Chapter Forty-One: Assistant Xue, You Really Are a Flirt!

Rubbing the bruises on his waist, Xue Tian'ai emerged from Qin Mengxue's office ten minutes later, bearing the marks of a thorough torment. He was close to tears, never having imagined that a woman's pinch could hurt so much. She looked so delicate and frail, yet her grip was anything but gentle.

In the end, it was only after his repeated pleas for mercy that Qin Mengxue finally let go, telling him to go find Yu Xiaoxiao to collect a set of desk, chair, and computer for his future work. Then, she ordered him to apologize to Su Jiaqi! Xue Tian'ai was, of course, extremely reluctant, but ultimately surrendered to Qin Mengxue's merciless pinching.

Women, oh women, how can you be so unreasonable? Xue Tian'ai grumbled to himself in frustration.

When he approached Yu Xiaoxiao's desk, he found her engrossed in something, not noticing his arrival at all. Not wanting to disturb her, he quietly circled around to stand behind her.

But when he saw what Yu Xiaoxiao was up to, he couldn't help but be both amused and exasperated. The little secretary was sneaking in a game of Dou Dizhu on her phone during work, looking utterly conflicted as she hesitated over every ordinary card.

Xue Tian'ai did not interrupt her. Instead, he stood behind her, carefully analyzing the situation on the screen, observing the digital battle intently.

After watching several rounds, he was nearly driven mad... The girl clearly had no idea how to play, and worst of all, she insisted on seizing the landlord position every time, and even doubled her stakes each round!

Watching her pile of gold beans dwindling away, Xue Tian'ai could hardly stand it. "You should play four fives here. What's the point of holding onto them?"

"When it's time to drop a bomb, just do it. What are you keeping it for, to lay eggs?" He decided to step in and help—if she kept losing, her gold beans would soon be gone.

Yu Xiaoxiao was startled by the sudden advice. She turned, wide-eyed with alarm, to see a young man behind her, watching her screen with a look of regret.

"Why are you staring at me? Play your cards!" Xue Tian'ai reached out and tugged her low ponytail, pointing at her screen with an expression of exasperated mentorship.

"Oh, okay." Yu Xiaoxiao nodded stiffly, then, in the final seconds, followed his suggestion and played the four fives.

That little bomb changed the tide instantly. As she was about to play a lone four, Xue Tian'ai was struck by another wave of dizziness. After so many hands, it seemed this girl had never even tried using a three-of-a-kind with an extra card—she either played singles or groups of three. With play like this, she was bound to end up with a handful of useless cards! If this weren't just a game, but a real gambling table, she'd likely have been sold off to a brothel by now.

"Are you dense? Can't you see the three Jacks? Play three Jacks with a four!" Xue Tian'ai lightly tapped her head.

"Ah, o-okay..." Yu Xiaoxiao hurried to follow his instructions.

"Next, play the two nines. The opponent will probably counter with two Queens!"

By now, Yu Xiaoxiao's mind had stopped working; she was simply following Xue Tian'ai's every directive. Sure enough, after she played the nines, the opponent blocked with two Queens. Yu Xiaoxiao gasped in amazement. "How did you know?"

Xue Tian'ai ignored her question and continued, "Don't worry about the two Queens; keep the two Jokers in hand for now. We’ll pass this round. If I’m right, the opponent will play a single five—which is your best chance to get rid of that lone six!"

A few seconds later, just as he predicted, a spade five appeared. In the following rounds, Xue Tian'ai predicted every move with uncanny precision and gave her perfect instructions.

At last, with his mouth nearly dry from all the coaching, Yu Xiaoxiao achieved her first victory of the day. When the words "Landlord Wins" finally flashed across the screen, and her stash of gold beans swelled, Yu Xiaoxiao excitedly pumped a tiny fist at Xue Tian'ai.

"This is amazing, Assistant Xue! You're incredible! I never knew you got so many gold beans for winning as the landlord!"

"Of course. Keep it low-key, it's nothing worth bragging about," Xue Tian'ai replied, twirling his index finger with a showy air, though he muttered inwardly, It's just because you're hopeless.

"But, Assistant Xue, how did you know what cards they'd play?" Yu Xiaoxiao tilted her head in confusion, her braid dangling with the movement.

"Wouldn’t you like to know?" Xue Tian'ai lowered his voice mysteriously.

"I really want to! So much!" Yu Xiaoxiao's eyes sparkled like a fan meeting her idol.

"First, help me get my work computer and desk. I've been waiting here all this time while you played!" Xue Tian'ai smiled, half amused, half exasperated.

At his words, Yu Xiaoxiao blushed and bowed her head in embarrassment. She knew she'd been wrong to play games at work, and not only had she neglected Xue Tian'ai's actual business, she was now pestering him for Dou Dizhu tips. If President Qin found out...

In a small voice, Yu Xiaoxiao said, "Assistant Xue, come with me. I'll take you to register for your office supplies."

So Xue Tian'ai followed her to the elevator. Inside, she pressed the button for the third floor and stood silently in the corner, head bowed in shame.

Xue Tian'ai watched her with a helpless smile. She really was just a little girl.

"Um, Assistant Xue, will you tell President Qin I was playing games?" After a while, Yu Xiaoxiao glanced up, asking cautiously.

"Do you think, under normal circumstances, a criminal would report their own accomplice?" Xue Tian'ai replied lightly.

Yu Xiaoxiao was briefly stunned, then her face brightened with relief. "Assistant Xue, you mean..."

"I just helped you play, didn't I? Why would I tell President Qin you were gaming? If I did, I'd be incriminating myself too." He shrugged, unconcerned. "Still, I think you'd better not make a habit of gaming at work. If President Qin ever finds out, you won't have an easy time. Be careful!"

"Mm, I’ll be sure to watch out!" Yu Xiaoxiao shivered at the thought—thank goodness it was Xue Tian'ai who caught her and not Qin Mengxue, or she’d have been in for a real scolding.

Normally, she wasn’t that into games. Today, she’d just opened the app by accident and gotten hooked, never expecting Xue Tian'ai to catch her red-handed.

Moments later, they reached the third floor—a vast storage space piled with every kind of office supply imaginable. From laptops and desks to printers and copiers, from pencils and erasers to compasses, everything was there in abundance—it was like a giant office supply store!

Xue Tian'ai couldn't help but marvel—wealth really did make things easier. Computers and notebooks were stacked in heaps, many of them from famous international brands.

"Assistant Xue, you can apply here for whatever office supplies you need. Just tell the front desk, and they'll have everything delivered to you," Yu Xiaoxiao explained, pointing at the mountainous piles.

"Alright." Xue Tian'ai nodded and approached the reception desk. "Excuse me, do I apply for office supplies here?"

The receptionist was not a young woman but an elderly man with reading glasses, who got straight to the point. "Name? Department?"

"Xue Tian'ai, assistant to the president. No department."

"So you're the new assistant to President Qin?" The old man adjusted his glasses, peering at Xue Tian'ai as if to size him up.

"Young man, you look sharp enough, but your clothes aren’t up to code. You need to wear formal attire here," he said, clearly the meddlesome sort. "So, what do you need?"

Now Xue Tian'ai hesitated. Should he have Wes send him a few suits? It was only his first morning, and already two people had criticized his clothes.

"Heh, it’s my first day and I’m not familiar with things yet. I’ll buy a suit soon," he replied sheepishly. "I need a laptop, a desk and chair, and some office paper and pens. That’ll be enough."

"Nothing else?" The old man was surprised by the simplicity of the request. Few employees were this restrained—most people tried to take advantage, and with Menghua Group’s generous logistics, extra requests were common.

"Just these. I shouldn’t need anything else, since the president’s office has everything."

"Alright, I'll note it down and have someone deliver them. Off you go, Assistant Xue."

Xue Tian'ai nodded and left the desk, waving to Yu Xiaoxiao. "Let’s go, all done."

"By the way, Secretary Yu, how old are you? You don’t look very old to be working here."

"I’m twenty-one! Why do people always think I look so young?" Yu Xiaoxiao seemed genuinely annoyed by the frequent remark.

"No, no, if you ask me, you barely look eighteen..." As he spoke, Xue Tian'ai let his eyes sweep over Yu Xiaoxiao’s doll-like face and her not-yet-fully developed figure.

By ordinary standards, she was quite attractive, but compared to the company's other beauties—Qin Mengxue, Su Jiaqi, Gan Bingning—she was a little lacking. Her build was closer to that of Sigong Yanyue, that other little girl...

"I'm not eighteen!" Yu Xiaoxiao declared proudly, puffing out her chest.

"Mmm, judging by your chest, you don’t look eighteen at all! I’d say you’re only wearing oversized clothes!" Xue Tian'ai bent down, studying her chest with exaggerated scrutiny.

"Ah! Assistant Xue, you’re such a pervert!"

Seeing him actually bend down to examine her chest, Yu Xiaoxiao blushed furiously, took a step back, hugged her chest protectively, and protested, mortified.