Chapter 206: Oh no, what's going on with my love rival... Should I help him?
Do you know what it means to be full of youthful energy?
Some people say that during middle and high school, it’s the time in your life when you have the most energy and desire, like a strong, young bull.
College students are usually more mature and better at controlling their urges. But just now, Xia Changyu felt like he was back in high school again.
When he saw Lin Yibai’s every smile and little movement, his mind started to go in... that direction.
“Damn it!” Xia Changyu cursed himself silently, then said, “Baiyi is a good girl. How could I have such dirty thoughts?”
It's normal to like beauty, everyone does.
But Xia Changyu knew he could've acted more proper… if only he could control his “gun.”
Yes. Silent suffering, hard to control the weapon.
And this, this was actually the real reason why Lin Yibai canceled her part-time job at the wedding company and came all the way here today.
She thought, if what she gave him really counts as "medicine"... Even people with real health problems probably wouldn’t take such a strong supplement, let alone someone like Xia Changyu, who’s full of youthful energy and in top shape.
So if that wasn’t considered drugging someone, then what was it?
Back in the office area, a new section had been set up.
The team working on the domestic business was finally getting on the right track.
The team members respected Lin Yibai a lot, treating her like their core member. More exactly, like a leader.
But she waved her hand and said, “No need to be so formal. Just do things the same way you always do.”
Xiao Wei smiled and said, “What are you talking about? If it weren’t for you, Baiyi, our department wouldn’t even exist!”
Lin Yibai: “Huh?”
Xiao Wei giggled.
Lin Yibai scratched her head. She still wasn’t fully used to being seen as a leader. She meant to speak softly, but her natural sense of responsibility kicked in.
She nodded seriously and said, “Well then, how about we have a quick meeting now? Let’s go over all the things you've been putting off and try to solve what we can.”
A leader should look like a leader.
Compared to Xia Changyu’s more mature external business teams, this department still felt a bit young and inexperienced.
Sure, the business was growing. But the team didn’t have much decision-making power.
When it came to planning, product choices, launching popular items. They were all missing a solid person to guide them.
Lin Yibai wasn’t tied down by workplace politics like the others. In a short meeting, she spoke clearly and directly,
“Our goal is to make this department profitable, and then become independent from relying on the rest of the company. First, we need to earn enough to support ourselves, and then we can think about making profits for the company.
“Second, new products mean fresh energy. If a department can’t even come up with new things, then there’s no point in it even existing.”
“So, Xiao Wei, as my assistant, please write down what I’m about to say next.”
“Some of you may need to work a bit harder. There will be a business trip to the production area, and you’ll need to help negotiate some new contracts.”
Assistant Xiao Wei carefully took notes, and the rest of the team all said they had no problem with the plan. For the marketing team, going on business trips was a normal part of the job.
It was like their department had been missing a key part, like a computer without a chip, and with Lin Yibai’s arrival and leadership, even this small department started running smoothly and quickly.
But Assistant Xiao Wei still looked a bit worried. She quietly reminded, “But... this might use up a lot of the company’s resources. The foreign trade department will probably complain. What about the boss?”
Lin Yibai replied confidently, “It’s true that the company only has so many resources. If we take some, the foreign trade team will have less, so it’s normal if they’re unhappy. As for the boss, don’t worry about that. I’ll talk to him myself.”
Xiao Wei asked, “Really?”
“Do I look like someone who lies?”
Xiao Wei asked again, “But how are you going to convince the boss?”
With full confidence, Lin Yibai said, “Of course I’ll—”
But before she could finish, she raised an eyebrow and paused. She suddenly remembered… why was she explaining all this to Xiao Wei?
So instead, she calmly said, “I have my ways.”
Xiao Wei pressed, “But what exactly are those ways?”
Lin Yibai gave a proud little snort, showing the style of a department leader, and said mysteriously, “If it’s something you shouldn’t ask, then don’t ask!”
This wasn’t the kind of thing a regular employee needed to know, got it?
I mean, did they really think she would seduce the boss or use her looks to get what she wanted?
Hmph. If they thought that, then they didn’t know her at all!
Lin Yibai asked Xiao Wei to organize the documents. She’d take them later to that annoying love rival and get his signature. Even though she technically didn’t work in this department, they were all “on the same side,” you know?
If everyone saw her as their team leader, then fighting for their interests wasn’t such a big deal, right?
In fact, even she didn’t realize something. Even though she was still a college student, her way of thinking and the way she handled things was already becoming more and more like a real professional. No matter what, she definitely looked like someone who would end up in management someday.
Of course, she was still unsure about her future. She hadn’t yet decided what kind of job she really wanted. She preferred something relaxing, with freedom, and good security.
She let out a deep sigh.
After the meeting ended, Lin Yibai didn’t act like a “real boss” who just sits at her desk all day drinking tea and reading newspapers.
The new department still had a lot to do, like promotional videos, cover shoots, and model work.
And without a doubt, Lin Yibai was the best person for the job. Everyone in the department enjoyed working with her. She was way easier to get along with than outside models they might hire.
The department mainly worked with domestic ceramics, and since most of the ceramics were household items, like tableware sets, it made sense to go for a “good housewife” style in the shoot.
Lin Yibai gently pulled her not-so-long hair to the front of her chest, a hairstyle that everyone knows can be... a little dangerous.
And to truly capture that “perfect housewife” look, you needed a curve-hugging dress, a frilly apron tied just right, and of course sheer stockings!
But this was a real ad shoot, and Lin Yibai didn’t mind making some extra money from it.
They filmed for quite a long time. Only when everyone in the department felt satisfied did she finally breathe a little easier.
But without even taking a moment to rest, Lin Yibai rushed straight to Xia Changyu’s office, holding the department documents in her arms and still wearing her outfit from the photo shoot!
Knock knock knock~
Creak~
Lin Yibai knocked on the door and pushed it open. But as soon as there was even a small gap, a rush of icy cold air hit her face, making her shiver. Even though it was the burning heat of August summer outside, she felt a sudden chill.
“Ahh—brrr~” Lin Yibai rubbed the sides of her arms and said with surprise, “Xia Changyu, what are you doing? I get that it’s hot in summer, but you set the air conditioner to 16 degrees? Aren’t you freezing?!”
Cold?
Xia Changyu, sitting at his desk, felt like even the air he breathed out was hot.
If the air conditioner could go any lower than 16 degrees, he would probably just soak himself in a tub of ice water. He felt so restless, like his whole body was burning from the inside out.
“Xiao Bai, did you need something?” Xia Changyu exhaled deeply, trying to pull himself together.
But then he looked up and saw Lin Yibai, still in her “perfect wife” costume from the shoot.
A curve-hugging dress that showcased her perfect figure, then stockings that made her long legs even more captivating, and that dangerously styled hair pulled over her chest…
Most importantly, her beautiful face.
Ha~
Huh huh~
“Whoa!” Lin Yibai also noticed something strange about her love rival. She quickly stepped forward and asked with concern. “Xia Changyu, why is your face so red? You look like someone who drank bad alcohol. Are you okay? Why is your body so hot?”
A soft, sweet scent drifted into Xia Changyu’s nose, and for a moment, he actually felt a bit cooler. But then, a wave of heat rushed up to his face again, making him feel even more flushed.
He wasn’t out of control yet, but something inside him, some instinct, was getting stronger and harder to ignore.
The air conditioning didn’t help anymore. All he could think about was getting close to Lin Yibai, as if just breathing in her scent would be enough to satisfy him.
But no. He had to hold it back.
Xia Changyu was fighting against his biological urges, reminding himself that what separates humans from animals is the ability to control desire.
He took a deep breath, but the scent of Lin Yibai in the air only made it harder to focus. Still, he forced himself to act calm and said,
“I’m not really sure what’s going on… Maybe it’s something I ate. I had some barbecue and beer last night, maybe it gave me too much heat.”
Barbecue? Heat from food?
Lin Yibai looked at his unnaturally flushed face and suddenly something clicked in her mind.
Her concerned expression slowly turned… a little awkward.
She frowned slightly and thought to herself, ‘Crap… Could it be the effect of that super tonic soup I gave him? But I swear, it wasn’t poisonous!’
Yeah, not poisonous.
But even middle-aged men would feel energized for a whole night after drinking that stuff. And she had given it to a young, full-of-energy guy like Xia Changyu?
Now he looked so uncomfortable!
So, what should she do now?