The CEO Keeps Crying - Chapter 4

Qiu Yibai turned out to be face-blind.

Shen Ningxin could swear this was the most unbelievable thing she had heard all year.

Sensing her surprise, Assistant Han quickly waved her hand.

“It’s not that serious. Just a little worse than most people. Besides, she has her own way of remembering people.”

“And as far as I recall, she almost never makes mistakes.”

So, the nearly flawless President Qiu… had tripped up on her?

Shen Ningxin had no idea what to say. She could only smile awkwardly to ease the tension.

“Based on what you said just now,” Assistant Han added after a brief silence, “she might not have connected the you on the bus with the you at work. Think carefully—was there anything different about you those times?”

“Hair down versus tied up?” Shen Ningxin thought for a moment.

“No, that wouldn’t be it.” Assistant Han shook her head. “President Qiu wouldn’t confuse you over something that minor. Unless, from the very start, she never made an effort to remember your face at all—just something on you.”

The words silenced Shen Ningxin.

After a long pause, she slowly tugged at the little dog charm hanging from her bag.

Her cheeks flushed crimson, her tone filled with embarrassment.

“I think… President Qiu probably only remembered my crooked ID badge and my little dog.”

Well… fine.

The atmosphere gradually eased.

Assistant Han lingered a bit longer, chatting idly with Shen Ningxin before finally getting up to leave. Before going, she repeatedly reminded her not to tell anyone about tonight.

“I understand.” Shen Ningxin nodded earnestly. “Don’t worry, I won’t say a word.”

Relieved, Assistant Han waved goodbye, slung her bag over her shoulder, and left.

Her waist swayed with an elegant curve, her enticing fragrance trailing farther and farther away—completely different from the stern, professional image she’d had in the daytime.

Watching her retreating figure, Shen Ningxin finally turned back around.

Everyone has their secrets—Assistant Han did, and so did Qiu Yibai.

That was perfectly normal. There was nothing strange about it. Secrets were meant to be kept.

Thinking this, Shen Ningxin drained her glass in one gulp. Then, fishing a small mirror out of her bag, she studied her reflection.

Round apricot eyes, a straight nose, soft red lips, fair translucent skin, and two dimples decorating her cheeks.

Not entirely without distinctive features.

Yet President Qiu Yibai only remembered her little dog charm and a crooked badge.

She sighed, stroked the charm with her fingertips, as if speaking to it, though in her mind all she could see was Qiu Yibai’s face.

“You’re impossible,” she muttered, though her lips curved upward in spite of herself. “But… at least it’s nothing worse. For a moment, I thought you were schizophrenic. Nearly scared me to death…”

________________________________________

Morning came, and Shen Ningxin gathered her things to catch the bus to work again.

Right before boarding, nerves struck—what if she ran into Qiu Yibai again? How should she act in front of her this time?

Fortunately, she worried for nothing. No familiar faces appeared on the bus.

Exhaling, she found a seat at the back, gazing out the window as her mind replayed last night.

When she first learned Qiu Yibai was face-blind, she had been shocked—but then oddly relieved. If that was the case, maybe all those embarrassing things she’d done wouldn’t be remembered after all.

“What are you thinking?” Assistant Han had laughed when she voiced that. “She’s face-blind, not amnesiac. Besides, she’s seen you so many times already. I’m sure she remembered by now. Didn’t she even call you by name at the elevator the other day?”

“…True.” Shen Ningxin had to nod.

“Exactly.” Assistant Han patted her shoulder and downed a sip of wine. “So be careful. Our President Qiu is fierce.”

“…”

Leaning back against the seat, Shen Ningxin let out a tiny sigh.

The days ahead were probably not going to be easy.

Since she had left early, traffic wasn’t bad, and the bus soon pulled into her stop.

She clocked in at the office—still mostly empty this time of morning—poured herself some coffee, and just as she sat back down, her phone rang.

It was Sister Zhao, the senior colleague assigned to guide her. She had saved the number only days ago.

Shen Ningxin answered quickly.

“You at the office yet?” Sister Zhao’s voice crackled over the line, nearly drowned by the roar of a rollercoaster and children screaming in the background. “A relative’s wedding today, so I can’t make it. Need you to handle a couple things for me.”

“…”

You’re out playing, just admit it. Couldn’t you think of a better excuse?

Holding back a sigh, Shen Ningxin forced a polite smile into her voice.

“Sure, go ahead.”

“There are some production orders on my computer. Double-check them and send to the factory—change the ship date to May 7th,” Sister Zhao instructed. “Also, the certificate of origin for the Korean client. Tell the documentation department to issue one.”

“Got it.” Shen Ningxin grabbed a pen and scribbled notes as she listened.

“Anything else?” she asked after.

“There’s one more form—on my desktop. Forward it to President Qiu for me. I’ll send you her WeChat.”

President Qiu.

At the sound of Qiu Yibai’s name, Shen Ningxin’s stomach gave a nervous jolt.

But since it was work, refusal wasn’t an option. She agreed, hung up, and immediately sent a friend request.

Qiu Yibai’s profile picture was the Corey company logo. Her ID was an English name followed by the company’s pinyin—simple, plain, nothing flashy.

Yet somehow, it felt intimidating.

“Catherine?” Shen Ningxin read the name softly. Then, filling out the request politely, she typed:

Hello, President Qiu. I’m Shen Ningxin from the Foreign Trade Department. I have a file to send you. May I add you as a contact?

Such a short note—and yet it felt like an eternity.

Taking a deep breath, she hit send and quickly tossed her phone aside, burying herself in work.

By the time she looked up again, Qiu Yibai had already accepted.

Opening the chat, Shen Ningxin saw her message:

[Send it over.]

Her tone seemed normal, not at all like she was trying to make things difficult.

Breathing out in relief, Shen Ningxin quickly forwarded the form. Then, realizing it was already noon, she instinctively added a polite reminder:

[President Qiu, don’t forget to eat lunch.]

No reply came for a long while.

She didn’t think much of it, focusing on her work until the noon break arrived.

After clocking out, she headed to the cafeteria.

A new dish had been launched today, and the aroma was irresistible. Excited, she filled her tray, found a seat, and was just about to take her first bite when her phone buzzed.

Qiu Yibai: [Image] [Image] [Image]

Probably the review results for the form.

Thinking so, Shen Ningxin set her chopsticks down and opened WeChat.

Her eyes widened instantly, nearly choking on air.

Review results? Not even close.

Qiu Yibai had sent her multiple photos of food—

Exquisitely plated sashimi, sizzling grilled meat, dainty pastries still steaming, fine red wine glinting in the light.

A flawless display of indulgence.

Then came another message:

[Already eating.]

[Just something casual.]

Casual? Seriously?

Shen Ningxin was speechless. Half annoyed at herself for ever asking if she’d eaten, she sent back:

[Then please enjoy your meal.]

She shoved her phone aside, unwilling to look at it again.

Suddenly, the food in front of her didn’t seem so appetizing anymore.

“…”

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Author’s Note:

Qiu Yibai: The life of a domineering CEO is nothing if not plain and simple.