Looking at the unremarkable woman before him, Lin Haoran couldn't help but sneer: "What do you want from me?"
Zhang Shanshan observed his attitude, the corners of her mouth lifting into a graceful curve: "You really want to get back at Su Banxia and Fang Shiqing?"
Hearing this, Lin Haoran paused in his movements: "What, you think you're qualified to help me?"
"I'm Yan Xin's personal assistant at Dingsheng Group. Do you think I'm qualified?"
Zhang Shanshan said with a faint smile.
"What do you mean by that?"
Lin Haoran, catching the tone in her words, couldn't help but tense up, looking at her with interest.
Zhang Shanshan smiled: "I don't want to beat around the bush. I know about your past with Manager Fang. I'm guessing you still haven't let her go, but unfortunately, she's already found someone new recently."
Hearing this, Lin Haoran's expression shifted subtly.
"I can see that Manager Fang and President Yan have a great relationship, so I feel a bit indignant on your behalf."
Zhang Shanshan paused here, then looked up to carefully study Lin Haoran's changing expression.
"Are you trying to provoke me?"
Lin Haoran said coldly.
He hated this woman, sure, but he wasn't stupid—he couldn't be swayed by a few words.
"I just want to cooperate with you. If you don't give it a try, how do you know she won't end up being yours?"
Zhang Shanshan raised an eyebrow.
Lin Haoran clicked his tongue: "I'm curious, what's your goal, Assistant Zhang?"
"Just mutual benefit. What real goal would there be?"
"So that means we're on the same side?"
Lin Haoran suddenly understood, letting out a light laugh: "Then, Assistant Zhang, how exactly do you want to cooperate?"
Zhang Shanshan looked up, glancing at him sideways: "That depends on President Lin's ability."
Catching the deeper meaning in her words, Lin Haoran couldn't help but draw in a sharp breath.
After a brief exchange, they each went their separate ways.
The next afternoon, Fang Shiqing returned home from work as usual. When she saw the person standing at her doorstep, she couldn't help but pause.
"Lin Haoran?"
Fang Shiqing frowned, every nerve in her body on high alert.
"Bitch, you sure change men fast!"
Lin Haoran sneered, his face full of contempt.
Catching the subtext in his words, Fang Shiqing let out a cold laugh: "President Lin keeps coming to my door to shout—are you trying to show me your loyalty, or make me remember what you did back then?"
"You!"
Lin Haoran's face turned extremely ugly. He clenched his fingers into fists, pointing at Fang Shiqing as he berated her: "Don't use that as an excuse. I haven't even had my fun with you yet—how could I let you run into someone else's arms?"
"What are you going to do?"
Fang Shiqing, seeing the coldness in his eyes, instinctively stepped back.
"I've checked—no one's in this building at this hour. So what do you think I want to do?"
Lin Haoran slowly stepped forward.
Fang Shiqing's heart leaped to her throat. Standing at the edge of the stairs, she felt a surge of anxiety: "Lin Haoran, I'm warning you, don't do anything reckless!"
"Shiqing, I'm serious about you. Why won't you just agree to me?"
Lin Haoran stepped forward and firmly wrapped his arms around her.
The smell of him made Fang Shiqing feel nauseous. She instinctively tried to push him away, but the strength difference between a man and a woman was too great. No matter how she struggled, she remained trapped in his embrace.
"Lin Haoran, don't make me hate you!"
Fang Shiqing gritted her teeth, speaking through clenched jaws.
Lin Haoran was unfazed: "Is there any less hate you have for me?"
In the hallway of the stairs, the figures of a man and a woman tangled together. Fang Shiqing used all her strength to break free, but it was futile.
Just as she was about to give up, a gust of wind swept past her ear, followed by a muffled grunt from Lin Haoran.
Yan Xin firmly shielded her behind him, his sharp gaze fixed on the man on the ground.
"It seems you didn't take last time's warning to heart."
Yan Xin's voice was cold, and the chill radiating from him seemed to lower the temperature around them.
Lin Haoran's heart sank. He clearly hadn't expected to run into him here. Seeing their close posture, he wiped the blood seeping from the corner of his mouth and sneered: "Still saying there's nothing between you two? Looks like a pair of bastards!"
"Lin Haoran, what nonsense are you spouting? Don't project your disgusting thoughts onto others!"
Fang Shiqing was anxious.
She could tolerate Lin Haoran dragging her through the mud, but how could she let him hurt Yan Xin too?
"What, hit a nerve? That's why you're flying off the handle?"
Lin Haoran scoffed: "How long has it been since we split? You're already rushing to find the next one?"
"Shut up! I've seen enough of the Lin family's upbringing today—it's utterly disgusting!"
Fang Shiqing gritted her teeth, her patience wearing thin.
Yan Xin glanced at Lin Haoran, the coldness in his eyes deepening: "The Lin family nearly went bankrupt bailing you out. It seems President Lin doesn't know how to cherish that."
"You!"
Hearing this, Lin Haoran was filled with rage.
"What, want to taste that feeling again?"
Yan Xin met his gaze, his tone icy.
Lin Haoran involuntarily stepped back a few paces, shot a deep look at Fang Shiqing, and left in fury, his anger simmering.
He couldn't afford to provoke Yan Xin, but he'd remember this debt with Fang Shiqing.
Watching his retreating figure, Fang Shiqing finally let out a slow sigh of relief, then immediately turned to Yan Xin: "Thank you for earlier."
"That guy's like a stubborn stain. You need to be more careful from now on."
Yan Xin sighed quietly.
"Are you here to meet a client again today?"
Fang Shiqing asked softly.
Yan Xin paused for a moment, then smiled: "Something like that."
"Want to come in and sit for a while? I'll cook dinner for you today."
Fang Shiqing, sensing the awkwardness in the air, made the suggestion.
"That sounds good."
Yan Xin nodded, not refusing.
Stepping inside, Yan Xin glanced around briefly. Unlike the simplicity of his last visit, the balcony was now filled with flowers.
"Living alone, you've really made this place quite lovely, Assistant Fang."
Hearing this, Fang Shiqing smiled lightly: "Banxia doesn't live here, so I get bored alone. I have to find ways to pass the time—otherwise, with such long evenings after work, it'd be so dull."
"So, you should be grateful the company gives you overtime?"
Yan Xin said, half-jokingly and half-seriously.