Chapter 11 – Two Tyrannical CEOs Fight Over Me!

An Zao let out a relaxed laugh. “It’s getting late. You should head home too.”

Acting as though nothing had happened, An Zao waved goodbye to Yan Dun with a gentle expression. He looked so harmless, as though mentioning the “three coffee incidents” had merely been casual small talk.

But Yan Dun felt like he was walking on thin ice.

Boss Zao definitely thinks there’s something seriously wrong with me, right? Either my character is flawed or my brain is.

Customer Service-kun replied:

Not necessarily, Dear Customer. Maybe he thinks both your character and your intelligence are flawed?

Yan Dun: “……”

Thinking about it, that was probably true. An Zao had likely already categorized him as:

“Some idiot who refuses to properly do secretary work and instead spends all day using pathetic little schemes to climb the social ladder.”

Customer Service-kun added helpfully:

Would you like us to assign you “Parkinson’s Syndrome,” Customer? That would perfectly explain why your hands shake so badly you can’t even hold coffee properly.

Yan Dun: “…Even if I’m the ‘universally adored protagonist bottom,’ I don’t want to enter the terminal-illness storyline this early. Thanks.”

Yan Dun staggered home in a daze. Before he could figure out how to “clear his name” in front of An Zao, sleep defeated him completely.

By the time he woke up, it was already time for work again, leaving him no opportunity to think about romance strategies.

When he arrived at the company, he looked exhausted and lifeless. An Chi looked just as miserable.

For years, An Chi had proudly considered himself a steel-straight man and mocked Hua Daimao as a “shit-stirrer.” Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined he himself came from an entire “family of shit-stirrers.”

Depressed beyond words, An Chi grabbed Yan Dun and asked:

“You already knew my whole family was gay, didn’t you?”

Yan Dun hurriedly replied, “Where did that come from? I mean… I haven’t even met that many members of your family…”

“That’s true.” An Chi nodded, then suddenly asked seriously, “Then do I look gay to you?”

“…”

Seeing how serious he was, Yan Dun answered honestly:

“Yes.”

“…”

An Chi froze.

Honestly, it wasn’t even about whether he “looked” gay. Yan Dun simply believed that in a BL fanfiction world, tyrannical CEOs had a 100% chance of being gay.

Sensing the atmosphere turning strange, Yan Dun quickly changed the topic. Looking over the schedule, he asked:

“So… are you still going to the blind date dinner Director An arranged?”

An Chi thought for a moment. “Might as well go take a look.”

And so began their bizarre blind-date journey.

Within a month, Yan Dun had already accompanied An Chi on seven or eight matchmaking meetings. Since An Chi still hadn’t figured out his orientation, some candidates were men and others women.

But regardless of gender, An Chi liked none of them.

According to the rules of tyrannical-CEO novels, wealthy heiresses hoping to marry into the male lead’s family inevitably lost all dignity and common sense. They behaved like women who had never seen a man in a hundred lifetimes, completely lacking the pride and elegance expected of socialites.

The only woman capable of maintaining normal human pride and restraint in front of a tyrannical CEO was naturally the heroine.

And the heroine…

…was, of course, Mary Sue.

Yan Dun led An Chi into the restaurant’s private dining room. Upon seeing the person sitting there, he nearly jumped.

Why are you everywhere?!

An Chi frowned at the woman before him. “You are…?”

Yan Dun blurted out in shock, “Isn’t this Mary Sue?”

Mary Sue nodded. “President An and Secretary Yan still remember me.”

Yan Dun became even more confused.

“Didn’t you say… you were a poor student working part-time to support yourself?”

In other words: how did a poor student become An Chi’s blind-date partner?

Besides, before arriving, Yan Dun had already read the information sent over. He’d been told he was meeting Miss Bai from the city’s prestigious Bai family. How had it become Mary Sue?

Mary Sue explained:

“I’m actually the Bai family’s biological daughter who was lost many years ago. We only reunited recently.”

Then she slowly recounted her life story:

When Mrs. Bai gave birth, the babies had somehow been switched at birth—

Yan Dun no longer even questioned how a wealthy woman delivering in a VIP private hospital suite could possibly swap babies with a family too poor to afford medical insurance.

Whatever. It was all just setting logic.

Thus, the daughter the Bai family had raised all these years turned out to be fake.

The real heiress was actually Mary Sue.

After understanding the full story, Yan Dun nodded and asked:

“So from now on, your name is ‘Bai Lisu’?”

Bai Lisu nodded.

Only then did Yan Dun notice that An Chi had remained silent the entire time. He realized he himself had been chatting enthusiastically with his boss’s blind-date partner and hadn’t given his boss any chance to speak.

Awkwardly, he turned to An Chi.

“Haha, what a bizarre coincidence, right? President An, don’t you have any questions for Miss Bai?”

“I do,” An Chi answered.

Bai Lisu looked at him shyly.

An Chi asked:

“So does this mean you won’t be tutoring Jiangchen anymore?”

“……”

Neither Bai Lisu nor Yan Dun had expected that to be his first concern after hearing such a dramatic backstory.

Apparently, An Chi truly cared deeply about his cousin’s academic performance.

After that, An Chi didn’t ask anything else. He showed zero curiosity about Bai Lisu’s absurd life story and focused entirely on Chen Jiangchen’s studies.

“Do you think he can get into X University?” An Chi asked. “Everyone in our family has to get into X University. Otherwise it’s embarrassing.”

X University was the most prestigious university in this novel’s setting—not somewhere ordinary people could enter.

Although Chen Jiangchen was intelligent, his acting career had caused him to miss too much coursework. Getting into X University was realistically impossible.

Bai Lisu answered honestly:

“It’ll probably be difficult.”

An Chi sighed deeply.

“Then I guess we’ll have to donate another library to X University.”

Bai Lisu and Yan Dun both fell silent.

Life really was like a game: pay money and become stronger.

Thinking this was An Chi’s blind-date meeting, Yan Dun decided not to intrude further. He made up an excuse and quietly slipped out to await further instructions.

This wasn’t the first time he’d accompanied An Chi on a blind date. Usually, Yan Dun would escort him to the venue and then leave under some pretense, allowing the two participants private time together.

About fifteen minutes later, if An Chi failed to text him, that meant An Chi wasn’t interested.

At that point, Yan Dun was expected to reappear in the private room and pretend:

“President An, there’s an urgent company matter requiring your attention.”

Thus giving President An a graceful excuse to leave.

As Yan Dun wandered out, he wondered:

Will Mary Sue finally succeed in capturing An Chi this time?

The restaurant used for An Chi’s matchmaking was extremely private, located within an exclusive art center. Outside the restaurant was a breathtaking rooftop garden.

Whenever waiting for An Chi, Yan Dun liked strolling there.

As he walked, he stared at his phone.

Not because of anything important—

He was staring at An Zao’s contact information.

A month had passed since they last met. Yan Dun desperately wanted to flirt with him, but because he hadn’t yet “cleared his reputation,” he still didn’t dare message him.

Naturally, An Zao had no reason to message him first either.

And so things remained awkwardly frozen.

“What am I supposed to do…” Yan Dun sighed miserably.

“Isn’t this Secretary Yan?”

A familiar tyrannical-CEO voice suddenly sounded.

Turning around, Yan Dun frowned slightly before forcing a smile.

“President Hua. What a coincidence.”

Hua Daimao looked as flamboyant as ever: purple shirt, tight pants, broad shoulders, narrow waist. Holding an amber-colored drink, he approached with a grin.

“You came here for dinner too?”

Yan Dun answered, “I came with President An. I should be leaving soon.”

Hua Daimao smiled.

“I gave you my business card ages ago, yet you’ve never called me once.”

Yan Dun blinked.

Honestly, he had completely forgotten.

Why would I randomly call you? Are you customer service?

Smiling politely, Yan Dun replied:

“I’ve kept your card the whole time. It’s just that President Hua is an important person. I was afraid of disturbing your peace.”

Hua Daimao laughed.

“No worries. Since we happened to meet today, it must be fate. Let’s have a drink and chat.”

Yan Dun still remembered that Hua Daimao was the kind of terrifying man who could casually commit every crime in the criminal code while smiling. Naturally, he wanted to avoid prolonged interaction.

So just as he prepared to repeat:

“I came with President An and should really leave now”—

the system voice suddenly rang out in his head:

Triggered plot event: Drink with Hua Daimao.

Yan Dun had no choice.

So he ended up drinking with Hua Daimao at the rooftop garden’s open-air bar.

Sitting in wicker chairs, watching the garden scenery while sipping cocktails, the atmosphere was actually rather pleasant.

After only a couple drinks, Yan Dun received a call from An Chi.

The moment he answered, An Chi demanded:

“Why aren’t you back yet?”

Helplessly, Yan Dun explained:

“I ran into President Hua at the rooftop bar. He dragged me into having a few drinks…”

“What? That flirtatious gay guy dragged you drinking?!”

An Chi’s voice shot up immediately.

“I’m coming over right now!”

Yan Dun sighed helplessly.

Then the system rang again in his head:

[Triggered plot mission: Guide two tyrannical CEOs into fighting over you.]

Yan Dun was stunned.

Fight over WHAT now?!

Before he could recover, Hua Daimao suddenly leaned forward, his breath almost brushing Yan Dun’s cheek.

“Secretary Yan, what are you spacing out about?”

Yan Dun snapped back to reality and realized Hua Daimao’s sharply sculpted face was absurdly close.

Instinctively, he leaned away.

“President Hua—”

But Hua Daimao suddenly wrapped an arm around Yan Dun’s waist.

“Secretary Yan’s waist is so slim.”

Yan Dun was horrified.

Is this sexual harassment?!

Before he could react, An Chi arrived.

His face still carried that familiar expression of “the entire world owes me eight million yuan.”

Hua Daimao smiled lightly.

“President An came too?”

As he spoke, he released Yan Dun’s waist.

Yan Dun immediately stumbled several steps backward.

An Chi’s brows twisted so tightly they looked ready to knot.

“What exactly are you doing grabbing my secretary?”

Hua Daimao smiled lazily.

“President An must be joking. This is a society governed by law. Why would I detain anyone?”

Hearing Hua Daimao say the words society governed by law felt deeply ironic to Yan Dun.

Just as he nearly laughed, the system buzzed loudly again:

[Please immediately guide the two tyrannical CEOs into a physical fight.]

HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO GUIDE THAT?!

Yan Dun panicked.

How could anyone possibly make this happen?

Customer Service-kun appeared elegantly:

Would you like to activate AI assistance?

Yan Dun was completely lost.

Though he distrusted this artificial idiot intensely, he had no other options.

Activate it.

Customer Service-kun:

Activating AI Auto-Navigation.

Meanwhile, An Chi was still angrily interrogating Hua Daimao:

“Then what was with touching Little Yan’s waist?!”

And suddenly, Yan Dun lost control of his body again.

The sensation was bizarre.

Like a puppet manipulated by invisible strings, he stood up trembling and burst into tearful sobs:

“President Hua was sexually harassing me! Waaah!”

An Chi exploded instantly.

“HUA DAIMAO YOU BASTARD!!”

Roaring, he swung a punch straight at Hua Daimao’s face.

Hua Daimao was startled too, but as a highly experienced criminal-law enthusiast, his reflexes were excellent. He blocked instinctively.

Unfortunately, blocking only made An Chi angrier.

One punch became another.

And another.

Soon Hua Daimao got angry too and started fighting back.

Thus the two impeccably dressed tyrannical CEOs began reenacting Mortal Kombat in elegant suits beneath the romantic moonlight of the rooftop garden.

Yan Dun watched in complete shock.

Then the system chimed:

Please deliver the key dialogue.

At this point, Yan Dun didn’t even need the system anymore. He already knew exactly what line he was supposed to say:

“Stop fighting! Please stop fighting!”

Hearing this classic Mary Sue line come out of his own mouth made Yan Dun want to die from embarrassment.

Still, he didn’t dare physically intervene.

After all, according to the setting, tyrannical CEOs possessed terrifying superhuman strength.

Readers of CEO novels all knew this:

Tyrannical CEOs casually crushed wine glasses barehanded, splintered wooden desks, and sometimes even crushed mobile phones with their grip strength.

Their punches were no joke.

And the only thing stronger than a tyrannical CEO…

…was an even more tyrannical CEO.

At that moment, the supreme tyrannical CEO of the entire novel finally appeared.

“Have you made enough trouble?”

Under the dim yellow lights, An Zao slowly emerged from the shadows.

Unfortunately, neither fighting CEO paid him any attention.

An Zao didn’t seem embarrassed. He merely gave a glance to his assistant.

The assistant nodded immediately, grabbed an ice bucket, and dumped it over both men.

Suddenly drenched in freezing ice water, An Chi and Hua Daimao finally regained their senses.

Just as they were about to explode in anger, they turned and saw who it was.

The Supreme Tyrannical CEO.

Immediately, neither dared make a sound.

Instead, they awkwardly laughed.

“Oh… you’re here too?”

An Zao smiled gently as always.

“What are you two doing?”

Hua Daimao and An Chi both choked.

Honestly, neither could clearly explain why they had suddenly started fighting.

Reasonably speaking, both were highly respected figures. Even if angry, they shouldn’t have publicly brawled like this.

An Zao’s gaze drifted lightly over Hua Daimao and An Chi before finally landing on Yan Dun.

The look made Yan Dun feel icy cold all over, as though he too had been soaked by the ice bucket.

An Zao smiled.

“Honest Yan, you tell me. What are they doing?”

Yan Dun swallowed hard.

“They… are exercising.”

Hua Daimao reacted quickly and immediately followed along.

“Mm. We just learned some new combat techniques and were sparring a little.”

“Yes,” An Chi added stiffly. “Exactly.”

But An Zao merely asked:

“Weren’t you on a blind date? How did it turn into a martial arts competition?”

Since the blind date had been arranged by An Zao himself, An Chi couldn’t openly admit he disliked the girl.

So he answered:

“I happened to run into President Hua outside, sparred a little, and now I’m heading back.”

Then he turned to Yan Dun.

“Come on, Little Yan. Let’s go back together.”

But An Zao said:

“You’re on a blind date. Why bring your secretary?”

An Chi replied immediately:

“I’m taking him away so President Hua can’t bully him.”

Hua Daimao looked annoyed but suppressed it, only snorting coldly.

“I have no interest in troubling a mere secretary.”

“You know exactly what you did!”

An Chi became even angrier at Hua Daimao’s refusal to admit anything.

Yan Dun felt utterly trapped and rubbed his aching forehead.

An Zao raised an eyebrow slightly. Though his habitual smile remained, he finally looked faintly displeased.

“So you two fought over Secretary Yan?”

Hua Daimao and An Chi both fell silent.

And silence was basically confirmation.

An Zao’s smile deepened.

“You’re both influential figures capable of shaking the country with a single step, yet today you fought publicly over one little secretary.”

His eyes curved slightly.

“Secretary Yan certainly seems important.”

“Absolutely not!”

Yan Dun denied it at lightning speed.

But because he sounded too panicked, it only made him look guiltier.

Inside, Yan Dun was dying.

Boss Zao definitely thinks I’m some manipulative little seductress now—flirting with everyone and even provoking his younger brother into fighting.

“Come.”

Still smiling, An Zao looked at Yan Dun.

“I’ll drive you home.”

Seeing that charming smile, Yan Dun felt cold sweat run down his spine.

For some reason, he had the terrifying feeling that An Zao’s “I’ll drive you home” was actually shorthand for:

“I’ll send you to the afterlife.”