21

The towering office building overlooked the bustling traffic below, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a panoramic view of the city's most vibrant nightscape. The drizzle outside was gradually intensifying, accompanied by gusts of strong wind.

"Director Lu." The office door was half-open when Chen Ting, holding a stack of documents needing signatures, knocked lightly.

Lu Cixue pulled her gaze away from the distant view and sat back down in her office chair.

"Director Lu, you don't look too well. Are you too tired? Or are you feeling unwell?" Chen Ting couldn't help but worry, noticing the pale complexion on her boss's face.

After all, the management had been in meetings all afternoon—it must have been exhausting.

Lu Cixue shook her head, pulling out the top file and opening it. "I'm fine. Thank you for your hard work. You should go home and rest."

She was just feeling that the thunderstorm outside was particularly oppressive and unsettling.

"Oh… okay. You should head home soon too. The weather report says the rain will get even heavier later." Chen Ting didn't linger, as being called in to work during a holiday was already depressing enough. Even with double pay, all she wanted was to collapse into bed.

The hardworking Director Lu was naturally unaware of the hot topics trending on social media.

Even if she had seen them, she wouldn't have opened them, as it would be hard to recognize the silhouette in the images as Luo Li. Besides, Director Lu usually didn't follow such things.

Luo Li thought this through and felt her analysis made perfect sense.

She and Tao Jinxin had nothing going on. It was Tao who insisted on posting that ambiguous update. When Luo Li texted her to ask about it, Tao slyly responded that she was just posting as a friend and that netizens nowadays like to blow trivial matters out of proportion.

[Sorry, I acted on my own. If you think it's inappropriate, I can delete it now.]

Wouldn't deleting it now lead to even more speculation?

Luo Li sighed and tossed her phone aside, slowly driving towards the office.

The rain was pouring down, and she wasn't sure if Lu Cixue had left yet.

Maybe it was the gloomy mood that made her find even the sight of Jing Yao, who was trailing behind to meet Ji Qiubai, annoying.

Timing it perfectly, Luo Li arrived at the company entrance just in time to see three familiar figures standing there.

She squinted, grabbed her umbrella, and headed over, intending to intercept them midway.

Not to mention, to shield Lu Cixue from those with ill intentions.

The rain was heavy, and with her car in for maintenance, Lu Cixue hadn't driven today.

Before Ji Qiubai could speak, He Qinian stepped forward, offering to drive Lu Cixue home.

"No need, Manager He. Director Lu and I happen to be heading in the same direction. You should hurry back since Duoduo is still at home alone. With the rain this heavy, it's better for you to get home quickly." Someone with questionable intentions smiled as she held an umbrella over Lu Cixue.

The smile on He Qinian's face froze.

He always felt that the group's young lady didn't like him much, especially since she always seemed to appear when he wanted to be alone with Lu Cixue.

However…

He Qinian forced a polite smile, "Miss Luo, don't you have other matters to attend to?"

Luo Li wasn't sure what this person was up to, but the smile on his face certainly didn't seem friendly.

"Media these days really know how to write headlines, don't they? An artist and her muse—Miss Luo, you've been hiding your photography talents well."

—That was a rather snide comment for a superior to make about an employee!

Luo Li grumbled internally, but what made her more nervous was the puzzled look Lu Cixue gave her.

This hateful man was deliberately trying to stir things up!

Luo Li passed the blame onto Jing Yao, who was flirting with Ji Qiubai, and forced a smile. "I was just helping out at Jing Yao's request. It doesn't affect my ability to pick up Director Lu from work."

The two seemed ready to continue their standoff, but Lu Cixue stepped in to end it. "Manager He, you should head home."

He Qinian's expression immediately deflated, but there was still a hint of reluctance. Luo Li, on the other hand, looked rather smug.

If she had a tail, it would be wagging triumphantly by now.

She even remembered to wave cheerfully at Ji Qiubai.

Ji Qiubai had been standing there awkwardly for nearly ten minutes.

All she wanted was to go home and relax a bit, and it was genuinely cold with the strong wind blowing.

Finally, the trio's little drama ended, and she could escape…

But then Jing Yao arrived.

Ji Qiubai felt a headache coming on, her usually calm face now frowning, making her look angry.

—She should never have told Jing Yao where she was. That was a mistake. Next time, she would just pretend not to see her.

Meanwhile, Luo Li was busy draping a spare coat over Lu Cixue's shoulders, asking if she was cold or hungry and complaining about how unfair it was to drag people into meetings during holidays…

Lu Cixue glanced down at the coat on her shoulders, inhaling the familiar, pleasant scent.

Her left hand clenched slightly, as if she had made a decision, and she quickened her pace, leaving Luo Li's umbrella behind.

A small section of the coat got wet on the shoulder.

"Sorry, I'll wash it and return it to you."

Lu Cixue suddenly slowed her pace again, and Luo Li, startled, quickly responded, "It's fine, no worries."

It was just a coat, after all. Director Lu was still so keen on keeping boundaries.

Lu Cixue didn't say anything more, wrapping the coat tighter around herself as she got into the car.

"Tired?"

Ji Qiubai's gaze followed Luo Li's car until it disappeared from sight. Suddenly, a voice, tinged with amusement, broke the silence.

"I'm fine. I'm heading home now. You should get going too, President Jing." Ji Qiubai thought about the food she had prepared, hoping the cat at home wouldn't be hungry.

Overly serious kids are bound to be picked on by bad people.

President Jing held firmly to her unreasonable belief, her red lips curling up, "You shouldn't always be so tense, you know? You need to learn to relax."

—President Jing likely had many ways to relax.

Ji Qiubai nodded, indicating that she understood.

But she couldn't relax; she was different from these people. Coming to this city alone, while people like Jing Yao and Luo Li were chasing higher standards of living, she was still struggling to get by.

Her parents were old, and their health was deteriorating. She couldn't afford to relax.

They were from different worlds and should have no intersection.

"Care to go somewhere with me?" Jing Yao's alluring eyes seemed to see through everything. "There's still a lot in this world you haven't experienced. Don't keep yourself locked away."

"Are you really good at photography?"

In the car, Luo Li heard this earnest question and immediately sped up her explanation. "That person was just a friend from before. We haven't been in touch for a long time. Jing Yao asked me to help with the shoot today, and I had no idea it was for her. She didn't even ask for my permission before posting those photos. There's nothing going on between us!"

Luo Li glanced in the rearview mirror at the person still looking down at her phone.

The little cat had folded the coat neatly after getting in the car and sat quietly for a while.

Then she took out her phone, lips pursed as she fiddled with something.

After a long time, she finally asked the question.

The cat wasn't very familiar with human celebrities and trending topics, but that didn't mean she hadn't heard of them.

So, the cat tried downloading the app, logging in, and finding the trending tag. She clicked on it.

It only took one glance to recognize that silhouette.

Who was this person next to her? And why did the word "mate" appear so many times in the comments? What did Luo Li do today? Were they close?…

The cat had so many questions, but she chose the most conservative one.

After all, she didn't have the right to pry into someone else's personal life yet.

Luo Li's words and expressions didn't seem fake, and Lu Cixue hadn't expected her to say so much all at once. She awkwardly turned her head. "You don't need to explain so much to me."

"I just don't want you to misunderstand." Luo Li wanted to spill everything. "I have to go again tomorrow, but I'll stay far away from her. However, her parents are close to mine, so it's inevitable we'll see each other during the holidays."

"You've known each other for a long time?" The tone of this question was so neutral that it was hard to gauge any emotion.

Luo Li nodded, honestly confessing, "We used to play together as kids, but we haven't met since college."

The person next to her fell silent, seeming a bit tired as she closed her eyes.

Luo Li quietly adjusted her breathing, driving even more smoothly.

Almost the moment the car stopped, Lu Cixue opened her eyes. She hadn't been sleeping.

Or rather, it was difficult for her to sleep in such weather.

Swiping her card, she entered the elevator. Just when it was time to say goodbye, Luo Li's ever-active mind came up with a new idea. "How about I give you a massage?"

"I'm really good at it. I used to do it for my family all the time. You look so tired—it'll help you feel better."

This was an offer she should have refused. It wasn't quite appropriate.

But Lu Cixue felt that tonight she was unlikely to get any sleep anyway.

And she wanted to spend more time with Luo Li.

Strangely enough, Director Lu didn't hesitate to accept the offer.

Lu Cixue had just finished her bath when she heard the doorbell ring. She couldn't help but marvel at Luo Li's perfect timing.

So perfect that her hair was still wet, and she realized her silk nightgown might not be the most appropriate choice.

But she couldn't keep Luo Li waiting outside.

After a moment's hesitation, she walked over to open the door.

Luo Li was wearing pajamas.

She even childishly and proudly showed off the cartoon character on the back. "Look, look! Aren't these limited edition pajamas adorable? They sold out in a flash, but luckily I was quick!"

"Mm, very cute." Lu Cixue tried to give a serious compliment, but the sight before her was so amusing that she couldn't suppress a smile.

Luo Li looked incredibly cute in her pink, childish pajamas.

"Right?" Luo Li grinned, but then she froze when she saw the person standing in front of her.

She had never seen Lu Cixue dressed like this.

It was like Luo Li's eyes were glued to her. Starting from her slender neck, down to her prominent collarbone, and further down to… all she could see was creamy skin.

No, no, she shouldn't be staring, even though she had already touched her… but that was with the lights off.

Lu Cixue watched as Luo Li's pale face turned a suspicious shade of red, making her look as if she had just ripened. She wondered what Luo Li was thinking.

"What should I do?" Lu Cixue asked, noticing how Luo Li had already rolled up her sleeves, ready to work, causing her to instinctively take a step back.

"How about a full-body massage?" Luo Li had even brought the essential oils.

Without giving her a chance to refuse, Luo Li enthusiastically had Lu Cixue lie down. Before Lu Cixue could react, Luo Li's hands were already "up and down" her smooth, fair back.

The direct contact made Lu Cixue arch her back, nearly leaping off the bed.

"It'll feel really good, just relax and fall asleep."

How was she supposed to sleep like this…

Lu Cixue closed her eyes, but the sensation only grew stronger. She wasn't used to being touched like this, and her breathing became erratic.

But Luo Li was genuinely focused on giving the massage, with no other intentions in mind.

She did occasionally marvel at how fair Lu Cixue's skin was.

Outside, the rain gradually lessened, and the person on the bed slowly drifted off to sleep.

Luo Li stood nearby, tidying up her things and stretching her wrists. She turned around to cover Lu Cixue with a blanket.

But the person who had been enjoying the massage had suddenly disappeared, leaving a small bump under the covers.

No way…

Carefully lifting the blanket from the foot of the bed, Luo Li found a little bundle curled up inside.

But wasn't it a bit much to be cuddling with her clothes? Luo Li was certain she wasn't mistaken—this was the shirt that the little thief had yet to return.

On closer inspection, it had clearly been washed, neatly folded, and smelled fragrant.

The cat had been sleeping soundly, but now, disturbed by the chill, she opened her eyes to find Luo Li staring at her.

But waking up a cat in the middle of its sleep was bound to make it grumpy. With what she thought was a fierce, soft meow, the cat expressed its displeasure.

To the human, though, it just seemed like she was being cute.

Luo Li decided not to overthink it.

—Director Lu had hidden her shirt.

—She must have done it for a reason, like enjoying her scent.

Cats mark their favorite people with their scent, so it made sense that she'd like a human's scent too, right?

With a mischievous smile, Luo Li scooped up the pouting cat and rubbed its head, taking a deep breath as she pressed her face against the cat's belly. "Do you want to sleep here, or go back to your room?"

The cat in her arms seemed to understand and lost her earlier bravado. Instead, she moved closer, pressing her nose against Luo Li's face.

A kiss of sorts.

Luo Li beamed, taking the cat back to her place without a second thought.

But the next morning, as Luo Li looked at the cat still curled up in her arms, she suddenly felt a dilemma.

Would she really have to bring Lu Cixue along?