131: You didn't come back last night?

Meeting Lin Chao now was already awkward enough.

If her mother came out later... it would be a total massive social death scene!

She didn't dare think further, slipped back into her room with a flash, and locked the door with a "click."

On the other side.

After Lin Chao returned home, the first thing he did was rush into the bathroom.

Cold water poured down from his head, washing over his body and rinsing away the slight stickiness and awkwardness from the morning's encounter.

He closed his eyes, and Lan Qingyu's pale, terrified little face flashed through his mind.

He finished washing up quickly and picked out a well-tailored dark gray suit from the walk-in closet.

As the last cufflink was fastened, the man in the mirror had completely shed the laziness and warmth of last night.

He drove to the company and arrived just in time for the ten o'clock department meeting.

Nothing major happened in the meeting; it was just the usual progress reports from each group and plans for the next stage.

Lin Chao was now a Minister, so he had to attend such regular meetings.

He sat at the head of the table, listening to his subordinates' reports, occasionally speaking concisely and to the point.

An hour later, the meeting ended.

Everyone dispersed one after another.

Lin Chao organized the documents in front of him and prepared to head back to his office.

"Lin Chao!"

A crisp female voice came from behind.

Lin Chao turned around.

He saw Shen Zhixia, dressed in a capable professional suit skirt, walking quickly toward him.

Her face held a hint of inquiry and curiosity as she looked him up and down without reservation.

"Last night..."

Shen Zhixia leaned in closer and lowered her voice, as if sharing a secret.

"You didn't come back?"

The hand Lin Chao held the documents with paused almost imperceptibly.

He slowly raised his head to meet Shen Zhixia's inquisitive gaze.

There was a trace of playfulness in those eyes, like a cat that had discovered a secret.

Lin Chao was a bit curious: "How did you know?"

His voice was steady, showing no emotion, but there was a hint of sharpness in his eyes.

Shen Zhixia seemed to enjoy his momentary bewilderment, the corners of her mouth curling into a beautiful curve.

"I went downstairs to find you."

Her answer was casual, yet it felt like a heavy stone dropped into Lin Chao's heart.

Looking for him?

Late at night?

Lin Chao's pupils constricted suddenly, and he blurted out.

"Is there something wrong with your heart again?"

He took a step forward, his composure instantly shattered by concern.

"Did anything happen last night?"

"Did you feel unwell?"

Seeing his sudden tension and how his feigned calmness vanished, Shen Zhixia couldn't help but burst out laughing.

The laughter was crisp, sounding like wind chimes in the silent corridor.

"I was kidding." She blinked, the smile in her eyes deepening.

Lin Chao was stunned, and his tense nerves finally relaxed slightly.

Watching him, Shen Zhixia explained slowly, "Last night, someone snuck into the neighborhood to hand out flyers."

"They went door to door, sticking them on the door handles."

"This morning, I didn't take the elevator. I took the Fire Stairs to get some exercise."

"When I passed your door, I saw that advertising paper still stuck lonely on your handle."

At this point, she tilted her chin playfully at Lin Chao.

"So, I guessed you definitely didn't come home last night."

"Here."

Like a magic trick, Shen Zhixia pulled a folded card from her handbag.

"I took the trash away for you, by the way."

Lin Chao looked at the flyer for "Locksmithing and Drain Cleaning" in her hand, feeling both amused and annoyed.

He took the card and slipped it into his trouser pocket.

"Thanks."

The two walked side by side out of the meeting room, chatting.

Lin Chao couldn't help but tease.

"I didn't expect the security in a high-end place like Qinglan Garden to be so mediocre, letting people sneak in to promote ads."

He shook his head, a self-deprecating smile on his lips.

"But then again..."

"When I was promoting our company's massagers, I also snuck into those high-end neighborhoods like that."

Hearing this, Shen Zhixia glanced at him, her smile filled with understanding.

"No wonder your performance is so high."

"While others are still pressing the intercom downstairs, you've already sold the product in their living room."

Just then, a voice interrupted from behind them.

"Director Shen, Minister Lin!"

Marketing Department Manager Li Hong caught up, carrying a stack of documents and wearing a beaming smile.

Seeing Shen Zhixia and Lin Chao talking and laughing together, a hint of imperceptible surprise flashed in his eyes.

"What are you two talking about? You seem so happy."

The moment the words left his mouth, the smile on Shen Zhixia's face vanished at a visible rate.

On her bright face, only the indifference and aloofness of a department director remained.

"Nothing."

She spoke coldly, her tone making her sound like a different person.

"I was just asking Minister Lin how he achieved such high performance, to learn from his success."

Hearing this, Li Hong immediately saw an opportunity to show off and began praising Lin Chao profusely.

"Oh! Speaking of that, our Minister Lin is truly amazing!"

"I'm telling you, Director Shen, Minister Lin's sales skills are incredible. His thinking is clear, his methods are flexible, and he has the clients wrapped around his finger!"

Li Hong continued to boast enthusiastically, completely unaware that the atmosphere around him had quietly changed.

Shen Zhixia just listened quietly, her exquisite face expressionless, neither agreeing nor interrupting.

It wasn't until Li Hong's throat went dry and he started feeling awkward himself that he finally stopped.

Only then did Shen Zhixia slowly raise her eyelids, her gaze falling calmly on him.

"Finished?"

Her voice was flat, showing no emotion.

Li Hong's heart skipped a beat, and he nodded hurriedly.

"Finished, finished."

Shen Zhixia nodded slightly, her tone still calm and unruffled.

"If Manager Li has the time, why not put more effort into training a few more top performers like Minister Lin for the company?"

"That is the kind of performance a Marketing Department manager should have."

The smile on Li Hong's face froze, and a layer of fine cold sweat instantly broke out on his forehead.

He couldn't miss the warning in her words: "Yes, yes! Director Shen is right to reprimand me!"

He nodded like a woodpecker, his waist instinctively bending.

"I'll definitely focus on department building when I get back, definitely!"

Shen Zhixia acted as if she didn't see his fawning manner, not even looking up again.

"And is there anything else?"

This dismissal was stated casually, yet it carried an undeniable pressure.