Chapter 40: Ugh, this guy, he definitely did it on purpose!!

“Meow meow meow? Meow!!!”

Ning Dongya’s sudden probing startled me so much that I couldn’t stop yelping.

It’s over, it’s over, Ning Dongya definitely noticed something!

My heart pounded wildly in my chest; I didn’t dare look up to see her expression at all, only able to stare fixedly at the food in my bowl, terrified of accidentally doing anything else wrong.

A soft laugh came from across the table, light and knowing, like a feather brushing my eardrum.

“Hehe.”

I clenched the chopsticks in my hand, my fingertips turning white, even my tail stiffened and pressed tightly against the back of the chair.

“Eat.” Her voice returned to calm, even carrying an undeniable tone of command, as if the teasing just now and my embarrassed reaction had never happened.

She no longer looked at me, picking up a slice of green pepper for herself.

Only the faint sound of bowls and chopsticks clinking remained in the air.

I mechanically scooped at the rice and steamed egg in my bowl, everything tasting like wax in my mouth.

My mind was in complete chaos. How was she seeing me right now?

Is she just messing with me because she enjoys it? Or did she notice something suspicious and is testing and confirming step by step? Or maybe, she already figured out my identity, but just wants to tease me a bit more before exposing me?

“Ugh…” I couldn’t help but let out a tiny whimper from my throat.

I glanced at Ning Dongya, but couldn’t glean anything from her expression, so I hurriedly buried my head, shoving a large spoonful of rice into my mouth.

The grains were a bit dry, stuck in my throat halfway, making my eyes water as I coughed awkwardly twice.

Across from me, Ning Dongya seemed to notice my sorry state. She picked up the soup by her side and brought it to my mouth. I quickly gulped down a big mouthful, barely managing to swallow the food, though my eyes still watered a little from the effort.

“Hehe, don’t rush. No one’s fighting you for it.”

Ning Dongya chuckled softly, her sharp gaze definitely seeing right through my flustered embarrassment, but she didn’t call me out on it.

“Uuu…”

I bit my lip and wiped away the tears from the corners of my eyes.

It’s over, it’s over. Looking this flustered just makes me look even more suspicious!

Just as I thought things couldn’t get any worse, someone entered from outside the door.

Other people from the company!

I had planned to finish eating before the cafeteria officially opened, but because we wasted some time, now there was no way.

Seeing this, I quickly lowered my head, even my cat ears drooped, trying to hide my face. But unlike me, Ning Dongya—who always said she didn’t want people gossiping—remained perfectly calm, continuing her meal as if nothing happened.

Uuu, why does so much have to happen just when I’m eating?!

No matter what, I’m never eating with Ning Dongya again!

A few employees in company uniforms walked in chatting and laughing. The previously empty, cold space instantly filled with footsteps and faint conversation. It was inevitable that some curious gazes landed on our table.

“Ugh…” I wanted nothing more than to bury my entire face in my bowl. My cat ears pressed down as far as they could, almost glued to my scalp, and my long tail curled up stiffly, trying to shrink myself into an invisible little ball.

Uuu, you can’t see me, you can’t see me!!

I kept praying desperately in my heart, my heart beating faster and faster.

But these kinds of things don’t work just because you pray. I could hear the sound of people whispering.

Ning Dongya eating in the company cafeteria was already a hot topic, but as an intern sitting across from her, eating with her, it drew even more attention.

Yet Ning Dongya seemed completely unaware of the suddenly changing atmosphere, or perhaps she simply didn’t care. She just calmly picked up a slice of tomato, put it in her mouth, her movements smooth and graceful, as if she noticed nothing at all—such a stark contrast to my current panic and embarrassment that I felt like sinking through the floor.

“Uu… Director Ning,” I squeezed out a voice no louder than a mosquito’s hum, bowing my head even lower until my forehead nearly touched the rim of my bowl, “Th-there’s more and more people…”

Ning Dongya lifted her eyes, those deep pupils sweeping over me across the table.

She didn’t answer right away. Instead, she idly poked at the remaining rice on her plate with her chopsticks before finally speaking in a calm, clear voice that cut right through the gradually growing noise:

“Mm, I see.” Her tone was flat. “So what?”

“Meow?!” I choked on her casual response.

So what? Isn’t it obvious! Of course, we should get out of here while we can!

Do you really want to sit here and let everyone watch us like we’re rare animals?

My silent screams almost burst from my throat, but vanished the moment I met her gaze.

Seeing that this tactic wouldn’t work, I quickly changed my approach.

“Maybe I’ll go back first, review for the afternoon, and then…”

“Wait for me to finish.” Ning Dongya’s voice was cold, leaving no room for argument.

“But, I…” I looked at Ning Dongya, then glanced at the other employees in the cafeteria, their curious eyes making my own eyes well up with tears.

“What, after I spent so much time teaching you, you can’t even wait for me to finish eating?”

That comment from Ning Dongya was a near-fatal blow.

“I…” I opened my mouth, but couldn’t come up with any strong retort. In the end, I could only sit back down in defeat.

I could only watch as more and more colleagues streamed into the cafeteria with their trays, looking for seats. Our table was in a slightly out-of-the-way spot, so no one came over for now, but the invisible pressure surged like a tide, making me restless.

Ning Dongya seemed to finally have had enough of my hair-on-fire awkwardness, the corners of her lips barely curving upward in a fleeting smile—so quick I almost thought it was an illusion. She put down her chopsticks, picked up her soup spoon, and leisurely scooped up some soup, but didn’t drink it, just gazing into the clear seaweed egg drop in the spoon.

“You’re not done eating.” She finally spoke again, her tone once more unyielding, with a trace of her own special wicked amusement.

Seeing that fleeting smile, I realized it—this woman is doing it on purpose! She just wants to see me embarrassed!!

Uuu…

The chatter among the employees nearby grew louder and louder. I clutched my skirt tightly in both hands, feeling an urge to crawl under the table. But Ning Dongya continued as if nothing was wrong, eating slowly and steadily.

I didn’t know how much time passed. Ning Dongya’s tray was almost spotless when I stood up without hesitation, only to be locked in place by her gaze once again.

“No rush, there are still a few grains of rice left. Wait till I’m done. Wasting food isn’t a good habit, you know.”

At that moment, I felt everything go black before my eyes. I wanted to complain, but didn’t dare say a word. I could only sit back down, enduring wave after wave of attention from the employees who kept coming in.

Ugh, this woman is absolutely doing this on purpose!!