Chapter 14 The Collection Room
The next day I slept straight until noon.
I jumped up in fright only to realize the Boss had already left.
He did not wake me for work.
I was still wondering about it when I saw the handwritten sticky note on the table.
"Out on business. If hungry, call this number. Food will be delivered."
The handwriting was neat, followed by a string of numbers.
I had no plans to call. What if the Boss discovered his employee woke at noon and scolded me to death?
Instead I opened the chat with my Online Boyfriend.
"Great. The Boss gave me no tasks."
"I only just woke up."
He replied a few minutes later.
"It's good you slept well. Remember to eat breakfast."
We chatted for a while before a stranger sent me a friend request.
Was it work-related?
I accepted it in confusion.
The other side seemed to have been waiting. Before I could type, a long message arrived.
"Xu Ning, I must tell you. My brother has someone else in his heart."
"He has been watching a female streamer. Open the second room on the left and you will understand."
"The password is 0504. It is the birthday of the person he likes."
May 4th? What a coincidence. It was my birthday too.
I knew I should not, yet curiosity won.
Who could make the perfectionist Boss fall for her, especially someone who shared my birthday?
I took a deep breath and entered the password.
The room was neither a bedroom nor a study. It looked like a collection room.
I walked in slowly.
Ceramic pieces filled the space. Each photo paired with the real object, yet the real ones looked far superior.
They all seemed like things I had made.
There were origami pieces I had folded as well.
And printed chat records.
It must belong to the Boss and the person he liked. I never expected someone of his status to do something so childish.
What was this? I picked up the paper.
No profile picture, only dialogue.
"Thank you for the reward."
"It's nothing. I enjoy watching your Livestream."
"Would you be willing to be with me? I can catch all your emotions."
"Okay."
The confession sounded exactly like the words my Online Boyfriend once said.
My scalp tingled as I flipped the paper over.
The back held no more records, only a beautifully handwritten name.
"Little Lemon."
That was my Livestream name.
Something inside my chest collapsed. I opened the chat with my Online Boyfriend again.
He had already sent, "What's wrong? Are you okay?"
I had not replied yet.
Just as I tried to think of how to test him, the door suddenly opened.
I stood frozen, holding the printed paper, facing the Boss.
He stood at the doorway in a black shirt, sleeves rolled to his forearms, veins standing out.
My throat went dry. "You...?"
He said nothing. His gaze slid from the paper in my hand to my feet. When it rose again, his throat moved.
"Yes."
One word hit me in the chest. My heart lost its rhythm.
"I am your husband."
He stepped forward. The door clicked shut behind him.
The room fell so quiet I could only hear our overlapping breaths.
"It was me," the Boss said, voice low and heavy. "I was the Top Donor. The confession was mine."
He paused, then added, "All of it was me."
My mind buzzed. I stepped back without thinking. My waist hit the display stand and a ceramic cup wobbled.
He caught it instantly. Our bodies suddenly drew close, his heat burning against me.
"Afraid?" He leaned down, voice brushing my ear. "Or do you hate it?"
I shook my head.
"Are you a collector?"
I shook my head again.
"Are you two different people?"
I pointed at the entire room filled with things connected to me.
"No. I have a secret crush."
The moment the words left me, he took the paper from my hand.
In its place, he laced our fingers together.
"Will you let me become your offline husband?"