Seeing the two women he'd pushed down keep their mouths shut, faces as red as ripe cherries,
even their earlobes blushing pink, the teasing in their eyes fading into awkwardness.
No one spoke; only their quickened breaths mingled in the cramped space.
"Get off, stop fooling around. I have a meeting…"
"Exactly, we've got meetings too. Up— you're crushing me stupid, you're so heavy."
Seeing the two surrender and stop bantering,
Jiang Cheng didn't push the game further.
What if they took it seriously?
Knock-knock-knock!
The sudden raps shattered the strange silence like a bolt of lightning.
A girl from Administration called timidly through the door.
A girl from Administration called timidly through the door.
"President Jiang, the afternoon tea you ordered is ready. May I bring it in?"
The voice made Chen Xueer and Zhao Linger shudder.
They shoved Jiang Cheng away in perfect sync, quick as an electric shock.
Their fingers brushed as they separated and sprang apart in panic.
They scrambled to push him off, rolling upright; one smoothed her crumpled collar, head down,
the other coughed and looked away, neither daring to meet the other's eyes—let alone Jiang Cheng's.
He watched their scarlet profiles and rigid backs, a low laugh escaping his throat.
Champions of big talk, these two.
All that bravado, yet they hadn't even undone a button; a couple of dirty lines and they blazed red.
He rubbed his temples, trying to quell the strange flutter in his chest.
Jiang Cheng called toward the door, "Come in."
The admin girl slipped inside quietly.
Seeing the three sitting upright as if in serious discussion,
she cautiously set down the tray laden with tea and pastries.
Her gaze lingered on Jiang Cheng for several seconds.
"President Jiang, Manager Wang, Supervisor Zhao, ring if you need more."
Jiang Cheng gave her a gentle smile.
"Go have some yourself. Thanks for your hard work."
The simple words sent heat creeping into the girl's cheeks.
She murmured a barely audible "Thank you, President Jiang" and hurried out, flustered.
Her heart felt like a startled fawn racing inside her chest.
All she could picture was the look in his eyes when he'd glanced up moments ago—
like warm spring sunshine, utterly healing.
Chen Xueer watched the girl almost float away and curled her lip.
"President Jiang, look—barely out of her teens and already dizzy from your 'gentle blade' charm."
Zhao Linger sipped her tea and chimed in, "Exactly. You're all spring-breeze smiles to everyone. Don't you know how dazzling that face and attitude are?"
The rascally air he'd had while pinning them down hadn't fully faded,
yet he could turn and look as innocent as a lamb to the young girl.
Their boss really had no idea how lethal his appeal was.
Listening to their jealous tones,
a smile flickered across Jiang Cheng's eyes.
He walked to his desk and took two gift boxes from a pair of gold-stamped bags.
He shook them. "Saw these new necklaces in Kyoto the other day—thought they'd suit you, so I grabbed them on impulse."
Seeing he'd remembered them while traveling,
both women spun around at once, curiosity replacing their awkwardness.
"Growing a conscience at last, are we?" Chen Xueer stepped over, steps lighter than usual.
"There's one for me too? I'm so happy!"
The sudden fright had wiped their earlier fluster clean away.
They snatched the boxes and tore them open eagerly.
Two Bvlgari serpentine necklaces, almost matching in design.