9: Chapter 9 The Imaginary Secretary Whose Favorability Inexplicably Soars

Two hours later, the VIP closed training room was in complete disarray.

The specially made heavy sandbag had been completely destroyed, with cotton stuffing scattered all over the floor.

Qin Yumo lay sprawled on the yoga mat, sweat soaking through every inch of her clothing.

She gasped heavily, staring fixedly at the man who hadn't even lost his breath.

During two hours of high-intensity training, she had used every trick in her arsenal.

Qin Yumo tried to use a joint lock on Lin Yuan's wrist, only to find it felt like holding onto steel bars.

She used a low kick on Lin Yuan's knee, but the recoil made her own lower leg go numb.

Lin Yuan only used one hand to press down on her shoulder, keeping her half-kneeling on the mat, unable to get up.

A shudder, mixed with fear and an inexplicable fanaticism, shot straight up her spine to her brain.

Lin Yuan stretched his shoulders, his joints emitting crisp cracking sounds.

The seams under the armpits and on the back of his casual wear had burst during his previous exertion, making them look somewhat comical now.

He walked into the shower room to rinse off.

By the time he came out wrapped in a bath towel, Qin Yumo had already showered and, having barely recovered some strength, was standing against the wall.

"Go buy me a few sets of clothes to change into." Lin Yuan spoke while drying his wet hair with a towel.

There was no "please," no "could you," just a pure, unadulterated command.

"I..." Qin Yumo's fiery temper subconsciously wanted to snap back.

Treating her, a prestigious gold-medal coach, like an errand girl?

But just as the words reached her lips, she met Lin Yuan's gaze.

Those calm eyes held no emotion, yet they seemed to contain a terrifying pressure, like mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

She remembered the text message about the one million transfer, the destroyed sandbag, and that body possessing inhuman strength.

This hot-tempered "Valkyrie" actually squeezed out a few words in a dry voice: "...What size?"

"As a gold-medal coach, can you not even estimate a client's physical measurements?"

After saying this, Lin Yuan ignored her, picked up his phone, and dialed Su Xiaonuan.

...

When the call connected, Su Xiaonuan was standing at the entrance of the "Rose Garden" residential complex, the evening wind making her sweaty body feel somewhat cold.

"Lin... President Lin, I went around, but the real estate agencies have all closed..." Her voice carried a hint of helpless panic.

Lin Yuan glanced at the wall clock; it was 9:30 PM.

He frowned and said, "It's too late. Did you bring your ID card?"

"Ah? Yes, I did." Su Xiaonuan was stunned for a moment, answering subconsciously.

"Find a hotel nearby, send me the address, and we'll make do for the night."

"Beep... beep..." The call was hung up decisively.

Su Xiaonuan stood there holding her phone, stunned.

Make do... for the night?

At... a hotel?

The sound of the woman gasping heavily that she had heard on the phone that afternoon played in an infinite loop in her mind.

President Lin had broken with his ex-wife for her (or so she believed) and smashed through the company's front gate.

President Lin had given her unprecedented trust, entrusting her with such an important task.

And now, President Lin... wanted her to "repay" him and "prove her loyalty" in another way.

With a "boom," Su Xiaonuan's cheeks turned so red they looked like they might bleed.

Is this the price of becoming a trusted confidante?

Her mind was in chaos, with plots from various workplace dramas and palace intrigue shows flashing through her head.

She began walking step by step toward the nearby hotel.

Passing a 24-hour convenience store, she stopped under a strange impulse.

An absurd thought popped into her head.

Even if... even if she had to do that kind of thing, she should... she should be "professional" about it, otherwise, if she accidentally got pregnant, it would affect President Lin's grand ambition...

Harboring this twisted line of thinking, Su Xiaonuan rushed into the convenience store with a flushed face.

She didn't dare to look the clerk in the eye, trembling as she grabbed a box of the most expensive condoms from the shelf.

She kept her head bowed extremely low while checking out.

"Do you need a bag?" the clerk asked, seeing her blushing and shaking.

Su Xiaonuan nodded like a chicken pecking at rice, as if she had been caught red-handed.

...

Gym locker room.

[Ding! Target Su Xiaonuan (Attractiveness 87), Affection +5%, Current Affection: 43%!]

Lin Yuan paused, a flash of confusion crossing his face.

This little girl's affection level was rising with absolutely no logic.

But it didn't matter, as long as the affection level was increasing.

He needed an obedient and efficient apocalypse housekeeper.

A dozen minutes later, Qin Yumo returned carrying several shopping bags from men's clothing brands, throwing them in front of Lin Yuan with a look on her face as if someone owed her millions.

"Young Master! Several shops were about to close; it took me a great deal of effort to buy these."

Lin Yuan glanced at them: "Mediocre taste."

A vein throbbed on Qin Yumo's temple, but she didn't dare to retort.

Lin Yuan changed into the newly bought black casual wear and adjusted his collar.

He put away the oppressive aura he had during training, his gaze becoming deep and reserved once again.

He didn't look at Qin Yumo again and walked straight out of the gym.

He drove the off-road vehicle toward the location Su Xiaonuan had sent.

Rose Hotel, first-floor lobby.

The air was filled with the scent of wood.

As soon as Lin Yuan walked in, he saw Su Xiaonuan curled up on a corner sofa.

The little secretary was clutching a canvas bag tightly, head lowered, face buried in her chest, her body still trembling slightly, looking like someone ready to submit.

Lin Yuan frowned, assuming she was just nervous about seeing her big boss.

He walked straight to the front desk and tapped his knuckles lightly on the marble counter.

"Open two executive suites, they need to be across from each other."

"Very well, sir."

Hearing the word "two," Su Xiaonuan, who had been keeping her eyes closed in preparation for her fate, opened them wide.

Two... two rooms?

She was completely stunned.

Due to extreme shock and awkwardness, the canvas bag in her arms slid to the floor with a "thud," the opening spilling wide.

The box of condoms she had just bought with a life-or-death determination slid out of the bag, gliding a meter across the smooth marble floor, and stopped steadily right in front of Lin Yuan's shoe tips.

The golden "D" logo on the packaging box shimmered brilliantly under the hotel's crystal chandelier.

The hand of the young woman at the front desk, who was processing the room cards, paused for a second; her professionally trained face maintained a smile, but that extremely subtle look in her eyes revealed her gossiping heart.

Su Xiaonuan wished she could die on the spot, praying for a bolt of lightning to strike her down.

Lin Yuan slowly lowered his head, looking at the incredibly conspicuous little box by his feet, his eyebrows rising slightly.

Just the moment he was about to say something, buzz—buzz—buzz—

The phone in his pocket suddenly vibrated wildly as if it had been electrocuted.

Lin Yuan took out his phone; an unknown number was displayed on the screen.

He swiped to answer.

The next second, Shen Qingyue's furious, nearly hysterical scream erupted from the receiver, so loud that it could be vaguely heard throughout the entire lobby!

"Lin Yuan! You bastard! What exactly do you want!"