The President Comes Knocking -

Li Yan pulled out his phone and checked the flight schedule. Due to recent weather issues, the available flights had changed. Tomorrow morning, there were only two flights to City A: one at 6:40 a.m. and the other at 9:20 a.m.

Reading the departure times aloud, Li Yan was unsurprised to hear Mu Han’s crisp and decisive response: “The 6:40 flight.”

It was exactly what Li Yan had expected. However, whether as a friend or an assistant, he couldn’t help but feel dissatisfied with his boss’s complete disregard for his own health. He glanced at the time on his phone: it was 11:35 p.m. That meant, even if Mu Han arrived at the airport just an hour early, he’d still only have six hours to sleep.

Under normal circumstances, that amount of sleep might have been passable. Studies show that adults only need six hours of sleep to function adequately. But this was far from normal-Mu Han had already gone two days without proper rest.

Taking one look at the heavy dark circles under Mu Han’s eyes, Li Yan rejected the idea outright without giving it a second thought. “No way. I’m booking you the 9:20 flight instead.”

Yet another daring act of defiance from a subordinate toward his boss. Mu Han raised an eyebrow, wondering whether he had been too lenient lately. Otherwise, why did Li Yan seem so keen on challenging him these days?

Having an insubordinate assistant was proving to be a headache. Mu Han pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. If only he weren’t so drained today, he’d make sure to teach this rebellious subordinate a lesson. Instead, he coughed slightly, his voice still hoarse, and asked, “Who’s the boss here: you or me?”

But Li Yan, unfazed by Mu Han’s stern expression, responded without skipping a beat, “You’re obviously the boss. But as a caring assistant who truly looks out for you, don’t you think I should avoid rigidly following your every command? Watching you rush around tirelessly has me genuinely worried that one day, Boss, you’ll collapse on the job. And if that happens, who’s going to pay my salary?”

Li Yan’s statement could only be described as a perfect embodiment of the phrase “utterly outrageous.” It left Mu Han speechless, every retort stuck in his throat. And yet, Li Yan wasn’t done. Clearing his throat with a hint of mischief in his smile, he continued, “Besides, even if you don’t care about your health, you should at least consider Miss Chu. I doubt Miss Chu would want to see you treating your body so poorly.”

As the saying goes, hit where it hurts. Li Yan’s words struck a chord deep within Mu Han. While the idea of using his worn-out state to garner sympathy and forgiveness wasn’t beyond him, he was also acutely aware of his current appearance-far from the polished image he always maintained. To put it bluntly, he was a mess.

Everyone wants to look their best in front of someone they care about, and Mu Han was no exception. In fact, as a CEO carrying a three-ton “idol burden,” he was especially mindful of his appearance. The thought of Chu Qianqian seeing him in such a haggard state made him hesitate.

Mu Han nodded in reluctant agreement, just about ready to concede to Li Yan’s suggestion of rescheduling the flight, when the assistant-clearly itching to provoke further-quipped with a teasing smile, “And you know, young people these days really need to prioritize their health. Otherwise, if your body gives out and… well, let’s say you’re not performing at your best-how would that make your partner happy in the future?”

“You little… Is your grudge seriously that intense? I only made a casual remark earlier, and now you’re getting payback? How old are you, Li Yan?” Mu Han retorted, glaring at him.

“Pff, I’m just saying it casually-you’re the one taking it the wrong way.” Li Yan raised an eyebrow at his boss’s skeptical expression. Smirking, he added, “What? Am I not allowed to hold a grudge? You should know, Boss, I just turned three years old, and holding grudges comes naturally at this age.”

Mu Han was utterly stunned by Li Yan’s shamelessness. After a long pause, he couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter. “Damn it, Li Yan, what kind of person are you? So childish! Does your wife even know how immature you are?”

Hearing the phrase “your wife” clearly hit a sweet spot for Li Yan. The corners of his lips lifted into a wide grin, and even his previously exhausted complexion seemed to regain a healthy flush. “Of course she knows! How could she not? She says that a man like me, who normally exudes professionalism and an elite vibe, becomes the most charming when I occasionally act cutesy or playful.”

The unfiltered pride on Li Yan’s face was almost comical. If he’d had a tail, it would’ve been wagging furiously in smug delight-he looked just like a peacock showing off its feathers.

Watching this display, Mu Han found himself at a loss for words. Was this guy flaunting his married life just to rub salt in his single-guy wounds? Truly shameless.

Mu Han let out a laugh, more out of anger than amusement, and pointed to the door with his left hand. “Get out.”

And so, Li Yan cheerfully rolled right out of the room. After two sleepless days of intense overtime work, everything was finally resolved. His body might have been exhausted, but his spirits were soaring. At last, he could go home, sleep, and-most importantly-cuddle and kiss his wife!

Shaking his head, Mu Han tidied up the documents on his desk before heading to the lounge behind his office to freshen up.

Before meeting Chu Qianqian, Mu Han had been recognized as the ultimate workaholic in Kunhuang Group. Whenever important cases or emergencies cropped up, he’d often work through the night, forgoing sleep entirely. In fact, the lounge behind his office was far more frequently used than his rarely inhabited villa.

To say Mu Han was passionate about his work would have been an understatement.

For this reason, even though he hadn’t stayed overnight in the lounge over the past two months, the cleaning staff still made sure to keep it spick and span, just in case.

Having his workspace and sleeping quarters adjacent to each other gave Mu Han even more time to focus on his tasks. Because of this, he managed to wrap up the situation in record time.

“Tomorrow, I can finally go back…”

Thinking about that night before leaving City B, Mu Han allowed himself to relax. He then sank into his first proper sleep in two days.

Perhaps it was because he dreamed of Chu Qianqian, but Mu Han had an incredibly restful night. When he woke up the next morning, it was already 7:30. After breakfast, he made it to the airport just in time.

Apart from Lin Tianyou, the recent investigation within the company had uncovered two more traitors. Both held significant positions within the organization-one of them even belonged to a branch of the Mu Family. Initially, due to a faint sense of familial obligation and the fact that the individual was quite capable, Mu Han had given him a chance to prove himself.

Unfortunately, as the saying goes, “Greed knows no bounds.” Once this person gained authority, their ambition outgrew their capabilities. Even after being exposed, this individual showed no remorse.

Given their unique status, the person had access to some sensitive company information. While limited, what little they knew still caused trouble for Kunhuang Group after it was leaked. Resolving these issues required someone to take the lead. Since Mu Han was eager to return to City B, the responsibility naturally fell on Li Yan’s shoulders.

As a result, Mu Han would be traveling to City B alone this time.