I went to the bathroom and splashed some cold water on the back of my neck to calm down.

It was almost noon when I opened the food delivery app.

Suddenly, Felix appeared next to me, glancing at my phone screen. "You're slacking off again at work!"

"Boss, listen to my defense... I mean, my explanation." I gave an awkward smile.

Felix looked at me like I was hopeless. "Forget it. Just redo the Lumina Ltd. report."

Who the hell works on weekends? Whoever wants to, can!

Felix seemed to remember something and turned back after walking a couple of steps. "I want the first draft by noon tomorrow."

That damn miser, that vampire capitalist squeezing every last drop of labor.

Why do I have to work on a beautiful weekend?

I stared up at the sky in silence.

"Ping." My phone buzzed with a message notification.

"Why so quiet?"

"Not satisfied?"

I glanced at my phone and saw the chat with my partner.

In frustration, I sent a message: "God, what is going on with you?"

How did Felix turn into this?

"Not satisfied."

"Extremely dissatisfied." I angrily slammed my fingers on the keyboard and sent my reply.

Then Felix sent over several pictures of his abs.

"How about now?"

Damn, Felix, you're really wild.

I glanced over at Felix, who was sitting stiffly in the office.

Is this really him, the one chatting with me now?

I cautiously typed out a question, "By the way, aren’t you working today? How do you have time to take photos?"

"I am. I took them after my workout this morning." Immediately after, I got another message from him, "What about you?"

"I'm working, and being exploited by the capitalist!"

Felix went silent, and I decided to drop the topic. Time to eat.

Though Felix is a slave driver, the company has fairly relaxed rules.

I usually bring my breakfast to work; since Felix always arrives at 10, he never catches me eating breakfast.

By the time I’d done some light work, it was already time for lunch. Lunch plus a two-hour nap—ensuring my rest was top-notch.

When I woke up from my nap, I saw Felix wandering around my desk, his gaze wandering aimlessly.

"Uh, Elara, don’t worry about the Lumina Ltd. draft for now. Just finish the first draft by Wednesday."

A living Buddha? A sudden act of mercy?

"Okay, boss. Your command is my duty." Couldn't resist taking advantage of this rare opportunity.

I logged into the work Facebook on my computer and into my personal, ranting Facebook on my phone.

I glanced at Felix, who was labeled as my "chat buddy." Ah well, I couldn't outdo him. Not by a long shot.

"Elara, did you see? The company is spreading some love," Mia reminded me to check the company group chat.

I quickly checked my computer. In the company's gossip group, the receptionist had posted about Mr. Vance, who was even tighter than Felix, treating everyone to coffee—at Pearl Cafe no less.

Nothing like being handed a pillow when you're already half-asleep. I couldn’t help but feel tempted when I saw the Pearl Cafe promo poster. Without thinking, I posted a status on my personal account.

"Didn’t expect to get an afternoon tea from the company today."

"Do you think it’s a bribe? Maybe they'll make us stay late afterward?"

"Grey, shut up. I’m already pissed about working on the weekend."

"(Petting head JPG) Grey, even if they don't offer you coffee, they can still make you stay late."

I joined in with the others in the chat.

"Elara, you heartless thing. (Crying emoji)"

The group was filled with playful chatter, all eagerly waiting for the coffee delivery from Pearl Cafe.

The receptionist sent a playful message. "Ding! Please come to the front desk to pick up your coffee and enjoy the afternoon tea."

We all headed to the front desk to grab our coffee. "Did they release any new items? The latest one?"

"Mr. Vance took it."

As the messages in the group kept scrolling, I looked up to see Felix walking toward me with a cup of coffee in hand. "Focus on the planning materials! Stop wasting time chatting."

I was momentarily stunned as I took the cup of new coffee from him, still a bit dazed. "Boss, this is unfair. I’m busy too, you know!"

"You're the most free!" He shot me a glance and walked off.

Is that it? I thought it was going to be another long lecture.

Just came to drop off a cup of coffee?

Could it be that my alternate account saw my post?

I pressed my pounding heart, shaking off those dangerous thoughts.

It was clearly just a small gesture of warmth from a stingy boss.

I was about to argue when I received a message from my best friend, Sophie. Never mind, no need to rush into feeling bad.

“Elara, Elara, come out, I’ve got some juicy gossip.”

A barrage of familiar emojis flooded my phone, ding ding ding.

“On my way (waiting for the drama).”

“Cough, cough. A few days ago, I got a love consultation from a guy we’re calling King Arthur. Super rich, super impressive.”

“Go on, go on.” I was intrigued.

She works as a relationship consultant online, and often shares some ridiculous, hilarious gossip with me.

But we have our principles — just enjoy the drama ourselves, because we have to protect our clients' privacy.

Still, I’ve always thought, these days, people who seek love advice are just hopelessly love-struck, right?

“He added me on the first day, didn’t ask anything, just sent a two-hundred yuan red envelope. Let’s call him King Arthur for now.” I could feel Sophie’s excitement through the screen.

“I just followed my usual routine and asked him what kind of person he was trying to pursue. He shyly said she liked looking at handsome guys. So I asked, ‘Aren’t you handsome?’ He confidently said he was, and then added that he might be her boss, so their chats were all about work. I suggested he switch accounts and add her through another contact. I have no idea where he found it, but yesterday, he successfully added her.”

“A pure love warrior,” I muttered.

“The thing is, this morning. This morning, he messaged me asking what to do because the girl asked for a picture of his abs. Obviously, I told him to send it. But she wasn’t happy with it. So I said, ‘Send more, be bold, girls love seeing that stuff.’ Sure enough, she started chatting with him.”

The pattern felt familiar.

“Then he asked how to give the girl something she wanted to eat in front of other people. I said, ‘You’re King Arthur, buy it for everyone, and no one will suspect anything.’ He said that would make it too ordinary. I told him, ‘Just find an excuse and give it to her alone.’”

Yeah, that sounded more familiar.

“I don’t believe it. Unless you send me proof,” I challenged, and Sophie, unable to resist, sent me a screenshot.

That familiar profile picture. Comparing the two, it was practically identical.

If my jaw could hit the floor, it probably would have.

Elara, you’re done for.

So Felix knew it was my account?

Busted. I had hidden it so well.

The shock lasted for two days.

The panic kept me from replying to any of Felix’s messages.

I couldn’t face him, really.

Such a shame about those stunning abs, though.

But once I thought about Felix’s face… goodbye. Couldn’t do it.

That is, until Wednesday when I had to submit my work.

“Boss, the initial draft for Lumina Ltd. is ready.”

Workplace rule: Never show off your extraordinary talents, extra abilities, or your ability to finish tasks ahead of schedule.

So, submitting my drafts at the last minute is my specialty.

“You're really punctual.”

“Just average,” I humbly replied. “By the way, if there’s nothing urgent this afternoon, could I take a half-day off?”

“No plans. You’re free to go for half a day,” Felix said, looking up at me. Our eyes met. “But what are you taking time off for?”

I quickly averted my gaze, feeling a little guilty. “A blind date.”

“A blind date!?” Felix raised his voice, almost losing control of it.

“Boss, let me explain. I’m a young woman, beautiful and charming, but my family keeps seeing that I don’t have a partner and has set up several blind dates for me.” I shrank under Felix’s unfriendly gaze, my voice getting quieter. “I’ve always turned them down before, but this time, I really can’t avoid it!”