Shine on Me

I made a difficult decision.

— I must transfer back to the finance department!

"Reason?"

Vice President Lin glanced at my transfer application without looking up.

"It's all written there."

"Professional mismatch leading to recent inefficiency at work?" He nodded, picked up a pen, and signed without hesitation.

"...Aren’t you going to try to stop me?"

"Rain will fall, girlfriends will switch departments—what can I do?" He laughed under my glare and handed me the signed application. "Take it. Hand over your tasks; it takes effect tomorrow."

As I took the application and turned to leave, his leisurely voice followed me: "By the way, this year’s year-end bonuses for management departments won’t follow a unified standard anymore. They’ll be distributed based on departmental performance."

A sense of foreboding instantly struck me. "Which department gets more—management or finance?"

"The one you just left."

"...Then which department do I count as part of?"

"Oh, you’re no longer one of mine." Vice President Lin delivered the ruthless verdict.

"..."

Why, after barely a week together, did I already feel like I’d met the wrong person?

Yin Jie was utterly baffled by my silent department switch. At lunch, she nearly hit me with her chopsticks. "What kind of brainless move is this, transferring right before year-end bonuses? Wait—did Vice President Lin harass you or something? I mean, he’s hot, but if you’re not into him, that’d be annoying."

I nearly spat out my food.

After coughing for a while, I discreetly pulled out my phone and texted Lin Yusen when Yin Jie wasn’t looking: "Someone said I switched departments because I couldn’t handle your harassment."

Lin Yusen replied quickly: "Yin Jie?"

Crap! Had I accidentally betrayed my teammate? Guiltily glancing at Yin Jie, who was busy eating, I hurriedly typed back: "No… just hearsay."

After a long pause, he replied: "Oh."

Huh? What kind of response was that?

Was he actually bothered by it?

For the first time, I felt a pang of frustration. This was my first serious relationship, and sometimes I really didn’t know what to say or not say.

During work that afternoon, I stole several glances at him—see, this was exactly why my efficiency had dropped. Working alongside my, uh, boyfriend was seriously distracting.

Unfortunately, before I could figure anything out, a client arrived, and the blinds in the VP’s office were drawn. Unable to spy, I reluctantly focused on handing over my tasks to the new hires.

After Jiang Ya left, two new employees had joined our department, both already settled in. Since I was only switching departments and not leaving the company, the handover wasn’t too difficult.

Before leaving work, I finally found a chance to slip into his office.

Lin Yusen was flipping through documents by the bookshelf.

"You’re not mad, are you?"

"About what?"

He looked up from the files, puzzled.

Good, if he wasn’t, I certainly wouldn’t bring it up. I brushed it off. "Oh, just the department transfer thing."

"Bringing you here was my selfish decision in the first place. Why would I be upset?" He smiled gently, his gaze returning to the documents. "Come closer."

"Huh?" His absorbed expression made me step forward without suspicion.

"Today’s your last day in the management department."

"Yeah."He nodded, then without any warning, closed the folder with one hand, leaned slightly to the side, and lowered his head to place a kiss on my lips.

The warm touch was fleeting. He smiled at me and said, "There, now I haven’t falsely borne the reputation for nothing."

I felt as if I’d been struck by lightning.

Standing there dumbfounded, I still managed to ask, "What reputation?"

"Harassment."

Lin Yusen smiled faintly, reaching up to tuck a few stray strands of hair behind my ear, gently reminding me, "You’re going to the finance department tomorrow, so don’t work overtime tonight. Get some proper rest."

You… utter… jerk…

Those were the only three words that flashed through my mind.

I never imagined my first kiss would be lost in the office, under the guise of "harassment."

My expression must have been one of utter indignation because he couldn’t help but laugh. "What’s wrong? You look like… you want to hit me?"

Indignantly, I said, "Anyone whose first kiss is lost in the office under the pretense of harassment would want to hit someone, no matter how handsome you are!"

"Not unexpected, but still very pleasing." His gaze lingered intently on my lips, as if completely missing the point. With a long arm, he pulled me tightly against him and actually lowered his head again.

This time, it was no longer just a light, fleeting touch. Even though we were already so close, his hand still pressed me firmly against his body. The sheer masculine strength made my instinctive resistance utterly futile. He lingered on my lips, patient and unhurried, until I was finally breathless, allowing him to sweep in and out at will…

The first time, he had left before I could even process it. This time, with so much time to think, my mind was a complete mess, and even my limbs seemed to stop obeying me.

By the time he finally withdrew, I realized I had somehow been pressed against the bookshelf, my hands gripping the sleeves of his suit tightly.

His arm around me still hadn’t loosened. He buried his face against my neck, his hair brushing my cheek, tickling and unsettling my thoughts.

"Oops." After a long while, once his breathing had steadied, he murmured softly and insincerely in my ear, "The second time was also in the office, harassed by your superior. What now?"

The number one beast of the medical school—Senior Brother Fang hadn’t lied to me.

—The above was the conclusion I reached deep in my heart the next morning, sleep-deprived as I was.

Due to two major reasons—having to move my personal belongings to the finance department before Lin Yusen arrived at work, and tossing and turning in bed unable to sleep—I ended up harassing Yin Jie with my phone at seven in the morning to help me move my things.

Yin Jie, sleep-deprived, grumbled, "You’re really something, switching departments just days before the Spring Festival."

I sighed dramatically. "You wouldn’t understand the complexities of my inner world~"

"All I know is you just lost a thousand bucks in bonuses!"

Don’t worry, it’ll be made up!

Suddenly, her eyes lit up. "When did you get a new phone?"

I paused in arranging my things before answering, "...Oh, a few days ago."

"Why change it when the old one was fine?"

"Yeah, I lost it."

Yin Jie immediately looked at me with sympathy and casually asked, "Then how do you still have my number?"

"..."Employees from the finance department started arriving for work one after another. Not wanting to prolong this conversation with her, I pushed her out the door. "Alright, alright, go back to your office and get to work. I'll treat you to lunch."

"Fine dining?"

"Cafeteria."

My department transfer had been rather sudden, so my colleagues in finance were visibly surprised to see me. Their expressions carried hints of speculation and curiosity, and I strongly suspected they'd jumped to the same conclusion as Yin Jie.

Sure enough, Qiqi offered me subtle consolation in the break room: "It's great to have you back. We've been short-staffed anyway. A peaceful work environment is what matters most."

I smiled and nodded in agreement.

Then I went straight for revenge, texting Lin Yusen: "Vice President Lin, you should really watch your image! Everyone thinks I transferred departments to escape your clutches!"

With that, I shook off yesterday's defeat (?) and threw myself into work with renewed cheer.

The busy day passed quickly. When the closing-time music played, I suddenly realized—Lin Yusen hadn't replied to my text all day?

I rummaged through my bag for my phone.

Around me, colleagues were packing up to leave. They'd already risen from their seats when, all at once, they abruptly sat back down and pretended to be engrossed in work.

What was going on?

Phone in hand, I looked up toward the entrance—just in time to see Vice President Lin Yusen strolling casually into our office, one hand in his pocket.

He seemed completely oblivious to the office's strange atmosphere as he naturally approached my desk. "Off work? We're having dinner with my senior brother today."

Ten minutes later, seated in Lin Yusen's car, I launched into stern criticism. "What were you doing in my office?"

"Earlier, I saw Xiao Zhang from the factory office in my building. Why was he at your office instead of his own workstation?"

His tone carried the weight of an executive inquiry, so I quickly defended my colleague. "He was picking up Qiqi after work. It was already quitting time—that's allowed, isn't it?"

"Of course." Lin Yusen said this as if it were obvious. "So why can't I pick you up after work?"

Then he adopted a thoughtful expression. "Now they probably won't think you're transferring to avoid my harassment anymore."

...

Yeah, they definitely won't.

Your reputation is now set in stone...

Sigh Are all boyfriend creatures this difficult? Or is mine just special?

And so...

After that god-tier first day, my time in the finance department began smoothly, peacefully, amiably...

Soon I sadly discovered that despite changing departments, my work efficiency hadn't improved much—as my corporate email could attest.

In this regard, Vice President Lin set a terrible example. One day after my transfer, he flooded my inbox with something bizarre.

It turned out to be his complete personal resume—no, perhaps "autobiography" would be more accurate. Birthdate, hometown, various educational and work experiences, complete with photos from each life stage.

After thoroughly enjoying his fascinating life story, I called his office number and whispered, "What is this? Why send me this?"

"Hmm, a product manual? So you can understand your boyfriend's features and functions."

"...But did you really need to include that you can fix lightbulbs?""Oh, that's a representative household function. By the way, I'm also quite good at suturing and tying knots."

"...So you wrote about your romantic experiences to tell me you've been 'returned' before?"

"Miss Nie, is there an issue with your Chinese comprehension? Was that really about romantic experiences?"

Who told you to write about being tricked by your teacher into a blind date?

Suppressing a laugh, I said very seriously, "Of course it counts."

"That was a case of inaccurate target customers, with the product voluntarily withdrawing from the market. Additionally, I'd like to remind our esteemed client that not all functions of this product were fully available before. Miss Nie, I hope you can fully explore and actively utilize them."

Was it my imagination?! Why do I feel his last words about "actively utilize" carried a strong... teasing tone ==. I quickly changed the subject, pretending to be serious: "Don't try to fool me, quickly explain that dark history of yours in detail."

He seemed both amused and exasperated: "What dark history? It couldn't be more innocent. Hold on."

There was a knock on the door from his end—probably someone needed him. I wasn't in a hurry. Since he didn't hang up, neither did I, cradling the phone while quickly finishing an accounting entry.

His conversation with the other person came through the receiver, and soon his voice was clear again: "When I was studying medicine in the U.S., a Chinese-American professor I knew well suddenly invited me to dinner."

He stopped there.

Remembering how he'd once said he was too busy to even date, I asked curiously, "Was your medical school really that demanding?"

Lin Yusen chuckled: "Not as busy as now."

Hmm They say love lowers IQ, but I feel mine has skyrocketed. For instance, right now, I suddenly understood the underlying meaning in Mr. Lin's roundabout words...

But I decisively pretended not to get it. "Ah, since you're so busy, I won't keep you."

After hanging up quickly, I thought for a moment, then dug out my job application from my USB drive and sent it to him with a smile. His reply came: "It seems Miss Nie hasn't studied hard?"

"..." So what if you're a top student?!

Flustered and annoyed, I replied: "Just letting you understand the characteristics of your target customer."

"Thanks for the kindness, but no need. I know my target customer much better than you think."

"Oh? Like what?"

"For example, I know my target customer wants to eat Northeastern cuisine tonight."

...

Mr. Lin, you should really buy a lottery ticket!

Well, ever since Mr. Lin Yusen and I exchanged "job applications," the company email has been thoroughly misused for—small talk.

On the last workday before the Spring Festival, no one was in the mood to work. I lazily went through the accounts when I noticed a large expenditure signed off by Lin Yusen.

So, very unprofessionally, I paused my work and emailed him:

"Lin Yusen, I noticed your name has so much 'wood' in it. Are you lacking wood in your five elements?"

Soon, I got a reply.

"Too much wood only lacks sunlight."

I couldn't help but smile, then replied after some thought: "All that wood relying on the newly risen sun—the sunlight definitely isn't enough..."

Xiguang, after all, means the light of dawn—it must be very weak.This time, there was no reply for a long while. After waiting for a bit, I found an excuse to go to their office. Through the glass door, I could see him discussing something with a few clients.

Returning to my seat with peace of mind, I buried myself in work for a while. Then, somehow, I suddenly had a flash of intuition and checked my inbox again. Sure enough, his reply was already quietly waiting there.

I opened it and saw his words: I'll wait for you to give me a Jiao Yang.

As the Sun Shines On Me

Book One - End