The richest man's parents were kidnapped, and his adorable son captivated the entire family.

Xie Yumin's fingertips gripped the edge of the bill tightly, crumpling the yellowed paper.

The IV tubing swayed between her wrists, the reflected cold light making her face appear even paler.

Xie Yumin really didn't expect this.

In just two short days, the hospital bills have been so high!

Especially in the section on drug costs, the prices of imported antibiotics are outrageously high.

"Gu Yinshen, you certainly know how to pick your time to settle accounts."

She tossed the bill onto the bedside table. "But isn't this medication prescription a bit excessive?"

"You had the hospital deliberately prescribe expensive medication just to force me to give in?"

Gu Yinshen flicked the dial of his wristwatch with his finger, then leaned closer.

The cold cedar perfume he wore, mixed with hospital disinfectant, pressed Xie Yumin's back against the cold headboard.

"Is that the kind of person you see me as?"

"You think too much of me as a despicable person."

After saying that, Gu Yinshen took out his phone and swiped to open the screenshot of the hospital's payment system. The bill details jumped on the screen. "All the fees are generated by the system. I don't need to ask someone to make things difficult for you over such a small matter."

"Besides, I don't need to get my hands dirty for such a small amount of money."

He scoffed and tossed his phone onto the bedside table. "Gu's daily turnover is in the tens of millions. If I really wanted to deal with you, I have plenty of ways to do it. Why would I need to tamper with the bills?"

Xie Yumin tasted blood in her throat, and the back of her hand receiving the IV drip throbbed.

Just then, my phone suddenly vibrated under my pillow.

The moment the screen lit up, the landlord's text message demanding rent payment made her pupils shrink sharply.

"Miss Xie, if you're late with the rent again this month, don't blame me for changing the locks."

She hurriedly turned her phone upside down, but Gu Yinshen still managed to catch a glimpse of the screen's contents.

"You even lost your job to take care of Mengmeng, didn't you?"

Gu Yinshen smiled coldly when he saw the text message: "Seven job interview rejections, and now he's almost at the point of losing his place to live."

After saying that, his smile grew even wider. "Do you think I need to add fuel to the fire for someone in your situation?"

Xie Yumin remained silent.

Since taking care of Mengmeng due to her allergies, she spent half a month going to job interviews, but lost job opportunities one after another because of frequently taking leave to take care of her child.

The landlord's threats and the exorbitant bill in front of her were intertwined, making it almost impossible for her to breathe.

"You think you can tie me down with money? Even if I have to sleep under a bridge or collect scraps, I'll still give you this money!"

"You make it sound so convincing, but... do you think I care about how you do it?"

Gu Yinshen crossed his arms and looked down at Xie Yumin with a mocking smile: "I don't care how you repay the money, whether you sleep under a bridge or collect scraps."

"But do you think you can pay back this money in a short period of time, given your current situation?"

He paused, glancing at Xie Yumin's pale knuckles. "Even if you really pay it all off, where will you go then? Sleep on the streets?"

Xie Yumin gripped the corner of the blanket tightly, her nails almost digging into her palms.

"And Mengmeng too."

Gu Yinshen bent down and leaned closer, his breath brushing against her ear, "You probably don't want her to see you in this disheveled state, without even a place to shelter from the wind and rain."

These words struck Xie Yumin like a heavy hammer, making her eyes burn.

She remembered Mengmeng's bright, sparkling eyes, and the way the child cuddled and acted affectionately around her. If Mengmeng were to see her in this state of embarrassment...

Seeing her silence, Gu Yinshen straightened up, straightened his crooked tie, and his tone suddenly softened.

"To be honest, I didn't want to rush you for this money, but you know what kind of person Ruolan is."

Gu Yinshen shrugged. "Once she realizes what's happening, she'll only make things worse."

"I'm already being lenient by approaching you privately to resolve this."

"So, what do you want?"

Xie Yumin gritted her teeth and spoke, her voice filled with suppressed anger, "If you're trying to prevent me from seeing Mengmeng this way, then you..."

"Tsk tsk tsk, I told you not to think of me as so despicable."

Gu Yinshen took out a gold-embossed business card from the inside pocket of his suit and casually tossed it onto her lap. "Mengmeng likes you. I don't need to let someone as insignificant as you make me a bad father in Mengmeng's eyes."

"I need a secretary. If you're interested, come for an interview."

He raised an eyebrow, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes, "Considering our relationship, if you pass the interview, the salary and benefits won't be bad."

Xie Yumin stared at the gold-embossed business card on her leg, her fingers clenching into a fist under the sheet and then relaxing.

"I agree to the interview." Her voice was hoarse, but each word was clear, as if it were about to burst out of the confines of her throat.

Gu Yinshen, one hand in his pocket, leisurely smoothed the wrinkles in his cuffs. Hearing this, he raised an eyebrow: "So eager? I've heard that pawnshops in the west of the city collect old items; maybe you have some at home..."

"That's not necessary."

Xie Yumin suddenly looked up, the IV tube swaying with the movement, casting shimmering light and shadow. "I will be at Gu's Building at 10 a.m. the day after tomorrow."

She picked up the business card, the sharp edge leaving red marks on her palm. "I don't like owing favors, and I especially don't like being given charity."

Gu Yinshen stared at her stubborn brows and eyes, and suddenly chuckled softly.

He stepped forward, his shadow completely enveloping the person on the hospital bed, his voice tinged with amusement: "I hope Miss Xie won't regret it later."

"After all, working under me is not as simple as coaxing Mengmeng to sleep."

Xie Yumin turned her face away, looking at the ticking clock on the wall: "President Gu should worry about his own affairs."

She paused, her tone as cold as ice, "How do you plan to explain things to Ruolan?"

"I don't believe she would agree to let me be your secretary."

The air seemed to freeze instantly, and Gu Yinshen's gaze suddenly sharpened.

He straightened up, reached for the suit jacket draped over the back of the chair, his movements elegant yet carrying an undeniable sense of pressure: "Miss Xie, just mind your own business."

Before leaving, he glanced at the bill on the bedside table. "Oh, by the way, I've already paid the hospital fees. Consider it... an advance payment for my interview travel expenses."

The ward door slammed shut, and Xie Yumin collapsed onto her pillow, staring at the flickering light and shadow on the ceiling.

The business card in her pocket was digging into her thigh, reminding her that what seemed like an opportunity was actually a deeper quagmire.

But thinking of Mengmeng's innocent smile, she clenched her fists...

Although I don't know what Gu Yinshen is planning, he has given me this opportunity!

At least I'll be able to meet Mengmeng again in the future, so I should do everything I can to seize this opportunity.

Even if I have to constantly watch Gu Yinshen's expression or Ruolan's disdain, it doesn't matter to me!