The fine hairs at the nape of my neck suddenly stood on end.
I heard the crisp sound of high heels clicking against the floor behind me, and my cat ears turned uncontrollably toward the source of the noise.
Sensing something was wrong, I dug my nails into my palm, barely steadying my trembling fingertips.
I wanted to pretend I didn’t hear, but that cold, fragrant aura was already brushing against the back of my neck. That familiar voice slipped into my ears, wrapped in a teasing smile, drawing out the final syllable in a deliberately soft and languid way:
“This student,” her index finger suddenly rested on my cat ear perched on the back of my chair, the pad of her finger gently stroking the burning edge of my ear, “You seem~ a little too proud to attend these training classes, hmm?”
To others, the famously aloof Ning Dongya suddenly acting like this might look like mockery or passive-aggressive sarcasm, but I knew, this woman was flirting with me!!
“Ugh~”
I shot up like a kitten thrown into boiling water, tail stiff and straight as a wire, phone clattering onto the desk with a sharp smack, piercingly loud in the quiet computer lab.
The gaze of the whole class stabbed over like spotlights. Blood rushed to my head in an instant.
At that moment, I could only feel the fine hairs on my nape bristling one by one.
I didn’t dare lift my head to meet those curious stares. I could only lock my gaze on my reflection in her silvery-grey pupils: my cheeks blushing from ear to collarbone, my cat ears drooping nervously like airplane wings, even my fingertips shaking uncontrollably.
Her fingers still lingered on the burning rim of my ear, tracing it in a barely-there caress. That playful smile made me uneasy, tightening my throat until I could hardly breathe.
“Since you think the basics are boring,” she suddenly leaned down, her silvery-grey eyes glinting slyly under the lights, her words brushing my ear like feathers, “I could arrange a special session for you, one-on-one, how about that?”
“Meow!!”
I recoiled as if electrocuted, my chair scraping against the floor with a shrill squeal.
My tail puffed up into a furry ball. I flailed my hands in front of my chest, “N-no need! Thank you, President, for your concern! President, you’re such a joker!”
My nails dug deep into my palm to steady my trembling voice, my Adam’s apple bobbing as I swallowed back the whimper threatening to spill from my lips.
I absolutely cannot be alone with her again! Otherwise, I’m doomed!
Ning Dongya straightened up with a soft laugh, leisurely smoothing the creases in her suit sleeve with her fingertips. “Is that so? What a pity~”
Yet her eyes carried a smile I couldn’t decipher, and the teasing at the end of her words wrapped around me like rings of catnip smoke, leaving me breathless.
After speaking, Ning Dongya walked away, but the whispers among the other interns didn’t cease.
They thought I was one step closer to being fired. Honestly, I wished it were true. That way, I wouldn’t arouse Ning Dongya’s suspicion and could get away from her.
But deep down, I knew—it wasn’t that.
Though it felt like I was a step closer to something, it definitely wasn’t being fired. As for what it actually was… I had no clue, ugh…
Soon, the theory class ended.
As required, we all headed to the practical classroom.
Even interns get their own computer lab? Big companies really are on another level…
Thinking about how I spent every day hunched at home, using my ancient, sluggish computer—the kind that takes half a year just to boot up—left me feeling bitterly unfair.
But after a moment of silent grumbling, I found a seat near the back.
Due to my height, I couldn’t really see what was being taught at the front. Not that it mattered. My only job was to keep an eye out for Ning Dongya.
The following practice session was just as dull. I killed time playing on my phone, until the door to the computer lab opened again…
The moment the door swung open, all the hushed conversations cut off instantly. The training instructor hurried over, about to say “President Ning, you’re so busy…” but was interrupted by Ning Dongya’s raised hand.
“Meow!!”
Hearing the instructor call out “President Ning,” my cat ears instantly shot upright like antennas receiving a special signal.
Remembering my earlier ordeal, I immediately shrank into a ball, using the computer to hide my face and body.
Right then, I wished I could crawl right inside the computer case. My tail was curled tight behind my waist, not daring to move, even my breathing turned shallow.
I peeked out from beneath the monitor, spying on Ning Dongya.
Her gaze swept across everyone’s desk like a searchlight. It was as if she knew I’d choose the last row by the window, because she walked over in a straight line.
She didn’t look at me for long, but in that brief moment her eyes fell on me, I felt my blood freeze.
She just curved her lips in a smile, told the instructor to “Continue,” then stood at the back of the classroom, hands clasped behind her.
The projector beam cast shifting shadows across her face. I stared at the cursor on the screen, but my fingers trembled—what did that smile mean just now?
“Alright, based on what we’ve covered, follow the requirements on the big screen and try the operation on your computers. If you get stuck, you can ask me.”
I glanced briefly at the task, then started working on the computer.
As soon as I grabbed the mouse, sweat beaded on my palm. It wasn’t because I didn’t know what I was doing, but because I could feel Ning Dongya’s gaze glued to me, even without looking.
All I needed to do was draw some standard shapes with the tools, create a layer mask—elementary stuff. But I kept making mistakes, spamming undo until the key almost broke.
The clacking of keyboards around me suddenly grew quieter. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a pair of black high heels stop by my desk. “The line art layer should be on top.” Ning Dongya’s voice came from above.
Her cool fingers suddenly pressed over the back of my hand, the silver-ringed knuckles lightly tapping the mouse button, even threading between my own fingers. That soft touch sent a shock straight through my sensitive nerves. My cat ears bristled into triangles, my breathing turned ragged.
Muted whispers rose in the classroom. I could feel all eyes drilling into my back.
Her breath brushed my ear. Whether she was doing it on purpose or not, I couldn’t tell, but I shivered uncontrollably, the tip of my tail stiff as a rod beneath the chair.
“L-let go, I’ll do it myself…”
Before I could finish, she guided my hand, dragging the mouse, her fingertips tracing my wrist in fleeting strokes. Her other hand braced on the desk, elbow “accidentally” bumping into my upper arm.
I tensed up, stiff as a stone, forgetting even to breathe.
With every movement of hers, I flinched. She, on the other hand, acted as if nothing was amiss, giving guidance in a calm tone, “Not even comfortable with the basics? Were those drafts yesterday really yours?”
The mention of yesterday’s drafts made my heart plummet! She was testing me!
If I slipped up here, she’d definitely realize something!
Staring at the chart on the screen, I forced myself to stay calm. “J-just random doodles… a hobby… I, I liked drawing since I was a kid…”
My cat ears trembled uncontrollably, terrified she’d ask for details.
Luckily, she just responded with a quiet “Mm,” letting go of my hand, though she didn’t leave.
Still, I breathed a sigh of relief inside. At least I hadn’t given anything away this time. Surely, she’d be busy with other things soon.
But before I could relax, Ning Dongya’s voice brushed my ear again, “You can’t go on like this, your efficiency is too low. After lunch break, come to my office.”
“Eh, eh, eh?? Eh!!! What for!”
“What else? After-class guidance~”