Looking at the photo filled with an array of colorful swim trunks, Ji Mi felt like fainting.
When he sent it, he hadn't intended to convey any hidden message, just to share that he was indeed preparing for the trip.
But underwear seemed too personal, as if it was some kind of ambiguous hint. The more Ji Mi thought about it, the more conflicted he felt.
Would Jing misunderstand and think he was being provocative?
He immediately wanted to recall the photo, but the button order in Cute Heart was different from WeChat, causing him to accidentally hit "delete" instead.
There was no secondary confirmation pop-up, no way to undo it.
The photo vanished from his phone in an instant.
Ji Mi: "."
Not daring to imagine how Jing would react, Ji Mi lowered his head with reddened ears, pretending to be nonchalant.
mi: [I'm going to soak in hot springs, happened to be shopping here.]
"Hot springs?" He Jingyan incredulously repeated those words. Wasn't that on the itinerary for the executive office's vacation?
Could the online harasser be nearby? He wondered, but out of the four people present, none seemed to match mi's profile.
Although online identities were just words, the troubles mi had shared weren't really issues for secretaries who had weathered many storms.
What about his own assistant then?
As this possibility emerged, He Jingyan couldn't help but furrow his brow.
Ji Mi was completely the model student type - humble and upright in character, low-key and reserved in personality. He was easily embarrassed when teased and not one to make a fuss.
Rather than believing he would look at people's abs online, it was more likely to suspect Fang Xiyun of playing a prank.
At this moment, the CEO beside him called out to him.
That man was famously well-connected and naturally well-informed: "You guys are going to Japan to play this year?"
"Mm, that's the plan," He Jingyan replied somewhat distractedly. "What about your side?"
The CEO shook his head: "Nah, I just took the Marketing Group 2 to Europe, we were exhausted from touring castles and museums."
Mentioning this, he seemed a bit regretful: "Should've followed your lead and the Tech Center's instead. This season is perfect for Hokkaido."
There were only a few popular tourist spots recently - most were either sunbathing on beaches or flying to snowy mountains for hot springs.
Besides the executive office, surely others would choose the latter option too.
He Jingyan asked with interest: "They haven't had their team building yet either?"
"Your two offices are the only ones left in the whole business group. They've been swamped lately, all for tonight's quarterly report." The CEO sighed.
The range of suspects thus narrowed considerably. He Jingyan tugged at the corner of his mouth, then turned to ask the Tech Center's team leader to come find him after the meeting adjourned.
Then, he inconspicuously turned his body, coincidentally blocking his phone screen.
Although He Jingyan didn't feel he had anything to hide, given mi's questionable behavior, when negotiating with him, he inexplicably felt their relationship couldn't see the light of day.
He probed indirectly: [Which of these trunks did you buy?]
mi: [Haven't decided yet.]
Ji Mi had been pondering whether Jing would ignore the photo, after all, they weren't close enough to pick out clothes for each other...
How come Jing seemed quite interested?
Naturally curious, Ji Mi asked: [Are you going to help me choose?]
Oddly enough, Jing didn't reply for a long time. Ji Mi wasn't sure if he was overwhelmed by choices or engaged in an intense internal struggle.
After a while, Jing sent back an image. On the photo Ji Mi had taken earlier, he had circled one of the options with the doodle pen.
The swim trunks were mainly dark blue, with a somewhat niche pattern. The length reached the knees, within most people's acceptable range.
Ji Mi fibbed: [You made me wait five minutes, I'm already in line to check out.]
Jing: [Someone just came to chat with me, it wasn't convenient to take out my phone.]
Jing: [I still think this one is better.]
Ji Mi wasn't so easily swayed, replying mischievously: [Even if I wear this, you won't see it. I don't want to listen to you!]
Jing responded quickly this time: [Then send me your itinerary info, I'll come see for myself.]
Ji Mi wouldn't let him have his way: [No way, meeting an online friend for the first time at a hot spring? You'd better keep more clothes on.]
Jing: [So what did you end up getting?]
Ji Mi was puzzled by Jing's unusual persistence. Was this answer so important?
He speculated: [Why are you so eager? Did I hit on one of your kinks?]
Jing: [... I don't have such unconventional kinks.]
Ji Mi teased him with curved eyelashes: [Jing, you sound like you're frigid.]
However, after he left that section of the store, the swim trunks Jing had circled still ended up in his shopping cart, as he also thought the style was quite nice.
He Jingyan felt a bit stung being accused of impotence by his online friend, but then felt relieved upon learning mi had taken the bait.
Just as the meeting dispersed, the Tech Center's team leader came to find him. The two met outside the conference room.
"Delay, what's the sudden matter?" Shen Guangyi asked.
He Jingyan said: "I have a favor to ask. You're also planning a vacation at the end of the month?"
He usually handled things steadily, rarely rushing to call someone over.
When Shen Guangyi received the message, he thought something unexpected had happened at the company. But glancing at the office platform, everything seemed to be running normally.
Now being abruptly asked about vacation plans, he was even more confused. When the Tech Center had decided on travel dates, he had specifically checked that there were no important work requirements coming up.
"What's the specific situation?" Shen Guangyi said, "We haven't bought plane tickets yet, I can stay behind."
He Jingyan said: "No, I want you to stick close to your colleagues."
After saying this, he opened his phone, glancing at the slightly crowded doorway, then took a few steps to the side.
This behavior seemed rather mysterious. Shen Guangyi guessed it might be about trade secrets, even imagining there could be a spy in the department.
Then He Jingyan opened the Cute Heart album, gesturing for him to come closer and look...
Why was it a photo of a supermarket?
Seeing this, Shen Guangyi looked blankly at his new boss.
He Jingyan pointed at the circle he had drawn: "When you get in the hot spring pool, don't rush to take off your glasses. Look for any colleague wearing these trunks."
Afraid Shen Guangyi wouldn't remember, he added: "I'll send the image to your OC later."
Shen Guangyi: ?
As a dutiful and dedicated model employee, the workaholic team leader supporting the engine architecture felt for the first time that he couldn't complete his boss's task.
After a full thirty seconds of stunned silence, he said somewhat desperately: "This is a prank, right?"
"I'm entrusting you with my biggest trouble," He Jingyan instructed.
"Whether or not you find someone like this there, let me know either way."
Shen Guangyi said expressionlessly: "What, did he steal your swim trunks or something?"
He Jingyan pondered for a moment, seeming to seriously organize his words.
Shen Guangyi truly thought this person had committed some grave offense against the boss. After a while, He Jingyan said: "He almost tore down my reputation for male virtue."
Shen Guangyi: "..."
With this troublesome matter dropped on him from the sky, Shen Guangyi found it hard to face the current executive team. However, a few days later, the Tech Center had to meet with them offline.
Ji Mi arrived rather early. After picking up his visa delivery, he headed straight for the meeting room.
"Hello," he said politely. "I'm Delay's technical assistant, here to sit in and take notes today."
"Sit anywhere," said Shen Guangyi, who had just finished a video call here.
Ji Mi looked around, then walked to a spot where he could clearly see the projection screen while being close to a corner.
This meeting had a confidentiality level that prohibited personal electronic devices, so he opened a hardcover notebook.
This notebook was one of the welcome gifts for this year's campus recruits. Ji Mi had already used up most of it, very systematically adding bookmarks and sticky notes, making it look quite bulky.
Without trying to ingratiate himself with Shen Guangyi, he quietly scribbled away. His handwriting, like the person himself, was elegant yet upright and beautiful.
Seeing how unexpectedly well-behaved the young man was, Shen Guangyi couldn't help but feel sympathy when he thought of He Jingyan's strange instructions.
He had met with He Jingyan a few times before, and actually, He Jingyan usually gave off a very forceful impression.
Not only was he not so frivolous, but he had a kind of step-by-step oppressive aura, and was also known for not knowing how to take care of people.
It was easy to feel suffocated working for such a boss, and with He Jingyan recently encountering private troubles, his mood at work was probably not great either.
From this, one can imagine how Ji Mi was struggling, and today the team leader of Group Three who called the meeting loved to put on airs...
Just as he thought this, someone burst through the door.
"Why is there a strange face in the meeting room?" the person asked.
Ji Mi looked up, quickly recognizing him as Old Tai, the leader of Group Three.
He politely said, "I'm the new assistant from the general office. You can call me Lethe."
Old Tai's gaze swept him up and down a couple of times: "Where's your boss? Why are you sitting here alone?"
Ji Mi hesitated for a moment: "He'll arrive on time."
"You're from this year's campus recruitment, aren't you?" Old Tai noticed the cover of his notebook.
He teased further: "No wonder... Why did Delay hire such a green youngster? You haven't even learned how to handle things yet."
"Say less, you'll be talking a lot soon. Be kind to your throat," Shen Guangyi interjected.
Old Tai laughed, "There's only a quarter of an hour until the meeting starts, and the table is still bare. I do need to take care of my voice."
Ji Mi finally understood: "I'll go get some mineral water. There are nine people here this afternoon?"
It's not uncommon in the workplace for newcomers to be assigned menial tasks. Some seniors like to assert their authority this way, and in some places, it's even worse – they might make people tidy up desks and pour hot water every day.
However, the general office never did this. Even when He Jingyan asked Ji Mi to buy coffee, his attitude was one of asking for help, not ordering around.
Ji Mi felt that being occasionally prodded was harmless, especially since He Jingyan valued the technical platform highly, and he didn't want to ruin their impression.
Old Tai said, "Twelve. I'm bringing some interns to sit in on the class."
Ji Mi nodded and was about to leave when He Jingyan rushed in.
Usually, if He Jingyan had a 2 o'clock schedule, he would arrive precisely at 2 o'clock. His time was always precious, and he couldn't spare even ten extra minutes.
At present, the office building was comfortably warm. He Jingyan wore a thin black sweater, coming from the elevator to the corridor. His tall figure could be seen from afar.
Noticing Ji Mi, he quickly walked over.
"Where are you going?" he asked, "I didn't see you earlier. Shell said you probably went downstairs."
Before Ji Mi could speak, Old Tai coughed and jumped in to answer.
"We don't have any water here. We can only stare when we're thirsty, so we asked Lethe to make a run."
He Jingyan looked over at the sound, his lips curling slightly, but his tone was a bit cold.
"Oh, so you don't know where the pantry is on your floor?"
Surprised by this reaction, Old Tai said awkwardly, "No, no, it's just that Lethe isn't like us old-timers who've been here for over a decade. Our legs aren't so good anymore."
"I saw him sitting there with nothing to do, so I thought I'd teach him what he could do when he arrives..."
Hearing this, He Jingyan interrupted Old Tai's explanation.
"Lethe seems to be my personal assistant. Why trouble others to teach him how to do his job?"
His posture remained relaxed as he put his hand on Ji Mi's shoulder, gesturing for him to walk back.
Ji Mi felt the atmosphere cooling gradually. He sat down stiffly next to He Jingyan, not daring to look at Old Tai's expression across the table.
He Jingyan took Ji Mi's notebook and casually opened a page, which was full of clearly organized analysis points.
"I recruited him to provide technical support. He's usually very busy, and serving tea and water isn't within his responsibilities."
Old Tai dryly agreed, "My mistake. I was too rough in my approach. Almost made a fool of myself."
He Jingyan had heard Shell complain about Group Three's culture, with clear hierarchical differences and deep-rooted seniority concepts. They were all shrewd opportunists.
In the future, Ji Mi would have many interactions with them. Since one side was destined to be the soft target, He Jingyan decided to squeeze the other side first on behalf of his assistant.
He Jingyan smiled, "No, someone too rough couldn't handle cutting-edge projects. So, please keep our little Professor Ji carefully in mind."
After saying this, he tapped his fingertips on the table edge and let out a soft "tsk."
Ji Mi looked at him in confusion, hearing him seriously add, "But you shouldn't think about him too much."
Ji Mi: ?
Perhaps because he was now clear about He Jingyan's mischievous nature, when he saw this expression, Ji Mi instinctively felt uneasy.
At the same time, the two team leaders were on high alert.
He Jingyan said to them, "It wouldn't be good if you came to poach my little cabbage."