The Great Escape from the Bloodsucking Capitalist: Love and Shrimp Dumplings

I placed my resignation letter on Gu Yan’s desk with a decisive swish, the sound of the paper like a declaration of war.

“Boss, I quit. I want to go back to my hometown and raise pigs.”

Gu Yan, the powerful CEO, was approving documents, his hand with the expensive fountain pen pausing in mid-air. He looked up. His face, handsome enough to tempt sin yet cold enough to make one flee, appeared before me.

He looked at me, then at the letter. A mocking, familiar smirk curled on his lips—a smirk I had endured for three years.

“Jiang Ning, have you thought this through? Raising pigs? With your IQ, I fear the pigs might trick you into selling yourself without you knowing.”

I clenched my teeth. This bloodsucking capitalist! For three years, I’ve worked myself to the bone for him. From scheduling meetings and hosting clients to choosing birthday gifts for his mother, and even walking his silly Husky, I was completely exhausted.

“Thank you for your concern, Boss,” I retorted, my voice flat. “But the pigs in my hometown are gentle, unlike some people in expensive suits and leather shoes.”

Gu Yan narrowed his eyes. The familiar low-pressure front began to emanate, signaling an impending storm. He picked up my letter, examined it for a moment, and then… tore it in half!

“Rejected! Why?” I yelled.

“The reason is not justified,” Gu Yan said leisurely, his gaze arrogant. “Furthermore, the Koi fish in the office tank only eats the food you drop. If you leave, and it starves, what then? Compensation? That fish is 200,000 Yuan.”

I glared at the fish tank in the corner. That fat Koi, swimming merrily, was a picky eater? Yesterday, I saw it snapping at a fallen leaf!

“Boss Gu, I’m serious. I’m almost 26. My mother in my hometown is pressuring me to marry. I need to go back and attend blind dates.” I unleashed my killer move.

The air in the room suddenly froze. Gu Yan shot up from his seat, the chair scraping backward with a jarring clatter. He rounded the desk and advanced toward me. His imposing $1.88\text{m}$ height overwhelmed me, causing me to involuntarily back up until my spine hit the cold wall.

“Blind dates? You want to get married?”

“Of… of course. It’s natural for men and women of age to marry.”

Gu Yan trapped me against the wall, his hand braced right beside my ear. His cool, signature cedarwood scent enveloped my senses.

“Who gave you permission to go on blind dates?” he growled. “Is the salary I pay not high enough? You think the company’s benefits are poor? It’s not about money! I’ll double your salary.”

I swallowed hard. “Boss, the issue is triple the salary, plus an apartment in the city center.”

My integrity wavered violently. But the image of my elderly mother back home, waiting for me with a feather duster, appeared in my mind. No, I couldn’t sell myself to capitalism forever. Besides, I heard rumors that Gu Yan was about to be engaged to Miss Lin, the daughter of a wealthy family. Why should I stay? To watch them show affection and break my heart?

Yes, I liked Gu Yan. I had a crush on this annoying CEO for three years. That was the real reason I wanted to quit.

“Money can’t buy happiness, Boss. I will resign next month. According to labor law, I only need to give 30 days’ notice.”

With that, I turned and fled, leaving Gu Yan standing there, his face as dark as the bottom of a wok.

I thought that after my bold declaration, Gu Yan would hold a grudge and fire me immediately. But no. A capitalist is still a capitalist. He decided to squeeze every last drop of labor out of me during these final 30 days.

The next morning, I arrived at the office, and before I could even sit down, the intercom buzzed loudly: “Jiang Ning, my office.”

I took a deep breath, grabbed my notebook, and walked in. Gu Yan was leaning back in his chair, fiddling with a crystal paperweight, his expression emotionless.

“What are you wearing today?” He scanned me from head to toe.

I looked down. It was the same beige office dress as always—modest, professional. “It’s the company uniform, Boss.”

“This color is glaring to my eyes. Change it.”

“Boss Gu, this is beige, not reflective neon.” I struggled to suppress my anger.

“I’m in a bad mood, and everything I look at seems glaring,” Gu Yan said with utter absurdity, then tossed a thick stack of documents at me. “Translate this into French, German, and Arabic. It must be finished before noon.”

“Boss, I’m a secretary, not Google Translate powered by a human.”

“Triple the salary.” He smirked, uttering those three golden words.

I silently took the documents and left. Fine, I’ll endure.

That afternoon, he video-called me while I was eating lunch. The screen showed the massive canine face of Ngao Ngao, the Husky, lying sprawled on the floor, eyes dull, looking as if it were near death.

“What’s wrong with Ngao Ngao?” I was startled, the bite of rice caught in my throat.

Gu Yan’s voice came from behind the camera, sounding deeply sorrowful. “It’s on a hunger strike. Hasn’t eaten since morning, just whimpers. The vet said it has separation anxiety. It misses you.”

“Misses me? I walked it just yesterday!”

“A dog’s memory is short. For it, one day without seeing you is like a century.” Gu Yan reached out and stroked the dog’s head. Ngao Ngao immediately let out a pitiful whine. “Look how skinny it’s gotten. If you quit, I might have to cremate it along with you.”

“I’ll come visit it after work this afternoon,” I conceded.

“Good. Remember to buy the imported German sausages it likes. Oh, and while you’re at it, get me a box of shrimp and pork dumplings from Wang Ji’s shop. No spring onions, extra vinegar.”

“Does the Boss also have separation anxiety that he needs dumplings?”

“I’m eating them for the dog.” Gu Yan hung up with a click.

I stared at the black screen, my mouth twitching. Fine, using the dog as a hostage. Gu Yan, you are truly the most despicable person on Earth.

Rumors of Gu Yan’s impending engagement to Lin Jia grew louder. This morning, even an economic magazine published photos of them attending a charity auction together. In the photo, Lin Jia wore a stunning evening gown, standing beside the handsome and debonair Gu Yan—truly a match made in heaven. I looked at the newspaper, feeling as if my chest was stuffed with cotton, struggling to breathe. Perhaps my decision to leave was the right one. Staying here, I would only be a minor supporting character in their glamorous love story.

“Jiang Ning, come with me.” Gu Yan suddenly appeared, interrupting my pessimistic thoughts. He tossed his car keys to me.

I drove him to the city’s most exclusive shopping mall. Gu Yan walked straight into the Harry Winston jewelry store.

“CEO Gu, the custom-designed ring is complete,” the manager respectfully presented a luxurious dark blue velvet box.

My heart tightened. A custom-designed ring—it must be the engagement ring. Gu Yan opened the box. Inside was a pear-shaped diamond ring, surrounded by tiny, exquisite stones. Breathtakingly beautiful, and… breathtakingly painful.

“Is it beautiful?” Gu Yan turned to ask me, a hint of expectation in his eyes.

“It’s very beautiful. Miss Lin will definitely love it.” I tried to keep my voice from trembling.

Gu Yan frowned, the smile fading from his lips. He stared at me for a long time, his complicated gaze making me afraid to look him in the eye.

“Give me your left hand.”

“Huh?”

“I said, give me your hand. Your hand size is similar to hers. Try it on to see if it fits.”

I was stunned. So, he brought me here just to be a stand-in for the ring fitting. A surge of bitterness spread throughout my limbs. I wanted to refuse, to yell at him, but three years of obedience made me instinctively hold out my hand.

Gu Yan took my hand. His hand was warm, in stark contrast to the coldness in my heart. He gently slid the ring onto my ring finger. It fit perfectly, as if it were born to be mine.

Gu Yan stared blankly at my hand with the ring on it. His thumb unconsciously stroked the back of my hand. “Perfect fit,” he murmured, his voice husky. “Your hand is prettier than I thought.”

I quickly withdrew my hand, pulling the ring off as if touching hot coal. “A perfect fit is great. Congratulations, Boss.” I placed the ring back on the velvet tray, stepping back to create distance.

Gu Yan looked at his empty hand, then at me. His face suddenly became terrifyingly grim. “Wrap it up,” he ordered the staff coldly, not looking at the ring again.

To prove my resolve to leave, I pressured HR to hire a new person immediately. Gu Yan stopped interfering, but his attitude became increasingly erratic.

The new employee was a recently graduated student named Xiao Hui—pretty, naive, with big, sparkling eyes, exactly the type found in low-budget CEO novels. The only problem was her work ability… oh dear!

“Xiao Hui, the boss’s coffee must not have sugar.”

“Yes, Boss.”

Five minutes later, Gu Yan spat a mouthful of coffee onto the floor. “Is this sugar water or coffee? Do you want me to die of diabetes so you can inherit the company?”

The climax came during the meeting with the German partner on Friday afternoon. I had tasked Xiao Hui with preparing the presentation materials. I repeatedly reminded her to check the data, especially the currency conversion.

The meeting began. Gu Yan, poised and elegant, stood up to present, and the projection screen turned on.

First slide: Cooperative Development Project. Budget: 500 Yuan.

The entire conference room fell silent. The German partner stared, then turned to the translator to ask if he had misread it. $500\text{ Yuan}$ wouldn’t even buy enough vegetables, let alone a real estate project.

Gu Yan froze on the podium. Sitting below, I felt the blood rush to my head. I quickly checked Xiao Hui’s original file on her computer. It turned out she had used Google Translate, and it automatically converted “million euro” into $500\text{ Yuan}$ or some nonsense that she hadn’t bothered to double-check.

The meeting was adjourned for 15 minutes. Gu Yan roared, his voice echoing throughout the floor.

In his private office, Xiao Hui was crying hysterically. “I’m sorry, sob sob, I didn’t mean to.”

Gu Yan didn’t look at her. He looked at me, his eyes bloodshot, veins throbbing on his forehead.

“Jiang Ning, you explain this.”

“It’s my fault. I was negligent for not checking it one last time.” I stood in front of Xiao Hui. After all, I was her mentor; I had to take responsibility.

“Yes, it’s your fault!” Gu Yan suddenly exploded. He slammed the stack of documents onto the floor, papers scattering like summer snow. “You are only focused on leaving! Your head is now filled with raising pigs and blind dates! You abandoned your responsibilities, abandoned the company, abandoned my trust!”

Xiao Hui gasped in fear and fainted.

“Boss Gu, calm down. I’ll fix it right away.”

“Fix what?” Gu Yan strode forward and grabbed my shoulder, his grip so strong it hurt. “Jiang Ning, do you hate me that much? Do you want to leave me so badly that you don’t mind destroying everything?”

The distance was too close. I could smell the mint mixed with cigarette smoke on him, and the deep, profound pain in his eyes.

I was stunned. What was he saying? Destroy the company? I just wanted to quit. “I didn’t mean that,” I weakly defended myself.

“Get out!” Gu Yan released me, stepping back, leaning against his desk as if he had lost all strength. His voice was hoarse. “Take her and get out!”

I looked at him, my chest aching. This was the first time Gu Yan had ever kicked me out. I helped Xiao Hui out and closed the door.

Inside the office, there was the sound of crashing objects. Gu Yan was smashing things. I wiped my tears, took out my phone, and texted my mother.

“Mom, I’m coming home this weekend. Please arrange the blind date.”

I gave up. Goodbye, Gu Yan. Goodbye, my foolish unrequited love.

---

I took a leave of absence to go home for the weekend. My mother, indeed a powerful woman, had arranged a blind date for me at the most luxurious restaurant in the small town—the Happy Beef Hotpot Restaurant.

My date was Chen Ming, a young dentist with gold-rimmed glasses who looked very intellectual and clean.

“Hello, I heard from your auntie that you work as a secretary in the big city? Must be a lot of pressure, right?” Chen Ming poured tea for me attentively. He spoke gently, without being picky or nitpicky. He was truly an angel compared to the devil Gu Yan.

“It’s alright, just that my boss is a bit… well, has some neurological issues.”

The atmosphere was harmonious and romantic, like a Korean drama. I began dreaming of a house and children, free from the daily roar for coffee.

Suddenly, the restaurant door burst open. A blast of cold air rushed in, making everyone slurping their hotpot look up.

Gu Yan walked in.

Today, he wasn’t wearing a suit, but a black, knee-length trench coat, and dark sunglasses despite the cloudy weather. Behind him were two tall, muscular bodyguards. He looked less like he was out for hotpot and more like a Hong Kong mafia boss settling territory disputes.

I choked on my tea, coughing violently. What the heck was he doing here? This obscure little town was $300\text{ km}$ from the city!

Gu Yan took off his sunglasses, scanned the restaurant, and “accidentally” saw me. He smirked, took long strides, and walked closer.

“Well, well, Secretary Jiang. What a coincidence, are you also here for hotpot?”

“Boss Gu, why are you here?”

“Market research,” Gu Yan said nonchalantly. Without waiting for an invitation, he pulled up a chair and sat right next to me, wedging himself between me and Chen Ming. “And this gentleman is?”

“I am her boss,” Gu Yan declared with a chin lift, then turned to me, his gaze sharp. “Introduce us, Jiang Ning. Where are your basic manners?”

I gritted my teeth. “This is Mr. Chen, my future boyfriend.”

When Gu Yan heard the words “future boyfriend,” the chopsticks in his hand made a sharp crack and broke in two. He smiled—a cold smile that seemed to chill the boiling hotpot.

“Hello, Doctor Chen. I hear you’re a dentist; your income must be stable, right?” Gu Yan began his interrogation.

Chen Ming adjusted his glasses, slightly intimidated by Gu Yan’s aura. “Yes, enough to live on.”

Gu Yan raised his voice, a look of utter astonishment on his face. “That’s only about what I spend on my Husky’s snacks in a day.”

Chen Ming’s face went pale. I quickly kicked Gu Yan under the table. “Shut up!”

Not only did Gu Yan not shut up, he turned and patted Chen Ming’s shoulder like they were two understanding men. “Doctor Chen, I’m giving you honest advice. Raising Jiang Ning is expensive. She looks delicate, but she eats three full bowls of rice per meal, not to mention milk tea and pastries. Her clothes must be silk, her cosmetics high-end. With your salary, I’m afraid you’d have to sell your clinic just to support her for a month.”

“I don’t!” I yelled. “I eat very modestly!”

“Modestly?” Gu Yan raised an eyebrow. “Then who was it who maxed out my credit card last month for a handbag? Ah, you made me buy that for my mother’s birthday. And who snores as loud as thunder, preventing me from sleeping when we travel together?”

“I have never slept in the same room as you!”

“And the bad habit of grinding her teeth, watching her phone while eating, and being lazy about showering.” Gu Yan rattled off a long list of my alleged bad habits, seven parts fabricated, three parts exaggerated.

Chen Ming’s face was utterly drained of color, looking at me as if I were a monster in human skin.

Finally, Gu Yan concluded with a very tycoon-like gesture. “Waiter, bring the menu. Bring me the most expensive dishes. Today, I’m treating. Consider it a farewell gift for a former employee who is about to get married.”

The meal was a disaster. Chen Ming excused himself for an emergency surgery and fled, forgetting to pay his share. I sat alone by the hotpot, facing Gu Yan, who was calmly dipping beef, wearing a triumphant expression as if he had just signed a billion-dollar contract.

---

After that epic sabotage, I officially declared a cold war against Gu Yan. Back at the company, I didn’t say a word to him outside of work.

Coffee? I put the cup down with a clank. Documents? I tossed the files onto the desk. Schedule? I sent an email, refusing to report verbally.

Gu Yan knew he was wrong, but he refused to concede. He looked at me with a resentful gaze all day, occasionally sighing or deliberately coughing to get my attention, but I acted as if I didn’t hear him.

By Wednesday afternoon, Gu Yan tossed a travel itinerary at me. “Pack your bags. Tomorrow, we are going to inspect the resort project on Jade Mountain.”

I glanced at the paper. “You go alone, Boss, or take Xiao Hui. I’m about to quit; I’m not going on a business trip anymore.”

“You’ve been tracking this contract since last year. Only you know the data, the terrain, and the partners best,” Gu Yan said in a businesslike tone, his face unusually serious. “This is the final task. Once this trip is over, I will sign your resignation letter immediately.”

I paused. “Really? A gentleman’s word?”

Gu Yan looked me straight in the eye. “I won’t keep someone whose heart is no longer here. After this trip, I will release you.” His words carried a hint of sadness that weighed down my heart.

Fine. It was my passion project, after all. Completing it before leaving would give me peace of mind. “Okay, I’ll go.”

The next morning, the gleaming black Maybach rolled out of the bustling city, heading toward the desolate Jade Mountain region. This time, there was no driver; Gu Yan was driving himself. I sat in the passenger seat, wearing headphones, gazing out the window, determined not to interact.

The mountain road was winding, with vast pine forests on both sides. The higher we climbed, the thicker the fog became. The silence in the car was so profound that I could clearly hear the low rumble of the engine and the patter of rain beginning to fall on the roof.

“Still mad at me about the other day?” Gu Yan suddenly broke the silence.

I took one earphone out. “I wouldn’t dare. The boss is my savior, helping me realize the true face of Doctor Chen. I should thank you.”

Gu Yan scoffed lightly. “That guy isn’t right for you. That gold-rimmed glasses look screams kibo (stingy). If you marry him, he’ll probably make you split the grocery bill down to the last penny.”

“That’s my problem. Kibo is fine, as long as he’s not mentally unstable.”

“Jiang Ning, are you indirectly insulting me?”

“I’m insulting you directly.”

Gu Yan was speechless. He gripped the steering wheel tightly, veins bulging, seemingly struggling to suppress his anger, or perhaps some stronger emotion.

Just then, the sky suddenly poured down rain. The jungle storm hit unexpectedly and fiercely. The wipers worked at full speed, but visibility was still poor.

“Jiang Ning, check the GPS, how much further?” Gu Yan asked, his voice tense.

I checked my phone. “No signal. But from memory, it’s about $20\text{ km}$ to the rest stop.”

“Damn it!” Gu Yan cursed.

Suddenly, with a loud CRASH, the car violently swerved and then lurched to a halt. White smoke billowed faintly from the front. Gu Yan slammed the brakes. The car skidded briefly and stopped right on the edge of the cliff.

“Wh-what happened?” I screamed, my face white, gripping the door handle tightly.

“Flat tire or burst radiator hose,” Gu Yan punched the steering wheel. He turned to look at me, his eyes full of worry. “Are you okay?”

“I… I’m fine, just a little heart attack.”

Gu Yan sighed in relief. He unbuckled his seatbelt and leaned over to check my forehead and limbs for any injuries. His action was so natural, as if he had done it a thousand times. “Stay put. I’m going out to check.”

He grabbed the umbrella and rushed out into the pouring rain. His tall figure in the grey downpour looked lonely, and yet… dependable.

The situation was worse than we thought. The car was severely damaged, there was no phone signal, and the sky had darkened due to the storm. We were stranded in the middle of a remote mountain road, without a soul in sight.

“It can’t be fixed,” Gu Yan returned to the car, completely soaked, rainwater running down his gelled hair and onto his handsome face, which was now pale from the cold. “We have to find shelter. Sitting in the car so close to the cliff is too dangerous; a landslide could take us down.”

We decided to abandon the car and walk to find a house. Gu Yan held the umbrella over me with one hand and carried both our luggage with the other. He tilted the umbrella entirely toward me, while he bore the brunt of the wind and rain.

After walking about two kilometers on the slippery forest path, my feet started to blister from wearing high heels. “Ah!” I slipped, nearly falling face-first into a puddle of mud.

Gu Yan quickly grabbed my waist, pulling me into his arms. “I told you that people with low IQ are clumsy.” He scolded, but his voice was filled with concern.

Without saying a word, Gu Yan turned and squatted down in front of me. “Get on. I’ll carry you. Hurry up. I’m freezing to death here.”

I hesitated for a moment, then climbed onto his back. Gu Yan’s back was broad and warm. The familiar cedarwood scent mixed with the damp smell of rain created a strange sense of security.

He carried me quickly along the muddy road, not forgetting to taunt me. “Jiang Ning, are you eating boulders these days? Why are you as heavy as a pig?”

“Shut up! I only weigh $48\text{ kg}$!” I gently punched his shoulder. Tears suddenly welled up, mixing with the rain. Did this man love me or hate me?

---

Finally, we found a small wooden house hidden behind a bamboo grove. It was a budget inn for backpackers. The plump indigenous landlady looked at us with pity.

“The rain is heavy. You two are lucky. Only one room left.”

“One room?” Gu Yan and I said in unison.

“Yes. Few guests this season, so I closed some rooms to save cleaning. Take it or leave it.”

Gu Yan looked at me, shivering from the cold, and nodded decisively.

We took the tiny room, which had only a narrow single bed, a wooden table, and a minuscule bathroom.

“You shower first,” I sat huddled on the edge of the bed, feeling extremely awkward.

“You shower first. Your resistance is poor; if you get sick, I’ll have to take care of you.” Gu Yan pushed me into the bathroom, tossing me a dry towel.

When I finished showering and stepped out, Gu Yan was standing by the window, looking out at the pitch-black rain. He had taken off his soaked coat, wearing only a thin white shirt that clung to his body, revealing faintly defined, firm muscles. The sight was too visually stimulating.

“It’s your turn,” I whispered. I was wearing the pajamas I brought (thankfully, the luggage wasn’t wet), my wet hair hung long, and my makeup-free face was flushed from the hot steam.

Gu Yan’s Adam’s apple moved up and down. His eyes darkened, deep as an abyss. He said nothing, quietly walking into the bathroom.

Outside, thunder boomed. The electricity in the room suddenly went out.

“Ah!” I screamed instinctively; I was afraid of the dark.

The bathroom door burst open. Gu Yan rushed out, wearing only a towel wrapped around his waist, water still dripping from his hair.

“What’s wrong? What happened?” He rushed to the bed and embraced me.

“The… the power went out.” I trembled, clinging tightly to his bare arm.

“It’s okay, I’m here.” Gu Yan patted my back to reassure me.

In the dark, our breaths mingled. His body was hot like a furnace pressed against mine. The cramped space and the explosion of masculine hormones fogged my mind.

When I finally calmed down, I realized how intimate our position was. I was nestled in Gu Yan’s arms on the cramped single bed. His arms were tightly wrapped around my waist; his bare chest was pressed against my back.

“Boss, you can let go now,” I squirmed.

“Don’t move.” Gu Yan tightened his grip, his voice hoarse. “It’s cold. Hug for warmth.”

“But… men and women should not touch…”

“Jiang Ning.” Gu Yan suddenly called my name, his voice unusually serious. “Why do you want to marry Chen Ming? What does he have that’s better than me?”

I sighed in the dark. “He’s normal. He gives me a sense of security. He doesn’t scold me, doesn’t ask me to make coffee at 3 AM. And most importantly, he doesn’t have a fiancée.”

Gu Yan was silent for a long time. “I don’t have a fiancée.”

“The rumors are everywhere, and you even bought a ring for her!” I laughed bitterly.

Gu Yan suddenly turned me around, pinning me face-up on the bed. He propped his hands on either side of my head and leaned down, his hot breath fanning my face. Although I couldn’t see his face clearly in the dark, I could feel the intensity in his eyes.

“You are such an idiot.” He gritted his teeth. “I bought that ring for you. I used the excuse of asking you to try it on because I wanted to see if it fit you. As for Lin Jia, she is my distant cousin. She likes girls. I was with her that day only to help her deceive her family.”

I was stunned. This information was too much to process. “You… are you telling the truth?”

“Why would I lie to you? Will lying to you increase my stock value?” Gu Yan growled, his tone both angry and aggrieved. “Have you not realized how I’ve treated you for the past three years? I’m picky, I’m difficult with everyone. But you are the only one I’ve indulged. I kept you working overtime because I wanted to see you. I forced you to travel with me because I didn’t want to go alone. When you asked to resign, do you know how panicked I was?”

Gu Yan leaned closer. His forehead touched mine. His voice trembled. “Jiang Ning, I’m going insane. I’m going insane with jealousy when I see you smile at another man. I’m going insane thinking about you belonging to someone else, cooking for someone else, having children with someone else. I can’t bear it.”

Tears streamed down my face, wetting the pillow. So, I wasn’t the only one with unrequited love. It turned out this sharp-tongued CEO also loved me, in the most clumsy and childish way.

“Then why didn’t you say so sooner?” I sobbed, hitting his chest. “You kept scolding me, you kept torturing me, how was I supposed to know?”

“Because I was scared,” Gu Yan confessed, his voice growing softer. “I was scared you would refuse. I was scared you only saw me as your boss. I was scared of losing you.”

The most powerful man in the business world, the man who could summon fire and smoke, was now trembling and confessing his fear in front of me.

“You idiot!” I laughed and cried at the same time, wrapping my arms around his neck. “You’re the real idiot. Who is $1.88\text{m}$ tall but has negative infinity IQ!”

Gu Yan froze for a second, then seized his chance. He pressed: “What does that mean? You don’t hate me?”

“I hate… I hate you very much,” I whispered, my fingers threading through his damp hair. “But I love you more.”

Like a fuse lit to a powder keg, Gu Yan leaned down, claiming my mouth with a passionate and possessive kiss. No longer boss and employee, it was just a man and a woman who desired each other in the stormy night.

“Ning Ning, I’m hungry. I want to eat you.” He whispered. “Be good. Don’t think about sleeping tonight.”

The next morning, when the sunlight filtered through the cracks of the decaying wooden window and hit my eyes, I slowly woke up. The first sensation was pain—my waist was sore, my body was weak. The second sensation was weight. A strong arm was draped heavily over my stomach. And Gu Yan’s head was nestled in the hollow of my neck, sleeping soundly like a child.

I carefully tried to remove his arm to sneak into the bathroom, but as soon as I moved, his arm tightened.

“Where are you going?” Gu Yan’s hoarse, sleepy voice sounded right next to my ear.

“I… I need to use the bathroom.”

Gu Yan opened one eye, stared at me, then unexpectedly kissed my cheek with a peck. “Good morning, girlfriend.”

I froze.

“Planning to wipe your mouth and run after you’ve eaten?” Gu Yan narrowed his eyes, a dangerous look on his face. “If you dare to run, I’ll print your photos and paste them all over the Gu Corporation building. With the caption: ‘Fugitive Heartbreaker’.”

“Are you crazy?” I blushed scarlet.

Gu Yan laughed, a rare, radiant smile that made his handsome face dazzling. He rubbed his head against my shoulder playfully, “Ning Ning, I’m hungry. Do I want to eat you?”—He corrected himself: “Oops, I mean, eat breakfast.”

Where was the cold, ruthless CEO from before? Why had he turned into a giant, clingy Husky?

Back in the city, Gu Yan’s attitude had undergone a $180^\circ$ change. In front of the employees, he maintained his cold demeanor. But in his private office, he turned into a shamelessly clingy man.

My office chair was removed. Instead, he placed a small desk right next to his own.

“It’s closer this way for easier work discussion,” he explained nonchalantly.

However, a stone still weighed heavily in my heart: Lin Jia. Although Gu Yan had explained, the engagement rumors had not been publicly refuted. The media was still buzzing with news. And most importantly, tonight was the annual business dinner, where Lin Jia would certainly appear.

---

Next Step: Would you like me to finalize and present only the English version, or the Vietnamese version, or both?