Chapter 22: You Don't Need To Worry
This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
Silver-haired Song Qingluo is a bewitching mixed-race wildcat, while black-haired Song Qingluo is a mysterious, elegant, and cold beauty.
Her facial features are three-dimensional, deep and delicate. Her skin is fair, and she can easily handle any hair color. However, black hair adds a touch of nobility to her, making her stunning at first glance, and she appears much more obedient.
Wen Ruoxian stared at Song Qingluo in a trance, the visual impact like a stormy sea, swirling her into the center of a vortex.
Her breathing stagnated to almost suffocation.
Only then did she realize that the Young Miss had dyed her hair.
She stretched out her arm, grabbed a strand of Song Qingluo's hair, and held it in her palm—soft, glossy, and incredibly real. She couldn't help but frown: "Why... did you dye it black just like that?"
"Can I go now?" Song Qingluo raised her chin, her eyes filled with stubbornness.
Wen Ruoxian suddenly turned cold: "What on earth are you doing?"
"Just trying to find a way to go on the business trip with you."
"Can you please stop hurting yourself in this way?"
Song Qingluo sneered: "In your opinion, this is hurting myself? Then your definition of 'self-harm' is really narrow.”
"The lighter the dye, the greater the damage to the hair. Achieving silver-gray requires bleaching at least eight levels, which is quite harmful to the hair. To maintain the color, you need regular touch-ups. In this situation, if you directly dye it all black, and later want to go for a lighter color, you'll have to go through the process again. Moreover, it's more challenging to color, and by then, your hair quality will be compromised, leading to significant hair loss. Are you okay with that?" Wen Ruoxian, with a stern face, educated her, word by word.
Song Qingluo was stunned.
She didn't expect the old-fashioned to understand this matter so well and argue with her about it.
But looking at her serious face, and listening to her lecturing tone, Song Qingluo, who was already feeling wronged and rebellious, became even more upset:
"My hair is in excellent condition. I don't need you to worry about it!"
"...”
The office seemed to turn into a vacuum, silent without a sound.
Wen Ruoxian stared at her with a gloomy expression, unable to speak for a while. She couldn't understand how things escalated like this. Instead of having a peaceful conversation, it seemed like she was about to quarrel. She realized she wasn't dealing with an ancestor but a barrel of explosives.
"Are you angry?" Song Qingluo asked with a cold smile.
Wen Ruoxian pressed her lips without speaking.
She wasn't angry; her head was just aching.
"This is the first time you've been cold-faced to me. Quite a memorable moment," Song Qingluo sarcastically curled her lips. "Unfortunately, your voice isn't loud enough. You should have scolded me harshly, yelled at me, and then fired me."
A subtle trace of concern flashed in the depths of her eyes, but what surfaced was provocation and stubbornness.
It was like a wounded beast that clearly needed soothing but kept on roaring.
Wen Ruoxian couldn't help but feel helpless. "Okay, okay, you can go."
"I changed my mind."
Song Qingluo raised an eyebrow, turned, and walked towards the floor-to-ceiling window. "Who said I wanted to go with you? Do you really think I'm a shameless person? If I can't go then I won't go, the sky won't fall without you..."
"?"
Wen Ruoxian was completely confused.
What song does the Young Miss is singing now?
Song Qingluo stood in front of the window, her back straight, as stubborn as her mouth and temper. The hazy light cast a cold shade over her, revealing a touch of melancholy.
What does "the sky won't fall without you" mean...
In that moment, looking at her silhouette, Wen Ruoxian's thoughts couldn't help but drift into forbidden territory.
Then they were promptly extinguished.
Recently, for some unknown reason, she had become sensitive and always overthinking. Her workload was so overwhelming that she felt physically and mentally exhausted. She couldn't control her brain, which, at some unconscious moments, would unexpectedly bring up various thoughts, pricking her.
It was inexplicable and extremely troublesome.
Sometimes, she even grew weary of her own orientation.
Because it made it difficult for her to interact normally with the same gender.
After contemplating for a while, Wen Ruoxian didn't forget she still had work to do. However, people also needed coaxing. She sighed, looking at Song Qingluo's back, and walked over.
"I won't scold you. I won't yell at you, and I won't fire you. Calm down; I'm just concerned about your hair. Dyeing it repeatedly can indeed cause damage. Of course, I shouldn't have been cold-faced to you. Let's talk things out. Please don't resolve issues by arguing, okay?"
Wen Ruoxian never expected the Young Miss' decisiveness, her readiness to let go, and her determination.
The lie she casually uttered had consequences.
Although it wasn't entirely a lie.
While silver hair was undoubtedly attractive and distinctive, in the eyes of certain organizations, it might not project a stable and reliable image.
However, it might not necessarily be a decisive factor.
How could she confess to Song Qingluo that she had just randomly found an excuse...
Song Qingluo remained still, not looking at her. But the tensed lines on her profile softened a bit.
Wen Ruoxian caught every subtle expression.
"Qingluo.”
Wen Ruoxian reached out, placing her hand on Song Qingluo's arm, comforting her with gentle words. "I hope you dyed your hair because you like it, not because of others' influence.”
The Young Miss responds better to the soft approach than harshness.
Sure enough—
Song Qingluo turned back and glanced at the hand on her arm. This was the first time that Wen Ruoxian took the initiative toward her, and all the grievances and stubbornness in her heart suddenly disappeared.
"I lied to you." She took off her black-haired wig and weighed it in her hands.
"I'm not that reckless. After finally dyeing the silver hair I like, why would I easily go back to black? And you're right; dyeing black makes it difficult to color in the future, and the bleaching process does damage the hair."
Song Qingluo winked mischievously.
The silver-gray strands, previously hidden by the hairnet, gathered at the top of her head.
The charming little wildcat is back.
Wen Ruoxian was initially surprised but then felt a sense of relief. Her elevated heart slowly returned to its place. "You really know how to scare people."
“I scared President Wen?" Song Qingluo approached her teasingly.
“Mm," Wen Ruoxian patted her chest and took a step back. "Since it's not about dyeing hair, why were you out for so long?"
"To buy a suitable wig, or else if I casually pick one that looks too fake, you'd see through it in an instant."
"If you had said it was a wig earlier, we wouldn't have argued."
"Is it my fault?" Song Qingluo frowned. "You came up with a cold face, blaming me. Do you know how impatient your expression was when you talked to me just now? It hurt my feelings so much..." Her voice lowered as she drooped her eyelids.
Wen Ruoxian thought carefully.
Impatience?
Did she... have that?
It's hard to recall at this point, but her emotions almost slipped out of control, and that much she remembered distinctly.
It shouldn't have happened.
At no time should she let her emotions take over.
"I'm sorry," Wen Ruoxian said, looking into Song Qingluo's eyes.
Her sincere tone and gentle expression briefly captivated Song Qingluo, who then felt a twinge of guilt.
At the moment of leaving the office, she was filled with thoughts of dyeing her hair back to black. However, upon entering the hair salon and seeing Tony and others' warm smiles, her impulse was extinguished. Looking at herself in the mirror, with the silver hair she loved so much, she thought, why should she?
She liked Wen Ruoxian, but she also loved herself.
It was clearly a small matter.
There were other ways to solve the problem.
Damaging her carefully maintained hair for the sake of stubbornness wasn't worth it.
So, Song Qingluo bought an expensive wig, had it adjusted by professionals, and returned to the company with a sense of curiosity—
To see how the old-fashioned would react.
Now...
The old-fashioned is indeed an old-fashioned.
Even amid an argument, she didn't forget to educate her.
But those concerns were genuine. Her most sincere affection, her heartfelt warmth, were not misplaced.
"Apology accepted," Song Qingluo nodded seriously.
"Now that I've made an effort, do you want to reward me?"
Her gaze was full of implications.
The idea of going on a business trip together remained strong.
Wen Ruoxian coughed lightly.
Thinking about how she was genuinely scared, almost losing control of her emotions, she wasn't inclined to let this go easily. She decided to tease her a bit:
"You changed your mind, didn't you?”
"I..."
"Who said they don't want to go with me? Not a shameless person? The sky won't fall without me?" She repeated with a smile.
Song Qingluo's face was red from her own frustration. Unable to argue, she pretended to pounce on her, saying, "Shut up, don't laugh!"
Wen Ruoxian ducked away.
Originally feeling guilty for deceiving Song Qingluo, now that Song Qingluo deceived her back, they balanced each other out, and their moods lightened.
"Alright, if you want to go, go ahead. Add your name when booking the tickets, and ask Xu Man for the hotel name. I still have a meeting, I won't make trouble with you anymore." She picked up her laptop and was about to leave.
"I want to share a room with you."
"..."
Seeing her pause, Song Qingluo added tactfully, "I mean a standard room, two beds. Assistant Xu can take the big bedroom."
Wen Ruoxian helplessly said, "Okay."
If she said no, the Young Miss would cause trouble again. Another round, and she wouldn't be able to handle it.
Just let her have her way.
….
On Monday afternoon, Wen Ruoxian and the others flew to Los Angeles.
Situated in the south, the big metropolitan city had a warm climate. Even in December, people were just putting on their autumn clothes.
For Song Qingluo, this trip seemed more like a vacation than a business excursion. The local cuisine was diverse, and even after a few visits, she couldn't exhaust all the options. After landing and settling into the hotel, she treated Wen Ruoxian and Xu Man to a lavish dinner.
They had arrived a day early for ample time to handle any unexpected situations. After the meal, with some free time on their hands, the three of them strolled around the city.
Wherever they went, there was Xu Man.
To Song Qingluo, it felt like she was carrying around a large lightbulb*.
*third wheel
Returning to the hotel meant entering their "own little world."
Song Qingluo had some plans in mind, but Wen Ruoxian seemed to notice her lack of activities and handed her the laptop:
"It's the end of the year. Write a summary of your personal work, turn it into a ppt, and give it to me on the day we return."
"?"
"I'll go next door to talk to Xu Man about something. Take your time writing." With that, she took the room key and left.
"..."
Song Qingluo glanced at the door, then shifted her gaze back to the laptop.
It must be that the old-fashioned is full and bored.
To entrust personal items like this, she doesn't even worry about privacy leaks.
She muttered to herself, powered on the laptop, and quickly scanned the desktop. As expected, only a few work documents were there, cleaner than her face.
Writing a personal summary, huh?
Song Qingluo created a new document and rapidly typed on the keyboard.
On a certain year, month, and day, she joined the company to seduce Wen Ruoxian. Working in the administrative department, she played pitifully and schemed, making Wen Ruoxian feel sorry for her. She was then transferred to work as Wen Ruoxian's secretary, and eventually moved into Wen Ruoxian's home, starting their "sweet life of living together"—
While the boss was busy running around, she played games in the office.
While the boss had simple meals, she enjoyed snacks and regular meals without interruption.
….
This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
As she continued writing, Song Qingluo burst into laughter, leaning on the table. After having enough fun, she deleted the previous content and left behind a self-composed humorous poem.
“The Happy Daily Life of the President’s Secretary”
With the title characters set, she stretched lazily and stood up. Leisurely, she opened her suitcase, took out her sexy strapped nightgown, hummed a song, and went into the bathroom...
Ten minutes later, Wen Ruoxian returned.
The room was empty. The laptop on the desk was on, and the sound of shower water came from the bathroom.
Plus, the melodious singing of the young miss.
"It's like I got this music in my mind..." It was an old song, sung with great joy.
Wen Ruoxian listened closely for a few lines, recognizing it as a favorite from her student days. Her heart joined in with the rhythm.
She walked up to the laptop and took a look.
"..."
Very good.
Well-written.
She even knows how to rhyme.
The ancestor does have some poetry talent.
Wen Ruoxian sat down, rubbing her forehead with a helpless smile. At this moment, the sound of water stopped, and the singing grew louder. She turned her chair toward the bathroom, crossing her arms to deliberately put on a serious face.
There were rustling sounds for a few minutes.
The bathroom door opened, misty white vapor lingering. Song Qingluo walked out, enveloped in mist.
The short strapped nightgown barely covered the essentials, and her silver-gray long hair cascaded down, accentuating her fair skin. The cheeks had a slight rosy tint from the steam, and her long legs swayed under the light, slender ankles on display. Wen Ruoxian was momentarily stunned, quickly averting her gaze.
"You're back," Song Qingluo twisted her waist, unabashedly approaching Wen Ruoxian. "How do you like the work summary I wrote?"
Wen Ruoxian stared at the computer screen, her tone was casual, "It's quite good."
"Really?"
“Mm."
"Then I'll turn it into a ppt now." Song Qingluo bent down and lowered her head. Her hand reached out in front of Wen Ruoxian, grasping the mouse.
Wen Ruoxian couldn't avoid it, and her nose bumped into Song Qingluo's arm.
Her breath was engulfed in the fragrance of shower gel.
A buzzing sound echoed in her mind.
Only then did she realize she was occupying the chair and quickly stood up to make room.
"Aren't you cold wearing so little?" Wen Ruoxian averted her gaze.
"Twenty degrees is not cold."
"..."
Sensing her discomfort, Song Qingluo squinted and smiled, “President Wen, why are you looking elsewhere when talking to me?"
Wen Ruoxian pretended to be calm and turned her gaze back, "You go ahead; I'll handle some emails."
She turned away to grab her tablet.
Song Qingluo chuckled and turned her chair slowly toward the laptop, silently amused.
Suddenly, her shoulders felt slightly heavier.
A black coat was draped over her.
"?"
"After all, we are outside; it's better to be cautious," Wen Ruoxian kindly reminded.
"Oh, really?" Song Qingluo smiled, standing up and looking around, "But we are clearly indoors, and..." She lowered her head, adjusting the collar of the coat, "This is just a very ordinary nightgown, no need to fuss."
They were of similar height, and making eye contact was perfect.
The charming fox-like eyes were alluring.
"If we were not in the same room, indeed, it wouldn't matter. But..." Wen Ruoxian hesitated to speak, saying it sounded forced, and not saying it made her uncomfortable.
She regretted agreeing to share a room with the Young Miss.
It was a pit she dug for herself, and now she had to jump in.
Song Qingluo clicked her tongue twice, looking at her with meaningful eyes, "We're both women; what's the big deal about sharing a room? You're too feudal."
Wen Ruoxian sighed, “Mm, I'm feudal. I'm an old zombie crawling out of a coffin from the Qing Dynasty."
Pfft—
Song Qingluo burst into laughter.
"Don't say that," she hugged Wen Ruoxian's arm, swaying playfully, "There's no such beautiful old zombie like you."
The mouth was indeed powerful.
Wen Ruoxian was charmed by the coaxing.
"Ruoxian-jiejie."
“?!”
A distant and unfamiliar term, Cheng Suran used to call her that, but she didn't like it. She always corrected her, simply because she didn't want Ranran to see her as a "sister."
But when it came from another person's mouth...
Like pure distilled water splashing onto a hot iron plate, steam hissed out.
"There's something I want to tell you secretly."
"What?"
Whispering in her ear, Song Qingluo said, "Your face is really red, you know."
Author's Note:
Old Zombie Wen: Let me tell you, thank you)
Note: English lyrics are from "Shake It Off."