You Must Marry Me! - Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Yan Yiyun was startled awake, her mind freezing, unsure of what to say.

After asking that question, Qi Zhen noticed the look on Yan Yiyun’s face as if she had startled her and quickly added, “Sorry, no one’s sitting here. Feel free to sit wherever you like.”

She really didn’t know what had come over her—Yan Yiyun gave off a strangely familiar feeling. But she was the future president, after all. How could they possibly know each other? Maybe she just looked like someone she used to know.

Qi Zhen lowered her head and focused on her oden, a bit annoyed at herself.

What she’d said just now was seriously overstepping.

Regardless of Yan Yiyun’s position—even if she were just a regular colleague—they’d only met once in the break room that morning. How could she question where someone was going?

But Yan Yiyun smiled instead and replied, “I just stepped outside and realized there was nowhere to sit, so I came back to eat here.”

Qi Zhen nodded. So the young lady had originally planned to eat in the garden, but found that the business park was nothing but a concrete jungle, with not even a proper gazebo. So she came back.

“I see,” Qi Zhen said. “Most of us just eat here after buying our food.”

Yan Yiyun took a bite of her oden. It tasted like the countless convenience store versions she’d had before—nothing particularly exciting.

But being able to sit and chat with Qi Zhen made even convenience store oden seem flavorful. Yan Yiyun smiled. “Why are you having this for lunch? You’re not going to the cafeteria?”

“I brought lunch from home,” Qi Zhen replied warmly. “This is just a snack.”

She wasn’t one for deep friendships, but if someone spoke to her nicely, she wouldn’t be rude. And Yan Yiyun looked pleasant—clean, sincere—not like the snide types she was used to. Qi Zhen didn’t mind chatting a bit more.

Qi Zhen had entered the company through an internal referral, which had already stirred some quiet discontent. Her first twenty years of life had been privileged, and she wasn’t good at pretending to be friendly with people. Her natural pride made her avoid socializing too much, and over time, whispers began to surface in her department.

At first, she tried to explain herself, but eventually, she gave up. She had only taken this job at an entertainment company to support her family after giving up her dream of running an art studio. There was barely time to work, let alone gossip.

She preferred having a warm bowl of oden in a convenience store. The store clerks had no stake in her life and spoke to her with genuine friendliness.

Yan Yiyun curiously asked, “Is the cafeteria food not good?”

“It’s fine,” Qi Zhen replied with a smile, eating the last piece of cheese rice cake in her cup. “Pretty tasty. But someone at home makes food, so I just bring it along.”

Hearing that made Yan Yiyun think back to the dishes in the cafeteria: the potato and beef dish was mostly just potato, and the tomato and egg dish was all tomato. She gave Qi Zhen a knowing smile.

Qi Zhen probably thought the cafeteria food wasn’t good but didn’t want to say it directly, so she just said she brought her lunch.

Still, if someone at home made her food, it sounded like she was well cared for—a pampered, cherished child. Qi Zhen had always been eye-catching and vibrant even back in kindergarten, and apparently, she still was.

Yan Yiyun’s lips curved into a smile. Starting tomorrow, she’d bring lunch too and eat with Qi Zhen.

“Where do you eat your lunch?” she asked. “I want to bring mine too.”

Qi Zhen hesitated and then answered, “The break room.”

Yan Yiyun fell silent as well. She’d thought the company would have a designated lunch area for people who brought food, not just the break room?

Seeing her expression, Qi Zhen guessed that the young heiress probably had no experience eating in break rooms. She added, “The microwave has been broken lately, so you can’t even heat up your food. Maybe it’s not worth it.”

Hopefully, that would discourage her from coming to the break room too.

Their company wasn’t like those fancy international firms with bright, spacious break areas. Under President Yan’s management, Xingyun Entertainment still had the aesthetic of a state-owned company from the 2010s. The cafeteria was basic, the break room was a cramped corner by the stairs, and the only reason they even had a coffee machine was because the employees petitioned for it. Before that, there was only a jug of weak black tea and a kettle of boiling water, like a train station waiting room.

Yan Yiyun had studied abroad for years—how could she stand that?

Yan Yiyun thought back to the break room she saw that morning. It was a bit cramped, nothing like the café-style lounges at school. Definitely not a good place to chat.

But she hadn’t expected the microwave to be broken. How many days of cold food had Qi Zhen eaten before finally advising her not to bring lunch?

Something tugged painfully in Yan Yiyun’s heart. Why would Qi Zhen rather eat cold food than go to the cafeteria? The cafeteria wasn’t that bad, was it?

She wanted to ask, but the moment her eyes met Qi Zhen’s, she was stunned by the warmth and distance in those eyes.

Qi Zhen was indeed gentle and kind—but she also kept everyone at arm’s length.

They weren’t close enough to talk about things like this.

After finishing her last fish ball, Yan Yiyun watched Qi Zhen put down her skewers and smile at her. “I’m done. Want to head back together?”

Warm, polite, flawless.

Yan Yiyun followed her out, tossing her cup into the trash. She nodded, and even though she knew Qi Zhen was just being courteous, she still felt a flicker of excitement.

The company building was only a short walk away from the convenience store.

Walking beside Qi Zhen, Yan Yiyun had a perfect view of her slender shoulders, graceful neck—like a swan’s. Her collarbones were delicately defined, and a small pendant lay gleaming between them.

Qi Zhen wore a simple gray blouse, sleeves rolled to the elbows, her slim waist and long legs accentuated by a dark gradient skirt that revealed only her fair, round ankles. She had a quietly striking beauty.

Yan Yiyun, with her trained eye for aesthetics, instantly imagined her in more vibrant outfits. But thinking about how distant they still were, and how she couldn’t actually style her, made her a bit unhappy.

In the elevator, Yan Yiyun snuck glances at Qi Zhen and made a quiet vow: once they got closer, she had to dress her up in lots of pretty clothes—real-life “Love Nikki” style.

A beauty like this, untouched and raw, was one in a million!

The elevator was quiet, just the two of them. Yan Yiyun’s heart itched to start a conversation.

But Qi Zhen’s demeanor clearly said: We’re not that close.

Yan Yiyun’s thoughts swirled—memories of their first meeting in the sunshine; her lonely nights overseas; sneaking a peek at Qi Zhen through the glass of the design department on her first day; the coffee that morning; their chat just now…

So many tangled thoughts. Finally, one stood out—the microwave.

Qi Zhen had said the microwave was broken, and that she shouldn’t bother bringing food.

But she didn’t say she wouldn’t keep bringing her own food.

Which meant Qi Zhen probably wouldn’t go to the cafeteria.

Then Yan Yiyun remembered: her office had a fully equipped lounge.

Maybe she could invite Qi Zhen to eat there?

The elevator display ticked up floor by floor. As they neared the design department level, Yan Yiyun finally gathered her courage and said:

“Qi Zhen, why don’t you come eat in my office tomorrow?”

Qi Zhen was taken aback. What the…?

She hadn’t even done anything! Why had the future boss not only snatched her cup but now wanted her to eat in her office?

What was going on here?

Yan Yiyun waited nervously for a reaction. Seeing Qi Zhen visibly surprised, she hurried to explain, “I just meant… I have a microwave in my office.”

She added, carefully choosing her words, “HR dropped the ball on this. I’ll make sure it gets handled going forward.”

Hearing her reasoning, Qi Zhen felt a little more at ease. Her plans to compete for an internal promotion weren’t a secret among the leadership. The company was due for younger management, and maybe Yan Yiyun—new to the role—was trying to win people over?

Still, she really did seem to care about the staff.

Qi Zhen knew she should refuse. The old her definitely would’ve.

Having lunch in Yan Yiyun’s office carried implications far beyond “just using the microwave.”

Even if she were a department head, frequent visits to the boss’s office would invite gossip. People would assume they were close, that Qi Zhen was Yan Yiyun’s right-hand woman.

Any future decisions made by Yan Yiyun—whether Qi Zhen agreed or not—would be attributed to her support.

She’d be labeled as “Yan Yiyun’s person.”

But Qi Zhen had always maintained neutrality. She just wanted to do her job and support her family. She didn’t want to get dragged into corporate power plays.

And yet… Yan Yiyun wasn’t someone she could afford to offend.

Those innocent, unaware eyes, framed by fluttering lashes, knew nothing of hardship.

The dull ache in her stomach flared up again, a reminder: she couldn’t keep eating cold food. Her family couldn’t afford for her to get sick.

Qi Zhen tasted the bitterness of compromise.

The elevator numbers climbed higher. Her fingers were cold, but she remembered the warmth of sitting in the convenience store with Yan Yiyun, sharing a bowl of oden.

Maybe it’s okay to let go—just a little.

Looking at Yan Yiyun’s radiant face, Qi Zhen couldn’t bring herself to refuse. She simply nodded.

Seeing Yan Yiyun’s face light up with joy, Qi Zhen thought to herself—

All this… just for a warm meal. I’ve sold myself out.