“Zhixian, I’m home.”
The key clicked in the lock, turning smoothly. Peering into the apartment from the entrance, the interior was plunged in darkness—cold and silent.
Huh, so Zhixian must have gone to rest first?
For some reason, as Su Ling exhaled in relief, a faint trace of disappointment flashed across her heart.
The girl fumbled along the wall for a moment, then with a soft click, turned on the light switch.
The ceiling light in the living room suddenly lit up, causing the girl to squint against the brightness.
And just as her vision cleared, Su Ling felt her heart skip a beat.
A familiar beautiful girl was curled up in a corner of the living room sofa, like a lonely little cat. Her golden hair was somewhat tousled, spread out messily on the cushion.
With her eyes closed, the girl’s lips parted slightly, and her full bust rose and fell with her breathing.
A game controller lay fallen beside her, and on the coffee table were a half-eaten bag of chips and a half-empty bottle of cola.
“…Su Leng? You’re back?”
As if disturbed from a pleasant dream by the sudden light, Ruan Zhixian let out a small, animal-like whimper before drowsily lifting her head and rubbing her eyes, waking slowly.
It’s you.
“Sorry, Zhixian, I didn’t know you were sleeping here. Looks like I woke you up.”
Looking at the golden-haired girl now awake, Su Ling felt a pang of guilt.
“It’s okay, I was waiting for you to come home anyway. It’s just a pity—I think I fell asleep before you got back.”
Now fully awake, Ruan Zhixian scratched her slightly messy golden hair awkwardly.
“No, it’s my fault for coming home so late. I shouldn’t have kept you waiting for so long.”
Su Ling lowered her head silently at this.
***
“Alright, alright. Seeing how Secretary Lin was so flustered this morning, I knew you’d be busy today. I guess it’s my fault for insisting on waiting.”
Zhixian waved off the concern casually and stretched lazily, the snug loungewear outlining her breathtaking curves with every movement.
“So, is the matter with the Gu Family really that troublesome? Do you need any help?” The girl’s beautiful green eyes were full of worry.
“No, it’s not actually that difficult to resolve.”
Su Ling didn’t elaborate further on the matter.
“It’s just, Zhixian, because of this, I probably won’t have much time to spend with you in the next few days.”
The black-haired girl’s tone was filled with apology.
“Mm, it’s fine. You just focus on your work. No need to make special time for me.”
Ruan Zhixian shook her head again, brushing it off casually.
“Thanks, Zhixian.”
“Oh, right, Zhixian, here, these are today’s little cakes.”
The black-haired girl suddenly remembered something and immediately handed the item in her hand to Ruan Zhixian. Peering at it closely, it was the familiar cake packaging.
“Since I got to the shop too late today, they didn’t have the flavor you like. So these are…”
Before Su Ling could finish, the golden-haired girl suddenly threw herself into her arms, carrying a warm breeze and a faint sweet fragrance, cutting off her words. “Zhixian?”
The black-haired girl’s hand still held the cake box, frozen in mid-air, her body tense and face flushed red.
“Thank you, Su Ling.”
The golden-haired girl soon loosened her embrace, taking the cake box with a bright smile.
“I really like the cakes you buy me, no matter the flavor.”
Really, working late and still remembering to get me a cake…
I didn’t expect Su Ling to like me so much…
Just wondering, when will she confess to me?
Amid the warm buzzing feeling, Ruan Zhixian, holding the hairdryer, was in a good mood, gently and tenderly combing Su Ling’s smooth black hair.
“Zhixian, I’m heading out now. I’ll probably be late again today. You can rest as soon as it’s time—no need to wait for me in the living room.”
At the entrance, Su Ling in a suit held her bag in one hand and the special breakfast she’d prepared for Ruan Zhixian in the other.
“Work hard.”
The golden-haired girl stepped forward and gently offered her embrace.
“I’ll rest first. You should come back early and don’t overwork yourself.”
The girl’s warm breath brushed against Su Ling’s ear; the gentle words made her blush and heart race.
Damn the Gu Family! Not only do they want to steal Zhixian away from me, now they’re maliciously taking up my time! I had planned to spend time with Zhixian all along!
Damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn…
“Young Lady, your co… ah!”
Secretary Lin had just walked into the office when she saw her Young Lady furiously buried in documents, radiating an intimidating aura.
Young Lady looks so scary! Could it be… are our reports really that bad?!
The poor secretary trembled, clutching her coffee tightly.
“Oh, Secretary Lin, put the coffee here. Also, your work has been quite good.”
“Sorry, Young Lady, I…”
“Huh?”
The secretary, who had closed her eyes tightly in fear, cautiously opened them a bit, hardly believing what she heard.
The Young Lady wasn’t angry? Instead, she praised their work?
“Young Lady, you mean…”
“Ah, I’ve already reviewed your report just now. Well done.”
“What we need to do now is strategically contract our position, letting the Gu Family believe their attack is working, so they recklessly exhaust their own resources. On this front, you’ve done well.”
The Young Lady behind the desk nodded lightly, affirming their efforts.
“Next, we just need to keep up this facade and stabilize our base, waiting for the Gu Family to expose their flaws.”
“Then, it will be time to catch the Gu Family in one sweep.”
Su Ling’s voice was filled with clenched teeth and a vicious light mixed with hatred in her dark eyes.
“Yes, Young Lady!”
***
Elsewhere, inside the Tang Family’s building.
Something feels off…
Secretary Wang looked at the gathered materials in her hands, lost in thought.
Though not fully organized, all signs pointed to the fact that recently the Ruan Family and the Gu Family have been secretly clashing.
Having already prepared various incriminating evidence in secret, Secretary Wang hesitated.
So, do I still need to continue framing the Gu Family?
It seems like I don’t have to do anything, and the entire blame for the Ruan Family mother and daughter’s disappearance will fall squarely on the Gu Family.
Adjusting her gold-rimmed glasses, the secretary’s expression was inexplicably complicated.