Yan Jin paused mid-sentence, leaning slightly closer to Dai Xue. She froze, not daring to move, feeling he was almost resting his head on her shoulder.
“What… are you doing?” Dai Xue asked nervously, blushing and stiffening.
Passersby had been giggling and hurrying past… making her feel strange. They hadn’t done anything… why such a reaction!
Yan Jin reached out and plucked something from her shoulder, laughing, “Nothing, there’s a ladybug on your shoulder… when did it land?”
“…” Dai Xue felt a fire burning inside… seeing her usually strict boss childishly extending his finger with a ladybug perched on it was quite shocking.
“Clack!”
Suddenly, a sound came from the dormitory direction – the sound of locking the door!
“Wait! Wait!”
Dai Xue panicked, running towards the dormitory gate, but her high heels caused her to twist her ankle. Losing balance, she began to fall backward…
Like a manga scene, she fell into a warm embrace, opening her eyes to meet Yan Jin’s deep gaze… Wait, her heartbeat seemed to be accelerating…
“Are you okay? Too bad, the ladybug flew away…”
If she ignored the second half of his sentence, Dai Xue might have thought she was experiencing a romantic moment. But with those words, she definitely thought she had momentarily lost her mind.
After much persuasion with the dormitory management, Dai Xue was finally let in. Seeing Yan Jin locked outside, she waved, and he waved back. She then picked up her high heels and slowly climbed the stairs.
Yan Jin stood silently, watching until she disappeared around the staircase corner before returning to his car. The journey was quiet, just like when Dai Xue had been sitting beside him.
Previously, his “meddling” sister would always choose girls to bring to banquets, but they would chatter incessantly. He would typically drop them at a “McDonald’s”, asking them to buy him a burger… of course, he wouldn’t actually wait for them to return.
Yan Jin disliked them mainly because they were noisy and troublesome…
But this time with Dai Xue, he hadn’t felt any of those annoyances. He silently decided to bring Dai Xue to future banquets! Of course, he was unaware that their relationship was merely that of boss and employee, making such repeated attendance impossible.
Arriving downstairs, Yan Jin removed his car keys and unexpectedly found a ladybug perched on them…
Yan Jin: … Ladybug: …
After a few seconds, Yan Jin swiftly caught it, slightly smiling and whispering to his fist, “You’re the one from earlier, right?”
Ladybug: …
“Don’t lie to me… you’re definitely that one!”
Yan Jin looked at his fist, shrugging, feeling slightly childish. But in his mind, he involuntarily recalled the scene of Dai Xue falling into his arms…
The ladybug had flown close, like a moving circular curtain gradually revealing Dai Xue’s panicked expression that he had never seen before.
He hadn’t intentionally mentioned the ladybug… but after being momentarily stunned by her beauty, he didn’t know what to say. Yan Jin suppressed his smile, got out of the car, and gently opened his fist…
The ladybug seemed to crawl a few steps in his palm before slowly flying into the air… Small as it was, it quickly disappeared from his view. Yan Jin sighed and slowly walked into the building.
—— What’s the method to always bring a female subordinate to a dinner party? 【Online waiting! Urgent… 0w0!】
The next day, Dai Xue slept in a bit later, truly dragging until after nine o’clock before arriving at the company. Walking in as usual, she pushed up her glasses and headed toward the elevator… but she felt everyone was secretly staring at her, quickly averting their eyes when she made eye contact.
Arriving at her floor, she had just sat down when Lan Xin approached. She nudged Dai Xue’s arm with her elbow and whispered, “You… and the boss… are together?”
“Huh?” Dai Xue frowned… what was going on?!
“Yesterday when the boss invited you to the dinner party, someone happened to overhear…” Lan Xin explained while watching Dai Xue’s expression, her tone slightly sour: “How can you have no reaction at all? That’s the boss! Congratulations.”
“Lan Xin, don’t talk nonsense. I was just going through the motions… Yan Jin and I both understand, so don’t make wild guesses,” Dai Xue put her files aside and explained seriously.
Although last night was pleasant and nothing happened – and Yan Jin even helped her when she almost fell – she didn’t want their relationship to be misunderstood, especially not by Lan Xin, with whom she had a good relationship. It was unnecessary.
“Heh… enjoying the benefits while pretending to be modest.”
Lan Xin rolled her eyes, her “heh” heavy with meaning, muttering something barely audible as she swayed back to her desk to continue working.
“…”
Lan Xin’s words made Dai Xue uncomfortable, but she endured and lowered her head to continue working. All morning, she felt like a “rare animal” in a zoo, with everyone glancing at her and whispering.
Finally, it was lunchtime. Dai Xue rubbed her eyes and slowly went to the cafeteria.
Along the way, everyone deliberately avoided her gaze… She bit her lip and got her meal… What should have been a meat dish was instead served with a large scoop of vegetables by the cafeteria lady.
Fine, she’d endure… Dai Xue turned with her plate, seeing all seats seemingly occupied, even empty spots marked with files or bags.
Dai Xue lowered her head and quickly walked toward the exit… Since they were being so obvious, she didn’t need to “shamefully” stay.
“Bang…”
Dai Xue was suddenly and forcefully bumped by two people walking towards her, her meal and soup splashing all over her.
“Oh, sorry… didn’t see you,” one said casually, while another, biting her bright red nails, giggled: “Hey, little girl… you’re not going to complain to the boss, are you?”
“…” At that moment, Dai Xue almost went crazy… Was everyone here going mad because of Yan Jin? Were women’s jealousies really this terrifying?
She took deep breaths, feeling everyone watching her, even Lan Xin looking like she was enjoying the show, quickly lowering her head when their eyes met.
“Heh…” Dai Xue gave a light laugh, continuing to walk with her head down.
She forced herself to keep her lips curved, because her pride wouldn’t allow her to cry in front of these people… How embarrassing… Dai Xue.
— But now, she could only laugh!
“Hey, what’s wrong?”
While walking, someone grabbed her wrist… It was Yan Jin, also here for lunch.
“…”
Dai Xue trembled, turning her head, her tightly clenched fist shaking slightly.
“… Dai Xue?”
Yan Jin’s gaze shifted, seeing the meal and soup staining her chest.
Glancing at the mess on the floor, he quickly understood the situation… Combined with Alexis’s “company gossip” today, he easily pieced together what happened.
“… It’s all your fault…”
Dai Xue said softly, and Yan Jin slowly crouched down, seeing her deliberately lowered head hiding her tearful face… Yes, she was going to cry quietly, but seeing Yan Jin… the tears just flowed. How weak.
“…” It was indeed because of yesterday’s events.
Yan Jin’s eyes darkened, gripping Dai Xue’s wrist more firmly, pulling her back to the cafeteria… Passing the mess, he glanced over and continued to the serving area.
“Give me two servings of what Dai Xue just ordered,” he said.
Yan Jin’s face was expressionless, similar to his usual “cold” demeanor, radiating a chilling aura.
“Yes… yes.” The cafeteria lady quickly prepared two full portions, especially generous with the meat dishes. Her face showed an ingratiating smile as she almost ceremoniously handed them over.
