Chapter Two: The Interview

Liu Yiran.

CEO of Yeliu Group.

The company had two major lines of business.

Top-tier enterprise advertising and marketing.

Managing influencer IPs.

Recently, they had just acquired a VR company and were in the process of applying to join the Metaverse Association, hoping to use virtual reality to boost the company’s performance.

Ruiheng Tower.

All thirty floors of this building belonged to Yeliu Group—a testament to the fact that his eldest sister was now a famously wealthy woman.

Ye Qiu straightened his clothes, crisp and neat, with a touch of charming handsomeness. He was sure that once his elder sister saw him, she’d be so impressed she’d fall at his feet—figuratively speaking—even if he was just wearing jeans.

As soon as he entered Ruiheng Tower and before he even reached the front desk, Ye Qiu saw two security guards escorting a sleazy-looking man out, followed by the security chief, who was cursing under his breath: “No appointment and you still want to see President Liu? Throw him out!”

So fierce?

“Hello.”

The receptionist stood up and nodded politely. “Which floor are you headed to?”

Ye Qiu glanced at the man and then at the imposing security chief. If he didn’t have an appointment, would he be thrown out too?

He’d wanted to surprise his sister.

He could force his way in, but that would be far too improper.

While he hesitated, another young woman approached the front desk. “Hello, I have an appointment for the influencer interview.”

“All right, please show your ID and we’ll register you.”

That easy?

Ye Qiu watched as the woman received a temporary pass and walked in. He hurried to say, “Hello, I also have an appointment for the influencer interview.”

The receptionist looked Ye Qiu over. “All right, please show your ID.”

Ye Qiu had a feeling her gaze lingered on his abdomen for quite a while.

It’s just eight-pack abs, after all.

He took his pass and had just passed through the turnstile when he heard the receptionist sending a voice message: “Congratulations to the influencer division—there’s a handsome guy with eight-pack abs coming up.”

Are people these days really so open?

He followed the woman into the elevator. She pressed 17, while Ye Qiu pressed 32.

The woman cast a surprised look at Ye Qiu. Wasn’t he here for the influencer interview? Why was he going to the 32nd floor?

Ah.

Another guy wanting to get close to Liu Yiran.

He looks decent enough, but to think he wants to live off a woman—off Liu Yiran, no less. Doesn’t he know how many lechers Liu Yiran chases out of her office every year? Someone like you, all style and no substance, thinking Liu Yiran would spare you a glance? Pure wishful thinking.

Ding.

The elevator reached the 17th floor. The woman snorted lightly, swaying her voluptuous figure as she exited.

Ye Qiu raised an eyebrow. Was that snort directed at him?

What’s her problem?

Fortunately, as the elevator climbed higher, Ye Qiu grew more eager to see his sister and didn’t give it much thought.

Ding.

The elevator stopped at the 32nd floor. As the doors slowly opened and Ye Qiu was about to step out, a waft of delicate fragrance swept toward him.

A light blue women’s suit accentuated her tall, athletic figure, yet did nothing to diminish her graceful allure. Especially her jet-black hair, cascading like a waterfall, and her cherry lips, set on a face as delicate and lustrous as jade. There was an indescribable charm about her.

Ye Qiu was stunned.

Not because the beauty before him was so enchanting, but because his sister, in person, was even more beautiful and real than in any holographic image. He couldn’t help but call out, “Big—”

“Looking for trouble, are you?”

Liu Yiran’s expression changed dramatically at the sound of that first syllable. No one had ever dared tease her like that. In a blink, her left hand blocked the closing elevator door, and as the doors opened, she flipped Ye Qiu over her shoulder.

Ye Qiu was caught off guard, his body arching back slightly as he instinctively supported her at the waist, preventing her from gaining leverage.

Liu Yiran was instantly furious. In her twenty-nine years, no man had ever laid a hand on her. She’d sworn as a child that only one person would ever be allowed to touch her.

Burning with rage, Liu Yiran didn’t care about exposing her back to her opponent. She braced her feet and pushed him backward until he was against the elevator wall. Taking advantage of the brief contact between his body and the wall, her left hand shot toward Ye Qiu’s eyes, while her right moved in for a monkey steals the peach strike.

So close.

If something happened to that peach, big sister would ruin her own happiness.

With one move, Ye Qiu subdued Liu Yiran and said helplessly, “Sis, you’re a bit rough, aren’t you?”

“Who’s your sister?”

Liu Yiran was trembling with anger.

Mainly, the current position was too awkward.

Ye Qiu had restrained her from behind, and with her curves pressing forward and back, the two were practically glued together. Their struggling and writhing inevitably led to some friction.

“Sis, it’s me, Ye Qiu—your little Leaf is back.”

Liu Yiran was momentarily dazed.

The name Ye Qiu might be common, but only her sisters ever called him Little Leaf.

“Ah! The president’s being attacked! Someone, help!”

“Wait—”

Liu Yiran was about to call her assistant back, but the elevator doors were already closing, her assistant’s screams echoing faintly from outside.

Ye Qiu let go of Liu Yiran, scratching his head awkwardly. “Sis, what a scene.”

Liu Yiran gazed at Ye Qiu, her deep, dark eyes glazed with a misty sheen.

Yes.

He’d grown up, but she could still see the traces of childhood in his features.

Only now, he was even more handsome, exuding a masculine aura.

“Stupid Leaf, what took you so long to come back?”

Liu Yiran could no longer contain her joy and threw herself into Ye Qiu’s arms, her tears quickly soaking his shirt.

Ye Qiu’s nose tingled with emotion.

Ten years had passed. He’d become the underground boss of a foreign land, yet in front of his sister, he was still the same little boy.

Ye Qiu silently vowed he would protect his sister for the rest of his life.

“Let go of our president! We’ve already called the police!”

The elevator doors slid open, revealing a dozen fully armed security guards. The ones in front leveled steel forks at Ye Qiu, eyes locked on him.

“It’s a misunderstanding. Disperse.”

Despite being all tears and laughter in front of Ye Qiu, her girlish side on full display, in the company Liu Yiran was always stern and authoritative, every gesture exuding the air of a true boss.

“President, don’t worry, we’ve called the police. He won’t get out of the building.” The security chief raised his steel fork at Ye Qiu. “Let go of our president. If you so much as harm a hair on her head, we’ll never forgive you.”

Ye Qiu draped his arm casually over Liu Yiran’s shoulder. “Sis, your guards need better eyes.”

“Wang Qiang, this is my brother.”

Wang Qiang glanced at Ye Qiu, then at Liu Yiran.

Crack.

It was as if he’d just heard something shatter.

Everyone else looked on in disbelief. This was the cold and noble president, the one countless high-ranking officials’ sons had chased after to no avail. She had never spared any of them a kind word, yet now she was letting a pretty boy drape his arm over her shoulder, even showing a hint of bashfulness on her cheeks. It was simply unfathomable.

Crack.

The sound of more hearts breaking.

Countless hearts.

Shattered.