Whitewashed walls
Qu Shiyao stepped into the CAQ Group building. Everything was in good order and calm.
The sensational news about a CEO who mysteriously turned into a pig's head in the underground parking lot after work yesterday hasn't even caused a ripple.
Qu Shiyao threw herself into her office chair, habitually opened the system backend, and saw that her follower count had reached 733.
She deflated like a punctured balloon, slumping into the chair with a blank stare at the ceiling.
[Host...] The system's electronic voice was weak and listless, carrying the exhaustion of someone who had stayed up all night.
【Stay calm...maybe one day our novel will become a hit?】 This consolation was so weak that even it didn't believe it.
Last night was a nightmare for the entire system.
It had just entered energy-saving hibernation mode when the host suddenly opened its eyes!
The system was so startled that its data flow tightened, as if something earth-shattering had happened.
As a result, the host only glanced at the background, his brows furrowed into a line, and then fell asleep like a salted fish.
Around 2 a.m., the system had just entered hibernation mode when the host suddenly sat up again! He opened the background again! After reading it, he lay down with a constipated expression.
Four or five in the morning...
That night, Qu Shiyao was like a tireless robot, repeatedly waking up, checking data, sighing, and lying back down. Each time, she precisely interrupted the system's hibernation mode.
The system was so overworked that the core temperature soared, and the resentment was almost palpable!
It silently picked up its special little notebook, wrote this down, and then hung the host's electronic black-and-white photo in a corner of the system space, along with a few cigarettes.
In contrast, Qu Shiyao was unusually excited, her eyes fixed on the backend data with a gleaming green light, as if she wanted to jump into the screen and create a new account to collect a bunch of her favorites.
As I was leaving, I bumped into Yi Yu, who was carrying a large bag of groceries back home.
The other person was clearly taken aback when they saw Qu Shiyao up so early, a hint of regret flashing across their eyes, but they still greeted her with a smile: "Sister Shiyao, good morning, you're up so early today?"
The system silently glanced at the bag in Yi Yu's hand, which was filled with a large amount of ingredients for making breakfast.
It was obvious that the fish was meant to be given to Qu Shiyao as an example, as was the usual explanation.
He never expected his host to get up so early today, wasting his time.
Qu Shiyao absentmindedly responded, her mind still preoccupied with the original plot she had received that day, trying to find a hook between the lines that could trigger a surge in fans, all the way to the company.
"Tongzi, you don't understand." Qu Shiyao sighed, exuding an air of dejection.
If her access level is below 3, she'll have to drag the CEO down with her to prevent the unpleasant plot from unfolding.
The system replied speechlessly: "You didn't feel any urgency a while ago, but suddenly you do?"
Qu Shiyao stared blankly, muttering to herself, "Back then, the emperor was far away, and those forced love scenarios seemed a million miles away... Now? I'm jumping around under the CEO's nose every day, how far am I from being... you know... by him?"
Qu Shiyao stared blankly at the ceiling.
"Shiyao! President Si is looking for you!" Jin Yuxi walked in from outside and called out to Qu Shiyao, who looked dejected.
Whoosh!
All eyes in the office instantly turned to them.
The most obvious example was Lin Weiwei, whose exaggerated movements practically screamed envy, jealousy, and hatred.
Qu Shiyao slowly turned her stiff neck to look at Jin Yuxi, remaining silent for a full three seconds.
[Host?] The system asked, puzzled.
"This guy recovered so quickly?" Qu Shiyao roared in shock in her mind, "Was I that lenient last night?"
The system immediately switched to the CEO's perspective, and even it exclaimed in amazement: "Wow... no wonder he's the CEO's personal divine doctor! The effect... is immediate! The bruises on his face have mostly disappeared!"
Qu Shiyao frowned slightly, then relaxed, a meaningful smile curving her lips.
She's so resilient; she won't have to hold back when she hits her in the future.
The CEO's office.
Qu Shiyao knocked on the door twice as a symbolic gesture, and upon hearing a deep "Come in" from inside, she pushed the door open and entered.
Si Cheng was sitting behind a large desk, holding a document, without looking up, seemingly immersed in his work.
Qu Shiyao glanced around, walked straight to the leather sofa next to her, and plopped down, her movements as natural as if she were returning to her own home.
She looked at the man behind the desk with a leisurely air.
Tsk, from a distance, they do look presentable.
But judging from her excellent eyesight and superb makeup skills, her face was definitely covered with a thick layer of powder!
[Host, did the CEO paint his face multiple times like a wall?] The system was amazed, seeing a CEO do this for the first time in a CEO novel.
Although there have been one or two people who wear makeup before, I swear, it's never this exaggerated! The powder is a millimeter thick!
Qu Shiyao's lips twitched almost imperceptibly: "Isn't this a form of dedication? Even with an injured face, you still insist on coming to work."
From the moment Qu Shiyao entered the room, Si Cheng's mind was not on the documents.
He pricked up his ears, waiting to hear her greet him.
And what happened? She just sat down?! And she sat down so calmly!
Ha! This woman! She's getting better and better at playing hard to get! Isn't she afraid he'll actually...
The dull pain throbbing in the back of his head instantly brought back the memory of being shot in the head at the bar a few weeks ago.
He rubbed it subconsciously.
"Ahem!" Si Cheng cleared his throat, finally put down the documents, and prepared to begin today's exchange.
Qu Shiyao was picking up a disposable cup from the coffee table and pouring herself a glass of water when she heard the cough. Without even lifting her eyelids, she said, "President Si has a cold? Drink more hot water and remember to take your medicine."
Despite saying that, she remained glued to the sofa, not moving an inch, offering only perfunctory words.
Si Cheng: "..." He suppressed his displeasure, got up and walked to the main sofa opposite Qu Shiyao to sit down.
As soon as he sat down, some powder, like a miniature avalanche, quietly drifted down from the edge of his cheek.
[Host! Don't drink! The CEO's makeup is floating into your water glass!]
Qu Shiyao had just picked up her water glass and brought it to her lips when she heard this and froze. She looked at the clear water in the glass and then at the "whitewashed" face opposite her.
She silently placed the water glass back on the coffee table, her movements carrying a hint of barely perceptible disdain.
"Qu Shiyao," Si Cheng decided to give her a chance to be honest, his voice low, "is there anything you want to say to me?"
"Huh?" Qu Shiyao was slightly taken aback, a hint of embarrassment on her face. After hesitating for a moment, she cautiously asked, "President Si... is your foundation a little too thick today? It seems a bit uneven?"
Si Cheng: "..."
His expression froze, his brain seemingly frozen in shock by those words! A complete blank!
[Pfft—Hahahaha! What the hell is this unevenness! Host, you're so heartless!] The system laughed so hard in its mind that the data stream was all over the place, frantically taking pictures to save the CEO's epic moment of utter bewilderment.
When Sicheng came to his senses, he had difficulty breathing and felt his blood pressure spike rapidly.
He took a deep breath, forcibly maintaining his domineering CEO dignity, and gritted his teeth to give her one more chance: "Anything else?"
Qu Shiyao blinked, a hint of hesitation and tentativeness in her eyes: "Um... I know how to do makeup, can I help you touch it up?"
Si Cheng's breath hitched, and he felt dizzy and disoriented. He didn't know if he was ashamed of losing face or so angry at Qu Shiyao that he couldn't breathe.
[What the hell do you mean, "fix it"... Hahahaha! Host, are you trying to make me laugh to death so I can take over my job?! Does the domineering CEO need you to fix his makeup?!] The system laughed so hard its core overheated that it almost crashed.
"I've called you here today to arrange something for you." He quickly changed the subject, fearing that Qu Shiyao might say something even more infuriating next.
Qu Shiyao sat upright, as if she hadn't just uttered those absurd words.
"I called you here today to arrange work!" Si Cheng decisively cut off this topic that had made him lose face, afraid that Qu Shiyao would pull out a powder puff and pounce on him at any moment.
"My personal assistant is going on a business trip temporarily, and I need a personal assistant to handle some daily chores for a period of one month."
He spoke succinctly, scrutinizing Qu Shiyao with his gaze, "You, for now, will take over."
"Do you want more money?" Qu Shiyao asked almost the instant Si Cheng finished speaking, voicing her most pressing question.
Si Cheng frowned, instinctively launching into his manipulative tactics: "Young man, you need to think long-term. This position offers opportunities to..."
After listening to his long speech, the system simplified the CEO's words for the increasingly impatient host: [No extra pay, more work, empty promises!]
"President Si!" Qu Shiyao interrupted his long speech without any politeness, her tone resolute.
"According to labor law, I have the right to refuse!" Qu Shiyao interrupted Si Cheng's long-winded PUA rant without even thinking.
According to the outline and plot, she won't get promoted and will continue to serve as the male lead's assistant, so there's no need to worry about whether she gets promoted or not.
Si Cheng looked at her in surprise.
This was the first time a woman had so openly rejected the job and only talked about money in front of him.
That's interesting.
This unconventional approach lessened his anger at being exposed for using fake makeup.
"Can."
Si Cheng nodded, his quick agreement surprising Qu Shiyao. "Extra work, extra pay. The HR will discuss the specific amount with you."
Upon hearing Si Cheng's words, Qu Shiyao instantly perked up, straightened her back, and her eyes shone with an astonishing brightness!
She immediately pressed her advantage: "Mr. Si is brilliant! Then... can I bring my colleagues from the office to learn with me? They'll be so excited to hear they can serve you up close!"
Her face clearly showed that "our team is super united".
Sicheng: "???"
His face clearly said, "Are you kidding me?"
He knew exactly what kind of people those women in the assistant's office were. It was good enough if they didn't trip each other up, let alone actively help Qu Shiyao.
Looking into Qu Shiyao's eyes, which shone with sincerity, Si Cheng simply assumed she was daydreaming.
He didn't bother to investigate further, waving his hand with a hint of condescension and schadenfreude: "Fine. As long as they're willing."
Si Cheng's lips curled into a mocking smile.
He wanted to see who would willingly work as an underling for their love rival.
Qu Shiyao immediately smiled broadly: "Thank you, President Si! You are truly insightful!"
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