“That’s wonderful! I knew it, Wang Yan, you look absolutely gorgeous in this outfit!”
Watching Secretary Wang step out from the Dressing Room, now changed, Tang Jin’er nodded with clear satisfaction.
“I understand your reasoning, Miss Tang, but why did you bring me a maid outfit?”
Indeed, at this moment, the secretary stood dressed in a perfectly tailored classic black-and-white maid outfit—a black dress reaching just to the knees, with a white apron tied neatly at the waist.
Her elegant legs were encased in smooth black stockings, a sharp, straight seam tracing up from her ankle beneath the skirt’s hem.
A delicate pair of gold-rimmed glasses perched on the woman’s proud nose, and her long hair was flawlessly coiled into a sleek bun at the back, with not a single stray strand in sight, lending her an air both intellectual and precise.
Secretary Wang tugged at the skirt and shifted in the small leather shoes, clearly somewhat unaccustomed.
“Hehehe, but look—you still put it on, didn’t you~? How is it? I said you’d look great in it~!”
Giggling, Tang Jin’er pushed the now properly attired secretary in front of the store’s Full-Length Mirror.
“See? Isn’t it beautiful? I have good taste, don’t I?”
Secretary Wang stared a little blankly at the mirror.
In it, a young lady in a red dress pressed her hands on the shoulders of a tall maid; the maid appeared rigid and proper, while the lady beside her tilted her head slightly, smiling brilliantly.
“Hurry, Wang Yan, strike a pose—lift your skirt and curtsy! I’ll take a photo, and then we can try on more outfits!”
Tang Jin’er, excitement shining in her eyes, pulled out her phone, stepped back a few paces, and pointed the camera at the secretary.
Let’s just consider it playing dress-up with Miss Tang on my day off…
A bit helpless, the secretary reached down to lift her skirt, thinking as she did so.
“Miss Tang, is this the right way?”
“Mm~ That’s better! Feels like it’s been ages since I last enjoyed shopping like this.”
Tang Jin’er stretched as she walked out of the mall, raising her arms high. The graceful curves of the young lady’s figure were on full display to Secretary Wang, who walked beside her.
By now, dusk was falling. After leaving the clothing store, Secretary Wang had been spirited from one shop to another by the energetic young miss: jewelry, handbags, all manner of boutique stores.
The mountains of purchases, whether chosen eagerly or reluctantly, were all promptly delivered to their Residential Property by special staff from the Tang family.
“So, since we’re leaving, why did you put me in this… uh, wild getup?”
Secretary Wang uncomfortably adjusted the choker at her long, slender neck—her look was now completely changed again.
The secretary now wore a simple, sleeveless dark green tank top that revealed the smooth lines of her shoulders and arms.
On the lower half, she had on distressed jeans and sneakers, with a leopard-print bag slung over her shoulder.
Her long, black hair was tied into a fresh, high ponytail, and the gold-rimmed glasses had been replaced by contacts at Tang Jin’er’s insistence, unveiling her clear, lively eyes.
On top of that, a black leather choker encircled her neck, and a stylish, thin cord necklace hung down to her chest, matching the accessories on her wrist.
“Who said we’re leaving?”
The red-dressed young lady jumped in front of her, hands behind her back.
“Wang Yan, Wang Yan, the night’s just getting started~”
“Come on, tonight I’m taking you out for something exciting!”
“So, Miss Tang, by ‘something exciting,’ you meant coming to this batting cage to hit baseballs?”
***
The secretary glanced at Tang Jin’er, who was brimming with enthusiasm, at a bit of a loss for words.
“Yeah, exactly! This batting cage stays open at night. Whenever I’m feeling stressed, I come here to let it out.”
Tang Jin’er bent over, rummaging through a colorful pile of bats and helmets.
“Otherwise, what did you think I meant?”
At that, all sorts of night-scene images—neon-lit bars, rich kids’ street races, roadside little… things—flashed through the secretary’s mind.
“No, I didn’t think anything.”
Her face calm, the secretary also stepped forward to select her own helmet.
“Alright then, I’ll go first!”
Tang Jin’er finally picked a pink bat with heart-shaped doodles, put on her helmet, and took her place in front of the Automatic Pitching Machine.
“Bang!”
With a crisp crack, the white ball shot out like an arrow. The young miss turned her head proudly toward the secretary and winked.
“Honestly, Wang Yan, don’t you ever feel like you live a little too rigidly?”
“Bang!”
Tang Jin’er quickly adjusted her stance and swung again, the red skirt spinning out a full, elegant arc.
“So I thought I’d bring you here to help you relieve some stress—”
“Bang!”
The girl’s hands gripped the bat tightly, her sharp eyes locked on the Automatic Pitching Machine ahead.
“I looked into it, you know—you go about your life like a robot every day—”
“Bang!”
Her bright red skirt flared with every swing, like a living flame dancing with her movements.
“Apart from work, you have zero personal life—”
“Bang!”
Her tumbling curls and fiery dress mingled beneath the bright lights, making her seem like a wild rose in full bloom on the field.
“Don’t you ever get bored? Don’t you ever get tired!”
“Bang!”
The final ball flew, and the girl finished with a flourish, breathing lightly. Sweat slipped down from beneath her helmet, tracing her pale cheek and dripping into the hollow of her delicate collarbone.
“Here, you try! I promise you’ll feel much better!”
Tang Jin’er took off her red helmet, her damp curls instantly spilling down like a waterfall, a few strands clinging to her flushed cheek.
Without waiting for an answer, she shoved the still-warm bat into Secretary Wang’s hands.
“Go on, Wang Yan, it’s your turn now.”
The enthusiastic girl pushed the stunned secretary right into the batter’s box, smiling all the while.
Inside the batting zone, Secretary Wang weighed the bat in her hand, glancing at the dark opening of the pitching machine.
“Bang!”
With all her might, she swung—sending the white ball soaring in a long arc through the air.
Sure enough, just like Tang Jin’er said, with every swing, it felt as if all her stress was flying away with the ball.
Secretary Wang quietly let out a breath, feeling her shoulders relax. The corners of her lips lifted, almost unconsciously, into a gentle, relieved smile.
“Bang!”
So, Tang Jin’er had been dragging her all over these days because she thought her life was too dull?
“Bang!”
If that’s the case, she really put a lot of thought into this…
“Bang!”
She really did, this adorable young lady…