I Secretly Read My Boss' Diary (GL) - Chapter 17

November 11th, the day somebody confessed to Silly,

During today’s lecture, I suddenly heard two boys in front of me mention Silly’s name. One of them, his face flushed red, pulled out a small, wrapped gift box from his backpack and announced he wanted to confess his feelings to her right after class!

Seeing the expectant look on the boy’s face, I couldn’t resist patting his shoulder. Under his startled gaze, I asked, “Don’t you know Silly already has a girlfriend?”

Watching his expression freeze completely, I gave him a sympathetic look, shook my head, and resumed taking notes.

Truth be told, I envied him. At least he had the courage to confess. As for me, I could only scurry around in the shadows like a mouse, secretly observing her but too afraid to make a move.

******

Yan Zhao sat on her bed, rubbing her eyes. Thinking about the diary owner’s shocking maneuver, she couldn’t help but chuckle. Who would have expected such a stuffy person to have so many mischievous ideas? If that silly guy found out, he’d probably freeze in shock. Accidentally “giving” someone a girlfriend? How absurd!

Judging by the span of the diary entries, it had been going on for quite some time. Yet the diary owner showed no signs of confessing, leaving Yan Zhao, the reader, anxiously waiting. She felt like rolling up her sleeves and shoving the two of them together, just to get things out in the open.

Waking up early today, Yan Zhao took her time getting to the company. When she arrived, Liu Yiyang was the only one in the Operations Department.

“Have you eaten breakfast?” Yan Zhao asked, clasping her hands behind her back as she approached Liu Yiyang.

Liu Yiyang hadn’t expected Yan Zhao to come directly to his desk. Startled to see her standing beside him, he hastily closed the browser window on his computer.

Seeing this, Yan Zhao pointed at Liu Yiyang with a mischievous grin. “What’s this? Were you secretly watching a video in the office? You’ve really gone downhill, Liu Yiyang.”

Liu Yiyang, caught off guard by her words, couldn’t help but feel torn between laughter and exasperation. He swatted her hand away, his face flushing as he hurried to defend himself.

“Have you lost your mind? Who in their right mind would watch that kind of video at work?”

“I never said it was that kind of video! Now spill—aren’t you confessing? Hiding good stuff? Are you even our bro?”

As she spoke, Yan Zhao lunged for Liu Yiyang’s mouse, startling him into a yelp. He quickly shielded the mouse and monitor with his body.

“Zhao, be nice! You’re the one who’s been corrupted!”

Yan Zhao had no intention of actually stealing his computer; she was just teasing him. Seeing how flustered he was, she decided to stop teasing. She hopped up to scare him one last time, but just as she leaped, Sun Yiming walked in, startling her instead.

Yan Zhao, who had grown accustomed to Gong Muyu’s scolding whenever she spoke to Sun Yiming, had resolved to keep her distance and avoid conversation with him whenever possible.

Now, as Sun Yiming entered the office, greeted everyone, and headed toward the General Manager’s Office with his backpack slung over his shoulder, Yan Zhao realized her 160 cm stature couldn’t compete with his long 183 cm frame. He reached her side in a few quick strides and grabbed her backpack strap.

Yan Zhao, absorbed in her hurried pace, didn’t notice her backpack had been snagged. Only when she felt herself suddenly lurch backward, completely losing her balance, did she panic. She desperately tried to grab the doorframe a meter away, but her short legs and arms couldn’t reach. Helplessly, she watched the frame recede further with each passing moment.

Just as she braced for the impact of her head hitting the floor, strong hands gripped her shoulders and lifted her upright.

Looking up at Sun Yiming’s handsome face above her, Yan Zhao’s mind conjured an image of Gong Muyu’s furious, darkened expression. Once she regained her balance, she immediately pushed Sun Yiming away and leaped several steps back.

“Are you alright? I didn’t mean to do that.”

“I’m fine, I’m fine.”

As Yan Zhao spoke, she adjusted the backpack that Sun Yiming had nearly pulled off her. To Sun Yiming, however, this gesture seemed like Yan Zhao was rejecting him. His bright eyes dimmed instantly. He wanted to say more, but she had already dashed into the General Manager’s Office.

“Manager Sun, did you need to see me so early?”

Gong Muyu and Zhang Sheng approached from behind Sun Yiming. Seeing his lingering gaze on the “silly” person in his office, Gong Muyu suppressed her jealousy and asked.

Hearing this, Sun Yiming quickly turned around, forcing a stiff smile as he faced Gong Muyu and Zhang Sheng, who had already approached. His gaze flickered toward the figure hunched in the chair before he turned and walked back to his own office.

Watching Sun Yiming’s dejected figure, Zhang Sheng couldn’t help but mutter, “Hey, our company’s playboy looks like he’s been dumped.”

“I haven’t even heard he was dating that female employee.”

Zhang Sheng walked to where Sun Yiming had been standing and looked around. Aside from Liu Yiyang, who stood in the northwest corner with a vacant expression, Yan Zhao was already in the General Manager’s Office.

“Could it be… this guy has his eye on Zhao? Did he forget his glasses today?”

Yan Zhao’s appearance certainly wasn’t striking, and her timid demeanor and lack of sharpness made her seem ill-suited to Sun Yiming in every way.

Listening to Zhang Sheng’s comments, Gong Muyu suddenly felt a surge of irritation. She glanced at the middle-aged man standing by her office door, stroking his chin with a nosy look. “It’s hard to imagine how Cui Yingying ever fell for Zhang,” she remarked.

With that, Gong Muyu turned and walked back into her office, leaving Zhang Sheng gaping after her. It took him a long moment to realize he’d been the target of her sly insult.

“Hey! My short fuse again? How did I get dragged into this?!”

*******

After a calm and uneventful morning, as lunchtime approached, Yan Zhao sat in her chair and stretched lazily.

“General Manager Mu, are you going out for lunch?” Yan Zhao asked, resting her folded arms on the desk and swaying her head as she addressed Gong Muyu.

“No, I brought my own food.” Gong Muyu’s eyes remained fixed on the computer screen, not even glancing at Yan Zhao.

Feeling rejected, Yan Zhao pursed her lips and muttered a quiet “Oh.” She pulled out her phone and sent a message to Dong Wan before standing up and heading for the door.

However, just as she reached the office entrance, she saw Sun Yiming emerge from the neighboring office.

Oh no, Yan Zhao thought. Turning back now would look too obvious, so she forced a bright smile and greeted him.

“Yan Zhao, are you free for lunch? My treat.”

Yan Zhao froze, momentarily speechless. Her eyes darted around before she pointed in Dong Wan’s direction. “Sorry, I already have plans.”

“What are you standing around for? Let’s go.”

Gong Muyu had appeared behind Yan Zhao at some point, grabbing her arm and pulling her towards the exit.

Noticing Sun Yiming at the door, Gong Muyu nodded politely and explained, “My apologies, Manager Sun. Zhao has already made plans with me.”

With that, Gong Muyu pulled the dazed Yan Zhao toward the elevator without looking back.

Once inside, Yan Zhao noticed Gong Muyu’s expression shifting inexplicably again and instinctively edged closer to her.

The elevator stopped at the second floor, likely coinciding with lunchtime, and the crowd surged. Seeing Yan Zhao’s hesitant posture, Gong Muyu reached out and pulled her closer.

“Move a little closer.”

Standing beside Gong Muyu, Yan Zhao stared blankly at her impassive profile. “General Manager Mu,” she asked, “didn’t you say you brought food? Why did you suddenly decide to come with me?”

“I’m not hungry anymore. I want to try the hot pot from the restaurant on the next street.”

Hearing Gong Muyu’s answer, Yan Zhao couldn’t help but pout. She sighed inwardly, Women’s hearts are truly unpredictable.

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