“Are you looking for Anna?”
After reading the message, Yun Duoduo furrowed her brows. Had she guessed wrong? Impossible; all signs pointed to Huai Jian pretending to be Anna.
No, I have to test her again.
She stared at the message Huai Jian sent, letting out a small huff. “Don’t let me catch you faking it!”
If she was really pretending to be a manager to deceive her! Hmph, she’d be super angry!
Just as Yun Duoduo was hesitating on how to reply, “Anna” sent her another message, looking every bit like someone with a guilty conscience.
“I was busy just now, so I didn’t ignore you.”
On the other hand, Huai Jian felt truly pitiful. She was the one doing all the work, yet she had to give all the credit to this “Anna” who had done nothing and claimed to have no feelings.
She was so nervous her hands were shaking. She had almost sent the reply to the wrong chat just now. Luckily, someone in the work group @-ed her, calling her “President Huai,” allowing her to stop herself just in time. Otherwise, it would have been a total disaster.
Yun Duoduo deleted her draft bit by bit and replied to Huai Jian: “Oh, I was messaging Sister Anna just now and accidentally sent it to the wrong person. Sorry about that, Sister Huai.”
Huai Jian narrowed her eyes. For some reason, she felt Yun Duoduo was typing through gritted teeth. She asked: “Did you really send it to the wrong account?”
“Do you really wish I hadn’t?”
Not exactly. Huai Jian replied: “I was just asking.”
Yun Duoduo replied with a [Staring] emoji, teasing her. “Next time I see Sister Anna, I’ll greet her then. Forget it for now.”
“No!” Huai Jian replied instantly, practically making things up on the spot.
“Why?” Yun Duoduo asked, curious, deciding to push further.
“Anna has to go on a business trip. If you need anything, just tell me. I’ll relay it to her. You wouldn’t want her to be busy on both ends, would you?”
Look at that excuse. If it were before, Yun Duoduo would have believed it. She replied: “It’s fine. I’m at the entrance of the company building right now. I’ll see her when she gets off work. Did you give her those apples from last time?”
What apples?!
Huai Jian immediately stood up from her chair. Anna was right; Yun Duoduo was like a little enchantress. The moment Huai Jian let her heart be moved even slightly, she was being pulled in every direction. It was incredibly vexing.
Huai Jian immediately called Anna. “You’re going to lead the new batch of managers. Go to the branch office tomorrow.”
“Wait…” Anna was bewildered. She was a gold-standard manager; wasn’t going to the branch office a demotion?
“I’m not doing it! What did I do wrong for you to treat me like this?” Anna put on a tragic tone, acting heartbroken. “Is it because of your little lover? So you’re discarding me?”
Her voice was so sorrowful that colleagues in the hallway looked at her with pity. They grew even more curious about this legendary “little lover” and planned to form a group to go see for themselves.
Huai Jian wasn’t that heartless, nor was she demoting Anna. “Didn’t you want to go there before? I’ve reserved the Vice President position at the branch for you. If you still want to manage artists, you can, but just don’t show up at the main office for now.”
“I… I… I’m going to be Vice President?” This was a position Anna had dreamed of for a long time. Huai Jian hadn’t wanted her to go before, wanting to keep her as an assistant at the headquarters. She didn’t expect it to happen today.
She asked excitedly, “Huai Jian, tell me the truth. Is it because of your little lover that you’re sending me away?”
Huai Jian gave a soft “Mm.” Anna immediately said, “This ‘iron tree’ of yours blooming is terrifying! You’re intense!”
“Don’t talk nonsense,” Huai Jian denied it verbally, but the corners of her mouth were uncontrollably curling upward. She was beyond happy.
Having received the benefit, Anna was very loyal. She patted her chest and said, “Don’t worry. Now that I’ve taken your ‘breakup fee,’ I’ll vanish from the company early. I definitely won’t wander in front of your darling while I’m doing the paperwork!”
Although Anna didn’t know the exact details, she was very supportive of her good friend’s romantic life.
Huai Jian hung up and went to the first floor to find her girl.
At that moment, Yun Duoduo was eating a compressed biscuit she had bought. She put a small piece in her mouth, chewed twice, and found it uncomfortably dry. She lifted her water bottle, her red lips wrapping around the opening as she gulped it down.
Huai Jian was about to walk over, but she was transfixed by this sight. She stood nearby, watching until Duoduo finished the biscuit.
How can she be this cute? Look at her puffed-out cheeks.
For some reason, while others would be full after one biscuit, Duoduo’s stomach was uncooperative—it felt like she hadn’t eaten anything at all. So, she pulled out another piece to eat.
At that moment, Huai Jian walked over. “Don’t eat that. I happen to be going out for dinner. Why don’t we go together?”
“Huh?” Yun Duoduo pulled out a tissue to wipe her mouth. “Are you done with work? I’m almost full with these two biscuits, hehe.”
“Are they good?” Huai Jian tilted her chin.
Yun Duoduo held up the biscuit. “Compressed biscuits are just for staving off hunger; they’re definitely not that tasty. Some flavors are okay, though.”
But they were incredibly expensive; she definitely couldn’t afford the fancy ones.
“Since it’s not tasty, why not come out with me?”
“Ah?” Yun Duoduo froze for a moment, and once she processed it, she could only agree. “I was just afraid of bothering you.”
Huai Jian said, “It’s no trouble.”
Yun Duoduo nodded. “Then, thank you, Sister Huai.”
Technically, this was the first time Huai Jian was taking Duoduo out for a meal, which made her a bit nervous. She was afraid she hadn’t picked a good place.
Thinking it over, Huai Jian didn’t even know why she was so excited. When they left, she even gently held the glass door open for Duoduo.
This scene shocked the staff downstairs. Their President just… seemed to have opened the door for someone.
Holy crap, holy crap! The little lover is indeed the little lover!
Next, everyone used their imaginations to turn that simple gesture into a poignant love story.
Combined with the news that just came out, word spread that President Huai’s lover was a ruthless person who had pushed out Huai’s long-time “old flame” (Anna) and was now firmly in the number one spot! She would surely be the President’s wife in the future—someone not to be messed with!
Yun Duoduo had no idea about the office rumors. She followed Huai Jian to the restaurant. Huai Jian didn’t know much about her preferences and asked, “Do you like Chinese food or Western food?”
Yun Duoduo rarely ate Western food. Firstly, it was too expensive. Secondly, she had a big appetite, and those tiny portions weren’t enough.
So, to this day, she couldn’t understand why people went to Western restaurants for dates, only to eat a few tiny bites of steak to maintain their “grace.” Weren’t they afraid of their stomachs growling?
“Chinese food,” Yun Duoduo said.
Huai Jian got her car. She happened to have a Chinese restaurant she liked.
Ten minutes later, Huai Jian took her there.
They were having grilled fish. It was very crowded; if you came late, you couldn’t get a seat. Fortunately, Huai Jian knew the owner and had secured a number in advance.
Huai Jian handed the menu to Duoduo. “Do you eat spicy food?”
Yun Duoduo nodded. “Do you?”
Huai Jian couldn’t handle too much spice but liked sour flavors, so she ordered a pickled cabbage fish. Yun Duoduo was the opposite. She said, “Isn’t there a saying online? It’s not that different tastes can’t eat together; it’s that two hearts aren’t standing together.”
After saying it, she realized it sounded a bit too ambiguous. She and Huai Jian were just friends right now, not lovers.
She quickly tried to fix it. “I was just making an analogy.”
The food came out slowly, but the taste was worth the wait.
Twenty minutes later, the waiter brought a roasting pan with two grilled fish inside, separated so they didn’t interfere with each other.
After letting it simmer for a few minutes, they took the lid off. It was ready.
Yun Duoduo had chosen the chopped chili fish. Looking at the bright red peppers, she almost started drooling. “It smells so good!”
“The fish here is good.” Huai Jian used her chopsticks to put a piece of fish in her mouth and steered the conversation back to the previous topic. “Actually, that analogy you made just now was quite good.”
Yun Duoduo felt a bit lightheaded, her heart fluttering restlessly. She felt like she was being flirted with, and that Huai Jian had said that on purpose.
She looked up at Huai Jian to confirm.
Perhaps because the fish was constantly boiling and there was too much steam, she thought she saw a hint of red on Huai Jian’s face.
Was she blushing?
After a while, the remaining side dishes were served.
The grilled fish here was indeed excellent—fragrant, tender, and flavorful, the taste lingering on the tongue.
Yun Duoduo ate her side, occasionally peeking at Huai Jian. Huai Jian ate very gracefully, always slow and methodical, like a food critic carefully unraveling every flavor.
Watching her greatly increased Duoduo’s appetite.
Occasionally their eyes would meet. Huai Jian would look at her with a gentle gaze and a soft smile.
So beautiful.
“Does it not suit your taste?” Huai Jian asked.
Yun Duoduo quickly shook her head. “I just think the way you eat is really pretty. Sister Huai, you seem to have no flaws.”
No flaws? Huai Jian couldn’t control her heartbeat again.
Yun Duoduo looked at the fish on Huai Jian’s side and couldn’t resist reaching her chopsticks over. She really wanted to taste what it was like on that side.
Clack. Their chopsticks collided.
Both looked up simultaneously, the atmosphere suddenly heating up.
Yun Duoduo stammered an explanation, “I… I wanted to taste yours.”
Huai Jian froze for a moment, staring at her and involuntarily thinking, Taste yours? Doesn’t that mean taste me? Her breath suddenly turned hot. She said, “Mm. I’ll taste yours too.”
They were just exchanging food, yet it felt like they were doing something scandalous.
By the end of the meal, Duoduo’s mouth felt like it was on fire.
Finally, they stepped out, and Yun Duoduo let out a long breath.
They hadn’t ordered alcohol. Huai Jian drove the car over, stopped beside her, and gently opened the door for her.
Once in the car, Duoduo took out her phone. She remembered Da La’s instructions and went to the variety show’s Weibo to forward the promotional ad.
After posting, she reported back to Da La.
A moment later, Da La replied: “Go post a personal Weibo. I don’t have any photos of you here. Just post whatever is around you.”
Yun Duoduo looked at Huai Jian beside her. She thought: Can I post a picture of a beauty? Obviously not. She silently moved the camera.
The car pendant was quite cute—a little pink rabbit. She thought about it and prepared to snap a photo. Just then, Huai Jian reached for something, her slender fingers extending right next to the little rabbit.
Huai Jian’s hands were beautiful—jade-white with a hint of pink—and looked particularly harmonious next to the rabbit. Yun Duoduo couldn’t bring herself to delete it.
Huai Jian glanced at it and handed her some xylitol gum. “Post it.” In her heart, she was also curious about how fans would react to her hand.
Since she gave the go-ahead, Yun Duoduo had to post it.
As soon as the photo was out, Da La sent her a message, aggressively questioning her: “Whose woman’s hand is that? There are already rumors online that you have a thing with your former assistant, and now you’re pulling this? Are you trying to kill me?”
Yun Duoduo quickly explained, “It’s Sister Huai’s hand…”
In her rush from being scolded, she forgot to change how she addressed her. When Da La saw the words “Sister Huai,” he froze for a few seconds before replying: “Oh, then it’s fine. I was just thinking, how could a hand be so beautiful? Great photo!”
The change in tone was too fast. Yun Duoduo’s lip twitched.
She asked cautiously, “Should I delete the photo?”
Da La replied instantly: “A photo proves nothing. Deleting it means you have a guilty conscience. Don’t delete it, we’re keeping it! President Huai’s hand is so beautiful, too beautiful!”
The last part is the main point, isn’t it? Yun Duoduo replied with an “Okay.”
At this time, Huai Jian was also looking at her phone, zooming in on that photo over and over. She thought of the rabbit Duoduo had taken from her before.
She felt a wave of panic, afraid Duoduo would remember.
Fortunately, Duoduo didn’t. She put her phone away and met Huai Jian’s eyes. She touched her face, confused. “What’s wrong? Is there something on my face?”
“No.” Huai Jian awkwardly looked away and nervously changed the subject. “I’ll take you to the apartment the company assigned you. See if you like it; if not, we can change it.”
If I don’t like it, can I change it? Yun Duoduo suspected Huai Jian might be up to something. When Huai Jian took her to the place with practiced ease and pulled out the keys to explain the house, Duoduo was even more suspicious.
And this house was way too nice!
She thought it would be a simple apartment, just enough for one person. Who knew she would be moving straight into a villa?
Looking at the luxurious decor and the expensive fittings—even though she hadn’t used them or lived in such a place—she could tell it cost a fortune.
She thought: This house couldn’t be Sister Huai’s, could it…
After thinking it over, Yun Duoduo decided to ask. “Sister Huai, my level shouldn’t be that high yet. How can I live in such a nice place? Did the company make a mistake?”
She was right. This was one of Huai Jian’s properties, though she didn’t usually live there. When Huai Jian left Duoduo’s rental the night before, she immediately called the staff to apply for housing.
The company had assigned a place according to the procedure—a very ordinary apartment. Huai Jian had personally checked it and felt it wasn’t good enough, so she had them switch it and gave Duoduo this house.
After spending time together, Huai Jian could lie without blinking. “The company has always been good to newcomers. This unit was originally for another artist, but she bought her own house. Since you applied, the house went to you.”
Is it really that coincidental?
Yun Duoduo realized that since meeting Huai Jian, many things were shrouded in “coincidence.” She looked at Huai Jian suspiciously. Although Huai Jian was a Movie Queen, she almost cracked under that gaze.
“Okay, it seems my luck is really good.”
Yun Duoduo walked around the house again. Her final conclusion was that this truly wasn’t a house a poor person like her could afford to live in.
She organized her words. “I think I’ll still stay in a normal apartment. Otherwise, if the paparazzi catch me, it’ll be impossible to explain.”
As for what would be “impossible to explain,” she meant rumors of being a “kept woman.” Huai Jian didn’t want the paparazzi to say that, but a part of her heart was stirring—she actually wanted to have a scandal with her.
Yun Duoduo’s thoughts were different. She felt she was already being smeared enough online. If Huai Jian stayed too close to her, she would be dragged down too. She didn’t want Huai Jian to be hurt.
Huai Jian said, “Don’t worry about that. The address is confidential. If paparazzi follow you and harass you, you can call the police directly.”
Yun Duoduo had another concern. “Actually… I can’t afford to live here.”
Huai Jian: “…” I didn’t consider that.
After viewing the house, they stepped out. Yun Duoduo locked the door. The monthly utilities for this place alone would be a lot; she couldn’t afford it.
Huai Jian felt it was a pity; she didn’t want Duoduo to stay anywhere else.
Back in the car, Huai Jian asked again: “Do you still not want to live there?”
Yun Duoduo feared disappointing her kindness. “It’s not that…”
Huai Jian said, “What kind of place do you like? I’ll re-apply for you.”
“No, no!” Yun Duoduo was afraid Huai Jian would find her another villa. Actually, she had some money, but she didn’t dare spend it. The reason was simple: now that she was signed to Huai Jian’s company, she would have to attend events. She needed to buy clothes; she couldn’t embarrass Huai Jian.
Huai Jian was persistent. “It’s fine, just say it.”
Yun Duoduo had no choice but to say: “For now, I just want a simple apartment that fits my current rank and that I can afford.”
Huai Jian gripped the steering wheel and thought. She had always preferred a high-quality lifestyle. Suddenly, an idea occurred to her. “Do you know how to cook?”
Yun Duoduo thought she was asking about the kitchen. “Yes!”
“Then… Do you know how to do housework?”
Yun Duoduo nodded vigorously. “Yes. I’ve always lived alone, so I can do all the basic chores. Don’t worry.”
“That’s good.” Huai Jian suddenly went silent, her fingers tapping the steering wheel. After a long internal struggle, she finally spoke the words:
“Why don’t you move in with me?”
“Huh?” Yun Duoduo was startled by the sudden suggestion. What did she mean by moving in together? Living in the same house?
She and Huai Jian are living together?
Huai Jian felt a bit embarrassed, realizing her words might have been too abrupt. “Um, my place is quite large. You can move in.”
Yun Duoduo’s mind was filled with a giant “OH MY GOD.” She didn’t understand the situation at all. Huai Jian had taken her to dinner, then to see a house, and now was suggesting they live together.
If this went any further, she really would start to misunderstand things.
Seeing no reply, Huai Jian quickly added, “If you’re not willing, you can think about it. I’m not in a hurry.”
Yun Duoduo looked at her blankly and whispered, “Sister Huai, why are you inviting me to live with you?”
Huai Jian couldn’t explain it clearly; it was a sudden impulse. The saying was true: tell one lie, and you have to tell a hundred more to cover it.
She said, “I usually live alone and I’m very busy with work. If you move in, you can help me with the housework.”
Help with housework, huh? Yun Duoduo murmured an “oh,” but felt a hint of disappointment in her heart. She clenched her hands as two little versions of herself fought in her head.
One said: “What are you thinking? You can’t live with Sister Huai. You’ll be a huge burden. What if the paparazzi catch you? What if they start rumors about you and Sister Huai?”
The other said: “What are you afraid of? Sister Huai said it’s okay. Besides, you can learn acting from her. Why care about what outsiders think? Just be yourself. And… and Sister Huai isn’t a bad person, what’s there to be embarrassed about?”
Huai Jian waited for a while, her fingertips tapping the wheel. She swallowed nervously. “What do you think? Are you coming over?”