Chapter 39: Am I Cute?
Xu Daji instantly fell silent, a layer of cold sweat breaking out across his back.
Somehow, he felt as though the name his grandmother had given him was secretly protecting him.
Thank goodness he had looked up before speaking.
One of his friends with the surname Wu had not been nearly as cautious and once cursed at the boss during a meeting. He later heard the man had suffered lasting trauma.
Now he panicked whenever he heard a ringtone.
Qin Zelin picked up his phone and saw that the message was from Cen Miao. He remembered that today was the day Cen Miao officially severed his adoptive relationship with the Cen family.
The little monster must be upset and looking to him for comfort.
He opened WeChat and found one picture and one voice message.
Qin Zelin tapped the picture.
An extreme close-up selfie taken from below instantly filled the screen, the camera practically pressed against Cen Miao’s face.
“…”
His small, upturned nose and rosy, moist lips occupied most of the photo. His cheeks were soft and plump, curving outward slightly, like a puppy that had accidentally wandered into the frame while lowering its head to sniff something.
It was unbearably cute.
Suppressing the urge to smile, Qin Zelin tapped the speech-to-text option beside the voice message, intending to see what the little monster had said.
But his fingertip slipped slightly.
The next second, Cen Miao’s distinctively soft, clingy voice rang through the tense conference room.
“Am… am I cute?”
“!!!”
Qin Zelin’s brow twitched. He hurriedly tapped the voice message, trying to stop it.
But he happened to press it just as the message finished playing, causing it to start again.
The soft voice echoed through the silence for a second time.
“Am… am I cute?”
Qin Zelin fell silent.
“…”
Everyone in the conference room: “………….!!!????!!!!!”
In the corner, the secretary taking meeting notes abruptly held her breath, so excited she nearly ripped the keyboard off the desk.
Cute!!!
He was unbelievably cute!!!
That soft, clingy little voice!
Oh my god. She had thought their boss was above worldly desires, but apparently, he had hidden a little cutie at home!
Even someone like her, who didn’t have a “chaser,” suddenly wanted to grow one after hearing that!!!
The conference room was silent as a graveyard.
On both sides of the long table, everyone desperately kept their expressions under control, yet their gazes darted everywhere. They wished they could bury their heads beneath the table.
Just then, Fang Huan spoke.
“Haha, advertisements these days are ridiculous. It’s so easy to tap one by accident.”
“Yes, exactly!” Xu Daji hurriedly agreed. “That happened to me the other day too! I accidentally opened an advertisement and nearly scared myself to death!”
He quickly changed the subject.
“President Qin, regarding the issue we were discussing just now, I suddenly have a new idea.”
Qin Zelin raised a brow slightly and smoothly set down his phone.
“Let’s hear it.”
Everyone in the meeting room instantly relaxed and wanted to give Fang Huan a thumbs-up.
“Yes, President Qin.”
Xu Daji could only bite the bullet and explain his still-underdeveloped idea. Fortunately, Qin Zelin seemed quite satisfied.
“Good. Refine and implement it according to that approach for now. We’ll end today’s meeting here.”
Once the meeting ended, everyone quietly and obediently filed out of the conference room.
The moment they left the floor, they all pulled out their phones in perfect unison.
Three minutes later, every Huanyu gossip group had reached 99+ unread messages.
Everyone had heard the same piece of news.
President Qin had a little cutie.
Inside the office, Qin Zelin opened the picture again and frowned in thought.
If he replied that Cen Miao was cute, would the little monster assume Qin Zelin thought so because he liked him too?
But if he denied it…
Cen Miao had only signed the agreement severing his adoptive relationship today and was probably secretly heartbroken. If the person he liked rejected him too, would he think no one in the entire world loved him and suffer an even worse PTSD episode?
Perhaps Qin Zelin should buy him his favorite strawberry cake tonight to cheer him up.
Still, he should praise him first.
Today was a special case.
There would be no next time.
[Qin Zelin] You’re quite cute.
A knock suddenly sounded at the door.
Qin Zelin set down his phone.
“Come in.”
Li Man entered the office with a folder in one hand and a small bag in the other.
“President Qin, these are the printed meeting minutes. I’ve also emailed you the digital version.”
“All right.”
Qin Zelin nodded. Seeing her conflicted expression, he asked, “What is it? Is there something else?”
“President Qin…” Li Man held out the small bag. “I made these chocolates myself as a Christmas Eve gift for my boyfriend. I made some extra to share with everyone. I thought… the little… family member at your home who likes beef jerky might enjoy them.”
Qin Zelin: “…”
The little monster was so heartbroken today. He would probably feel a little happier if Qin Zelin brought these home.
“All right. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, President Qin!”
After leaving the office, Li Man excitedly pulled out her phone and opened a group chat named [I Know the Taste of Gossip].
[Secretary Amanda] The boss definitely has a little cutie! I just said the person at home might like them, and he immediately accepted them!
[Secretary Amanda] My mom sends that beef jerky every year, and I’ve brought it in every year too. How come I never heard of his family loving it these past two years?!
[Receptionist Little Xu] I haven’t seen them or heard their voice, but I’m already shipping them so hard. What do I do?
[Secretary Amanda] Ugh, you people who weren’t in the conference room missed everything! That voice was so soft and clingy. They asked President Qin whether they were cute!
[The Universe’s Mightiest Little Fang] All I can say is that the little cutie is ridiculously good-looking. [Shh.jpg]
[Receptionist Little Xu] How good-looking? [Lecherous.jpg]
[Logistics Keke] Little Xu! Keep your underwear dry!
[Receptionist Little Xu] I have no obligation to keep it dry. [Underwear Flying Everywhere.gif]
[Engineer Xu, R&D] +1. You have no idea how! Adorable! That voice was! I can’t even make such a sweet, babyish sound when acting spoiled with my partner!!!
[Qiqi, Marketing] I’m declaring war on everyone lucky enough to attend today’s meeting! And on Little Fang, who has actually seen the little cutie!
A little after six that evening, Qin Zelin left the office and got into the car.
“Little Liu, stop at that dessert shop we visited last time.”
“Yes, President Qin.”
When Qin Zelin arrived home, Cen Miao enthusiastically welcomed him as expected.
His gaze remained fixed on the cake.
It… it was true!
Sending a picture and asking whether he was cute really did earn him cake!!!
“Hubby, I made dinner for you!”
Cen Miao smiled brightly and eagerly helped fetch his slippers like an attentive little puppy.
Qin Zelin: “…”
He was so upset, yet he had still cooked for Qin Zelin.
He must be afraid of affecting Qin Zelin’s mood, so he was forcing himself to smile.
The little monster was falling deeper and deeper for him.
Sigh.
After dinner, Cen Miao lowered his head and ate the cake Little Li had sliced for him.
Suddenly, inspiration struck.
He slowly lifted his head and puckered his lips, which were smeared with cream, at Qin Zelin.
Qin Zelin: “?”
“Wipe it with a napkin yourself.”
Cen Miao tilted his head in confusion and puckered his lips even higher.
Seeing Qin Zelin remain motionless, Cen Miao rose from his seat.
He had to work hard for his ten little cakes!
“Cen Miao, you—”
“Muah!”
