The revelation of the 'chicken dance' at the breakfast table and Aanya's whisper about 'Jungkook' had worsened Zhen's mood even more. Without saying anything, he picked up his car keys and walked out.
Aanya rolled her eyes and followed behind Zhen. She adjusted her glasses, fixed her shoulder-length hair, and looked at her baggy pants and loose shirt. She felt that the more casual and carefree she looked, the more irritated Zhen would become.
Even after sitting in the car, silence hung between them, but the tension in the air was clearly palpable. Aanya was looking out the window, and Zhen, while driving, was trying to control his anger.
Just then, Zhen used his inbuilt car phone to call his servant.
Zhen (in a cold and firm voice): "Hello, Li? Yes. I need a 'maid uniform.' Yes, a uniform. But not an ordinary one… something 'funny,' a little 'outdated,' and 'classy' too. I want a design that looks a bit… 'weird.' Yes, it should be delivered to my office by this evening."
As soon as Aanya heard 'funny maid uniform,' she was shocked. Her eyes widened in fear.
Aanya (in her mind): 'What? Is this crazy man really going to make me wear a maid dress in the office? Oh God! My entire image will be ruined!'
Before she could say anything, Zhen cut the call and cast a crooked glance at Aanya. There was a devilish glint in his eyes, as if he were warning her about the upcoming 'surprise.'
Next stop: Zhen's office – Kiyan's doom!
The car had now stopped in front of Zhen's massive company building. Aanya took a deep breath as if she were entering a battlefield.
As soon as they reached Zhen's office, he walked straight into his chamber. Aanya saw that Kiyan was already standing there holding a 'report.' Kiyan's face looked frightened.
Zhen (sitting on his chair and looking at Kiyan): "Kiyan. I really liked your 'chicken dance' video. Especially my mother did. Now tell me, what punishment should you receive for this 'talent' of yours?"
Kiyan's color drained. He knew the boss's punishments could be very heavy.
Kiyan (with folded hands): "Boss… please forgive me. That was by mistake… it was just a small video."
Zhen picked up a file and threw it toward Kiyan.
Zhen: "Mistake? Fine. Then your punishment is this—for the next one week, while Mrs. Yan is my 'personal maid,' you will be her assistant. You will do all her work—making coffee, carrying files, and obeying her every instruction. And if Mrs. Yan complains, 20% of your salary will be deducted."
Kiyan looked at Aanya in shock, then at Zhen. His face had now turned completely pale. A mischievous sparkle appeared in Aanya's eyes. She felt that at least someone would share this 'torture' with her!
A silence spread in the main office hall when four people stepped out of the lift wearing bizarre outfits. Zhen had saved himself, but he had made Aanya, Kiyan, and Huan Jing wear such 'frilly' and 'cartoonish' maid dresses that the office employees were covering their mouths to suppress their laughter.
Kiyan was wearing a pink frilly frock with a big bow at the back, and Huan Jing was wearing a dress that did not fit her at all. Both were swinging between buried anger and laughter while looking at each other.
Huan Jing (angry and embarrassed): "Boss! Why have you dragged me into this husband-wife fight? What did I do?"
Zhen (in a very cold and arrogant manner): "You drank my expensive wine and ruined its enjoyment, Huan Jing. This is its compensation. Until the wine's price is fully recovered, you will appear in this 'uniform.'"
Kiyan and Huan Jing looked at each other. There was a small 'Teddy Bear' on Kiyan's dress.
Huan Jing (mocking Kiyan): "Wow, Kiyan! This pink color suits your 'innocence' so well. You look exactly like a lost fairy!"
Kiyan (gritting his teeth): "And you? You look like someone turned a joker into a maid!"
Both glared at each other with funny expressions, but Zhen did not give them a chance to speak. His gaze fixed on Aanya, who was standing in her baggy pants with that strange maid apron over them, adjusting her hair.
Zhen (in a stern voice): "Enough talk. Kiyan and Jing, both of you will do dusting in the reception area. And Aanya, you will handle all the work in my cabin—from making coffee to dusting my files. For one week, you will not step out of my cabin."
Aanya stared at Zhen with wide eyes, her mouth hanging open.
Aanya (shouting): "Zhen! This is completely unfair! I am your wife, not your permanent slave! And on top of that, this weird dress? You have deliberately locked me in your cabin so you can take revenge on me!"
Zhen (turning toward his cabin with a devilish smile): "Unfair? I already gave you a 20-million discount, Aanya. Now get to work, 'Personal Maid.' My coffee should have less sugar."
Aanya kicked the air and, stomping angrily, walked toward Zhen's cabin. Revenge plans had already started forming in her mind.
Aanya adjusted her funny maid apron and entered Zhen's cabin angrily. Zhen was sitting at his desk, seriously reading a file of an international deal.
Mistake Number 1: The 'Salty' Coffee Twist
Without looking up, Zhen said, "Aanya, my coffee. Black, without sugar."
Aanya went to the kitchen and wrestled with the coffee machine. She could not understand which button to press. Then she saw a box of white powder.
Aanya (in her mind): "Mr. Rude wants bitter coffee? Wait, I'll make it a little 'special.'"
Thinking it was sugar, she added three big spoons of salt. When she gave the coffee to Zhen, he took a sip and his face turned blue and yellow.
Zhen (coughing): "Aanya! Are you trying to poison me? Is this coffee or seawater?"
Aanya (innocently): "Oh! I thought you liked the 'salty' flavor—just like your mood!"
Mistake Number 2: The File 'Makeover'
Zhen handed her his most important confidential file and said, "Stamp it and clean the dust."
Aanya was cleaning the file when her phone showed a notification of 'Byeon Woo-seok.' She jumped in excitement, and the entire bottle of red ink fell onto the multimillion contract file.
The whole file now looked as if someone had slashed it with bloody claws.
Zhen (shouting): "Aanya! What have you done? This was a multimillion contract!"
Aanya (stammering): "Uh… Zhen, red is considered auspicious, right? Look, now the file looks so 'colorful!'"
Mistake Number 3: Zhen's Chair 'Cleaning' Mission
Zhen stood up for a meeting. Aanya thought this was her chance to clean his chair. She poured a lot of slippery polish on it. When Zhen returned and sat down heavily, he lost his balance and slipped straight onto the floor.
Silence filled the cabin. Outside, Kiyan and Huan Jing were peeking in, twisting each other's hands to stop themselves from laughing.
Zhen (getting up from the floor, furious): "Aanya Yan! Can you not do a single task without making a mistake?"
Aanya stepped back in fear, but her foot got tangled in her own long maid dress. She was about to fall when Zhen angrily lunged forward, grabbed her by the waist, and pulled her close. Their eyes met again.
Zhen (whispering, between jealousy and affection): "Are you deliberately making these mistakes so I punish you? Or is your attention still on that boy in your phone?"
Aanya's heartbeat quickened. She remembered that last night she had been in Zhen's arms just like this.
Zhen bent slightly and whispered in her ear, "This time if you fall, Aanya… I won't catch you, I will stop you."