Reborn: The Return of the Villainous Mr. Liu

"You seem to have gelled with the others pretty well," Zixin commented as they walked towards the IT department.

Guiying shone. "Yes. They are so friendly and welcoming. They don't make me feel like they are department heads at all. Everybody is so nice."

Zixin nodded in appreciation. He mentally checklisted to increase their salary and reward them for making Guiying happy. But there was a point of grievance that he still needed to address.

"Mr. Xun Da seems particularly close to you," his gaze ever so lightly stung with displeasure. "Even to the point of holding your hand."

Has he forgotten that he has a wife and kid? Zixin frowned. Maybe I shouldn't give him the raise.

Somewhere Xun Da sneezed. "Achoo!"

He rubbed his nose, sniffling. "Is anybody talking about me?"

Guiying clapped her hands once in delight. "He was thanking me for giving him my signature for his daughter. Kind of like an autograph. He said she is my reader so it really made her happy."

Zixin sulked.

There is still no reason to be so intimate with you. His daughter should hold your hand, not him.

A question mark popped on top of her head, not understanding the source of his concern. By then, they reached the IT department and everybody working and chilling on their desks lost their footing as soon as Zixin came into their view.

The CEO is here!?

They immediately straightened their posture and glued their eyes on their laptop with a completely professional atmosphere.

Is this some surprise test visit? And he came with the newbie!

Guiying reached out at one desk and politely asked, "Hello. I am Cai Guiying. My laptop was submitted here. Can I collect it?"

The young man normally wouldn't have a problem to speak but with the CEO's figure looming behind her, he found his throat going dry.

"Umm…your laptop, right? Yes, yes! It's all done! L-Let me get it for you…"

He ran inside a room as if an apocalypse was coming. Guiying felt the strange stares pointed at her and stress-filled silence.

Is it only me or everybody looks so tense?

She looked at Zixin and it occurred to her.

Ah! I have been roaming around with the CEO. Of course, they would be rattled!

She coughed. "S-Sir, I think you had some work at IT, right?"

"Yes."

"Okay."

Some time passed but Zixin still didn't budge from his place.

Shouldn't you be off to what you were supposed to do here? She inwardly sweated.

"So please go ahead, Sir."

"It's okay. I will wait with you here," his black eyes gleamed with a golden warmth.

Guiying and the IT staff - "..."

Did our department always shine so much? Why is it suddenly so bright?

"Did you see? Did you see? CEO Chen wants to wait with his new assistant!" A woman whispered to her colleague sharing the desk with her.

"He even personally came with her!"

"Is he already falling for her charms? The newbie is quite fast!"

"Just look at him how he is watching her so warmly," another woman cried. "When was the last time my husband looked at me that way? CEO Chen is so cute!"

"It's a surprising side we are seeing today!"

Guiying lacked tears to shed. It was evident that she was now the center of attention. She simply glued her eyes on the young man's desk as if she heard nothing and was only waiting for her laptop.

Ahhh when can I leave?

"What a surprise to see CEO Chen here."

A voice echoed from their back side and they turned to see Zheng Jiao standing with her arms folded at her chest and staring at Zixin with her raised brow.

Miss. Zheng is here!

The IT staff cheered and rejoiced. Now that the department head was here, they felt their nerves soothing.

On the opposite spectrum, Guiying turned stiff by her presence. Her gaze fell pensive and she struggled to smile.

Can I really get my laptop and leave from here? She cried internally.

Zixin nodded. "Just wanted to check on some things with you."

"Oh my. In that case, I would have visited your office. Why would you take the trouble of personally coming to my department?" She indirectly threw Guiying a side glance without actually meeting her gaze. "I believe your time is very valuable and precious."

Guiying's brow slightly twitched.

Doesn't she mean that his time is too precious to be wasted on me?

"My new assistant wanted to collect her laptop. We met on the way here."

Guiying stared at him, dumbfounded.

You asked me to accompany you here, yet you lied so smoothly!

Zheng Jiao smiled. "You didn't have to take the trouble, Miss. Cai. I would have sent someone to deliver your laptop. Or maybe I would have visited myself. I have something to discuss with the CEO anyway."

"No, no," Guiying quickly said, "It's my fault that the new laptop broke so soon. I am really very ashamed."

Zheng Jiao narrowed her eyes for a moment.

"No worries, Miss. Cai," she smiled with understanding. "Accidents happen."

The young man sprinted back with Guiying's laptop and huffed breathlessly. "Your laptop, Miss. Cai. It's all fixed. I will keep your ticket for some more days just in case you face any issue again."

Finally!

"Thank you so much!"

She grabbed her laptop and swiftly turned on her heels.

Yes, time to escape!

She hardly took two steps when Zheng Jiao interrupted her escape plan.

"Miss. Cai."

She froze and with great courage, met her gaze. "Y-Yes?"

Zheng Jiao chuckled. "Take more care of your laptop. It's very important you protect it from harm."

She blinked once.

"And I guess I will see you soon again," she smiled.

Guiying failed to understand her implications.

Why do I get this bad feeling?

She shook her head, shedding away the creeping negativity.

Maybe she is just trying to scare me because I rejected her offer before. Everything is going smoothly. I have even prepared everything for Miss. Xian's investment meeting tomorrow.

Everything will be alright.