MTL - 8

Tang Yu, Assistant Gao is really annoying.

One day, when I become the boss’s wife, I’ll definitely dock 200 yuan from his salary.

For revenge!

— From the Diary of a Little Rich Girl

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It hurt!

Tang Xin quickly covered her forehead with her hand, rubbing it gently as she looked up at him innocently. Furrowing her brows, she asked, “Why did you hit me?”

Why?

Tang Yu straightened up, his tall and slender figure clad in a crisp black suit pants and white shirt. Though he wasn’t wearing a tie, the top button of his shirt was still fastened. He gazed down at her with an air of precision and restraint.

His dark eyes scrutinized her, filled with both appraisal and an unfathomable depth of emotion.

Tang Yu was reminded of the pig-head emoji she had posted on her social media that day. If she couldn’t draw her boyfriend’s face, she’d just substitute it with a pig’s head. Something about it felt off to him, as if it exceeded his expectations and control.

That faint, elusive feeling returned—the one he hadn’t fully understood before. Tang Yu wasn’t particularly sensitive when it came to emotions, but ever since taking over Shiguang Films, Tang Xin was the first female employee who could come and go freely around him. Not to mention, they had been allies for over a year. From her initial obedient demeanor to now—kneeling on the carpet in his office, leaning over the coffee table, scribbling things he couldn’t comprehend—she was clumsy, yet not entirely unpleasant. She still called him "President Tang," but she brazenly ordered him to fetch her a marker.

Now, she said that if she couldn’t draw her boyfriend’s face, she’d just draw a pig’s head instead.

Tang Yu’s brows suddenly furrowed, his eyes narrowing slightly as their corners sharpened. His expression grew complex as he spoke slowly and deliberately: “Who are you calling a pig’s head?”

Tang Xin’s eyes froze, staring fixedly at him as she swallowed nervously. She lowered her hand—

—As if someone had unearthed a little secret buried deep within her heart.

Piece by piece.

Tang Yu’s gaze fell on her forehead, where a patch of red stood out against her fair, delicate skin. He paused, unsure whether the redness was from his tap or her own rubbing.

“Does it hurt?” he asked.

“Huh?”

Tang Xin was bewildered and flustered, unable to keep up with his sudden shift in tone. Just moments ago, he had looked ready to interrogate her, and now this?

Tang Yu gestured toward her forehead with his chin, looking down at her. “I’m asking if it hurts where I tapped you.”

Tang Xin rubbed her forehead and nodded. “It hurts.”

Tang Yu leaned forward, placing the marker in front of her. His eyes flicked to the noticeable red spot on her forehead, and the corner of his lips lifted slightly. “Consider it a workplace injury.”

“…”

She asked, “How will you compensate me for the injury?”

“How do you want to be compensated?” Tang Yu crossed his long legs, circling around the corner of the coffee table before sitting down on the sofa. He glanced at the notebook in front of her, filled with what looked like childish scribbles—messy and incomprehensible. Frowning slightly, he couldn’t help but tease, “Tang Xin, what on earth are you drawing?”

Tang Xin was still thinking about compensation when she heard his dismissive tone. Rolling her eyes, she picked up the pen and pointed to the notebook. “Just wait a moment—I haven’t finished yet. Once I’m done, I’ll explain, and you’ll understand.”

“Oh.”

Tang Yu responded indifferently, clearly skeptical of her artistic abilities.

As Tang Xin continued drawing, she muttered under her breath, “President Tang, even though I’m not great at drawing, I have many other strengths. I excel at other things.”

Tang Yu crossed his legs casually, smirking faintly. “Like what?”

“I can play the piano, and…” Tang Xin suddenly paused. “…Well, basically, I just can’t draw or sing.”

Tang Yu smirked faintly, unbothered.

Tang Xin stole a glance at him from the corner of her eye. The man was relaxed, lounging on the sofa with his legs crossed. His long, straight legs beneath his suit pants were a sight to behold, while she remained kneeling beside him, scribbling away. For some inexplicable reason, her ears turned red.

—This scene… didn’t it look like she was kneeling before his suit pants?

Flustered, she quickly lowered her head, only to accidentally bump her cheek against the tip of the marker.

Embarrassed, she touched her cheek, then hurriedly bent her head back down to continue drawing.

After a while, she set the pen aside. The man’s low voice broke the silence. “Finished?”

Tang Xin hummed in affirmation, clutching her drawing as she prepared to stand up.

Tang Yu uncrossed his legs, leaning forward with his arms resting on his thighs. His gaze swept past her right cheek, where a smudge of black ink had spread. A teasing smile tugged at his lips. “You’re such a child—your drawings are ugly, and you even manage to get your face dirty?”

Tang Xin: “….”

Her ears reddened further, and she pretended to be oblivious. “Where?”

Tang Yu must have been momentarily possessed. Chuckling softly, he reached out his long fingers and lightly tapped the smudged spot on her cheek. “Here.”

That light tap.

It felt as though it landed directly on Tang Xin’s heart, sending a shiver through her entire body.

She blinked, her thick lashes fluttering as she gazed at him with unguarded shyness.

Tang Yu stared back, momentarily frozen. His hand lingered near her cheek, his slender fingers brushing against her soft, slightly unruly hair. He moved his fingers slightly.

Knock knock knock—

At that moment, there was a knock on the office door.

Gao Heng’s voice came from outside. “President Tang, there’s an urgent document that requires your signature.”

Tang Yu snapped out of his daze, quickly withdrawing his hand and turning his face away. Regaining his composure, he said coolly, “Come in.” As Gao Heng entered, Tang Yu stood up, glancing down at the young woman as she hastily gathered her scattered pens and papers. In a low voice, he instructed, “Go wash your face, then come back and explain your… scribbles.”

Tang Xin had already regained her composure, smiling sweetly. “Alright.”

She quickly stood up and headed to wash her face.

Gao Heng curiously glanced at the coffee table. Wasn’t this supposed to be about a proposal? Why had it turned into a drawing session?

Tang Yu flipped through the documents briefly, standing outside his desk. He casually grabbed a pen, leaning forward with one hand on the desk as he signed his name and handed the document back. Gao Heng took it and added, “President Tang, Director Jiang and the military producer said they have something to discuss with you. They’re waiting outside. What would you like to do?”

Tang Yu glanced at the notebook and pen Tang Xin had left on the coffee table. “Have them wait in the conference room. As for Tang Xin… let her go back for now. She can come back after I’m done.”

“Understood.”

Tang Yu strode out of the office.

A short while later, Tang Xin returned from washing her face, only to find that Tang Yu was no longer in the office. Gao Heng stood by the door, waiting for her. “Miss Tang, President Tang has gone to a meeting. You should head downstairs and wait for him.”

Tang Xin peeked inside the office, feeling somewhat helpless. “Alright.”

She waited until half an hour after work ended before receiving a message from Tang Yu. He asked, “Have you gone home yet?”

Tang Xin replied almost instantly: “No, are you still upstairs?”

However, she had plans with You Huan and Ming Zhu tonight, not far from here. It wouldn’t be a problem to meet them a little later. Explaining her proposal might take some time, and she glanced at the clock, realizing it might not be enough.

Tang Yu was about to say, “Then come upstairs.”

But she sent another message: “Can we talk tomorrow instead?”

Tang Yu’s gaze paused slightly as he replied with a simple “Okay.” Leaning back in his chair, he spun halfway around, then straightened up. Grabbing his suit jacket, he pulled his car keys from the drawer.

Gao Heng was organizing documents outside. Glancing at him, he called out, “Let’s head off.”

The man walked briskly, slipping on his jacket with effortless elegance. His strides were long and casual, exuding an understated charm that made several secretaries in the office swoon.

Gao Heng followed him and pressed the elevator button.

The two stepped into the elevator one after the other. Suddenly, Tang Yu remembered something. Glancing at Gao Heng, he asked indifferently, “Tang Xin… why did she bring you breakfast last time?”

Gao Heng: “….”

His heart skipped a beat. How should he answer?

Coincidentally, the elevator dinged open on the 8th floor. Tang Xin, with her bag slung over her shoulder, stood outside. Seeing them, her eyes lit up as she stepped into the elevator, greeting Tang Yu cheerfully. “President Tang, it’s time to leave work.”

Tang Yu lowered his gaze, his eyes resting on the faint dimple on her cheek. Lazily, he hummed in acknowledgment.

Then, hands in his pockets, he glanced at Gao Heng.

Gao Heng: “….”

Tang Xin, confused, turned to look at Tang Yu. In a small voice, she asked, “President Tang, are you heading home now? Can you give me a ride? It’s on the way!”

Tang Yu’s gaze paused slightly. With feigned indifference, he asked, “What about your car?”

Tang Xin replied, “It’s being serviced.”

Tang Yu made a noncommittal sound, his tone cold. “Is your car being used to haul cargo? Twice a month for maintenance?”

Tang Xin: “….”

Last time was a lie, but this time her car really was at the 4S shop for servicing.

Gao Heng looked at her with a complicated expression, thinking she was trying to trick President Tang again. Remembering Tang Yu’s earlier question, he lowered his head and rubbed his nose before answering earnestly, “Last time, Miss Tang lied to you. Her car was actually in the basement parking lot—it wasn’t at the 4S shop, nor was it being serviced.”

Tang Xin: “….”

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Author’s Note:

Gao Heng, the loyal assistant: I’m faithful to the core, but I need to protect my job. Sorry, Miss Tang.

Tang Xin, the little rich girl: …You wait! One day, I’ll definitely dock your salary!

Your playful tongues are ruining the mood… Of course, the little rich girl will have suitors. Don’t worry, Boss Tang hasn’t tipped over the jealousy jar yet—it’s coming, so stay tuned!