Volume 1, Chapter 67: Wife, You Are So Beautiful

Lin Chen opened a spreadsheet on his computer and began listing the live-streaming equipment he had taken note of at the broadcasting base during the morning.

The equipment across the entire broadcasting base was far from uniform.

After asking quite a few questions, Lin Chen discovered that the equipment required for each category was actually completely different.

Right now, he was compiling the statistics.

Jiang Yao mulled it over for a moment before catching on. "You went to the live-streaming base today?"

"Mhm."

"Hehe, I heard that place is packed with influencers, but I've never had the time to go. How many did you shoot? Hand over the photos so I can take a look!"

"Shoot my foot!"

Lin Chen rolled his eyes. "What's there to see?"

Most of those influencers only looked good on camera. Seen in person, not a single one of them could compare to Xu Mi.

Even if you gathered them all together, they wouldn't equal a fraction of Xu Mi's beauty.

Jiang Yao looked puzzled. "That's not right. Leaving beauties unappreciated just to focus on work—are you really that kind of guy, kid?"

Lin Chen curled his lips. "What else? Unlike you, is my brain only filled with thoughts of pretty girls?"

At this, another thought crossed his mind. "Right, let me warn you first. Although I've given you the authority to recruit people, you are not allowed to mess around."

"The people we hire need to be capable of real work. Don't just stare at people's appearances, especially for streamers—we have to choose those with actual ability. Just being pretty won't cut it!"

Since he had taken over this department, he had to do a good job and make something of himself.

Only by doing so could he make money to support Xu Mi.

To take a step back, even if he didn't work at this company in the future, all of this would count as valuable entrepreneurial experience!

Jiang Yao became somewhat displeased. "So in your eyes, your brother is the kind of person who forgets all righteousness for the sake of beauty? How about I go buy the supplies and you handle the recruitment?"

As he spoke, he even raised his hand in a vow. "I swear, I definitely won't take any kickbacks!"

Listening to him, a flash of inspiration struck Lin Chen.

Xu Mi had mentioned that she previously worked in medical aesthetics. Wasn't that a perfect professional match for the company?

Since he was hiring people, why not arrange for her to join the company directly?

When the time came, he could casually assign her any position, allowing them to sit in the same office every day, commute together, and face each other day and night. Wouldn't that be wonderful?

Speaking of facing each other day and night, he could simply make Xu Mi his secretary, chase this punk Jiang Yao off to another office, and then lock the door...

Some kind of office romance play...

Lin Chen chuckled to himself.

Jiang Yao felt goosebumps break out all over his skin watching him. "What on earth are you thinking about, kid? Let me tell you, I have a girlfriend!"

Lin Chen made a retching gesture and spat, "What is going through your warped mind! I was thinking about recruiting people!"

"Recruiting people?"

A thought occurred to Jiang Yao. "Holy shit, the person you want to recruit wouldn't happen to be a secretary, would she?"

"How did you know?"

"Who do you think I am? We've been brothers for all these years. I know you better than anyone else in this damn world!!!"

Jiang Yao raised his middle fingers. "I don't even need to ask to know that you're definitely thinking of that famous saying right now."

Lin Chen was momentarily stunned. "What famous saying?"

"'When there's work, the secretary does it; when there's no work, you do the secretary'!"

"Go to hell! Talk nonsense like that again, and you can forget about being deputy manager!"

"No, please don't! Father figure, I was wrong!"

...

After a busy afternoon, Lin Chen couldn't wait to head home the moment work ended.

When he arrived home, Xu Mi was still fast asleep.

It seemed she really had been exhausted from walking around all morning.

Lin Chen tiptoed out of the room, carefully closed the door behind him, and headed straight to the kitchen.

Half a pot of porridge from Aunt Zhou's cooking at noon was still left, so he turned the stove right on to heat it up.

Then he rummaged through the refrigerator and found some leafy greens and a small piece of pork belly.

The household fridge only contained fruits. As for vegetables, Aunt Zhou always brought fresh ones whenever she came.

Fortunately, there were still some leftover vegetables from lunch.

Lin Chen deftly prepped the vegetables, heated the oil, tossed in the pork, and rendered out the fat before pouring the excess oil out, only then adding the greens.

Greens stir-fried this way possessed both the savory aroma of meat and avoided being overly greasy, making them the most refreshing and appetizing accompaniment to rice.

Just as the greens hit the wok, Xu Mi woke up.

Hearing the commotion outside the bedroom door, a wave of panic washed over her.

When she was sick, her day-night cycle was constantly inverted. She would lie awake the entire night and sleep deep into the daytime.

In the early stages of her illness, her mother hadn't known and would frequently scold her for turning day into night.

As a result, discovering that she had slept through the entire afternoon triggered her instinctive fear of being scolded.

Yet, a second later, she collected her wits.

This was her and Lin Chen's home. Lin Chen would only pamper her and would never utter a single word of reproach.

Thinking of this, Xu Mi couldn't help but smile, though she felt her face grow warm.

Clearly no longer a young girl, she was still acting like one, feeling an overwhelming sense of happiness simply from being doted on by her other half...

At that exact moment, a soft knock came from outside the door.

Lin Chen's gentle voice called out, "Wife, are you awake?"

As he spoke, the door pushed open.

Xu Mi gave a start and instinctively closed her eyes to pretend to be asleep.

Hearing the footsteps draw closer, she grew tense while feeling a trace of self-annoyance.

If she had known, she should have just answered that she was awake. Why did she suddenly pretend to be asleep?

Now things had become quite awkward.

The room had no lights on, pitch-black and impossible to see through.

Lin Chen switched on the bedside lamp, its soft glow casting a golden veil over Xu Mi's face, making her already flawless features appear breathtakingly beautiful.

Even the Sleeping Beauty of fairy tales could hardly compare to this.

"Wife, you're so lovely..."

Lin Chen murmured with a sigh of admiration, unable to resist leaning in close to press a kiss to Xu Mi's lips.

Feeling his breath draw near followed by the soft touch of his lips, Xu Mi instantly blushed crimson, making her even more terrified to open her eyes.

Fortunately, it was merely a dragonfly-touch-the-water kind of kiss.

Reluctantly, Lin Chen straightened up and gently patted Xu Mi. "Wife, time to get up and eat."

Though he deeply wished not to disturb her sweet dream, he worried her body couldn't handle going without food.

Only then did Xu Mi pretend to just wake up, asking in a drowsy voice, "What time is it?"

"Just past seven."

Lin Chen smiled fondly. "Get up and have some dinner before you go back to sleep!"

"Mhm."

Xu Mi nodded, looking somewhat sheepish. "You go on out first, I'll get up."

Even though she slept in pajamas and had woken up alongside Lin Chen countless times, she still felt a flutter of embarrassment at this moment.

Lin Chen laughed softly. "We've hugged and more, yet you're still shy?"

"You're still talking!"

"Alright, alright, I'll stop. I'm heading out, hurry up and wash up!"

Lin Chen stepped out of the room, considerately pulling the door shut behind him.

Xu Mi finally let out a breath of relief and sat up.

Then, she couldn't help raising a hand to touch her lips.

The warmth of Lin Chen still seemed to linger there.

Clearly, this was far from their first kiss, yet every single time still set her heart fluttering in waves.

Xu Mi sat dazed for a moment before getting up, changing into casual loungewear, and heading out to freshen up.

Lin Chen had already dished out the porridge and was sitting by the dining table waiting for her.

"It smells so good!"

Xu Mi took a deep breath, gazing at the plate of greens. "Did you make this?"

Lin Chen nodded, looking rather pleased. "Pork lard-crisp stir-fried greens—this is my signature secret skill, you're definitely going to love it, wife!"

Xu Mi blurted out as a knee-jerk reaction, "Isn't this your mom's favorite dish?"

The moment those words left her mouth, the air froze instantly.

Lin Chen lifted his gaze to look at Xu Mi.

As their eyes met, panic was mirrored in both of their gazes.