From Simp to National Heartthrob - Chapter 9:

Chapter 9: Target of Jealousy

“Chen Yi was with his girlfriend for three years, and the most they ever did was hold hands. Even when they kissed, it was just a quick peck. Nothing beyond that.”

“Seriously? Other couples do everything, even things they shouldn’t, within a year. Was theirs some kind of platonic love?”

“Platonic? Chen Yi was the ultimate simp!”

Hearing these words, Chen Yi let out a soft laugh, tinged with sorrow and pain.

Some of these rumors in the company had spread after his breakup with Zhou Meng, but most of them had come from his so-called closest buddy.

Sometimes you think someone cares about you, but when interests clash, those secrets become daggers in their hands.

He had been too naïve. In the workplace, pure friendship didn’t exist.

10 a.m., inside the company’s meeting room.

The room was deathly silent, the tension suffocating.

The manager frowned, tapping the table lightly with his fingers. He said sternly, “The project submitted to Party A failed twice in a row. What went wrong?”

His sharp gaze swept across everyone’s faces, filled with suppressed anger.

Chen Yi furrowed his brows and, after a pause, calmly spoke, “Manager, I believe the core issue isn’t with the plan’s logic but with the bugs in the code. If we focus on fixing the bugs, we can solve the problem.”

The manager’s anger faded slightly. He looked at Chen Yi expectantly and nodded in agreement, “Chen Yi, I trust your ability. You’ll take charge of this project. Everyone else, cooperate with him.”

After the meeting, as the employees left the room one by one, Chen Yi stood up to leave too—only to be blocked by colleagues from Team A.

Jiang Ran, someone who used to be on decent terms with Chen Yi, crossed his arms and looked him up and down with a mocking sneer. “Chen Yi, we called you ‘Manager Chen’ out of politeness. You didn’t really take it seriously, did you?”

“Exactly. Didn’t you request a transfer to Team B? And now you pull this? Pretty impressive, huh? We worked our asses off on that plan, and you just dismissed it with one sentence? ‘Fix the bugs’—are you joking or just showing off?”

Another colleague, eyes ringed with dark circles, glared at Chen Yi and said coldly, “The manager gave the project to you. Fine, go do it yourself. Who do you think you are…”

With that, he stormed out in frustration.

Chen Yi gave a helpless smile. He didn’t want to explain, nor did he have the energy to deal with this group.

After all, some of them had been overworked for so long, being treated like cattle, it was normal for their tempers to flare.

As for the others, they were like him—quietly overworked until burnout.

“Let’s go. Let’s see how long his glory lasts,” Jiang Ran muttered before leaving, still throwing shade at Chen Yi on his way out.

Over the years in Team A, Chen Yi had always been helpful. Whenever his coworkers were overloaded, he was there to lend a hand.

But after the New Year, when he applied to transfer teams to make time for his weight loss and body sculpting, he declined their requests for help a few times. He hadn’t expected that would make them hate him.

To them, his refusal was automatically a betrayal.

Truly, it was hard to be a good person.

“Fine being a simp in love, but he’s also a simp at work?” a coworker sneered in contempt. Then he joked, “Chen Yi must’ve simp’ed for so long, it’s just second nature now.”

The room burst into mocking laughter.

“You really think Chen Yi broke up with Zhou Meng?”

“He’s probably playing hard to get.”

“I bet he’ll be back with Zhou Meng in less than three days.”

“Three days? I say not even 48 hours. He’s been groveling to Zhou Meng for three years. No way he lets go that easy.”

Chen Yi didn’t care about the disdain or ridicule.

To him, these people weren’t worth a second thought.

He had the system. There was no need to stoop to their level. If they really went crazy, they could ruin the bright future he was building.

Chen Yi returned to his workstation and buried himself in fixing the project plan.

Originally, fixing the bugs would’ve taken about three hours. But with the system’s help, he completed it in just one and a half hours.

Still, he waited another two hours before sending the revised plan to the manager—too fast, and he risked making the manager jealous.

In the workplace, outshining your superior was dangerous.

Less than an hour later, the manager came over beaming. He addressed the entire office loudly, “The project has been approved! Chen Yi solved the problem—everyone should learn from him. If you have work issues, consult Chen Yi more often.”

Then he walked over to Chen Yi, patted his shoulder, and said, “The plan you submitted was well received by Party A. You’re truly a rare talent in the company. Your reward will be issued with your next paycheck.”

Scattered applause echoed through the office, but Chen Yi clearly saw envy and resentment in the eyes around him.

He didn’t care.

The higher you stood, the colder it got. No wonder male gods liked to stay quiet—jealousy turned people ugly.

After lunch, during his nap break, Chen Yi’s consciousness unexpectedly entered the Language Simulation Training Room.

Inside were not only simulated environments but also lessons from expert teachers. Chen Yi calmly scanned the space.

He discovered a new method for learning languages.

During live conversations, a display showed both Chinese and French, with grammar reminders if he made a mistake.

When he opened his eyes again, he realized he had unknowingly practiced for two full hours in the simulation room.

[Ding! Congratulations, host, on completing Side Mission 2: Achieve Level 1 Practice Proficiency.]

[Reward: 1 lucky draw opportunity.]

The familiar prize wheel appeared again. This time, he landed on a blue ball.

[Reward: 1 Adaptability Card (usable in work and life).]

Chen Yi furrowed his brow slightly. It didn’t seem very useful—classic tech guy thinking.

Cash would’ve been more practical.

…

“Got your transfer. Tonight I’ll take you out for a fancy dinner.”

Zhou Meng listened to Zhao Mingda’s voice over the phone and felt deep disdain.

He was the Zhao family’s young master, yet after all she’d done, he only transferred her 5,000 yuan?

Thinking back to when she was with Chen Yi, he never asked for anything.

Whenever she and her bestie went shopping, if she saw clothes she liked and texted Chen Yi that she wanted them, he’d instantly send her 5,000 yuan.

Comparison really did sting.

Even though she was full of dissatisfaction, Zhou Meng could only swallow it down and say sweetly, “Darling, then come pick me up early tonight.”