Ji Huaiqiu protected Ye Tong by lashing out at Lin Su, while the little niece defended her aunt by lashing out at Ji Huaiqiu. If they kept bickering back and forth, the world might just collapse. Ye Tong hadn’t forgotten that Ji Huaiqiu mentioned last time that Lin Sheng had stolen her land. Perhaps sensing the urgency, Ye Tong only reacted when she heard Lin Su’s soft chuckle; she quickly pulled her hand away from pushing Lin Su, closed the car door, and sat by the window.
With distance between them, Lin Su turned to look at Ye Tong. She remembered that Ye Tong liked to have the window open for fresh air while riding in a car, so she took the initiative to break the silence. “Would you like to open the window?”
Ye Tong was startled, then replied with a faint smile, “No need, it’s quite cold outside.”
“It is quite cold. The temperature is going to drop significantly in the next few days, so please remember to keep warm, Director Ye.”
“Thank you, you too.”
Lin Su looked at Ye Tong, her gaze drifting down to scan her outfit for the day.
A pure white, high-necked wool sweater covered her slender neck, paired with a long blazer; her expression was soft yet possessed a touch of heroism. Ye Tong was gentle and considerate by nature, making her very comfortable to be around, yet she kept her guard up against Lin Su at all times.
Ye Tong didn’t want to discuss personal matters, so after her brief response, Lin Su stopped talking. Ye Tong caught a glimpse of Lin Su from the corner of her eye, only to find Lin Su watching her as well. Lin Su was currently contemplating how to soften those prickly defenses. When their eyes met, a smile immediately appeared on Lin Su’s lips. Ye Tong was calmer than she had anticipated, and she returned the smile.
Lin Su turned her gaze away and asked, “Did the designers from the XM Group come along?”
“Everything is arranged. We’ll rendezvous at the Ji Group at one o’clock,” Ye Tong replied. She knew clearly that designers were more professional in these matters.
Lin Su nodded, recalling the incident from that morning, and her brows furrowed. “The project is entrusted entirely to you. If anyone gives you trouble again, come directly to me, and I will handle it.”
Ye Tong knew Lin Su was referring to Chen Shuru, but she immediately thought of Lin Sheng. The way Lin Sheng had defended her had been incredibly bold. She smiled. “Young Manager Lin has already handled it for me.”
Seeing Ye Tong smile so softly, Lin Su fell into a silent contemplation. Xiao Ziyu, who was driving, hurriedly tried to restore her boss’s dignity. “That little brat only causes trouble; she’s always stirring up chaos in the company, and the boss always has to clean up after her. The company isn’t her home where she can just play around. Director Ye, be careful the little brat isn’t reliable; it’s more reliable to go to the boss if something really happens.”
Her niece was the apple of Lin Su’s eye, raised by her personally since she was small. Hearing her disparaged like this by Xiao Ziyu, Ye Tong looked over and indeed saw Lin Su’s brows knit in a cold glare.
Ye Tong thought of how Lin Sheng had secretly snapped a plum branch from Lin Su’s office to gift her. She pursed her lips, and the repressed smile was caught by Lin Su. Lin Su tightened her brows and changed the subject. “Is Director Ye on very good terms with General Manager Ji of the Ji Group?”
“Of course, she is my friend.”
Lin Su: “She is very good to you.”
“Mm, she is quite good.” Ye Tong felt Lin Su’s question was a bit strange; though her tone remained calm and indifferent, there was a ripple of something underneath that she couldn’t quite identify.
Lin Su suddenly recalled the words Ji Huaiqiu had confronted her with in the restroom claiming that she had been the one to support Ye Tong through their heartbreak for the past three years, and that she didn’t love Ye Tong any less.
The silence returned to the car. Ye Tong was happy to enjoy the peace, closing her eyes to rest and recharge during the remaining free time.
The drive to the Ji Group took over half an hour. Lin Su picked up the latest newspaper to pass the time, occasionally glancing at Ye Tong, who was half-dozing with her head slightly bowed.
Ye Tong had been at the LT Group for over half a month, working day and night. The workload and pressure were immense. To stay sharp, she kept her spirits tight, balancing her various tasks alongside dealing with Lin Su.
Ye Tong vaguely heard a soft voice beside her: “Are you very tired?”
She replied vaguely, “Mm.”
“Then get some sleep.”
“Mm.”
A few minutes later, Lin Su set aside the paper and looked at Ye Tong. She picked up a cotton jacket from the side and draped it over Ye Tong’s lap, wrapping her hands inside as well. They were sitting almost shoulder-to-shoulder, and the sudden warmth made Ye Tong lose all desire for sleep.
Why is that old fox moving closer! Ye Tong resisted the urge to push Lin Su away. Her chest rose and fell slightly; she couldn’t decide whether to open her eyes or not. She could even smell the faint fragrance from Lin Su with every breath, and her long eyelashes trembled.
Lin Su focused on the business paper, no longer disturbing Ye Tong’s brief nap. She was simply worried that Ye Tong would become too drowsy and fall over this had happened often in the past, and after spending so much time together, it had become a habit. Ye Tong liked leaning on Lin Su’s shoulder when sleeping in a car and liked resting her head on Lin Su’s lap when intoxicated.
They finally arrived at their destination. The car stopped, and Ye Tong prepared to wake up, only to feel Lin Su moving closer again, causing her to freeze instantly. Lin Su first removed the coat from Ye Tong’s lap, saw her eyes closed, and naturally and familiarly tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, gently nudging her shoulder. “We’ve arrived.”
The warm, moist breath drifted over, turning Ye Tong’s ear tips red. Before she could open her eyes, Lin Su had already leaned across to open the car door. The cold wind rushed in instantly, and seeing Ye Tong open her eyes, Lin Su carefully circled around to help her out of the car.
The “old fox” had exited. Ye Tong finally had no need to put on an act. Just as she sighed in relief, the “old fox” displayed great gentlemanly manners, extending a hand to her, one hand blocking the roof of the car while the other rested on her arm.
Ye Tong couldn’t push her away, so she offered a polite smile and thanked her. As her feet hit the ground, a thought flashed through her mind: Acting like this is so tiring.
The old fox wasn’t tired, but she really was. This status of being neither here nor there, with sudden, unexpected moments of intimacy it was hard to know where to put her hands. Heaven knows if the old fox was doing it on purpose. Ye Tong looked at the faint smile that never left Lin Su’s face and was momentarily speechless, silently cursing her as an old fox in her heart.
In front of others, Lin Su was cold, arrogant, and confident. But how could Ye Tong not know what she was like in private? There was no version of Lin Su she hadn’t seen; she could spend ten days and a fortnight complaining about her.
They entered and announced their identities. The receptionist greeted them warmly and promptly called the CEO’s office. The moment Ji Huaiqiu came down and saw Lin Su, her eyes widened. She marched over, pulled Ye Tong aside, and whispered, “I told you to stay away from the old fox, and yet you actually brought her here.”
Ye Tong: “I couldn’t help it; she insisted on coming.”
Ji Huaiqiu snapped, “She must be clinging to you without any good intentions.”
“Don’t say that.” Ye Tong kept work and personal matters separate. She replied in a low voice, “This is our work. She is the person in charge of the fashion show, so it’s normal for her to come and see.”
Ji Huaiqiu was filled with resentment. “I originally wanted us to skip work and go have some fun. Who knew this eyesore would follow you?”
“We can have fun next time.” Ye Tong patted Ji Huaiqiu’s shoulder. “Come over to my place tonight. Whatever you want to eat, I’ll cook, it’s my treat.”
“Really?!” Ji Huaiqiu couldn’t control her volume, drawing Lin Su’s gaze toward them.
“Really, keep it down.” Ye Tong pulled her along. “Let’s focus on work first.”
Ji Huaiqiu giggled: “Fine, work!”
She was playful in front of Ye Tong, but immediately turned serious when approaching Lin Su. She extended her hand for a shake. “It’s truly an honor that Boss Lin could find the time to grace us with her presence.”
“You are too modest, General Manager Ji.” Lin Su shifted her gaze from Ji Huaiqiu’s face to Ye Tong beside her. “Can we begin?”
Ji Huaiqiu asked, “Little Tong, are all the designers from XM Group here?”
Ye Tong smiled: “Yes.”
“Alright then, let them pick first. Designers have a better eye than we do; they know who is best suited to wear the clothes they’ve designed.”
Ji Huaiqiu’s eyes twinkled with mischief. She cast a provocative look at Lin Su, then turned to place her hands on Ye Tong’s shoulders, softening her voice. “Little Tong, it’s really been hard on you coming all this way. If I’d known, I would have brought the models to you.”
She glanced at Lin Su out of the corner of her eye to gauge her reaction. Lin Su’s brows twitched at Ji Huaiqiu’s use of “Little Tong,” and though her expression remained neutral, her red lips couldn’t help but press into a thin line.
Lin Su knew Ji Huaiqiu was Ye Tong’s college classmate and best friend. Back when Ye Tong was with her, Ji Huaiqiu would often drag Ye Tong out to shop and play. She hadn’t paid it any mind before because Ye Tong’s heart belonged to her, but now…
Xiao Ziyu, watching the drama unfold, coughed a few times to smooth things over. “General Manager Ji, time waits for no one can we begin?”
She couldn’t let her friend go too far. Ye Tong tugged on Ji Huaiqiu’s sleeve, and Ji Huaiqiu nodded instantly: “Sure, sure.”
Knowing that Ji Huaiqiu was unconditionally protecting her and often clashed with Lin Su, Ye Tong was worried her best friend wouldn’t be able to control her firebrand nature and would delay the work. She took Ji Huaiqiu to the model studio for an initial screening, then accompanied Lin Su and the other designers to pick the right models. Lin Su’s expression finally began to soften.
The simple runway show took three hours. Clothing, makeup, and styling were essential preparations for the models. Ye Tong was busy running around, and Ji Huaiqiu was busy right there with her. Lin Su watched them, finally seeing the task completed.
The models walked the runway in their outfits. Under the bright lights, they were all cool, beautiful, and possessed stunning figures. Their movements were graceful and perfectly suited the clothing, forming a unique style and aesthetic. Ji Huaiqiu was thoroughly satisfied with her models, and Ye Tong felt they were quite good. Even the designers nodded in agreement, but Lin Su remained exceptionally calm, her eyes critical.
After seven or eight in a row, she rejected them all with a single, understated remark.
When Ye Tong asked for the reason, Lin Su pinpointed the issues in various details. Ye Tong understood and agreed with her opinion. Ji Huaiqiu was unconvinced. “Why are you so picky? What kind of vision is that!”
Lin Su arched a brow, turned to look at Ye Tong, and smiled softly: “My vision has always been excellent.”
“The vision isn’t bad,” Ji Huaiqiu clicked her tongue, “but it’s a pity that it’s blind.”
Ye Tong pretended not to hear. Lin Su asked, “How does General Manager Ji know whether I’m blind or not?”
Ji Huaiqiu replied, “Boss Lin is telling lies with her eyes open could she be anything but blind?”
“Can General Manager Ji not see such a fatal wound?” Lin Su smiled calmly, without any hint of mockery. She unscrewed the cap of a bottle of mineral water and extended her hand to Ye Tong beside her. “Drink some water.”
“Thank you.” Ye Tong accepted it, turned her head to hold Ji Huaiqiu’s arm, and leaned in to whisper, “Bestie, don’t be so agitated. I think the old fox makes a good point.”
Ji Huaiqiu naturally knew she was right, but she was irritated by Ye Tong’s attitude. She poked Ye Tong’s forehead in exasperation. “You’re supposed to be on my side, you know?”
Ye Tong: “I know.”
“Don’t drink her water.” Ji Huaiqiu took the bottle from Ye Tong’s hand, walked over to place it back on the table in front of Lin Su, and handed Ye Tong a fresh bottle of mineral water. “Drink mine.”
“Fine, fine, I’ll drink yours.”
Ye Tong chose to make peace. Ji Huaiqiu was triumphant, while Lin Su, off to the side, was expressionless as she picked up the mineral water bottle and drank a few sips herself. Xiao Ziyu’s eye twitched uncontrollably as she watched them; the two powerhouses were truly childish without realizing it…
The debate over selecting models continued. Lin Su dismissed Ji Huaiqiu’s protests with a few casual words. When Lin Su wasn’t speaking, she was deep in thought; when she did debate, even if Ji Huaiqiu had eight mouths, she wouldn’t be able to beat Lin Su. Ye Tong sat between them, playing peacemaker for the sake of work. Another two hours passed, and by the time they looked at the clock, it was already past 6:00 PM.
Taking advantage of Ye Tong tidying up the final tasks, Ji Huaiqiu walked over to Lin Su. Picking at her fingernails, she said nonchalantly, “Little Tong is just so good to me. She’s keeping me over for dinner tonight and is going to cook personally. Oh my, how blissful.”
Lin Su ignored Ji Huaiqiu, her appreciative gaze following the slender figure directing the staff in the bright lights not far away. Ye Tong worked with lightning speed and precision.
Ji Huaiqiu wasn’t short at 1.7 meters, she had a powerful aura when she was angry but compared to Lin Su, she was still shorter, and her aura inexplicably weakened. Unfazed by being ignored, Ji Huaiqiu squinted at Ye Tong. “Actually, I just like the gentle, mature-woman type like Ye Tong. She’s soft and gentle she really hits the spot.”
Lin Su replied coldly: “You two aren’t a good match.”
“Hey, isn’t that a bit much?”
Ji Huaiqiu glared at Lin Su, then sneered: “Even if we aren’t a match, you two are even less so! If you were a match, you wouldn’t have broken up!”
“As the saying goes, a good horse doesn’t eat the grass behind it; even if it does, it’ll just get a stomachache—not worth the loss. Besides, can a broken mirror really be reunited? Even if I bought you a super-strength 502 glue, you wouldn’t be able to stick it back together!”
Ji Huaiqiu clicked her tongue. “Boss Lin, there are so many peach blossoms around you just pick one and be done with it. Stop disturbing Ye Tong’s life. Once her project is finished, you two should just go your separate ways.”
Perhaps Ye Tong, busy over there, sensed something wrong and glanced over. Ji Huaiqiu waved at her and blew a kiss. Ye Tong rolled her eyes and turned back to her work.
“Boss Lin, don’t you think Little Tong is a better match for someone like me?”
Lin Su: “I don’t think so.”
“You should be wishing us well. What do they say online? An ex should be treated as dead don’t keep coming back to life like a zombie; it’s scary.”
As Ji Huaiqiu patted her chest, Lin Su’s voice turned frigid: “Are you finished?”
“Of course not. You know, I just love to talk don’t mind me.”
Ji Huaiqiu shook her head. “It’s fine if you’re the quiet type and can’t beat me in a debate. Bring that precious niece of yours over I’ll face her in a duel!”
Lin Su tightened her brows, turned to look down at her, and her deep eyes revealed a thread of chilling coldness. Ji Huaiqiu reached out to block her gaze. “It’s no use looking at me like that I’ve decided: I’m going to pursue Ye Tong!”