Chapter 14: Keep You Safe By My Side
This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
The meeting room was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.
Everyone was shocked at first and then turned their attention to Song Qingluo.
The position of the President’s secretary is not an ordinary job, usually not internally reassigned, especially not choosing someone on probation based on ability or experience. Moreover, this newcomer had just been criticized by her supervisor for not doing the job well.
Song Qingluo reacted swiftly, revealing an unexpected yet hardly concealable expression of joy, looking towards Wen Ruoxian.
That night at Wen Ruoxian's house, she felt reassured. To get closer to her, she changed her strategy.
Since Manager Cao stopped bossing her around, she began to slack off and be perfunctory in her job, inviting criticism from her superiors, once, twice... It was easy to be seen by Wen Ruoxian in places like the meeting room.
But she didn't expect this day to come so quickly.
Even more unexpectedly, Wen Ruoxian would issue an order in public to move her to her side.
She gave Manager Cao a hard slap in the face in disguise
She is protecting her.
She doesn't want to see her being “bullied”.
Thinking of this, knowing that the result in front of her was the result of a strategy, Song Qingluo still felt a little sweet, the rippling lake in her heart surged into a whirlpool, and the warm current overflowed into disaster...
Manager Hu was the first to react and his eyes returned to Wen Ruoxian: "Okay, President Wen."
Manager Cao was extremely embarrassed.
She looked at Wen Ruoxian, then at Song Qingluo, and finally at Manager Hu.
Obviously, this is not the place to talk.
The meeting was about to begin, and unrelated personnel had to leave. She signaled to Song Qingluo and was about to lead them out.
"Do what you haven't done, and then stay and listen." Wen Ruoxian said to Song Qingluo. When she wasn't smiling, her expression was serious, even appearing cold and unapproachable.
Song Qingluo immediately became energetic: "Okay."
She swiftly maneuvered around the long table, skillfully and quickly setting up the projector and recording equipment, then placing mineral water at each seat, working efficiently, and finishing in less than five minutes.
Finally, she consciously took a seat in an empty corner—
Watching Manager Cao leave alone.
Wen Ruoxian also sat down and glanced at Song Qingluo calmly. She saw the Young Miss looking well-behaved and her eyes were slightly bright, relieved as if granted amnesty. Her heart softened a bit more.
Then, she focused on listening to the presentation.
The meeting didn't last long, wrapping up in about half an hour.
Song Qingluo usually hated meetings the most. She would doze off during weekly department meetings and struggle to write meeting minutes afterward. Due to not paying much attention, she sometimes couldn't come up with a single word for half a day, opting to copy templates just to get it done.
But today she is not sleepy at all.
She listened and observed Wen Ruoxian.
The woman spoke very little and listened quietly most of the time. However, when she did speak, she went straight to the point, leaving people speechless.
After all, she was the debate champion that year.
Manager XX, what nonsense logic are you trying to confuse us with? Don't you know the old-fashioned has already seen through you? It's really embarrassing for you. If you can't handle it, just pack up and leave, don't cause trouble for the old-fashioned...
Song Qingluo watched with great joy.
After the meeting ended, Wen Ruoxian asked Manager Hu to stay behind. Everyone else left, including Song Qingluo, who was asked to go back to the administrative department and wait for further instructions.
Wen Ruoxian symbolically discussed the choice of secretary with Manager Hu.
In the end, it had to be Song Qingluo.
Back in the office, when discussing this with Xu Man, she was informed that the Young Miss would stay around for "learning". It wasn't possible to completely hide it from her assistant. To avoid further complications, she disclosed Song Qingluo's background to Xu Man, asking her to keep it a secret.
“President Wen, you've worked hard," Xu Man said, giving a thumbs-up after hearing everything.
She is busy every day and has to spend energy dealing with a little ancestor.
Wen Ruoxian rubbed her eyebrows and smiled helplessly: "It's just for the company's benefit."
The Young Miss’ novelty would fade eventually. When she's had her fill, she would leave one day. However, maintaining a close relationship with the Song family could bring in more resources and opportunities. Failing to seize that would be a pity for the company's development. Spending a bit more energy in exchange for potential huge opportunities was a win-win.
Equivalent exchange, mutual benefit.
Wen Ruoxian had such thoughts but had an image of Song Qingluo's clear eyes and pure smile in mind, with her dazzling figure on the stage...
Suddenly, she felt somewhat cruel.
Perhaps Song Qingluo genuinely wanted to be her friend. And here she was, consumed by thoughts of interests and calculations, feeling too dirty and despicable.
Thinking of her eyes and smile made her feel like looking at the sun but not daring to face it.
How could one stay clean in the world of fame and fortune?
She used to dislike this in the past, but when the company was first established, she promised Ranran that she would do her best to protect their hard work, no matter how difficult it was.
As long as Ranran is happy, it doesn't matter if she gets a bit dirty.
One cannot betray their original intentions.
Her initial intention was Cheng Suran...
Two conflicting forces tugged at her, clashing intensely within her, causing mental exhaustion that seemed to manifest as physical pain. Wen Ruoxian quickly stopped her thoughts, opened the thermos, and took a large sip of warm chrysanthemum tea.
As soon as Xu Man left the front, someone knocked on the door.
This knock was just a procedure.
The next second, Song Qingluo walked in uninvited, with a cheerful smile on her face: "President Wen, I'm here."
Wen Ruoxian's hand trembled suddenly, almost knocking over the cup.
It’s like being caught doing something wrong.
"Sit down." She quickly regained her composure and pointed to the chair opposite.
Song Qingluo glanced sideways and frowned in disgust: "No, sitting here feels like getting a lecture from the boss. I prefer the sofa."
Wen Ruoxian said seriously: "I will be your direct superior from now on, you might as well get used to it first."
Song Qingluo realized she was in the company, in Wen Ruoxian's office. She couldn't display her temper and couldn't confront this serious old-fashioned person head-on. She needed to be more gentle.
She lowered her gaze with a dejected face and said softly, "I just got scolded by Manager Cao, are you going to scold me too? I thought I had been saved, free from the sea of suffering... I simply thought the sofa was comfortable, and now you're using your status to suppress me..."
"Okay, okay, sit on the sofa." Wen Ruoxian had no choice but to coax her.
Song Qingluo immediately smiled, turned around, walked to the sofa, and sat down, lazily straightening her legs, waving to her again, patting the place next to her: "Come quickly."
What an ancestor.
This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
Even though it was quite a headache, it was also quite interesting. Wen Ruoxian thought so, a smile unconsciously tugged at the corners of her mouth, and she got up and walked over.
Ultimately, she still left about half a person's space between them when she sat down.
Unexpectedly, Song Qingluo leaned in, hooking her arm, "Hello, boss."
"...Please sit properly," Wen Ruoxian felt uneasy but didn't push her away.
Song Qingluo responded softly, "Oh."
Seeing her like this, Wen Ruoxian couldn't bear it. She was thinking about what to say but Song Qingluo suddenly tilted her head, leaned over, and asked seriously: "Why do you want me to be your secretary?"
Hearing Ruoxian instantly stiffened.
It had been a long, long time since anyone had held her arm or leaned on her shoulder like this.
But in fact it was only a year and a half.
She thought of Cheng Suran again and recalled the many scenes in the past five years before last summer.
Thinking back so frequently wasn't a good thing. She has been controlling herself very well this year.
"Wen Ruoxian?" Song Qingluo called her softly, "Why are you distracted? I'm asking you, please pay attention to me."
Wen Ruoxian put away her emotions, and before she had time to think of a valid reason, she blurted out: "It's better to keep you by my side."
Song Qingluo's eyes glowed with blazing light.
Keep you by my side. In other words, protecting you by my side.
She still vividly remembered that summer night when she hugged her bleeding arm, crouched in a corner, watching the terrorists shooting wildly at the crowd. Wen Ruoxian had tightly sheltered her, calmly telling her, "Don't be afraid. Stay by my side, I'll take you to safety."
At that time, she was just a stranger to Wen Ruoxian.
Even if they were strangers, she protected her.
Since then, her heart has been lost, on the corner of the streets of Berlin, with Wen Ruoxian.
Now, she had finally found it again.
"Really?"
"Mm."
"Then why...do you think it's better to keep me by your side?" Her cheeks were slightly warm, and her expression was tinged with shyness without even realizing it.
She wanted to continue asking.
She liked asking and asking endlessly.
Chasing after the sweet breeze, every breath was sweet.
Wen Ruoxian seemed to sense the warmth, tilting her head. In her deep, black eyes flickered a wildfire, capable of scorching people, and she saw her own face reflected within them.
Her entire focus was on how to respond.
Why?
If she keeps her by her side, she will not easily ask her to do hard work, nor will she threaten her with anything, nor will she reprimand her in front of so many people. Thinking about this subconsciously, it was indeed very good for Song Qingluo. Although she only jumped from a small cage to a large cage, at least she could give her the maximum freedom.
Until the bird is willing to fly out of the cage.
Realizing this, Wen Ruoxian fell into conflict again.
Is it really just for profit?
Perhaps, there was also a tinge of regret.
When she saw Manager Cao scolding Song Qingluo, even though she knew it was because she didn't do her job well, she felt an urgent need to protect her.
So, without much thought, she transferred her.
It’s only a matter of time before she makes this decision. She knew she wouldn't regret it.
"Miss Song, you said that you hope you stay with me so that you can feel more at ease." Wen Ruoxian avoided her eyes and gave a perfect reason.
Perfect, reasonable, and official.
The light in Song Qingluo's eyes went out: "Oh...that's it."
"Then you should have seen, I can't even do simple things well. If I mess up something while being with you, you would get even more annoyed, right?" She gradually sat up straight, releasing her hand.
The weight on her body suddenly disappeared, feeling light and empty, yet it didn't feel like a relief, nor did it shake off the burdened feeling.
"I won't," Wen Ruoxian decisively shook her head. She thought she might be afraid of being scolded like today, her gaze soothingly gentle: "I won't get angry with you."
Song Qingluo sneered softly, "Don't you have any temper?"
"It can be understood that way."
"I don't believe it."
Who doesn't have a temper?
She just wanted to provoke her, to see how much she could endure.
Wen Ruoxian couldn't verify or explain, sighed lightly: "You'll know if you try. Plus, today you didn't do badly, just a few minutes late."
"Aren't you afraid I'll annoy you to death?"
"I don't think you have that ability."
"..."
"Attending the meeting as an observer today, what insights did you gain?" Not wanting to argue with the young lady anymore, she decided to change the subject and talk about work.
Song Qingluo lowered her gaze in thought, then again held onto her arm, involuntarily leaning closer, "The insight is... when it comes to work matters, no one can deceive you."
Wen Ruoxian nodded in agreement: “Mm, keen observation."
"If one day, you found out I lied to you, would you be angry? President Wen doesn't get angry."
"No, unless it's a matter of principle."
"What is a principle?"
"Deception, betrayal."
Song Qingluo's face stiffened, nervously: "If deceived or betrayed, what would you do?"
Wen Ruoxian didn't pay any attention to her expression. All she could think about was work, deception among friends, and betrayal in business. After hesitating for a long time, she answered cautiously: "It's hard to forgive. We will never interact with each other until we die."
"..."
Song Qingluo's heart felt cold.
Author's Note:
Xiao Qingluo: Afraid.jpg