Chapter 1

I saved the richest man in the country when he had a heart attack.

He agreed to grant me one wish.

Everyone assumed I'd ask him to make his son marry me.

After all, I'd liked the man for seven years.

After hesitating for a long time, I said, "Could you give me some shares? I'd like to use the dividends to pay for handsome men."

Everyone froze.

Thinking they weren't willing, I hurriedly changed my request.

"Or lend me your adopted son to play with—no, to date for two months. I'll give him back afterward."

Dead silence.

A long while later, the adopted son spoke.

"You'd pay other handsome men, but with me you expect a free ride?"

I'd gone to Yonghe Temple to pray for wealth.

On my way out, a charlatan fortune-teller stopped me and insisted on reading my future.

He said I looked happy. Romance might be coming my way soon.

Alarmed, I waved both hands.

"Master, I don't need romance. I just want spending money. Think of something!"

He shook his head too and reassured me that this particular romantic prospect was exceptionally high quality.

I shook mine even harder.

"I'm naturally suspicious and sensitive. I'm not suited to dating."

I'd be better suited to being an emperor and possessing all the wealth under heaven.

More importantly, I fell for every new face. I could guarantee fair treatment for all three thousand beauties in my harem.

No favorites.

The master had no answer. He turned and stalked off in a huff.

I went home full of anticipation, waiting to get rich.

A week later, while wandering down the street, I had my bag snatched.

My new phone was in it!

I immediately gave chase. I didn't catch the thief.

Instead, I found the country's richest man having a heart attack by the roadside.

After getting him to hospital, I learned that I'd supposedly abandoned even my handbag to save him.

Deeply moved, he offered to grant me a wish.

Now it was my turn to be moved.

Richest man? This was clearly Aladdin's genie!

Before I could speak, I heard a quiet whisper nearby.

"Young Master Qin, isn't Ye Zhiwu going to use this chance to ask to be with you?"

The man standing some distance away looked toward me, already showing distaste.

"Do you work for our company?"

The tycoon looked me over too. After a while, he remembered.

"Oh, the one who danced at the annual party."

At the company party, I'd drawn the dance performance in the lottery. Going onstage meant a cash bonus.

But everyone else had prepared.

Those before me showed off their voices or danced to the beat. Even the biggest slacker in our department performed a clapper routine.

I had no presentable talents.

I couldn't bear to forgo the money either.

So I gave everyone "Good Night, Miss."

My bizarre dancing nearly made them bring their dinners back up.

Afterward, I became even more famous at the company.

I'd already been fairly famous.

Because I liked its crown prince, Qin Huaixu.

I'd liked him since university and shamelessly pursued him every day.

After he graduated and joined the company, I worked hard to interview my way in too.

From university until now, I'd spent seven years as a hopeless simp.

After that party, my reputation changed from hopeless simp to mentally unstable hopeless simp.

Even the tycoon had heard of me.

He looked at me again, but still spoke gently.

"Have you decided? What would you like? Anything at all."

"I want…"

I glanced at Qin Huaixu.

His fists had already clenched.

Before I could finish, the ward door opened.

"Dad, I heard you were ill. I came to see you."

A tall, lean man entered.

The instant I saw him, my breath caught.

He was gorgeous.

Fine brows and eyes. A straight nose. Cool, distant elegance.

Meeting my gaze, he smiled faintly. A dimple flickered at the corner of his mouth.

I stared.

So this was what the poet meant by one backward smile eclipsing every beauty in the imperial harem.

Even Qin Huaixu's looks dimmed beside his.

The tycoon considerately introduced him.

"My adopted son, Qin Yuze."

I'd heard the name too.

Deputy CEO Qin.

He'd always handled business at a branch office before. This year, he'd suddenly been transferred back.

Nobody had told me he was this handsome!

"Well, little Ye? Have you thought about your wish?"

"I…"

After a long hesitation, I asked cautiously,

"Could you… give me some company shares?"

Everyone froze.

Qin Huaixu interrupted at once.

"Do you know what you're saying?"

Did they think I had designs on the company?

I immediately defended myself.

"Just a tiny amount would do. A little dividend each year, so I can afford to keep handsome men."

Money and beautiful men.

The pinnacle of life!

Perhaps my words were too shocking. Everyone stared.

Qin Yuze even knocked over the glass beside him, startling them.

"Sorry. That was clumsy of me."

He righted it at once. Everyone came back to themselves and looked at me again.

The tycoon asked,

"Are you sure?"

I looked at Qin Yuze.

A few drops of water clung to his hand, shining on its pale back.

There were tissues right beside him.

Instead, he raised his hand and licked the water off, his eyes fixed on mine.

When our gazes met, I thought I saw his lips curve.

The smile vanished so quickly that I couldn't be certain I hadn't imagined it.

One thing I could be certain of, though.

He had me hooked.

"Or lend me your adopted son to play with—no, to date for two months. I'll give him back afterward."

"Ye Zhiwu, have you lost your mind?"

Qin Huaixu shouted even louder this time.

The tycoon had weathered plenty of storms. After his initial shock, he quickly regained his composure and asked Qin Yuze what he thought.

After a long silence, Qin Yuze said quietly,

"You'd pay other handsome men, but with me you expect a free ride?"

"Er… I can transfer money to you too. I earn six thousand yuan a month. How much do you think would be appropriate?"

"So little? Keep it for yourself, then. I agree."

Now I froze.

I'd only said it offhandedly.

I hadn't expected him to accept for real, much less take out his phone and ask to add my contact.

Even the tycoon stared for a long time before nodding.

"Good, good. Little Ze, treat her well."

"Yes, Dad."

Qin Yuze opened his WeChat QR code.

As I scanned it, I noticed his profile picture.

Mine was a photograph of my own shadow in the sunshine.

His was also a shadow in sunlight.

More coincidentally, the location, angle, even the arrangement of light and shade were exactly the same.

When we left, Qin Yuze offered to drive me home.

He went to get the car first. I stood outside the hospital, staring absently at my shadow.

Footsteps sounded behind me.

Another shadow fell over my head.

"Ye Zhiwu, what was that supposed to mean?"

Qin Huaixu had actually followed me out to demand an explanation.

He glared as though trying to burn a hole through me.

"You used to cling shamelessly to me. Now you've changed overnight? Putting on that show in front of me—wasn't it just to get my attention?"

I looked up, studied his face, and answered calmly.

"Mr. Qin, do you know what you look like right now?"

"Me, after fighting desperately for concert tickets, failing to get them, then loudly declaring I don't care. Exactly that."

"What are you talking about? I don't understand. I'm warning you not to harbor any other ideas about me. I'll never be with you!"

"Mm."

I got into Qin Yuze's car and left.

On Monday, my manager dumped a pile of documents in front of me as usual.

"Deal with these quickly. I'll put in a good word for you with Young Master Qin."

This was his work. He liked passing it all to me.

Qin Huaixu had practically promoted him single-handedly. Hoping he'd say something favorable about me, I'd often done these chores for him.

"No need. Please handle your own work."

I tossed the whole pile back onto his desk.

His eyes widened.

"Ye Zhiwu, do you know what you're doing? You won't even listen to me now?"

"I know."

Our department had an old fox of a manager, a few people with connections, and several bootlickers who turned whichever way the wind blew.

Everything landed on me.

I was still young and already felt like a beast of burden.

A tiny pond, full of people who thought they were big fish.

I resolved not to do one extra thing.

The manager spent all day stealing looks at me.

Near closing time, he approached again. This time, his tone was much softer.

"Little Ye, I really have no choice. Young Master Qin wants me to drink with him tonight. Finish these for me today. Next time, I'll definitely take you along."

"No. I have a date later."

He snorted.

"What are you joking about? You're not chasing Young Master Qin anymore? Could you bear to give him up? Besides, who are you dating? Who would…"

"Good evening, Deputy CEO Qin!"

His smile vanished. He bowed into a respectful greeting.

I turned.

Qin Yuze stood in our office doorway.

"She's going on a date with me. Any other questions? She can leave work now."

The manager looked terrified.

He nodded over and over.