Jiang Jiang did not speak. Her gaze intentionally or unintentionally fell behind Fu Xiaoyin, and her expression was clearly somewhat guilty and nervous.
Fu Xiaoyin instantly felt a chill down her back. A bad premonition crept into her heart. Before she could turn around to confirm her guess, she heard a familiar, indifferent voice sound behind her.
"Manager Fu, during working hours you're not at your workstation handling work, yet you have the leisure to come to the lounge and drink tea?"
Fu Xiaoyin immediately felt as though all the hairs on her body were about to stand up. Speaking ill of someone behind her back and getting caught on the spot—why was she so unlucky?
Fu Xiaoyin was not even sure how much Ji Xu'an had heard.
She subconsciously looked at Jiang Jiang. Jiang Jiang gave her an expression that said there was nothing she could do.
Fu Xiaoyin could only stand up and face Ji Xu'an directly. Under Ji Xu'an's expressionless gaze, Fu Xiaoyin tugged at the corner of her mouth and revealed a slightly awkward smile.
"Work also needs a balance between labor and rest. The lounge area was set up for everyone to rest, wasn't it?"
The moment she finished speaking, Fu Xiaoyin nearly bit her tongue.
Very good. She had actually confronted her boss head-on!
Ji Xu'an did not become angry because of Fu Xiaoyin's rebuttal. From beginning to end, she maintained that indifferent expression. "Then are you done resting now?"
Fu Xiaoyin could not possibly say she was not done, could she?
When Ji Xu'an was not around, she could still say a few bad things about Ji Xu'an in front of Jiang Jiang. But now that Ji Xu'an herself was here, even if Fu Xiaoyin had a hundred times the courage, she would not dare to smear Ji Xu'an to her face.
"Seems about enough. President Ji, then I'll head back first?"
Fu Xiaoyin decided she would find another opportunity later to approach Jiang Jiang. Actually, she was not trying to pry Ji Xu'an's corner. Fu Xiaoyin simply felt that Jiang Jiang being with Ji Xu'an must be very tiring.
From a certain perspective, Ji Xu'an was considered a fairly good partner. She avoided outside suitors like the plague and never gave anyone a chance. Dating someone like that at least meant you did not have to worry about her cheating.
But precisely because Ji Xu'an was too proper, although she was responsible enough toward family, she inevitably lacked a bit of passion. And Jiang Jiang at first glance looked like the kind of pure and shy girl.
Even without personally witnessing the way she and Ji Xu'an interacted, Fu Xiaoyin could guess that usually Jiang Jiang must be the one compromising more.
Of course, perhaps all of this was merely her own assumptions. Fu Xiaoyin herself could not clearly explain what she was thinking. Obviously the person she liked was Ji Xu'an, yet she also felt Jiang Jiang was quite pitiful and lovable.
Probably something like "I see her and feel pity."
Fu Xiaoyin thought perhaps after chasing Ji Xu'an for several years without success, she had blackened.
In short, Fu Xiaoyin decided to add some drama for herself. She would become a stumbling block on Ji Xu'an's road of love.
There was no reason she was still a single dog while Ji Xu'an was already enjoying sweet romance!
How infuriating!
Fu Xiaoyin furiously twisted a handkerchief in her heart. Both of them had been single since birth, so why did her family not arrange a partner for her?
Jealousy distorted her beyond recognition. As Fu Xiaoyin walked away, she kept turning her head back. Ji Xu'an was pushing Jiang Jiang toward her office. The atmosphere between the two did not seem stiff.
Fu Xiaoyin snorted coldly. It must be fake!
Perhaps next Ji Xu'an would welcome a full package of quarrels, cold war, and chasing her wife!
But in reality, the scene inside the office was not as thrilling as Fu Xiaoyin imagined.
Ji Xu'an had not heard what Fu Xiaoyin had said to Jiang Jiang. She had only seen from afar that the two were talking, and Jiang Jiang's expression seemed somewhat unusual, so she stepped forward to interrupt them.
Ji Xu'an did not have a bad impression of Fu Xiaoyin. Although this person occasionally went off-key, her work ability was worthy of affirmation.
If Fu Xiaoyin knew Ji Xu'an's evaluation of her, she would certainly feel very depressed. She believed she had chased Ji Xu'an for several years, yet Ji Xu'an had not even realized she was pursuing her.
It was not entirely Ji Xu'an's fault. Fu Xiaoyin had spent most of her time on work. In the company, her attitude toward Ji Xu'an was no different from other employees. Only when they met privately would Fu Xiaoyin show more enthusiasm.
While recalling Fu Xiaoyin's past words and actions in her mind, Ji Xu'an asked Jiang Jiang seemingly casually, "You and Manager Fu seemed to be chatting quite happily?"
Jiang Jiang pressed her lips together and smiled. As her eyelashes fluttered up and down, a hint of shyness could even be seen. "Sister Fu is very warm. She told me many things about Sister."
"Mm?"
Ji Xu'an first paused slightly because of Jiang Jiang's "Sister Fu." She suddenly recalled something Ji Heyuan had once said.
Jiang Jiang seems to have quite a lot of good Sisters.
Did she like to call every woman older than herself Sister?
Ji Xu'an pursed her lips slightly but said nothing.
Jiang Jiang propped her chin on her hands. "Sister Fu also asked me what my relationship with Sister is."
Ji Xu'an lowered her eyelids slightly. "Mm."
Jiang Jiang stopped speaking. After a few seconds of silence, Ji Xu'an took the initiative to ask, "Then how did you answer her?"
Jiang Jiang blinked her almond-shaped eyes and stared at Ji Xu'an without blinking. "Of course I told the truth."
An inexplicable irritation suddenly surged in Ji Xu'an's heart.
She wanted to ask Jiang Jiang, didn't we agree to pretend to be a couple outside?
Since Jiang Jiang could show no flaws in front of Ji Heyuan, why tell Fu Xiaoyin the truth?
Ji Xu'an moved her lips, but in the end she did not ask.
How Jiang Jiang chose to answer was Jiang Jiang's matter. She had no right to interfere.
Seeing that she was silent, unease gradually surfaced in Jiang Jiang's eyes. She bit her lower lip. "Sister, did I do something wrong? Shouldn't I have told her the truth?"
"No." Ji Xu'an rubbed her brow. "You can do whatever you want."
Jiang Jiang let out a breath of relief. "Actually, after I said it, Sister Fu didn't seem to believe me. She told me that everyone in the company is spreading rumors saying I'm Sister's girlfriend."
"Sister, will this cause you inconvenience?"
For some reason, the irritation in Ji Xu'an's heart seemed to dissipate a little. The tight curve of her lips slowly relaxed. "It's fine."
Seeing that Jiang Jiang still looked somewhat uneasy, Ji Xu'an patiently explained, "What others say is their business. I can't control it."
That statement was somewhat false. Ji Xu'an was the one in power at the company. If she truly did not want everyone to spread such rumors, she had countless ways to stop them. The best method would be for her to personally clarify their relationship.
Saying this simply meant she did not want to manage it.
As for why she did not want to manage it…
Jiang Jiang lowered her eyes, concealing the thoughtful look within them.
Seeing that she seemed a bit tired, Ji Xu'an wanted her to go rest in the small inner room. She had just begun to speak when Jiang Jiang suddenly pressed her palms together and interrupted her.
"Just now Sister Fu seemed to want to add me as a contact, but when I saw Sister, I forgot about it."
Her face showed annoyance. "Will Sister Fu think I was trying to refuse her?"
Ji Xu'an's feelings at this moment were very complicated. Jiang Jiang had placed her first. She should be happy. Yet Jiang Jiang was still thinking about adding Fu Xiaoyin as a contact, clearly having a rather good impression of her.
Ji Xu'an felt a suffocating grievance as though a flower she had painstakingly nurtured had been casually plucked by someone else.
Even if Fu Xiaoyin might not have that kind of intention toward Jiang Jiang, Jiang Jiang also called her Sister. This made Ji Xu'an feel as though she was not that important in Jiang Jiang's heart.
She had clearly only regarded Jiang Jiang as a younger sister. Could possessiveness exist even in familial affection?
Ji Xu'an had always known that she had a strong desire to possess things that belonged to her. But Jiang Jiang was not an object she could manipulate at will. She was a living person, with her own thoughts and the right to choose independently.
Previously she had not minded the existence of Chu Yueqi at all. So why was she now brooding over Fu Xiaoyin's matter?
Ji Xu'an could not understand it.
Jiang Jiang did not give her time to think it through either. She asked, "Sister, can I go out again now to find Sister Fu?"
Ji Xu'an came back to her senses. Her expression did not change, but in the black eyes that stared at Jiang Jiang, something seemed suppressed. "Manager Fu is very busy with work. You will have chances to meet again."
She paused, her tone calm and without ripples. "When Manager Fu left earlier, she did not remind you to add her contact. Perhaps she only mentioned it casually and did not truly take it to heart."
Jiang Jiang suddenly understood. "Is that so?"
Why did Ji Xu'an's words sound somewhat strange?
Ji Xu'an did not know that Jiang Jiang was inwardly complaining about her. She felt as though she heard disappointment in Jiang Jiang's voice, and her expression grew even colder.
Was Fu Xiaoyin really that good at talking?
They had only met for the first time, yet Jiang Jiang already felt so close to her.
Ji Xu'an felt that as an elder sister, it was necessary to remind Jiang Jiang to be more cautious when interacting with others.
"Manager Fu often socializes outside and is very skilled at dealing with people. She also has many friends. If you want to interact with her more, that's fine. However…" Ji Xu'an's tone shifted. "You must not learn from her to smoke or drink. Smoking is harmful to health, and drinking too much also harms the body."
Jiang Jiang widened her eyes in shock. "Sister Fu smokes?"
Jiang Jiang had seen on television that cigarettes were like chronic poison in her eyes. She had heard that smoking too much could kill.
Ji Xu'an showed no embarrassment or guilt in speaking about someone behind her back. "That is her personal hobby. I'm not very clear either. I've only seen it once or twice."
She thought that for such a pure and obedient good child like Jiang Jiang, after learning that Fu Xiaoyin was a "bad woman" who smoked and drank, she should at least give up the idea of becoming friends with her.
For this reason, Ji Xu'an had even gone against her own principles and spoken about someone behind her back.
To her disappointment, Jiang Jiang not only did not feel afraid, but instead looked worried. "Next time I see Sister Fu, I'll try my best to persuade her not to do things that harm her body anymore!"
She cared about Fu Xiaoyin that much?
Ji Xu'an quietly tightened her grip on the pen in her hand.
The dependence and attachment Jiang Jiang had shown toward her a few days ago now felt like a dream. Ji Xu'an had only just experienced the feeling of being completely trusted by someone, and Jiang Jiang seemed to have quickly withdrawn.
She had the illusion that her feelings had been toyed with.
Clearly before, Jiang Jiang had only cared about her and relied on her.
Could it be that in Jiang Jiang's heart, she was not special, but merely someone who could be casually replaced by others?
Jiang Jiang noticed that Ji Xu'an's expression had grown much colder again. She knew that excess was as bad as deficiency. She could not provoke her too harshly. So she stopped mentioning Fu Xiaoyin and shifted the topic to Ji Xu'an herself.
"Sister also must not smoke. You need to take good care of your body. You can't act recklessly just because you're young."
Ji Xu'an's originally cold and rigid expression immediately softened considerably. She gave a quiet "Mm," and when she saw the undisguised concern and worry in Jiang Jiang's eyes, Ji Xu'an finally put her heart completely at ease.
Why should she care about a mere Fu Xiaoyin?
Previously, Chu Yueqi had also acted arrogantly for a period of time, but what was the result? Now she had still been cast aside by Jiang Jiang and forgotten.
A child's liking always comes quickly and fades just as fast—today interested in this one, tomorrow interested in another.
No matter how interesting a toy is, there will come a day when one grows tired of playing with it.
As long as Jiang Jiang was still living in the house she bought, wearing the clothes she bought, being carefully and delicately pampered by her, then no one would be able to replace her position in Jiang Jiang's heart.
After convincing herself, the corners of Ji Xu'an's lips finally curved upward slightly. Just at this moment, Secretary Zhao also had something to report to her, so Ji Xu'an took the opportunity to let Jiang Jiang go into the small inner room.
The soundproofing here was good. After Jiang Jiang closed the door, not a single sound from outside the office could be heard.
The small inner room was simply furnished. Because it was cleaned diligently, there were not many traces belonging to Ji Xu'an inside. But after Jiang Jiang sat down at the edge of the bed, she could still faintly smell Ji Xu'an's perfume.
Although this was Ji Xu'an's bed, and logically Jiang Jiang should not sleep in it, it had been Ji Xu'an herself who told her to come in just now.
Jiang Jiang took off her coat and, without the slightest psychological burden, slipped into the quilt.
Outside the office.
After Secretary Zhao finished reporting on work, he did not leave immediately. He knew Jiang Jiang was also present, so he deliberately lowered his voice. "President Ji, have you read Zheng Zhouzhou's file?"
"Not yet." Ji Xu'an did not even lift her head. "Go ahead."
Secretary Zhao hesitated for a moment. "Although it may not be appropriate to say this, there does seem to be something strange about Miss Zheng."
"The recent production she has been involved with—from the director to the screenwriter—are all students who haven't even graduated yet. Miss Zheng previously didn't know a single person on that team, yet she proactively contacted them and proposed bringing her own investment into the production, only asking to play the female lead."
"It's said that because of this matter, Miss Zheng had quite an unpleasant conflict with her agent. The agent couldn't understand why she would do such a thing, but Miss Zheng seems convinced that this film will definitely become a huge hit."
"And yesterday, just after recovering from a serious illness, Miss Zheng set off for Z City. By coincidence, she ran into the well-known producer Ms. Chen Tang at a hotpot restaurant and even helped her out with quite a significant matter."
"Producer Chen went to that restaurant entirely on a whim. But things were just that coincidental—when a server almost spilled hot soup onto Producer Chen, Miss Zheng appeared and, in order to pull Producer Chen away, even ended up scalding her own leg."
Secretary Zhao felt that everything about this seemed unusual, but how had Zheng Zhouzhou known that Chen Tang would appear there?
Had she followed Chen Tang?
But President Ji had always arranged for people to follow Zheng Zhouzhou. The bodyguards reported that Zheng Zhouzhou went straight to the hotpot restaurant after getting off the plane, even arriving a few minutes earlier than Chen Tang.
She flew alone to Z City just to eat hotpot—no matter how one thought about it, it was strange. Secretary Zhao was more inclined to believe that Zheng Zhouzhou had perhaps long known that Chen Tang would appear at that hotpot restaurant.
But through what channel had Zheng Zhouzhou obtained that information?
Even Chen Tang herself had not been certain of going there—so why did Zheng Zhouzhou know so clearly?
That was what Secretary Zhao could not figure out.
That was why he said Zheng Zhouzhou was very strange.
Hearing this, Ji Xu'an suddenly recalled that Jiang Jiang had once said that Zheng Zhouzhou seemed very familiar with her. When she heard that Jiang Jiang had a nickname, Zheng Zhouzhou had been greatly surprised.
And then there was the matter of Liang Junsheng…
Ji Xu'an lifted her eyelids to look at Secretary Zhao, her tone calm. "Secretary Zhao, do you think there could be someone in this world who possesses some kind of unusual ability? For example, knowing in advance certain things that have not yet happened?"
Secretary Zhao was stunned for a moment. Hearing such words from President Ji, who had never believed in mysticism, felt like a complete break in character.
"You mean… precognition?"
Without waiting for Ji Xu'an to respond, Secretary Zhao continued, "Or maybe transmigration, or rebirth?"
"Or perhaps binding to a system?"
Isn't that how novels usually write it?
People who encounter some extraordinary opportunity always urgently want to change their fate.
There was more joking than seriousness in Secretary Zhao's words. In reality, he did not believe that Zheng Zhouzhou had truly experienced something like that.
After all, according to typical novel logic, a person with such a miraculous opportunity is usually the protagonist—destined to swagger through life, slap faces, kill gods who block her and slay Buddhas who stand in her way, and ultimately reach the pinnacle of life.
But Zheng Zhouzhou was clearly no match for President Ji. All of her actions were within President Ji's sight. As long as President Ji wished, she could easily deal with Zheng Zhouzhou.
Compared to Zheng Zhouzhou, President Ji seemed more like the protagonist, didn't she?
Status and background, ability and methods, appearance and figure—President Ji excelled in every aspect. That was the standard configuration of a protagonist.
Secretary Zhao muttered inwardly to himself. He did not notice that after hearing his words, a thoughtful look appeared in Ji Xu'an's eyes.
After a moment of contemplation, Ji Xu'an instructed him, "Have someone keep a close watch on Zheng Zhouzhou. For now, don't act rashly."
"Don't worry, President Ji. I've already arranged everything."
—
Jiang Jiang slept very deeply.
When Ji Xu'an pushed open the door of the small inner room, she saw a small mound on the bed as soon as she entered—clearly Jiang Jiang was still fast asleep.
Ji Xu'an walked two steps closer to the bed. She had intended to wake Jiang Jiang, but before the words left her mouth, she suddenly froze.
Among the loose strands of long hair, half of Jiang Jiang's cheek was pressed into the pillow, the pillow squeezing out a small puff of soft flesh that looked flushed and rosy.
Her eyes were tightly shut, her long lashes casting a small shadow beneath them, like phoenix butterflies about to spread their wings and fly.
Under the soft light, Jiang Jiang's face was quiet and sweet, making Ji Xu'an unable to bear disturbing her.
Her gaze shifted a few inches to the side, taking in Jiang Jiang's slender wrist resting beside her cheek, including the small black mole on it, every detail clearly visible.
That tiny speck of color was like an ink dot fallen upon snow-white rice paper—vivid and lively.
Ji Xu'an's lashes trembled slightly. She moved her eyes away and swept her gaze around the room, noticing Jiang Jiang's coat placed on the sofa.
After thinking for a moment, Ji Xu'an ultimately did not wake her. Instead, she walked quietly to the sofa and sat down, waiting silently for Jiang Jiang to wake.
There was no hurry to return anyway. Let her sleep a little longer.
—
When Jiang Jiang woke up, her whole body felt warm, as though her limbs had been melted by heat, so soft she could hardly lift them.
She yawned. When she raised her eyes, she noticed someone still sitting on the sofa.
Ji Xu'an seemed to have fallen asleep. She leaned motionless against the sofa, her head slightly tilted, her breathing steady and long.
Jiang Jiang stepped barefoot onto the carpet, making almost no sound as she walked. Her left foot could actually already barely touch the ground, but Ji Xu'an did not know that, and Jiang Jiang had never shown it.
Limping slightly as she approached Ji Xu'an, Jiang Jiang saw that Ji Xu'an's brows were faintly furrowed, as if she were sleeping restlessly.
From her current position looking down at her, Jiang Jiang stared at Ji Xu'an for quite a while. After confirming that she would not wake for the moment, she turned and went to fetch the small blanket draped at the foot of the bed.
Just as she laid it over Ji Xu'an's shoulders, Ji Xu'an suddenly opened her eyes, alertly grabbing Jiang Jiang's wrist. The force was so strong that Jiang Jiang felt pain almost instantly.
She let out a startled cry and instinctively tried to step back, her left foot planting firmly on the ground.
For someone with an injured foot, could one really expect her to remember to steady herself in the midst of fright?
Thus, in pain, Jiang Jiang lost her strength and, quite naturally, fell into Ji Xu'an's arms.
At the very instant she grabbed Jiang Jiang's wrist, Ji Xu'an realized what she had done. She cursed inwardly. To prevent Jiang Jiang from falling, she could only pull her into her embrace.
With a barely audible muffled sound, Jiang Jiang fell onto Ji Xu'an's lap. Her free hand unconsciously grasped Ji Xu'an's shoulder, her entire body leaning weakly and helplessly into Ji Xu'an's arms.
At their closest, Jiang Jiang's lips nearly brushed the corner of Ji Xu'an's eye.
Jiang Jiang was still shaken, her face pale from fright.
She seemed completely unaware of how ambiguous their current posture was, still breathing heavily as she tried to calm her violently pounding heart.
Ji Xu'an's body, however, had gone completely rigid.
One hand held Jiang Jiang's wrist; the other encircled her waist, completely confining her within her embrace. When Ji Xu'an lifted her eyes, she could see Jiang Jiang's slender neck. Higher up were her slightly parted crimson lips, swaying before Ji Xu'an's eyes.
She did not dare look downward, because Jiang Jiang had taken off her coat while sleeping, leaving only a close-fitting white camisole underneath. Both of her arms and her collarbones were fully exposed to the air. Further down, one could even glimpse a hint of a young girl's soft, rounded curves.
Ji Xu'an shut her eyes tightly.
Her entire body was stiff. She felt as though the hand resting at Jiang Jiang's waist was no longer her own.
Yet no matter how she tried to ignore it, Ji Xu'an could still feel how slender and graceful the curve beneath her palm was, as soft as the warmth against her thigh.
Her breaths were filled with the sweet fragrance from Jiang Jiang's body.
Ji Xu'an restrained herself and held her breath, her body tense like a wooden puppet.
At this moment, releasing her was not an option, yet not releasing her was not an option either.
Jiang Jiang seemed to have tugged at her injured ankle again just now. It hurt so much that she kept sucking in sharp breaths. Ji Xu'an could not push her away at such a time—after all, everything had been caused by her.
If she had not been groggy from sleep, how could she have made Jiang Jiang almost fall?
All of this was her responsibility. It had nothing to do with Jiang Jiang. She had even caused Jiang Jiang to get hurt again.
After holding back again and again, Ji Xu'an barely managed to keep her tone steady, though her voice still carried a faint, almost imperceptible hoarseness. "Are you alright?"
Jiang Jiang lay softly in Ji Xu'an's arms, her eyes reddened. Aggrieved and pitiful, she said to her, "Sister, my foot hurts so much."
She truly was in severe pain. Even her body trembled lightly, and she did not dare move her leg at all.
Ji Xu'an gave a quiet "Mm." Her gaze finally fell upon Jiang Jiang's face. She watched as Jiang Jiang unconsciously bit her lower lip, biting it until it was flushed red and glossy with moisture.
Ji Xu'an slowly exhaled.
Jiang Jiang, as if unaware, continued apologizing to her in a low voice, yet her tone clearly sounded like she was acting spoiled.
"I'm sorry, Sister. Did I press on you and hurt you?"
"I didn't mean to. It's all my fault. I shouldn't have startled you."
In her soft and delicate voice, there was even the faint sound of fine, shallow breaths, her ending tone gentle and lingering.
"Sister, please don't… be angry with me."
Before Jiang Jiang could finish speaking, Ji Xu'an suddenly interrupted her.
"Stop talking."
Ji Xu'an tightened the arm around Jiang Jiang's waist. She took a deep breath. Her dark eyes did not look at Jiang Jiang at all. Only her low voice sounded beside Jiang Jiang's ear.
"Don't say another word."
—
Author's Note:
President Ji: Who understands this feeling, everyone? Who could endure this?
Jiang Jiang: If Sister doesn't let me speak, then I just won't speak.
—
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