Chapter 36 Part 1

Sometime, he wasn't sure when, Qin Chuan had developed a habit—

When getting off work, he would always make a special detour past the CEO's office, intentionally or not, to glance inside through the floor-to-ceiling glass doors and windows.

As a boss and a workaholic, Qin Chuan's workday often ended later than the average employee's quitting time. Even so, he still saw Bo He's figure on several occasions.

At such times, a trace of joy would quietly well up from the bottom of his heart, soft as a spring breeze, fine as a rainy night. When he tried to examine it more closely, it would come and go without a sound, its origin unknown.

Qin Chuan didn't push the door open and enter.

Because if he went in, he wouldn't know what to say to Bo He.

In comparison, their relationship in the game was actually more intimate.

Although Qin Chuan rarely used voice chat anymore just in case, at least in the game he didn't have to rack his brains to simulate the thoughts and tone of a teenage girl.

The two could fight side by side and chat about game strategies and control techniques. As long as Qin Chuan wanted, there were always endless questions to ask, so there would be no awkward silences.

Once his prejudice disappeared, he saw another side of the world.

Bo He was good-tempered, but that didn't mean she would compromise indefinitely.

In Nine Heavens, she could hunt down "You Get On My Nerves" all over the world until he no longer dared to kill newbie players everywhere.

In a survival shooter game, she could relentlessly follow an enemy, lying in ambush for nearly half a match before annihilating their entire squad in one fell swoop.

Patience, resilience, decisiveness, striking true with a single blow.

Qin Chuan discovered another Bo He, one who was completely different from the forbearing and submissive person at work.

Bo He in the workplace, like all newcomers just starting their careers, had to be cautious, hide her personality, and get through that initial difficult period by being meek and obedient, speaking little and observing much.

If it weren't for that episode in the parking lot, Bo He would have remained in Qin Chuan's mind as just a new employee who had performed well in her interview. In a few years, if nothing unexpected happened, she would be gradually promoted based on her work performance. Perhaps she would replace Tang Mi, perhaps she would be transferred to another department, or perhaps she would be eliminated by the survival-of-the-fittest principle, sinking into the vast sea of mediocrity, unable to make a single ripple, and disappearing from then on.

If they hadn't met in the game, no matter how well she performed at work, Qin Chuan would never have developed an interest in getting to know her better.

There were thousands upon thousands of interesting souls in this world; Bo He wasn't the most special one.

She was just someone Qin Chuan happened to run into at the right time and place.

Many of his ideas after that were consequently overturned.

Usually, when he saw an employee working overtime, Qin Chuan felt nothing. At most, he would note down the person's name as he passed by and use it as an additional subjective criterion in future evaluations for promotions and raises.

Now, he found himself actually wanting to push the door open and tell her to go home early.

The moment his fingers touched the door, Qin Chuan pulled them back as if he'd received an electric shock.

For the first time, the workaholic Boss Qin felt a slight panic at this thought of his. It was as if he had been possessed by an alien.

"President Qin?"

Before he could turn to leave, the door was opened from the inside.

The cold air from the air conditioner rushed out, making Qin Chuan frown slightly and take half a step back.

Bo He was right in front of him, a look of confusion on her face.

Within half a second, Qin Chuan found a plausible excuse.

"Is Guan Shen not here?"

Bo He: "Secretary Guan has already left for the day. Is there anything I can help you with?"

Qin Chuan: "Then never mind. You can get off work."

"Alright, see you tomorrow, President Qin."

Bo He didn't think much of it. Assuming Qin Chuan was about to enter, she stepped aside to make way and headed for the elevators.

After taking two steps, she realized someone was following her. She turned her head to see Qin Chuan entering the elevator right after her.

Faced with Bo He's puzzled expression, Qin Chuan pursed his lips and added an explanation: "I'm heading back too."

There were other people in the elevator who had come from other floors, so Bo He didn't ask any more questions. She wasn't close enough to her boss to be nosy.

Two young women next to them, about Bo He's age, were still chattering away, their conversation flitting from one topic to another. After discussing the latest hot searches online, they moved on to late-night overtime chats and ghost stories in the elevator.

One said, "It looks like there are only a few of us in this elevator, but it's actually full."

The other laughed heartily and said, "That's an old one. The new trend is, you think they're all ghosts at first, but then you discover you're the only one who isn't human."

People who tell ghost stories in public usually harbor a desire to scare others. After the young woman finished, she saw that of Bo He and Qin Chuan, one was calm and the other was expressionless. Finding it dull, she immediately shut up.

But in the next second, the unexpected happened.

The lights in the elevator suddenly went out!

Everyone was plunged into darkness.

The elevator shuddered for a moment, then stopped moving.

Immediately after, an alarm sounded from outside. Separated by the elevator doors, it echoed through the empty space of the building, exceptionally clear.

The two young women were the first to scream.

This was a natural reaction to a sudden incident, born of panic and anxiety.

Qin Chuan was also startled, but he quickly composed himself.

He noticed that Bo He hadn't screamed.

The young women's lung capacity was simply too good. After ten seconds, Qin Chuan couldn't take it anymore.

"Quiet!"

His voice had a particular authority in the small space.

The screaming stopped abruptly, as if a duck about to be slaughtered had its neck squeezed.

"It's just a power outage, not the end of the world."

With that, he pressed the emergency call button in the elevator.