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When Jiao Jiao arrived at Li Qian's office, she was awestruck by the magnificence of the building. Rising skyward, the tower dominated the other buildings around it, with an imposing 'Li Group' printed on the side.

She entered the lobby and walked through the busy crowds, everyone striding purposefully to their destination in finely tailored outfits. Jiao Jiao was the only anomaly, a tiny wisp of a girl in a navy and maroon school uniform with thigh-high socks and black Oxford shoes. No one paid her any attention, though, not until she reached the reception desk.

"Hello, may I help you?" The calm woman at reception raised her eyes to see a beautiful young girl peeking at her.

"I'm here to see Li Qian. Could you let him know I'm here?"

The receptionist laughed. "You know who President Li is, correct?" Jiao Jiao nodded honestly. "Then you know it's not that easy to meet with him. Do you have an appointment?"

Jiao Jiao shook her head and replied, "No, but he's expecting me. He told me to meet him here."

"Oh really? Prove it then."

Jiao Jiao pulled her phone out of her pocket and switched it on. When the screen didn't light up, she looked up in confusion. "Ah, my battery must have died."

The receptionist scoffed meanly. "Okay, little girl, you've had your fun. You must have seen President Li's photo in the magazine article that came out last month? Damn, this is the third girl this month I've had to shoo away, thanks to that stupid article."

Suddenly, the door to the CEO's elevator dinged open, and Chen Fan hurried out, muttering, "Shitshitshitshitshit, Jiao Jiao!"

His face lit up when he saw her standing at the reception desk, and he rushed to her side. He glanced at the receptionist and said, "Thank you, I'll take it from here," then led Jiao Jiao to the private elevator.

Jiao Jiao giggled and said lowly, "She doesn't seem to like me very much."

"It's nothing against you. Actually, an article came out a month ago featuring the top five bachelors in Shanghai. We've been mobbed by women throwing themselves in the boss's way ever since. Ai, it's been nothing but a headache!"

As the elevator rose, he added, "You know some of the other guys, too. Yuan Ming and Song Junhui were both on the list."

"Ooh," Jiao Jiao fawned, "How did a girl like me get so lucky? And what about you, Chen Fan? You certainly must have been on the list, too!"

The pair were laughing heartily when the elevator doors slid open. Li Qian had been waiting there impatiently, and his heart dropped like a stone when she turned to face him and her smile fell.

'So, I'm the problem,' he thought. What the fuck had happened?

"That's all, Chen Fan." Li Qian stalked away with clenched fists, and Jiao Jiao followed him after an apologetic look.

Although he was moving quite quickly, Jiao Jiao couldn't help but take in the office. The neutral walls were interspersed with full-length glass panels, allowing glimpses into the various offices and meeting rooms that lined the corridor.

A constant buzz of activity seemed to swell slightly as they passed, and hushed conversations in Mandarin and English overlapped in a cacophony of sound. It appeared the office gossip train was running full steam ahead, and Jiao Jiao saw heads pop up over dividers and outside office doors with eyes wide in disbelief.

She picked up her pace to catch up with Li Qian, who was near the end of the corridor, and as her nerves were about to burst, he opened a door and she slipped inside. With her hand on her chest, she leaned against the wall and closed her eyes.

"Is it just me, or did it seem like everyone was staring?"

"Oh, I'm sure everyone was staring. They've probably never seen Li Qian with a woman, let alone someone that looks like you."

Jiao Jiao's eyes popped open at the sound of the chuckling voice. "Song Junhui? What are you doing here?"

Li Qian had already rounded the desk and was tapping aggressively on his keyboard. "That's my question too. We've barely seen you for over ten years, and now I can't seem to get rid of you."

His pointed comment rolled off Song Junhui's back, and he leaned back into the couch with a knowing smile.