Volume One, Chapter 16: Stripping President Feng’s Pants!!!

In the days that followed, the collaborative project between the three companies progressed smoothly and methodically. This should have had nothing to do with Li Ruochu; all she needed to do was carry out her routine tasks as usual. Yet fate seemed to delight in playing tricks—every day, she was summoned to Shen Yubai’s office.

At first, Li Ruochu harbored a glimmer of hope, thinking perhaps Gu Qiuying possessed some remarkable talent and merely needed a bit of guidance on certain points. But as time passed, she saw through the situation entirely. Gu Qiuying was a complete novice, clueless about the business. The minor projects she had supposedly completed before were most likely the result of her subordinates’ hard work, with little to do with her personally.

As noon approached, Li Ruochu stretched to ease the stiffness from sitting too long, intending to go out for lunch. Just then, the desk phone rang abruptly. Its line was unique—only Shen Yubai could call through.

“President Shen, it’s nearly time to clock out. Can’t this wait until the afternoon?” Li Ruochu picked up the receiver, striving to keep her voice calm, though she couldn’t help letting some weariness and impatience seep in. She’d skipped breakfast, her stomach now growling in protest, and she felt dizzy from hunger. She had no intention of ruining her health for work.

“There’s an issue with Qiuying. Come over…” Shen Yubai’s voice came through the receiver, but before he could finish, Li Ruochu’s pent-up anger erupted. Heat rushed to her head; everything before her blurred. With a sharp crack, she hung up. The anger that had been suppressed now surged like a flood breaking its banks.

She shot to her feet, her chair scraping harshly against the floor. Without bothering to tidy her chaotic desk or pay attention to curious glances from others, she strode toward Shen Yubai’s office.

Li Ruochu arrived at his door and, without hesitation, kicked it open.

The next moment, she marched straight up to Gu Qiuying, her eyes wide and blazing with fury, like an enraged lion. “Gu Qiuying, are you an idiot? You can’t even fill out a simple form—what are you pretending to be? Didn’t you claim you handled all those projects yourself? Why do you keep coming to me with trivial nonsense? I’m not your mother; why should I take care of you?”

As she spoke, she jabbed her finger at Gu Qiuying’s nose, her voice hoarse with anger, her whole body trembling with agitation. When she finished, her fierce gaze—sharp as a blade—turned on Shen Yubai. “I work for the company, not for her alone. If you want me to help her again, I expect a share of the project bonus!”

Both Shen Yubai and Gu Qiuying were stunned by Li Ruochu’s sudden outburst. Gu Qiuying, who’d been sitting smugly, waiting for Li Ruochu to solve her problem, hadn’t expected such loss of control. Her smile vanished, replaced by shock and grievance. She’d assumed Li Ruochu would endure for Shen Yubai’s sake, as she always had.

But this time, she’d miscalculated.

Gu Qiuying’s eyes reddened as she feigned vulnerability. “Ruochu, I know you’re upset because I took your project, but it was all arranged by Yubai. You’re a company employee—are you saying you won’t even listen to the president?”

“Listen to your nonsense. Gu Qiuying, I told you I’m not your mother—stop trying to guilt-trip me.” Li Ruochu was entirely unmoved; her anger had overwhelmed her reason, and she had no patience for Gu Qiuying’s excuses. Her mind felt starved of oxygen, and with the skipped breakfast, she was dizzy, as if lost in a fog.

She forced herself to stand firm, feet planted hard on the floor. Looking to Shen Yubai, her eyes carried a hint of mockery. “I have plenty of work left to do and no time to deal with her forms. President Shen, you seem quite free—why not help your little savior yourself?”

With that, she tossed her head and strode out of the office.

Shen Yubai watched her leave, stunned. He’d never seen Li Ruochu so angry. No matter how serious a project problem, she always handled it calmly—never like this, losing control. Somehow, seeing her so furious and stubborn, he found her oddly endearing.

After leaving the office, Li Ruochu felt her breathing grow harder, vision blurring as the world spun around her. She knew she had to get something to eat or she really wouldn’t last. Without time to think, she staggered toward the elevator. Her hand, weak and trembling, pressed the button.

At last, the elevator doors slid open. As if grasping a lifeline, she rushed inside. But the emotional upheaval, combined with her physical exhaustion, proved too much. As soon as she entered, the world spun violently. Her legs gave way and she collapsed forward uncontrollably.

Instinctively, she flailed for something to steady herself, desperate to avoid injury. But, to her dismay, her hand caught onto someone’s trousers and yanked them down, exposing a pair of underwear adorned with adorable strawberry prints.

The elevator doors closed, freezing the atmosphere within the confined space.

Jiang Mu gasped involuntarily—a sound that echoed awkwardly in the silent elevator. He barely had time to react, lunging forward to help Li Ruochu, blurting, “Secretary Li, what… what kind of greeting is this?”

As he spoke, he caught a glimpse of Feng Yizhou’s face, normally stern, now dark as the bottom of a pot. The air seemed to freeze under the chill radiating from him, every breath tinged with an icy menace.

Jiang Mu dared not glance at Feng Yizhou again. He hurriedly pulled up Feng Yizhou’s trousers, hands fumbling anxiously, sweat beading on his forehead. He stole a glance upward, only to meet Feng Yizhou’s blade-sharp glare, a look that could slice a man in two.

In a haze of semi-consciousness, Li Ruochu struggled to lift her head, meeting Feng Yizhou’s gaze. She wanted to explain, but her throat seemed blocked, unable to utter a single word. A wave of dizziness swept over her; her vision went black, and she lost consciousness completely.

Jiang Mu looked down and saw Li Ruochu’s eyes shut tight, her face pale as paper, her breathing weak—she had clearly fainted.

“President, Secretary Li seems to have passed out,” Jiang Mu said, his voice trembling as he gently shook her, trying to wake her, but Li Ruochu remained unresponsive.