At 9:01 AM, Lu Ziqing strolled leisurely through the company’s main entrance.
As soon as he stepped in, Uncle Li, the security guard, lowered his voice and warned him, “You’d better hurry inside. A new director arrived today and is currently upstairs scolding people for not clocking in on time. He said attendance will be strictly enforced from now on.”
Lu Ziqing paused mid-step. “I was only a minute late…”
Uncle Li: “…You forgot, our company officially starts work at 8:30.”
Lu Ziqing raised an eyebrow and pretended not to hear that. “Oh? Why the sudden arrival of a new director?”
Uncle Li: “Who knows? Seems like someone transferred from headquarters. Looks young—just a boy—but he’s got a real knack for scolding people. Face like a rock, intimidating as hell.”
A new director.
Young.
Intimidating as hell.
…
Lu Ziqing immediately lost his appetite for breakfast. He shoved his bagel and coffee into Uncle Li’s hands, stuffed his own hands into his pockets, and headed upstairs.
The moment he stepped into the elevator, his work group chat, ‘VIP Clubhouse’, blew up.
Mi Lan: [SOS! The new director suddenly arrived, and he’s coming in hot. The office is practically up in flames. Get here ASAP and save us!]
Lu Ziqing: [The old king is dead, the new king ascends. Have no fear, my loyal subjects.]
Mi Lan: [Only a third of the employees have shown up, and the new director’s face is frozen solid.]
Lu Ziqing: [Is he yelling at people?]
Liang Zhi: [Worse than yelling. It’s that kind of oppressive silence that either makes you explode… or perish.]
Lu Ziqing: [Well, don’t perish just yet. Hold on a little longer—your emperor is en route.]
Mi Lan: [Mercedes or Lexus, oh mighty young master? Right now, it’s just Liang Zhi and me in the department office. The boss has already circled by twice and keeps checking his watch.]
Lu Ziqing: [Elevator. Arriving now.]
With a crisp ding, Lu Ziqing stepped out.
The office building was unusually quiet, a stark contrast to its usual lively atmosphere.
Ever since the former general manager was arrested for embezzlement, the company had been without leadership for over a month. With no one in charge, employees had been slacking off like crazy—clocking in was a joke, people strolled in at nine or ten, some even waited until the afternoon to show up.
But alas, the party hadn’t lasted long. A new director had just been parachuted in.
Mi Lan peeked out from the office doorway and waved at Lu Ziqing in silent urgency.
Lu Ziqing reached her desk. “So, where’s this ‘new king’?”
Liang Zhi: “Just went downstairs—probably to check attendance in other departments.”
Lu Ziqing let out a casual “Oh.” “It’s just a new boss. Why is everyone so scared?”
“You don’t get it,” Mi Lan patted his chest, still shaken. “This guy may look young—fair skin, delicate features, real pretty—but his aura is terrifying. When he puts on that serious face, it’s like facing my dad. The kind of authority that doesn’t need words.”
Lu Ziqing yawned lazily. “Didn’t you always want a ‘daddy-type’ boyfriend? This guy’s perfect—young, handsome, and fulfills your dream of having a dad.”
Mi Lan laughed so hard she clutched her stomach. “Get lost!”
Just then, a new notification popped up in the company’s main work chat.
[Meeting at 9:10 AM in the fourth-floor conference room. All department personnel must sign in and attend. Absence without a valid reason will be marked as unexcused leave.]
Lu Ziqing glanced at his phone.
9:09 AM.
In an instant, the entire third floor erupted into chaos as employees poured out of their departments, scrambling for the elevators.
Lu Ziqing blended into the crowd, hands still casually tucked into his pockets, looking as if he were on his way home rather than to a meeting.
Inside the cramped elevator, someone couldn’t help but ask, “Lu-ge, how are you not even a little nervous?”
A new boss meant the end of their easygoing days. The infamous “three fires” of a newly appointed director could mean anything—restructuring, strict new policies, or even layoffs.
After all, the company had been losing money for four straight quarters. If not for emergency funding from headquarters, they would’ve gone bankrupt ages ago.
Lu Ziqing replied in a serious tone, “A new director has arrived. Naturally, we should greet him with a warm smile. No one hits a smiling face.”
Everyone: “…”
Lu Ziqing’s smile remained until the very moment he stepped into the conference room.
The next second, he lifted his gaze—and locked eyes with the man seated at the far end of the room.
His smile froze instantly.
“That man in the black suit is the new director,” Mi Lan whispered to him. “His name is Lin Yu. He’s not even thirty yet. I heard he was transferred from headquarters and is highly valued.”
Lu Ziqing: “.”
Of course, he knew his name.
Six months ago, they had just gone to the civil affairs bureau to get their marriage certificate. They even took a wedding photo, shoulder to shoulder.
But that was also the only time they had met.
The day they got their marriage certificate was the first day they knew each other.
In front of the camera, they played the part of a deeply affectionate couple, but the moment the camera was turned off, they separated immediately, their faces devoid of emotion.
A fake marriage built on mutual interests—this was as far as it needed to go.
Lin Yu met his gaze for a few seconds before looking away, his expression remaining impassive as he continued watching the employees timidly signing in.
Mi Lan had to call Lu Ziqing’s name several times before he snapped out of it.
Mi Lan patted him. “What are you spacing out for? Hurry up and sign. Let’s sit toward the back…”
Lu Ziqing lowered his head and signed his name.
When he reached the final stroke of the character “Qing,” his pen slipped, leaving a sudden, stark black line on the paper.
…..
The meeting lasted a full three hours.
Without any prior notice, Lin Yu had each department head report on their work over the past six months, listening while taking notes.
No matter how poorly or anxiously the department heads presented, Lin Yu’s expression remained indifferent, giving nothing away.
The reports were an absolute mess.
When it was the Design Department’s turn, Mi Lan raised her hand hesitantly. “Our department head, Zhou Youyu, is on a business trip.”
Lin Yu looked up. “Where’s the business trip request form?”
The HR manager panicked. “It’s in the office. I’ll go get it.”
A few minutes later, the request form was handed to Lin Yu.
He glanced at it. “The business trip dates are listed as May 20th to May 23rd, but today is already the 25th. There’s no official stamp either.”
The meeting room fell into dead silence.
Business trip requests only required signatures from the department head and general manager. But with the general manager position vacant, department heads could come and go as they pleased—no one dared to stop them.
Lin Yu made a note in his notebook. “Meeting continues. Design Department, stay behind after the meeting.”
….
By the time the meeting ended, it was already past twelve.
After asking a few basic questions about their work and project progress, Lin Yu dismissed them.
The three of them rushed downstairs for rice noodles.
While pouring chili oil into her bowl, Mi Lan patted her chest. “I thought we were done for.”
This rice noodle shop was the most popular restaurant nearby—authentic flavors, reasonable prices, and free extra noodles. Many company employees ate here.
The surrounding colleagues were all discussing the new boss’s work style, their faces filled with complaints.
“I heard he graduated from P University—his academic background and abilities are outstanding. He joined as a management trainee and has always worked at headquarters.”
“Why was he transferred here?”
“Probably to gain experience. Once he’s done here, he’ll get promoted. And we can’t be without a boss forever…”
“Our good days are over…”
Mi Lan stared at Lu Ziqing. “Lu-ge, you’re acting weird today.”
Lu Ziqing looked up. “Am I?”
“You are,” Liang Zhi said. “You didn’t add three spoons of vinegar today, and you only used one spoon of chili oil.”
Mi Lan added, “And during the meeting, you kept staring at the boss. You didn’t even glance at your phone for a single second.”
Lu Ziqing: “…”
“No way… Are you actually scared of the new boss?” Mi Lan grinned mischievously. “Young Master Lu, always so carefree, afraid of a director?”
Lu Ziqing: “If you’re that idle, go mop the floor by the entrance.”
Liang Zhi shrugged. “I think the new boss is great—strict and efficient. If he leads well, our company won’t have to shut down.”
Mi Lan gasped dramatically. “You traitorous groundhog! I should kick you for betraying the working class!”
Liang Zhi turned to Lu Ziqing. “Lu-ge, what do you think of the new boss?”
But Lu Ziqing didn’t answer. He simply squinted at the office building across from them. “Let’s head back upstairs after we finish eating. There’s a ton of work this afternoon.”
….
Lin Yu rubbed his eyes and glanced at his phone.
8:30 PM.
It was well past office hours.
The office was completely silent—most employees had already gone home.
He put down his pen, organized the documents on his desk, and sighed.
The past six months of work at this branch office were an absolute mess. Several projects had collapsed, proposals were at a standstill—this wasn’t something he could fix in just one afternoon.
After quickly packing his briefcase, he locked away the important documents, turned off the lights, and walked out.
The hallway was eerily quiet. His footsteps echoed on the floor, blending with the darkness outside the window, exuding a sense of lonely desolation.
As he got into his car and started the engine, his nerves finally began to relax.
Without thinking, he instinctively drove toward the employee dormitories. But when he glanced at the rearview mirror and saw the neatly packed suitcases in the back seat, he suddenly remembered—he had already moved out.
His most important task that day wasn’t sorting out the company’s work or implementing new management policies.
It was…
He hesitated for a moment before pulling up the address Lu Zhaolin had sent him that morning and heading in that direction.
Twenty minutes later, he arrived at his destination—a high-end residential complex with a security system that restricted entry to non-residents.
Lin Yu took out the access card Lu Zhaolin had given him earlier and swiped it to enter.
Building 16… 5th floor, Apartment 502…
He stood there, feeling awkward and unsure of himself.
It felt strange.
He, an omega, showing up at someone’s home in the middle of the night… It just didn’t feel right…
But he knew he had no other choice.
From the moment he signed the agreement, he could only comply with the Lu family’s demands as much as possible.
Lin Yu stood at the door of Room 502, raised his hand, hesitated for dozens of seconds, and knocked lightly three times.
A moment later, a lazy voice came from inside: “Who is it?”
Lin Yu tightened his grip on the strap of his briefcase and said, “It’s me, Lin Yu.”
The door quickly opened.
Lu Ziqing, wearing a bathrobe and still steaming from the heat, squinted at him with a half-smile: “A late-night visit from the boss—what business could be so urgent?”
He was already irritated, and that irritation had been simmering since earlier in the day.
No one in his family had bothered to tell him that Lin Yu would be transferring to the branch office—he was the last one to find out.
Lu Ziqing seemed to have just finished showering.
Where the bathrobe hung loosely, glimpses of his chest muscles could be seen.
“I only received the company’s transfer notice yesterday and didn’t have time to tell you. I apologize.”
Lin Yu looked him in the eyes and said:
“President Lu said that now that I’ve been transferred to your branch office, continuing to live apart would raise suspicions. To avoid unnecessary complications, he instructed me to… move in with you, starting today.”
“Rest assured, I’ll sleep separately. There won’t be any overstepping of boundaries.”
“I’ll stay in a hotel during my heat and avoid your susceptible period.”
“I’ve trained in self-defense, so if an unexpected situation arises and you lose control of yourself, I’ll do my best to restrain you and ensure no accidents occur.”
Such bold and audacious words, yet Lin Yu’s tone remained completely serious and formal, as if he were reading out a legal contract.
Lu Ziqing: “…”
[mfn]
Author’s Note
The story has officially started! Thank you all for waiting!
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