Chapter 17: You're Blushing
This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
She's getting sensitive again.
Wen Ruoxian thought so.
Thoughts flashed like lightning on a rainy night, fleeting but planting a seed deep within.
It's Christmas in the blink of an eye, time for company dinners.
The last time Wen Ruoxian saw Cheng Suran was a week ago. They were in her office, summarizing the quarter briefly. Wen Ruoxian truthfully informed her about the Young Miss’ matters, she oddly received a meaningful smile.
"Good things are coming," Cheng Suran simply said.
Wen Ruoxian thought it referred to the company's benefits.
Indeed, it counted as a good thing.
But faintly, there was another vague voice in her heart...
Soon after, Cheng Suran had to go on a business trip and would be gone for four or five days. Saying she'd come to the dinner, sure enough, that afternoon, Wen Ruoxian received her call.
"Ruoxian, I've reached home. Something came up with Jiang Yu here; I might be a few minutes late. You all can start eating without waiting for me," Cheng Suran spoke rapidly, hanging up before Wen Ruoxian could respond.
Wen Ruoxian stared blankly at the screen, which had returned to the main interface.
After half a year of adjustment, she could finally remain composed and calm while discussing work matters with Ranran. However, in personal matters, she still felt nervous. Tonight's dinner involved a mix of work and personal affairs, leaving her with complex feelings.
She didn't know how long this state would last.
Maybe a few months, a few years, maybe decades, a lifetime.
A knock on the door brought her back to her senses.
"Wen Ruoxian..." Song Qingluo pushed the door open, her bright eyes holding a smile. "The orchestra will start intensive rehearsals tomorrow. I won't be coming in the afternoons before New Year's Day."
The fragrant breeze carried a silver shadow as it swept by.
At the sight of her, Wen Ruoxian's serious brows immediately relaxed, revealing a smile. "I'm giving you a day off to focus on rehearsals."
However, Song Qingluo shook her head. "That way, I won't see you every day."
"I've heard of relying on family and friends, not on bosses," Wen Ruoxian teased her.
"It's just the two of us now."
Song Qingluo took a step forward and approached her, her eyes playful, "You are not my boss, you are Wen Ruoxian."
Having spent several days together, Wen Ruoxian understood the Young Miss' temperament well. She could only play along and not act against her will. There was no other way. "Isn't it tiring to shuttle back and forth?"
"I live nearby; it's convenient to travel back and forth," Song Qingluo shrugged it off.
She rented a two-bedroom apartment in an ordinary community just a ten-minute drive from the company. It was nicely decorated but she didn't actually live there. With this place, she could legitimately hitch a ride in Wen Ruoxian's car every day, not too far away, and spend a few extra minutes together.
After getting out of the car, she pretended to enter the community. When Wen Ruoxian went far away, she would take a taxi back to the Green Shang Mansion.
Though she felt guilty for lying, it was exhilarating.
She enjoys this excitement.
"Alright," Wen Ruoxian nodded in appeasement, then reminded her, "Rehearse seriously. When it's the official performance, I'll arrive early, front row, to have a clear view."
"Why not buy the second row? The middle of rows two and three is the best; you can see the stage at eye level. In the front row, you have to tilt your neck, which is quite uncomfortable."
"I want to see you up close."
As soon as these words fell, Song Qingluo's heart trembled, thinking she might be hallucinating or misunderstanding. She stared at Wen Ruoxian's face, afraid of missing even the slightest expression.
But immediately following, Wen Ruoxian continued, "It's a dual enjoyment of visual and auditory senses. When I attended concerts abroad, I always sat in the front row. A combination of audio and visual feast.”
The wind lifted her high, then let her fall heavily.
“Mm... that makes sense."
Song Qingluo forced a smile on her lips, lowered her head to scroll through her phone, and changed the subject, "I've selected two dresses. Which one do you think looks better?"
She turned the screen to Wen Ruoxian.
Wen Ruoxian said seriously: "You decide for yourself."
"No," Song Qingluo insisted, "I will wear whatever you think looks good."
“...”
Such is the temper of an ancestor.
It’s time to get used to it these days.
Wen Ruoxian calmly looked at the screen.
A burgundy strap short dress and another was a lavender trailing long gown. Recalling the feelings from that night, she favored a more ethereal, cold style. She thoughtfully said, "Personally, I would prefer the lavender one. It complements your silver hair, but everyone's aesthetic is different..."
"I'll only wear it for you," Song Qingluo softly interrupted.
Wen Ruoxian clearly felt her heart sink, pulled by some force, sinking into a deep pool. Her nerves tingled in her brain.
She hurriedly avoided it.
A pricking sensation of warmth spread on her face.
"Why are you blushing?" Song Qingluo leaned in, her nose brushing against the stray hair on her forehead.
Warm breath enveloped her face.
Wen Ruoxian stepped back half a step, accidentally bumping her waist against the corner of the table, a dull pain shot through her, too flustered to pay attention, "Am I?"
"I remember this is the second time you've blushed," Song Qingluo innocently smiled, pretending not to notice her actions, and continued to approach.
“?”
"Why do you blush when talking to women? Could it be..."
Hearing that, Ruoxian had no choice but to retreat, she cut off her words in desperation: "Don't think about nonsense."
“Mm?" Song Qingluo blinked, "What was I thinking? I didn't say anything. If I offended you, I'm sorry..." She finished, looking pitifully downcast.
Wen Ruoxian caught sight of the watch indicating five o'clock, and as if granted amnesty, pushed her away, "It's five, it's time to go."
They departed for the restaurant.
Song Qingluo looked at her embarrassed figure, feeling 90% sure in her heart.
The old-fashioned is definitely not straight.
….
The restaurant wasn't far from the company. Except for those who weren't participating, most colleagues had arrived.
Wen Ruoxian sat at the first table with the managers.
Song Qingluo naturally sat with her.
There were four empty seats, centered around Wen Ruoxian, one empty seat to her left, and Xu Man was about to sit on her right.
She walked straight to the empty seat on Wen Ruoxian's left.
"Qingluo," Xu Man pulled her and lowered her voice while Wen Ruoxian was talking to other managers, "That's a seat reserved for CEO Cheng, don't go there."
Song Qingluo was stunned: "Where should I sit?"
"Next to me." Xu Man patted the empty space on her right.
A place specially arranged for her.
Between Xu Man and the finance manager, but also with an empty seat between her and Wen Ruoxian.
No.
She wanted to sit next to Wen Ruoxian.
Reluctantly, Song Qingluo pretended to comply and sat down, leaning close to Xu Man and whispering, "Man-jie, it's my first dinner since joining the company. I don't know these managers sitting beside me; it's quite awkward. After all, I can only chat a bit with you and President Wen..."
"Then, switch with me," Xu Man was very understanding.
Song Qingluo was secretly delighted and pulled her arm, "Thank you, Man-jie."
The Hermès bag wasn't given in vain.
The two of them immediately switched seats.
Wen Ruoxian, who was talking to a manager, noticed the movement beside her. She turned her head and met Song Qingluo's smiling eyes, but only briefly paused, didn't say anything, and turned back.
This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
Song Qingluo had a sweet smile on her lips, but inside, she was chuckling.
Pedant.
Can't stand teasing at all.
Several connected private rooms were full, the noise rising and falling. The male colleagues had started drinking.
Until the dishes started arriving.
“CEO Cheng!"
"Oh, CEO Cheng is here!"
Finally, someone called out twice.
Cheng Suran came late, smiling and nodding as she walked over familiarly. When she smiled, shallow little pear dimples would appear on her cheeks, and her clear eyes were full of autumn water, gentle and kind.
As usual, she came and sat beside Wen Ruoxian.
Since her appearance, Wen Ruoxian underwent imperceptible changes. Her gaze fixed on Cheng Suran, repeatedly shifting away, wandering aimlessly in the air, and finally returning to her.
Occasionally, their eyes would meet and quickly separate.
This cycle continued.
She became stiff.
A faint smile lingered at the corner of her mouth, not reaching her eyes. Underneath her calm surface, there seemed to be an undercurrent.
Perhaps to others, nothing seemed amiss, but to Song Qingluo, something was off. She observed Wen Ruoxian every day for a long time, sensitive to even the slightest changes.
But she couldn't describe this feeling.
Song Qingluo couldn't help but remember the rumors circulating in the company...
Is it because CEO Cheng got married, that Wen Ruoxian is passively distancing from her but doesn't want to be?
She and Shi Chuning would not be like this.
Even if Chuchu were to get married and have a family and children in the future, they would still remain close sisters.
It's strange but she can't figure it out.
During the meal, the managers conversed back and forth with the two bosses, Xu Man occasionally chimed in a few words, but Song Qingluo couldn't find an opportunity to join in the conversation.
She only noticed Wen Ruoxian intentionally or unintentionally serving dishes to CEO Cheng.
All dishes that CEO Cheng liked.
Most of which she liked too.
But Wen Ruoxian didn't even look her way.
Her gaze only drifted lightly past when Xu Man spoke, like a dragonfly skimming over the water's surface, causing ripples but not lingering.
Her previously heightened emotions inexplicably dropped.
Song Qingluo stopped looking at her, quietly eating, feeling as if she held a cold, heavy stone dug from the snow in the softest corner of her heart...
After a satisfying meal and enough drinks, a few colleagues who loved lively atmospheres started singing.
There was a karaoke setup in the main private room.
Someone chose the song "Little Dimples," and the male colleagues, who had drunk quite a bit, began teasing Cheng Suran, insisting she should sing.
"This is a love song. It should be sung by two people, right?"
"Who among you dares to step up?"
"Well..."
Everyone glanced around, none daring to take advantage of the boss by singing.
After all, she is a female boss.
And she is already married.
So──
"It must be President Wen, right?"
"Hahaha, yes, yes, President Wen, come on."
Wen Ruoxian looked at Cheng Suran stiffly.
The situation between them was awkward.
And couldn't sing.
At least, she couldn't.
"I'll do it." Song Qingluo put down her glass and stood up, walking past Wen Ruoxian, standing in front of Cheng Suran, with a bright smile on her face.
“CEO Cheng, you don't mind, right?"
Author's Note:
Cheng Ranran: Seems to have shark energy.jpg
PS: Tomorrow's update should be around this time too, I swear not past midnight, wu wu TAT