Overtime is out of the question

"Tap, tap, tap..." The sharp clicks of high heels echoed as a poised woman in her forties strode through the office with a frown.

Naturally, the scene drew the attention of several employees.

"That’s Director Kui… probably looking for that new guy, Director Ye."

"No kidding. Firing over twenty people on his first day? No wonder Director Kui’s going after him."

"Shh, keep it down. This is gonna be interesting."

The woman stopped at the door of the office at the far end and knocked.

"Come in," a voice called from inside.

She pushed the door open and immediately spotted the man seated at the desk, flipping through documents. Dressed impeccably, his sharp eyebrows framed deep, mesmerizing eyes that exuded an indescribable charm.

"Director Ye, I demand a reasonable explanation. Otherwise, HR will not accept such a large-scale termination!" She averted her gaze and slapped a folder onto the desk.

The assistant nearby flinched, then glanced nervously at Ye Shuang—

Yet Ye Shuang seemed entirely unfazed. He calmly continued reviewing the documents in his hands before finally closing them and meeting her gaze with a composed tone.

"Zhang Kui… Director Zhang, correct?"

"That’s right. I’m the CHO of this group." The woman was surprised he knew her name, though given the number of Zhangs in upper management, she preferred being called Director Kui.

As the company’s Chief Human Resources Officer, she was only half a rank below this newly appointed man. With over twenty years at the firm, she had every right to demand answers.

If this was just a power play—some "new broom sweeps clean" tactic—she wouldn’t stand for it. Even if it meant clashing with him, she had to prioritize the company’s future. After all, talent was its most vital resource. Training a competent employee took three months; replacing them would waste another three.

Seeing her barely contained fury, Ye Shuang didn’t bother with lengthy explanations. Instead, he slid the folder toward her and tapped it lightly.

"Take a look at this first."

Suspicious but intrigued by his calm demeanor, Zhang Kui picked up the file. "What is this?"

Ye Shuang merely smiled.

The moment she opened it, her brows furrowed. Page after page, her expression grew graver, until a cold sweat trickled down her back.

"Are… are these documents real?" The contents implicated several mid-to-high-level managers. She couldn’t help but blurt out the question.

Ye Shuang interlaced his fingers on the desk. "Director Zhang, does this explanation satisfy you?"

"..." Her voice softened. "If this is true, these people shouldn’t just be fired—they should compensate the company and face jail time!"

"Does the group have an anti-fraud investigation department?" Ye Shuang turned to his assistant.

"Y-yes," the assistant stammered. "We have a dedicated team for employee audits."

"Director Zhang, I’d like you to restructure that department. As for the next steps… I trust you know what to do?" Ye Shuang said.

Zhang Kui: "..."

For some reason, she found this man unnerving—especially those piercing eyes that seemed to see through everything.

"Understood. My apologies for the interruption." Clutching the documents, she strode out without another glance.

As the door clicked shut, Ye Shuang checked the time: 5 PM.

"Is Director Chen away on business?"

"Yes, she won’t be back until the day after tomorrow." Before the assistant could finish, Ye Shuang stood and began packing up.

"Director Ye, where are you going?"

"Off work."

Assistant: "..."

Huh?

Ye Shuang drove his sports car back to his apartment, the sky outside tinted with dusk.

Overtime? Not a chance. He believed in efficiency, not pointless hours at a desk.

When he opened the door, a familiar girl stood waiting.

Bai Yuyou, clad in an apron with a soup ladle in hand, stared at him motionlessly.

Ye Shuang blinked, then grinned. "I’m home."

Bai Yuyou remained still before pulling a note from her Pikachu-print apron pocket. After a glance, she recited,

"Welcome back… Would you like dinner, a bath, or…"

She paused, tilting her head. "Keke, what does ‘or me’ mean? Am I food?"

"You dummy!" A voice groaned from the second floor.

Ye Shuang: "..."

What are you two up to?

Tang Keke came clattering downstairs, looking like a failed strategist.

But as Bai Yuyou buried herself against Ye Shuang’s chest, Keke couldn’t help asking, "Brother, what exactly do you do at Chen Qin’s company?"

"What do I do? Sip coffee, slack off… the usual." He chuckled, ruffling Bai Yuyou’s hair.

"That sounds so easy!"

"Sure is."

"Lucky you."

Ye Shuang’s gaze landed on the dinner spread—clearly prepared by the two girls. A warmth spread through him.

"What’s for dinner tonight?"

"Poached sliced meat!"

"Where’s the meat?" He scanned the table, puzzled.

"Right here!" Tang Keke pointed at one dish.

"That’s poached oysters…"

"It’s sliced meat! So you should eat lots!" She grinned mischievously. "It’s ‘nutritious,’ so you need extra."

Ye Shuang flicked her forehead with a thunk.

"Ow!"

During dinner, he checked in on their day. "Anything interesting happen at school?"

"No," Bai Yuyou shook her head. It had been an ordinary day, though she missed their usual lunch breaks together. Sometimes, she’d fake a stomachache just to visit the infirmary where Ye Shuang worked.

"An Shiyu was absent," Keke added. "Couldn’t find her all day—not even at the clubroom."

"Really?" Ye Shuang wasn’t surprised. Who knew where that girl wandered off to?

Just then, his phone rang.

A call from the office.

He excused himself to answer by the floor-to-ceiling window—

"Getting calls after work… Is Brother being bullied by his boss?" Keke muttered.

Bullied…

Bai Yuyou’s expression turned serious. "Must… help Ye Shuang."

...