Chapter 1

When I suddenly gained the ability to read minds, I discovered that my cold, ruthless boss was secretly an affectionate puppy.

【I've undone three buttons already—why isn't my wife looking at me?】

【I'm wearing a whole new outfit—why hasn't my wife told me I'm handsome?】

【I want to eat at my wife's place this weekend, but I can't think of an excuse! This is torture!】

【Six years of having her right here, and I still haven't won her over. Sob!】

I looked at the calm, composed man in front of me and began to wonder whether someone had switched him out.

01

I first noticed something wrong that morning.

Sitting in the front passenger seat, I suddenly heard a voice.

【Hehe. My wife looks as pretty as ever today.】

I glanced at Assistant Zhou, who was driving in silence, then looked at Lu Ye in the rearview mirror.

I put it down to exhaustion. I'd worked too hard yesterday and was hearing things.

But when we entered the elevator, I heard it again.

【Damn Zhou You. Standing that close to my wife? I'm docking his bonus.】

This time, I knew I hadn't imagined it.

I studied Lu Ye's back.

Wife?

In his office, I held my iPad and went through his schedule for the day.

And then...

【My wife's lips look so soft. So red and full. I want to kiss her.】

【She's got such a lovely figure. When do I get to put my arms around her waist? Or curl up in her arms?】

I faltered and looked at Lu Ye, lounging in his chair with a dark expression.

He had striking features, sharply defined contours, straight brows and cool eyes. Everything about him seemed distant.

He raised his head, his lips parting slightly.

"Ms. Yu? Something wrong?"

I came back to myself, apologized and continued.

【First time my wife's ever been so distracted looking at me at work. Why does that make me so happy?】

A tiny flicker of amusement flashed in his dark eyes.

So quickly I almost missed it.

Once I'd finished, I left his office and returned to my desk.

I sat there, gazing toward his door, lost in thought.

Discovering that your taciturn, icy boss had a secret crush on you...

It was a very strange feeling.

Eventually, I shook my head and forced myself back to work.

An hour later, we were in the conference room.

Every department head looked tense. They watched Lu Ye as though facing a mortal enemy, cold sweat gathering on their foreheads.

He tapped the table with a fingertip, again and again. Every comment cut straight to the heart of a problem.

But beneath that stern exterior...

【What excuse can I use to get my wife to have lunch with me?】

【Ugh, work is boring. Still, I've got to earn formula money for our future son.】

Planning ahead, weren't we?

"Mr. Lu?"

"Nothing. Go on."

After the meeting, everyone filed out. I followed Lu Ye to his office.

"Mr. Lu, shall I order your usual lunch, or—"

"A new restaurant's opened nearby. Let's try it."

He glanced at me as though the suggestion were casual, but the slight curl of his fingers gave away his nerves.

【Please, please, please say yes.】

【My fragile little heart can't take my wife turning me down.】

"All right. I'll book a table."

Lu Ye nodded. His lips curved in a secret smile, amusement softening his brows.

【Yes! She said yes!】

02

We sat in the restaurant.

I had to admit, the food was excellent.

Apparently, following a rich boss really did mean eating well.

I tucked in enthusiastically.

【My wife's so cute when she eats. There's a grain of rice at the corner of her mouth. How do I tell her without embarrassing her?】

I immediately reached for a tissue.

Message received.

After wiping my mouth, I looked at him.

"Thank you."

Lu Ye frowned slightly.

I hastily added, "For lunch, Mr. Lu."

He hid his smile behind his teacup.

"Then have some more, Ms. Yu."

After eating our fill, we walked through the mall on our way back to the office.

【That's pretty. My wife would look gorgeous in it.】

I followed his gaze.

A very sexy black silk nightdress with thin straps.

【The one beside it, too. That would suit her.】

Um... that one was red lace.

My face burned as I stared at his back.

Lecher.

This man was far too good at pretending to be respectable.

As we walked, a little boy came charging toward us.

I stepped aside, twisted my ankle and lost my balance.

Before I could fall, Lu Ye pulled me into his arms.

The boy's mother hurried over, apologizing repeatedly.

Before I could speak, Lu Ye fixed the child with an icy stare.

The boy hid behind his mother.

I tugged his sleeve.

"It's all right. He didn't mean it. Mr. Lu, you're going to make him cry."

Only then did he reluctantly look away.

I drew a quiet breath. The pain in my ankle was getting worse.

Lu Ye frowned and swept me up.

I could only grab his shoulders before he carried me to a bench.

"Stay here. I'll get something for it," he said quietly.

He left before I could answer.

Ten minutes or so later, he returned.

Crouching in front of me, he gently removed my high heel, poured medicated oil into his palms and rubbed them together.

I tried to draw my foot away, but he held it and began massaging the oil into my ankle.

I kept curling my foot back.

"Mr. Lu, this isn't appropriate. There are people everywhere."

"What's inappropriate about it? Besides, I'm your boss."

I could only lower my head, blushing.

Around us, people murmured enviously.

When he'd finished, he took out a new pair of flats for me.

Looking at the top of his head, I felt a mixture of tenderness and ache.

He really was good to me. Apart from my grandmother, nobody had ever treated me better.

My voice was rough as I thanked him.

He nodded.

Then he wanted to carry me back.

I refused firmly.

So he sulked.

【Why so stubborn? Hmph.】

【What's wrong with letting me carry her? I'm not going to take advantage.】

【I mean, I WANT to get handsy with my wife. But I'd restrain myself!】

For all his inward grumbling, he slowed down to wait for me.

I limped along behind him.

Suddenly, this tall man seemed inexplicably adorable.

That evening, Lu Ye had a business dinner.

As his secretary, I accompanied him throughout.

At one point, someone offered to arrange hostesses for him.

He refused at once, his expression cold.

Then he glanced quietly at me for several seconds before lowering his eyes.

【I'm the very model of a good man. Doesn't my wife think I deserve praise?】

【Does she really not care about me? Why isn't she jealous? Shouldn't she have refused for me straightaway?】

He silently held his glass and glared resentfully at the bald, potbellied men.

【All these years, and I still haven't won her over. You're at least partly to blame.】

Sitting in a dim corner, I glanced at Lu Ye. A small, secret happiness rose inside me.

I stole another look, my lips curving without my noticing.

Who would have thought this outwardly calm, steady man had such a rich inner life?

Rich to the point of being... exuberant.

After several rounds, everyone was tipsy.

A few people who couldn't read the room began teasing us.

"You've been with Mr. Lu seven years now, haven't you, Ms. Yu?"

I smiled and nodded.

Ignoring Lu Ye's increasingly dark face, the man continued suggestively.

"Impressive woman, Ms. Yu. Beautiful, capable, and so devoted to Mr. Lu."

I smiled faintly and deflected.

"You're too kind, Mr. Li. Just doing my job."

It wasn't the first time someone had misunderstood our relationship.

I'd met him at the lowest point in my life.

I remembered the heavy rain that day.

His car had stopped right in front of me.

I sat huddled inside, bedraggled and embarrassed.

The Maybach was understated luxury. I couldn't have looked more out of place.

He didn't ask questions. Like an ordinary gentleman, he quietly drove me home.

Just before I opened the door, he handed me a job offer.

I looked at him in confusion.

A week earlier, I'd still been working for his competitor.

He glanced at me and explained, "You're very good at your work, Ms. Yu. I admire that."

Just like that, I became his secretary.

And stayed for seven years.

In that time, I'd met his family and friends.

I'd accompanied him to business dinners and attended parties as his date.

People watched us with knowing, curious eyes. There was no shortage of teasing.

I never explained. Lu Ye, my employer, never did either.

I'd assumed he simply didn't care about the rumors.

Now, though, it seemed he might have had a private reason.

After my answer to Mr. Li, Lu Ye looked straight at me.

Uncomfortable, I turned away and tried to ignore the emotion in his eyes.

He drank one glass after another, his mouth drooping slightly.

That night, I helped him home.

The corners of his eyes were flushed crimson. He looked at me with a damp, unfocused gaze.

I pressed him down onto the sofa.

"Wait here. I'll get you something for the alcohol."

He caught my fingers and wouldn't let go.

Looking at the thoroughly drunk man before me, I felt my temples begin to throb.

Still, I sighed softly and pulled my hand free.

He pouted, his wounded eyes following me.

【I feel this awful, and my wife won't even hug me.】

【She's so fierce. But it's not as though I've earned the right to act spoiled.】

When I set the medicine in front of him, he was still pouting, sitting obediently on the sofa like an enormous dog.

I hadn't expected to run into Shen Lin at the hospital.

He was patiently comforting his daughter, his voice as gentle as ever.

After all these years, he seemed unchanged. Still the older student in the white shirt I remembered.

I stared at his back, momentarily lost in thought.

Seven years had passed. Saying his name again no longer brought quite the same bitter ache.

"Youyou?"

He looked at me in surprise.

I answered softly, out of courtesy.

"Are you here to see a doctor? On your own?"

I nodded, then shook my head.

The little girl clung to her father's neck and eyed me warily.

She reminded me so much of her mother that I couldn't help smiling.

After a silence, he said, "Don't kick off your quilt at night. You'll catch cold."

Coming from him, it was an invitation to misunderstanding.

Everything had changed. He was someone's husband now. Someone's father.

I changed the subject.

"I know. Thank you for your concern."

Holding his daughter, he looked as though he had more to say.

I'd just turned away when a sharp voice rang out.

"Yu You."

"Mommy!"

The little girl brightened and reached eagerly for the newcomer.

Trouble. Getting away wouldn't be easy now.

Ji Shu glared at me and pressed close to Shen Lin, staking her claim.

Seven years, and she was still this childish.

"What a coincidence, Ms. Yu."

"Indeed, Ms. Ji."

"Clinging to someone who's moved on is pointless. Wouldn't you agree?"

"Ji Shu, can you stop making a scene? Running into Youyou today was an accident."

"Youyou? Seven years, and you're still calling her that?"

"Can you stop being unreasonable?"

"Unreasonable? Fine, yes, I ruined your fated reunion with your first love. But don't forget, Shen Lin—I'm your wife. I'm the mother of your child!"

She shook off his hand and kept shouting.

Beside them, their daughter watched her parents argue, pouted and burst into tears.

Passersby stopped to watch and whisper.

My head was pounding.

"Ms. Yu."

Lu Ye, in a black suit, walked straight through the crowd toward me.

"Seen the doctor?"

"Yes. I was about to collect my medicine. It's only a mild cold. No need to worry, Mr. Lu."

He rested a hand against my forehead.

"No fever."

The sandalwood scent around him reached me, and my heart lost its rhythm.

I looked at the bridge of his nose, my cheeks warming.

He took my wrist.

"Come on. Let's get your medicine."

Malice filled Ji Shu's eyes.

"Well, Ms. Yu. You certainly know how to work a man."

Before I could answer, Lu Ye spoke.

"Ms. Ji, I'd advise you to watch your mouth. Otherwise, that project in Beicheng..."

Shen Lin tugged her sleeve and offered a conciliatory smile.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Lu. Shushu didn't mean anything."

"Really? A word of advice, Mr. Shen. Keep your wife under control. Don't let her run around biting people."

With that, Lu Ye led me away.

【That scheming woman's mouth is filthy. I'd love to find something to stuff in it.】

【Aren't exes supposed to act like they're dead? Why can't Shen Lin manage a decent haunting?】

【Those two pieces of trash ruined my wife's mood. Well, the weather's turning cold. Perhaps it's time the Ji family went bankrupt.】