Chapter Sixteen: Life’s Little Diversions

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Luo Yichen nodded and headed straight for the elevator. Shang Qi, however, felt somewhat guilty and kept her head lowered, not daring to look at him. The finance director assumed that Luo had skipped the morning meeting because he had been with Shang Qi. One was divorced, the other unmarried—what else could possibly be going on between them?

Luo Yichen took Shang Qi directly to his office. He turned on the computer and printed out a budget.

“Funding is indeed tight this year. However, the anniversary celebration is extremely important, and we can’t afford to handle it carelessly. I took a quick look, and there’s still some money left in the administrative budget. That’s the result of how diligently you’ve handled your day-to-day work. Transfer that amount over, and think of a few ways to cut costs. It should be enough. If it still isn’t, I’ll find another solution.”

Seeing that he had prepared everything in advance, Shang Qi asked, “If you had already planned this out, why let me worry myself sick these past few days?”

“You know perfectly well why.” Luo Yichen signed the document as he spoke. “All right, focus on your work for now. This morning, I postponed the board meeting until the afternoon. I need to get through the afternoon’s work first.”

Shang Qi took the documents. Seeing how busy he really was, she left the office without another word.

She brought the new budget, signed by Luo Yichen, to the finance department. After looking it over, the finance director immediately put on a flattering smile.

“President Shang, you certainly get things done! I’ll make sure to cooperate fully with the administrative department according to this revised budget.”

Shang Qi challenged him, “There was clearly still money left in the administrative budget. Why did you tell me there was barely anything remaining?”

The finance director instantly became all smiles. He took out a document and said, “President Shang, during the midyear adjustment, additional funds were allocated to the administrative department. I only just received President Luo’s official approval, so that amount wasn’t included in the figures I gave you. I hope you won’t hold it against me.”

Shang Qi thought to herself: The additional funds allocated at midyear were specifically intended to promote the company’s image. Luo Yichen had said long ago that he would approve them. It was just that the company’s annual budget was always calculated down to the last penny. If he wanted to increase the overall budget, he would still need Old Master Luo’s approval.

Luo Yichen did not want to make a great commotion and alert his grandfather, especially since he did not want the old man to notice Shang Qi. So he had to wait until there was a surplus elsewhere, transfer it over, and only then sign the approval. For that reason, he had secretly instructed Finance to use part of the administrative budget for publicity first.

It seems this finance director deliberately tried to trip me up. But I have no evidence in hand right now. I still can’t afford to offend the Goddess of Wealth.

Shang Qi put on a smile as well. “I see! Luckily, President Luo has approved it now.”

“Exactly! In the future, I’ll also urge the president’s secretary to move things along. The countersignature process really needs to be made more efficient.”

Shang Qi nodded and turned to leave the finance office.

As Mu Lichen passed by, he called out to her, “President Shang, I’d like to discuss the anniversary celebration proposal with you.”

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“All right.”

With that, they went to Mu Lichen’s office. Mu Lichen gave her a rough outline of the proposal, and Shang Qi found his suggestions excellent. She wrote everything down in her notebook and said, “I’ll have the administrative department work out the details as soon as possible.”

Before they knew it, noon was approaching.

“Let’s have lunch together,” Mu Lichen suggested. “We can continue discussing the proposal.”

“All right!”

They went to the employee cafeteria, picked up their food, and sat down in a quiet corner to eat and talk.

Having made up with Luo Yichen the night before, Shang Qi was in exceptionally high spirits. Mu Lichen did not have Luo Yichen’s lofty, overbearing air. He was very witty, and he kept making her burst into laughter.

That afternoon, Shang Qi began another busy day of work. For several days in a row, both she and Luo Yichen were swamped. Apart from occasionally calling her to satisfy his “craving for conversation,” he barely had a chance to see her.

Near the end of the workday, Luo Yichen called.

“Shall we have dinner together tonight?”

“No. I’ve been working overtime for several days in a row, and my mother’s getting worried. She called at noon and asked me to come home for dinner.”

“Why don’t I go with you?”

“No!” Shang Qi cried out.

She knew Luo Yichen’s temperament very well. Once this man set his mind on something, not even ten oxen could drag him back. Before he became determined to do it, she had to object as quickly as possible.

Luo Yichen sighed mournfully. “We’ve come this far, and you still won’t let me meet your parents?”

Thinking of what had happened that night, Shang Qi felt terribly embarrassed. She stubbornly retorted, “You and I aren’t even in a relationship. Don’t make things up!”

“Oh?”

At that moment, the door to Shang Qi’s office suddenly opened, and Luo Yichen walked in. He locked the door behind him, put away his phone, and said, “You change your attitude faster than someone turning a page. Is it because I solved your budget problem, so now you’re tossing me aside?”

That was the one thing Shang Qi hated most. She shot him an angry glare.

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Luo Yichen looked at her with leisurely composure.

“I don’t like doing business at a loss. Since I helped you, how are you going to repay me?”

Why did those words sound so familiar? It seemed Zong Yong had said something similar to her before.

Shang Qi stared at Luo Yichen in astonishment, her face flushing violently. He stepped closer, his hands already beginning to misbehave as one of them lightly settled on her shoulder.

“Surely you know what a woman’s greatest asset is?”

Taken aback by his sudden teasing, Shang Qi could not quite understand what was happening. Hadn’t Luo Yichen cherished her so carefully that night? How had he suddenly become like this again?

Acting on instinct, she snapped, “Take your filthy hands off me!”

Luo Yichen did not stop. He continued to caress her with seeming casualness. Shang Qi struggled to get away, only to be pulled firmly into his arms.

His voice was hoarse. “Be good and let me hold you for a while. We haven’t seen each other in days.”

At first, Shang Qi was frightened. But then she realized he was deliberately trying to scare her, and her fear faded. She pressed down on his hand and said, “Stop pretending. You wouldn’t really do anything to me.”

Luo Yichen was deeply dissatisfied that she had seen through him so quickly. He refused to let her have the upper hand and instead quickened the movements of his hands.

Her face flushed crimson under his teasing. She could not help letting out a soft moan.

“Mmm… let go of me!”

Luo Yichen held her and kissed her passionately for a long while before finally releasing her. Restraining the desire surging through his chest, he pleaded, “Qi Qi, will you officially date me?”

Shang Qi straightened her clothes and said irritably, “You barged into my office and did whatever you pleased, and now you want me to date you? Keep dreaming!”

Luo Yichen understood her temper perfectly. She was not truly angry; she simply felt that the kiss had happened at an inappropriate time. In moments like this, he absolutely could not treat her seriously. The moment he started lecturing her, he was sure to suffer a crushing defeat.

Luo Yichen casually sat down on the sofa, deliberately looking exhausted.

“Life needs a little variety.” He reached out a hand. “Come here and sit beside me.”

!!

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