Ji Huaiqiu’s hand was still raised when she heard Lin Su say, word for word: “You are not permitted to pursue her.”
The cool, commanding voice held a dignity that made people inexplicably prone to submission. A chilling aura quietly radiated from Lin Su to envelop Ji Huaiqiu. Lin Su’s icy gaze swept over, and Ji Huaiqiu felt the temperature in the air drop several degrees instantly. A chill crept up her spine, and she felt such lingering fear that she was nearly ready to obey Lin Su’s words, nod meekly, and blurt out that she wouldn’t pursue her.
But upon realizing she was about to back down in front of the “old fox,” Ji Huaiqiu became furious with herself. She quickly stepped back, putting distance between them, and glared up at her. “Why aren’t I permitted to pursue her? Tongtong doesn’t belong to you!”
“On what grounds?” Lin Su arched a brow and curled her lips. She took a light, graceful step forward, causing Ji Huaiqiu to immediately take a step back.
“You dead fox, don’t come any closer! If you come any closer, I’m going to scream!” Every time she tried to provoke Lin Su, Ji Huaiqiu’s formidable presence was easily neutralized. She turned her head and roared, “Tongtong, come save me! Boss Lin is trying to hit me!”
Hearing Ji Huaiqiu’s cry for help, Ye Tong immediately turned her head and was shocked. Even from a dozen meters away, she could feel the coldness radiating from Lin Su.
She didn’t need to guess to know that her best friend had gone to provoke Lin Su again and had been turned against by the latter. While Lin Su was usually cold and taciturn, her aura alone was enough to dominate others; with just one glance, she could render people speechless.
Ye Tong set aside her work and hurried toward them. “What are you two doing?”
“Tongtong, come quick!”
Lin Su turned back to look at Ye Tong. She retracted her fluctuating emotions, pressed a hand on Ji Huaiqiu’s shoulder, leaned in, and whispered neither too lightly nor too heavily into Ji Huaiqiu’s ear: “She is mine.”
“Keep dreaming.” Ji Huaiqiu rolled her eyes at Lin Su, instantly switching into acting mode as she ran over to grab Ye Tong’s arm and hide behind her. “Tongtong, Boss Lin is bullying me!”
Lin Su: “I am not bullying her.”
Seeing Lin Su’s cold, indifferent expression, Ye Tong turned to look at Ji Huaiqiu, who looked at her with a pitiful expression. Ye Tong felt her head throbbing. The two women had a combined age of over sixty; why were they being so childish?
“I’m sorry, General Manager Lin. There must be some misunderstanding. Why don’t you sit down and rest for a moment?” Ye Tong smiled, dragging Ji Huaiqiu away. “Since General Manager Ji is so free, come over and help me.”
Ji Huaiqiu protested in dissatisfaction: “Little Tong, the old fox was just bullying me.”
“Alright, I know you; you were just trying to stand up for me, weren’t you?” Ye Tong was, of course, well aware of Ji Huaiqiu’s little schemes. With a wry smile, she reached up to pinch Ji Huaiqiu’s delicate cheek.
“If you knew, why didn’t you help me!”
“Fine, fine, fine. I apologize, alright? You’re the bigger person, so don’t be angry anymore.”
Ji Huaiqiu gave a proud, airy hum: “Fine. Seeing as you’re so sincere, I forgive you.”
“Childish ghost.” Ye Tong learned from Ji Huaiqiu and poked her forehead in exasperation, then said seriously: “You told me not to provoke the old fox, yet you shouldn’t provoke her either.”
Ji Huaiqiu nodded obediently, then muttered to herself: “I wouldn’t want to provoke her either, but if she hadn’t bullied you before and caused you so much grievance, I wouldn’t even bother with her.”
Ye Tong froze for a moment, feeling a mix of gratitude and helplessness. She pulled Ji Huaiqiu down to sit beside her. “Huaiqiu, I’ve already let those things go. I have absolutely no feelings for Lin Su; she really is just a normal business partner.”
Ji Huaiqiu: “Just a business partner?”
“Mm, just a business partner.” Ye Tong nodded earnestly, picked up two bottles of mineral water from the table, unscrewed them, and handed one to Ji Huaiqiu. She took a few sips to soothe her throat.
“Also, it wasn’t entirely Lin Su’s fault back then. She had her own hardships. I understand her, so please stop targeting her for my sake. I was just too naive and weak back then.”
Ye Tong’s tone was calm, as if she had truly let go, but Ji Huaiqiu caught the faint trace of self-mockery in the corners of her lips.
She frowned. “That still doesn’t excuse her for letting you be mistreated. She couldn’t protect you and even ended up dragging you into the mess.”
“It’s alright. It’s all in the past. Look at me now lively and kicking, everything is fine.” Ye Tong turned her head and smiled at her. “Everyone has their youth, don’t you agree?”
“Fine, fine, fine. I surrender; you’ve convinced me.” Ji Huaiqiu looked away, refusing to watch Ye Tong’s endlessly gentle, beaming smile, but she couldn’t help but look back at her. “Bestie, are you sure you won’t consider me?”
“Alright, stop messing around.” Ye Tong pulled her to her feet. “Hurry up, come help me clean up.”
“Fine, fine. I’ll help you clean up; I’m just your free labor.” Ji Huaiqiu pointed at Lin Su in the distance. “I’m just a drudge. Look, that one over there is the real high-and-mighty master.”
Ye Tong looked back and saw Lin Su still standing in the same spot, gazing toward them. Their eyes met, and Ye Tong instinctively looked away, pushing Ji Huaiqiu. “Forget about whether she’s a master or not, let’s go, bestie.”
Lin Su pursed her red lips, her eyes trailing Ye Tong’s figure. She watched them chase each other and laugh, watched their closeness, and her calm gaze gradually turned slightly burning.
Xiao Ziyu popped up from the side, shaking her head and sighing. The overbearing CEO had a formidable romantic rival, full of crisis. If Ye Tong hadn’t still been harboring feelings deep down, she would have long since shed her single status and fallen into someone else’s arms, given her popularity.
Her phone vibrated in her pocket. Xiao Ziyu pulled it out, took a secret glance at Lin Su, and replied to Luo Huan: “Another day of no progress. The boss is in low spirits today.”
Luo Huan: “Tsk tsk tsk. I told you, the dawn of victory is just a flash. Your boss is a legendary person; I truly admire her ability to endure until now.”
Xiao Ziyu suppressed the urge to retort and replied seriously: “The boss says she wants to let Ye Tong adapt to and accept her presence first. Perhaps the boss has reservations and worries that acting too quickly will be counterproductive.”
After a minute of silence, Luo Huan replied: “Even the most confident person has moments of insecurity.”
Xiao Ziyu agreed. Just as she was about to turn off her phone, another flirty message came in: “Baby, I have great news for you. I’ll be coming to your LT year-end banquet, too. I have five days of vacation long-separated lovers finally meeting, dry wood meets fire! I miss you so much; do you miss me? Call me ‘wife’ I promise to make you so comfortable you won’t want to get out of bed.”
Xiao Ziyu: “Get lost!”
Before she could put the phone away, she suddenly heard Lin Su ask: “What time is it now?”
“Almost seven.” Xiao Ziyu checked the time. “We should be heading back.”
“Mm, you go ahead.”
Xiao Ziyu: “Huh?!”
“You go ahead.” Lin Su watched Ye Tong, who was busy not far away. “Leave the car.”
Xiao Ziyu whispered: “Boss, are you going to drive Director Ye home yourself?”
Lin Su: “Mm.”
Xiao Ziyu peered at Ye Tong over there, then stole a glance at Ji Huaiqiu, who was trailing behind Ye Tong like a puppy. She seemed to understand something. Smiling broadly, she took out the car keys and handed them to Lin Su, clenching her fist. “This is a great opportunity! Good luck, Boss!”
She turned and left immediately, so as not to get in the way of the overbearing CEO’s plans.
They stayed busy for another half hour, getting all the props and clothing packed away. By the time the follow-up work was finished, it was already 7:30 PM. Ji Huaiqiu had originally planned to follow Ye Tong home for dinner, but her secretary had hurried over; there was an impromptu, important meeting she couldn’t push back, so she had to leave Ye Tong to go home first, promising to come over once she finished. She hurried off.
Ye Tong tidied up the files, picked up the list of selected models and their personal information sheets, found Lin Su, walked over, and handed them to her. “General Manager Lin, everything is here. Please take a look.”
Lin Su: “Good.”
Ye Tong turned to scan the room. “Where is Secretary Xiao?”
“She already left.” Lin Su flipped through the materials, lowered her eyes, and said in an offhand tone: “General Manager Ji told me she was going to have dinner at your place tonight. I wonder if I might be so lucky as to join you for dinner as well?”
Ye Tong’s eyelid twitched, and it took her quite a while to collect her thoughts. The old fox wanted to have dinner at her home? Her best friend had really dug a pit for her…
Lin Su closed the materials, noticed Ye Tong’s subtle expression, and curled her lips. “Didn’t you want to treat me to dinner a few days ago in Z City? You couldn’t have forgotten so soon, could you, Director Ye?”
“No, no…”
Lin Su nodded: “Then let’s go. I’ll drop you off home and join you for dinner.”
“…”
She couldn’t believe she’d actually said that!
Lin Su didn’t give Ye Tong a chance to refuse, turning and walking away. Ye Tong’s mind was a mess, unable to process what was happening. She watched Lin Su walk ahead and silently followed her.
Agreeing to treat her to dinner in Z City had been a slip of the tongue once she’d said it, there was no taking it back.
Who would have thought the old fox would be so sudden about wanting to eat at her place…
Ye Tong frowned, but then realized that since she’d agreed to the meal, it was just a way to repay the favor for the fashion show proposal. If she wanted to come, let her come. Besides, there was still the sly fox Ji Huaiqiu; eating with three people was better than being alone with her.
With that thought, Ye Tong stopped struggling. Being bashful would only make it look like she had something to hide, so she smoothed her brow and sat gracefully in the passenger seat that Lin Su had opened for her.
As the car drove off, Lin Su turned to look at Ye Tong. “Do you have groceries at home?”
Reminded by Lin Su, Ye Tong remembered there were no ingredients at home. “We’ll buy groceries first.”
“The usual place?”
Ye Tong was startled: “Mm.”
Lin Su smiled faintly. “It’s been a long time since I ate your cooking; I really miss that taste.”
Unfortunately, Ye Tong didn’t buy it. She responded coldly, “General Manager Lin has so many high-end private chefs; the food they make tastes better.”
Lin Su: “It doesn’t taste as good as yours.”
“General Manager Lin must be tired of it by now; you could change your palate.” Ye Tong pursed her lips and turned to look at the world outside the car window.
“Would you like to open the window, Director Ye?” Lin Su had excellent social calibration, sensing Ye Tong’s mood and stopping at the right time, knowing better than to keep pressing.
“No, it’s cold.”
It was a one-hour drive home. Lin Su asked a few questions to keep the conversation going, and Ye Tong answered a few. Other than work-related topics, she didn’t take the initiative to speak. Eventually, the atmosphere fell silent as expected, and Ye Tong took out the model files to study them.
There was a large chain supermarket not far from Jinbi Apartments. In the past, they had often gone there to buy groceries. Ye Tong was a good cook and liked making meals at home it was clean and hygienic. Ever since Ye Tong had moved into the house, Lin Su had dismissed the chef and ate home-cooked meals every day.
They got out of the car and entered the supermarket with practiced ease. At this hour, the supermarket was bustling. Their appearance immediately drew a crowd people who were good-looking and had such excellent poise always became the center of attention wherever they went.
They were used to it. Ye Tong was natural, and Lin Su simply turned a blind eye. As they entered, Lin Su took the initiative to push the cart without needing a reminder from Ye Tong. The scene felt very familiar, and Ye Tong couldn’t help but glance at Lin Su several times.
It was laughable. A dignified CEO, who lived a life far removed from the common world, had almost never set foot in a wet market or bought groceries from childhood, yet she was often dragged out by Ye Tong to serve as the grocery carrier.
Ever since Ye Tong had left her side, Lin Su had never stepped foot in such a place again. She followed closely behind Ye Tong to avoid being separated by the crowd. While Ye Tong was selecting vegetables, Lin Su leaned in and asked, “Director Ye, are we following General Manager Ji’s taste or my taste?”
Ye Tong picked out some greens without looking back. “Ji Huaiqiu is not like you; she’s not a picky eater.”
“So much trouble for someone eating a free meal.” Ye Tong said this in a very low voice, barely audible, but Lin Su heard it clearly. She went silent. “You’re treating me to dinner; I’m the guest.”
Ye Tong found Lin Su’s chatter annoying and shoved the greens into her hands. “Go weigh these.”
Lin Su went, paid, and quickly returned to Ye Tong’s side. “It went up by one yuan and eighty cents; it used to be only three yuan a pound.”
Ye Tong didn’t take it seriously and asked amusedly, “How do you remember so clearly?”
Lin Su suddenly fell silent. She remembered clearly that the last time she’d accompanied Ye Tong to buy groceries, she had also bought these greens. Ye Tong had told her the greens had gone up in price, and she had glanced at the tag. She hadn’t known that Ye Tong was planning to leave; that evening, she had made her last dinner, and the next day when she came home from work, the house was empty, and Ye Tong’s scent was gone forever.
“I just said it randomly.”
Ye Tong replied with an “Oh,” not taking it to heart. Since Lin Su had helped her carry the groceries, she asked generously, “What do you want to eat?”
Lin Su: “I want soup.”
Ye Tong walked along, observing the various vegetables, and responded to Lin Su, “Seaweed and egg drop soup? Egg and tofu soup? Or pork rib, corn, and radish soup?”
“Pork rib soup.”
The surroundings were noisy, but Ye Tong heard a slight tremor in Lin Su’s voice. When she turned to look at her, Lin Su’s face was serene, watching her with a gentle smile on her lips.
Ye Tong looked away, occasionally glancing at Lin Su’s lightly smiling face as they walked. She gritted her teeth in secret it was just a meal for two; what could the old fox possibly do to her!