8

In the large conference room, Luo Li sat upright, utterly shocked by Lu Cixue's sharp and cunning negotiation skills. Usually, Lu Cixue barely uttered more than a couple of words to her, but here she was, effortlessly leading a conversation that swayed everyone in the room.

The atmosphere in the meeting room was harmonious as the people across the table happily finalized their collaboration with Lu Cixue and enthusiastically invited her to lunch.

Tsk, this woman was truly formidable.

Of course, lunch meant there would be drinking.

Even though Luo Li had prepared some milk for Lu Cixue before the meal, she was still amazed to see how Lu Cixue managed the situation, seemingly unphased by any amount of alcohol.

But wait, what about that night at the bar when she looked completely drunk?

At one point, someone even tried to coax Luo Li into drinking, but Lu Cixue intercepted every attempt.

It's not that Luo Li couldn't drink, but with Director Lu's overwhelming presence, she felt like a little nobody being firmly protected.

Luo Li thought to herself, so what if she was a little nobody?

However, watching Lu Cixue down one glass after another made Luo Li feel both concerned and anxious.

By the end of the event, it was unclear whether Lu Cixue was drunk or not. Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes were hazy, yet she still managed to stand steadily and chat with others.

It was only after everyone had left that she wobbled slightly, holding her head, and was caught by Luo Li as she nearly collapsed.

The warm breath she exhaled was almost scorching as she leaned on Luo Li's shoulder, mumbling something incomprehensible under her breath.

Luo Li leaned in closer and caught a faint "bastard."

Huh? Why was she cursing?

"Why didn't you let me drink for you? Now you've made yourself feel awful," Luo Li complained softly. Clearly, Lu Cixue could have refused more drinks, but she didn't, almost as if she deliberately wanted to get herself drunk.

After finally managing to get her into the car, Lu Cixue's head rested on Luo Li's shoulder, her eyes half-open as she seemed lost in thought.

"Are you dizzy?" Luo Li asked.

"Mm."

"Then let's get you home to sleep, okay?"

"Okay."

She agreed to everything, answered everything so obediently.

Luo Li found this behavior a bit intriguing, so she continued, "Why did you drink so much just now?"

Lu Cixue glanced at her briefly, then pressed her lips together, refusing to speak.

She even stopped leaning on Luo Li, sitting up straight and turning to look out the window. When Luo Li stretched her neck to try to see her face, Lu Cixue reached out and gently pushed her back.

Sigh, why did this cat enjoy swatting at her face so much?

But Luo Li seemed to understand something, so she lowered her voice and asked tentatively, "Are you mad?"

And it seemed like she was mad at her. Had she done something recently to upset her boss?

Luo Li seriously reflected on her actions during the past few days at work.

Was it because she and Chen Ting had gossiped in the break room the day before and Lu Cixue found out? But that wasn't something to get angry over, was it?

No matter how hard she thought, Luo Li couldn't figure out what she had done wrong. Just yesterday, Lu Cixue had even smiled at her.

"If I did something wrong, you should tell me. Bottling it up isn't good for your health." When Luo Li couldn't think of anything, she resorted to her go-to tactic: acting cute. She had been pampered all her life, so this came naturally to her.

Lu Cixue heard her but didn't want to respond.

What had Luo Li done wrong? Nothing. She had been diligently learning, completing even the less important tasks with care, and had meticulously planned the business trip.

It was just that the other day, as she passed by a few colleagues' desks, she overheard them talking about Luo Li's skiing and travel adventures abroad.

Chen Ting had sighed, "Look at Luo Li's social media—she's so young and carefree, going wherever she wants. I've been planning a trip for ages and still haven't gone."

Everyone chimed in, and someone suggested that Luo Li should be their guide on the next team-building trip, taking them to all the fun places. Luo Li had laughed and agreed.

Then Lu Cixue had coaxed some information out of Ji Qiubai. The department loved Luo Li; she had fit right in. Her sunny personality, her love for horseback riding, archery, diving—she was always up for new experiences. Just looking at her social media made everyone feel interested.

Oh, the entire department could see her social media; many colleagues knew what Luo Li liked.

Only she didn't.

Which was perfectly normal—there was no need for her to be close to her boss. So what if she was unhappy? Such feelings sounded unreasonable.

She should just deal with it on her own.

But alcohol has a way of amplifying the grievances buried deep inside, and she wasn't sure what was wrong with her.

She had never been one to let emotions dictate her actions, but ever since Luo Li came back, everything had changed.

The mental defenses she had built crumbled under the weight of reality.

She didn't know what to do.

As someone who lacked emotional expression and communication skills, she didn't even know how to convey affection, let alone recognize someone else's feelings for her.

Even her jealousy was sullen, only leading her to drink herself into oblivion.

Lu Cixue was too quiet, and Luo Li started to feel uneasy. The two of them returned to the hotel without another word.

Luo Li didn't even make it inside Lu Cixue's room.

All she saw was a hint of pink at the corner of Lu Cixue's eyes, and she wasn't sure if it was just her imagination.

Luo Li sat dazed at her desk, attempting to organize some documents, but she couldn't focus at all. She ended up just resting her head on the desk, lost in thought.

They had only known each other for a few days, yet Luo Li felt that Lu Cixue was constantly shrouded in a cloud of sadness and repression.

For someone so closed off to open up, the other person must be incredibly important, someone trustworthy, someone who made them feel safe.

Luo Li didn't want to be presumptuous, thinking she was that person now.

But she found herself wishing she could be.

At the very least, she wanted to make Lu Cixue a little happier.

Because seeing that reddish corner of her eye made Luo Li feel sad herself.

As her thoughts wandered, Luo Li was surprised at herself. When had she ever thought this way about someone else? She had been pampered as the family's little princess her whole life, rarely caring about anyone else's feelings.

But when it came to this boss who barely said a word to her, she was racking her brain trying to understand her inner world.

Was this what it meant to like someone? It felt even stronger than the butterflies she got from just seeing her face.

In just a few seconds, it was as if everything had clicked into place. Luo Li stood up, ready to shamelessly knock on Lu Cixue's door across the hall, when her phone rang.

The screen showed Jing Yao's face, makeup-free. Luo Li noticed the hospital gown she was wearing and froze. "Why are you in the hospital? Is it serious? Do you have someone with you?"

Jing Yao shook her head. "It's nothing, don't worry. But what about you? How's it going?"

Hearing that Jing Yao was fine, Luo Li quickly opened the door and headed out. "You take care and rest up. I'm busy here, so I'll hang up now. Bye."

Before Jing Yao could respond, the person on the other end, who prioritized romance over friendship, had already hung up.

"Tsk, busier than I am."

Just as she muttered that, the door to the hospital room opened, and Ji Qiubai walked in, holding a bag of fruit.

Jing Yao leaned back against the headboard, giving him a once-over. "You're the same age as Luo Li, but why do you always look so serious? Kids should smile more—it makes you look better."

Ji Qiubai glanced at the woman lying in the hospital bed, still chattering away and teasing him, then silently continued peeling an apple.

It's a small world. She had only been walking her dog home when she happened upon a couple arguing on the street. Seeing that one of them had a knife hidden behind their back, she called the police and went over with her dog to help.

Who would've guessed that the ex-girlfriend had turned so obsessive that she even harbored murderous intentions?

And the person being harassed? None other than the notorious player, Ms. Jing, known for leaving a trail of broken hearts in her wake.

This woman had been involved in so many scandals that you could write a palace drama based on them. How many partners had she gone through?

So after helping, Ji Qiubai's first instinct was to run, to avoid any further entanglements with someone like her.

She was just a regular person, no need to get involved with a corporate tycoon.

But her little corgi had been unusually disobedient that day, circling the woman and wagging its tail.

Shameless, attention-seeking, traitorous little thing.

Jing Yao's smile widened as she observed the slender figure who seemed desperate to keep her distance. "Your dog is really cute. What's its name?"

She could have gone to the bar to meet Luo Li, but in the end, this stubborn kid in front of her was far more interesting.

"Dumpling, let's go home." The little corgi waddled forward, reluctantly leaving.

Jing Yao chuckled—indeed, he was round and seemed well cared for.

"We've only just met, haven't we? Can't we at least introduce ourselves? Otherwise, I wouldn't know how to properly thank you." Jing Yao took a step closer with each word.

Ji Qiubai had read plenty of articles about Jing Yao online. She was incredibly capable, but her personal life was a mess. And with that face, she could easily stand out in the entertainment industry.

Beautiful but not vulgar, alluring and mesmerizing, like a seductress.

But the prettier a woman, the more dangerous she is.

Ji Qiubai had intended to keep her identity a secret, but it was child's play for Jing Yao to dig up someone's background.

"My last name is Bai. As for my first name, we'll have to meet again to find out." Ji Qiubai said this before picking up her corgi and fleeing.

No way, never seeing her again.

But fate had other plans, and here they were, meeting once more.

Jing Yao was in the hospital because Dumpling had gone missing. Ji Qiubai had searched for a long time, only for the woman before her to return the dog with a limp.

"I twisted my ankle and can't walk." The woman had said pitifully, not calling for a driver or bodyguard, just waiting for Ji Qiubai to help.

So Ji Qiubai had taken her to the hospital, canceled her scheduled business trip, and dutifully cared for her.

"We've met so many times, yet you've never smiled at me once." Jing Yao feigned sadness. "Do you dislike me that much?"

Ji Qiubai paused in her apple-peeling and replied flatly, "No."

Even if she did, she couldn't say it out loud.

"Then why won't you give me your contact information? Can't we at least be friends?" Jing Yao's sadness quickly vanished, replaced by a mischievous glint in her eyes. "We've met three times already, so you can't use 'fate' as an excuse anymore."

Ji Qiubai handed her the peeled apple, firmly refusing. "I don't see the need."

"Thank you for finding Dumpling, but I hope Ms. Jing won't make things difficult."

Jing Yao's serious expression only made her want to tease her more.

"Is that so? But I found Dumpling for you, shouldn't you show some gratitude?" Sure, Ji Qiubai had helped her too, but Jing Yao was thick-skinned.

Ji Qiubai hesitated, then asked, "What do you want?"

"Nothing too outrageous."

"Not outrageous," Jing Yao's eyes sparkled mischievously, "Just call me 'sister.'"

Luo Li stood at the door and knocked cautiously several times before the person inside finally opened it.

Her face was still flushed, her movements sluggish. She hadn't even changed her clothes, leaving Luo Li wondering what she had been doing in there for so long.

Luo Li pulled her inside. "I made some honey water for you. Drink it and get some rest. Don't drink so much next time."

She actually had the guts to tell Lu Cixue what not to do.

Fortunately, the tipsy woman didn't seem to notice, sitting quietly on the bed as she watched Luo Li bustle around.

Luo Li hesitated for a moment, then found Lu Cixue's pajamas in her suitcase. When she turned around, she saw that the woman had already fallen asleep, lying on top of the stuffed cat.

Why hadn't she slept earlier? Why did she fall asleep the moment Luo Li arrived?

So… should she help her change or not?

But it was uncomfortable to sleep like that. Luo Li carefully cradled her head and pulled the plush toy out from under her. Just then, Lu Cixue grabbed onto her trench coat belt with a firm grip.

With a sudden tug, Luo Li found herself in the same position as the giant cat plush.

...

Luo Li didn't dare move as she watched the woman sleep soundly on top of her, a smile tugging at her lips.

Oh well, being a pillow for the boss was part of the job too.