CHAPTER 5

Lunch War

Morning passed quickly at the perfume company headquarters in Beijing.

Employees were busy with their work, adjusting to the strict management style of the new CEO, Lu Se Cheng.

The atmosphere in the office had become much more serious since his arrival.

No unnecessary talking.

No laziness.

Everyone worked with full concentration.

Meanwhile, in the secretary office outside the CEO’s cabin, Shi Yan carefully prepared a cup of tea.

In just one day, he had already collected detailed information about Lu Se Cheng’s habits.

His preferred tea.

His work schedule.

His meeting patterns.

Even the temperature he liked for drinks.

Shi Yan looked at the tea cup calmly.

Secretary work is still secretary work.

No matter who the boss was.

Even if that boss happened to be the person he hated the most in the world.

He walked toward the CEO’s office and knocked lightly.

Knock. Knock.

“Come in.”

Shi Yan entered the office and placed the tea on the desk.

Lu Se Cheng was typing on his laptop without looking up.

Shi Yan stood quietly beside the desk, waiting for instructions.

A few seconds passed.

Lu Se Cheng finally glanced up at him.

“What?”

Shi Yan replied calmly.

“CEO Lu, you have a board meeting scheduled in one hour. It will start after lunch.”

Lu Se Cheng nodded slightly.

Then he spoke while continuing to work.

“Cancel the lunch break.”

Shi Yan blinked once.

Lu Se Cheng continued typing.

“We’ll have the meeting now.”

“Inform everyone.”

Shi Yan remained silent for a second.

Then he spoke.

“We can’t have the meeting now, sir.”

Lu Se Cheng’s fingers stopped moving on the keyboard.

Slowly… he lifted his head.

His sharp eyes locked onto Shi Yan.

“Why?”

Shi Yan answered calmly.

“It’s almost lunch time.”

“Employees need their break.”

“And since the meeting was already scheduled for after lunch, it would be better to keep it that way.”

Silence filled the room.

Lu Se Cheng stared at him.

No one.

Absolutely no one.

Had ever dared to question his orders like this.

His voice became colder.

“They can eat after the meeting.”

“The meeting is more important.”

Shi Yan looked at him calmly.

“Not more important than food, sir.”

Lu Se Cheng’s eyes narrowed.

Shi Yan continued speaking professionally.

“People work to earn money.”

“And money is used for living.”

“If employees skip meals regularly, their productivity will drop.”

“So it’s better to let them eat first and then work efficiently.”

His tone was calm.

Logical.

Professional.

But to Lu Se Cheng…

It sounded like talking back.

And it irritated him.

Very much.

But deep inside, he also knew something.

Shi Yan wasn’t wrong.

Lu Se Cheng suddenly leaned back in his chair.

A slow smirk appeared on his lips.

“Fine.”

“Let them eat.”

Shi Yan slightly nodded.

But Lu Se Cheng continued speaking.

“However…”

His eyes glinted.

“You’ll prepare everything for the meeting.”

“All reports.”

“All documents.”

“All presentations.”

“So that the meeting can start immediately after lunch.”

His voice was calm but clearly deliberate.

Meaning…

Shi Yan would have to work through lunch.

Shi Yan understood the meaning immediately.

But his expression didn’t change at all.

“Understood, sir.”

Lu Se Cheng watched his face carefully.

No anger.

No complaint.

Nothing.

Shi Yan simply turned and walked out of the office.

Inside, Lu Se Cheng tapped his fingers lightly on the desk.

Let’s see how long that professionalism lasts.

Outside the office, Shi Yan began preparing everything for the meeting.

Project reports.

Sales statistics.

Market projections.

Department summaries.

Time passed quickly.

Employees left for lunch.

The office gradually became quiet.

But Shi Yan was still working.

His stomach growled slightly.

He ignored it.

Professional first.

Finally, the meeting started after lunch.

Executives and department heads gathered in the conference room.

Shi Yan handled everything perfectly.

Presentations.

Documents.

Data explanations.

The meeting ended smoothly.

After that…

More work appeared.

New instructions.

New reports.

More documents to prepare.

Time continued to pass.

Lunch time had already ended long ago.

Shi Yan never had the chance to eat.

Inside the CEO office, Lu Se Cheng was also working.

But occasionally…

His eyes drifted toward the glass wall separating his office from the secretary desk.

Shi Yan was still working.

Nonstop.

No break.

No food.

Just working calmly.

Lu Se Cheng frowned slightly.

Did he really skip lunch?

Another hour passed.

Then another.

Finally—

The clock showed 8:00 PM.

Most employees had already gone home.

The entire office floor was quiet.

Only two lights were still on.

One in the CEO office.

One at the secretary desk.

Lu Se Cheng leaned back in his chair and looked through the glass wall again.

Shi Yan was still typing on his computer.

His posture remained straight.

Professional.

Focused.

But something about it…

Made Lu Se Cheng feel slightly uncomfortable.

I really made him work all day…

Meanwhile—

Shi Yan was finishing a report.

His expression remained calm.

But inside his head…

He was raging.

Damn Lu Se Cheng.

Still the same bully.

High school bully…

Now workplace bully.

His stomach growled loudly again.

Shi Yan sighed silently.

I’m starving.

If I faint tomorrow, it will be because of this devil CEO.

Inside the office, Lu Se Cheng suddenly stood up.

He picked up his phone.

A few minutes later—

A delivery arrived.

Two dinner boxes.

Lu Se Cheng placed one box on his desk.

Then he walked out and placed the other box quietly on Shi Yan’s desk.

Shi Yan looked up.

Lu Se Cheng spoke casually.

“Work late.”

“Eat something.”

His tone sounded like it meant nothing.

Then he walked back into his office.

Shi Yan stared at the food box for a moment.

He knew exactly why it was there.

He looked toward the glass wall.

Lu Se Cheng was already eating his own dinner while reading documents.

Shi Yan looked back at the food.

Then he sighed quietly.

“Well…”

He opened the box.

“Food didn’t do anything wrong.”

“And I’m starving.”

He started eating.

Inside the office, Lu Se Cheng glanced up.

Through the glass wall, he saw Shi Yan finally eating.

For some reason…

The tight feeling in his chest eased slightly.

He returned to his food.

Both men ate silently.

Working late.

Together in the quiet office.

But neither spoke.

After finishing his work, Lu Se Cheng closed his laptop.

“Go home.”

He said simply.

Then he picked up his coat and left the office first.

A few minutes later, Shi Yan also packed his things.

He turned off the lights at his desk and walked toward the elevator.

As he left the building, he muttered quietly to himself.

“Still a bully…”

“But at least…”

He glanced at his stomach.

“…not a completely heartless one.”

Meanwhile outside the building—

Lu Se Cheng was already sitting in his car.

For some reason, one thought lingered in his mind.

This secretary…

Why does he feel strangely familiar?

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