Chapter 408
Shi Yao’s brow furrowed deeper, eyes darkening, lips pressed into a thin line.
Alarieka scanned the chaotic data on her screen, clicking her tongue in irritation: “Spit it out already. Since when do you hesitate like this? It’s agonizing to watch.”
Shi Yao’s eyes darkened further.
You think you’re more anxious than me?
He inhaled sharply, snatched the tissue with a scowl, and thoroughly wiped the water away.
Alarieka kept her eyes glued to the data, tilting her chin up: “Make sure it’s spotless.”
Shi Yao’s expression soured. He crumpled the tissue and hurled it precisely into the trash bin.
Silence fell across the desk. Alarieka assumed he’d left.
Then shadows shifted—someone blocked the sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling window beside her.
Alarieka glanced up, eyebrows lifting slightly.
Shi Yao stood beside her, staring down impassively.
She barely acknowledged him, returning to the data curves: “Say whatever else you need to. Then report to tech. If there are program issues, Old Yang will consult you. Otherwise, do as you please.”
“Alarieka.”
His voice held an unsettling calm.
Distractedly, she hummed: “Go on.”
“Do you still not understand what I’m saying?”
Alarieka couldn’t fathom his fixation: “I know you weren’t dating that girl. The pajamas were new, you threw them out. I misunderstood your relationship. My apologies. Satisfied?”
“Anything else?”
She asked absently.
“Yes.”
Her fingers danced across the keyboard, indifferent. “Then speak.”
“Don’t ever misunderstand me again.”
Alarieka raised an eyebrow: “Fine. What else?”
Suddenly, a hand shot out, gripping her chin and forcing her face upward—plunging her into Shi Yao’s fierce, penetrating gaze.
She froze, bewildered: “…What are you doing?”
Lips pressed tight, expression thunderous, his tone turned rough: “Remember this—I already have someone I like. Don’t get any ideas.”
“Someone you like?”
Understanding dawned, her gaze turning complex.
Chapter 408
Alarieka and Victor had never noticed any girl close to Victor all this time—not a single one, except for that girl today.
Could Victor actually like someone?
No way.
It wasn’t baseless suspicion.
When Victor said those words, his face looked as sour as spoiled milk, his tone aggressive like a challenge, his temper flaring—nothing about it suggested romance. It felt like outright provocation, as if he might throw a punch any second.
Alarieka wanted to press for details, doubting Victor’s sincerity.
But given she’d misunderstood his relationship with that girl earlier, and Victor clearly minded her assumption—plus, despite his foul mood, his ears flushed bright red—he probably wasn’t lying.
Alarieka nodded earnestly. “Alright, I understand.”
She got it: if Victor’s crush became his girlfriend, she’d dislike knowing his friends once suspected him with someone else.
Curiosity nudged Alarieka. “Who is it? I’ve never seen you close to any girl.”
Victor’s expression twisted instantly, though his tone stayed sharp. “You know who.”
Alarieka pointed at herself, baffled. “I know?”
Victor stared her down.
Alarieka paused, then a name clicked.
Chapter 408
As suspicion dawned, her face contorted worse than Victor’s.
Victor’s eyes widened, gleaming with something like hope.
Alarieka couldn’t grasp the logic, her thoughts churning. Hesitantly, she ventured, “You couldn’t possibly like…”
Victor stepped closer.
Alarieka thought, How could that be? but forced out, “It’s not… Jaylene, is it?”
The moment she spoke, Victor’s face darkened like roadkill. His eyes blazed at her, lips trembling as if ready to bite her head off.
So not Jaylene.
Alarieka panicked, terrified he’d quit his job at her place over this.
She backpedaled fast. “Don’t be mad if I’m wrong! You never mention other female friends—Jaylene was my only guess.”
Victor’s glare didn’t soften. His whole body radiated Back off—I’m furious.
He growled, “You have no idea.”
Alarieka murmured, “I’m sorry.”