The Secretary Who Takes the Blame and the Cold-hearted, Ruthless Miss

"I really don’t know... I woke up like this."

Ye Cheng put on an "innocent" face, staring pitifully at the visibly displeased young miss Shen.

He had said no, no, but she insisted. And now, the young miss was upset.

Recalling the absurd scene in the infirmary earlier, Ye Cheng shook his head.

There was no way he could let the ruthless young miss find out what happened in the infirmary. If she confronted Doctor Tang about it, he’d be dead meat.

Shen Qinghan narrowed her eyes, her chest rising and falling before she finally tore her gaze away.

She glanced down at the cooling patch she had just peeled off Ye Cheng’s neck.

Slap!

She stuck it right back on, covering the delicate bite mark that had been exposed. Then, she took the scarf she had unwrapped from Ye Cheng’s neck and draped it around him again.

Shen Qinghan personally adjusted the scarf around his neck—and tied it into a tight knot.

A suffocating sensation, like a python coiling around him, took hold.

Hey, buddy, mind sparing some oxygen?

As if worried the cooling patches on Ye Cheng’s neck might be "too chilly," Shen Qinghan took off her suit jacket and draped it over his shoulders.

Ye Cheng: "..."

"Let’s go eat." Shen Qinghan released him, her expression calm as she stood with her hands slightly outstretched.

As if waiting for something.

A piggyback ride?

Before, it might have been fine, but now Ye Cheng was bundled up like a bear, feeling like he was about to combust. Adding another person on his back would surely push him over the edge.

"Uh, Young Miss, your foot injury has been bothering you for a while now, right? Based on my years of unlicensed medical experience, I’d say you need to walk around more. It’ll help with recovery."

As he spoke, Ye Cheng picked up the small crutch next to Shen Qinghan.

"This looks perfect. Here, Young Miss, let me support you. All greatness begins with a single step of courage. Who knows? Maybe once you take that first step, your leg will magically heal!"

Ye Cheng rambled on, while Shen Qinghan remained expressionless.

"Are you done?" Shen Qinghan stared at him, her voice icy.

Ye Cheng blinked his big, sparkling eyes. "Uh... probably, maybe, perhaps... yes?"

He handed her the crutch. "Here, Young Miss, your leg—I mean, your brave first step!"

Shen Qinghan looked at the "brave first step" in his hand, silently took it, and—

Whack!

She raised the crutch high and smacked Ye Cheng on the head before tossing it aside like trash.

Stunned but unharmed, Ye Cheng’s mind replayed the sound of the crutch hitting his skull on loop.

Thwack, thwack, thwack...

"Carry me." Shen Qinghan’s tone left no room for negotiation.

Ye Cheng: "..."

So all that pretending to listen was just to mess with me, huh?

......

Cafeteria, third floor.

Little Secretary piled her plate high, scooping up food at lightning speed.

"Young Miss, the abalone today looks amazing!" Her eyes gleamed as she loaded up two plates with the delicacy.

Once the main course was secured, she turned her attention to the fruit section, zeroing in on the freshly cut papayas.

Happily, Little Secretary returned with two heaping plates of papaya.

"Young Miss, let’s eat!"

Dongfang Zhixia glanced at the papaya, then at the useless fat on Little Secretary’s body. After a brief silence, she spoke.

"Was that intentional or accidental?"

Little Secretary blinked her big, clueless eyes. "Young Miss, what do you mean? I don’t understand."

Then—chomp!—she took a huge bite of papaya, chewing enthusiastically.

So good~

A blissful expression spread across her face as her almond-shaped eyes curved into happy crescents.

Dongfang Zhixia: "..."

At the age when most people’s brains develop, hers probably diverted all the nutrients elsewhere.

She took a few bites of the papaya Little Secretary had handed her.

The taste was mediocre—not very sweet, with an overpowering papaya fragrance. Though aromatic, Dongfang Zhixia wasn’t fond of it.

Watching Little Secretary’s delighted expression, Dongfang Zhixia suddenly said,

"Starting today, your daily run increases from 20 kilometers to 30."

Little Secretary: "..."

Her joyful expression froze, instantly replaced by teary-eyed despair.

"Waaah, nooo, Young Miss, pleaaase!"

Dongfang Zhixia ignored her, stabbing her fork into the papaya with renewed vigor.

The peaceful meal didn’t last long before a familiar, annoying voice interrupted.

"Young Miss, you must be craving this lobster today, right? And this Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, the foie gras, the shark fin soup..."

Since the "brave first step" had been discarded like trash, Shen Qinghan, unable to move freely, remained perched on Ye Cheng’s back like a remote-controlled car, directing his movements.

Strangely entertaining, a glimmer of curiosity flashed in her eyes—the same look she got when spotting a new absurd plushie in a claw machine.

Ye Cheng, bundled up like a bear, carried Shen Qinghan on his back as he shamelessly pressed his face against the cafeteria window, drooling over the food inside.

The scene was both comical and embarrassing.

Anyone else would’ve been mortified and ditched him, but Shen Qinghan remained unfazed.

She simply noted Ye Cheng’s requests and paid with a face scan.

A few minutes later...

Shen Qinghan sat at the table, staring blankly at Ye Cheng, who was now half-leaning into the serving window, as if deep in thought.

"Young Miss, being picky isn’t good. Papayas are full of nutrients..."

Little Secretary munched on her papaya while trying to enlighten her seemingly reluctant Young Miss.

Her cheeks stuffed like a chipmunk’s, she suddenly paused, sensing someone’s gaze.

Her head swiveled until her eyes landed on Shen Qinghan.

Shen Qinghan’s icy stare bore into her.

Little Secretary shuddered, trying to dodge the knife-like glare, but no matter how she squirmed, Shen Qinghan’s eyes followed.

"Young Miss... let’s go. I’m full..."

The timid Little Secretary didn’t dare to speak up about the matter, only muttering under her breath as she tugged at her young mistress’s sleeve, her voice trembling pitifully.

Dongfang Zhixia’s attention was entirely fixed on Ye Cheng at the moment, and it wasn’t until the Little Secretary tugged at her that she reluctantly tore her gaze away from him, narrowing her eyes slightly.

“You’re full already?”

Dongfang Zhixia was a little surprised—normally, the Little Secretary took forever to finish eating.

Though they had ordered enough for two, Dongfang Zhixia could never finish her portion, so most of it inevitably ended up in the Little Secretary’s stomach.

After months of such "self-rewarding," the Little Secretary had grown visibly rounder, her extra fluff practically bursting at the seams.

Dongfang Zhixia had always indulged her, but after the last time Ye Cheng tricked them both—during the chase, the Little Secretary had given up after just a few steps—she finally realized the severity of the situation.

She had to lose weight. No excuses!

Dongfang Zhixia frowned at the still half-full plate. “What’s wrong? Not hungry today?”

The Little Secretary whimpered, hiding behind her young mistress like a frightened rabbit.

“Mhm… just not feeling it today. Let’s go, Miss, please… wuwu…”

By the end, she was nearly in tears.

So scary, wuwu…

Dongfang Zhixia arched an eyebrow, finally noticing her assistant’s distress. Following the Little Secretary’s terrified gaze, her eyes locked with Shen Qinghan’s.

The two women stared at each other from across the room, an invisible spark of tension crackling between them.

Not far away, Ye Cheng cheerfully returned from the counter, arms laden with food.

“Woo-hoo, time to eat, Miss!”

He plopped down and eagerly pulled on a pair of transparent gloves, ready to peel some lobster for his young mistress.

Shen Qinghan’s icy voice cut through the air as she glared at the Little Secretary cowering behind Dongfang Zhixia.

“So, she’s the one who bit you, right?”

What the—?

“Miss, munch munch, what are you talking about, munch munch…? I don’t get it.”

Ye Cheng chewed on his sea cucumber, turning his head to spot the Student Council President and the silly Little Secretary sitting in their usual spots from yesterday.

The Little Secretary looked utterly pitiful, her face pale as she clung to her young mistress for dear life.

And right in front of them—

Shen Qinghan’s cold, unflinching stare.

“How exactly did she bully you?” Her frigid tone echoed in Ye Cheng’s ears.