been about to gesture toward Yao again. The CFO leaned back slightly, suddenly very interested in his documents. The legal advisor quietly set down his pen and said nothing.
And Wang Lan?
She actually laughed. A soft, knowing sound, hidden behind the rim of her tea cup, but unmistakable nonetheless.
Sicheng didn't look at her. Didn't acknowledge the amusement radiating from her. His amber eyes remained cold, piercing, sharp as he dared any of these men to challenge what he had just said. None of them did. And just like that, the meeting resumed.
Yao, still blinking, still trying to process why Sicheng had just called her 'his analyst' with such a possessive tone, bit her lip slightly, hesitated, then slowly turned back to her notes. But she wasn't stupid. She had noticed. Noticed the way Sicheng's tone had shifted. Noticed the way his fingers had subtly tightened against the edge of the table. Noticed the way the entire room had immediately fallen back in line the moment he spoke. And for the first time, she wondered, just how much did she really understand about Lu Sicheng? Because there was something else happening here, something unspoken, something far deeper than she could fully grasp. And the most dangerous part? She wasn't sure she was ready to find out.
The conversation had been moving smoothly—contract discussions, upcoming event sponsorships, the usual bureaucracy that came with running an organization as large as ZGDX. But the moment the topic shifted to the Anime Convention happening in the middle of the season, the energy in the room changed.
CEO Bao had sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose as he exhaled in irritation. "We've been trying to get a hold of the hostess, Ning Jia Qi, for weeks, but she's difficult to pin down. We need to finalize details soon, or we risk scheduling conflicts with the tournament schedule."
The board members murmured in agreement, several of them glancing through their notes, nodding along to the general consensus that the woman was notoriously hard to reach.
It was at that moment, completely unintentional, completely out of reflex, that Yao made a small noise.
Not loud.
Not attention-seeking.
Just a soft hum of recognition.
But in the deadly silent meeting room, with so many calculating eyes and trained ears, it was immediately noticed.
Heads turned.
Sicheng, seated beside her, shifted his attention without hesitation.
His mother, Lu Wang Lan, immediately lifted a brow, intrigued.
CEO Bao, who had been mid-sentence, paused.
Yao, realizing her mistake far too late, froze completely. The entire room was now staring at her. She fidgeted hard with her pen, gripping it tightly as heat flooded her face. She didn't mean to make a noise—she had just been surprised to hear Ning Jia Qi's name in a setting like this.
Sicheng's voice came, smooth, low, expectant. "Something to share, Xiǎo Tùzǐ?"
Yao squeaked internally. Her fingers twitched against the notebook in front of her. She didn't want this kind of attention—not here, not in front of these men who ran multi-million-dollar investments. But now she had no choice. Clearing her throat softly, she swallowed, still not meeting anyone's eyes as she finally answered. "I… sort of know her."
A pause.
Then—a ripple of interest.
Several board members leaned forward slightly, CEO Bao straightened in his seat, and Sicheng, who had been resting an elbow on the table, let his fingers tap once against the polished wood in thought.
Lu Wang Lan, watching Yao closely, spoke next. "How do you know her?"
Yao hesitated, her fingers still wrapped around her pen, her heartbeat quickening. "She went to my lower-level university before I transferred to Tsinghua University for my Ph.D."
CEO Bao's brows lifted slightly. "Lower-level university?"
"Mingjiang Business University," Yao clarified softly. "She finished with an MBA before moving into event management."
There was a moment of silence, then quiet murmurs of surprise.
"She has an MBA?" one of the advisors muttered.
"Interesting. People don't usually associate her with academic prowess…" another commented.
Yao fidgeted slightly, biting the inside of her cheek before continuing, "Despite what people think, she's incredibly smart. She runs her events like a business first and entertainment second, which is why she's so difficult to get ahold of. She doesn't engage with companies that won't meet her standards or give her control over the finer details."
Lu Wang Lan exhaled lightly, her gaze sharpening. "Then it's no wonder she's hard to reach. She controls her brand completely."
Yao nodded. "Yes. And on top of that, she keeps a leash on her contracted betrothed, Xu Tailum."
The room stilled.
Sicheng's fingers paused mid-tap.
CEO Bao tilted his head. "She… what?"
Yao, realizing exactly what she had just said, immediately turned bright red.
Oh no.
She had spoken too casually, too honestly. She whimpered inwardly, but there was no saving herself now. Desperate to fix it, she rushed forward with an explanation. "Xu Tailum—he used to entertain fans a lot, even flirt with them, but once she came into the picture, she brought him to heel."
Another pause.
A deeper silence.
Yao, not realizing the weight of her own words, blinked, then slowly processed what she had just implied. Her entire body went stiff, heat crawling up her neck, her fingers twitching around the pen like she wanted to disappear.
Oh god. Oh god. Oh god.
Lu Wang Lan let out a soft, deliberate hum of amusement.
CEO Bao exhaled through his nose, barely restraining his own chuckle.
Sicheng?
Sicheng was rubbing his temples, his jaw flexing as he exhaled heavily through his nose.
Yue and Pang would never let her live this down.
Yao turned redder, completely mortified. "I-I didn't mean it like that!"
Lu Wang Lan, still highly entertained, rested her chin on her hand before smoothly asking, "Is there any way you can get in touch with your Senior?"
Yao, still twitching, still wanting to crawl into a hole and never come out, nodded slowly. "I… I think so." Swallowing past her embarrassment, she quickly pulled out her phone, scrolling through her contacts. She wasn't close to Ning Jia Qi—they had been acquaintances at most, mostly because Jinyang had occupied so much of her time that she never got the chance to bond with other students the way she might have wanted to. But despite that, Ning Jia Qi had always been… friendly. She had even been the one to put Xu Tailum in his place when he had hit on Yao once, grinning smugly as she had effortlessly knocked him down a few pegs.
Which meant…
There was a good chance she would answer.
Yao frowned slightly, adjusting her grip on her phone before hesitating for only a second, then placing the call and putting it on speaker.
The room went silent again, all eyes on her.
The line rang once… twice… three times.
Then—
A low, feminine voice, smooth and confident, answered.
"Well, well. If it isn't the quiet little genius. I was wondering when you'd call me."
Yao blinked rapidly, her body stiffening.
Oh no.
She had not thought this through. And judging by the sharp amusement flickering through Sicheng's gaze as he leaned back in his chair to watch her squirm…Neither had he.
Yao froze completely, her grip tightening around her phone as the smooth, confident voice of Ning Jia Qi drifted through the speaker, carrying the same effortless self-assurance that Yao had always struggled to match.
Across the table, Sicheng had leaned back slightly, his amber gaze flickering between Yao and the phone with sharp amusement, fully prepared to watch whatever chaos was about to unfold.
Lu Wang Lan, who had already been entertained before, now looked outright intrigued, her fingers tapping idly against the surface of the table as she observed the interaction with interest.
Yao swallowed hard, her brain scrambling for the right response, her entire body tensing under the weight of every single set of eyes now watching her.
"S-Senior Ning," she stammered, clearing her throat, trying to compose herself despite the heat creeping up her neck. "I... I hope I'm not bothering you."
Ning Jia Qi hummed thoughtfully on the other end of the line, as if deciding how much trouble she wanted to give Yao. "Hmm, well, considering how rare it is for you to call me, I'm tempted to be dramatic about it, but I'll spare you. What's up, little genius?"
Yao winced internally, her fingers twitching against her notebook. Why did she call her that? Why did she always call her that?
Sicheng's lips twitched slightly, clearly entertained, but he remained silent, simply waiting to see how Yao would handle the situation.
Taking a deep breath, she pushed through the flustered embarrassment and focused on the reason she had made the call in the first place. "I... I heard about the Anime Convention happening during the mid-season run," she explained carefully, "and ZGDX has been trying to get in contact with you regarding scheduling and sponsorships, but it seems like you've been difficult to reach."
There was a brief pause on the other end of the line.
Then—a soft, amused chuckle.
"Difficult to reach?" Ning Jia Qi echoed, her voice dripping with amusement. "Oh, that means CEO Bao has been trying to talk to me, doesn't it?"
The way she said it, bored, unimpressed, almost dismissive, made Sicheng exhale through his nose, confirming what he had already suspected. Ning Jia Qi didn't just avoid random people. She avoided people she didn't respect.
Yao hesitated. "Well, he has been trying to arrange a meeting with you…"
"Of course he has," Ning Jia Qi sighed, as if this was the most predictable thing in the world. "He only ever calls me when he needs something. But you? I assume you wouldn't be calling me just to pass along a message."
Another pause.
Then—her tone shifted slightly, smoother, more intrigued.
"What do you want, Yao-er?"
Yao fidgeted, her fingers gripping the hem of her blazer before she exhaled softly, choosing her words carefully. "I... I wanted to ask if you'd be willing to meet with ZGDX." She felt Sicheng's gaze sharpen slightly beside her.
Another pause.
And then, Ning Jia Qi let out a low hum, as if considering. "You want me to take this seriously?"
Yao forced herself to hold her ground, to push through the nerves. "Yes."
Silence.
And then—
A soft, decisive click of the tongue.
"Alright, little genius. You win. Let's set a meeting. I'll meet with you. You're the only one I trust not to bore me to death with numbers and titles."
For a second, the room stilled.
Yao blinked, her eyes wide at the unexpected phrasing, and then—she straightened slightly, her fingers tightening just a bit on her pen. She didn't look at Sicheng or his mother. She didn't glance toward the board members seeking reassurance. She simply spoke. "I appreciate that, but… the answer is no." Her voice wasn't sharp or cold. It was gentle, but with a clarity that made it carry across the room. "I'm not a member of the board. I'm not in a position of authority here. I was only asked to reach out on behalf of ZGDX because I'm currently working as part-time Data Analyst."
A pause.
And then she added—soft, but firm, and without a trace of hesitation, "If you're going to attend, you need to meet with the board. Or with Lu Sicheng. Or with Madam Lu, who also oversees the organization."
The silence that followed wasn't awkward. It was measured.
Her words weren't spoken out of pride or arrogance, but out of an understanding that authority and responsibility came with structure—and that friendship wasn't a shortcut. "I'm happy to help where I can," Yao continued, her gaze now lifted slightly, voice more assured than anyone in the room had ever heard from her before, "Ning-jie… sometimes, you'll meet no nonsense people who won't cater to you, either. That's just life."
The last part wasn't snide.
It was honest.
And she meant every word.
The call ended there, and Yao sat back, her posture returning to its usual quiet reserve, her lashes lowering slightly as she returned to her notes, as if what she had said hadn't just shifted the entire room's opinion of her.
CEO Bao blinked slowly, clearly reevaluating her. Several board members exchanged glances, murmuring to one another, this time without the edge of doubt that had colored their earlier tones. And Lu Wang Lan, seated beside her, let out a faint, knowing hum, her lips curving ever so slightly as she turned to glance toward her son.
Sicheng, who had been sitting motionless beside Yao, his fingers tapping lightly against the table throughout the exchange, leaned forward now, his gaze fixed on the board as he spoke, "Well, if that doesn't make it clear, I don't know what does." He didn't clarify what it was. But every man in the room understood. Respect isn't given. It's earned. And Yao had just earned every ounce of it.
As the conversation settled, the tension easing into something more manageable, one of the board members, a man who had remained relatively quiet throughout the meeting, suddenly cleared his throat.
"Miss Tong, if I may ask… we know you are working toward your Ph.D., but what exactly is your field of study?"
The room quieted slightly, and Yao, who had just started to relax, immediately straightened, her fingers curling around the edge of her notebook, her breath catching for a second as she processed the question. She wasn't used to being asked about it. Not outside of academic circles. Not outside of her world of research and statistics and late nights pouring over data. She fidgeted slightly, her thumb brushing against the spine of her notebook as she gathered her words, before finally speaking, her voice quiet at first, but steadily growing with a soft certainty.
"I'm working toward my Ph.D. in Data Analysis and Technology with a specialization in Strategic Gaming Analysis for E-Sports."
A brief pause, followed by a few flickers of surprise from some of the older board members.
Even CEO Bao raised a brow. "Strategic Gaming Analysis?"
Yao, now feeling the full weight of their attention, swallowed once, but rather than wilting under it, she exhaled slowly and continued, this time with just the faintest touch of pride in her voice. "Yes. My research focuses on understanding decision-making patterns, predictive modeling for player behavior, and how artificial intelligence can be applied to improve team strategy optimization in professional gaming environments."
Several of the board members exchanged looks, murmuring quietly to themselves as the weight of her words sank in. Even Lu Wang Lan, who had always known she was intelligent, looked mildly intrigued. But it was Sicheng, sitting beside her, who watched the entire exchange the closest.
Because Yao wasn't just answering the question. She was explaining herself, fully, for the first time, with just the slightest bit of pride in her own abilities.
And that?
That was something she didn't do often. He saw it in the way her fingers gripped the edge of her notebook just slightly, in the way her voice, still soft, still careful, carried something stronger beneath it. A quiet confidence that only surfaced when she spoke about something she truly understood. Something she cared about.
Yao, still unaware of the effect her words were having, continued carefully. "My dissertation, once completed, will serve as a case study examining how data-driven decision-making can increase win ratios in competitive gaming." A soft breath escaped her then, as if finally letting go of something she had been holding in, and she glanced down at her notes briefly before murmuring, "…When I earn my Ph.D., I want my research to be something that contributes to E-Sports in a real way, something that helps shape the way we approach competitive play. I don't just want to study the game. I want to improve it."
Silence.
But it wasn't uncomfortable. It was the kind of silence that came when people were actually listening. The board members, now fully aware that the quiet young woman in their meeting wasn't just intelligent, but entirely dedicated to something bigger than herself, finally nodded in quiet acknowledgement, a few murmuring in approval.
CEO Bao, always calculating, hummed. "That's quite the undertaking."
"It is." Yao nodded, flushing slightly but still holding her ground.
Lu Wang Lan, who had been silent through the exchange, finally exhaled, leaning back slightly in her chair before commenting, "I expect you'll finish ahead of schedule."
Yao, startled, blinked at her. "I—"
"She's right," Sicheng cut in smoothly, his voice low but steady. "You will."
The moment the CFO leaned forward slightly, his gaze carrying an unmistakable edge of curiosity, Yao already had a sinking feeling she wasn't going to like whatever came next.
"And who," he asked smoothly, adjusting his notes as if this were nothing more than a routine inquiry, "is your case study?"
Yao froze instantly as her fingers twitched against her notebook, her body suddenly far too aware of the man sitting beside her, the same man who had been uncharacteristically quiet since she started explaining her dissertation. And she knew, she just knew, that the reason he hadn't spoken was because he was waiting for this exact moment.
Because Lu Sicheng, Captain of ZGDX, professional gamer, businessman, and resident menace to her sanity, was smug as hell right now. He already knew the answer. He had known since the day they met. Because on that day, the moment he had seen her notes, the moment he had realized just how deeply she had studied him, how much of her research had been focused on his gameplay, his decision-making, his strategies, he had put the pieces together instantly. She had chosen him before she had ever met him.
And that?
That had done something to him. Even now, as the weight of the question settled over her, as she sat there fidgeting, flustered, burning from the inside out, Lu Sicheng didn't need to ask. He was simply waiting. Waiting for her to admit it. Waiting for her to say it out loud.
Yao, her entire face burning, swallowed hard, the heat creeping from her neck to the very tips of her ears as she fidgeted slightly in her seat, trying to will herself into invisibility. She considered not answering. She considered deflecting. She considered pretending she had suddenly forgotten how to speak.
But the room was waiting.
The CFO, intrigued.
The board members, curious.
Madam Lu, far too entertained for her own good.
And the worst offender of all?
The man sitting beside her, who, without even saying a word, had already made it abundantly clear that he was thoroughly enjoying every second of her suffering.
Yao let out a tiny, strangled breath, slowly raising her hand—a single, hesitant finger lifting as she pointed stiffly to the man seated beside her.
Straight at Lu Sicheng.
Silence.
A beat.
Then—
Lu Sicheng smirked. The kind of smirk that was equal parts victorious, smug, and utterly self-satisfied. The kind of smirk that told her, without words, that this was never going to be forgotten.
The CFO lifted a brow, his expression shifting into something amused but thoughtful. "So, you chose Captain Lu."
Yao, still twitching, still burning alive, barely managed to nod, her voice coming out far too soft, far too mortified. "I… chose him before I even met him."
And that?
That only made it worse. Because now, every single board member, every single person at that table, turned to look directly at Sicheng, clearly processing the implications of that statement.
And Sicheng, who had been smug before, was now fully leaning back in his chair, one arm resting casually against the table, his expression the picture of pure satisfaction. "True." His voice was low, smooth, entirely too pleased.
Yao wanted to die. Immediately. She couldn't do this. She couldn't handle the way he was looking at her, the way his voice dipped just enough to make it worse, the way his smirk made her want to curl into herself and disappear. She squeaked internally, fidgeting aggressively with her pen, trying to somehow stop existing, but before she could make any sort of recovery.
CEO Bao exhaled lightly, shaking his head. "Well, this explains why the Captain has been unusually cooperative today."
Yao choked.
Sicheng smirked deeper.
And Madam Lu?
She actually laughed.
Yao was never recovering from this.
The moment the conversation seemed to settle, the room shifting into a state of humored disbelief at the revelation of her dissertation's case study, another voice from the board spoke up, carrying a tone that was too curious, too interested in causing more flustered chaos.
"I heard a rumor, Miss Tong."
Yao, already still burning from the previous exchange, stiffened immediately, her fingers curling slightly against her notebook as she blinked rapidly and turned toward the source of the voice.
"Is it true that you once scolded the entire ZGDX team—including Captain Lu himself—on behalf of their coach because they weren't taking training seriously?"
The silence that followed was deafening.
And then—immediate, unstoppable flustering.
Yao's entire posture locked up, her face instantly going red, her fingers gripping the edge of her notebook so tightly that the pages crinkled slightly. "I—" A pause. A slow, small twitch of her fingers. And then—in the softest, most mortified mutter imaginable— "Yes."
The reaction?
Instant amusement. Several board members exchanged glances, clearly intrigued, a few of them letting out low chuckles, and CEO Bao—who had, already begun piecing things together about her presence in the team, actually let out a quiet hum of approval.
But the worst reaction? The one she had been dreading the most? Came from Lu Sicheng himself. She didn't even have to look at him to know what was coming. She could feel the way his entire demeanor shifted, the way his smirk deepened, the way his body tilted ever so slightly toward her, like he was getting ready to make this even worse for her.
And then, with zero hesitation, voice dripping with casual amusement, he drawled, "Rui-ge is a goddamn mother hen when it comes to her."
Yao let out a tiny, strangled squeak, her hands flinching slightly as she immediately shrank in her chair, fidgeting with the hem of her blazer as if she could somehow disappear into it.
But Sicheng wasn't done.
Oh no.
If he was going down, he was taking the rest of the team with him. With an exaggerated sigh, he leaned back, completely unbothered, as if he were recounting something as mundane as the weather. "He docks pay left and right any time the others take their teasing too far. It's become a standard practice at this point."
A few of the board members snorted outright, clearly entertained.
Lu Wang Lan, who had already been thoroughly enjoying every second of this meeting, delicately lifted her tea cup, smirking just slightly.
Yao, now utterly mortified, lowered her head slightly, her face practically hidden behind the sleeves of her blazer as she whimpered under her breath. "Rui-ge doesn't have to do that..."
Sicheng simply lifted a brow. "Try telling him that."
Another board member, grinning now, leaned forward. "And what about your coach? Coach Kwon, right?"
"Tattles to her every time we don't listen to him." Sicheng actually let out a short laugh, shaking his head.
Yao let out an audible groan, burying her face into her hands as the entire room erupted into laughter.
CEO Bao, thoroughly enjoying the absolute chaos this young woman had unintentionally brought into their team's dynamic, chuckled. "Seems Miss Tong has quite the influence on ZGDX."
Madam Lu smirked knowingly, setting down her tea. "Oh, she does."
Yao, absolutely unable to handle any more of this, whined softly under her breath before mumbling the weakest, most defeated, "Can we please get back to the meeting?" The board, still entertained but now thoroughly invested in her, finally nodded, and the conversation shifted back into financial discussions. But as Yao kept her head down, trying to recover from her near-death experience in embarrassment, she could still feel it. The way Lu Sicheng's gaze lingered just a little too long on her, his smirk still barely there, his amusement still very much present. Because if nothing else, this meeting had proven something undeniable. She wasn't just some analyst. She was theirs and every single person in this room knew it.
As the meeting concluded and the board members began to rise from their seats—collecting their tablets, straightening their suit jackets, and filing out with murmurs of approval or contemplation, it was clear that the atmosphere in the room had shifted.
Yao remained in her seat a moment longer, her fingers smoothing down the edge of her notebook as the last of the murmuring men exited the boardroom, leaving behind only Lu Sicheng, his mother Madam Lu, and CEO Bao, who lingered near the far end of the long table, reviewing his notes with a slightly furrowed brow. She stood slowly, gathering her things. She hesitated only for a moment before softly clearing her throat, the quiet sound gently drawing the attention of the three remaining figures.
Madam Lu glanced up first, her expression expectant but calm. Sicheng remained leaning casually against the wall near the conference screen, his amber gaze tracking Yao's movement in silence. But it was CEO Bao that Yao walked toward, her steps composed, her shoulders straight despite the nervous flutter just beneath the surface.
She stopped a respectful distance from him and bowed her head slightly. "CEO Bao."
He looked up, clearly a little surprised, though not unpleasantly so. "Yes, Miss Tong?"
Yao's voice, when it came, was quiet, careful, but steady. "I know you don't need me to defend you."
That caught his attention more than anything else.
She glanced up, her hazel eyes meeting his briefly, before dropping again in a show of deference—but it was not shyness this time. It was measured. Intentional. "But I wanted to explain why I told Ning Jia Qi no." She held her notebook a little tighter against her chest as she continued, her tone soft but laced with insight. "She's a woman who always controls the room. She's sharp, and she's calculating. She leads with charisma, and she rarely enters any conversation without knowing exactly how to end it in her favor. It's why she's successful."
Bao's brows lifted, just slightly, as he nodded, silently encouraging her to continue.
"But she can also be... petty. Especially if she feels slighted or ignored. I didn't want her walking into this thinking she was in charge before the conversation even began. That's why I said no to her trying to meet with only me. It wouldn't have been about the board or the organization—it would've been about her maintaining her upper hand." There was a pause, the weight of her words settling in the room. Then she offered a faint smile—small, shy, but with a glint of something sincere. "I just wanted to make sure you knew that. I wasn't speaking for ZGDX. I just... I knew how she would try to steer it. And I didn't think that was fair to you."
CEO Bao blinked, clearly taken aback, not by her manner, but by the depth of her understanding—not just of Ning Jia Qi, but of the dynamics of power and presentation, of how delicate and dangerous those subtleties could be. He stared at her for a long moment before finally nodding, his voice quiet, and laced with something he hadn't shown her until now. "Thank you, Ms. Tong. That was… insightful."
Lu Wang Lan, still seated with one elegant hand resting on her tea saucer, allowed the faintest, knowing smile to pull at her lips. Sicheng didn't speak. But his gaze was locked on her. Still. Steady. Proud. And though Yao couldn't see it. He hadn't looked away once.
Madam Lu rising smoothly from her chair and Sicheng moving to collect Yao's folder off the table before handing it back to her, CEO Bao's voice cut in with a tone that was far more casual than before—but no less deliberate. "Before we leave, Miss Tong," he said, adjusting the cuffs of his jacket with a practiced ease, "do you happen to know a woman named Su Luo?"
Yao, who had just finished tucking her pen into her notebook, paused mid-motion, blinking in surprise as her head turned toward him. "Su Luo…?"
Bao gave a nod. "Yes. She specializes in high-end photography, hair and makeup styling. Corporate teams, public figures, celebrity sponsorship shoots… they all seem to use her company. ZGDX reached out recently to arrange a media contract, but she's been giving us the runaround."
That made Yao's expression shift, just slightly, the faintest twitch of recognition passing through her features before she lowered her gaze and began fidgeting lightly with the edge of her folder. "Ah… yes, I… I know her."
Sicheng's eyes lifted briefly from his watch, already catching the slight hesitation in her tone.
Yao's voice, soft and unsure, continued. "She's a… friend." A beat. Then, more honestly, with a small self-conscious wince, "Well—more of an acquaintance now, I suppose. We used to be closer before I transferred to Tsinghua."
Bao quirked a brow. "I see. And is there any particular reason she's making things difficult for us?"
Yao chewed her lower lip, visibly uncomfortable. "I'm not entirely sure... she's not like Ning Jia Qi, if that's what you're thinking."
Sicheng, his arms casually crossed, murmured without looking away, "Then what is she like?"
Yao hesitated, her expression thoughtful now, searching for the right words. And then, quietly, with a growing confidence that had been building since the start of the day, she said— "Su Luo is... the opposite of Ning Jia Qi." The room paused for a moment, letting that sink in. "Where Jia Qi likes to dominate a space, likes to keep people off balance and make her authority known, Su Luo…" Yao trailed off briefly, eyes lowering, a quiet breath escaping her. "Su Luo prefers to be pursued. She doesn't throw her influence at people. She waits. She watches. She wants you to work for her attention—not assume you're owed it."
Madam Lu hummed quietly under her breath, as though she found that description not only accurate but intriguing.
Yao gave a small, almost sheepish shrug. "She can get a bit petty too, but it's different. With Su Luo, it's about presentation. Appearances. She's subtle, not confrontational. But if she feels like you're not showing the right amount of effort or appreciation…" Her words trailed again, but everyone understood the implication. She disappears.
Sicheng's brows lifted just slightly, a flicker of understanding in his gaze.
CEO Bao gave a quiet grunt of acknowledgment, clearly absorbing the information with a more tactical lens. "So a soft power personality type."
Yao nodded slowly. "Exactly."
For a moment, silence settled again, not heavy, not tense, but thoughtful.
And then Sicheng turned to Yao, his voice low, dry, and pointed as ever. "So you know how to deal with both."
She blinked up at him. "…What?"
He looked at her, expression unreadable but tinged with something sharper—something closer to approval.
"You've had experience with both kinds of difficult people. Which means next time, you're handling them."
Yao opened her mouth, utterly flustered. "I—what?! I—"
Madam Lu, already slipping on her gloves, simply smiled as she moved toward the door. "Congratulations, Yao. That's what happens when you speak with clarity and conviction in a boardroom—you get promoted without realizing it."
Yao's eyes widened the moment Madam Lu's words fell with that faint, elegant amusement that always carried twice the weight when paired with her unshakeable poise. And when she glanced to the side and saw that Lu Sicheng was already giving her that quiet, unreadable stare—the one that meant he'd already decided something and now expected her to fall in line—her lips pressed together in a tight line. She didn't care that she was still wearing her business skirt and that she had somehow managed to hold her own in a boardroom full of sharp-edged men. She wasn't about to be swept into this. "No." The word came out softly, but firmly—blunt in the way that only Yao could make a gentle refusal sound immovable.
"No?" Sicheng's brow arched, not in surprise, but in silent challenge.
Yao nodded, her arms hugging her folder to her chest. "Yes. No." Her tone sharpened, just slightly. "I'm not part of the board. I'm not an executive. I'm not even a full-time employee." She glanced at Madam Lu before quickly looking back to CEO Bao. "I have enough on my plate with research, my mentor meetings, the dissertation, and the team's current analysis demands—plus I'd like to avoid Su Luo for a little while longer, if that's allowed."
Sicheng's smirk was subtle, his arms crossed now, but he didn't interrupt.
Yao then turned toward CEO Bao again, her voice lowering into something softer, but still filled with purpose. "But… if you're going to be dealing with both of them at once—" she hesitated, then gave a small, almost sheepish glance toward Madam Lu, "—you might want to bring Aunt Lan with you."
That got a raised brow from Madam Lu herself. "Oh?"
Yao nodded. "Back when I was still at the lower university, before I transferred to Tsinghua, I overheard both Ning Jia Qi and Su Luo once or twice during some student leadership events. Not gossiping—but talking strategy. And one of the very few things they agreed on…" She paused, then gave a faint, knowing smile. "If there was one woman they genuinely feared, it was Aunt Lan."
The silence that followed was immediate, cut through by the low sound of Sicheng's exhale and the very slight lift of amusement in his mother's eyes.
"Is that so?" Madam Lu mused, her voice rich with delight.
Yao dipped her head. "It's not my place to step into someone else's role. I'm not qualified to handle either of them professionally. I just don't mind giving tips if I happen to know the people involved."
CEO Bao, silent for most of the exchange, studied her with a thoughtful, almost surprised look that slowly softened into something resembling respect. "You know, for someone who insists she won't step into someone else's job, you've done a fine job of managing half of it already."
"That wasn't the intent!" Yao flushed immediately.
"Intent doesn't always matter. What matters is you already did it better than most would." Sicheng murmured dryly, smirking again as he turned toward the door.
Yao, ears burning, huffed softly under her breath and muttered, "I'm going back to the base…"
"Smartest thing anyone's said all day," Madam Lu commented with an approving smile as she gracefully linked arms with Yao, guiding her along as they left the room, her voice low but amused. "Next time you say no, I'd recommend waiting until you're out of the room—because now they'll just wait until you forget and assign it to you anyway."
And Yao, red-faced and thoroughly outmaneuvered, could only mumble, "I hate all of you," while the three of them tried—unsuccessfully—not to laugh.
The polished click of Madam Lu's heels echoed with quiet authority as they made their way toward the elevators, her arm still loosely looped around Yao's, who, despite trying to maintain her composure, was slowly inching closer to the desperate need to disappear.
Sicheng walked a half step behind them, hands tucked into the pockets of his tailored jacket, the controlled weight of his presence as casual as ever—until he glanced down at Yao and asked, with maddening calmness: "So, Xiǎo Tùzǐ. Why do you want to avoid Su Luo?"
Yao froze as she paused Mid-step, right there in the corridor, her entire frame tensed like a small animal caught in a trap. Her grip on her folder tightened, her face went from pale to red in seconds, and than, she bolted. Pivoted on her heel like a silent assassin and made a break for the nearest stairwell, her only goal: escape.
Sicheng didn't even blink, he just sighed, muttered something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like, "Predictable." and in a single smooth motion, reached out and grabbed the back of her blazer. "Nice try, Xiǎo tùzǐ."
Yao let out a soft, pained groan, her forward momentum cut off instantly as he reeled her back effortlessly, and she sagged against his hold before slowly burying her face into her notepad with all the solemnity of a small creature who had accepted defeat. "…Don't make me say it." she mumbled, her voice muffled by the paper.
Sicheng arched a brow. "Already made you stop. You might as well explain it now."
Madam Lu was now standing just ahead, her back to them, but Yao didn't miss the slight tilt of her head—a sign she was very much listening.
With a soft, miserable whimper, Yao finally lifted her head just enough to mutter through gritted teeth: "…She flirts with me."
A pause.
Sicheng blinked. "…Excuse me?"
Yao, face now crimson, clutched her notepad tighter like it might shield her from the conversation. "A lot," she added weakly, as if each word hurt her soul. "She swings both ways. She thinks I'm cute and—she calls me 'Kitten.'"
Dead silence.
Sicheng stopped walking entirely.
Madam Lu's shoulders began to visibly shake, though she said nothing—too graceful to laugh outright, but the energy around her said plenty.
Sicheng turned his head slowly, staring at Yao with that unreadable expression that he only wore when his thoughts had officially derailed. "…She calls you what?"
Yao was now trying to press her burning face into the folder itself. "Kitten." She groaned again. "Please don't make me repeat it a third time. I already want to dissolve into the floor."
Madam Lu, without turning around, finally spoke in a voice laced with amusement. "Well, now I understand why you'd rather avoid her. Though I must say, her taste is immaculate."
Sicheng made a low noise that may or may not have been him choking on a curse, and for once, he didn't have a comeback. He simply resumed walking toward the elevator in silence, his hand still gently holding the back of Yao's blazer like he didn't quite trust her not to try a second escape.
Yao followed reluctantly, muttering under her breath, "I told you she was the opposite of Jia Qi…"
Sicheng didn't respond. But his fingers tensed slightly, and the next time someone so much as mentioned Su Luo's name, it was very likely they were going to find themselves on the receiving end of his most territorial glare. Because one thing was clear now. No one, not even another woman, was allowed to call his Xiǎo Tùzǐ 'Kitten.'