Not long after Lin Youran fell asleep, Ji Yunxiao left.
That night, Qiao Xi came to Lin Qianwei’s office to report, telling her all the details of spending time with Ji Yunxiao during the day.
“She’s completely different from before, what’s up with that?” Qiao Xi joked, “Don’t tell me she’s actually been possessed or something?” Lin Qianwei lowered her lashes and didn’t say anything.
Qiao Xi continued, “But it’s a good thing, honestly.
The old Ji Yunxiao was so annoying, I just wanted to avoid her whenever I saw her.
The current Ji Yunxiao, even if she acts a little fake sometimes, isn’t actually unpleasant.”
Lin Qianwei’s eyes dimmed a little.
Leaning back in her chair, she asked lightly, “How does she get along with Youran?” “Pretty well,” Qiao Xi replied.
“Mm.” Lin Qianwei responded simply.
Qiao Xi asked with concern, “Are you staying here tonight or going back to the Lin family villa?” Lin Qianwei said, “Here.”
Qiao Xi sighed helplessly, “I know you like living alone, but you should go back and visit more often.”
Lin Qianwei gave her usual answer, “I’ll go back when I have time.”
Seeing this, Qiao Xi didn’t say anything else.
Before leaving, she glanced back at Lin Qianwei.
That beautiful, cold woman was standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, graceful and elegant, her figure alone enough to stir the imagination.
The cool-toned lights spilled down, casting a chill over her.
Suddenly, Qiao Xi realized that Lin Qianwei carried an uncountable amount of distance and loneliness.
“Don’t you feel lonely?” Qiao Xi suddenly felt a little bad, so she took two steps back and playfully asked, “Want me to stay and keep you company?” Lin Qianwei didn’t turn around, just tilted her head slightly and reminded her flatly, “Miss Qiao, don’t forget I’m married.”
Qiao Xi burst out laughing.
“Alright, I’m leaving then.” Qiao Xi waved, and even closed the door for Lin Qianwei on her way out.
After Qiao Xi left, it was as if the whole world went quiet.
Lin Qianwei gazed out at the night, letting the endless loneliness swallow her up.
Lin Qianwei wanted candy again.
Unfortunately, there was none left in the office.
She searched for a long time but couldn’t find the fruit candy she wanted.
Her mood suddenly turned irritable.
Annoyed, Lin Qianwei turned off the lights, planning to leave alone, but just then her phone screen lit up.
It was a message from Ji Yunxiao.
Lin Qianwei glanced at it but didn’t reply.
Less than half a minute later, Ji Yunxiao called.
After hesitating, Lin Qianwei picked up, but her voice was cold and warning: “I’m in a bad mood right now.
You’d better not bother me.”
Ji Yunxiao chuckled softly, her tone gentle: “Why are you in a bad mood?” Lin Qianwei was still indifferent: “It has nothing to do with you.”
Ji Yunxiao coaxed her, “Tell me about it.
Maybe I can help you feel better.”
Listening to her tone, Lin Qianwei’s voice unconsciously softened: “I’m just a little annoyed.”
Ji Yunxiao asked, “Why?” Lin Qianwei’s gaze was empty: “No reason.”
Ji Yunxiao didn’t press further, just said, “Wait for me.”
Not long after, Ji Yunxiao appeared downstairs at the Lin Group building.
Lin Qianwei watched her run over, the corners of her lips curving up involuntarily, but she quickly forced the smile away.
“Here.” Ji Yunxiao handed over the bag in her hand.
Lin Qianwei didn’t take it, still surprised: “What’s this?” Ji Yunxiao said, “Candy.”
Lin Qianwei looked up sharply.
Seeing she wouldn’t take it, Ji Yunxiao set the bag aside, took out a piece of candy, unwrapped it, and held it to Lin Qianwei’s lips.
Lin Qianwei was a little annoyed: “Tone it down.”
They were outside, with people coming and going nearby.
How could she do something like this? Ji Yunxiao didn’t care about any of that, just looked at her intently, her expression soft: “Try it.
This hard candy is really strong on orange flavor, and it’s super sweet.
You’ll love it.”
Lin Qianwei finally reached out and took it.
The candy was just as Ji Yunxiao described.
As Lin Qianwei sucked on it, the irritation between her brows gradually faded.
“Feeling better now?” Ji Yunxiao asked.
Lin Qianwei didn’t answer.
She was in a much better mood, but her face was still expressionless.
She looked at Ji Yunxiao and asked, “Why did you bring me candy?” Ji Yunxiao leaned in a little, her voice husky: “Because I guessed you’d want candy when you’re upset.”
It was too close.
So close that Lin Qianwei could clearly smell Ji Yunxiao’s perfume.
She couldn’t remember what perfume it was, only that it smelled really good—subtle, with top notes of cherry blossom and gardenia, and a base of freesia.
“Don’t get so close.” Lin Qianwei pushed the candy from the left side of her mouth to the right and looked away.
“Okay,” Ji Yunxiao stepped back and then invited, “Beautiful lady, may I give you a ride home?” Lin Qianwei didn’t refuse.
She got into Ji Yunxiao’s car, and before the orange hard candy had even melted, she unwrapped a second one.
At a red light, Ji Yunxiao turned to look at her, eyes full of affection.
Lin Qianwei met her gaze for a second before quickly looking down.
“What are you looking at me for?” Lin Qianwei was a little annoyed.
Ji Yunxiao was blunt: “Because you’re beautiful.”
Ji Yunxiao said, “I’ve never seen a woman more beautiful than you.”
Lin Qianwei honestly had no idea how to respond.
She couldn’t say a word, only feeling like the candy in her mouth tasted even sweeter.
Ji Yunxiao glanced at the road ahead and asked her again, “Why aren’t you going back to the Lin family villa?”
Lin Qianwei gave her reason, “It’s too far.”
Ji Yunxiao exposed her, “When your mom and little Youran weren’t home, I never saw you complain about the distance.”
Lin Qianwei stared straight ahead, “I like living alone.”
Ji Yunxiao’s grip on the steering wheel tightened.
This neighborhood was very close to Lin Qianwei’s company, so the two of them arrived at their destination quickly.
When Ji Yunxiao handed the bag of candy to Lin Qianwei, Lin Qianwei couldn’t help but ask, “How did you even guess?”
Lin Qianwei guessed, “Don’t tell me you also like eating candy when you’re upset?”
Ji Yunxiao shook her head.
It was because, in the previous world, whenever Qianqian was upset, she always needed candy.
But now wasn’t the time to talk about the past, so Ji Yunxiao changed the subject and naturally asked her, “Want to guess what I like to do when I’m upset?”
Lin Qianwei said, “I have no idea.”
Ji Yunxiao looked at the sky, a little sentimental, “When I was young and hot-blooded, I’d go racing whenever I was upset.”
There was one time she almost got into trouble.
She herself didn’t care, but Qianqian was so scared she hugged her and cried for a long time.
After that, she didn’t dare mess around anymore.
But the Lin Qianwei in front of her found it funny, “Aren’t you still young and hot-blooded now?”
Ji Yunxiao snapped out of it and grinned brightly, “Yeah, I’m only twenty here, so young.”
That line was a bit much, and Lin Qianwei didn’t want to deal with her anymore, but Ji Yunxiao said, “I’ll walk you upstairs.”
Lin Qianwei hugged the bag full of candy and turned away, coldly saying, “No need.”
But Ji Yunxiao still caught up to her.
The two walked side by side, and while waiting for the elevator, they started chatting again.
Lin Qianwei asked, “Why have you changed so much?” Before Ji Yunxiao could answer, she added, “Don’t give me any of those transmigration fantasy stories as an excuse.”
Ji Yunxiao remembered something and couldn’t help but smile.
She said, “Everyone has their wild moments.”
“When I was young…” Ji Yunxiao paused, then explained, “I mean when I just became an adult, I did a lot of rebellious things.”
Lin Qianwei: “Like what?”
Ji Yunxiao raised her eyebrows, “Smoking, drinking, getting my hair permed.”
Lin Qianwei couldn’t help but laugh at that.
Ji Yunxiao went on, “I even skipped class, but of course, I was still top of my class even when I skipped.”
Lin Qianwei instantly turned cold, “Stop bragging.”
While they were talking, they arrived at their floor.
Ji Yunxiao’s gaze lingered on Lin Qianwei’s face, reluctant to leave, but her voice was soft and light, “I’m leaving then.
Good night.”
Suddenly, Lin Qianwei didn’t want her to go.
But Lin Qianwei didn’t say anything to make her stay.
It was already late.
After washing up, Lin Qianwei took out her phone, opened her chat with Ji Yunxiao, and felt a bit worried.
After thinking it over, she still sent a message: [Let me know when you get home.]
Ji Yunxiao replied quickly: [I’ve been home for a while.
Why aren’t you asleep yet?]
Lin Qianwei: [Wanted to make sure you got home safe.]
Ji Yunxiao: [You care about me that much? President Lin, are you starting to like me a little?]
Seeing that message, Lin Qianwei couldn’t help but get embarrassed and annoyed, biting her lip until it turned white.
She typed furiously, then deleted it, hesitated for a long time, and finally decided to block Ji Yunxiao.
Ji Yunxiao called right away, her voice full of laughter, “Blocked me again?”
Lin Qianwei tried to suppress the sudden heat in her cheeks and said coldly, “If you call again, I’ll block your number too.”
Ji Yunxiao’s tone was indulgent, “Alright, I won’t bother you anymore.
Qianwei, good night.”
After hanging up, Lin Qianwei thought she’d toss and turn, but actually, she fell asleep quickly.
In her dream, there was the scent of cherry blossoms, gardenias, and freesia.
That long-legged woman who could ride a motorcycle took her racing through the city.
They lay down on a soft lawn, and the woman peeled open an orange hard candy, held it between her teeth, pinched her chin, and fed it to her.
And she accepted it gladly.
When she woke up again, Lin Qianwei couldn’t remember the details, just felt like she’d dreamed of Ji Yunxiao.
She was a little embarrassed and annoyed, but after breakfast, Lin Qianwei still took Ji Yunxiao off her block list.
And today, Ji Yunxiao planned to pull the same trick again.
She found a way to get Lin Yuan out of the house, and with Qiao Xi’s help, made it to the Lin family villa.
Unfortunately, Lin Yuan came home early today, and before Ji Yunxiao could leave, she got caught red-handed.
“What are you doing here? Who let you in? Get out of my house right now! You’re not welcome here!” Lin Yuan was furious, nothing like her usual elegant self.
Ji Yunxiao tried to explain, “Mom…”
Lin Yuan wouldn’t listen, just shoved her, “Get out! Didn’t you hear me? Who said you could come here and make trouble?”
Ji Yunxiao was at her wit’s end.
Lin Yuan’s resistance to her was too strong.
Even if she had tricks up her sleeve, there was nothing she could do right now.
But Ji Yunxiao didn’t get a chance to leave.
Just as she turned around, a graceful figure walked over and stood by her side.
Lin Qianwei said calmly, “I gave her permission.”
