MTL - 2

Are you heartbroken, Tang Yu? I can comfort you, you know!

— From the Diary of a Little Rich Girl

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Tang Xin tilted her delicate, pale face upward, meeting Tang Yu's half-lidded eyes and slightly annoyed expression. He didn’t seem to appreciate her boldness. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Gao Heng subtly turning his head away, and her cheeks flushed.

Ping—

The elevator doors opened.

She quickly lowered her head and stepped inside, muttering softly under her breath, “What I said wasn’t wrong… It’s not like I’d settle for a five-minute fling…”

Tang Yu followed her in, hearing every word.

He stared at her rosy cheeks, itching to pinch her to see if she truly had no shame.

After Gao Heng pressed the button for the second basement level, he stood by the elevator door, pretending to be invisible. Tang Xin was used to his style of speaking little and doing much. Just as she thought about inching closer to Tang Yu, her phone buzzed in her bag.

She pulled it out and saw an unfamiliar number. After a moment’s hesitation, she answered.

“Hello, Miss Tang, are you planning to renovate your house recently? We…”

It was a telemarketing call for renovations.

Tang Xin cut them off bluntly: “No thanks, I’m planning to sell my house.”

She hung up immediately, only to hear Tang Yu ask lazily, “You’re selling your house?”

“Nope, I lied.”

“…”

Lying so brazenly, Tang Yu glanced at her and let out a cold chuckle.

Little liar, always scheming.

How many times had she tricked him back then?

“I’ve already hired a contractor,” Tang Xin explained as she tucked her phone back into her bag. “I didn’t feel like wasting time arguing.” She had attended university in Beijing and moved out during her senior year after a falling-out with her roommate, Jiang Meng. Her parents thought renting was impractical, so they bought her a small two-bedroom apartment as an investment.

The apartment was too far from the office, so she rented a place nearby and leased out the two-bedroom. The rent from that property covered her current living expenses. Now, her cousin wanted to rent the apartment but complained that the interior was outdated. She offered to contribute some money for renovations.

Since someone else was footing the bill, Tang Xin let her cousin handle the details while she took care of finding the contractors.

But who would’ve thought that just asking around would lead to endless telemarketing calls?

Tang Xin rattled on about all this, and Tang Yu understood perfectly. By the time they reached the parking garage, they got out of the elevator. Tang Xin trailed behind Tang Yu, and Gao Heng, standing near the edge, said, “President Tang, I’ll head back first.”

“Mm, drive the car back.”

Gao Heng’s car was provided by Tang Yu for emergencies when transportation might otherwise affect work efficiency.

At this moment, Tang Xin suddenly froze, looking distressed. “Oh no, I forgot—I sent my car to the 4S shop for maintenance yesterday.”

Tang Yu looked at her, exasperated. “…How do you even forget something like that?”

Tang Xin gave him an innocent look. “Can’t I?”

Gao Heng, who had already walked a few steps ahead, turned back and asked, “Do you want me to drop you off?”

Tang Xin glanced at him, then turned to Tang Yu, smiling brightly. “It’s not easy for Assistant Gao to leave work on time. Let’s not bother him. President Tang, why don’t you give me a ride?”

Not wanting to trouble Gao Heng but perfectly fine troubling him?

Who exactly was the boss here?

Tang Yu shot her a subtle glance, then turned toward his reserved parking spot, tossing a single word over his shoulder: “Come.”

Tang Xin’s face lit up, and she hurried after him.

Gao Heng scratched his head where he stood, then turned and left.

They stopped in front of a sleek black Maybach. Tang Xin looked at Tang Yu and smiled. “President Tang, how about I drive?”

Tang Yu gazed at her indifferently. Just as Tang Xin began to feel guilty enough to surrender, he handed her the keys with a faint smile. “Sure, go ahead.”

Tang Xin: “….”

She reluctantly accepted the keys. Tang Yu’s lips curved upward slightly as he opened the passenger door and slid into the seat. Tang Xin pouted. She had only been polite, and yet Tang Yu actually let her drive!

If it were Ming Zhu, he definitely wouldn’t have done the same.

She had wanted to enjoy the privilege of sitting in the coveted co-pilot seat, not serve as his chauffeur!

Reluctantly, Tang Xin settled into the driver’s seat, only to find the seat pushed too far back for her to reach the pedals. She glanced sideways at Tang Yu lounging casually in the passenger seat, her gaze lingering on his long, straight legs clad in tailored trousers. After sneaking a couple more glances, she quietly adjusted the seat.

Tang Yu reclined lazily in the passenger seat, his elbow resting against the window frame, his slender fingers supporting his chin. He glanced at her. “Do you know how to drive this car?”

Tang Xin muttered, “Yes.”

She buckled her seatbelt and drove off.

“Take the first exit—it’s less congested.”

“…”

Tang Xin didn’t protest, silently turning the steering wheel from right to left and changing directions.

She sneakily glanced at him, feeling a bit guilty.

Tang Yu’s sharp eyes caught her movement. “Keep your eyes on the road. Why are you looking at me?”

Tang Xin immediately straightened her posture and said lightly, “Because you’re handsome.”

Tang Yu: “….”

He chuckled. “Handsome, you say? Once we get out of the car, you can look your fill.”

Tang Xin: “….”

Could she sneak in a couple of kisses while she was at it?

The car had barely driven twenty or thirty meters when Tang Xin spotted Gao Heng standing by her white Macan. He circled halfway around the vehicle, inspecting the license plate as if verifying whether it was indeed the car supposedly at the 4S shop for maintenance. Panicking, Tang Xin pressed down on the accelerator, speeding up to leave Gao Heng behind.

Tang Yu frowned. “Tang Xin, do you even know how to drive?”

Tang Xin stammered, flustered. “Of course I do!”

“Stop the car,” he commanded sternly.

Letting her continue driving like this could lead to trouble.

Stop now? But then Tang Yu would step out and see Gao Heng, exposing her lie.

Tang Xin steadied herself, pursing her lips. “No way. How could I let President Tang drive for me? You just sit back and relax—or even lie down if you want. I promise my driving skills are no worse than yours.”

Tang Yu drawled lazily, “Oh?”

His deep, raspy voice echoed in the confined space of the car, sounding suspiciously flirtatious. Tang Xin’s face reddened, and she whispered, “Tang Yu, don’t talk like that—it sounds like you’re hitting on me.”

Tang Yu: “….”

He gave her a strange look. How was he hitting on her?

Behind them, Gao Heng stood in front of Tang Xin’s car, recalling the license plate. He confirmed it was hers. So why had she lied to President Tang? Or did she just have a terrible memory?

He pondered for a moment and concluded that President Tang might have been played.

Because… he also suspected that Tang Xin liked Tang Yu.

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Tang Xin turned on the radio. A husky, melancholic female voice filled the air—it was A-Mei’s I Want to Be Happy.

I want to be happy

I want to sleep peacefully

Some people feel warmer without hugs

Leaving makes hatred disappear

I should have let go long ago…

A rather sorrowful song. For most people, it wouldn’t evoke much emotion, but sometimes, a single lyric could bring tears to someone nursing a broken heart—unexplainable yet uncontrollable.

As they exited the parking garage, Tang Yu remained silent. Tang Xin’s mood dipped slightly. She wondered if he was still hurting. At a red light, she cautiously turned to him and asked, “President Tang, are you heartbroken?”

Tang Yu, lost in thoughts about their project, furrowed his brow. “What?”

Tang Xin repeated, “I said, are you heartbroken?”

“…”

He exhaled deeply.

Perhaps the biggest mistake of his life was enlisting Tang Xin as his teammate. Later, he reflected on it—asking a girl to help him spy and assist in pursuing another woman wasn’t exactly gentlemanly. But back then, he hadn’t seen any other option. Tang Xin and Ming Zhu were close friends, and Tang Xin’s cheerful personality made her easy to work with. Moreover, he believed his own qualifications matched Ming Zhu’s, so having Tang Xin play matchmaker seemed like a good idea.

When the pursuit failed, he accepted it.

But this girl kept acting like he was drowning in grief every day.

And occasionally jabbed at him. Did she think his memory was that bad?

Tang Yu tightened his lips and chuckled softly. “If I were heartbroken, what would you do?”

Tang Xin beamed. “I can comfort you!”

Tang Yu smirked. “Oh? Then sing me a song. Sing Love Is a Thing of the Past. Very fitting.”

Tang Xin: “….”

She was tone-deaf and couldn’t sing… During a previous company dinner, her colleagues had teased her mercilessly about it. Tang Yu clearly remembered and was deliberately mocking her now!

“Sing. Aren’t you supposed to comfort me?”

The man crossed his legs and lounged lazily, urging her with feigned impatience.

“…”

“Hmm?”

“…”

Annoyed, Tang Xin turned away, refusing to acknowledge him.

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Tang Xin first drove to her rental complex, handed the car keys to Tang Yu, and walked into the building.

Before going to bed that night, she worried that Gao Heng might report her lie to Tang Yu tomorrow. She didn’t have Gao Heng’s WeChat, and calling him late at night felt inappropriate…

She fretted all night and barely slept.

Early the next morning, she got ready and headed to the office. On the way, she picked up a lavish breakfast takeaway. As she entered the building, she contemplated stopping by to see Gao Heng upstairs.

Gao Heng wasn’t one for gossip, but he was fiercely loyal and always informed Tang Yu of everything.

Back when she was Tang Yu’s teammate, Ming Zhu and Lu Zhuofeng hadn’t fully reconciled yet—they were merely entangled. Tang Yu and Lu Zhuofeng were competing fairly. If she had genuinely supported Tang Yu…

Given Tang Yu’s family background, character, and looks (which rivaled Lu Zhuofeng’s), he truly stood a chance.

At the time, the main creative team of Anti-Terror was still gathering material in the borderlands. When Ming Zhu sustained a minor injury, she called Tang Yu. Since he was in a meeting, Gao Heng answered the phone instead. Inadvertently, she let slip something incriminating but quickly covered it up. However, Gao Heng immediately relayed the information to Tang Yu.

The very next day, Tang Yu abandoned his work and flew out to see her.

Such devotion…

Thinking about it now, Tang Xin felt a pang of guilt.

After some deliberation, she decided to go upstairs and find Gao Heng.

Gao Heng had just arrived. As he stepped out of the elevator, Tang Xin emerged from another. Spotting his silhouette, she hurried over. “Assistant Gao, wait a moment!”

Gao Heng turned around, naturally asking, “Are you looking for President Tang? He hasn’t arrived yet.”

Tang Xin shook her head. “No, I’m looking for you.”

Gao Heng thought for a moment, recalling last night’s events, and smiled. “What do you need?”

Before Tang Xin could reply, familiar footsteps approached from behind.

She quickly turned around to see Tang Yu walking in, his suit jacket casually slung over his forearm.

“President Tang,” Gao Heng greeted.

Tang Xin forced a bright smile despite her frustration. “Good morning, President Tang.”

Tang Yu glanced at her. “Something on your mind?”

Tang Xin kept smiling and shook her head. “Nothing.” After a pause, she bit her lip and thrust the elaborate breakfast into Gao Heng’s hands. “Assistant Gao, here’s breakfast for you!” She winked suggestively.

Hint: Eat my breakfast, and please don’t rat me out, okay?

Gao Heng: “….”

Tang Yu: “….”

He looked at Tang Xin, then at the breakfast in Gao Heng’s arms, his expression growing oddly contemplative.

Taking a deep breath, Tang Xin turned and walked away.

Tang Yu watched her retreating figure thoughtfully until she disappeared. Narrowing his eyes, he turned back and scanned Gao Heng from head to toe. Handsome, and seemingly single.

Could it be that Tang Xin was getting close to him to pursue his assistant? It wasn’t unreasonable for him to think this—he had done something similar before.

Was this karma?

Meanwhile, Gao Heng awkwardly looked down at the breakfast in his arms. He had already eaten.

Tang Yu clicked his tongue softly. He paid her salary, yet she had never brought him breakfast.

Seeing President Tang’s gaze linger on the breakfast in his arms, Gao Heng tentatively asked, “President Tang, do you want it?”

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Author’s Note:

Gao Heng, the taciturn assistant: President Tang has been played. Should I warn him?

The little rich girl is blatantly flaunting her charm, while President Tang is quietly suppressing his own allure.