37. Can’t you be with me?

Not catching the same elevator, Chi Jin looked up the team-building housing information sheet in the work group and found Chen Yisheng's guest room.

She stopped and knocked on the door: "Editor Chen, you left your phone behind. I'll bring it to you."

"So distant?" Chen Yisheng opened the door, a hint of grievance in his voice.

"Today's events..."

"What are you talking about?"

Chi Jin bit her lip. She wasn't sure how much Chen Yisheng had seen of this morning's events. But no matter how much he had seen, they were ultimately just superiors and subordinates. Why should she explain?

"Are you with Sun Ting? I saw him send you off this morning."

It seemed that he hadn't noticed Sun Ting's outrageous move, so he breathed a sigh of relief: "Not yet."

"return?"

Chi Jin didn't understand what he meant, so he just handed the phone over: "Your phone."

The moment their fingertips touched, Chen Yisheng suddenly grabbed her hand holding the phone. The force was not strong but because it was sudden, he easily pulled Chi Jin into the guest room.

"Chen Yisheng!" Chi Jin exclaimed, his back resting against the cold door.

He took a step closer, trapping her between himself and the door, his warm breath almost brushing her cheek. "Not yet? Does that mean you're going to date?"

Chi Jin knew it was Sun Ting, without naming him. That frivolous guy had simply given her a ride this morning, but he'd taken advantage of her. This scene happened right outside the company gate, right in front of Chen Yisheng's eyes.

Chi Jin didn't answer, but just put his hand against him.

"Do you like him?" His voice was low, with a persistence that could not be avoided.

Chi Jin lowered his eyes: "Why should I tell you?"

"If it wasn't him, could it be me?"

Chi Jin was so scared that he held his breath, but his breathing became rapid involuntarily.

He suddenly lowered his head and gently pressed his warm lips against her forehead - the place that had been offended by Sun Ting.

He saw it! He had witnessed the entire embarrassing moment that morning.

Chi Jin also subconsciously pushed him away, which was counterproductive. This resistance somehow angered him. Chen Yisheng's breathing suddenly became heavier, and his tone was obviously excited.

"It's OK with him, but not with me?"

The question was filled with scorching heat, and before she could react, the next kiss was filled with punishment. It was just a restrained peck that separated immediately, but it was enough to make her freeze all over.

In the silent room, the only sounds were her own rapid, chaotic breathing, and... even more uncontrolled than her own, Chen Yisheng's breath. The two breaths were heavy and rough, gradually becoming indistinguishable from each other.

Chi Jin raised his trembling hand, put his fingertips against his lips, and whispered——

"Chen Yisheng...you were the one who bullied me, why is your heart beating so fast?"

Chen Yisheng's eyes darkened suddenly, as if these words had ignited his last remaining restraint. Without a word, he grabbed her wrist, pressed her forcefully against the wall, and kissed her fiercely with an almost predatory aura.

He heard it all.

That familiar whisper—last time, in the car, half drunk, she'd asked the same question, "Why is your heart beating so fast?"... Why had there been no further news since? Why had there been no further news? Was it someone deliberately concealing it? It wasn't all calm at all.

Under the palm of her hand, the phone suddenly and violently vibrated, like a basin of cold water, extinguishing this casual kiss that was already full of temptation and anxiety.

Without even looking at it, Chen Yisheng roughly rolled over the hang-up button with his thumb, threw the phone onto the bed behind him, and held Chi Jin's face in his hands, his eyes surging with strong emotions she had never seen before:

"Chi Jin, I..."

The stubborn ringing sounded particularly harsh in the silence.

Chi Jin, like a frightened rabbit, suddenly broke free from the shackles in his palm, bent down in panic, and picked up the still buzzing culprit from the bed.

The screen lit up and the caller ID showed: Qin Xiancheng.

"But...it might be something at work. Urgent...something."

"……catch."

Chen Yisheng's voice was very hoarse, and carried the anxiety and embarrassment of being forcibly interrupted.

Chi Jin's fingers trembled slightly as he pressed the answer button. Qin Xiancheng's slightly doubtful voice came out clearly.

"Hello? Editor Chen, is Chi Jin with you? She went upstairs to give you your phone, but she left hers here too."

Chen Yisheng fell backward onto the bed, one arm draped over his eyes, the other hanging limply at his side. His chest heaved violently, and his entire body, from fingertips to collarbone, from the tip of his nose to the roots of his ears, was flushed.

Chi Jin didn't dare to look back at him, turned his back and whispered, "Well, Brother Qin, I'm here."

"Where did you take the fruit?"

"Something urgent happened suddenly..."

"Okay, okay, we still have to sing here for another hour or two, come down and get it later."

"Um."

"I think King Chen is very tired today, so please don't disturb him."

"Um."

Chi Jin wished the call could last longer so that she would have more time to think about how to deal with the embarrassment at the moment.

"Then let's keep singing! I can't hear you clearly!"

Qin Xiancheng hung up the phone and the guest room fell into silence.

Chen Yisheng had already stood up. With a flushed face, he handed her a bottle of water, but he tilted his head back and gulped down half of the bottle.

"I'm sorry." He paused. "I... I saw you and Sun Ting coming together today, and I was so jealous that I almost went crazy. You know I'm not like this usually, but when it comes to you, I always... Anyway, I'm really sorry, I was too upset."

Chi Jin swallowed her saliva and lowered her head in silence. She was really tired this week. She didn't know why troubles kept coming up one after another.

"I wanted to wait a little longer. It would be better later. But I really... Chi Jin..."

"Editor-in-Chief Chen, I have something to tell you."

Chen Yisheng squatted down beside the bed upon hearing the sound, knelt on one knee, and looked up at Chi Jin in an almost humble manner: "Chi Jin. Why do you always call me Editor-in-Chief Chen? You can call others Brother Qin, Brother Zhao, Sister Huan, or Sister Qian."

Chi Jin had never thought about this issue before, because she had never thought that she and Chen Yisheng would have a relationship beyond that of a superior and a subordinate.

"Maybe I'm afraid of offending you."

The title has also been completely restored to "you".

Chen Yisheng felt discouraged as if all his efforts had been wasted, and smiled self-deprecatingly.

"Chi Jin, for such a long time, do you think I only treat you as a subordinate? Do you also only treat me as a boss?"

Chi Jin unconsciously clenched his fingertips and whispered, "Friend."

"If I say love at first sight, you'd think it's cliché, and even I find it incomprehensible. But it's true that I remembered you the first time we met at the autumn recruitment fair. Back then, you were just a student about to enter the workforce. Later, you were a job seeker and my subordinate. But you should know that we're not only colleagues, we're from the same hometown, we're alumni, we're seniors, and we're friends."

"We have so much in common and have been through so much together, both at work and in life. I don't talk much, but you should be able to sense that I treat you differently than others—sterner, yet also more gentle. At work, I can't wait to share all my experiences with you. I want you to learn through trial and error, but I also can't bear to see you cry over failure. In life, I cherish every second we spend together outside of the office, every side of you I see. Don't you sense that?"

"I won't do anything I'm not sure of. You have feelings for me too, right?"

His voice deepened, almost pleading.

He looked up at her humbly like a big dog drenched in rain.

Chi Jin's hand gradually relaxed. After he finally finished speaking, he spoke softly, "Chen Yisheng, thank you for liking me. As a woman, I admit that you are very attractive, with excellent conditions and almost impeccable. As a subordinate, I am also very grateful to you for taking care of me over the past two years, whether it is out of the friendship between senior and junior brothers or the friendship between fellow townsmen."

Chen Yisheng lowered his head and smiled bitterly, "You could be more direct in rejecting me."

"No, because you're also very sincere, so I have to tell you the truth. Editor-in-Chief Chen, you're not from Jing City either, so you should know how difficult it is for a girl like me working alone in a foreign land. My financial situation and my family background don't allow me to enjoy the romantic life with peace of mind. When I was in school, my only education was my degree, and now that I'm in society, my only job is my job. For me now, work is the most important guarantee of survival, and I don't dare to take risks with it."

There were some things Chi Jin didn't say. He was their superior, a man, and they worked in the same company. If their office romance were exposed, even if management didn't punish them, Chi Jin would be the one most affected. Furthermore, Chen Yisheng was still nominally "married," so what was the point of Chi Jin being in a relationship with a married person without any explanation?

"I don't want to hold you back, nor do I want to put so much pressure on myself."

Chen Yisheng stood up, drank the remaining half bottle of water, and said, "Chi Jin. I never thought that my conditions were good, nor did I ever think that your conditions were bad. What I like is not your conditions, but you."

"Thank you anyway. You deserve better." Chi Jin played the good guy card. This sentence was like a knife, stabbing himself at the same time.

Chen Yisheng was silent for a long time before he asked in a hoarse voice, "Besides the relationship between superiors and subordinates, besides the practical factors you mentioned...is there anything else I haven't done enough? Is it because my age is not suitable, or is it because I am...a person who really can't make you fall in love?"

To be honest, there was a feeling of excitement. Chi Jin was not a fool and could feel his kindness towards her. But as Chi Jin said, none of this mattered in front of work.

Chi Jin shook his head against his will: "I'm sorry. I never thought you would like me, so I didn't think about this issue."

"I see." Chen Yisheng forced a smile. "Go down, or they won't call you again."

Chi Jin stood up and forced out an equally ugly smile: "Goodbye, Editor-in-Chief Chen. Let's keep our distance from now on."

"Okay. Be safe."

He turned around, his voice back to his usual cold and distant tone.

"good evening."

"good evening."

The night was restless and there were no good dreams. Chi Jin was not the only one who could not sleep all night.