Chapter 3 — Mistaking a Group of Close Friends for a General Boss

Before Zhou Wei could react, he was stunned by my eyes, and the toothpick in his mouth also trembled.

“Mr. Chu.” I bent down, my eyes fell on his shiny bald head, my voice was gentle:

"Thank you for asking. But I think with your conditions, perhaps a newly excavated statue of soldiers and horses is more suitable. After all, they are all literary objects, there will certainly be many common voices."

“You—” He slammed the table and stood up.

“Ah, by the way... could you please stop using that toothpick?” I took a half step back, covered my nose, clearly disgusted:

“Every time you open your mouth, it feels like the biogas tank is exploding.”

After speaking, I turned around and walked away, leaving behind Chu Vi's angry scream echoing in the dead atmosphere of the entire cafe. The next day. I dragged my body to the company like a helpless soul. My whole body was like a zombie with all its vitality drained from it. Last night I googled questions like "what to do when your boss says sarcastically", dreaming that Ta Trinh was holding a necklace and trying to strangle me until I turned into a tyrant. Just after swiping my time card, the head of the administrative department appeared from nowhere like a ghost behind me.

“Giang Hoa?”

Normally she only looks at people through her nostrils, but today the eyes looking at me are full of... sympathy, as if she was seeing off a hero about to step onto the execution ground.

“Yes, it's me.”

“General Manager Ta called you to his office.” The department head sighed, stuffed an A4 piece of paper into my hand, "Go straight to the 28th floor. Remember to bring... your report."

Indeed. It's time to worship the King of Hell. The numbers on the elevator jumped one by one, and each jump made my heart pound like a sledgehammer. Floor 28 is a restricted area. This place was unusually quiet, the gray carpet was so thick that walking made no sound at all. The air smells of cold agarwood - Ta Trinh's signature scent. I stood in front of the heavy red wooden door, doing mental work for a minute, then tremblingly knocked three times.

“Come in.”

His voice was low, showing no emotion. I pushed the door and walked in. In front is a giant ground-level glass window. The man is turning his back, watering a pot of orchids that looks expensive. He wore a black shirt, no tie, the top button was undone. The sleeves were rolled up to the elbow, revealing strong arms. Not too muscular, but the watering position made his arm muscles slightly tense, blue veins clearly visible - a silent, dangerous tension, as if just one squeeze could cut off someone else's breath. His right hand... was truly fatal. The knuckles are clear, the skin is as cold as jade. The string of black ink-colored men's underwear loosely wrapped around the hollow of his arm, pure black contrasting with his glowing white skin - just looking at it made my brain write ten thousand words of fanfic that couldn't be broadcast. I swallowed. Throat is dry. Damn it, I clearly came to be punished, but I'm... in love with other people's hands?! If this hand squeezes the back of my neck, or presses it down on the table— Stop imagining! Giang Hoa, do you want to die?!

“Have you seen enough?”

I don't know when Ta Trinh turned around, still holding the watering can, long and narrow phoenix eyes looking at me, a smile hanging at the corner of his lips as if it were nothing. I was startled and immediately bowed ninety degrees:

“Hello General Governor Ta! I came... to submit my review! No, submit… report!”

With both hands, I respectfully held up the report last night while sitting on the phone crying and making up: 《Research on the narcissistic behavior of modern men and the phenomenon of primate degeneration》. Ta Trinh did not accept. He put the watering can aside and leisurely pulled out a paper towel. Each finger was wiped thoroughly as if performing a sacred cleansing ritual, each movement was filled with restraint — also full of pressure. Then, he walked around the desk and sat down in the leather chair, his long legs crossed leisurely.

“Sit.” He raised his chin slightly and gestured to the chair opposite.