Volume One: Those Years I Was a CEO
Dating Needs Excitement
After the recording for 《Renewed Heartbeat》 ended, the two left Yunhai City and returned to B City. You Jiayi went directly back to the set of 《Gunsmoke Everywhere》, while Wen Nuan also went directly back to the Xu family’s old home1.
As soon as she returned home, Grandpa Xu hovered around Wen Nuan, constantly asking, “When are you going to bring Jiayi home?”
He’d watched the variety show’s livestream and had taken quite a liking to You Jiayi.
“When are you two getting married?” He wholeheartedly wished someone could keep Xu Wen Nuan in check. You Jiayi’s performance on the variety show fully demonstrated she could manage the unruly Wen Nuan; Grandpa Xu felt this girl was thoroughly reliable.
“You’re already pushing thirty2 and still not married?” Indeed, the Wen Nuan of this world was already 28 years old.
“I’ve seen her, that little girl3 is quite good; her character, personality, and looks are all quite good.”
If Xu Wen Nuan missed out on You Jiayi, she might not find such a fine young woman again later. Grandpa Xu was worried.
“You two hurry up and get married, and give me a grandson.” Grandpa Xu really wanted to hold a grandson. Wen Nuan paused for a moment. “How can two women give birth?”
Grandpa Xu quirked a corner of his mouth, stating proudly, “Science enables progress.”
Wen Nuan: “…..”
He really would stop at nothing.
The old man pestered Wen Nuan for a full three hours until finally, the butler came out and rescued her.
“Old Master, it’s time for your medicine and sleep. The doctor instructed you to maintain an early-to-bed, early-to-rise schedule.”
Grandpa Xu still wanted to keep Wen Nuan talking, “Hold on, I haven’t finished speaking yet.”
Wen Nuan shot the butler a pleading look.
The butler understood perfectly. “Old Master, if you don’t properly follow the doctor’s orders, then when Miss eventually has a child, how will you have the stamina to hold your grandchild?”
Grandpa Xu: “….Alright, I’ll go take my medicine and sleep immediately.” Holding his grandchild was something that absolutely had to be prioritized! Wen Nuan gave the butler a thumbs-up; the butler smiled and returned an “OK” gesture.
Back in her own room, Wen Nuan first freshened up, then handled the matters Wei Cheng had sent over.
A servant brought the prepared black tea to Wen Nuan’s room. “Miss, the black tea is ready.”
“Alright, thank you.” Wen Nuan accepted the tea and glanced at the time; it was already ten o’clock. “It’s getting late, you all should get some rest soon too.”
The servant smiled, “Yes, Miss.” Wen Nuan had already dealt with most of her work; the remaining items concerned the Xu Group’s annual meeting, requiring her final say. Looking over the several proposals Wei Cheng had prepared for her, Wen Nuan chose one she liked, sent it back to Wei Cheng, and decided to go with that plan.
The phone on the desk chimed—a WeChat video call. It was You Jiayi.
Wen Nuan answered and saw You Jiayi on screen, in the process of removing her makeup. A decorative hairpin4 was being carefully extracted from her hair by a makeup artist.
“Just wrapped up filming?”
You Jiayi aimed the camera at herself, smiling. “Mhm, just finished. I danced the tango today; the set’s dance teacher and the director both said it was great.”
Wen Nuan propped her phone against a nearby folder. “That’s good. I was worried the tango I taught you might affect your subsequent filming.” After all, one teacher was from the production team, the other an outsider. Different teaching styles leading to problems during You Jiayi’s shoot wouldn’t be good.
You Jiayi shook her head. “Not at all, I think—hiss…” The makeup artist was removing the hairpin; as You Jiayi moved her head, the artist’s hand faltered, pulling out a couple of hairs. The makeup artist immediately apologized, “I’m so sorry, so sorry, Teacher You, are you okay?”
“It’s nothing, it happened because I moved carelessly. I should be the one apologizing.” You Jiayi smiled at the makeup artist. “I won’t fidget anymore, please continue.” The makeup artist looked at You Jiayi gratefully and resumed removing the headpiece, her actions considerably gentler now.
Seeing this reminded Wen Nuan of a previous incident when You Jiayi was also removing makeup on set. A makeup artist, looking down on her lower status5, had always removed her accessories violently. You Jiayi’s hair had nearly been yanked bald by her, yet the poor girl had still forced a smile and thanked the makeup artist.
Wen Nuan had noticed the marks on her scalp and asked what was going on, but You Jiayi had just stammered and clammed up. So Wen Nuan investigated on her own and discovered that the makeup artist looked down on everyone6, constantly showed disdain for You Jiayi, fawned over the influential while stepping on the less powerful7, and was utterly two-faced8. This infuriated Wen Nuan. She directly told the director to fire that makeup artist from the crew, promising she would add an extra thirty million in investment for the production.
The director dealt with the makeup artist immediately. The artist assumed You Jiayi had engineered it and started trying to slander her online9. However, she then discovered all her social media accounts were frozen, and furthermore, details of all the unethical things10 she’d done in the past inexplicably surfaced online.
Ultimately, the makeup artist was so heavily criticized that she never dared to appear in the entertainment circle again. Many celebrities and production crews refused to hire her. She ended up returning to her hometown, opened a hair salon, and lived out her days in bleak obscurity.
Wen Nuan watched as the makeup artist finished removing the makeup and left. You Jiayi picked up her phone and headed towards her hotel; the filming location wasn’t far, only about a ten-minute walk away.
“I ordered you a late-night snack. It should be arriving at the hotel around this time. Check with the security guard at the entrance later to see if it’s arrived?” It was already past ten PM, and Wen Nuan, worried You Jiayi might be hungry after filming, had ordered her something to eat.
You Jiayi exclaimed in pleasant surprise, “You ordered me a late-night snack? What did you get?” She rubbed her stomach; she was indeed feeling a bit hungry.
Wen Nuan checked the order. “I got a shrimp claypot congee, some xiaolongbao, and custard buns. It’s enough for two people, share it with Shu Changning later.”
“Okay.” Ever since returning from the variety show taping, Wen Nuan had ordered delivery for her almost every single day, always from very famous restaurants too. A single order cost nearly five or six hundred yuan.
Shu Changning, who always got to freeload off the meals, would sigh over the power of capital while simultaneously looking forward to Wen Nuan’s daily deliveries, which allowed him to thoroughly satisfy his palate11.
You Jiayi touched her cheeks, feeling they’d gotten a bit fleshy lately. “You order delivery for me every day, I feel like I might have gained weight?”
“It’s good if you gain a little weight,” Wen Nuan said, recalling how thin the female lead had looked when they first met. “You’re too skinny, you should eat more.”
“That’s true, I should eat more.” You Jiayi smiled, her expression somewhat thought-provoking12 and earnest. “Otherwise, it won’t feel comfortable when you hold me, right?”
Wen Nuan: “……” Here we go again!
Wen Nuan had lamented more than once—how could a single kiss, albeit a relatively passionate one, have unlocked You Jiayi’s audacious13 flirting, and why did it always flip the switch that made her blush and her heart race?!
The System sighed: 【Host, ever since that time you were so impressive14 kissing the female lead, how come you’ve started losing steam? The female lead has teased you several times now, and you haven’t pushed back.】
Wen Nuan: “……” Was it that she hadn’t pushed back? She had pushed back! She’d just failed, that’s all.
The System offered a suggestion: 【Host, after all, I gave you so, so many tutorial videos back then, plus you know combat martial arts. Even if we can’t fight back verbally, we can use physical force to suppress her!】
Wen Nuan: “……”
【Go for it! Push down the female lead, let her experience what ‘yielding softness’15 really means!】 the System urged, filled with righteous indignation.
【Go for it! Suppress the female lead, let her understand what a ‘seven-times-a-night man’16 is!】 the System declared, its voice sonorous and forceful.
【Go for it! Conquer17 the female lead, let her know what motor-like hips18 and boulder-like thighs19 are!】 the System declared, raising its metaphorical hands, its aspirations soaring20.
Veins throbbed on Wen Nuan’s forehead, the atmospheric pressure around her plummeting. She growled lowly, “…..Get lost!”
The System, still excited and impassioned, continued: 【Host, let us be strong! Let’s not be oppressed people! Unfreezing points are calling to us! Eliminating the blackening value is calling to us! A carefree retirement life21 is calling to us! Let us row our—】
Wen Nuan directly hit the mute button, setting the duration for 24 hours. Mute reason: Promoting unhealthy behaviors and thoughts such as pornography22 and violence, severely impacting the task taker’s work. Requesting the main system impose mute penalty. The System was forcibly muted.
Wen Nuan instantly felt the world become much quieter and cleaner.
You Jiayi, seeing Wen Nuan freeze up, assumed it was network lag. She quickened her pace back to the hotel and collected the late-night snack Wen Nuan had ordered from the security booth. Once inside the hotel, she called out again, “Wen Nuan?”
Wen Nuan, having just muted the noisy and crude System, heard You Jiayi calling her and immediately replied, “Hm? What’s wrong?”
“Ah, the connection’s finally stable. I thought you’d frozen up just now.” You Jiayi held up the delivery bag. “The food’s arrived.”
“Mhm, that’s good. You and Shu Changning go eat first.” Wen Nuan was about to end the video call.
You Jiayi quickly asked, “Can I call you again after I finish eating?” She didn’t want to disconnect from Wen Nuan just yet.
“Alright, but not for too long. You need to rest early.” Wen Nuan remembered You Jiayi had morning scenes the next day.
You Jiayi smiled, “Okay.” Hanging up the call, You Jiayi sent Shu Changning a message, saying she’d wait for him in the tenth-floor lobby to eat. Less than a minute after sending it, she heard the sound of someone running frantically closer and an excited query from the distance.
“What deliciousness did President Xu order today?” Shu Changning skidded to a halt before You Jiayi, eyes glued to the delivery bag in front of her.
“…..” You Jiayi was perpetually impressed by Shu Changning’s sheer intensity when it came to mealtime. “Today it’s claypot congee from Yu Pin Xuan23, plus custard buns and xiaolongbao.”
Shu Changning exclaimed in astonishment, “Yu Pin Xuan?!” Seeing him so surprised, You Jiayi asked curiously, “What’s special about Yu Pin Xuan?”
Shu Changning already knew that Wen Nuan always ordered from well-known restaurants; they’d been eating her deliveries together for several days now. So why was he suddenly so astonished today upon hearing it was congee from Yu Pin Xuan?
Shu Changning stared at the characters printed on the clay pot, confirming it was indeed Yu Pin Xuan’s congee. “Yu Pin Xuan never does delivery, and their congee is always available in limited quantities,” Shu Changning said, glancing at his watch. “It’s currently 10:15 PM. Yu Pin Xuan only operates until noon each day, then they close. So there’s absolutely no way they’d be open at this hour, let alone doing deliveries.”
You Jiayi paused. “Is Yu Pin Xuan really that incredible?”
“Mhm, they’re famous for their medicinal cuisine24. Plus, I heard the ancestors of the chef who makes the congee were imperial chefs25 in the palace—super skilled.” Shu Changning took a spoonful of congee, his eyes squinting in pleasure. “Whoa, this is f%cking delicious! No wonder it’s Yu Pin Xuan!”
You Jiayi also took a bite. The plain congee was soft, glutinous, fragrant, and sweet; the shrimp were succulent and chewy. Combined, the texture was simply divine26. “It really is amazing,” You Jiayi exclaimed.
“Naturally! Yu Pin Xuan’s congee is incredibly hard to buy; some people have to queue up before dawn for it. I have no idea how President Xu managed to get this?” Shu Changning sighed. “But on second thought, given President Xu’s abilities, wanting some congee from Yu Pin Xuan probably isn’t that hard for her.”
“Should I ask Wen Nuan?” You Jiayi took out her phone.
“No need. She bought it for you, just eat it. I still get to snag a few bites this way. Sometimes, in a relationship, asking too many questions can make you seem overly controlling,” Shu Changning advised.
You Jiayi paused, asking uncertainly, “…..Really?”
Shu Changning popped a large shrimp into his mouth. “This is your first time dating someone, isn’t it?”
You Jiayi nodded. “Mhm.”
“Well, there you go! Listen to your Bro. Bro has, shall we say, navigated the dating scene for many years,” Shu Changning raised an eyebrow. “Bro understands best how couples should handle romance. Listen to Bro, and I guarantee you’ll have President Xu wrapped around your little finger, unable to escape!”
You Jiayi nodded emphatically. “Mhm, okay, Shu-ge, I’ll listen to whatever you say.” After all, among the people she knew well, only Shu Changning had actually dated before; he must know a lot.
Shu Changning, munching on a custard bun, said smugly, “A woman like President Xu has seen far too much of the world. So, the style she prefers is actually quite easy to guess. It’s…” He cleared his throat and crooked his finger, gesturing for You Jiayi to lean in.
You Jiayi leaned closer, her big eyes wide with a thirst for knowledge.
“Didn’t I tell you before? With someone like President Xu, you need to learn to take the initiative, and also learn how to tease her. Because the type President Xu likes is… innocent outside the bedroom, but wild in it27.”
You Jiayi’s face instantly flushed crimson.
Shu Changning continued, “You need that ‘gap moe’28, see? That’s the only way to firmly hold onto a kite like President Xu. You’ve got to keep that kite string grasped in your own hand, sometimes letting it loose, sometimes reeling it in, making her unable to get enough of you29, her feelings for you impossible to quell—that’s the true essence, got it?”
Blushing shyly, You Jiayi nodded and whispered, “….I understand now.”30
“Haha, learn well, little sis! Shu-ge will definitely help you conquer President Xu, that cash cow31, haha…” Shu Changning laughed, greatly excited.
Around eleven PM, You Jiayi initiated another video call. Wen Nuan answered while sipping her black tea.
When the video connected clearly to show the scene of You Jiayi taking a bath, Wen Nuan sprayed out a mouthful of black tea.
“Pfft—“
F%ck!
How stimulating!
✨ Unlock Early Access to Chapters! ✨
Choose your perfect membership at bamboopandatl.net:
📚 Full Access ($4.99)
• Advanced chapters of ALL ongoing novels
• Access to complete finished novels
• Ad-free reading experience
📖 Single Novel Access ($1.49)
• Advanced chapters of ONE specific novel
• Ad-free reading for chosen novel
PayPal is the only current payment option!