Chapter 74: Isn’t This Progress a Little Too Fast?

Wen Nan pulled up the attribute panel in his mind and immediately saw that the skill [Mind Reading] was active.

So, that gentle voice just now—was it the inner voice of the great CEO?

She appeared so cold and distant on the outside, yet her inner thoughts were softer even than her chest...

“That’s all for today,” Guan Ailin’s cool voice rang out. “This report, from beginning to end, not a single page is usable. Start over and redo it.”

Wen Nan nodded and agreed.

“I’ve always trusted your work,” Guan Ailin looked at Wen Nan’s profile. “Tell me the truth—why is it like this this time?”

Wen Nan paused for a moment, then replied with the excuse his junior sister had suggested earlier, “I worked too late last night and got a bit muddled…”

9527: [Attention, target ‘the extremely cold but soft-hearted female CEO,’ current favorability has dropped to: -30%.]

Wen Nan: ?

It can drop just like that?

While he was still thinking, Guan Ailin’s inner voice sounded again:

‘Senior brother truly is a guardian—still so dutifully taking the blame for junior sister, even now.’

‘He treats me like a fool to be lied to and a boss to be fought, but holds junior sister as delicately as a little flower in his palm…’

Wen Nan was stunned.

So, from the very moment he stepped into this office, he’d already made the wrong choice?

Guan Ailin had known from the start that this mess of a report wasn’t his work; the more he went along with her, admitting fault, the angrier she’d become.

But now that he’d taken the blame, trying to remove it might not only fail to increase Guan Ailin’s favorability, but also ruin things with junior sister.

There seemed to be no way to please both sides.

Wen Nan fell into thought, but the woman beside him spoke coldly, “Alright, you can go. If you haven’t rested, head back to the dorm and get some sleep. Come back to work once you’re well rested.”

Wen Nan turned to look at her delicate profile.

Guan Ailin’s beautiful, clear eyes were now fixed on the computer screen as she opened her email, ready to handle work matters. She didn’t spare Wen Nan even a single extra glance.

Wen Nan stood up, intending to say, “Then I’ll head out first and not disturb your work any longer.”

But before the words left his lips, that voice sounded again,

‘I told you to leave, and you’re really leaving?’

‘You truly…can’t bear to stay even a second longer?’

Within that soft tone, there was a trace of grievance and sorrow.

This…

Wen Nan was halfway to his feet, but now he plopped right back into his chair.

Startled by his sudden movement, Guan Ailin turned to him, “What are you doing?”

Wen Nan carefully chose his words, “I feel there are some things on my mind that I’d like to talk with you about.”

9527: [Congratulations, target ‘the extremely cold but soft-hearted female CEO,’ current favorability has risen to: -20%!]

Wen Nan: …

A negative twenty, yet the system sounds so cheerful.

But just one sentence, and favorability jumped up by 10%?

So, on the surface the aloof CEO seemed all about work, but deep inside, she simply wanted him to stay with her?

Well, that made things simple.

With such a promising start, the initiative was now his!

“What do you want to talk about?” Guan Ailin released the mouse and keyboard, leaning back a bit from the desk.

The chair wheels spun on the floor with a rumbling sound as she faced Wen Nan directly, resting her chin on one hand and crossing her legs—a posture reminiscent of a senior executive interviewing a new recruit.

This woman radiated presence; her every movement exuded a powerful pressure.

But—‘Something on his mind to talk about? Did he really just say he wanted to talk about what’s on his mind? Not a work report, not about junior sister, but…what’s on his mind!’

‘He must have some feelings for me, right? Even if just a little.’

‘Starting from that little bit, we could develop a relationship that surpasses the boundaries of superior and subordinate, and from that ambiguous phase, gradually move toward a true romance…’

Wen Nan: ?

He’d only said he wanted to talk about what was on his mind—how did this leap so quickly to establishing a romantic relationship?!

That soft inner voice was still rambling on, about to veer into indescribable territory, so Wen Nan cut her off,

“About the report just now—”

‘—The report! He wants to talk about the report!’

‘Still about work! Still about junior sister!’

‘(-----___-----)’

‘It’s just me overthinking it. He doesn’t have the slightest interest in me that way.’

‘Why would I harbor such unrealistic fantasies, thinking there might be something between us?’

9527: [Attention, target ‘the extremely cold but soft-hearted female CEO,’ current favorability has dropped to: -25%.]

Wen Nan: !

He’d only just started, hadn’t even finished half a sentence, and yet the favorability dropped another 5%?

Could he take back that half-sentence?

“What about the report?” Guan Ailin fixed her gaze on Wen Nan, pressing for an answer.

It seemed it was too late to backtrack.

Wen Nan braced himself and continued, “I just wanted to say, maybe I did make some mistakes and let you down, but it wasn’t out of personal motives to shield anyone.

“You’re my superior, and you oversee hundreds of people in this company—you understand better than I do how hard it is to lead a team.

“I’m not taking the fall for anyone. If someone in my team made a mistake, that’s my responsibility—I didn’t review things carefully enough, I didn’t teach well enough. That burden is mine by right.

“Rather than pushing someone from below into the spotlight, I’d rather step forward myself.”

At this, Wen Nan paused, looking seriously into Guan Ailin’s eyes.

‘This time, I shouldn’t have misunderstood, right? This wasn’t him making excuses for his team or speaking up for his junior sister, but him opening his heart to me?’

‘So, in his heart, I am still special, right?’

‘In his heart, I must be a little different from everyone else—even if just a little?’

9527: [Congratulations, target ‘the extremely cold but soft-hearted female CEO,’ current favorability has risen to: -15%!]

Looking into Guan Ailin’s eyes with deep sincerity, Wen Nan said,

“In my heart, unless it’s me, I can’t feel at ease letting anyone else come face you alone.”

After he spoke, the office fell silent.

A moment later, Guan Ailin replied, “Mm.”

Mm?

That was it? Wasn’t that a bit too cold?

But soon, that soft inner voice sounded again:

‘*(*)*Wow~’

‘Isn’t that a hint?’

‘Isn’t he saying I’m the most special one in his heart?’

‘He must have feelings for me!’

‘(v)’

‘I want to marry him, I can give him babies!’

Wen Nan: ?

Isn’t this… progressing a bit too fast?

(End of this chapter)