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Chapter 18 - CHAPTER 18: OFFICE WHISPERS & UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTERS

Yin stepped out of Luong's office, the door clicking shut with finality. Twenty pairs of eyes snapped to him like predators scenting blood.

**Coworker 1** (leaning so far over their desk they nearly toppled):

*"Was she yelling at you? Blink twice if you need help."*

**Coworker 2** (stage whispering):

*"I heard he's her* secret half-brother *from a mafia family—"*

**Li** (materializing like a vengeful ghost):

*"Zhang. Conference room. Now."* She dragged Yin away as the crowd erupted in fresh theories.

**Behind Closed Doors:**

Li slammed her palms on the table. *"You* promised *you'd be discreet!"*

Yin smirked. *"I wore a tie, didn't I?"*

The restaurant's chandeliers glittered over the team's stunned faces as they took in the sight:

**Luong** casually swirling red wine while seated between *Li* and *Zhang Yu*

**Zhang Yu** aggressively cutting steak like it personally offended him

**Li** silently mouthing *"Kill me"* to the ceiling

**The Initiation Backfires:**

*"W-We can sit somewhere else—"* a junior stammered.

Luong kicked out a chair. *"Sit. Eat. And someone order the truffle risotto—it's Yin's favorite."*

As Yin reached for bread, his foot brushed Li's under the table. She *flinched* so hard her chopsticks went flying—directly into Zhang Yu's soup.

**Zhang Yu** (deadpan):

*"Really, Li? Still mad about the ice cream?"*

**The Girlfriend Bomb**

Luong's announcement hit like a grenade:

**Coworker 3** (spitting out wine):

*"SINCE WHEN?!"*

**Coworker 4** (pointing wildly between Yin/Luong):

*"But you two were* professional *at the office!"*

**Luong** (sipping champagne):

*"Mm. Very professional. Especially when he—"*

**Yin** (clapping a hand over her mouth):

*"We should discuss the Q3 projections!"*

**Li** (head in hands):

*"I regret every life choice that led me here."*

As the team staggered out hours later, whispers followed:

*"Do you think they've... you know...* at the office?"*

**Li** (turning slowly with demonic calm):

*"The next person who speaks loses their desk privileges. You'll work from the bathroom."*

And as Yin laughed under the neon lights—Li's glare burning his profile, Luong's fingers tangled with his, Zhang Yu plotting revenge in the background—he realized: *This was going to be a disaster.*

And he couldn't wait.

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