On Monday morning, Liang Zhi returned from the mailroom carrying two thick packages.
Mi Lan: “What delicious things did you buy this time?”
Liang Zhi: “I ordered a box of navel oranges online a few days ago. I heard they’re really sweet… The other package isn’t mine—it’s for Director Lin. I saw it and just picked it up for him.”
He set the box of oranges down and was about to deliver Lin Yu’s package to his office.
Lu Ziqing reached out. “I need to talk to him anyway. I’ll take it.”
Liang Zhi, glad to be spared the trip, handed it over. “Sure.”
Lu Ziqing knocked on the office door. “Director Lin, your package.”
A calm voice came from inside. “Come in.”
Lu Ziqing stepped in with the package and casually closed the door behind him.
“What’s in here that makes it so heavy?” He set the box on the desk and shook his wrist. “It doesn’t look big, but it felt ridiculously heavy carrying it.”
“Mmm, stone samples from a supplier,” Lin Yu glanced at the sender’s label in his pile of documents. “Thanks for bringing it over.”
Lu Ziqing smiled. “Not a problem. Helping my darling out—how could that ever be tiring?”
Lin Yu: “…”
He instinctively glanced at the door to make sure their conversation wasn’t overheard, then shot him a glare. “This is the office. Watch what you say.”
“What’s there to watch?” Lu Ziqing smirked. “I want the whole world to know you agreed to date me.”
Lin Yu: “…”
Lu Ziqing leaned down, his voice low in Lin Yu’s ear. “One hour and five minutes. Since leaving the house this morning, I haven’t seen you for one hour and five minutes… Lin Yu, did you miss me?”
Lin Yu’s face gradually turned red.
Before leaving the house that morning, Lu Ziqing had pinned him to the table, claiming he wasn’t full from breakfast, and kissed him for a long time.
It wasn’t until Lin Yu, teary-eyed and breathless, reminded him that they’d be late if they didn’t leave soon that Lu Ziqing reluctantly let him go. “Fine. Then I’ll find another chance to see you during the day.”
Lin Yu had assumed he’d at most show up around lunchtime for a bit of affection—but he hadn’t expected him to last barely over an hour before coming straight over.
Lin Yu had no choice but to issue a stern warning. “Dating is one thing, but you can’t slack off at work. If you’re getting paid, you should do your job properly.”
“Don’t worry, boss,” Lu Ziqing murmured, pressing a slow kiss against his earlobe. “I have a daily workload quota. If I don’t finish, I’ll just work overtime.”
Lin Yu felt his earlobe burning from the kiss.
He knew Lu Ziqing wasn’t the type to slack off at work. Despite his playful demeanor, he was highly efficient—he always finished his own tasks quickly and even helped Mi Lan and Liang Zhi with theirs.
But this was still working hours.
Lin Yu tried to pull away. “Stop. We should be working—”
Lu Ziqing’s lips moved from his ear down to the side of his neck, slowly trailing downward. “If you’re so concerned about my work… maybe you should reward me more. That way, I can finish even faster.”
A shiver of tingling warmth spread across Lin Yu’s skin.
He reached out to push Lu Ziqing away, but his wrist was caught and placed against the other man’s waist.
…Beneath his palm was a firm, toned waist.
Before him was a handsome young man with striking features, and between them lingered the fresh scent of oranges, swirling softly in the air.
Lin Yu’s body froze.
He whispered, “You… This is the office. Why are you releasing your pheromones?”
“To seduce you,” Lu Ziqing answered matter-of-factly. “You won’t kiss me, so I have no choice but to resort to some underhanded tricks.”
His fingertips slowly traced over Lin Yu’s collarbone, stopping at the neckline.
Then, with an elegant motion, he unbuttoned the top button of his shirt.
The delicate, fair collarbone was exposed beneath the fabric, exquisite and beautiful like that of a porcelain doll.
Lin Yu’s breath hitched, his throat dry. “You…”
“I’m despicable, shameless, and indecent,” Lu Ziqing murmured softly. “Lin Yu, is this your first time realizing that?”
Surrounded by the scent of pheromones, Lin Yu’s mind grew hazy.
His glands burned hotter.
His limbs felt weak, drained of strength.
All he could think about was Lu Ziqing’s strikingly handsome face and the searing heat of his lips against his collarbone.
Knock, knock, knock.
A crisp knocking sound suddenly came from outside.
“Director Lin, here’s the PPT for Friday’s report. Please take a look.”
It was the voice of the marketing director.
He was just outside the door. If he turned the handle, he could walk right in.
Panicked, Lin Yu clamped a hand over Lu Ziqing’s mouth and raised his voice. “Don’t come in! I… I’m busy right now.”
The marketing manager hesitated. “Is this a bad time?”
With his mouth covered, Lu Ziqing looked a bit pitiful, as if he had been kidnapped.
After a moment, he seemed to grow bored and quietly stuck out his tongue, licking Lin Yu’s palm.
…Warm and damp.
It felt like a puppy licking him.
Lin Yu’s mind drifted for a second, but he bit down on his last shred of sanity and gritted out, “Y-you can come back this afternoon. I’m not available right now…”
A few seconds later, the sound of footsteps gradually faded away.
Lin Yu finally let out a breath of relief.
He removed his hand and glared at Lu Ziqing.
Yet, Lu Ziqing still had the audacity to smile.
“Baby, I’ve actually fantasized about this before,” he said quietly. “You, dressed in a proper suit and tie, and us secretly fooling around in the office… Just thinking about it is thrilling.”
Lin Yu was both embarrassed and furious, ready to scold him immediately.
But under the influence of the pheromones, when he spoke, his voice came out strangely soft. “…Do you have no shame?”
His tone was light and sweet—almost like he was coquettishly whining.
Lu Ziqing paused for a moment, his expression turning oddly intrigued.
“Lin Yu, let’s agree on something,” he said, sounding a bit conflicted. “Next time, can you scold me like that again? Maybe a few more times?”
Lin Yu: “…What do you mean, next time?”
Lu Ziqing smiled. “I mean, the next time our physical distance becomes… negative.”
……
Despite Lin Yu’s stern refusals, Lu Ziqing became increasingly adept at slipping into his office, growing more and more justified in doing so.
Of course, the excuses were always perfectly reasonable.
Reporting work, delivering packages, organizing documents, serving tea, watering and trimming the office plants…
After a few days, even the cleaning lady had developed a great fondness for Lu Ziqing.
“Young man, you’re so diligent. You’re sure to win over a beautiful wife one day!”
Lu Ziqing didn’t hold back: “I think so too.”
As for what exactly he was doing for his boss…
Well, once the door closed, who could say?
Though Lin Yu scolded Lu Ziqing every time, once his gland swelled up like a little cherry, he would also end up dizzy and lost in the moment.
…..
It was another peaceful afternoon.
The air in the office was thick with an ambiguous atmosphere. The faint scent of oranges and a cool, woody fragrance had just been released, blending together.
Lin Yu and Lu Ziqing were in the middle of an argument.
“No, absolutely not!”
Lu Ziqing coaxed shamelessly, “Just once, okay? Just once. Try it.”
“This is ridiculous!” Lin Yu’s face flushed red. “You’ve already been outrageous these past few days. I-I can’t let you continue like this.”
Lu Ziqing: “You said the same thing yesterday, but in the end, you were clinging to me, telling me to hold you even tighter…”
Lin Yu immediately clamped a hand over his mouth. “Not another word!”
Lu Ziqing grinned. “Come on, just try it. You might end up loving it.”
Just as Lin Yu was about to firmly refuse again, Lu Ziqing slipped away like a slippery little eel—right under the desk.
Lin Yu desperately clutched his pants. “You… Get up right now.”
“I won’t.” Lu Ziqing, crouched under the desk like a mischievous dog, smiled up at him, his hands wandering onto Lin Yu’s knees. “Baby, I didn’t eat enough this morning. Isn’t it reasonable for me to have a little extra lunch?”
Lin Yu used every ounce of his strength to keep a firm hold on his pants’ zipper.
Heaven help him.
He had never felt such gratitude toward zipper manufacturers before.
A grateful heart, full of appreciation.
Thank you for making such durable, high-quality zippers.
Just as the two of them were locked in a silent battle, a knock suddenly came from the door.
“Director Lin, President Lu is looking for you. He’s already in the elevator.”
