Shen Ying’s straightforwardness caught Lu Linwei off guard—this was not the direction he had anticipated.
He had only intended to silence her, yet somehow the conversation had veered into uncharted territory.
With an expectant look, Shen Ying asked, “So, President Lu, what vacancies do you have here?”
Lu Linwei had no idea. Such trivial matters were far beneath his notice.
He cleared his throat and motioned for his assistant. “What openings do we have that might suit her?”
Then, as an afterthought, he added, “Something under my direct supervision.”
The assistant glanced at Shen Ying. Having witnessed the recent events, he understood his boss’s intentions.
“The secretarial team is short-staffed,” he said. “We’ve been meaning to hire a personal assistant to handle your daily affairs, but haven’t found the right candidate.”
“I believe Ms. Shen could excel in this role.”
Lu Linwei hadn’t expected this twist. His mind flashed with images of her in a professional suit, adjusting his tie or pouring coffee.
For a moment, he found the digression rather pleasing. Suppressing a smirk, he adopted a formal tone. “Ah, yes, that does sound familiar.”
“The benefits in the secretarial office are quite generous. What do you think?”
Shen Ying didn’t hesitate. “Sorry, not interested.”
Lu Linwei frowned. “Why not?”
“Even if I’ve never worked as a personal assistant, I know it’s a job that demands 24/7 availability—no weekends, no holidays, with your entire life revolving around the boss and zero personal time.”
Her stance was unshakable. “I refuse to consider such a position.”
The assistant, eager to advocate for his boss, interjected, “Ms. Shen, you’ve misunderstood. Our secretarial team is well-staffed, and the workload is manageable.”
“And we strictly adhere to weekends and holidays as per regulations.”
Shen Ying gave him a look that said, *Don’t try to fool me.* “Then, hypothetically, what if the boss calls on your day off? How is that any different from having no break at all?”
“Don’t deny it—just these past two days, I’ve seen President Lu make a single midnight whim, and the entire staff scrambled to fulfill it multiple times.”
She tilted her chin toward the ground. “Right now, there are probably people in the garage working overtime to smash a car, aren’t there?”
The assistant: “…”
*My apologies, Boss. When it comes to matters of the heart, outsiders can’t interfere.*
Seeing his assistant retreat, Lu Linwei clicked his tongue, a flicker of disappointment crossing his face.
Realizing he might have revealed too much, he schooled his expression and asked stiffly, “Are there any other positions available?”
The assistant pondered. “Then the only options would be within the estate.”
“How about the guest services department, Ms. Shen?”
Shen Ying shook her head. “I’m not good at cleaning or organizing.”
“The kitchen, then?”
“I can’t cook,” she said, glancing at Lu Linwei. “President Lu should know that well.”
*So she’s useless at everything?* The assistant had never interviewed such an unqualified candidate.
But since Lu Linwei’s goal wasn’t actually to employ her, just to keep her close, any simple role would suffice.
“What about the gardening department? Don’t worry—we have professional landscapers. You’d only need to assist with minor tasks, like watering the plants.”
Shen Ying wore a sheepish expression. “I have a strange condition—any plant I touch dies. I wouldn’t want to harm your greenery.”
The assistant was at a loss. This was clearly deliberate obstruction.
He looked helplessly at Lu Linwei.
By now, Lu Linwei also sensed Shen Ying was toying with him, though it hardly surprised him.
A cold smile played on his lips as he asked the assistant, “Anything else?”
The assistant hesitated. “Security and cleaning are unsuitable. The only remaining option is pet care.”
Shen Ying perked up. “You have pets? What kind? How many? If it’s just one or two, I’d be interested in pet care.”
“Not many,” Lu Linwei said. “Just one.”
“What is it? A cat or a dog?”
“A lion.”
“*Goodbye.*”
Lu Linwei scoffed. “You think being picky will get you out of this?”
Shen Ying remained serious. “Don’t misunderstand—I truly do want a job here.”
“Since none of these roles fit, why don’t we each state our requirements and tailor a position accordingly?”
Lu Linwei, exuding control, said, “My demand is simple: you stay within my sight.”
Shen Ying was equally blunt. “I want minimal work, ample leave, excellent benefits, comprehensive insurance, generous overtime pay, and robust safeguards for employee well-being.”
The request wasn’t unreasonable—anyone plucked off the street would want the same.
But Lu Linwei bristled at her brazen greed, displayed so unapologetically in front of him.
With a mocking smile, he asked, “Define ‘minimal work.’”
One dared to ask; the other dared to answer.
Shen Ying said, “I want flexible hours, remote work options, tasks assigned only once every ten days or so, with each assignment taking no more than three hours—and no strict quality standards, given my limited skills.”
“That’s all.”
The assistant inhaled sharply. She might as well have written *Get paid for doing nothing* on her forehead.
Predictably, Lu Linwei snapped, “Keep dreaming.”
It wasn’t about the money. He simply couldn’t stand how openly she treated him like a fool.
Shen Ying sighed. “What a shame. But it’s fine—job hunting is a two-way street.”
“If President Lu has nothing for me, I’ll just try my luck elsewhere.”
Lu Linwei sneered. “Who do you think would be that foolish?”
“Mr. Gao, for one,” Shen Ying said. “He bought an entire building over a meal—hiring one incompetent employee shouldn’t be a problem.”
Then, with an apologetic smile: “I’ll have to decline your hospitality, though I appreciate the thought.”
Lu Linwei let out a bitter laugh. “And if I insist on hosting you?”
As expected, she’d been circling back to escape all along.
The realization snuffed out the faint hope he’d harbored, replacing it with fury—at her, and at himself for daring to expect anything.
*Enough. Any more words wasted on her would make me an idiot.*
The tension between them sharpened, the air thick with confrontation.
Lu Linwei’s gaze was that of a predator locking onto prey—unflinching, primal, unrestrained.
Amidst that intensity, Shen Ying suddenly said, “Do you like me?”
His scalp prickled. Then she added, “Oh, right—what were you going to tell me the day you left my place?”
“Right before I took your relief funds. I was too busy pulling up my payment code to hear properly. Care to repeat it now?”
A flush of crimson darkened Lu Linwei’s eyes. He couldn’t believe she’d dredged up his past sincerity just to mock him.
The staff around them sensed their boss’s unprecedented humiliation and rage, shrinking back in fear.
Lu Linwei stared intently at Shen Ying, his lips curling into a mocking sneer. "Like you?"
"What a joke. Why don’t you take a good look around? Any maid in this house is more beautiful than you."
"What makes you think I’d ever be interested in you?"
Shen Ying showed no trace of embarrassment at his words. Instead, she chuckled lightly. "And yet, out of all these beauties, you’re the one shamelessly refusing to let me go home."
Lu Linwei’s expression tightened. "Don’t flatter yourself. I just don’t want you to be used by Gao Yingli."
Shen Ying stood up and slowly walked toward him—
"But what does that have to do with you? After paying me off, we’re square."
Lu Linwei retorted, "Gao Yingli will use you as a tool to provoke me, and that would annoy me."
"If not for that, I wouldn’t even want to see you."
By then, Shen Ying had reached him and casually perched herself on the dining table in front of him.
Looking down at him, she said, "Don’t want to see me? How many times have you sought me out these past few days?"
"You act disdainful, you resist, yet you still want to see me. That’s why you couldn’t stand it the moment Gao Yingli made his move."
"You’re afraid he has ulterior motives? No. You recognize his threat from a man’s perspective, don’t you?"
She leaned in, her face dangerously close to his.
"If this isn’t liking me, then what is?"
A flicker of unease crossed Lu Linwei’s face. He had never imagined his usual dominance could crumble so easily before this woman.
But his pride wouldn’t allow him to show weakness in front of someone who had once mocked his sincerity.
With a dark gaze, he denied it. "I told you, impossible."
Shen Ying showed no disappointment. Instead, she shrugged as if it were obvious. "Then you have no reason to keep me here as your guest."
Lu Linwei scoffed inwardly. So this was still her goal—
"You think a few words will make me change my mind?"
Shen Ying countered, "Then admit you like me."
"What other reason could a man have for forcing a woman to stay in his home? Even if it is a bit twisted."
Lu Linwei held her gaze stubbornly for a long moment.
Finally, he relented. "Let’s discuss the job position again."
Assistant Fang nearly choked in disbelief. Had his boss just… backed down?
Just then, Lu Linwei called out, "Assistant Fang, bring the contract."
"Ah—yes!" he stammered, then hesitated. "For… what position?"
Lu Linwei almost said "whatever." His company had no openly redundant roles, let alone one with such high compensation.
What did the title matter? It was just a pretext—a way to let this greedy woman leech off his payroll.
He regretted his earlier stubbornness. He should have just indulged her from the start. His goals were met; her salary was nothing to him.
Why bother arguing and end up looking like a fool?
Just as his frustration simmered, Shen Ying spoke again—
"How about 'professional companion'?"
Lu Linwei looked up, his irritation and anger dissipating in an instant.
He nodded at Assistant Fang. "Ahem. That title… does fit."
"No daily responsibilities, just occasional appearances at social events. But given the nature of the role, the compensation is justified."
"Make it happen."
Assistant Fang hurried off to draft the contract. Efficient as ever, he returned to the living room shortly with the revised document.
All of Shen Ying’s requested terms were included—nothing unreasonable, so he hadn’t needed to consult the boss.
As Lu Linwei watched her sign, the corner of his mouth twitched upward. He pressed his tongue against his teeth to suppress it.
Sure, she’d just humiliated him, but now she was volunteering to be his companion? Clearly, she was just saving face.
Knowing he wouldn’t accept her as his girlfriend, she’d settled for starting as his companion—
How transparent. Did she really think he wouldn’t notice?
And yet, no one noticed the addition of one seemingly harmless clause—and what it would later come to mean.
