65: Rumors stop with the wise.

After a hearty meal, the hour hand quietly pointed to the number 11.

The night was deep, the roads were empty, and hardly a soul was in sight; the surroundings were exceptionally tranquil.

Ming Xuan carried a bag full of Yin Cuisine in her right hand, while her left hand carefully supported the already intoxicated Ling Yao.

Ling Yao groggily rubbed her eyes, which were blurred by alcohol, and muttered, "Oh my! Sister Xuan, it must be three or four in the morning, right? Why isn't there a single person around?"

Ming Xuan shook her head helplessly and replied softly, "It's only a little past eleven at night."

Ling Yao couldn't help but widen her eyes, asking with a face full of confusion, "Ah! Why is everyone sleeping so early lately? Is no one coming out to party anymore?"

Ming Xuan gave a light snort and explained, "Did you not see the announcement on the official website? A third-tier Painted Skin Ghost has recently appeared in C City. As it happens, both the Black and White Ministers have gone north to investigate the aftermath of the tunnel incident, and Minister You Yu is busy dealing with matters regarding demon cultivators... That's why the Secretary-General and the Special Affairs Bureau have jointly urged citizens to avoid going out after 10:30 PM."

Ling Yao, however, looked disdainful and said carelessly, "It's just a small fry of a third-tier character; can't we just grab a few ghost runners to catch it?"

Ming Xuan couldn't bear it any longer, reached out and flicked her on the forehead, chiding, "You only have the cultivation of the late second tier, yet you dare to speak such wild words."

Ling Yao grinned and leaned close to Ming Xuan, smiling ingratiatingly, "Hehehe... Sister Xuan, you are my strong backing! With you here, I'm not afraid of anything."

"You must remember, the decisions made by the higher-ups surely have a certain rationality to them. The reason the BOSS does not want to dispose of the Painted Skin Ghost so quickly must be due to her own careful considerations."

"I was just thinking about the skin-peeling ghost incident that became widely known a few months ago; after the ghost runners took over, they solved it completely in less than half an hour. That's why I spoke without thinking!" Ling Yao said, rubbing her slightly tingling forehead.

"Sigh! You're so silly. In the future, when you look for a ghost partner, make sure not to be deceived by a ghost, or you might end up helping them count their money!" Deep within Ming Xuan's eyes, which were as dark as ink, she clenched her fists.

Ling Yao put on a thoughtful expression, and after a long silence, said, "Sigh! Actually, being single is quite nice! One ghost earns the money, one ghost spends it."

"When on vacation, I can go on crazy shopping sprees with my girlfriends, and occasionally go to nightclubs to touch the firm abs of handsome male models... Just thinking about it makes a ghost feel incredibly happy!"

Ming Xuan bit her lower lip so hard that it left a clear tooth mark, which showed just how much force she was using. The movement in her hands suddenly stopped, and she wished she could immediately throw this heartless little drunkard into the nearby green belt.

"Hehe! Being single is indeed quite good." This came from a certain ghost whose heart was filled with jealousy and unwillingness—a classic case of saying the opposite of what she felt.

"Actually, that's not necessarily true; it depends on what the other person looks like!" Ling Yao suddenly leaned her face close to Ming Xuan, lowered her voice, and acted mysteriously: "For example... I heard that the BOSS and the Secretary-General have gotten together! And it seems like the BOSS is the one on the losing end..."

Ming Xuan stared at her, full of confusion, and pressed, "Where on earth did you hear that from?"

"Everyone is saying it!" Ling Yao blinked her eyes mischievously and added, "It is said that the news originally came from Manager You Lin!"

Hearing this, Ming Xuan's heart skipped a beat, and she secretly pondered, "Should I go and report this to the BOSS?"

"Oh my, I really hope to have the chance to witness the BOSS's charm with my own eyes..." Ling Yao rested her chin in her hands, looking intoxicated with fantasy, as if she had already fallen into endless reveries about the BOSS.

Seeing Ling Yao's infatuated look, Ming Xuan couldn't help but chuckle, saying testily, "All you know how to do all day is fawn over people! Didn't you just say you liked the abs of male models?"

Ling Yao laughed dismissively, "These two things don't conflict! After all, who wouldn't like the existence of a Netherworld goddess like the BOSS, who is so beautiful that she could topple cities and sink fish, and make the moon hide in shame..."

"If I could have eighty percent of the BOSS's beauty, I could probably walk sideways!" Ling Yao sighed.

"Save it. With your looks, you wouldn't be able to compare even after cultivating for ten lifetimes," Ming Xuan teased. "However, the BOSS and the Secretary-General? That feels a bit surprising..."

"Hehe, maybe one day we'll be lucky enough to eat their wedding candy!" Ling Yao said full of anticipation.

"Wedding candy? You really dare to imagine things!" Ming Xuan shook her head with a smile, "Finish your work first before talking about that."

The two chatted as they walked toward the apartment.

However, they did not notice that at a street corner not far away, the window of the backseat of a car had already been rolled up.

Ling Qi maintained her posture of bending over to adjust her skirt, her eyes looking at Shang Wan Ning with burning intensity.

"They are absolutely spreading rumors!" Shang Wan Ning's molars were about to shatter; she could accept the fact that she was the bottom, but she wouldn't allow others to "spread rumors"!

After all, it was the last bit of obsession from her little brother in her past life.

"Be good! Don't be angry, okay? I'll help you take revenge tomorrow." Ling Qi turned slightly, her fingertips moving under the seat.

"Tsk!"

Shang Wan Ning seemed dissatisfied, pressed Ling Qi's head down, and imprinted a shallow kiss, lip against lip.

"I'm not angry! I'll handle it myself tomorrow."

"Okay!" Ling Qi's delicate and smooth hand brushed over Shang Wan Ning's hair.

Immediately after, she applied slight pressure to grip the other's delicate chin, forcing the BOSS to raise her head, making those clear eyes have no choice but to meet her own.

"So, shall we continue?"

"We agreed earlier that after Subordinate finished processing the hundreds of files piled up like a mountain for the BOSS, tonight's time would belong entirely to me."

Shang Wan Ning's slightly cool, slender fingers slowly unbuttoned the buttons on her denim skirt.

As the movement unfolded, the snow-white skin at her collarbone was gradually revealed...

"Of course it counts! But I'll go first..."

In an instant, Shang Wan Ning, who was like a "Goddess," was dragged into the vortex of worldly desires.

...

In the blink of an eye, it was nine o'clock the next morning.

Ling Qi held the file bag, catching a glimpse of the BOSS's eyes, still clear and transparent like a fairy residing high above the clouds.

The romance of last night dissipated from the bottom of her eyes the moment the BOSS sat on her office chair.

Only a business-like, sharp coldness remained.

"Secretary-General, call Manager You Lin to the office." Shang Wan Ning spun the fountain pen in her hand, her cold and ethereal face revealing a hint of ruthlessness.

"Understood, BOSS!"