Volume One Chapter One Three Piercing Screams

Hilton Hotel, in the grandest banquet hall, the celebration party for Tianyu Group was in full swing. As a member of the Overseas Market Department, Xia Xi Yin was part of the team that secured the project, and her joy was boundless. She clinked glasses with her colleagues, drinking more than a little.

“Xia Xi Yin,” her colleague Shen Wei teased, along with two other female coworkers, “didn’t you say if we won this project, you’d confess to our Director Zhou in front of everyone? You’re not going to go back on your word, are you?”

“That’s right, we’re all waiting! Who in our department doesn’t know you like Director Zhou?”

“Hurry up, my phone is ready for the livestream!”

The reason Xia Xi Yin had made that promise was to lift everyone’s spirits when the project was stalled and morale was low. But the truth was, ever since she joined Tianyu Group’s Overseas Department and worked under Zhou Minghao, becoming his right-hand woman, she had quietly fallen for him.

She never thought much of it—liking someone, she would always be open and straightforward. A confession was nothing to be ashamed of.

She smiled, her drunken eyes sparkling, and declared, “How could I? I always keep my word!”

Xia Xi Yin was beautiful and tall, always the most striking and confident person in any crowd. “Wait for me!” She drained her glass of red wine in one gulp, then, a bit unsteady, made her way towards Zhou Minghao.

Tonight, she wore a black backless gown that accentuated her graceful figure; her long, wavy black hair cascaded over her shoulders, her features exquisite, her makeup flawless and alluring.

Not far from the main stage, Zhou Minghao stood chatting with others, his back to Xia Xi Yin.

She gazed at his tall silhouette, a smile tugging at her lips, and walked over with elegant poise.

“Director Zhou,” Xia Xi Yin said softly as she approached, her bright eyes shining. Emboldened by the alcohol, she gathered her courage and confessed, “I like you. Will you go out with me?”

Behind her, Shen Wei and the two colleagues filming the scene looked on in stunned silence, their jaws dropping in disbelief.

Zhou Yu An’s arm was lightly grasped by Xia Xi Yin’s hand. He looked at her flushed cheeks and nearly closed almond eyes, smiling at him so sweetly. He didn’t push her away, but smiled indulgently and agreed without hesitation.

“All right, let’s date.” His deep and steady voice was always so reassuring.

Xia Xi Yin hadn’t expected such an easy and satisfying answer. She raised her hands in triumph, cheering, “Yay! Thank you, Director Zhou!”

Afterwards, she turned to Shen Wei and the colleagues filming, asking, “Did you get it all?”

Shen Wei and the others wore expressions as uncomfortable as constipation, nervously glancing at Zhou Yu An, then back at Xia Xi Yin, hesitating before raising their hands and signaling “OK.”

“Thank you.” Xia Xi Yin nodded in satisfaction, and in the next moment, her body softened and she collapsed into Zhou Yu An’s arms, fast asleep.

Shen Wei and the two colleagues exchanged incredulous glances, dumbfounded, giving her a thumbs-up. “My god! Xia Xi Yin is amazing. Turns out the Director she likes is our big boss!”

In the presidential suite, the heater was on full blast. Xia Xi Yin lay on the bed in just a camisole, murmuring, “I want water.”

Zhou Yu An had just handed her dirty clothes to someone outside the door. Hearing her call, he shut the door and returned to the bedroom, propping her up with one hand and bringing her a glass of water.

She gulped down several mouthfuls before stopping.

She nestled deeper into his broad embrace, turned her head, squinting at him without speaking.

Zhou Yu An set the glass aside and let her lie down, meeting her gaze. “What are you looking at? Do you know who I am?”

Xia Xi Yin giggled, reaching out to wrap her arms around his neck, pulling him down until their faces were so close they could see each other’s eyelashes.

“Of course I know who you are,” she said softly, “you’re my boyfriend!”

Zhou Yu An’s lips curved in a smile, dazzling in Xia Xi Yin’s eyes. She couldn’t help but lift her head and press her lips to his.

The touch was cool and soft.

After a moment, she smacked her lips and muttered, “Feels pretty nice.”

She kissed him again, this time a little harder, rubbing uncertainly against his lips.

Zhou Yu An chuckled lowly, gently pinching her chin. “Silly girl, that’s not how you kiss.”

“Huh?” Xia Xi Yin opened her watery eyes wide, asking foolishly, “Then how do you kiss?”

Zhou Yu An showed her with action. “Here, like this.”

Their lips pressed together, Zhou Yu An parted her lips, his tongue seeking hers, meeting and entwining.

Xia Xi Yin’s already flushed face felt even hotter, her heart pounding wildly. The sensation was wonderful, thrilling, hard to resist. Though she felt shy, her honest body held him tighter.

That lingering kiss was like dry wood meeting a raging fire, and in an instant, they tumbled together. That tumble lasted all night.

In the morning, the alarm buzzed, waking Xia Xi Yin. Eyes still closed, her hand fumbled around. Instead of her phone, she touched something warm—and a bit firm.

She opened her eyes, confused, staring at her hand, realizing it was someone’s abs. Following the line up, she saw a man, eyes closed, sleeping.

“Ah—!” She screamed in shock.

Zhou Yu An was jolted awake by her cry, blinking sleepily at the panicked Xia Xi Yin.

“Zhou Yu An?” In her extreme panic, Xia Xi Yin blurted out the big boss’s name.

He frowned slightly, a bit grumpy from being awakened. “Why are you yelling? Don’t you recognize me?”

When he woke up, Xia Xi Yin hastily grabbed the blanket and wrapped it around herself. But as she pulled, Zhou Yu An’s naked body was revealed before her eyes.

“Ah—!” Another terrified scream.

She squeezed her eyes shut, covering her face with her hands.

“Director Zhou, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to look.”

She was mortified, wishing she could vanish, and nervously asked, “Director Zhou, can I ask, why are we in the same bed? And why aren’t we wearing anything?”

Zhou Yu An gave her a speechless look, got up, walked toward the bathroom, and said, “I don’t blame you for not remembering. I’ll tell you. Last night, I agreed to date you, and then, we slept together.”

For someone who had blacked out from drinking last night, those two simple sentences carried too much information.

A few seconds later, Xia Xi Yin regained her senses and let out a third, piercing scream.