After breakfast, we were given free time until 3 p.m., before the team activities would begin. I went back to my room, planning to lie down for a moment.
But the exhaustion from the night bus ride, sleeplessness, and all that fangirl emotional trauma... caught up fast.
I fell asleep.
I had also drunk two cans of juice. I knew I couldn't handle it, but I still drank.
While Xiang came near me and he squated down.
I fell asleep, but he didn't notice. He started speaking:
"Zhou Ye, why are you mean to me? Did I make any mistakes? I will change. If I've done anything wrong, will you forgive me? Why don't you say anything?"
Then he turned around and saw that I was asleep.
He sighed. "Even now, you're mean to me. You didn't even say that you're sleeping."
Behind Xiang, Assistant Gu commented, "Why should she tell you she's sleeping? Is she your girlfriend or your assistant?"
Xiang turned around. "Gu, can't you keep your mouth shut? Why are you always acting weird around me?"
Gu smirked and leaned back dramatically. "Xiang, I'm not ancient like you, okay? I'm a young, energetic boy—I still have fuel to be stupid. You, on the other hand… you're basically 30."
Xiang raised a brow. "I'm not 30. I'm 29."
Gu gasped with fake innocence. "Haa~~ same thing! Just with extra back pain."
He strutted off with a proud grin, leaving Xiang muttering under his breath like a grumpy grandpa.
---
It was nearly 8 PM, and no one had noticed that I was still passed out in the same spot. Everyone else had gone for dinner.
Manager Li glanced around and asked Assistant Gu, "Where's Zhou Ye?"
Gu replied casually, "Miss Ye was sleeping when I went for a swim. Haven't seen her since."
Xiang, who was wolfing down his food like he was training for a speed-eating competition, suddenly stood up. "I'm going for a walk."
Everyone nodded and kept eating.
After a few steps, he turned back with a frown. "Why is no one searching for Zhou Ye?"
Manager Li looked up, unfazed. "We were just about to, Mr. Xiang. Since you've already finished dinner, maybe you can find her on your walk. Thanks in advance!"
He huffed. "I didn't say I was going to look for her. I just said I'm going for a walk."
Gu didn't even lift his head. "We're eating, old man. You're the one done early—go find her."
Xiang shot him a look like he'd lost his mind, but he still turned around and walked off. He eventually found me—still on the same chair where he had spoken to me earlier.
I hadn't moved an inch. I was dead asleep.
He came over, gently patting my face to wake me up. I stirred, groggy and still tipsy.
"Who are you? Why are you holding my hand?"
Xiang placed a hand on my shoulder like a motivational speaker giving a TED Talk.
"Don't you remember me? I'm your boss and I—"
"Stop." I raised a hand like I was calling for an order in a courtroom. "I, Zhou Ye, don't need help from anyone. I can go home by myself."
He blinked. "Your house? You're going to walk from this resort to your house?"
I looked confused. "What resort? This is a restaurant, right?"
Xiang sighed, took my hand, and started to help me walk—but I plopped right back down like a sack of potatoes.
He squatted beside me, clearly at the end of his patience. "Zhou Ye, what are you doing?"
I squinted at him like I was trying to recognize a long-lost classmate. "Oh… it's you. I saw you at the restaurant. I told you then—I don't take rides from strangers."
Xiang looked thoroughly defeated. "You're even more troublesome than Gu. At this point, I think he's better than you."
I huffed. "Then go marry him. Why are you wasting time on me? I'm not worth it."
He didn't argue—just picked me up and carried me on his back like a reluctant hero, bringing me to my room. He placed me gently on the bed.
"You kidnapped me from my friends," I mumbled. "They'll be worried if I don't wait for them."
He rolled his eyes. "They won't be worried."
"How do you know?"
"You video-called your Friends gang this morning, remember?" he said, adjusting the pillow under my head.
I reached out and grabbed his collar, eyes wide. "I know it's you. I'm seeing you after a long time. Where did you go?"
He paused, voice soft. "What are you talking about, Zhou Ye? Do you know me?"
I nodded. "I've known you for a long time. But not you… the young version of you."
His face looked like a sad puppy. "Is he the crush you mentioned at the party?"
I smiled dreamily. "Yeah… he is."
He gently removed his hand from under my head and stood up, clearly ready to leave.
But I caught his hand again and pulled him back. His face shifted from heartbroken to blushing in a flash.
"What are you doing, Ye? This isn't appropriate…"
I was completely knocked out.
I started unbuttoning the top of his shirt. His hands flew to stop mine.
"Do you know what you're doing, Zhou Ye? You'll regret this when you wake up."
"I've regretted not doing it before," I whispered. "I won't regret it now. Don't worry, I'm not going to do anything weird."
I unbuttoned the first three buttons and grinned. "See? Now you look cute."
He stared at me, stunned. "Why did you do that?"
"You wore your shirt like this once. Just three buttons undone—and I went crazy for you. It's your fault."
Then I pushed him away and rolled over, ready to sleep.
He stood there silently, fixed my hair gently, and tucked the blanket over me before slipping out and closing the door quietly behind him.
The moment the door clicked shut, he started sweating like he had just finished a full-body workout.
Right on cue, Assistant Gu popped up. "Mr. Xiang? Why are you sweating so much?"
Xiang coughed. "Nothing. I just… moved something heavy."
Gu squinted, noticing Xiang's half-unbuttoned shirt. "Wow. Moved something heavy, huh? Didn't know you were such a ~~~"
Xiang slapped Gu's shoulder.
"You! Stop talking nonsense! It's not what you think—I didn't do anything.
It was Ye."
Gu's eyes widened. "So she does like you?"
Xiang's face dropped. "I don't know… she said she has a crush on someone."
Gu patted Xiang's back like a seasoned uncle. "It's okay, old man. Trying to correct a girl at your age? Totally understandable. Don't lose hope—I feel you."
For a brief second, Xiang blinked, genuinely touched.
Wow… maybe he's finally maturing and being supportive.
But reality hit like a truck.
Nope. I judged too soon. This clown will never change.