Teasing the Icy President - Chapter 3 - His Rage

Mu Qingtian felt the presence of the man and instinctively grabbed Ye Ziqian’s arm tightly. “Sorry…” Despite clenching her teeth, she couldn’t control her body’s desperate lean towards him.

“See this?” Lu Zizhong observed the stubborn girl but decided not to ask Nan Yan for help.

This left Ye Ziqian in an uncomfortable position. He looked disdainfully at the person in his arms, then at the man kneeling on the ground with a bloodied head.

“Nan Yan.”

“Present.”

“Chop off his right hand,” Ye Ziqian said, his expression and tone unchanging as if discussing the routine slaughter of a chicken during the New Year-so natural.

Mu Qingtian’s nails dug into the back of his hand. She barely managed to lift her head to look at him. “No…” It was too cruel. He had just made a mistake, and there were laws to handle such things. He couldn’t do this.

“Understood.”

Nan Yan, following the order, pulled a medium-length knife from his pants and approached K.

“No… please don’t… boss, I was wrong… wrong… Ah!”

By the time anyone looked again, an arm lay desolately on the ground, with K clutching his profusely bleeding stump, howling loudly.

“You…” Mu Qingtian had only ever seen school brawls, never such a bloody scene. Shocked, she fainted into Ye Ziqian’s arms.

“Boss…” Lu Zizhong inquired.

Ye Ziqian gestured with his hand, indicating he could hold her.

“Drug trafficking in the casino, attempted rape, just the first charge is enough for a firing squad,” Ye Ziqian said calmly, his lips moist and full.

“Boss…” K, clutching his arm, rolled on the ground in agony and fear, sweating profusely.

“Nan Yan.”

“Boss.”

Ye Ziqian frowned, looking at the woman in his arms, her nails deeply embedded in his hand, gripping tightly.

“Boss, are you alright?” Nan Yan asked worriedly.

Ye Ziqian lifted Mu Qingtian horizontally. “Uncle Zhong, you and Nan Yan take him to the police station. Qing Shan, go start the car.” After speaking, he carried Mu Qingtian away.

Lu Zizhong was somewhat puzzled, watching his retreating figure with incomprehension.

“Nan Yan, is that girl pretty?” Lu Zizhong asked gossipily.

Nan Yan bowed his head and replied, “I don’t know, sir.”

Lu Zizhong looked at Nan Yan, noting how the boy had grown more articulate.

“I’ll report to the police; you clean up here,” Lu Zizhong said as he was leaving.

“Okay.”

The two exchanged words, but no one paid any more attention to the man writhing in pain on the ground.

Nan Yan leaned in close, his tone cold and deliberate. “Don’t think that just because you’ve made a few contributions to the casino, you can act with impunity. The boss despises people like you the most. You’ve challenged the boss’s limits repeatedly-losing an arm was us being merciful.”

K clutched at Nan Yan’s arm desperately. “Help… me. All the money, it’s yours.”

Nan Yan casually brushed K’s hand aside. “After all this time, you still haven’t figured out the boss’s rules.” With that, he stood up and walked out of the room.

That left K alone, writhing in pain, clutching himself in a corner. Rules. What rules? If he’d been rich enough to rival nations, someone as insignificant as Ye Ziqian wouldn’t have even been a blip on his radar. But now? Now, he knew he had no chance in this lifetime. Would the next life be different? Could it? In the instant he closed his eyes, old tears rolled down his face. No matter how clever his schemes had been, in the end, he had been swallowed whole by Ye Ziqian, that ruthless wolf.

Along the way, Ye Ziqian cradled Mu Qingtian in his arms. He hadn’t said much, but the storm clouds resting on his face made it perfectly clear-he was in a foul mood.

Seated across from them, Qing Shan asked cautiously, “Boss, are you alright?”

Ye Ziqian cast her a glance but didn’t respond. He had never thought carrying a woman could be so exhausting. While he wasn’t physically tired, one of his arms was completely numb after bearing her weight for so long. A fat woman-hadn’t he told her to lose weight before stepping out? Without fail, every time he encountered her, nothing good came of it. Her plump frame, her constant misfortune with men-what were those men even thinking?

Though annoyance simmered in his heart, Ye Ziqian managed to keep his frustration off his face. Image mattered, after all.

By the time they returned home, it wasn’t long before Nan Yan and Lu Zizhong arrived closely behind them.

“Nan Yan, Qing Shan, you can go rest now,” Ye Ziqian said nonchalantly as he carried Mu Qingtian straight upstairs to his room.

Lu Zizhong, fighting the urge to chuckle, hurried after them, his curiosity piqued. He had to figure this out-was the boss’s taste in women actually changing?

“Did you bring the medicine?” Ye Ziqian asked as he stood by the bed, Mu Qingtian still resting in his arms.

“Yes, I brought it. Boss, why don’t you put her down first?” Lu Zizhong asked, eyebrows furrowing in puzzlement. They had been back for a while now, yet he was still carrying her?

Ye Ziqian, evidently more irritated than before, snapped back, “Take her hand off me first!”

Lu Zizhong looked at Ye Ziqian’s increasingly fiery expression, then down at the woman’s hand. Sure enough, Mu Qingtian’s grip on Ye Ziqian’s shirt was firm, as though letting go might spell doom.

“This girl!” Lu Zizhong exclaimed in astonishment. Ye Ziqian’s hand had turned red and bruised where she was gripping it tightly, and faint scratch marks from her nails ran across his skin. “Why is this girl so careless about hygiene? Leaving her nails so long-what a mess.”

As he spoke, Lu Zizhong carefully pried Mu Qingtian’s hand off Ye Ziqian’s arm. The moment her hand moved, she started to stir.

“Ah… ah…” Mu Qingtian’s hands flailed weakly, clutching at her clothes as muffled moans escaped her lips, each one louder and more distraught than the last.

“The medicine,” Ye Ziqian ordered, brushing past Lu Zizhong. He carried her directly into the bathroom and unceremoniously set her down in the bathtub. Without any gentleness, Mu Qingtian’s head accidentally knocked against the side of the tub with a dull “thunk.”

Lu Zizhong glanced over, alarmed. His boss wasn’t exactly the epitome of tenderness.

Ye Ziqian swiftly stuffed a pill into Mu Qingtian’s mouth and then poured water after it, ensuring she swallowed. Following that, he turned on the showerhead. A cascade of cold water poured down on her immediately.

The two men stood to the side, silently watching.

“Boss, are you planning to let her spend the night here?” Lu Zizhong finally asked, breaking the silence.

Ye Ziqian turned his head, his irritation evident in his sharp gaze.

“Uh, I mean…” Lu Zizhong backpedaled hastily. “How about we move this young miss to one of the guest rooms?” He gave Ye Ziqian an uneasy look, still questioning, deep down, whether his boss’s preferences had truly changed.

“You carry her,” Ye Ziqian replied bluntly, shaking his arms, which had gone completely numb at this point. Without waiting for a response, he turned on his heel and walked out.

“Well, I’ll get some rest then, Boss. Call me if you need anything,” Lu Zizhong said, his foxlike intuition screaming at him to make a swift exit. The situation was too bizarre for him to stick around-and truthfully, there was no way his aging body could lift this plump girl. Better to slip away quietly.

Ye Ziqian headed to the dressing room, where he swapped his damp clothes for a sleek black robe. He grabbed a cigar, lit it with practiced ease, and settled into a rocking chair. Closing his eyes, he let the calm rhythm of the chair and the soothing smoke wash away his irritation.

But the peace didn’t last long.

Abrupt, ragged coughing sounds echoed from the bathroom, jolting Ye Ziqian out of his brief respite. He shot up and hurried toward the noise.

When he reached the bathroom, he realized the situation was far worse than he had imagined-the bathtub was overflowing, and Mu Qingtian was only seconds away from drowning. Ye Ziqian quickly turned off the shower and hauled her out with one forceful pull.

Because of the fabric of her uniform, her clothes-drenched as they were-clung to her like a second skin, completely see-through. Everything was shockingly on display except for the areas barely covered by her undergarments.

Ye Ziqian’s body tensed instinctively with a stirring heat, a purely male response. His eyes briefly ran over her form-before landing on her faintly protruding belly and her oversized, doll-like face. Any nascent interest he had evaporated in an instant. Whatever fleeting moment might’ve occurred was thoroughly extinguished.

With one swift movement, he grabbed Mu Qingtian and gave a rough tug. The threads of her uniform gave way, and she was left inadequately clothed, practically bare.

Ye Ziqian grabbed a bath towel and wrapped it around her without a moment’s hesitation. He dried her off with brisk efficiency before tossing her-quite literally-onto the bed like some discarded luggage.

If her figure were a bit better, maybe-just maybe-he would’ve had a harder time restraining himself. But staring at the chaotic mess in front of him, he felt nothing but disinterest. A glance at her bloated cheeks and clumsy demeanor confirmed what he already knew. No, she wasn’t worth the trouble. Not even an ounce of it.

Seeing Mu Qingtian finally quiet on the bed, Ye Ziqian picked up his phone.

“Uncle Zhong, if you can’t find a servant soon, you might as well stop working altogether.” With that, he hung up harshly.

He was growing increasingly frustrated. Uncle Zhong, though loyal, was getting older and becoming less capable. Ever since the last servant had been sent off to retire in the U.S., it had taken over half a month to try and find a replacement-without any success. His gaze shifted back to the woman on the bed. When had he, Ye Ziqian, ever served a woman before?

And just like that, the day passed surprisingly peacefully-apart from the occasional moment when a certain somebody’s backside got kicked out of frustration.

“NO!”

Mu Qingtian suddenly sat bolt upright from the bed, her face filled with panic as she glanced nervously around the room. Her hands instinctively reached out for her glasses.

She felt something-soft, warm, and… long.

That’s when Mu Qingtian let out an ear-piercing scream.

“AHHH! AHHH!”

“Shut up!” Ye Ziqian sat up abruptly, grabbed her hand, and yanked it away.

His expression was thunderous as he glared at her, his anger barely contained. Reaching over to the bedside table, he grabbed her glasses and tossed them at her.

Mu Qingtian fumbled to put them on. Once her vision cleared, she finally made sense of her surroundings-and the person sitting right in front of her.

Her scalp tingled with nerves. Eyes wide, she cautiously looked under the blanket. What the…? Why was he wearing a robe and yet she had nothing on under the covers!? And what on earth had she just grabbed earlier? Was it his…?

“You-you weird uncle! You’re so twisted! It was bad enough that you made me share a bed with you, but you made my head rest by your feet?!” Thinking back to her dreams of suffocating, Mu Qingtian became even angrier.

“Shut. Up.”

Ye Ziqian’s icy tone left no room for argument, but Mu Qingtian automatically pouted in retaliation. She looked like a teenager who’d just been scolded-which, admittedly, wasn’t far from how she felt.

Her mouth quirked into a rebellious smirk. “Uncle, you do know you have to be responsible for what you’ve done to me, right?” She clutched the blanket tightly, her tone soft and fragile. Normally, she’d be losing her temper and threatening to drag him into the mess with her, but for some reason, this time she didn’t feel as outraged as she thought she would.

By this point, Ye Ziqian was out of bed, grabbing his clothes from a nearby chair. He shot her a cold glance. “A woman like you is not my type.”

Her jaw dropped. Could he be any harsher? Was it so hard to phrase things a little more tactfully? She was still a young woman, after all-he could at least spare her some dignity!

Mu Qingtian sat there, stunned into silence by his blunt words, as she watched him take his clothes and leave the room. After a moment, she slapped her own forehead lightly.

“Mu Qingtian, your virtue is still intact. Stay calm, girl, stay calm!”

She looked around at the grandeur of the room and couldn’t help but swallow hard. Her gaze landed on the bathrobe hanging by the bedside. Turns out her habit of switching beds in the middle of the night hadn’t changed after all. So maybe she’d blamed him unjustly. Clutching the bathrobe, she wrapped it around herself and stepped barefoot onto the plush carpet.

“He said I’m not his type? Well, he’s not my type either!” she muttered under her breath, grumbling indignantly as she tidied up the covers.

“Fix yourself up and leave.”

“Ahh!” Mu Qingtian screamed as she jumped back onto the bed, nervously adjusting her slightly crooked glasses. Her wide eyes darted toward the doorway, where he stood like a god incarnate.

Back again? Launching another surprise attack?

Ye Ziqian cast her a fleeting, cold glance. “You’re exposed.” Then, without waiting for a reply, he turned and walked out.

“Ahh!” Mu Qingtian shrieked again as she fell to her knees on the bed, her hands hurriedly covering the critical areas. What was this guy’s problem? What was he trying to do?

She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. She had to figure out what was going on here.

Thinking back to last night, she began mentally piecing together the events. That sleazy man… the aphrodisiac… her clothes being stripped… Mu Qingtian wracked her brain to remember how she’d ended up in this unfamiliar place. And now she was here, sharing a bed with none other than the boss, Ye Ziqian? Could it be… a drunken mistake?

Her eyes widened at the thought, and she slapped her forehead hard. Wait-she hadn’t been drinking! So how could there have been any drunken mistake?

Could it be…

“This big shot secretly has some twisted tastes and brought me here for-” The very idea sent a cold chill down her spine. Mu Qingtian shook her head, forcing herself to stay calm. Whatever the case, she needed to get out of here before anything happened.

She glanced down at her bathrobe, then eyed the nearby cabinet.

Wear his clothes!

Pushing her glasses back into place, Mu Qingtian reached hesitantly toward the bedside cabinet. She quietly glanced over her shoulder at the door, reassuring herself that the big “uncle” wasn’t planning on bursting back in for another surprise attack. Clutching her bathrobe tighter, she crouched down and carefully opened the cabinet.

Wow! Sure enough, there were clothes inside!

With her chubby little hands, Mu Qingtian shuffled through the cabinet’s contents. There were roughly three shirts, four pairs of pants, and two pairs of boxer briefs. Was this seriously all there was to this uncle’s wardrobe?

At that thought, Mu Qingtian paused, feeling she might be overthinking things. This “uncle’s” minimalist lifestyle was none of her business. Right now, her only concern was ensuring her bare self was properly covered-it wasn’t her problem how simple his daily life was.

“Shirt, pants, and…” She muttered to herself while continuing to search. Those boxer briefs? No chance. She wasn’t about to squeeze into his underwear-that would be too much.

“Where’s the belt?” Mu Qingtian finally realized what she truly needed but hadn’t been able to find yet: a belt.

Mu Qingtian put on the shirt and long pants one by one. Although she was a bit chubby, she was still a young woman, and Ye Ziqian’s clothes were indeed quite loose on her. In her predicament, she could only strike a comical pose, holding up the pants with one hand.

Looking at the neatly made large bed she had prepared, she checked her own attire again and decided she just needed to find a pair of slippers to complete her look.

With that thought, Mu Qingtian couldn’t help but chuckle to herself; she had defied the odds and it seemed her luck was turning for the better.

Grasping the waistband with one hand and pulling up the pant leg with the other, she found the dress pants somewhat cumbersome for her short and plump figure, making it a bit difficult to walk. To avoid being caught by the weird uncle for wearing his clothes, she tiptoed down the stairs.

Stealing a glance at the empty living room below, Mu Qingtian felt a huge sigh of relief.

However, just as she crouched at the stairway, Lu Zizhong suddenly appeared behind her.

“Girl, what are you doing?”

“Ah?” Mu Qingtian sprang up in surprise. Upon seeing the person behind her, she was taken aback and stumbled back two steps, one foot stepping on the pant leg.

“Ah!” Unsteady on her feet, Mu Qingtian began to tumble down the stairs.

“Girl!” Lu Zizhong was equally startled, wondering how she ended up falling.

Mu Qingtian cried out, her feet slipping down a few steps. OMG, Mom, I’m going to die this time!

With that thought, she felt her legs weaken, and her plump body was about to make a close contact with the stairs.

“Quick, save her!” Lu Zizhong shouted.

Nan Yan and Qing Shan rushed out of the kitchen, throwing down their coffees, and hurried upstairs to catch Mu Qingtian as she fell. Just as they started running, Ye Ziqian appeared and caught Mu Qingtian in his arms.

Perhaps because Mu Qingtian was a bit heavy, Ye Ziqian staggered back a few steps until he finally stopped at the flat landing of the central staircase. Thankfully, this staircase branched off, creating a flat area in the center; otherwise, Mu Qingtian would have surely suffered a bad fall.

“Mom… Wuuu… Mom…” Overwhelmed with fear, Mu Qingtian tightly gripped the fabric of Ye Ziqian’s shirt, calling out for her mother.

Lu Zizhong let out a heavy sigh of relief, while Nan Yan and Qing Shan exchanged bewildered looks. They had never seen a woman so audacious as to disregard the boss and shout “Mom” so loudly.

Ye Ziqian frowned slightly, feeling that the girl had dampened his shirt.

“Mom… boohoo… Mom…” Mu Qingtian, timid as she was, had never faced such a chaotic moment in her life. In her mind, the only thought was how long and steep that staircase was. Falling down it-not even her plump body could withstand such a tumble.

“Have you cried enough?” Ye Ziqian’s icy voice rang out. His hands tried to push her away, but Mu Qingtian clung to him tightly, refusing to let go.

With his patience running thin, Ye Ziqian raised his cold gaze toward Lu Zizhong, standing at the stairs. His expression clearly meant trouble-as if Mu Qingtian didn’t let go, he would certainly hold Uncle Zhong accountable for this indignity.

Uncle Zhong, having served alongside Ye Ziqian for many years, had a sharp eye for such matters. He had no choice but to sigh and helplessly shake his head. Why did young people always drag their elders into their messy affairs? There was no benefit in doing so.

Lu Zizhong started descending the stairs, but after just two steps, something caught his attention. He abruptly turned around and shouted, “Pants! Pants!”

His sudden reaction instantly drew Ye Ziqian’s attention. “Pants?” Ye Ziqian looked down sharply, and with just one glance, his temper skyrocketed. That damned woman!

Her pants had slipped down, revealing… his boxers! She wasn’t just wearing his clothes-she’d even put on his underwear!

In that moment, Ye Ziqian felt a mix of rage and mortification. Without hesitation, he scooped her up horizontally in his arms. “You like crying, huh? Let’s see if you’ll cry enough this time!”

He gave a sharp tug on her oversized pants, pulling them back up to conceal the embarrassing scene. But Mu Qingtian was still too dazed to even react. Her mind was stuck replaying the embarrassing moment just a few seconds earlier. So, when Ye Ziqian carried her like a stray cat or a puppy, she barely registered it at all.

“Ziqian, be gentler, will you?” Uncle Zhong, seemingly eager to see the world burn, called out casually as Ye Ziqian walked past him.

Ye Ziqian responded with a piercing, laser-like glare that made even Uncle Zhong swallow his words and step aside.

Still fuming, Ye Ziqian stormed back into his room while clutching the hapless Mu Qingtian in his arms. From downstairs, Uncle Zhong sneaked a glance up the staircase. With a bemused smirk, he quipped to Nan Yan and Qing Shan, “So, how did you like the president’s boxers?”

Nan Yan and Qing Shan immediately realized Uncle Zhong was about to stir up more drama. Without missing a beat, both quickly turned around and headed to the kitchen to brew new cups of coffee-clearly avoiding any further involvement.

As soon as Ye Ziqian returned to his room, his fury boiled over. With no gentleness whatsoever, he tossed Mu Qingtian straight onto the bed.

“Ugh…” Mu Qingtian groaned in pain, her oversized head pinned awkwardly beneath her body. What was his deal? Was this uncle trying to kill her? She was suffocating!

On top of that, her loose pants had slipped even further, revealing her underwear. If this continued, she’d be completely exposed-again!

“What’s your name?” Ye Ziqian wanted to start yelling at her but realized, to his frustration, that he didn’t even know her name.

Mu Qingtian rubbed her head with one hand and adjusted her glasses with the other.

“Mu Qingtian! I don’t change my name standing or sitting!” she huffed indignantly. Half-kneeling on the bed, she suddenly felt a chill and, with an awkward expression, quickly grabbed at her oversized pants to keep them from falling further. “I-I didn’t have any clothes, so I… I borrowed yours…”

Great, now she was fully aware of what she’d done and had the nerve to be defensive about it.

Ye Ziqian narrowed his eyes slightly, giving her a thorough once-over.

His crisp white shirt-on her-looked totally out of place. The sleeves were far too long, and the fit baggy everywhere… except across her chest, where it was noticeably strained. Her disheveled long hair framed an unadorned doll-like face. Much to his annoyance, she had a certain charm, though she seemed utterly unaware of it.

“That… um, weird uncle, don’t get mad, okay? I’ll go back, change into something else, and return your clothes right away,” Mu Qingtian stammered, starting to feel conflicted. After all, this weird uncle did save her earlier. Was she being rude by acting so brazenly now?

Ah, a proper apology-at least she was beginning to realize her behavior had been ridiculous. That was a good start.

“Shut up! I’m not an uncle!” Ye Ziqian snapped sharply. How many times did he have to repeat himself before she understood? He was not, not, not-absolutely not-a weird uncle! What on earth was going on inside this chubby idiot’s head?

“Oh, oh… my bad, my bad. Don’t get mad, please don’t get mad!” Mu Qingtian immediately backed down, her tone softening. She was as predictable as Nie Shuangshuang-hard-headed until someone pushed back, then crumbling like a house of cards.

“Take it off!” Ye Ziqian growled through clenched teeth. His temples were throbbing now-it was this foolish woman’s fault.

Mu Qingtian’s eyes widened in disbelief at what she’d heard. Take it off? She must have misheard. He wanted her to take off the only clothes she was wearing? What was she supposed to wear if she did?

“Uh, wait, handsome-come on, you can’t be that petty. I was just borrowing your clothes! It’s not like I was stealing them. You don’t have to act this way!” she said, her face twisting back into an insolent smirk.

Bad move.

Ye Ziqian didn’t know why, but he despised this kind of attitude in women. That sickly sweet clingy demeanor, acting as if they were entitled to indulgence. He was not in the habit of tolerating childish antics.

As his expression grew darker, Mu Qingtian could feel a wave of fear rising in her chest.

This man wasn’t just rich and powerful-this was his house. If something really were to happen here, she wouldn’t stand a chance. No one would even know. The mere thought of it sent chills down her spine, and panic began to set in.

“I was wrong, I was wrong! Please don’t be angry! You wanted me to leave, right? But I don’t have any clothes to wear. Even if I wanted to leave, I couldn’t! Uncle… oh no, handsome, I’ll just borrow them for a little while, okay?” No matter how peculiar his temper was, he was still a man. For a pitiable girl like her, such a request shouldn’t be met with cold rejection, right?

Mu Qingtian launched her shameless charm offensive yet again. She refused to believe that with her gift of gab, she couldn’t persuade him!

Ye Ziqian took slow steps toward the bed. It was the first time a woman dared to wear his clothes-and the first time a woman dared to keep talking without end in his presence. Thinking back, hadn’t every other woman he encountered frozen in fear at the sight of him? But this one seemed determined to showcase her debating skills.

Could this be her plan? To use this opportunity to get close to him, claiming she’s different from other women, and lure him into her trap?

Suddenly, his lips curved into a faint smile. If he hadn’t smiled, it would’ve been fine-but that smile only made Mu Qingtian more uneasy. She instinctively curled herself further into the headboard. But there was nowhere else to retreat. If he continued like this, she wouldn’t even have an opening to escape.

“Mu Qingtian, tell me-why are you trying to get close to me?” Ye Ziqian asked casually, sitting down on the bed as he spoke.

Seeing his movement, Mu Qingtian’s reflex was to grab a pillow and hold it defensively against her chest.

Why would she want to get close to him? God-if He gave her a chance to go back and start over, she swore on her life she would never have approached him. What kind of person could handle this? His alternating coldness and wicked charm, combined with his violent tendencies-she still planned on living a few more years, after all.

“Answer me. Why do you want to get close to me?” Ye Ziqian asked patiently once again, though his tone now carried a faint yet unmistakable hint of danger.

“This…” Mu Qingtian bit her lip. Alright, time to risk it. All she had to do was answer, and if he let her go, this whole ordeal would be over.

“Mr. Ye, do you believe in fate? I think fate is something that’s both deep and shallow. The meeting between the two of us is probably maintained by this thing called fate. Ah, fate, isn’t it just wonderfully mysterious?” OMG, Mu Qingtian must be out of her mind. She actually pulled out a theory like this-talking to Ye Ziqian, a cold-blooded and unfeeling president, about fate? It was even more ridiculous than those fortune tellers!

Just looking at Ye Ziqian’s expression, the murderous one plastered across his face, was enough to tell that he was utterly infuriated by her answer-his teeth practically itching with anger.

Mu Qingtian swallowed hard, her throat almost catching. Had she said something wrong? Stealing a cautious glance at him, she couldn’t help but wonder if all wealthy bosses had these terrifying, unpredictable quirks that could scare people half to death.

But she didn’t have the time to play around with him. Right now, she needed to head back and look for another part-time job.

“Uh… Mr. Ye, maybe I should just head home. I really don’t want to intrude any longer. Haha, I feel truly embarrassed about it.” Mu Qingtian forced an ingratiating smile, but to Ye Ziqian, it was nothing short of an eyesore.

“Who told you to wear my underwear?” Ye Ziqian’s tone sharpened as he raised the issue. His temper was flaring, and he was close to losing it. Who was this woman? She didn’t say much or do much, yet she had an uncanny ability to provoke his anger effortlessly.

He had to admit, no other woman had ever riled him up like this before. Not once.

The moment Mu Qingtian heard his words, her expression turned into one of embarrassment. This question-oh, how mortifying! Couldn’t he phrase it a little more delicately?

“Well… actually… wearing pants without underwear… would be… uncomfortable…” She stumbled over her words, wishing desperately to avoid answering such an awkward question.

A hint of darkness flashed across Ye Ziqian’s face. At this point, he was utterly at a loss for words to respond to her.

“Leave. Get out right now. Don’t let me see you again!” Ye Ziqian suddenly stood up, an inexplicable rage bubbling up within him. He didn’t want to see her anymore. The way she looked, like a walking troublemaker, paired with her bashful tone when speaking-it rubbed him in entirely the wrong way. It was infuriating.

Although Mu Qingtian felt indignant at his words, she was terrified he might change his mind, so she wasted no time jumping to her feet.

The heavy thumping noises she made as she moved only further tested his patience. From the sound alone, Ye Ziqian could feel his irritation growing.

“Mr. Ye, how should I return your clothes to you?” Mu Qingtian asked hesitantly, holding up the waistband of the oversized pants with one hand while grasping the doorframe with the other.

“Get out. If you’ve touched it, I don’t want it!” Ye Ziqian snapped, his words brimming with the pettiest of tempers.

Mu Qingtian’s expression darkened. This jerk! Did he think she was some kind of pest or parasite? Her eyes darted with mischief as a sly smile curled her lips. “Oh, by the way, Mr. Ye, I also slept on your bed!” she quipped before taking off in a small sprint, disappearing in an instant.

“Infuriating!” Ye Ziqian spun around, glaring toward the doorway where she had just vanished. The veins on his forehead bulged, a clear sign of just how exasperated he was.

Standing just outside the door, Lu Zizhong couldn’t suppress the startled look on his face. He’d worked for Ye Ziqian for so many years, but not once had he seen him lose his temper so easily. This was entirely new territory.

“Uncle Zhong!” Ye Ziqian’s voice sounded like a sharp bark that reverberated through the room.

“I’m here.” Lu Zizhong quickly stepped inside.

“Find someone to replace the bed!” Ye Ziqian ordered bluntly before leaving the room without further explanation.

Lu Zizhong stood there, bemused, a smile creeping onto his face. That bed had been Ye Ziqian’s since he was a child-why the sudden urge to change it now?

“Nan Yan, Qing Shan!” Lu Zizhong called out from the staircase.

In no time, Nan Yan appeared by his side.

“Where’s Qing Shan?”

Nan Yan kept his head lowered as he responded quietly, “Qing Shan went to give the miss a pair of shoes. She’s already sent her off.”

“Oh, Qing Shan might seem a bit cold most of the time, but she’s got a good heart.” Lu Zizhong chuckled lightly as he commented.

“Is there something you need, Uncle Zhong?” Nan Yan asked respectfully.

“The president wants the bed replaced. Go out this afternoon and order an identical one-same specifications, color, and fabric. It has to match the current bed exactly,” Lu Zizhong said, rubbing his chin as he thought aloud.

“Identical?” Nan Yan finally raised his head and asked for clarification.

Lu Zizhong paused for a moment, realizing Nan Yan’s question hit the mark. “Yes, identical!”

Ye Ziqian had always been particular about his bed-he recognized it almost like an extension of his own habits. If the bed were suddenly swapped out with a completely different one, it would undoubtedly disrupt his routine. Yet Lu Zizhong still couldn’t fathom why Ye Ziqian had decided to replace the bed so abruptly. The thought puzzled him deeply.

Meanwhile…

“Thank you. Thank you for bringing me home.” Mu Qingtian stood awkwardly at her doorstep, her tone laden with gratitude as she addressed Qing Shan.

Coming from a wealthy and distinguished family, Qing Shan exuded an air of refined politeness. When Mu Qingtian had first met her, she assumed this seemingly distant and beautiful woman would simply escort her to the gate. But unexpectedly, Qing Shan had taken the trouble to drive her all the way back to her home.

“It’s nothing,” Qing Shan replied coolly before closing the car door. Without further ado, the vehicle started and drove off into the distance.

“Wow… That’s so cool!” Mu Qingtian muttered in sincere admiration, her praise escaping straight from her heart.

As soon as she stepped inside, the landline began to ring. Mu Qingtian clenched the fabric of her pants tightly and ran over to pick it up. “Hello?”

“Qingtian?” A voice, filled with the weight of years, came through the receiver.

“Mom? Momma?” The moment she recognized the voice, Mu Qingtian’s nose stung, and a wave of emotion surged through her.

“Qingtian, how have you been lately?” Mrs. Mu’s voice carried concern, though it was clear her speech was labored.

“Mom, don’t worry about me. I’ve been doing well. Work is going smoothly.” Even as she spoke, tears were already streaming down Mu Qingtian’s face. Her mother wasn’t in great health, and yet she still had to care for her father-it must be so hard for her.

“Qingtian, I’m so sorry. I can’t be there to take care of you, and I’ve let… I’ve let you suffer so much,” Mrs. Mu’s voice began to choke with emotion.

“Oh, Mom, it’s nothing! I’m young-it’s a good time for me to learn and grow. You and Dad should focus on resting and recovering. I’ll be sending money to you both at the end of the month.” Mu Qingtian tried to sound upbeat and strong, but deep down, she knew her tears were already blurring her vision.

“Take care of yourself, okay.”

“I will. You and Dad have to do the same.”

“Knowing you’re doing well is enough for us. Your father’s hungry-I’ll go make him some porridge.” Mrs. Mu’s voice was laden with reluctance to hang up.

“Okay, take care, Mom. Goodbye.”

After hanging up the phone, Mu Qingtian lifted her chubby little hand to wipe the tears off her face.

Mu Qingtian, how pathetic you’ve become-getting conned in a job and almost losing your dignity. But now that all of this is behind you, it’s time to focus on working hard. If one day your parents’ pensions run out, things will really take a turn for the worse.

Wiping her face dry, Mu Qingtian didn’t allow herself to rest. She quickly changed out of her clothes and started flipping through the newspaper for part-time job listings.