The call from Assistant Chen lasted exactly four minutes and thirty-seven seconds.
Guàn Jǐngchén ended it with a curt "Handle it," then turned back to Lin Yuè. The CEO's eyes were still dark with heat, lips slightly swollen from their kiss, but the ruthless businessman mask had snapped back into place.
"Minor issue at the main server farm," he said, voice steady despite the lingering roughness. "I need to go in. You're coming with me."
Lin Yuè blinked, still leaning against the counter, fingers absently touching his kiss-bruised mouth. "Right now? I… I didn't bring a change of clothes."
Guàn Jǐngchén crossed the space in two strides, cupped the back of his neck, and pressed a quick, possessive kiss to his forehead. "You'll wear what I give you. No arguments."
Twenty minutes later, Lin Yuè stood in the penthouse dressing room wearing a crisp white button-down that swallowed his frame and slim black trousers cinched with a borrowed belt. The sleeves were rolled up multiple times, exposing delicate wrists. He looked impossibly small and soft next to Guàn Jǐngchén's sharp black suit.
The CEO's gaze lingered too long. "You look good in my clothes," he murmured again, adjusting the collar with careful fingers. "Too good."
The drive to Jǐngchéng Tech Tower was silent except for the low hum of the luxury car. Guàn Jǐngchén kept one hand on the wheel and the other resting on Lin Yuè's thigh — not moving, just claiming.
At the office, the morning buzz felt different. Employees glanced twice at the pair walking side by side. Whispers followed them into the elevator.
On the 42nd floor, Assistant Chen was already waiting with tablets and fresh coffee. She raised an eyebrow at Lin Yuè's borrowed shirt but said nothing.
"Status?" Guàn Jǐngchén asked.
"False alarm on the surface, but the probe left residual traces. Senior team is analyzing now."
Guàn Jǐngchén nodded once. "Lin Yuè stays with me today. Full clearance."
Assistant Chen's eyes widened slightly but she only bowed. "Understood."
The rest of the morning passed in a blur of meetings and code reviews. Lin Yuè sat quietly at the side table in Guàn Jǐngchén's office, pretending to take notes while his hidden backdoor quietly fed him live data. Every time the CEO looked over, Lin Yuè offered a shy smile and a soft "Do you need anything, sir?"
Around 11:30 AM, a knock sounded. A tall, polished man in his late twenties entered — Li Wei, head of the AI ethics division. Handsome, confident, with an easy smile that reached his eyes.
"CEO Guàn, I brought the latest compliance report. And…" Li Wei's gaze slid to Lin Yuè, warming noticeably. "You must be the new genius intern everyone's talking about. Lin Yuè, right? Your penetration test results are impressive."
Lin Yuè ducked his head, cheeks flushing on cue. "Thank you… I'm just learning."
Li Wei stepped closer, voice dropping playfully. "If you ever want tips on the ethics side, or maybe grab coffee after work, I'd be happy to—"
"That won't be necessary," Guàn Jǐngchén cut in, voice ice-cold. He rose from his chair, towering behind Lin Yuè's seat. One hand settled possessively on the boy's shoulder, fingers pressing just enough to mark territory. "Lin Yuè reports directly to me. His schedule is full."
Li Wei's smile faltered. "Of course, CEO. My apologies."
The moment the door closed behind Li Wei, Guàn Jǐngchén spun Lin Yuè's chair around and leaned down, caging him in with both arms on the armrests.
"You were smiling at him," he said quietly, dangerously.
Lin Yuè's eyes widened innocently. "I was just being polite…"
"Polite." Guàn Jǐngchén's thumb brushed Lin Yuè's lower lip, still tender from the morning kiss. "No one else gets that smile. Not while you're wearing my shirt. Not while I can still taste you."
Lin Yuè's breath trembled. "CEO Guàn… you're jealous?"
The word hung between them. Guàn Jǐngchén's eyes flashed. He leaned in until their noses brushed.
"Possessive," he corrected, voice rough. "There's a difference. And right now, I'm very possessive of what's mine."
Before Lin Yuè could respond, Guàn Jǐngchén kissed him — hard, claiming, nothing like the gentle morning exploration. It was all heat and hunger, tongue sliding against his, one hand tangling in messy black hair to tilt his head back. Lin Yuè whimpered softly into the kiss, hands fisting the front of the CEO's suit.
When they broke apart, both were breathing hard.
Guàn Jǐngchén rested his forehead against Lin Yuè's. "Tonight," he said, low and final, "you're staying at the penthouse again. No excuses."
Lin Yuè nodded, dazed, lips glistening. "Okay…"
But as Guàn Jǐngchén straightened and returned to his desk, Lin Yuè touched his swollen mouth and let a tiny, secret smile curve his lips.
*Jealous already, Jǐngchén?*
*Good.*
*Because the closer you pull me in… the harder it will be when you finally learn the truth.*
End of Chapter 8