After seeing Jiang Cheng into Lin Shuangxue’s office, the girl returned to her workstation. She sat down at her desk, staring blankly at her own hands.
Her hands still seemed to retain the softness of that young girl, yet it also felt like nothing but a dream, empty and unreal.
A woman with sharp, professional attire and light blue hair walked over and casually sat down next to her.
“Xun Yi, what are you spacing out about?”
“…Nothing. Just something on my mind.”
“What could make you look like this? What, did you get caught slacking off by Boss Lin when you went out earlier? She trying to pile on more work for you?”
She gave a light push with her legs, gliding her chair over next to Xun Yi. Reaching out, she unceremoniously grabbed a few cherries from her friend’s fruit bowl and popped them into her mouth.
Chew, chew, chew—
“Hey, Iris, tell me… what does it feel like to like someone? And by the way, can you stop stealing my food? If you keep eating, I’ll deduct your pay, I swear!”
“Fine, fine, you’re so stingy…”
Iris pouted, then seemed to perk up.
“So you have a crush? The one you ran into when you went out just now?”
“What does she look like? I remember you saying you like the older type—gentle, long-legged beauties—and that you love golden beach waves. Is she like that? Is she your ideal type?”
“Oh my god! You have to tell me everything! Which team is she on? How tall is she? What’s her name? Does she like girls or guys…”
“Stop, stop, I said stop!”
Her friend’s enthusiasm gave Xun Yi a headache. She quickly tried to get her to slow down—at least lower her voice.
“Let me think…”
Xun Yi recalled.
“She’s actually… kind of a young girl. She’s a bit shorter than me… I don’t think she works at our company. She seemed like a maid from President Lin’s house. She asked me for directions earlier—where President Lin’s office was.”
“A young girl?”
Iris looked skeptical, something hidden in her eyes.
“Didn’t you say you love older women who can wrap their whole arms around you? That it gives you a sense of security? And didn’t you say you want to be reincarnated as a purple-haired loli in your next life, so you can be doted on by a fox clan maid with a big chest? So why now…”
“No, no, no, don’t say another word!” Xun Yi quickly covered her mouth. “If you keep going, you’ll expose all my secrets!”
Iris shot her a disdainful glance.
‘Expose all your secrets? I haven’t even mentioned the stuff that wouldn’t pass censorship.’
‘Non-human. Big vehicles. …’
Anyway, she pushed Xun Yi’s hand away and asked, “So what does she look like anyway?”
“Uh… let me think…”
Xun Yi hesitated.
“She has white hair, and she’s as delicate as a doll. About… 1.6 meters tall, I guess. Her chest… seems pretty flat. And then… hmm…”
“Does she have blue eyes?” Iris asked out of the blue.
“Oh, right, right, her eyes are blue… Wait, how do you know!”
“Look.”
Iris jerked her chin, motioning for Xun Yi to look outside.
“Your secret crush is right there.”
Xun Yi followed Iris’s gaze. The first thing she saw was Lin Shuangxue, with her intimidating presence, and then the young girl she was holding hands with.
‘They’re holding hands?’
‘And she… she’s wearing President Lin’s clothes…’
“Oh my, looks like your peach-colored love is over before it even began, Xun Yi. You actually set your sights on President Lin’s woman? And here I thought President Lin never fell in love… I always thought she was a heartless work machine.”
Iris’s gleeful voice rang out, but Xun Yi didn’t even have the mood to bicker with her. She just let her chatter on.
“You know, Xun Yi, true attraction is realizing the other person is completely not your type, yet falling for them anyway… And I have to say, even I felt a little flutter when I saw her. So it’s not your fault… she’s the kind of girl who can melt even President Lin’s iceberg… Wait a second?”
“Xun Yi! Stop spacing out! President Lin is coming this way!”
***
Just as Xun Yi noticed the two of them, Lin Shuangxue also noticed the girl who had been holding hands with Jiang Cheng on the surveillance camera.
Her already cold expression turned even frostier, just like her name—adding frost to snow.
She could see clearly that Jiang Cheng had been the one to initiate the hand-holding. If anyone was to blame, it was Jiang Cheng.
But she still couldn’t help feeling irritated.
‘Calm down, Lin Shuangxue. Acting on impulse isn’t like you.’
‘As the heiress of the Lin family, you should always keep a clear head…’
Yet despite that, Lin Shuangxue couldn’t control herself. She strode toward Xun Yi’s direction.
Jiang Cheng finally noticed the unknown purple-haired girl. She tugged urgently at Lin Shuangxue’s hand. “Little Shuangxue! It’s not her fault! Don’t bully her!”
Lin Shuangxue’s anger only grew.
‘Not her fault? Then is it my fault?’
‘Don’t bully her? So you assume I’m an unreasonable person?’
‘You could call me Little Shuangxue, but why did you only say “Little Shuangxue” to plead for a stranger?’
Lin Shuangxue said nothing. She dragged Jiang Cheng forward, not slowing her pace at all.
Finally, she stopped in front of that girl.
“I remember you. You’re Xun Yi.”
She said slowly.
Xun Yi was startled. She nodded instinctively.
“There were four errors in the report you submitted yesterday. The file you turned in last week had a formatting mistake. And the thing I asked you to revise two months ago—why haven’t you handed it in yet?”
“Stay late today for overtime. Don’t leave until the revised version meets my satisfaction.”
Her voice was cold, as if she had rehearsed the words in advance.
Jiang Cheng almost thought she had come specifically to put this girl named Xun Yi in her place.
She shuddered.
‘Lin Shuangxue really is the scariest of the three heroines.’
‘Little Xiqiu and Yao Yao are so much better—sweet and adorable, never bullying anyone.’
Just as she was lost in thought, Lin Shuangxue suddenly turned around and yanked her hand.
“Let’s go.”
She said.
“And as for you pleading for her—I’ll settle that with you later.”