Chapter 24: The Junior Who’s Always Thinking About Girls

“Whew… the weather forecast says this rain won’t stop until tomorrow morning…”

Li Chunsheng scrolled idly on his phone, waiting for lunch break to arrive.

“Trouble… I left in too much of a hurry and forgot an umbrella.” He felt annoyed. He’d resolved to save every penny for Senpai’s ID, even skipping lunch. Buying an umbrella at the convenience store now would undo that.

But he didn’t want to come home late and see Liu Xia looking anxious like yesterday.

“Maybe… ask Senpai to bring one?” Li Chunsheng opened the messaging app, eyes landing on the recently added contact.

The avatar was flowing clouds against a blue sky; one of the defaults, but it suited Liu Xia perfectly.

Her old phone number and accounts were unusable after “that incident.” So she’d used his computer to register new ones for contact.

“Wait!” Li Chunsheng slapped his forehead as a key point hit him. “I… I haven’t taken Senpai to buy a new phone yet?”

Then a worse realization: he’d never given Liu Xia pocket money.

The image formed in his mind: a bird with clipped wings, confined in the cage called “home.” Without his protection, she couldn’t take a step. She could only depend on him completely, like a little bird clinging to him.

“Yeah… she can only rely on me completely… if I…”

A fleeting fantasy flashed through like lightning, making Li Chunsheng’s heart race in a way he found… thrilling?

No no no, what am I thinking?! He shook his head hard, trying to fling out the dangerous, disrespectful thought about Liu Xia.

“I’m going crazy. Really crazy.”

This sweet yet dangerous feeling must never reach Senpai. Thinking about it secretly was fine… no, not even secretly!

“Speaking of which, I’m starving.” The growing emptiness in his stomach made time drag unbearably; a long afternoon still ahead.

He buried his head on the desk, hoping sleep would numb the hunger.

As for Mu Shengling’s lunch invitation, he was dead set on refusing.

Not out of excessive pride, but because gender boundaries in this world were far stricter than his previous one.

Women here rarely showed kindness to men of similar age or status, let alone lower.

Because such kindness was seen as a bestowal. If a man accepted, he had to uphold knightly morals and swear to protect that “princess.”

As a “knight,” he’d be bound by unspoken rules of loyalty.

No law enforced it, but society universally accepted it. Violating “knight spirit” meant universal scorn; “dishonorable husband” shame.

To outsiders, accepting Mu Shengling’s kindness would be climbing the social ladder, great luck. But Li Chunsheng didn’t want those restrictions.

As he drifted off, the office suddenly grew noisy, interrupting his rest.

“What’s going on?” He lifted his head groggily, only to realize the commotion centered on him.

“Iron Rock Bro, Iron Rock Bro!” A nervous but respectful rookie guard whispered.

“Sorry for disturbing your break, Iron Rock Bro…”

“It’s fine. So what’s up?” Li Chunsheng was puzzled. In this company, almost no one dared interrupt his naps unless something huge happened.

Before the rookie could speak, a nosy colleague jumped in.

“This kid came running up saying some super pretty maid is downstairs asking for you by name, and… and she said you’re her ‘master’?”

Laughter erupted around them.

“Hahaha; this rookie must’ve misheard. What young master with a personal maid would work security here?”

“Exactly. Total newbie; can’t even relay a message right and woke Iron Rock Bro. He’s gonna get it~” someone teased. The rookie flushed red and protested, “I didn’t mishear! The maid really said Iron Rock Bro is her master!”

“No way. Too fantastical. What family has maids? Someone like that wouldn’t be a guard.” No one believed him.

But soon the laughter died as they saw the strange, shocked expression on Li Chunsheng’s face.

“No way…” The same thought hit everyone.

Hearing the rookie’s words, Li Chunsheng’s mind exploded.

“Senpai… she came herself?! It’s pouring outside! Cold and wet! Even with an umbrella she’d get soaked!”

“And she doesn’t have a cent; did she… walk here? From home to the company, even by bus it’s nearly half an hour!”

Just then, the office door opened softly. The crisp click of high heels approached. Mu Shengling, seeing lunch break had arrived, came gracefully to invite Li Chunsheng as promised.

“Good afternoon, President!” Colleagues stood and greeted respectfully.

“Chunsheng, you must be hungry~” Mu Shengling’s voice was soft and charming, her usual sharp demeanor replaced by a gentle smile. “Shengling ordered a Central Diocese-style specialty lunch set from Ruijing Hotel. It’s delicious~”

Noticing everyone staring at her and Li Chunsheng, Mu Shengling felt victory in her grasp, a subtle curve at her lips.

In front of everyone, if Li Chunsheng accepted her kindness, he’d never escape her palm.

What was it called again? From the romance novels she’d read lately; “domineering president’s forced love”?

Watching Li Chunsheng stand and walk straight toward her, Mu Shengling thought she should be more proactive too, taking a few steps forward.

The distance closed.

Mu Shengling’s red lips parted, voice soft. “Chunsheng…”

The next moment, the scene she imagined; Li Chunsheng accepting; didn’t happen. His steps accelerated as he neared, brushing past the expectant young lady like a gust of wind, heading straight for the elevators without looking back.

The office fell dead silent.

Only Mu Shengling stood frozen, expression stiffening, face gradually turning livid, and the suddenly tense atmosphere with everyone hushed like cicadas in winter.

At that moment, Li Chunsheng’s eyes hadn’t registered the nearby Mu Shengling at all. From start to finish, only one thought, one figure filled his mind!

“Senpai! I’m coming!”