Fengyi Group Headquarters, HR Office.
Supervisor Ye Yang glanced at the résumé in her hands, then at the man in front of her. He was dressed in a well-tailored deep navy-blue suit, his tall 185 cm frame exuding both elegance and strength.
The man had a high nose bridge, bright and expressive eyes, and a gentle smile on his face. Despite his formal attire, he still carried a hint of youthful inexperience, giving off a fresh and refined aura.
A top graduate in finance and management from Wharton Business School, personally recommended by Wu Youde, and yet he was only applying for an assistant position? What a waste of talent.
Ye Yang suddenly recalled Wu Youde’s words:
“Xiao Ye, Yanyan just took over company affairs and urgently needs an assistant. I happen to have a friend whose son just graduated and returned to the country. He needs some experience—assign him to Yanyan and let him learn from her. There’s no need to inform the acting chairman about this; just consider it a small favor from an uncle.”
Having spent years in the business world, she easily picked up the underlying message. This so-called “assistant” was clearly meant to be an informant placed beside Yanyan, allowing Wu Youde to keep tabs on the direct lineage faction.
Looking deeper, Vice President Xu had just divorced and was single again. Although Guo Cheng had just passed away, making it likely that she needed time to recover, what better way to move on than to start a new relationship?
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“Bdelapvsse. Mbydj usw qsa uswa blzr.”
Ye Yang cast him another glance. Handsome, pleasant voice, and exuding impeccable manners with every gesture.
A man of this caliber, placed beside the chairman’s two most beloved individuals—he’d have to be here with a purpose.
She picked up the internal phone and called Amy. “Go ahead, Amy is outside.”
The man stood up, nodded gracefully, and pulled open the door before leaving.
Ye Yang couldn’t help but watch him for a little longer, only withdrawing her gaze once he had completely disappeared.
“Some people have all the luck, while others have none. If the boss assigned me an assistant like that, I’d dedicate my life to this company without hesitation.”
As a close confidante of Xue Weiwei, Amy had already contacted her HR sources the moment Meng Ce stepped into the company. She dug up all the details—top education, great looks, tall stature. The last person at Fengyi with this “triple high” combination had been none other than Guo Cheng, the live-in son-in-law.
And now, right after Guo Cheng’s unfortunate demise, another young, handsome, and refined newcomer had arrived—assigned directly to Vice President Xu. The timing was too coincidental.
Especially considering that Xu had the chairman’s granddaughter, Xu Yinyin, by her side, the situation became even more intriguing.
Vice President Xu had just exited a failed marriage, so she likely had no interest in romance. Plus, she was ten years older than this man—an older-woman-younger-man relationship didn’t seem like her style.
On the other hand, he and the princess Xu Yinyin would make a perfect match.
The man possessed both the elegance of a scholar and the sharpness of a business elite. His brows carried a hint of a smile, his voice was so pleasant it could make ears tingle, and he was a perfect gentleman—holding the elevator door for ladies and keeping the button pressed. Chivalry was ingrained in his bones.
The more Amy observed him, the more she found him pleasing to the eye. The more she thought about it, the more she felt he was an excellent match for Princess Yinyin.
Noticing Amy’s sneaky glances and fangirling expression, Meng Ce subconsciously straightened his posture, striving to leave a strong first impression.
Amy led him to Xu Yanyan’s office. Seeing Meng Ce, Xu Yanyan called out to Xu Yinyin, who was about to leave, and introduced them:
“Yinyin, this is the new assistant. You two will be working together, so get to know each other.”
Xu Yanyan had already expected people to be placed around her for monitoring. She just hadn’t expected it to happen this quickly. Fortunately, with Yinyin and Xiao Qi around, anyone who wanted to act out of line would have to get past them first.
Xu Yinyin looked at the newcomer and extended her hand, introducing herself, “Hello, I’m Xu Yinyin, Vice President Xu’s assistant. Nice to meet you.”
“Hello, I’m Meng Ce. I look forward to working with you.”
“Ahhh, his voice is so nice, and he’s so handsome! If all my coworkers looked like this, who would ever be late to work?”
“Tch, he’s just average.” The system commented sourly.
The sudden inner voice made Meng Ce freeze for a moment. Wu Youde had told him that the person he was assigned to was “special,” but he hadn’t expected this kind of special—she could hear her inner voice?!
Meng Ce’s gaze swept over her briefly. Though surprised, he accepted it well.
As long as he completed his mission, he would have repaid his debt, and his ties with the Wu family would finally be severed.
After a Brief Introduction, Xu Yinyin left, while Meng Ce stayed behind for a conversation with Xu Yanyan.
“Xiao Qi, who is this Meng Ce?”
“A distinguished Wharton Business School graduate, majoring in Finance and Management. Twenty-five years old. Broad shoulders, narrow waist, long legs, eight-pack abs. High intelligence, high looks, refined manners, and excellent taste.”
“Tsk tsk, isn’t this like a top scholar becoming a stable boy—wasting talent? With his qualifications, even heading the marketing department would be a step down.”
“Who knows? Maybe Fengyi Group is full of hidden talents. In this company, he’s just average.”
Xu Yinyin shrugged and sat at her desk.
“Yinyin! Yinyin! Have you seen the new handsome guy?”
Xue Weiwei burst into the seat next to her, eyes shining with the excitement of a dedicated gossip.
“I saw him. In a workplace full of balding men in their thirties, his presence is… refreshing.”
She gave a thumbs-up.
“So, you think he’s okay?”
“He’s alright. He’s the only colleague I’ve met who looks ready to debut as an idol.”
“Do you like this type?”
“Like? Not really. Appreciate? Sure.”
“Working with someone like this all day would at least keep things from being dull.”
“Our company should really recruit more high-quality man like him. Even if we can’t have him, we can still admire him from afar. I heard from Amy that he doesn’t act superior because of his education or looks—he’s actually quite approachable.”
Xu Yinyin nodded. “Yeah, he doesn’t seem arrogant at all—looks pretty easygoing.”
“But don’t you think applying for an assistant position is a bit beneath him?”
“It is, a little. But maybe he just enjoys starting from the bottom—some people get a thrill from rising through challenges. Top students don’t think like normal people.”
Xue Weiwei was secretly anxious. She had come with a mission assigned by her fellow gossip lovers—to find out whether this man was the chairman’s chosen match for the princess.
So she kept steering the conversation in that direction, waiting for a romantic spark to appear. But the princess seemed completely indifferent—how frustrating!
“I heard from HR that he had a referral. The person’s identity wasn’t disclosed, just that it was someone from senior management,” Xue Weiwei subtly hinted.
“Senior management?” Xu Yinyin was puzzled.
“There are only two high-level executives left with real influence—Wu Youde and Zhao Xing. I remember they used to be in cahoots with that scumbag… could it be—Xiao Qi!”
“I looked into it. This guy and Wu Youde’s son were classmates. They’ve known each other since high school, but because of the vast difference in family backgrounds, they didn’t interact much. However, once, Wu Jun offended someone and got ambushed in an alley. Meng Ce happened to pass by and jumped in to help, and together, they fought their way out. After that, they became close friends.”
“Unlike the usual spoiled rich kids, Wu Youde preferred his son to associate with smart, well-behaved students. So he looked out for Meng Ce a lot. When he found out that Meng Ce’s father needed long-term dialysis, he used his money and connections to get him a kidney transplant, saving the family. Because of that, Meng Ce’s entire family has been deeply grateful to the Wu family.”
“Didn’t expect Wu Youde to have such a compassionate side.”
“Compassion? No way. Every act of kindness is just another way to maintain control.”
“What do you mean?”
Xu Yinyin and Xue Weiwei both perked up their ears.
“I already explained, didn’t I? Wu Youde sees Meng Ce as a bodyguard or servant. He wanted his son to study abroad but worried about safety, unfamiliar surroundings, and dietary habits. So he figured Meng Ce could go with him—not just as a companion but to look after him.”
“Wow, Wu Youde’s calculations are practically slapping me in the face. He’s so cunning! He knew top students dream of better schools, so he dangled this huge incentive in front of him, wrapping it up as a “talent development” opportunity. And just like that, he tricked him onto the path he wanted. That’s some next-level manipulation. Isn’t this basically a transactional favor?”
“No need to ask if it is—because it is! Meng Ce already felt indebted to the Wu family for his father’s treatment. Now, with this irresistible offer to study abroad, he was put in an impossible position. He hates owing people, but his father said that since they offered, they had to accept the kindness. The Wu family is incredibly wealthy—repaying with money wouldn’t mean much to them. What they really wanted was to shape Meng Ce into someone who would serve them in return. If he learned valuable skills, he’d be more useful to them. Since he already owed them, what was one more favor?”
“Meng Ce never argued with his father about it, but deep down, he always knew that relying on others was never as good as relying on himself. Even if he accepted their offer to study abroad, he never planned to depend on them forever. Only by growing strong enough on his own could he truly have the freedom to soar.”
“See? What makes a top student powerful is their clarity. He knows exactly what he wants and what he doesn’t want. Becoming a rich family’s lackey would mean being controlled forever. Even if he made millions a day, he wouldn’t be happy—because they’d always believe his success was their doing, and he’d be expected to serve them for life.”
“How do you know Wu Youde thinks that way? That’s why, as soon as Meng Ce graduated, he was brought back and sent straight to you—to seduce you.”
“Huh? He wants to do what to me?!”
“Seduce you!”
Xu Yinyin: “……”
Xue Weiwei was screaming internally—I knew it! This is exactly where things were headed!
Ahhh, seduction… slurp!
“What does this have to do with me? I’m just a nobody. What could he possibly gain from seducing me?”
“Everyone thinks the old master favors you a lot. Even if you’re a nobody, that doesn’t change his determination to groom you. If someone can latch onto you, they can skip half a lifetime of struggling.”
Xu Yinyin shuddered, half annoyed, half amused. “Does Wu Youde think being love-struck is hereditary in the Xu family? Just because my dad and aunt both fell hard for love, he thinks I’ll fall for the first guy who flirts with me?”
She seriously doubted the intelligence of this story’s villain.
“It’s not just any guy—Wu Jun is supposedly making a big sacrifice for this.”
Both Xu Yinyin and Xue Weiwei froze. A dangerous thought popped into their heads.
“Don’t tell me… Wu Jun likes Meng Ce?”
“You really are a seasoned gossip fiend. Spot on.”
Xu Yinyin thought about how Meng Ce and Wu Jun met through a fight. Isn’t that a classic schoolyard enemies-to-lovers trope? The cold academic genius versus the arrogant rich bad boy? So much potential.
Xue Weiwei was on the same page, already drafting a 100k-word novel in her head. And honestly? She was so down for it. Wu Jun wasn’t bad-looking either—a classic spoiled second-generation heir.
“Uh… could it be that Meng Ce is actually into men?”
“No way, he’s as straight as a 24K steel rod.”
Xue Weiwei instinctively straightened her back. Turning a straight guy was high-level difficulty! Wow, this gossip was getting wilder by the second.
“Oh my, oh my—so Wu Jun has a secret crush on him, but Wu Youde doesn’t even know his own son is in the closet?”
“Exactly! Exciting, isn’t it?”
“Turning a straight guy, forced love? That’s definitely thrilling—slurp!”
The little gossip-loving gremlin inside Xue Weiwei instantly transformed into a screaming rubber chicken. She could barely hold herself back from rushing straight to the gossip group to share this explosive news!
“Wait a second—if Meng Ce was sent to win me over, and Wu Jun had to give him up painfully, doesn’t that make me the common enemy of both father and son? I’m in danger!”
Xue Weiwei’s excitement plummeted. Right, that would put the princess in serious trouble—Wu Jun would definitely try to sabotage this.
But then again… danger aside, this was a Shura Field!
He loves him. He has to pretend to love her. In moments of desperation, his true feelings might slip out. Then it would turn into he runs, he chases, he has nowhere to escape!
Help! This was way too thrilling!
“Well, can’t help it—you have a special status.”
“No, I have to save myself. I have to crush this problem in the cradle.”
“What do you plan to do?”
Xu Yinyin didn’t answer—because she hadn’t figured it out yet. In situations like this, she had to wait for the enemy to make the first move.
The conversation between Xu Yanyan and Meng Ce lasted just over ten minutes. Once he left, she immediately guessed who was behind him.
To confirm her suspicions, she called a trusted aide and instructed them to dig deeper into Meng Ce’s background.
Meng Ce exhaled lightly as he stepped out of the office.
He had been treading carefully just now, and from her satisfied expression, she probably wouldn’t suspect his intentions.
He was just a new recruit looking to gain experience from the ground up, with the same ambition as any other fresh graduate.
As for getting close to Xu Yinyin—naturally, colleagues would first get to know each other through work.
Before Amy brought him to see Xu Yanyan, she had already arranged his desk—it was right next to Xu Yinyin’s, separated by just an aisle. Not too deliberate, but not distant either. Just right.
Meng Ce greeted everyone he met, moving with effortless grace. His every gesture exuded elegance, making the single female colleagues his age secretly giddy with excitement.
Even though they had already heard from Xue Weiwei that his target was Princess Yinyin, that didn’t stop them from shipping the couple early.
After all, watching other people fall in love was way more enjoyable than being in a relationship themselves. If the couple was sweet, they’d get the sugar rush. If the couple suffered, they’d count themselves lucky. And if the couple had a tragic ending, well, they’d sigh and move on. No real heartbreak involved—it was a win-win business.
From the moment Meng Ce appeared, Xu Yinyin had been secretly observing him. From his appearance to his mannerisms, everything about him exuded refined elegance.
Putting aside his assigned mission, he was actually a pretty decent colleague—capable and easy on the eyes. Too bad…
Xu Yinyin sighed lightly. To keep herself away from the storm of internal struggles, she couldn’t allow herself to give the Xu family any reason to suspect her loyalty.
Even if he were a celestial being descending from heaven, she would still cut off any schemes in their tracks.
“His desk is right next to yours? The first step to wooing a woman—staying within close reach?” The system speculated.
Xu Yinyin sneered inwardly. She had been dismantling schemes for twenty years—she feared no one.
Meng Ce didn’t show Xu Yinyin any excessive enthusiasm. He simply sat quietly at his desk and familiarized himself with his work.
He had hesitated for days before making his decision, all because of the debt he owed Wu Youde. Though Wu Youde had only instructed him to get close to Xu Yinyin without specifying how far he had to go, the message was clear—you should know how much you owe and how much you need to repay.
Meng Ce had long understood Wu Youde’s ways. He had seen glimpses of it while accompanying Wu Jun overseas.
Wu Youde claimed he was nurturing talent, sending them both abroad. But in reality, Meng Ce was nothing more than a glorified servant—a study companion to wait on the young master.
He had always been clear about one thing: for someone from his background, a flashy degree alone wouldn’t be enough to make it. In finance and management, connections were everything—and that, the Wu family had in abundance.
They were using him as a study companion, but he could also use their wealth and network as a stepping stone. Once his wings were strong enough, he would have the power to break free.
And when that time came, all he needed was an opportunity—to leave, to escape Wu Youde’s grasp.
The world was vast. Did Wu Youde think he owned all of it?
With this mindset, he accepted Wu Youde’s mission. As for how far he’d go—well, that depended on how soon he could build enough capital to leave.
Before that, he could stall for time.
- Separated by an aisle, they hadn’t exchanged a single word all morning, which was making the gossip-loving onlookers anxious. Taking advantage of a coffee break, they gathered to discuss.
“Weiwei, are you sure you heard from Xiao Qi that he came here to pursue her?”
“Of course! I was right there at the time—surround sound, okay?”
“It’s been almost three hours, and he hasn’t made a move at all. What kind of strategy is this?”
“What’s the rush? It’s his first day. If he made a move now, he’d be exposing himself too soon. We’re talking about an heir to a wealthy family here—if he acted too obviously, wouldn’t he be afraid of getting beaten to death by the old master? Just think about what happened to the last live-in son-in-law.”
That one sentence left everyone speechless.
The group quickly downed their tea and scattered.
It wasn’t just them who were impatient—Xu Yinyin was too. Knowing that he had come prepared but wasn’t making any moves was making her feel passive.
She couldn’t just ask him directly, could she? That would make her look self-obsessed. But just waiting around like this left her feeling on edge all day—it was driving her crazy!
“Secretary Xu, how do I do this?”
Meng Ce approached her with a form.
Xu Yinyin shook her head. “I don’t know either. Ask Amy.”
With that, she turned and walked straight to Amy, who was ten meters away. Amy immediately got up and went over to Meng Ce, explaining everything to him step by step.
Meng Ce: “……”
After Amy left, Meng Ce stretched his shoulders in a deliberately casual manner, then picked up his cup as if he were going to get water. Taking the opportunity, he asked, “Secretary Xu, do you want anything to drink? I can bring it for you.”
“No need, no need. I don’t drink water, eat food, or use the restroom during work hours. Thanks!”
Meng Ce: “……”
He let out a silent sigh, then headed to the break room, finding this more difficult than he had expected.
“This is your strategy? Avoiding him like the plague?”
“Don’t you think it’s effective? The key is being completely unyielding—‘don’t mess with me’ mode!”
“……” The system was speechless.
When Meng Ce returned, he casually placed a brownie on Xu Yinyin’s desk. “Xue Weiwei asked me to bring this for you.”
“Impossible. I have diabetes. Weiwei knows that.” Xu Yinyin ruthlessly exposed his lie.
When you’re out in the world, illnesses are self-assigned!
Meng Ce was amused. He didn’t bother to hide it anymore. “Apologies, I lied. I wanted to give it to you myself. It has nothing to do with anyone else.”
Xu Yinyin kept a straight face and lied right back: “But my diabetes is real. Doesn’t matter who it comes from.”
Meng Ce was momentarily stunned before asking, “Miss Xu, do you have an issue with me? I keep getting the feeling that you’re deliberately keeping your distance.”
“Mhm, you’re right about that.”
“……”
Meng Ce wondered—are all wealthy heiresses this wary, or did she somehow already know his intentions?
“I know all about these seduction tricks—first, using a workplace connection to build familiarity, then increasing interactions to subtly learn about my interests and daily habits. After that, he’d create ‘coincidental’ encounters, slowly inserting himself into my life, eroding my personal space little by little. He’d stage romantic surprises and pretend they were unintentional, catering to a young girl’s vanity. Step by step, he’d lure me in until I fell for him—at which point, he’d have complete control over me. Hah, men!”
Meng Ce, who had just been planning his first step: “……”
She’s this sharp, yet Wu Youde called her a love brain? That old bastard!
“But seriously, has Wu Jun ever used these tricks on him? More than his seduction plan for me, I’m way more curious about how he and Wu Jun interacted.”
Xu Yinyin’s inner thoughts made Meng Ce stiffen. What’s with suddenly bringing up Wu Jun?
He quietly perked up his ears.
“There’s no way Wu Jun, that closeted guy, would make it that obvious. Come on, Meng Ce is a top student—smart and vigilant. Plus, he’s always thought of Wu Jun as just a bro. Even if they had physical contact, Meng Ce would only see it as typical guy behavior. Why would he think anything more of it?”
Meng Ce’s pupils shook. Closeted? Wu Jun?!
“But Wu Jun’s whole thing is using ‘brotherly friendship’ as a cover while getting all handsy. Casually throwing an arm around his shoulder, ruffling his hair, hugging, grabbing his waist. Even more, swimming together, playing basketball, getting tired and showering together—seeing everything he wants to see. Then, late at night, replaying those memories in his head, indulging in secret thoughts and urges. Ugh, so creepy!”
Meng Ce suddenly shot up from his seat, feeling as if bugs were crawling all over him.
Wu Jun… had feelings for him?!
He always thought of Wu Jun as a bro, but Wu Jun… wanted to sleep with him?
This—this was a nightmare!
And thinking back on the past few years, he did recall how Wu Jun always found ways to physically touch him.
He’d always assumed it was just normal guy camaraderie, but in reality—
Ahhhhhh, I’ve been defiled!
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It’s the “I’ve been defiled” for me. Poor Meng Ce. Thank you for the update.
A straight-guy reaction.