Chapter 5: Bad Water
Xia Lingying sighed, understanding she couldn't defy Xiao Moyan. She gently removed Xiao Moyan's hands tightly gripping her waist and sat up straight. Taking the disposable chopsticks next to the lunchbox, she opened them, picked up a strand of fish meat, and turned to feed Xiao Moyan. However, she saw Xiao Moyan firmly closing her mouth and shaking her head. Xia Lingying's heart tightened at the sight – could it be that she wants me to feed her with my mouth?
Xiao Moyan, observing Xia Lingying's expression with narrowed eyes, knew what she was thinking. She remained silent until she saw Xia Lingying's shocked face, then slowly spoke.
"I don't like fish."
“...”
Xia Lingying sighed in relief, but suddenly felt a surge of anger. Are you playing games with me? Xiao Moyan, however, maintained an indifferent expression, clearly indicating to Xia Lingying that her suspicions were correct – she was indeed playing with her. Though the tension eased, Xiao Moyan's tone, while still unfriendly, had visibly improved. Looking at her, Xiao Moyan's eyes were no longer fierce. Without waiting for Xia Lingying to ask, Xiao Moyan began exercising her formidable commanding skills.
"Here, I want to eat the eggplant over there—"
Xia Lingying hesitated for a moment, mechanically turned around, picked up a piece of braised eggplant, held it in the air for a moment, then turned back and stuffed it into Xiao Moyan's open mouth.
Xiao Moyan smiled with satisfaction, chewing the eggplant and savoring it carefully.
"Mm, tastes good, just a bit oily. Chicken cubes—"
"..."
“White rice—"
"..."
Throughout the meal, Xiao Moyan enjoyed her food smoothly. However, Xia Lingying hadn't eaten a single bite, maintaining an indifferent demeanor as if unaffected. Seated on Xiao Moyan's right leg, she presented only a side profile to Xiao Moyan. Wiping the oil off her mouth with a tissue, Xiao Moyan looked at Xia Lingying's expressionless and delicate face, feeling a bit frustrated. Couldn't even manage to piss her off?
Xiao Moyan shook her head, consoling herself. I'm the grown-up, not bothering with a little girl like her. What's the issue? After finding sufficient justification, Xiao Moyan stood up, stretched as usual, her tightly-fitted brown coat highlighting the perfect contours of her waist. Glancing at Xia Lingying, she walked slowly to the boss's chair, sat down, picked up the personnel files on the table, sighed theatrically, and began working. After a few seconds, as if remembering something, Xiao Moyan propped her head with one hand, looked at Xia Lingying with a slightly sulky expression, and said,
"Have your meal. After eating, take a nap on the sofa. We'll be heading to the film set in the afternoon."
Xia Lingying listened and gently shook her head.
Xiao Moyan noticed and slammed the documents in her hand onto the table, leaning back in the boss's chair. She stared at Xia Lingying's dark circles and sneered, "When I, Xiao Moyan, make a promise, you can trust it. I don't want to bring something that looks neither human nor ghost to the film set, and embarrassing myself!"
Xia Lingying remained silent, picking up the chopsticks on the table. She understood Xiao Moyan meant well, but did it have to be accompanied by such harsh words? Mechanically, she brought the food to her mouth, facing a table full of delicious dishes, but the taste was as if she was chewing wax, forgetting that she was still using the same chopsticks that had just fed Xiao Moyan.
Xiao Moyan held the documents, half-covering her face with a secret smile. Despite the silence in the VP's office, the aroma of coffee and food mingled, wafting into their noses. Xia Lingying sat on the sofa, quietly eating, and after a while, she looked up at Xiao Moyan.
A ray of afternoon sunlight bathed the room, infusing a clean and lively atmosphere. During working hours, Xiao Moyan didn't dress as flamboyantly as usual; she wore a dark suit with a blue shirt, giving a touch of vivacity. Flicking through thick files, she occasionally mumbled something, furrowing her delicate brows. Her eyes changed with each expression, alternating between gentle and sharp, quite different from the indifferent Xiao Moyan of the past. Xia Lingying stared at her, her heart entangled, pondering if everything would be different if her father hadn't been framed by Xiao Nian. Yet, amidst these chaotic thoughts, exhaustion overtook her, and with a sigh, Xia Lingying put down her chopsticks, arranged the food container, closed her eyes, and leaned back on the sofa to rest.
Xiao Moyan finished dealing with the piled-up documents, checked her wristwatch, and saw that it was already two in the afternoon. Lifting her head, she glanced at Xia Lingying, who was dozing off on the sofa with a faint smile. She gently pushed her chair away and walked slowly towards Xia Lingying. Placing her hands on either side of the sofa, she gazed at Xia Lingying's peaceful sleeping face.
The sleeping Xia Lingying lacked her usual cold demeanor. Her entire being exuded a gentle warmth, and her flower-petal-like soft body emitted a subtle milky fragrance. The curved eyelashes cast small shadows, tempting Xiao Moyan to reach out and caress. With pursed lips and eyes narrowed into slits, she looked adorable, akin to a lazy cat. Yielding to her desires, Xiao Moyan extended her right hand, gently stroking Xia Lingying's smooth cheek, caressing it slowly, while her amber eyes gradually deepened.
Xia Lingying, what kind of person are you, really?
In her dreamy slumber, Xia Lingying vaguely sensed the disturbance from the outside world. Subconsciously, she grabbed the hand causing mischief on her face, pouted, hugged it to her chest, and drifted back into a deep sleep. Xiao Moyan was momentarily stunned, looking helplessly at the woman who had "kidnapped" her. Knowing that retracting her hand would likely wake Xia Lingying, she sighed, gently leaning against her and squinting to rest.
After approximately another half an hour, a gentle knocking on the door disturbed the nearing sleep of Xiao Moyan.
"What is it?"
Xiao Moyan glanced at the still-sleeping Xia Lingying beside her, frowned, and inquired in a hushed tone.
"Ms. Xiao, it's time for Miss Xia to head to the set. The car is ready."
"I got it!"
Hearing the commotion, Xia Lingying was also awakened. She slowly opened her eyes, looking bewildered at Xiao Moyan, who wore a mischievous smile.
How did I get into this situation again?
Gradually, Xia Lingying felt a bit uncomfortable, sensing that something was amiss. She lowered her head and saw a slender and smooth palm cheekily gesturing a victory sign in her embrace. Startled by this unexpected sight upon waking up, Xia Lingying was so shocked that she broke into a cold sweat. Almost instinctively, she threw the hand in her embrace away.
"Hey!"
Feeling the pain from being thrown away, Xiao Moyan touched her abandoned right hand, squinting displeasedly at Xia Lingying.
"You're really heartless. I served as your pillow for an hour, and this is how you treat me?"
"I—"
Xia Lingying was at a loss for words as Xiao Moyan's burning gaze caused a faint pink blush to spread across her fair face.
However, Xiao Moyan had no intention of letting her off that easily. She extended her hand with an air of feigned misery, looking pitifully at Xia Lingying.
“Ah, it hurts. Massage it."
Looking at the snow-white arm forcibly inserted into her embrace, Xia Lingying's face instantly turned red. As the air conditioner was on indoors, Xiao Moyan had taken off her jacket, revealing the shirt underneath. The sleeves were slightly rolled up, and the silky fabric, in shades of blue and black, gleamed softly, accentuating the exposed slender forearm. Pleased with Xia Lingying's shy and reserved appearance, Xiao Moyan, a seasoned player in matters of the heart, couldn't help but smile faintly, withdrawing her arm.
Some things, a taste is enough, no need to go further.
What she wants is Xia Lingying's complete submission, not her own wishful thinking.
***
Arriving at the shooting scene, the male lead, who had been waiting impatiently, changed his expression upon seeing Xiao Moyan's arrival. He approached with hands in his pockets, a handsome face, and a smile.
"Xiao Moyan personally coming to the set is truly an honor," he said, his eyes full of deep affection, his magnetic voice captivating countless women. However, Xiao Moyan merely nodded lightly, not saying much. The male lead couldn't help but feel a bit disheartened; the sparkle in his eyes instantly dimmed. Xia Lingying remained silent, observing from the sidelines. The director and crew, upon hearing the arrival of the vice president, hastily set aside their tasks, greeted her warmly, and wore smiles that concealed an underlying unease, fearing any mistakes in front of the boss.
Xiao Moyan responded indifferently, taking a few steps forward to engage with the director. The director listened attentively, occasionally glancing up at Xia Lingying.
Realizing it might be inconvenient for her to stay, after giving some instructions, Xiao Moyan cast a fleeting glance at Xia Lingying, turned around, and left, leaving a graceful figure for everyone. Xia Lingying felt a bit bewildered; she couldn't fathom why Xiao Moyan came to the set with her if she was going to be left alone. In the blink of an eye, Xiao Moyan was gone, and she wondered what difference her presence made.
But soon, Xia Lingying experienced the difference between Xiao Moyan being there and not. The shooting location was a sandy beach, and the MV's content was simple: the male lead had to showcase his youthful and energetic side by dancing passionately on the beach, while the female lead had to portray an indifferent and noble demeanor, reclining on a rattan chair, sipping iced coffee. After the male lead put on a spectacular performance, the female lead became captivated, and the two leads finally embraced each other. The plot was cliché, somewhat tacky, yet very commercial.
Xia Lingying patiently listened to the director's incessant introduction of the basic storyline. Soon, she accurately identified her role: the elegant and noble "vase."
In the scorching heat of July, the blazing sun made the sand on the beach unbearably hot. Xia Lingying, who should have been exposed to the scorching sun, received special attention from someone. A large date-colored parasol was temporarily added next to the rattan chair, providing shade for her. She hid in the relatively cool shadow, sipping delightful iced coffee, watching the male lead try to maintain a cool demeanor despite the sweat pouring down. She couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for him. The assistant director nearby shook his head, observing the male lead pushing himself to the limit.
"Why bother—"
"What do you mean?"
The assistant nearby overheard the Assistant Director's remarks and looked at him with a gossip-filled expression. Could there be some juicy drama unfolding? The Assistant Director had a mocking smile on his face.
"He doesn't even realize how insignificant he is. A rookie who has just debuted not long ago daring to boldly pursue VP Xiao in front of everyone with flowers."
"So you mean—"
"Hmph, the originally planned shooting location was Linxing Gardens, very comfortable. This change was decided by higher-ups at the last minute, so most of us weren't prepared."
Saying this, the deputy director gestured towards the male lead who was now completely soaked in sweat, changing clothes and touching up his makeup.
"See? This is the consequence of offending the queen."
"OH, MY GOD!"
The assistant exclaimed in an exaggerated manner, displaying a face of astonishment. It seems the director is following VP Xiao's instructions.
While not far from them, upon hearing these words, Xia Lingying's face revealed a subtle and elusive smile.
Indeed, it's Xiao Moyan's style.
Author's Note:
It is an unspoken rule that Yezi will persist in updating daily. If there are any bugs or issues, please be polite and tell Yezi as soon as possible. Yezi will work hard to fix them. O(∩_∩)O Thank you!