Chapter 10: Have You Been to the Civil Affairs Bureau: The Five-License Lady Strikes Again
Keira just keeps on giving—and by “giving,” I mean a masterclass in stubbornness, versatility, and playing five-dimensional chess with a man who doesn’t even know he’s on the board. If you thought she was done after fixing the air conditioner, buckle up.
## What happened?
We open on a delicious misunderstanding: Lewis’s phone rings, and for a split second, he panics, thinking “Need Iron” is Keira. The relief when he realizes the call didn’t go through is palpable—and hilarious, because we know the truth. Keira, meanwhile, is multitasking like a pro, texting “Grandson” (still blissfully unaware Lewis, her husband, is the man she’s venting to) while on the phone with Samuel, demanding he dig up Lewis’s private number. Samuel’s protests are met with a brutal “That’s because you’re useless.” I love her energy.
Tom, ever the loyal watchdog, escorts her out and smugly tells her his boss’s private number is confidential. Keira’s retort? “One day, not only will I have your boss’s phone number but also his WhatsApp.” Tom basically laughs in her face. Two seconds later, her phone buzzes—Lewis himself sends her a WhatsApp message saying, “Call me anytime when you’re free.” The irony is so thick you could choke on it, and Tom’s face must have been a picture.
But Keira doesn’t stop there. She shows up at Lewis’s lunch meeting as the *head chef*, confidently introducing the dishes and whispering in Lewis’s ear: “You should go check the Civil Affairs Bureau.” The man is speechless. Then, when challenged, Keira casually drops not one, not two, but *five different work licenses* from her pocket, and when Tom gasps at her five part-time jobs, she deadpans, “No, there are some that I didn’t bring with me.” Iconic.
Lewis, instead of caving, demands to know who leaked his schedule. Keira is kicked out again. But instead of leaving, she waits outside, stewing, and posts a frustrated story: “Don’t be angry. One should be patient with little brats.” Lewis, browsing his phone, sees it and immediately texts “Need Iron” (who is, of course, Keira) to ask if she’s some elderly grandma. She clarifies she was cursing at someone, and they share a warm, witty exchange. He even asks to visit Granny tonight, and she sends him her address—unaware he’s about to walk straight into his own wife’s apartment.
## Key moments
- Lewis’s split-second fear that “Need Iron” is Keira—before realizing it’s a false alarm.
- Keira’s bold prediction that she’ll have Lewis’s private number and WhatsApp, immediately validated when he texts her as “Grandson.”
- The chef reveal: Keira waltzes into Lewis’s private lunch as the head chef and whispers her Civil Affairs Bureau plea.
- The infamous five-license drop—Keira nonchalantly proving she’s a professional repair tech, chef, and more.
- Lewis’s decision to investigate who leaked his schedule, completely missing the real mystery.
- The parallel texting conversation between “Need Iron” and “Grandson,” where they bond over insulting an annoying person (each other).
- Keira sending Lewis her address for a Granny visit, setting up the inevitable collision course.
## Character development
Keira continues to be the most delightfully unpredictable protagonist. Her tenacity isn’t just stubbornness; it’s a *strategy*. She cycles through jobs like most people change clothes, leveraging every role to get closer to Lewis. Her intelligence shines in her ability to adapt—when one door closes (being kicked out), she opens another as a chef. But what’s truly compelling is her vulnerability beneath the bravado. When she’s standing alone outside the private room, annoyed and frustrated, and has no one in her WhatsApp contacts to rant to—that’s a sobering moment. She’s a whirlwind of competence, but she’s also isolated. Her friendship with “Grandson” is her only emotional outlet, and the fact that it’s her *husband* adds a bittersweet layer.
Lewis, meanwhile, is slowly revealing cracks in his icy facade. He’s still a control freak, but his immediate concern over “Need Iron” cursing at someone shows he’s more invested in her emotional state than he’d admit. His text exchange with her is genuinely warm—he offers witty comebacks, he asks about his grandmother, he even hints at visiting. This is not the same man who coldly asks “Who leaked my schedule?” He compartmentalizes his life: the unyielding CEO who dismisses Keira, and the compassionate grandson who dotes on an elderly woman he’s never met. The dissonance is fascinating and sets up a spectacular crash when the walls inevitably break.
Tom is also growing in small but meaningful ways. He softens toward Keira after she fixes the air conditioner, acknowledging her skill. But his fear of her—embodied by his paranoia at the restaurant—hints that he’s starting to respect her chaotic energy, even if he’d never admit it.
## My thoughts
This chapter is a masterclass in dramatic irony and comedic timing. I was grinning from ear to ear when Keira dropped those five licenses. It’s such a delicious visual—this whirlwind of a woman pulling out credentials like a magician revealing cards. The author knows exactly how to keep tension high while balancing humor. Every scene is layered with meaning: Keira’s relentless pursuit isn’t just annoying for Lewis; it’s a lifeline for her. She’s trying to break through his walls, but she’s also barreling toward a collision with her own secret identity.
The double life of Keira as “Need Iron” is the emotional core here. The text conversation between her and Lewis is touching, almost poetic. They connect so naturally when they’re anonymous—witty, warm, playful. It highlights what’s missing in their real-world interactions: honesty and vulnerability. The moment where Lewis assumes “Need Iron” must be elderly, and she corrects him with a curse… it’s such a human moment. It makes me ache for them to discover each other’s identity, but also dread the inevitable fallout.
If I have one minor critique, it’s that Lewis’s refusal to even entertain the possibility of a marriage is starting to strain credibility. At some point, a rational man might just check the Civil Affairs Bureau to shut her up. But I understand it’s necessary for the plot’s slow burn, and it does amplify the payoff. Still, I’m impatient! The storytelling is so addictive because every chapter ends with a hook that makes you desperate for more.
## Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.8/5
## What happens next?
This is where it gets *really* good. Keira just gave Lewis her address for a visit, thinking he’s coming to see his grandmother. But she *is* the one with his grandmother. So when Lewis shows up at her door, expecting some kind elderly woman, he’s going to be face-to-face with the wife he’s been dismissing all day. Either that, or he’ll arrive and find Granny alone, which will spark a whole new set of questions. Will Keira be there? Will she finally reveal the truth? Also, Lewis’s investigation into his leaked schedule might lead him closer to finding out Keira’s secret employment network. And don’t forget Samuel, who’s searching for Lewis’s private number—what happens when he succeeds? The tension is perfectly poised for a massive, messy, wonderful confrontation.
## Final Verdict
This chapter is a delicious cocktail of comedy, tension, and emotional depth. It masterfully advances the dual narrative of Keira’s public harassment and private connection with Lewis, all while dropping new mysteries (those five licenses are just the tip of the iceberg). The writing balances farce with genuine heart, and the final setup—Lewis about to walk into Keira’s home—is the kind of cliffhanger that makes you want to throw your Kindle across the room, but in the best way possible. If the novel maintains this pace and wit, it’s shaping up to be a modern romantic comedy classic.