Deep affection, bottoms up

Most of the diners in this Chinese restaurant were families.

Jiang Ruolan suddenly thought of her parents back in Province A, and a trace of melancholy flickered across her eyes.

Zhou Yi noticed it cautiously.

"What's wrong? Something on your mind?"

Jiang Ruolan opened her mouth but didn’t know how to respond.

Professionally, Zhou Yi was her superior.

Personally, they weren’t even friends.

She couldn’t confide in him about such things.

Jiang Ruolan could only shake her head. "It's nothing."

Zhou Yi sensed her hesitation and spoke slowly,

"Ruolan, you can actually talk to me about anything, even if it’s not work-related."

"You’ve been abroad for so long. Maybe your friends back home aren’t in Huaihai, or maybe you’ve grown distant. As my most trusted right-hand, I’d like to help ease your worries."

"Employees and bosses can be friends too—at least, that’s what I believe."

Zhou Yi’s smile was sincere, as if he genuinely wanted to share her burden.

When a woman faces an unsolvable problem, it’s best to seize the opportunity—never think of avoiding it.

If you can resolve it, her admiration for you will grow, even to the point of dependence.

She’ll turn to you first with her troubles, and once she "needs" you, you’ll have entered her world.

If you can’t solve her problem, don’t worry—you can still offer advice.

Even a few comforting words will do.

As long as you show you care, she’ll feel it.

Whether or not you succeed, your attitude alone can move her.

Most women in real life are like this—emotional creatures who often say, "It’s your attitude that matters."

Of course, gold diggers are an exception. Without money, you won’t win them over. Be cautious.

For someone like Jiang Ruolan, who rarely lets her emotions show, this was the perfect chance to learn about her personal life.

Once you’ve broken through that initial barrier, she won’t hesitate to confide in you again.

The more aloof a woman is, the fewer friends she tends to have. Used to being independent, she rarely shares her troubles, not wanting to burden others. Jiang Ruolan was no exception.

So everything depended on Zhou Yi’s approach.

Fortunately, he was also someone capable of solving problems.

Jiang Ruolan felt a warmth in her heart—perhaps from the lively atmosphere of the restaurant, or perhaps from Zhou Yi’s kindness. She let go of the detached social norms she’d learned abroad, the so-called "keeping your distance."

With a hint of sadness, she said,

"Actually, I was thinking of my parents. I originally returned to spend more time with them, but I couldn’t find a suitable job in Province A, so I ended up in Huaihai."

Zhou Yi smiled faintly. "That’s easy. You could bring your parents here to settle down."

Jiang Ruolan shook her head. "They have their own social circles back home. Leaving would make them uncomfortable."

Zhou Yi thought for a moment. "Then how about I give you three extra days off each month to visit them?"

[Jiang Ruolan’s Affection Points +5]

Jiang Ruolan was genuinely stunned.

This couldn’t be. She knew Zhou Yi meant well, but such preferential treatment would surely stir discontent among other employees, which wouldn’t be good for the company.

She proposed an alternative.

"If possible, I could give up my weekends and adjust my schedule instead. That way, my total days off would match everyone else’s, and there’d be no complaints."

Zhou Yi hadn’t expected Jiang Ruolan to be so principled, unwilling to accept any personal favors.

But this was good—later on, he wouldn’t have to compromise the company’s interests just to win her affection.

He agreed readily.

"You can still take one day off each weekend and save the other four days for later. Working over twenty days straight would be too exhausting."

"Alright, Mr. Zhou. Thank you so much."

Jiang Ruolan’s smile softened, like the melting of spring snow.

She asked the waiter for a bottle of liquor, intending to toast Zhou Yi.

To him, this was a sign of her initiative.

Jiang Ruolan could hold her liquor—abroad, she mostly drank wine, but in China, beer and baijiu were more common.

"Mr. Zhou, do you prefer beer or baijiu?"

"Whatever you like."

"Then let’s have baijiu. I’ll need to learn to drink it for business anyway."

She was already prepared to go above and beyond for Zhou Yi!

Jiang Ruolan ordered a bottle of baijiu and filled both their small cups to the brim.

In one swift motion, she downed hers.

"Mr. Zhou, this one’s for you."

The liquor was harsh, something she wasn’t used to, but it certainly packed a punch.

This bold side of Jiang Ruolan made her even more vivid and real in Zhou Yi’s eyes.

He raised his cup in return and drank it all in one go.

They shared a smile.

Under the influence of alcohol, the atmosphere seemed to shift subtly.

Jiang Ruolan tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, her cheeks flushed—whether from the liquor or something else was unclear.

"My tolerance isn’t great. If I get drunk later, don’t laugh at me," Zhou Yi teased.

Jiang Ruolan chuckled, brushing it off.

Someone like Mr. Zhou would surely remain graceful even when drunk. He was probably just being polite.

She poured another round, and this time they sipped slowly, chatting about work between drinks.

For Jiang Ruolan, moments like these were rare.

Her job was always high-pressure, fueled by coffee just to stay alert.

When had she ever had the luxury of leisurely meals and drinks with her boss?

Overseas, people emphasized keeping their distance—colleagues hardly ever socialized outside work, communicating mostly through emails.

Living abroad for so long had made her feel detached.

But being back in China filled her with joy, reviving familiar feelings—like her university days, sitting across from classmates or friends, laughing over drinks.

Those days were long gone.

For the first time in years, she felt a pang of nostalgia.

It was Zhou Yi who had drawn out this side of her—a Jiang Ruolan rich with emotion.

As she looked at him now, she thought, If this were university, Mr. Zhou would’ve been the campus heartthrob, chased by countless girls.

He was truly captivating.

For a moment, she forgot their age difference, thinking of him the way she might have in her college days—evaluating whether a guy could be her boyfriend.

[Jiang Ruolan’s Affection Points +5]

This was the first time she’d felt her heart flutter because of Zhou Yi’s handsome face.

In this moment, he wasn’t her boss—just a charming young man.

As she gazed at his captivating smile, her vision grew slightly hazy.

Alright, truth be told, her alcohol tolerance wasn’t that great, and she realized she shouldn’t drink anymore—otherwise, she’d be drunk.

But the liquor’s delayed effect had already kicked in; she was tipsy now.

“President Zhou, it’s getting late... Let’s meet again tomorrow.”

Her eyes were hazy, the corners tinged with a seductive flush, while her cheeks bloomed with a rouge-like glow. Her lips parted slightly as she gazed at Zhou Yi with an intoxicating, languid allure.

Zhou Yi stood up to steady her. “Where do you live? Let me take you home. I can’t let you go back alone in this state.”

Jiang Ruolan felt her steps wavering—she really could use someone to accompany her. Safety first, after all.

Besides, Zhou Yi gave off such an upright, dependable vibe that she didn’t hesitate before nodding. “Alright, then I’ll trouble you, President Zhou.”