Chapter 4: I’ll Take You Home First

The shrill ring of the phone jolted Jiang Chen awake. She rolled over, shoving the phone under her pillow.

In her groggy haze, she sensed someone standing by the bed and reached out.

Slap.

A crisp sound rang out as Jiang Chen’s hand met a cool, smooth surface.

Her scattered thoughts snapped into focus, and the figure before her came into view.

The blonde woman stared in disbelief, glancing from Jiang Chen to the hand that had just landed on her face.

“You… you.”

She took several deep breaths to suppress the curse on the tip of her tongue.

“Ah! Sorry… I’m so sorry, President Wang… I—” Jiang Chen stammered, fully awake now and realizing what she’d done.

In my dreams, I’m quite the killer.

The random thought popped into her head, unbefitting the moment. Then came a flurry of apologies.

Wang Ziyue patted her chest, forcing a polite smile.

“Are you still half-asleep?”

The smile barely curled the corner of her mouth.

Jiang Chen lowered her head guiltily, then looked up and leaned closer.

Seeing the pink-haired girl suddenly draw near, Wang Ziyue instinctively stepped back, only to trip over her own feet and fall onto the bed.

Their heads knocked together, and Wang Ziyue’s body half-collapsed onto Jiang Chen’s shoulder.

“What are you doing…”

She rubbed her forehead, pulling out her phone to check. Thankfully, no blood.

“I’m sorry, really sorry… I, I thought you might want to hit me back.”

Jiang Chen felt like the more she explained, the worse it got. Maybe staying quiet is better.

Wang Ziyue raised an eyebrow, staring at her for a moment before letting out a soft chuckle.

“Fine, it didn’t hurt that much. I’m not going to hold it against a kid like you.”

But as she spoke, her gaze lingered briefly. Jiang Chen followed her eyes downward.

Wang Ziyue’s arm was… pressed into her chest.

They quickly pulled apart. Jiang Chen grabbed her phone, pretending to check it, and sat up, tossing the covers aside.

Unlocking the screen, she saw several missed calls.

Oh no! She’d forgotten she had school today. She’d set multiple alarms, but sleeping late and feeling emotionally drained had kept her from waking up early.

Her mom must have just gotten home from her overnight shift and noticed she wasn’t there.

“Hello? Xiao Cheng, why aren’t you in your room?”

“Mom… I’m at school.”

Jiang Chen lowered her voice to speak. Wang Ziyue, not one to eavesdrop, stepped out of the room.

Standing in the suite’s living room, Wang Ziyue could still feel the lingering warmth from that touch, and the faint, almost imperceptible scent of the girl lingered at her fingertips.

Frowning, she pulled a bottle of perfume from her bag and spritzed her wrist.

“President Wang…”

She turned to see Jiang Chen, now dressed in the same black lace dress from yesterday, standing awkwardly with her hands clasped.

Wang Ziyue’s gaze settled on the slender arch of her foot in the black high heels.

“Doesn’t it hurt?”

Jiang Chen tested her ankle. It was still slightly numb, but she had no other shoes to wear.

Noticing her discomfort, Wang Ziyue pointed to the sofa and pulled out her phone.

“What size?”

She asked while dialing.

“Huh?”

“Your shoe size.”

“4… size 36.” Jiang Chen bit her tongue lightly.

Wang Ziyue nodded and spoke softly into the phone.

“Size 36 women’s sneakers.”

Jiang Chen’s eyes widened.

Within minutes, a knock came at the door. A woman in a professional skirt suit stood there, holding a bag, her eyes fixed on the floor.

“President Wang.”

She handed the bag over respectfully as the door opened.

“Mhm.” Wang Ziyue took it, turned, and the woman gently closed the door.

“Put them on.” She placed the bag next to Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen hesitated, not immediately opening it.

“They’re for you. How are you supposed to walk in those high heels?”

Wang Ziyue’s voice rose slightly. She usually had little patience for people like Jiang Chen, who answered half-heartedly or stayed silent.

This was already her showing remarkable restraint.

Maybe it was because the girl in front of her looked so pitiful that Wang Ziyue felt her kindness had nowhere else to go but to a stranger.

“Thank you, President Wang.”

Afraid of upsetting her, Jiang Chen opened the box and slipped on the sneakers, finding a pair of socks inside as well.

Once she was ready, Wang Ziyue looked down and sent a voice message.

“Get the car ready.”

Then she dialed the phone on the coffee table.

“Send up two breakfasts.”

While waiting for the food, neither spoke.

Jiang Chen didn’t know what to say, and Wang Ziyue was lost in thought, her eyes lowered.

“You’re still a student?”

Wang Ziyue asked, having overheard the conversation earlier in the bedroom.

“Yeah…”

“Which university?” She figured she’d drop her off at school before heading to the office.

“No, not that. I…”

“Not local?”

“No, I’m a high school student.”

Jiang Chen spoke slowly and clearly, but Wang Ziyue still thought she’d misheard.

“High school… student?”

Wang Ziyue studied her again, her gaze lingering on Jiang Chen’s chest for a second.

“High school student…”

She muttered it again, her pupils dilating slightly with confusion, disbelief, and a heavy dose of shock.

It all melted into a sigh.

“Should I take you home first?”

“No… I can get back on my own.”

Wang Ziyue didn’t press, her eyes drifting back to Jiang Chen’s ankle.

“Well, thank you, President Wang.”

“It’s fine. If I don’t get a high schooler like you home safely, I might end up in hot water this afternoon.”

Wang Ziyue cracked a dry joke.

Jiang Chen’s face remained expressionless.

She rubbed her temples, glancing at a notification on her phone.

“Let’s go. The car’s downstairs.”

Jiang Chen grabbed her phone and stood, leaning on the sofa. Wang Ziyue lent her a hand.

“Need me to help you down?”

She was even considering calling for a wheelchair.

“No, President Wang, I can walk.”

“Hmph, do I look old to you?” Wang Ziyue glanced at the girl beside her.

“You’re very young.”

Jiang Chen’s words were sincere, her bright eyes reflecting Wang Ziyue’s face so clearly she could almost see herself.

“Then why keep calling me President Wang?”

Though her subordinates and business partners always addressed her that way, it felt oddly formal coming from a young girl.

“Then… what should I call you?”

She’d only called her President Wang because of the task instructions. She didn’t even know her name.

Besides, such a formal title seemed fitting for their current dynamic.

“Call me Sister.” Wang Ziyue blurted it out, the thought popping into her head and slipping out instinctively.

Jiang Chen didn’t hesitate to switch.

“Sister.”

Her crisp, slightly soft voice, paired with her youthful, sweet face, was disarming.

Wang Ziyue felt a wave of warmth.

Even as they left the hotel, a smile lingered on her lips.

The driver, spotting his boss through the rearview mirror, quickly unbuckled and got out. Then he noticed the pink-haired girl behind her.

Wang Ziyue waved him off, personally opening the car door for the girl and helping her inside.

The driver stared a moment too long, then heard a soft cough.

Wang Ziyue squinted at him, her gaze far from friendly.

“Sorry, President Wang.”

He hurried back to the driver’s seat and asked his boss in the back.

“President Wang, are we heading to the office?”

With an extra person, he wasn’t sure if the plan had changed.

“No, take her first.” Wang Ziyue looked at Jiang Chen, who recited an address.

The old town… Wang Ziyue raised an eyebrow.