Su Group, Secretariat Pantry.
“Hey, Guoguo, didn’t you go pick up Miss Su this morning? So, what’s Miss Su’s house like?”
A female secretary holding a cup of water approached Secretary Lin with a curious expression.
“Sister Zhang, I only went to pick up Miss Su for work; there’s no way I got inside Miss Su’s house,” Secretary Lin, that is, Lin Guoguo, whispered back, firmly shutting her mouth to stop herself from spilling any gossip.
Help! The secret that Miss Su and Miss Ruan are already secretly living together absolutely cannot be revealed! Sorry, Sister Zhang!
“Hmm, true. I was just wondering why Miss Ruan has gone missing. She and Miss Su are usually so close, yet Miss Su doesn’t seem worried at all. I was hoping to get some clues from you, Guoguo.”
“That’s because Miss Ruan is actually at Miss Su’s house! And Sister Zhang, you’re not wrong—I do have clues here!”
Lin Guoguo once again restrained herself from blurting out too much.
“Maybe it’s because Miss Su has channels to confirm Miss Ruan’s safety? Sister Zhang, look, not only Miss Su, even the Ruan Family isn’t panicking.”
“Hmm, that makes sense.”
The gossiping female secretary nodded knowingly, then excitedly added, “See, Guoguo! I knew the relationship between Miss Ruan and Miss Su was unusual! Otherwise, Miss Su wouldn’t know such detailed information about Miss Ruan! That’s stuff only family would know!”
“Yeah, yeah, Sister Zhang, you’re right. After all, Miss Ruan is at Miss Su’s house, and their relationship really is special…”
The young secretary recalled Miss Su admitting their relationship earlier that morning and silently admired Sister Zhang’s sharp intuition.
At that moment, Miss Su, quietly lingering outside the pantry, nodded to herself as she overheard the conversation, covering her flushed cheeks in delight.
Hehe, everyone really can tell how close Zhixian and I are~ Ah, it’s such a happy problem to have~ Sister Zhang is so perceptive; maybe I should add a little extra to her end-of-month bonus?
“Really envy young people’s relationships, that blurry, youthful feeling. I definitely can’t relate anymore~”
“But Sister Zhang, isn’t your relationship with your husband quite good too?”
“Ah, Guoguo, you just don’t get it. If Miss Su and Miss Ruan are like an unripe persimmon, then me and my husband are a jar of mature persimmon wine. Every stage of love feels different! Anyway, enough chit-chat, let’s get back to work—I plan to leave early today!”
“Sister Zhang, is that so you can get home to your husband sooner?”
“Exactly~ Guoguo, I’m telling you, no matter what stage a relationship is at, it always needs careful maintenance…”
Their voices gradually faded as they apparently left through the pantry’s exit.
Careful maintenance of a relationship… Speaking of which, haven’t I been making Zhixian wait until evening to come home these past few days?!
A spark of realization flashed in Su Ling’s eyes.
If I don’t maintain it properly… then Zhixian and I’s relationship might…
No, absolutely not! I will never allow that to happen.
Su Ling lowered her eyelids, her whole figure seeming like a faded oil painting. Her hands gripped the water cup tightly; her already pale skin looked even whiter next to the veins bulging beneath.
I must go home earlier to be with Zhixian!
The black-haired girl’s eyes seemed to thicken with darkness, a mix of intense possessiveness and… work drive?
“Everyone! Gather in the meeting room!”
“?”
The secretaries in the department were taken aback by Miss Su’s sudden entrance, including the two culprits who were completely unaware of being spotted.
“Today, we need to finish our work quickly so everyone can leave early and go home!”
“Yes, Miss Su!”
Though unclear what was going on, the secretaries answered in unison.
“All right! Watch me charge my power strike! This time, I won’t let you escape my blow!”
“Ahhh, dead again! Guangzhi, tell me! Was there something wrong with this hit?”
Facing the game character that once again dissipated, the girl in front of the computer let out a frustrated scream, holding her game controller high above her head.
She fell back into the e-sports chair, her golden hair fanning out across the seat.
Her slightly loose loungewear shifted with her movements, barely hiding her proud figure, revealing her youthful underarms and cute, slender belly.
Her two pale little feet kicked randomly in the air, her delicate toes curling and uncurling.
“Damn it, I’m going to try again!”
Just as the rosy-cheeked girl straightened up to continue challenging the game’s boss, her room door suddenly opened.
“Zhixian~ I’m home~”
“Huh? Su Ling? You got off work so early today?”
Ruan Zhixian took off her Cat Ear Headphones, looking toward the door with a delighted expression at the black-haired girl standing there.
“It’s not even dinner time yet, right?”
“Yeah, because I wanted to see Zhixian earlier and surprise you, I sped through my work and came home.”
Su Ling answered honestly. She hadn’t changed yet, still in her slightly disheveled suit, a few strands of hair stuck to her sweat-dampened forehead and cheeks.
The girl panted lightly as she raised the bag in her hand:
“Here, Zhixian, this is today’s little cake—summer limited edition.”
Her clear, cold black eyes, still a little tired and moist, suddenly brightened as a dimpled smile appeared on her lips, almost intoxicating.
“Oh, oh, thank you.”
Ruan Zhixian wasn’t sure why, but when she saw that smile, her heart suddenly softened, and her heartbeat quickened slightly.
“Hm?”
The black-haired girl looked a little puzzled.
The golden-haired girl didn’t take the bag with the limited-edition cake but stepped forward, gently raising her arm to pull Su Ling into an embrace.
Golden strands fell near the black-haired girl’s ear, carrying a faint sweet milky scent. Their cheeks were only a breath apart, close enough to feel each other’s warmth and heartbeat.
“Thank you, Su Ling. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me all this time.”
A faint blush colored Ruan Zhixian’s fair face, the shyness in her eyes no longer hidden.