“You are here so early.” Yueyi raised her eyes, closed her fountain pen, and casually slipped it back into the pen holder on her side. She pointed to the sofa on one side of the office, signaling the other person to sit down. “I thought you would not come for another couple of days. You just returned to the country; why not rest for a few more days?”
Yan Nianyi lowered her head and walked over to sit on the sofa. Curving the corners of her lips, she conveniently shifted the reason onto her family. “My older brother found me too annoying at home, so he had Dad recommend me to Yueshi.”
“Did you not just get back a few hours ago?” Yueyi was somewhat surprised, but she quickly noticed the hidden smile in the other person’s eyes and, realizing she was joking, played along. “Well, that is fine too. Since you came over so suddenly, Wang Lin probably has not had time to arrange a position for you yet. Sit with me for a bit first.”
“Secretary Wang has already arranged it for me.” Yan Nianyi’s fingers curled inward.
“Hm?” Yueyi crossed her hands, resting her elbows on the desk, her smiling gaze fixed unblinkingly on the seated person.
Under such a gaze, combined with the eager longing of dozens of days apart, Yan Nianyi felt all her blood pulsing through her veins. Her throat bobbed, and a faint, unnoticeable tremor leaked into her voice: “A personal follower to Older Sister.”
“A personal follower?” Yueyi was momentarily stunned, then grew amused. “I have never heard of this position. How did Wang Lin come up with that?”
“Older Sister has heard of it now.” Yan Nianyi twitched her fingers, flipping her phone back and forth in her palm as she explained, “I was worried that doing anything else would disrupt other people, so I troubled Secretary Wang to arrange this for me.”
“That works too.” Yueyi nodded.
To put it bluntly, she had let Yan Nianyi come over just to go through the motions; she was never going to make the girl actually work.
Yueyi pulled open one of the lower drawers of her desk, picked up a lollipop from inside, and handed it across. “Do you want some candy?”
“Yes.” Yan Nianyi stood up and walked over, lightly biting the tip of her tongue to keep her emotions from fluctuating too wildly.
As she drew closer, the faint, pleasant fragrance of the woman drifted gently to the tip of her nose.
“Older Sister still loves sweets just as much.” Yan Nianyi took the lollipop, peeled off the outer wrapper, twirled it, and popped it into her mouth.
With Yan Nianyi standing right in front of her, Yueyi had to tilt her head up slightly to meet her gaze. “Eating sweets puts you in a much better mood.”
“Is that so?” Yan Nianyi lowered her gaze, looking down at Yueyi with a subtle sense of condescension. Narrowing her eyes, she squatted down and steadied herself by placing one hand on the leg of the person before her.
Yueyi instinctively reached out a hand to steady her.
“Is Older Sister in a bad mood?” Yan Nianyi asked.
“No.” Yueyi bent forward slightly, her gaze locking onto Yan Nianyi’s face.
Every single line of the woman’s facial features was just right, carrying a natural aura of serenity. Both her bone structure and facial skin were exceptionally superior, yet the eyes hidden behind her gold-rimmed glasses exuded a trace of coolness when she was not smiling.
It gave off a striking sense of contrast.
“I have prepared some; you can satisfy your cravings when you are bored.” Yueyi pulled her up. “If you are bored, you can play on your phone. As for a computer, I will have someone send one over tomorrow.”
“Okay.” Reluctantly squeezing her palm, Yan Nianyi retreated back to the sofa.
Yueyi opened a document and began reading again. The company was not very busy lately, and since many tasks could be handled by her subordinates, she was happy to enjoy some ease.
When she finished the last document, an hour had already passed. Letting out a soft breath, she put down her fountain pen and reached up to massage the sore muscles at the back of her neck caused by keeping her head down for too long.
However, no sooner had her fingers touched her neck and rubbed twice than a shadow fell over her from behind.
Yan Nianyi, who had been keeping a constant eye on her, had walked up behind her chair.
“Older Sister, let me massage it for you.” As she spoke, Yan Nianyi reached out, gently pushed Yueyi’s hands away, and placed her own fingers on those tense muscles.
“I can just press it myself,” Yueyi said.
“I am Older Sister’s personal little follower after all; I cannot just take a salary and do nothing.” Yan Nianyi found a solid excuse, giving Yueyi no room to refuse. “Older Sister, is this pressure okay?”
“Mm, it is fine.” Yueyi tilted her head back slightly, leaning against the back of the chair.
“What time does Older Sister usually get off work?” Yan Nianyi shifted her position slightly.
“Six.” Yueyi replied.
“Six, huh?” Yan Nianyi drew out her tone as if pondering something.
“You do not have to follow this schedule. If you feel bored, you can leave,” Yueyi said, pressing a hand down on Yan Nianyi’s shoulder to stop her. “You do not need to massage anymore; it is not sore anymore.”
“Is Older Sister trying to give me special treatment?” Yan Nianyi stopped moving, though her hand remained resting on Yueyi’s shoulder.
“You can look at it that way,” Yueyi smiled.
“I am a good employee who strictly guards her post,” Yan Nianyi declared with feigned pride.
Yueyi was amused by her, the corners of her lips curling up into a smile. She checked the time; it was already 3:30 PM, leaving two and a half hours until quitting time.
“Alright, star employee,” Yueyi teased.
Yan Nianyi shrugged. Just as she was about to speak, a knock sounded on the office door. The words stalled in her throat, and she quickly changed her tune: “I will get the door.”
Seeing Yueyi nod, Yan Nianyi strode quickly to the door and pulled it open.
Wang Lin stood outside holding a few sheets of paper. Seeing that the person opening the door was Yan Nianyi, she politely greeted her. “Ms. Yan.”
Yan Nianyi stepped aside to let her enter.
“Director Yue, the meeting is about to start.” Wang Lin handed the printed documents to Yueyi.
“Mm, alright.” Yueyi nodded, scanning the contents of the documents before standing up.
As she prepared to leave, she noticed the person standing by the door and paused. “Nianyi, you can head home early.”
“I will wait here for Older Sister,” Yan Nianyi answered instantly.
“Okay.” Yueyi could not find anything more to say.
Yan Nianyi watched Yueyi walk to the elevator lobby, press the call button, and saw the elevator doors slowly slide shut.
“Haa.” The moment the woman completely disappeared from sight, Yan Nianyi took half a step back and leaned her side against the door panel.
“Ms. Yan.” Wang Lin had not immediately followed Yueyi’s pace.
Yan Nianyi turned her head.
“Director Yue mentioned that newly opened bakery in the city center this morning,” Wang Lin said. “The taste is said to be quite good.”
Yan Nianyi raised an eyebrow. Her lips curved upward as she patted Wang Lin’s shoulder, a flash of amusement in her eyes. “Thank you for the reminder, Secretary Wang.”
“You are welcome, it is only my job. Thank you for your help previously, Ms. Yan,” Wang Lin replied before turning to leave.
Older Sister wants to eat that.
Yan Nianyi pulled out her phone, opened the map application, and searched for the newly opened bakery Wang Lin had mentioned.
She closed the office door behind her and sent a message to Yueyi.
“Older Sister, I have a temporary errand to run, so I am leaving first.” Yan Nianyi.
After sending it, Yan Nianyi hesitated for a moment and added an emoticon sticker.
Yueyi replied very quickly; the meeting must not have officially started yet.
“Alright. Be careful on your way.” Yueyi.
“Star employee.” Yueyi added a second message.
Is Older Sister teasing me on purpose?
Yan Nianyi put away her phone with a bright smile and took the elevator all the way down.
After stepping out of the elevator, she glanced briefly at the people working diligently at their desks nearby and crossed the spacious, bright lobby.
She pulled out her car keys, pressed the button to unlock her car, fastened her seatbelt, and secured her phone in the dashboard mount. After pulling up the bakery’s location on the GPS, she started the navigation.
As she drove at a steady speed down the road, Yan Nianyi glanced up at the traffic light, which was already in the middle of its countdown. Estimating the time, she realized she would not make it through before the light turned red.
She shifted gears, pressed the brake pedal, and waited for the next green light.
During the wait, notifications kept popping up at the top of her phone screen. Yan Nianyi glanced at them out of the corner of her eye without tapping to open them.
When the green light illuminated, she shifted back into drive and released the brake.
Upon entering the city center, the pedestrian traffic increased noticeably. Yan Nianyi checked her rear-view mirror, made a turn, and drove down into the underground parking garage.
Only after emerging from the underground garage did Yan Nianyi finally have a moment to open her phone and check her messages.
They were notifications from their group chat.
The people in the group were none other than her close circle of friends in Honcheng.
“Are the ones currently out of town back yet? Want to hang out?” Shao Yihan.
“I have to tutor a junior student for the May Day holiday, might not have time.” Sang Wan.
“Tutoring? Since when did you start taking on side gigs?” Shao Yihan.
Followed by a shocked emoticon sticker.
“I asked her for a favor. I have business over May Day and cannot return.” Zhou Qingyan.
“Fine, everyone is a big busybody. What about Nianyi? Why isn’t she coming out?” Shao Yihan.
Followed by an @ mention for Yan Nianyi.
“Busy.” Yan Nianyi.
After sending an emoticon, she exited the chat app. Ignoring Shao Yihan’s further inquiries, she opened the map and followed the directions to the newly opened bakery.
A brand-new signboard hung over the fresh storefront, where several bakers were busy at work inside the small shop.
Right outside the front door, a long, winding queue had formed.
Yan Nianyi’s eye twitched slightly. Pressing her tongue against her lower teeth, she took her place at the very tail end of the line.
“I heard they only bake ten at a time,” a girl standing ahead whispered to her companion.
“Then how long are we going to be waiting? They only bring out a fresh batch every fifteen minutes. By the time it is our turn, it will be pitch dark,” the companion wailed.
“There is a limit of one purchase per person. I counted how many people are ahead of us, and it is going to take an hour and a half,” the first girl said.
“That long? But people say these are amazing. It is worth it, though.”
Yan Nianyi, standing right behind them, furrowed her brow. Does that mean I have to stand here and wait for an hour and a half too?
Never mind. As long as Older Sister likes it, an hour and a half is fine.
Pulling her thoughts back, Yan Nianyi glanced back at the group chat.
The conversation was still mostly about May Day plans.
She chimed in with a few replies in between.
As time ticked away second by second, Yan Nianyi started growing a bit impatient. When had she ever stood in line in person to wait for anything?
Let alone waiting for over an hour.
She peeked forward and noticed the line had visibly shortened compared to when she first arrived.
Suppressing her restlessness, Yan Nianyi went back to browsing her phone while inching forward with the crowd step by step.
“Where are you? Want to come hang out?” Shao Yihan sent her a direct message.
“City center, at the newly opened bakery.” Yan Nianyi.
“What are you doing there? Craving bread? I remember that place always has a huge crowd. Can’t you just hire someone to buy it for you instead of going in person?” Shao Yihan.
“Already standing in line.” Yan Nianyi.
There was a brief pause on the other end, the typing indicator blinking repeatedly, showing the inner conflict of the person reading the message.
“Don’t tell me Director Yue wants to eat that.” Shao Yihan guessed tentatively.
As Yan Nianyi’s longtime friend, she naturally understood her habits. When had Yan Nianyi ever waited in line herself just to eat something? All she had to do was say the word, and countless people would rush to deliver it to her.
The only person who could ever make her care this much was Yueyi.
“Mm.” Yan Nianyi.
“I knew it. Why didn’t you just have someone get the store to deliver straight to you?”
“It is a small mom-and-pop style business, having someone pull strings would take too long.” Yan Nianyi.
“Fine, go ahead and keep waiting then. I won’t disturb you.” Shao Yihan.
Yan Nianyi glanced at the message on her screen and chuckled softly to herself.
It was just an hour and a half of queuing; as long as Older Sister liked it, it was not wasted effort.
After a long and tedious wait, it was finally her batch’s turn.
Another fresh batch of pastries had just come out of the oven, and even across a dozen people, the sweet, rich aroma was unmistakable.
The people ahead of her dwindled one by one. By the time it was Yan Nianyi’s turn, she claimed the very last round-shaped pastry of the current batch.
She breathed a silent sigh of relief internally, so she would not have to wait another fifteen minutes.
Watching the clerk carefully place the beautifully crafted round pastry into an equally exquisite packaging box, Yan Nianyi paid, took the box from the clerk, thanked them, and turned to leave.
The off-white packaging box holding the freshly baked pastry was placed securely on the passenger seat.
Taking one final look at it, Yan Nianyi started the engine and drove toward Yueshi Enterprise.
When Older Sister sees this, she will definitely be very happy.