Chen An didn’t like watching games with Cheng Lele.

Back in their first year of high school, he had represented the school in several cross-city friendly soccer matches whenever he could spare the time. Thinking to help Cheng Lele relax, he brought this burden along with him.

In Taixi, Cheng Lele appeared practically attached to him, and the school uniform was exceptionally ugly, so not many people at Taigao had designs on Cheng Lele.

However, as Quan Zirong had said, Cheng Lele was a natural-born soccer babe. Once outside the school gates and at the field, especially when Cheng Lele was completely focused—her gaze always passionate, her posture always spirited—she casually attracted many attentive gazes.

He played soccer on the field while Cheng Lele cheered enthusiastically below. During that time, male students constantly took the opportunity to chat up Cheng Lele or even pester her unreasonably, causing him to lose focus while playing.

In the final match, something delayed him, so he arrived a bit late to change clothes. Before he even entered the locker room, he heard several boys from that unfamiliar city sizing up Cheng Lele with crude and vulgar comments, punctuated by sleazy laughter. So he got into a fight on their home turf. His teammates, hearing the commotion, all joined in, and it escalated into a brawl. Fortunately, the supervising teacher was nearby and prevented the situation from escalating further.

His long-standing image as a well-behaved top student allowed him to narrowly avoid punishment from the school, but after that incident, the school never let him participate in any more competitions.

The outdoor basketball court was quite run-down. The cement hardened ground had several cracks, and the basketball hoop was covered in rust. There were no seats nearby, so spectators could only stand around in a circle—very primitive-looking.

Although the sun blazed overhead and it was class time, there were quite a few people watching. Men and women each made up about half. The girls’ heads were indeed adorned with those ridiculous headbands, their eyes all fixed on the boy wearing a blue T-shirt and white wristbands on the court, with thick eyebrows and large eyes. He must be Shao Kang.

After scanning the scene with one glance, Chen An reminded Cheng Lele: “Since you’re here to discuss cooperation, you need to give him a steady impression. Don’t wear the headband—just wait quietly for him to finish the game.”

Before Cheng Lele could respond, they were deafened by the shrieks of the girls beside them. It seemed Shao Kang had scored.

Cheng Lele thought for a moment and decided to follow Chen An’s advice, not wearing that headband.

She took off her hat, not minding the heat, undid her ponytail, and let her thick, voluminous long hair cascade down. Then she rummaged through her bag, pulled out a pair of sunglasses, and reapplied a flame-red lipstick, standing to the side coolly and quietly.

Chen An rolled his eyes inwardly.

Cheng Lele must be one of those legendary scheming women. Seeing that she was surrounded by fanatical sixteen or seventeen-year-old little girls with no way to stand out, she immediately affected the aura of a mature older sister, standing among them like a crane among chickens, especially eye-catching.

She secretly asked Chen An: “How is it?”

“How is what?”

“Older brother, I’ve discovered you really have good judgment. Looking this mature now, the little wolf-dog will notice me right away, won’t he?”

Chen An was so angry he felt internal injuries: “What little wolf-dog?”

“Shao Kang is only eighteen—what else would he be but a little wolf-dog?” Her voice suddenly dropped, her lips barely moving, communicating with Chen An using only breath: “He looked over, he looked over. Did his gaze linger on me for an extra second?”

Cheng Lele’s display of charm, striving to win a man’s attention, made Chen An’s anger burn hotter and hotter. Previously, when strangers with ill intentions tried to chat her up, her attitude, while not exactly cold, was still politely distant. Occasionally she would confide in Chen An about her confusion, complaining in a somewhat humble-brag way about the troubles her beauty brought her.

He had never imagined that one day Cheng Lele would use her physical appearance as an advantage to achieve her goals.

Such unspoken rules did exist in society, but his company, his workplace didn’t need to conform to or submit to these things—otherwise it would be his incompetence.

So he believed that even if he wasn’t her boyfriend, as her superior, he was qualified to be angry.

Chen An put on a sour face and lectured her methodically: “Cheng Lele, using beauty to obtain work results is contemptible.”

Cheng Lele’s face whipped around. She stared at Chen An with bright eyes, unable to speak for a long while.

It wasn’t until a whistle blew up ahead that Cheng Lele threw out a classic scumbag line: “If that’s what you think, I can’t help it.”

Then, protected by her sunglasses, Cheng Lele desperately widened her eyes, holding back the hot tears in her eyes as she watched several little girls walk onto the court.

After a while, Shao Kang walked over surrounded by little girls and suddenly stopped when passing by her.

“Miss, you’re not from our school, are you?”

The sun was strong, and the liquid in her eyes evaporated quickly. Cheng Lele removed her sunglasses, revealing a smile tinged with social courtesy: “Hello, Student Shao Kang. I’m Cheng Lele, an admirer who came specifically for you. Would it be convenient to treat you to a cup of coffee?”

Shao Kang glanced again at Chen An standing beside her: “And this is—”

“Ah, this is my boyfriend and also my boss, Chen An.”

When going out to discuss business, Cheng Lele often encountered harassment or pestering. After suffering a few losses, at meetings with unfamiliar men, she got into the habit of wearing a ring on her ring finger to avoid excessive attention from the source. Today, because Chen An was accompanying her, she hadn’t worn one.

Chen An’s face, frozen for nearly three minutes, finally showed signs of thawing. Boyfriend. Although fake, even the role of temporary actor made Chen An’s heart stir.

He reflected on whether what he had said earlier was too harsh.

Shao Kang sized up Chen An and praised: “Miss, your boyfriend is very handsome.”

Cheng Lele smiled: “Not as popular as Student Shao Kang though.”