After hanging up, he took out the contract again, his fingers brushing over Jiang Chen’s name.

In just two days, fate had taken several twists. Jiang Chen’s inner thoughts were like chaotic notes, quietly falling into the score of his life, disrupting all tranquility.

How long could this virtual affection, this freshness of arriving in a new place, last in Jiang Chen’s heart?

Lu Chiyuan wasn’t sure. A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. He said, “Come in,” and casually slipped the contract into a drawer.

Since it was Jiang Chen’s first day, he was still getting familiar with the environment. Lu Mingxuan didn’t assign him much work, prioritizing Lu Chiyuan’s schedule.

Near noon, as work was winding down, logistics delivered the office key and basic supplies. Jiang Chen did a quick cleanup of his new office.

When he finished, Xu Chen, just waking from a nap, stood at his door, eyeing the new office. “Wanna grab a couple of drinks together?” he asked.

“It’s still morning. We’re not off work yet,” Jiang Chen replied, thinking Xu Chen was still groggy from sleep. He tidied his desk with a smile.

“Lu, the busy man, has a business lunch, and he probably won’t be back this afternoon. I’ll take you to slack off. Just clock out and say you’re on an errand.”

With Lu Chiyuan and Lu Mingxuan around, Xu Chen could perfect the art of slacking—working in the morning, running “errands” in the afternoon, completely shirking responsibility. “I know Lu Chiyuan has two bottles of fine wine stashed at the vineyard. Perfect for celebrating your first day. You in?”

Xu Chen was brimming with enthusiasm, but Jiang Chen gave an awkward yet polite smile.

His relationship with Lu Chiyuan wasn’t close enough to ignore company rules or crack open his wine for a celebration without permission.

Lu Chiyuan’s kindness toward him stemmed from the events of the past two days—Jiang Chen’s original self had been innocently dragged into trouble, and Lu Chiyuan, cold on the outside but warm inside, showed him a bit more care.

Jiang Chen was self-aware enough not to blur the lines between fiction and reality. His understanding of Lu Chiyuan and his heartfelt joy were his own private celebration, not a mutual exchange of friendship.

Lu Chiyuan was measured and proper in his dealings, which didn’t mean Jiang Chen could take advantage of him.

He politely declined, “I’ll pass. Skipping work on my first day doesn’t feel right.”

“What’s there to worry about?” Xu Chen shrugged. “My first month here, I didn’t even show up.”

Xu Chen didn’t care. He’d joined the company for Lu Mingxuan, and when Lu Mingxuan was away on a business trip that first month, Xu Chen found it boring, told Lu Chiyuan, and completely let loose.

Jiang Chen wasn’t surprised by his behavior at all.

He figured having one person to keep up with Lu Chiyuan’s grind was enough.

Hearing his bold words, Lu Mingxuan stepped out of his office. “Young Master Xu, you think everyone’s like you? Stop leading Jiang Chen astray. He’s going to the lunch meeting with Brother Lu.”

Xu Chen turned around. “Huh? Not you?”

Jiang Chen was also surprised. For such an important occasion, shouldn’t Lu Chiyuan bring the more capable Lu Mingxuan?

Lu Mingxuan shook his head, his expression serious. “Jiang Chen, didn’t you check your messages? Brother Lu sent them to me.”

“What?” Jiang Chen immediately pulled out his phone, only to realize it had been on silent mode at some point. Lu Chiyuan’s messages had come through long ago, but he hadn’t noticed while cleaning his office.

Lu Chiyuan: [Finish up and come downstairs. I’m waiting in the parking lot.]

Lu Chiyuan: [Come down.]

Lu Chiyuan: [Where are you?]

The messages were from fifteen minutes ago.

Jiang Chen’s eyes widened. “Oh no!” Without time to say more to the two, he grabbed his things and bolted downstairs.

“This kid’s gonna get worked to death!” Xu Chen sighed sympathetically, watching him rush off.

Jiang Chen practically sprinted to the parking lot, recalling the morning to find Lu Chiyuan’s car. The driver and Lu Chiyuan had been waiting for a while.

Panting slightly, Jiang Chen jogged up, clasping his hands together outside the car window. “Brother Lu, I’m so sorry. I didn’t see your messages.”

Lu Chiyuan looked at him. “Get in. Don’t let it happen again.”

Lu Chiyuan hated waiting. People who weren’t punctual made him feel like his time was being wasted and his plans disrupted.

Logically, he should have sternly criticized Jiang Chen’s mistake. But seeing his slightly flushed face, disheveled hair from the wind, and the unease in his eyes, the words of reproach wouldn’t come out.

Jiang Chen climbed in nervously. [Wahhh, my baby’s so kind. He didn’t blame me.]

Lu Chiyuan lowered his gaze. He thought to himself, everyone makes mistakes. It’s just the first time—not unforgivable.

The lunch meeting with Tianxing Entertainment was set for 12:30. Because of Jiang Chen’s delay, the driver sped up more than usual, and Jiang Chen, feeling guilty, stayed silent.

Fortunately, the distance wasn’t far, and the roads were clear. Jiang Chen prayed they’d arrive on time.

Halfway there, Lu Chiyuan got a call. Whatever was said on the other end caused his expression to darken instantly.

He listened for a long time, finally asking only, “Where is she now?”

Then came a long silence. Jiang Chen noticed Lu Chiyuan’s grip on the phone tighten, his slender fingers taut, faint blue veins visible.

He was angry.

Jiang Chen looked away, focusing his attention out the window.

The once-clear road had somehow turned into a long line of stopped cars. The steady flow of traffic gradually came to a halt. The driver, visibly anxious, craned his neck to look ahead, but all he saw were more cars, with no clue what was happening up front.

Jiang Chen found it odd. This road shouldn’t be congested.

[Snowball, can you check what’s going on?]

Snowball flipped through its little notebook. [Host, it’s a car accident.]

The word “car accident” made Jiang Chen flinch. It was happening too often.

[Is it serious? When will it clear?]

[Not looking good. Suggest switching to a new route.] Snowball sighed.

The driver turned back, looking apologetically at Lu Chiyuan. “Mr. Lu, should I take another route?”

Lu Chiyuan hung up the phone but didn’t respond. He closed his eyes, rubbing his temple lightly, his irritation visibly growing.

The driver didn’t dare say more and silently turned his head back.

The atmosphere in the car grew cold, suffocating.

After a long pause, Lu Chiyuan said, “Forget it. Turn around. Head to Moonlit Lakeside.”

Both the driver and Jiang Chen were stunned. Moonlit Lakeside was where Shen Zhiyi lived.

The driver didn’t dare delay and changed course. Strangely, while the road ahead was completely blocked, there was a clear path for turning around, almost as if it was waiting for them.

The driver felt uneasy, a chill running through him.

Jiang Chen reacted instinctively. [It’s not the female lead causing trouble again, is it?]

Snowball quickly pulled out its notebook. [Host, you guessed it. The female lead is at the villa, threatening to kill herself.]

Jiang Chen’s mouth twitched. No wonder Lu Chiyuan’s face was so grim after that call. No one could take something like this lightly!

[What’s her reason this time?]

[Because Uncle Lin is trying to evict the Shen family from the villa. They’re throwing a fit, saying if he dares kick them out, they’ll die at the gate. The female lead, feeling disrespected by Uncle Lin, followed suit and cut herself with a knife.]