I slept with my sister's classmate, and she turned out to be my boss.

At 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Chen Dapeng was organizing materials when his phone vibrated.

Chen Yang sent a WeChat message: "At noon, at Qingshun's house, He Ying will also be there. Just go there."

Chen Dapeng stared at the message for a few seconds and replied with a single word: "Okay."

He put down his phone, leaned back in his chair, and felt his heart beating faster than usual.

When her older sister arrived, He Ying also went, and the three of them ate together.

The older sister knew nothing, He Ying knew everything, and he himself knew everything.

How should we eat this meal?

He took a deep breath, stood up, and left the office.

Qingshun Renjia is a restaurant that has been open for more than ten years. It is located less than five minutes from the east gate of the county government.

The storefront isn't big, but business has always been good.

Chen Dapeng arrived at 11:50.

The waiter came over, and he gave Chen Yang's name. He was then led to a small private room on the second floor.

The private room wasn't big; a round table could seat six or seven people.

Chen Dapeng sat down, and the waiter poured him a cup of tea.

At 12:05, the door to the private room was pushed open.

Chen Yang walked in, wearing a khaki trench coat over a black dress, carrying a briefcase and a tote bag.

"sister."

"There was a traffic jam on the way." Chen Yang put down his things, sat down opposite him, and looked him up and down. "You've lost weight."

"I've only been here for two weeks."

"We can tell in two weeks." Chen Yang picked up his teacup, took a sip, and glanced around the private room. "He Ying hasn't arrived yet?"

"It should be soon."

Chen Yang put down his teacup and looked at him:

"How did you feel about meeting Sister He Ying?"

Chen Dapeng felt a pang of anxiety, but he didn't show it on his face: "It's great. They take good care of me at work too."

"I knew it," Chen Yang said, leaning back in his chair with a hint of smugness in his voice. "She was reliable in college, with good grades and strong abilities. It's your good fortune that she can take care of you."

"Um."

"By the way," Chen Yang put down his teacup and looked at him seriously, "She's all alone here, so you should help her out more often. When she's busy with work, she doesn't even have time for a hot meal. Bring her some food when you have time, so she doesn't always have to take care of you."

Chen Dapeng picked up his teacup and took a sip: "Sister, she's the county magistrate, and I'm just a junior staff member. If I hang around her every day, people will gossip."

"What's there to gossip about?" Chen Yang said dismissively. "You're her best friend's brother, and she asked you to look after her. Isn't it only natural for you to care about her?"

Chen Dapeng didn't reply and put down his teacup.

Chen Yang glanced at him, about to say something, when there was a knock on the door of the private room.

The waiter opened the door, and He Ying walked in.

Today she wore a light gray suit jacket over a white undershirt, her hair was tied in a low ponytail, and she wore light makeup, making her look more gentle than when she was at work.

Chen Yang immediately stood up, smiling as he walked over: "Yingying!"

He Ying smiled, walked over and hugged Chen Yang: "Long time no see, I missed you so much."

"I missed you so much too." Chen Yang took her hand and looked her up and down. "You've lost weight."

"It's alright." He Ying's gaze swept over and landed on Chen Dapeng, pausing for a second, "Little Chen."

Chen Dapeng stood up: "Hello, County Chief He."

"Sit down." He Ying looked away and sat down next to Chen Yang.

The three people sat down.

Chen Yang sat in the middle, with He Ying on his left and Chen Dapeng on his right.

The waiter handed over the menu, which Chen Yang took, flipped through a few pages, and then handed to He Ying: "You order."

He Ying took the menu, flipped through a couple of pages, and ordered a few dishes—steamed sea bass, braised pork ribs, water spinach with garlic, and a hot and sour soup.

"Is that enough?" He Ying asked.

"That's enough." Chen Yang handed the menu to the waiter. "And another pot of chrysanthemum tea."

The waiter left, and the private room became quiet.

Chen Yang glanced at He Ying, then at Chen Dapeng, and suddenly laughed: "There's something strange about the two of you sitting together."

Chen Dapeng remained silent.

He Ying picked up her teacup, took a sip, and said without changing her expression, "What's so strange about it?"

"I can't quite put my finger on it," Chen Yang tilted his head, "but you two seem really reserved. Da Peng, are you afraid of Sister He Ying?"

"no."

Chen Dapeng shook his head without changing his expression.

"Then why do you keep calling her 'County Magistrate He'?" Chen Yang rolled his eyes at him. "She's your sister's classmate, not an outsider. Call her Sister Ying."

Chen Dapeng glanced at He Ying.

He Ying glanced at him, her lips twitched slightly, but she didn't say anything.

"Shout!"

Chen Yang urged him.

"...Sister Ying."

Chen Dapeng called out.

He Ying hummed in agreement, picked up her teacup, and took a sip.

Chen Yang nodded in satisfaction: "That's right. You two should visit each other more often, don't act like strangers."

He Ying's brow twitched almost imperceptibly.

Chen Dapeng lowered his head and softly hummed in agreement.

The dishes were served one after another.

Chen Yang placed a piece of pork rib in He Ying's bowl, and another piece in Chen Dapeng's bowl: "You two have both lost weight, eat more."

He Ying lowered her head and ate the ribs very slowly.

Chen Dapeng also lowered his head and ate, finishing a piece of pork rib in just a few bites.

"Dapeng, eat slowly."

Chen Yang couldn't help but laugh at the way he ate.

He Ying also looked up at him, her lips curving slightly, a faint smile, but Chen Dapeng noticed it.

He slowed down, picked up his teacup, and took a sip.

"Yingying." Chen Yang put down his chopsticks. "Dapeng is with you. If he does anything wrong, just tell him directly. Don't be shy."

"He's doing well." He Ying picked up a piece of water spinach and said in a very casual tone, "He's very diligent at work and writes good reports."

"Really?" Chen Yang turned to look at Chen Dapeng. "You're still writing reports?"

"It's just a normal research report," Chen Dapeng nodded.

"If Yingying says you write well, then you really do write well."

Chen Yang said with a smile.

He Ying didn't reply and continued eating.

Halfway through the meal, Chen Yang suddenly asked, "Yingying, how's your personal life going?"

Chen Dapeng paused for a moment while holding the chopsticks.

He Ying put down her chopsticks and picked up her teacup: "Let it be."

"What do you mean by 'go with the flow'?" Chen Yang persisted. "You're just too picky. So many people were pursuing you in college, but you didn't like any of them. Not to mention after you started working, you're always busy, busy, busy, and you've wasted your time."

"Sister," Chen Dapeng couldn't help but say, "Don't say these things."

"What's wrong? Did I say something wrong?" Chen Yang turned to look at him.

Chen Dapeng opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything.

He Ying smiled and said, "Your brother is right, let's not talk about this anymore. I know what I'm doing."

Chen Yang glanced at He Ying, then at Chen Dapeng, his gaze sweeping back and forth between the two men twice before he chuckled.

"Alright, alright, I won't say anymore. You two have finally formed a united front."

Chen Dapeng lowered his head and pretended to eat fish.

He Ying also lowered her head and used her chopsticks to stir the rice in her bowl.

After finishing his meal, Chen Yang stood up and went to the front desk to pay the bill.

The waiter said the bill for the Lily Hall had already been settled.

Chen Yang paused for a moment, then turned to look at He Ying.

He Ying was putting on her coat, not even looking up: "I got married."

"I promised I'd treat you."

"You're a guest." He Ying looked up, smiled, and said, "You can treat me next time."

Chen Yang didn't argue anymore, and said with a smile, "Okay, I'll treat you next time."

The three people walked out of the restaurant.

Chen Yang stood at the door, checked the time, and said, "I have a meeting this afternoon, I have to go."

"I'll take you," He Ying said.

"No need, I drove." Chen Yang turned to Chen Dapeng, "Dapeng, why don't you give Sister He Ying a ride?"

Chen Dapeng glanced at He Ying.

He Ying didn't say anything.

Chen Yang got into the car, rolled down the window, and waved to them: "I'm leaving. You two take care."

The car drove away and disappeared into the traffic.

Chen Dapeng and He Ying stood at the restaurant entrance, neither of them speaking.

A few seconds later, He Ying turned and walked towards the county government.

Chen Dapeng followed, falling half a step behind her.

The two walked side by side on the sidewalk.

"Your sister is still the same as ever," He Ying suddenly said, her tone more relaxed than in the private room, "always worrying about this and that."

That's just how she is.

Chen Dapeng smiled faintly.

The two fell silent again.

After walking for a while, He Ying suddenly asked, "Has your sister mentioned me to you?"

"What is it?"

"Well..." He Ying paused for a moment, "Never mind, it's nothing."

Chen Dapeng did not ask any further questions.

When they reached the entrance of the government compound, He Ying stopped, turned around and looked at him: "You have to go to work this afternoon, you should go back first."

"Um."

Chen Dapeng turned and walked into the courtyard.

After walking a few steps, I heard He Ying say behind me, "Dapeng."

He stopped and turned around.

He Ying stood at the door, sunlight shining on her.

She looked at him, her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she said nothing.

"It's alright. Go ahead."

Chen Dapeng nodded, turned around and left.

Even after he had walked a long way, he could still feel her gaze on his back.

In the afternoon, Chen Dapeng sat at his workstation, absentmindedly flipping through the materials.

Lin Xiaowan walked in from outside, paused as she passed his desk, and lowered her voice:

"Xiao Chen, someone saw you and the county magistrate standing in front of Qing Shun's house for quite a while."

Chen Dapeng looked up and glanced at her.

"There's a receptionist."

"Reception?"

Chen Dapeng nodded and said nothing more.

Lin Xiaowan didn't ask any more questions and returned to her seat.

Chen Dapeng lowered his head and continued flipping through the materials, but he couldn't concentrate on reading a single word.

"There are no secrets in this unit."

"From now on, I must be extremely careful with every word and action!"

He silently murmured to himself...