Shi Sui received a call from Li Yin during lunch, saying the contract renewal meant they needed to stay in Shanghai for a few more days, and asked her to handle dinner on her own during this time.

Shi Sui quickly agreed.

Although the company cafeteria had meal subsidies each month, the taste was mediocre.

Since returning, Shi Sui had been going home for dinner every night.

But now that they wouldn’t be back for a while, Shi Sui felt relieved.

She could take this opportunity to go back to the old house alone and calm down for a few days while making plans for what came next.

Shi Sui was certain that during her years abroad, Yan Tingli had made his presence known to Shi Yue and Li Yin quite frequently, and with such ulterior motives that he had them obeying his every word.

Never mind anything else—just the bay window in the new house’s bedroom, even the plants on the display shelves, were identical to the layout of that apartment in the capital.

Brazenly malicious.

Having not slept well last night, during lunch break, Shi Sui lay on her desk with closed eyes to rest.

After an unknown amount of time, it seemed like afternoon work hours had arrived.

From the office entrance came Fu Ze’s obsequious, laughing voice, and the entire large office suddenly seemed to become noisy due to the arriving visitor.

Shi Sui was awakened by the noise. Her consciousness wasn’t fully clear yet as she rubbed her eyes and stared blankly at the computer.

Her workstation was in a corner. Before she could figure out what was happening, just as she was about to look up, her shoulder was lightly patted by Zhao Sheng as a reminder. She quickly whispered, “Someone from Zhilian came. Perk up a bit.”

A nearby intern said in surprise, “So fast? They said this morning and came this afternoon.”

Another person whispered: “Their company makes money by the second. Of course, their efficiency is high.”

At this moment, Fu Ze’s voice approached from far away. As they entered, he said earnestly, “President Yan, Team Leader Gao, there are steps here. Please be careful, both of you.”

As soon as Shi Sui looked up, she met eyes with Yan Tingli, who was being surrounded and escorted in like stars surrounding the moon.

He stared straight at her, then slowly blinked once.

Seeing this made an inexplicable fire surge in Shi Sui’s chest. She darkened her face and lowered her head, roughly using the computer in front of her to block their eye contact.

The visual contact was severed, but Fu Ze’s excited voice still rang endlessly in her ears.

He knew Yan Tingli’s identity, his tone utterly devoted.

Wherever Yan Tingli walked, employees stood up, with Fu Ze bustling about behind him, introducing everyone’s skills and work.

Shi Sui mixed in with the crowd, unwilling to have any eye contact with Yan Tingli. But when Fu Ze passed by, he suddenly cued her: “President Yan, this is our team’s newly recruited animator Shi Sui. Don’t let her young age fool you—her portfolio is very impressive, with a unique art style. She’s excellent at both original art and storyboards.”

“Really,” Yan Tingli smiled, “let me take a look.”

Shi Sui saw the leisurely teasing in his eyes, her expression cold.

Until Zhao Sheng pushed her from behind.

Shi Sui sighed inwardly, said nothing, and bent down to bring up her previous works on the computer.

That person also bent down behind her, his breath lightly approaching.

He seemed to be looking at the computer, but the seemingly absent gaze falling on her face never stopped.

“Very beautiful.”

When Shi Sui stood up, she heard him say in a breathy voice.

Only reaching her ears.

What was beautiful?

Shi Sui didn’t think he meant the drawings.

She tensed her face and strode aside with large steps.

Fu Ze continued his endless introductions beside them.

Yan Tingli said slowly and leisurely, “Team Leader Fu, I very much appreciate you and trust your talent.”

“As long as you do well.” He paused for a few seconds, his lips curving upward as he slowly revealed a smile to Fu Ze, carrying some meaningful implications, “You’ll be my most capable partner.”

Hearing this made Shi Sui slowly form a question mark above her head. Why did these words sound so familiar?

She recalled in her mind and suddenly remembered something.

Weren’t these the words Fu Ze had said to her?! Why could Yan Tingli repeat them almost verbatim?

Understanding the key point, Shi Sui nearly crushed the paper in her hand.

But just such an ambiguous statement still made Fu Ze’s eyes light up.

He took a deep breath: “Thank you for your appreciation, President Yan. I will deliver a satisfactory answer.”

Yan Tingli curved his lips: “I trust Team Leader Fu won’t disappoint me at all.”

Fu Ze was both flattered and felt immense pressure.

He unconsciously lowered his voice to confirm: “So you mean I’ll be primarily responsible for the cooperation project with your company?”

Yan Tingli neither confirmed nor denied: “I place great importance on Team Leader Fu’s abilities.”

Fu Ze was stunned, still unable to work out the implications, when Yan Tingli was already leaving.

It was clear Yan Tingli was indeed very busy. He had come at the precise moment lunch break ended, stayed for twenty minutes, then was surrounded by senior leadership and personally escorted out of the company. The remaining procedures would be completed by Gao Linhan.

Gao Linhan’s expression was numb. Work was already annoying enough without having to handle such trivial matters during lunch break.

Why did Yan Tingli have to bring him along just to appease his ex-girlfriend?

Gao Linhan sighed deeply inwardly, turning to helplessly look at the insufferably talkative Fu Ze.

“Team Leader Gao, what did President Yan mean at the end?” Fu Ze couldn’t contain his excitement, confirming with him over and over. He hadn’t expected that this famous young President Yan from Zhilian Future would personally come to the company for such a small project, and speak so highly of him throughout.

He means you’re going to be in trouble.

Gao Linhan smiled at him with a mouthful of white teeth, saying sympathetically: “He’s telling you to work hard.”

Fu Ze immediately said, “Recently, I’ll have the team submit samples to your company’s technical department for review. If they’re not satisfactory, we’ll revise immediately.”

“Don’t overwork your subordinates.” Gao Linhan couldn’t help but remind him, “Actually, our President Yan prefers your style.”

Fu Ze was even more flattered and changed his tune: “Then I’ll personally work overtime to rush out something.”

Gao Linhan patted his shoulder, giving a thumbs up: “Team Leader Fu has real ability.”

Before Gao Linhan left, Shi Sui encountered him in the break room.

From Gao Linhan’s guilty reaction at the last class reunion, Shi Sui had basically deduced that he already knew about her relationship with Yan Tingli, and now he was basically in cahoots with that person.

Therefore, Shi Sui was in a very bad mood upon seeing him.

She put down her cup and asked coldly: “What exactly is Yan Tingli trying to pull?”

Gao Linhan chose his words carefully: “He wants to make your work easier.”

Shi Sui snorted coldly: “I’d be most comfortable if he didn’t appear around me.”

That’s between you two, then.

Gao Linhan cleared his throat lightly, wisely wanting to escape: “Well, I have some things to do, so I’ll go first.” As he walked away, he cupped his hands: “See you next time, see you next time.”

Shi Sui watched him run away, taking a deep breath wordlessly in place.

After Yan Tingli’s visit, Fu Ze was like something had ignited his small universe. For the next few days, he barely managed team affairs, throwing himself entirely into Zhilian’s project.

“With this enthusiasm, anyone who didn’t know would think Zhilian had already chosen him internally.”

At lunch, Shi Sui was eating at the same table as Zhao Sheng when a team leader from a neighboring group came over with his tray, quietly complaining: “Who doesn’t know that all the messy work in your team is done by you, while he just relies on sweet-talking and taking credit? Now seeing Zhilian’s project, he wants to grab this piece of fat meat again.”

Looking at Shi Sui, he sneered: “Even stealing credit from interns.”

Zhao Sheng twitched her lips but said nothing.

Shi Sui slowly sipped her soup while observing her from the corner of her eye.

Having been here for some time, she finally had a basic understanding of the situation.

The project team she was currently in had been established for almost three years, responsible for producing the 3D animated film “White Crane Youth,” adapted from a well-known IP and quite promising.

But within the team, Fu Ze and Zhao Sheng didn’t get along, and their subordinates had also split into two factions with undercurrents surging.

Among these, training interns, assigning tasks, and pushing project progress were basically all handled single-handedly by Zhao Sheng.

As for what Fu Ze was doing, he always had various meetings and dinner gatherings, looking very busy.

Shi Sui pondered while eating with her head down, trying to minimize her presence.

Until the neighboring team leader suddenly called her: “Xiao Shi.”

“Mm?” she responded.

“You’re capable. Be careful of Fu Ze using you as a stepping stone. There was an intern before who experienced this, and it also hurt your Deputy Team Leader Zhao.”

This matter seemed to bring up unpleasant memories for Zhao Sheng, who coldly put down her chopsticks.

“Forget it, the more you say, the more mistakes you make,” that person observed Zhao Sheng’s expression, picked up his bowl and left, “figure it out yourself.”

What a tangled mess.

Shi Sui felt annoyed listening and calculated in her mind that once this month ended, she’d directly resign and leave.

Wednesday afternoon before getting off work, Shi Sui had just finished rendering the last scene and was about to satisfyingly shut down the computer.

Suddenly, someone lightly tapped her chair, and Fu Ze’s deliberately lowered voice came: “Don’t rush to leave later. Come with me to a dinner gathering.”

Shi Sui was stunned: “…Me?”

Fu Ze raised an eyebrow: “Yes, I’m only bringing you.”

His expression looked very matter-of-fact, and he didn’t think she would refuse. After all, being specifically valued by a leader and brought out for dinner—who wouldn’t seize such an opportunity?

Shi Sui didn’t want to go at all and tried to decline: “Team leader, I’m not feeling well today.”

Fu Ze acted as if he couldn’t understand her meaning: “You’ll feel better after eating some food.”

Shi Sui was about to speak when Fu Ze interrupted: “Xiao Shi, just give me some face.”

She didn’t want to give him this face.

Just as she was about to speak, Fu Ze suddenly said in a joking tone: “Xiao Shi, your internship certificate still needs my signature and approval.”

Hearing this made Shi Sui’s breath catch in her chest.

Seeing her stop talking, Fu Ze returned to his smiling demeanor, his tone becoming gentle: “But you’re so excellent, I’ll naturally give you all A’s.”

The evening dinner gathering was exceptionally boring.

Across from them was a small investor, and Shi Sui sat among a group of middle management, listening to them flatter each other.

Work-related socializing often requires toasting and drinking.

When Fu Ze wanted her to toast, Shi Sui firmly insisted she was allergic to alcohol and persisted in only drinking juice.

Her role at such dinner gatherings was nothing more than accompanying drinks.

But Shi Sui was unwilling to accompany, much less say pretty words.

She just followed Fu Ze’s instructions to focus on eating, only responding when necessary.

Fu Ze’s expression didn’t look very good.

Shi Sui pretended not to see.

After dinner, while Fu Ze was still talking with the investor, she quickly said goodbye and took a taxi home.

Shi Sui thought such poor performance would eliminate all future dinner gatherings.

She never expected that Friday night, Fu Ze would call her to dinner again.

At that moment, Shi Sui almost immediately slammed her resignation letter on the table.

But only a full month of internship counted for credits. She’d worked over twenty days—she couldn’t let it all go to waste.

After calming down for several seconds, Shi Sui reluctantly agreed.

After work, Shi Sui followed Fu Ze to the hotel.

Looking at the entrance to Yi Lanshan, her mood sank slightly as some unpleasant memories surfaced.

Shi Sui didn’t want to believe in such sixth senses, but when bad premonitions were consistently proven right, she had to start believing in these physiological intuitions.

Like right now.

She stood at the private room door and met eyes with Yan Tingli, who was seated in the main position, playing with a wine glass and looking at her with an ambiguous smile.

Shi Sui’s expression changed, but she no longer had the energy to be angry.

Since returning to the country, Yan Tingli has always managed to encounter her unexpectedly in places she could never imagine.

The first few times, Shi Sui would be horrified, but after so many occurrences, she only felt tired.

If this was what Yan Tingli meant by “not letting her have a good life,” then he had indeed achieved it.

Around the entire round table, Guangmei’s senior leadership surrounded Yan Tingli, filling every seat. Even Fu Ze could only sit near the serving area.

As an intern, Shi Sui was particularly out of place.

Just as she was about to sit in the serving area, a leisurely voice came from the head of the table: “Sit beside me.”

Realizing that all eyes at the table had fallen on her, Shi Sui was stunned.

Regarding Yan Tingli calling an unknown intern to sit in the place of honor, everyone present was slightly surprised but not particularly fazed.

After all, it was common at drinking tables for big shots to have attractive women sit beside them for company.

Shi Sui sat over with an expressionless face. Sensing the leisurely appraising gaze from beside her, she slammed down her bag with a “bang,” too lazy to acknowledge it.

Yan Tingli chuckled.

At this dinner, Yan Tingli didn’t touch a drop of alcohol, and no one dared try to make him drink.

But others, no matter how far away they sat, would come around the table with wine glasses to toast him.

Especially Fu Ze. He made three trips alone, and glancing at Shi Sui, who was again just focusing on eating, he couldn’t help saying: “Xiao Shi, come with me and toast President Yan a few glasses.”

As he spoke, Fu Ze filled Shi Sui’s wine glass.

Shi Sui stared gloomily at the wine glass, then looked up to meet eyes with Yan Tingli, who was watching her with leisure.

His lips were half-curved, waiting for her reaction.

Waiting for her to toast him? He was dreaming.

After a few seconds, Shi Sui woodenly picked up the tea beside her, reluctantly raising the cup: “I can’t drink alcohol, so I’ll substitute tea for—”

Fu Ze slammed the teacup in her hand heavily onto the table.

“Today you’ll drink whether you want to or not.” He pressed the wine glass into her hands with a stern voice, “Come on, give me and President Yan some face. Drink this glass.”

Shi Sui had reached her absolute limit.

At worst, she didn’t want this month’s internship credits. She pressed her lips tightly together, about to explode the second before—

Her fingers were grasped by someone’s cool finger bones.

The person behind her approached with his breath, gently taking away the wine glass.

Under everyone’s gaze, Yan Tingli tilted his head back and drank the entire glass of wine clean.

Everyone stared at him in shock.

After finishing, Yan Tingli curved his eyes at Fu Ze with a light smile: “She doesn’t drink. I will.”

Fu Ze stared at Yan Tingli in a daze.

He appeared to be smiling, but his eyes showed not a trace of warmth.

For that instant, Fu Ze’s throat went dry, and a layer of cold sweat physiologically appeared on his spine as he said dryly: “President Yan, she’s being ignorant. You don’t need to, don’t need to drink.”

Yan Tingli set down the wine glass: “Then you drink?”

Without waiting for his response, he tapped the table with his finger bones, giving a light instruction: “Open a few more bottles. Team Leader Fu likes to drink.”

Fu Ze stood frozen in place, his face somewhat pale.

His alcohol tolerance was legendary, but that night he was drunk senseless.

At this point, how could he not see Yan Tingli’s deliberate tormenting intent? He just couldn’t figure out, no matter how hard he racked his brain, exactly where he had offended him.

Shi Sui couldn’t muster any sympathy for him.

Right now, she even had a difficult problem—she had come in Fu Ze’s car, and among those present, she was his only subordinate, so she still had to get this person back.

Fu Ze looked at her with a dark expression, ordering, “Call a designated driver. I’ll give you a ride back, and I happen to have something to discuss with you.”

He really couldn’t hold back—he had to properly discipline this disobedient intern.

Shi Sui lowered her head to contact someone through the app.

The summer stuffiness hadn’t passed yet, and the air was heavy with moisture, as if brewing rain, making her even more uncomfortable.

While waiting, a black Bentley stopped by the roadside.

The rear window rolled down.

Revealing the person’s refined face, Yan Tingli’s dark pupils fixed on her face, his lips curving slightly, maintaining a gentle facade: “Miss Shi, would you like me to give you a ride?”

How could Shi Sui possibly get in his car? She said stiffly: “No need, thank you.”

Upon hearing this, Fu Ze’s brain suddenly became very active. He hurriedly said, “Xiao Shi, since President Yan is offering to drive you, just get in the car.”

Shi Sui was extremely annoyed with him and ignored the cold, piercing gaze from behind the car window: “I want to go back together with you.”

Fu Ze: “I’ll go by myself—”

“Team leader, you’ve had too much to drink,” Shi Sui interrupted him, “I’ll call a designated driver for you, and you can give me a ride.”

A cold sneer came from behind.

This was a signal that all patience was exhausted. Yan Tingli’s voice was heavy: “Shi Sui, I’m telling you to get in the car.”

Shi Sui turned a deaf ear and said to Fu Ze, “The designated driver is here. Let’s go, team leader.”

She left as she said she would, leaving Yan Tingli behind.

Fu Ze, having drunk too much, couldn’t think either.

He was about to step forward to explain something to Yan Tingli when Bentley had already shot away like an arrow.

In the car, Shi Sui sat silently in the passenger seat.

Fu Ze kept talking in the back, mainly lecturing her about being ignorant and disobedient.

“You’re the recruit I’m most optimistic about. I’ve always wanted to cultivate you properly. Is this how you repay me now?”

“But never mind, Xiao Shi, you’re just entering the workplace, you’re young, I don’t blame you.”

“As long as you learn from this lesson and become more obedient and sensible, I can continue to—”

“You’ve had too much to drink,” Shi Sui interrupted with unbearable impatience, saying coldly, “Please rest well.”

Fu Ze clicked his tongue, about to continue speaking, but fortunately, the car pulled up downstairs at the old house. Shi Sui breathed a sigh of relief, opened the door, and slammed it shut with a bang.”

Fu Ze, inside the car, was snubbed, and a night’s worth of anger immediately flared up.

After reacting for a moment, he opened the door to get out and scold her, but Shi Sui had already stridden into the building with large steps, never looking back.

Fu Ze: “…”

This old residential area had no elevator and was only six stories at most.

Shi Sui’s home was on the fifth floor.

Perhaps because of too many annoying things recently, the stairs that she used to climb up and down without feeling tired as a child now left her breathless.

Finally reaching the front door.

Shi Sui fumbled for her keys while leaning against the door, closing her eyes to catch her breath.

Once her breathing calmed, she inserted the key into the door lock.

With a “click,” Shi Sui pushed open the door.

But immediately, lightning flashed through her mind as she thought of something, and cold sweat instantly broke out on her back.

Shi Sui was certain.

Before leaving today, she had double-locked the front door. It would be impossible to open it with just one turn of the key.

So why—

As if confirming her premonition.

Shi Sui suddenly looked up and met eyes with Yan Tingli in the pitch-black room, who had been waiting for her for who knows how long.

He sat in the chair directly across from her, long legs spread apart, leaning back casually.

His pitch-black eyes were especially bright under the pale moonlight filtering in.

His gaze was also fixed directly on her face, carefully examining, as if unwilling to miss any of her expressions.

“Sui Sui.” Yan Tingli looked at her, slowly curving his lips, his tone light: “I’ve been waiting here for you for a long time.”

Shi Sui stared straight back at him.

She refused to show even a hint of fear in front of this person, angrily demanding: “How did you get into my house?”

Yan Tingli tilted his head slightly, frowning to correct: “Wrong, it’s our house.”

“What do you mean our—” Suddenly, Shi Sui’s gaze froze.

Her eyes slowly stopped on the pink handcuffs that Yan Tingli was casually playing with in his hands.

In this instant, her brain sent out a fatal warning.

Immediately recalling the nightmare she feared most.

Shi Sui never dared to bet on Yan Tingli’s limits. Without thinking, she turned and ran.

Her hand had just touched the door handle, before she could press down, she was heavily pressed against the front door from behind.

“Still running?”

Yan Tingli let out an angrily amused laugh. His cold fingers gripped her chin, his lips also approaching near her ear.

As this voice fell.

Two “clicks”—the handcuffs locked on her slender wrists, left and right.

Accompanied by the voice behind her, which no longer carried a trace of laughter, ice cold:

“Can you escape?”