SDS: Chapter 10

 "This Young Master Is So Delicate"

Cong Qiao tactfully explained, 

"Our years of service and educational backgrounds are different, so there will naturally be some discrepancies."

Tang Keyi pouted but accepted this reasoning, 

consoling himself with the thought, 

It's not like I'm counting on his money anyway.

Cong Qiao glanced at his watch. 

"It's about time. Let's go pick up President Qin's meal first, then we can head to the cafeteria for lunch."

The chef would prepare a separate meal for Qin Zhiyan. 

After retrieving it, Cong Qiao said to Tang Keyi, 

"Young Master Tang, I’ll go deliver this to President Qin. You can go ahead and eat."

Tang Keyi nodded and turned around only to bump into Qin Yulin.

"Tang Keyi!" 

Qin Yulin exclaimed in surprise. 

"What are you doing here? Don’t tell me you’re the new executive assistant everyone’s talking about?"

"Exactly. Surprised?" 

Tang Keyi replied absentmindedly as he queued up to get his food.

Qin Yulin followed behind him, saying, 

"I’ve got to hand it to you. I never expected you to be so persistent. To chase after Zhiyan, you’re even willing to stoop to being his assistant."

Tang Keyi couldn’t be bothered to explain. 

"You bet."

Qin Yulin sat down with Tang Keyi at a table, curiosity written all over his face. 

"It’s weird that Zhiyan actually agreed to let you come."

Tang Keyi was genuinely hungry, but he still maintained his aristocratic poise, 

taking a slow, deliberate bite before answering, 

"He only agreed out of respect for my grandmother."

Qin Yulin suddenly understood. 

"That makes sense. Hiring a playboy like you as his assistant is totally out of character for Zhiyan."

Tang Keyi was long used to such labels and paid no mind. 

Casually, he asked, 

"Do you think someone as smart and handsome as me, constantly around Zhiyan, might eventually win his heart?"

Qin Yulin rolled his eyes. 

"I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed. Zhiyan doesn’t care about looks. And with your personality, I wouldn’t be surprised if he fires you before long."

Hearing this from a member of the Qin family, 

Tang Keyi felt completely reassured.

As he ate, Qin Yulin feigned nonchalance and asked, 

"How’s Qiuqiu doing? No new relationships, right?"

Tang Keyi glanced at him. 

"You’ve already broken up. Why ask so much?"

"Just making small talk. Can’t exes be friends?"

"You’ve got so many ex-boyfriends. How do you keep track? Unless..." 

Tang Keyi narrowed his eyes. 

"You still have feelings for Qiuqiu!"

"So what if I do?" 

Qin Yulin admitted openly. 

"He was the one who broke up with me. Can’t I still have lingering feelings?"

"You’ve got some nerve. You’re a playboy with countless flings. Your 'feelings' are too widespread."

"Tang Keyi, let me make this clear!" 

Qin Yulin put down his chopsticks and spoke earnestly. 

"I may have a rich romantic history, but I’ve been faithful in every relationship!"

"Every time I see you, you’re chatting up some pretty boy," 

Tang Keyi retorted, firmly siding with Han Qiuqiu.

"That’s just socializing. If they talk to me, should I just ignore them?" 

Qin Yulin argued. 

"Qiuqiu works with so many male models, and I’ve never once questioned or blamed him!"

Not wanting to delve further into Han Qiuqiu’s personal matters, Tang Keyi waved him off. 

"If you’ve broken up, let it go. Move on."

"I can’t! This is the first time I haven’t gotten over a breakup after three months. 

Tang Keyi, if you put in a good word for me with Qiuqiu, I’ll help you pursue Zhiyan. Deal?"

"No thanks," 

Tang Keyi quickly refused. 

That would just drag both of them down.

It was a losing deal—no way he’d take it.

---

Tang Keyi stared blankly at the foldable bed frame Cong Qiao had pulled out from under the desk. 

"This bed is so narrow. How am I supposed to sleep? Half of it’s under the desk—won’t I keep bumping my legs?"

"Young Master Tang, this is how everyone sleeps," 

Cong Qiao replied, 

unsure how to explain to this pampered young master 

that this setup was actually considered quite good among office workers.

Tang Keyi had no choice but to accept it. 

"Fine, go get some rest."

True to form, Tang Keyi couldn’t sleep on the cramped bed.

He was a restless sleeper, tossing and turning constantly. 

Within minutes of lying down, he’d already bumped his legs several times, 

and the sensation of nearly rolling off the edge kept startling him awake.

Eventually, he gave up and climbed out, but he was still exhausted. 

In the end, he simply slumped over the desk and fell asleep.

Qin Zhiyan, always energetic, didn’t have a habit of napping. 

After lunch, he rested on the sofa for a bit before getting up.

The sofa was close to the door, but he hadn’t heard any of Tang Keyi’s inner monologue.

Is he asleep?

Qin Zhiyan quietly pushed open the office door and, 

sure enough, saw Tang Keyi slumped over the desk, fast asleep.

Wasn’t there a bed? 

Sleeping like that can’t be comfortable.

He glanced at the unfolded bed frame and immediately understood.

Tsk. 

Too pampered to adjust, huh?

Well, tough luck. 

I’m not giving you special treatment.

---

That afternoon, Qin Zhiyan noticed the red mark on Tang Keyi’s cheek from where it had pressed against the desk. His eyebrow twitched.

It was just a nap. 

Why does it look like he got slapped? 

It’s been over an hour since he woke up. 

How is it still this noticeable?

Tang Keyi noticed his gaze and waved it off. 

"It’s nothing, just from sleeping on the desk. My skin’s delicate—bruises and marks take a while to fade."

Qin Zhiyan was at a loss for words. 

Did the Tang family raise him to be this fragile?

If he goes home like this, will they think I’m abusing him?

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Qin Zhiyan wondered, 

Did I hire an assistant or adopt a spoiled prince?

He was starting to regret his impulsive decision to keep this little troublemaker around.

[Qin Zhiyan looks troubled…]

[Does he think my face isn’t handsome enough now? That it’s embarrassing him?]

[I didn’t want to sleep on the desk either—my back and neck are killing me. But I couldn’t sleep on that bed! My legs are covered in bruises from bumping into it.]

Qin Zhiyan sighed inwardly. 

What else can I do? 

I’ll just have to indulge him.

"From now on, take your naps on the sofa in my office." 

This was the biggest concession he was willing to make.

Tang Keyi turned to eye the spacious sofa and nodded, somewhat appeased. 

"Thanks, President Qin."

"And no more being late starting tomorrow."

Tang Keyi gave a noncommittal hum.

[Being on time is impossible. They can just dock my pay.]

Qin Zhiyan added, 

"Didn’t you say you like me? Don’t you want to see me earlier every day?"

[Ugh. I’ve sacrificed so much for this lie.]

"If you’re late again, don’t bother coming." 

Qin Zhiyan had him cornered.

[If I don’t come, Grandma will force me into daily blind dates!]

"Got it," 

Tang Keyi replied dejectedly.

---

Beep beep beep—

A slender, fair arm emerged from the soft blankets, 

slapping the blaring alarm clock into silence.

Not long after, the alarm rang again.

This time, the figure in bed finally sat up, his hair a disheveled mess.

"Damn it! What did I do to deserve this torture of waking up early?!"

---

The sprightly Grandma Tang had been up since dawn, 

stretching in the living room while keeping an eye on the staircase.

When a bleary-eyed Tang Keyi finally appeared at the top of the stairs, 

she broke into a warm smile. 

"I was just thinking that if you didn’t come down soon, I’d have to go up and drag you out of bed."

"I’m a grown man. I don’t need anyone to wake me up," 

Tang Keyi grumbled as he descended, still half-asleep.

"Don’t think I didn’t hear about you being late yesterday. From now on, I’ll keep an eye on you. We can’t have you making a bad impression on Qin Zhiyan."

Tang Keyi couldn’t care less. 

Who cares what kind of impression I make on him?

---

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