Chapter 62

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After yesterday’s kiss, a layer of unspoken, hazy ambiguity colored their relationship. To others, it might have just seemed puzzling why the director was so intimate with a mere designer. But when Su Jinglan asked about it, Ning Jiuwei sensed an ulterior motive behind the question.

“Just a casual endearment. There’s no company policy against calling a designer ‘baby,’ is there?” Moments alone together were unavoidable, so Ning Jiuwei carefully concealed her emotions. She smiled mildly as she always did, meeting the other woman’s gaze with calm eyes before changing the subject. “Does President Su have something to discuss with me?”

Su Jinglan peered into Ning Jiuwei’s eyes, trying to read her thoughts from that steady gaze. Combining it with Ning Jiuwei’s reactions and demeanor, she quickly formed an impression. “Is Teacher Ning planning to pretend last night never happened?”

“I won’t forget what occurred last night, but I won’t dwell on it either. It was just a kiss—we’re both adults.” Ning Jiuwei didn’t shy away from the topic, her smile unwavering. “President Su has no need to keep it in mind.”

Ning Jiuwei hid her feelings masterfully. No one could see through her facade.

Su Jinglan fell silent. A suffocating ache gripped her heart—not sharp pain, but a deep, sour pang.

The woman she’d loved for over a decade showed not the slightest bit of interest in her. It had only been a little over ten years since high school, yet Ning Jiuwei not only had zero recollection of her but dismissed even last night’s kiss without a second thought.

“Ning Jiuwei…” Su Jinglan drew closer. Ning Jiuwei’s breath immediately grew erratic, her reaction mirroring last night’s. Her hot, ragged panting rang clearly in Su Jinglan’s ears.

So it had all been an act.

The sourness in her heart flipped to delight in an instant. Su Jinglan curved her lips into a smile and boldly pulled Ning Jiuwei into an embrace right there in the office, nuzzling affectionately against her ear.

A fierce wave of tingling numbness struck the softest part of Ning Jiuwei’s heart. She wanted to push her away, but her hands felt powerless. “President Su, this is the company.”

Su Jinglan continued to nuzzle her ear, unable to suppress the grin tugging at her lips. “The door’s closed. No colleagues will see.”

The glass walls had been frosted over, blocking any line of sight. Zhang Xiaoyue had closed the door behind her when she left earlier, so anyone hoping to speak with Ning Jiuwei would have to knock first.

But what if? What if a colleague knocked and barged right in without waiting for permission?

Ning Jiuwei’s heart pounded wildly. She felt like she was sneaking around with her boss. Taking a deep breath, she pushed at Su Jinglan. “President Su, I need to head to the Production Department. The Craft Masters are waiting for me.”

Su Jinglan tightened her arms, hugging her even closer. “Do the Craft Masters call you ‘baby’ too?”

“…” Zhang Xiaoyue was the only one in the entire company who called her that, treating her like a precious treasure. Ning Jiuwei pried the hands from her waist and straightened her rumpled clothes. “No.”

Catching Su Jinglan’s knowing smile, Ning Jiuwei realized she’d been teased again. “President Su, you’re so bored.”

She smoothed her clothes and left her office without a change in expression.

Once outside, the corners of her mouth lifted unconsciously.

Assistant Tan, crouched at her workstation, watched furtively. The smile on Designer Ning’s face was one she’d never seen before—indescribably captivating, stirring the heart.

It wasn’t just Assistant Tan. Jiang Shiyao also noticed how Ning Jiuwei’s smile differed from her usual one. Normally, her mild smiles seemed approachable yet kept people at arm’s length with an intangible distance. But this smile was mesmerizing, drawing one in irresistibly.

Her heart stirred, and Jiang Shiyao set down her pen. In a few quick strides, she caught up.

“Is Teacher Ning heading out?”

“To the Production Department.” The Production Department handled all the custom jewelry pieces, crafting them with exquisite, intricate workmanship. Ning Jiuwei’s visit wasn’t merely an excuse to escape the office; she also wanted to check on the ring’s progress.

At that, Jiang Shiyao smiled. “I was just on my way to see the Head of the Production Department. We’re going the same way, Teacher Ning.”

They went together and returned together. Ning Jiuwei could tell Jiang Shiyao had deliberately waited for her, so on the way back, she asked, “Does Designer Jiang have something she’d like to discuss with me?”

Jiang Shiyao shook her head and stayed close by her side, keeping all her words locked away in her heart for now.

She would save them for the New Product Launch.

Su Jinglan was no longer in the office. Ning Jiuwei locked the door behind her, sealing herself inside to focus on her design drawings.

Staring at a sketch with half its lines already outlined, Ning Jiuwei propped her cheek on one hand and zoned out.

She realized her drawing speed had slowed lately. The designs forming in her mind lingered for shorter and shorter times.

Creative work drained inspiration and energy. Only a steady influx could sustain output. She’d only recently sought fresh inspiration outside—had it already run dry?

In the empty office, with no one around, Ning Jiuwei closed her eyes and let out a sigh.

By the time she got off work, Ning Jiuwei hadn’t added a single line to the design on her tablet. She packed away the tablet, along with the folder holding the bracelet design drawings, into the company-provided paper bag and took it home to keep working.

Wen Wanyuan sent her a message right on schedule, inviting her to hit the gym. No need for pleading today—Ning Jiuwei agreed without hesitation.

After changing into her workout clothes, Ning Jiuwei thought of the enormous swimming pool at Wan Jun Hotel. Swimming beat running for a workout any day. She rummaged through the bottom of her closet, pulled out her swimsuit, and stuffed it into her gym bag for the hotel.

Right before heading out, Ning Jiuwei lifted the peephole cover on her door and peeked at the apartment across the hall.

The door was shut tight. No chance of running into Su Jinglan.

Somewhat relieved, Ning Jiuwei opened her door and stepped out, pressing the button for the down elevator.

As she waited, she kept the opposite door in her peripheral vision.

Su Jinglan didn’t come out of that door. Instead, she appeared inside the elevator as the doors slid open right in front of Ning Jiuwei.

“Off to the gym again, Designer Ning?” Su Jinglan gave her an up-and-down look. The outfit and the bag on Ning Jiuwei’s back made her intentions obvious—no point in denying it.

Ning Jiuwei nodded. “Mm.” She stepped calmly into the elevator.

Su Jinglan didn’t get out. She hit the button for Basement Level 1 and turned to Ning Jiuwei. “Where’s Designer Ning working out today?”

“Wan Jun Hotel.” Ning Jiuwei clutched her gym bag, fighting the flutter in her chest.

“You’ve got good taste in spots, Designer Ning. The gym at Wan Jun Hotel is quiet, and the equipment is top-notch.” Su Jinglan had stayed at Wan Jun Hotels in cities across the country, including the one right here in Jiangji, so she knew the place well. “That said, the gym’s only open to hotel guests. Have you booked a room there, Designer Ning?”

The real point was the room.

She’d looked into Ning Jiuwei. Sure enough, she’d checked in at Wan Jun Hotel—and sharing that room was Wen Wanyuan.

In other words, Ning Jiuwei and Wen Wanyuan were sneaking off to share a hotel room.

The elevator didn’t stop on any intermediate floors and soon reached the parking level. Ning Jiuwei murmured another “Mm” and offered no explanation.

“Aren’t you going to ask if I want to come along, Designer Ning?”

“President Su doesn’t have time for the gym, does she?”

“I always have time to work out with Designer Ning.” Taking it as an invitation, Su Jinglan slid into the passenger seat.

The underground parking lot was well-lit. Ning Jiuwei’s car sat against the wall, partially shadowed. No one else was around. She could feel the heat of the gaze fixed on her—scorching, intense. Glancing sideways, she saw Su Jinglan lounging lazily in the seat, eyes locked on her with smoldering intensity, lips curved in a captivating smile.

The air in the car grew warmer under their stares. Su Jinglan reached for the seat controls and reclined it back.

“Aren’t you going to drive, Teacher Ning?”

Ning Jiuwei’s heart lurched. She twisted to grab her seatbelt.

Su Jinglan’s soft chuckle drifted from beside her, making Ning Jiuwei’s hands shake. The buckle wouldn’t click.

“Let me.” Su Jinglan took hold of it. Her warm fingertips brushed Ning Jiuwei’s cooler skin as she fastened the belt for her.

The unexpected touch sent Ning Jiuwei’s pulse into overdrive. Pent-up emotions crashed over her, shredding her self-control. A deep shiver rippled through her body from the inside out. There was no way she could drive.

“President Su, something just came up. Rain check on the gym?” She unbuckled the belt, skipped the gym bag in the back, and bolted from the car.

Once Su Jinglan stepped out and shut the door, Ning Jiuwei locked it and hurried back to the elevators.

It was waiting at Basement Level 1 and dinged open at her touch. She retreated to the corner, putting as much space as possible between her and Su Jinglan in the roomy car.

“Back to your design drawings, Designer Ning?” Su Jinglan tried to make conversation.

Ning Jiuwei’s responses were off—she wouldn’t meet her eyes. “Mm.”

The elevator dinged at their floor. Ning Jiuwei let Su Jinglan go first. But Su Jinglan lingered in the hallway instead of heading home, waiting.

Ning Jiuwei unlocked her door and slipped inside in one fluid motion. Su Jinglan started to follow, but Ning Jiuwei slammed it shut.

Bracing against the entryway cabinet, she gulped air, slowly reining in her mortifying impulses.

She’d actually wanted to kiss Su Jinglan in the car. Her head had to be messed up.

Last night’s fervent kiss flashed vividly in her mind. Standing right at the scene of the crime now, the heat she’d barely tamped down flared up again. Her blood surged like a raging storm through every limb, leaving her shaking.

Gripping the entryway cabinet, Ning Jiuwei shuffled forward a few steps, then pivoted and sank onto the shoe-changing stool. She squeezed her eyes shut and slumped her head against the cabinet.

Time slipped by in the silent apartment. Her heart hammered at a frantic pace, refusing to slow. Just the thought of Su Jinglan pumped adrenaline through her, speeding her breath and her blood.

She had no idea how long she sat there on the stool when her phone rang.

Looking at the caller ID displaying Wen Wanyuan’s name, Ning Jiuwei hesitated for a few seconds before hanging up the call.

“I’m not in a good spot to take the call right now,” she texted Wen Wanyuan. “Something came up suddenly, so I can’t make it to the gym.”

Wen Wanyuan, drenched in sweat from her run, wiped the perspiration from her neck and sent back a voice message, panting heavily. “I know my Sister Ning is busy. I’ll rest for a bit and then go for a swim.”

She gasped several times just to get out that one sentence. Listening to the message, Ning Jiuwei couldn’t help but recall her own state.

She had been panting just as fiercely herself, struggling to catch her breath.

Not until she had changed into her pajamas and collapsed onto the bed.

A clear, sweet sandalwood incense burned in the bedroom, its faint, elegant aroma easing her anxiety and steadying her mind. Ning Jiuwei breathed in the soothing scent, which lifted her spirits and calmed her racing thoughts.

Su Jinglan stood solemnly at the door to Ning Jiuwei’s home and pressed the doorbell.

The chime rang three times, spaced half a minute apart. After some hesitation, Ning Jiuwei activated the entryway camera through the smart control system on her bedside table.

With one final moment of indecision, she went to open the door. “President Su.”

The concern etched on Su Jinglan’s face melted into a gentle smile the instant she saw Ning Jiuwei. Both women were dressed in pajamas. Su Jinglan drew her into an intimate embrace. “Jiuwei, from tonight on, let’s sleep together every night.”

Ning Jiuwei blinked in slight surprise. She pressed Su Jinglan back against the entryway cabinet, her breath coming hot and heavy. “Does President Su know what I want to do right now?”

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