Chapter 26: What Huai Xing’s Tears Tasted Like.
It was the change of seasons, and the flu was prevalent.
Chu Wantang’s high fever came and went quickly, but many other symptoms remained. Fortunately, she usually exercised regularly and drank plenty of water and took her medicine while she was sick. After a weekend, she was much better. By the time she arrived at the company on Monday, she only had a slight cough and a noticeable nasal tone.
Everyone hadn’t seen her for a long time. Seeing her wearing a mask, they all came up to express their concern. It didn’t take long for the news of her illness to spread throughout the company. At the same time, news of the company’s celebration for the great success of the “LANLING LIFE” show also spread—
A trip to the suburbs of Jingcheng to breathe in the spring air.
“Lan Ling” had many female managers, and their decisions were very humane. The event was scheduled for Thursday and Friday, not taking up everyone’s weekend.
As soon as this news was released, the employees on both floors were in an uproar.
Everyone went to ask their own leaders and finally got a definite answer: just wait for the company’s notice.
After asking Gu Rufeng, Ren Jiao couldn’t calm down either. She took out her phone to message her friends, still muttering, “Wow! No need to sit in the office! A company-funded spring outing! Awesome!”
After sending the message, she turned her head and saw Huai Xing still working quietly. She went over and patted Huai Xing’s shoulder. “Can you get excited, Comrade Huai Xing?”
Huai Xing smiled. “We haven’t even left yet. Why are you so excited?”
“…You’re right.” Ren Jiao’s face immediately fell. “It’s only Monday.”
In the afternoon, the company sent out a detailed notice.
The event location was Yuelan Wu in the suburbs of Jingcheng, for one day and one night. The company would cover the basic costs of group food, accommodation, and transportation. Everything else was not covered.
After receiving the definite information, the employees seemed to have more energy for work, not much different from when they were students looking forward to a spring outing.
The only exception was perhaps Huai Xing, because she had been to Yuelan Wu every spring for the past four years since she came to Jingcheng.
She wasn’t tired of the place, but she had always gone alone with Chu Wantang before, without having to rush. This time, she was with so many colleagues. It would be a problem to even say a few words to Chu Wantang. She couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed.
When she got home at night, she was also a little listless.
After watching Chu Wantang take her medicine, she didn’t delay and immediately went to take a shower. She was in bed by nine, holding the jade comb and closing her eyes.
She didn’t want to lose the opportunity to go on a spring outing with Chu Wantang for no reason.
After a while, as she had expected, there was a knock on the door.
She cleared her throat and replied, “Come in.”
The door opened, but Chu Wantang didn’t come in. She leaned against the door, her gaze fixed on the back of the person on the bed.
She curled her lips and asked knowingly, “Are you unhappy because I didn’t take you to Yuelan Wu alone this year?”
A slight nasal tone made her voice sound a bit more sensual. Huai Xing didn’t turn around and answered in a muffled voice, “No.”
“Then what are you unhappy about, Xiao Xing?” Chu Wantang’s voice was soft. “I want you to be happy.”
The form of address hadn’t changed. Their identity now was sisters.
Realizing this, Huai Xing said a little awkwardly, “Maybe it’s because I’m on my period and I’m more prone to being unhappy…”
“What if we go play there alone on the weekend? We’ll come back on Sunday night, just like in the past.” Chu Wantang still walked over and sat down by the bed. She turned her head slightly and coughed.
When she turned her head back, the girl was already looking over.
Huai Xing’s eyes were clear and bright as she confirmed seriously, “Can we?”
“Why not?”
Chu Wantang bent down and reached out to smooth her hair. “Taking you on a spring outing is something I do every year. I won’t break my promise.”
All of Huai Xing’s unhappiness disappeared at this moment. She looked at Chu Wantang and tentatively called out in a low voice, “Chu Chu…”
Chu Wantang was stunned for half a second, then smiled and asked, “What are you calling me for?”
Huai Xing’s eyelashes fluttered twice. She propped herself up and leaned over, hugging the person.
She was gradually ignoring her feelings for Chu Wantang, trying to brainwash herself into keeping their relationship at the level of “satisfying each other’s physical needs.”
So, there was nothing wrong with her actions, right?
Chu Wantang stiffened for a moment, then raised her hand to hug her back. Her throat, which had been itchy from her cold, was now even itchier.
It was hard for her to deny that she had a desire for Huai Xing’s body. She wasn’t going to suppress it either. It was just a pity that neither of them was in a condition to do anything else right now. They could only hug simply like this.
Even such a hug would make her a little restless.
Huai Xing slowly moved her head, her lashes lowered, and gently placed her lips on the side of Chu Wantang’s neck.
She didn’t have a cold, and Chu Wantang had just taken a shower, so her body was still a little damp. She hesitated for a breath, then stuck out the tip of her tongue and licked it.
“…Don’t move around,” Chu Wantang said, holding her waist and warning her in a low voice.
Huai Xing didn’t listen. She closed her eyes completely and pecked at it.
Her breath was scorching, and her lips were also hot. She pushed aside Chu Wantang’s curly hair and kissed from the side of her neck to her collarbone.
And there was a tendency to continue down.
In fact, she did just that. She kissed her way down.
At the same time, she freed a hand and slipped it under the person’s clothes.
Her fingertips pressed against the skin, tapping and climbing on it.
Finally, she held it.
And kneaded it gently.
Chu Wantang’s throat moved, and she lowered her eyes.
Through a thin layer of pajamas, Huai Xing lifted her eyelids at the same time and met her eyes.
As if with a hint of provocation, Huai Xing bit her lightly with her teeth.
Then she held it with her moist mouth.
Her soft tongue also came in handy.
Chu Wantang’s breathing became rapid. She raised her wrist and placed her hand on the back of Huai Xing’s head.
It was unclear whether she wanted her to continue or to stop. She only knew that under Huai Xing’s deliberate teasing, her restlessness had increased severalfold.
Before long, that patch of her pajamas was soaked with saliva.
Huai Xing released her lips, but her hand didn’t stop.
She was still stroking it.
A hint of wildness appeared on her obedient face as she said with some confusion, “Chu Chu, why is it so…”
Chu Wantang met her gaze and asked very frankly, “Have you had enough?”
“I’m not fully recovered from my illness, and you’re still on your period. Rein in your thoughts.”
Huai Xing’s eyes were sparkling. “What if I haven’t had enough?” she pressed. “We can’t do it, but can’t I continue to eat?”
Chu Wantang’s eyelashes trembled slightly. “…”
“Besides…” Huai Xing switched to rubbing with her palm, still staring at the woman. “If Chu Chu is worried about infecting me, then if we don’t kiss, can’t we still get to the last step? I’ve definitely improved.”
She paused, lowered her voice, her voice laced with seduction. “I really want to do it with you…”
The answer she got was very decisive: “No.”
“Why?” Huai Xing asked deliberately, a hint of confusion in her almond eyes. “Is it because you can’t not kiss me?”
Chu Wantang: “Mm.”
She pulled out the girl’s constantly misbehaving hand, then turned her head to cough twice before continuing in a slightly hoarse voice, “I’m a patient and need to rest early. You should also go to bed early. No staying up late.”
“Good night, Jiejie,” Huai Xing said with a radiant smile. “Drink some warm water before you go to bed.”
In the blink of an eye, she was the only one left in the room.
She raised her hand and touched her lips, a bitter smile on her face.
I hide my love for you in desire, and openly reveal my fantasies about your body to you.
Will that not arouse your suspicion?
And will it not make things difficult for you?
On the other side, Chu Wantang returned to bed.
By the light, she lifted her pajamas and looked down at the glistening moisture.
After a long while, she took a wet wipe.
…
“Lan Ling” was well-prepared for this oxygen-breathing activity. Even though there were no strenuous sports, and it was just to let everyone relax in the suburbs, they were still equipped with first-aid personnel and had also investigated the location of medical points, just in case someone had an accident.
At eight o’clock on Thursday morning, the employees gathered at the designated location and boarded the rented buses, heading towards the destination with a roar.
However, the management had their own choices, and most of them did not take the bus.
Chu Wantang was driving, with Gu Rufeng and Fei Shutao in the back seat.
The two marketing department team leads were a little surprised that Director Chu would take the initiative to ask them if they wanted to ride together, but since the opportunity was right in front of them, there was no reason to miss it.
The car shuttled through the city. After more than half an hour, the hustle and bustle receded like a tide.
Fei Shutao took pictures of the spring scenery flashing by outside the window and said with great pleasure, “The weather is nice today. It’s perfect for a spring outing.” She bumped Gu Rufeng’s arm. “Did you look forward to spring outings when you were in school?”
“No.”
Gu Rufeng was a little stiff. She was not as relaxed as Fei Shutao and always felt that Chu Wantang had invited them to ride together for a reason.
Her guess was correct.
About ten minutes later, Chu Wantang glanced at them in the rearview mirror and then said with a smile, “Team Lead Gu and Team Lead Fei are in charge of the marketing department’s roll call tonight, right?”
To ensure personal safety, the company also conducted a roll call at night.
“Yes…”
Even Fei Shutao realized something. She followed up and asked, “Does Director Chu have any instructions?”
“It’s not an instruction,” Chu Wantang pondered for a few seconds. “Actually, Huai Xing is my little sister. I’ve never let her sleep in a hotel like this, and I’m not at ease with her staying with a stranger. So tonight, she will be taken out by me to sleep at another hotel. I’m telling you in advance.”
Gu Rufeng and Fei Shutao were stunned, their jaws agape.
It was Gu Rufeng who reacted first, nodding and saying, “Okay, Director Chu. No problem.”
She began to think about whether she had offended Huai Xing in any way.
Not just her, Fei Shutao was also thinking back. The two of them exchanged a look, both a little dazed.
The two of them had no relation in their surnames, and their appearances were not of the same style.
They were actually sisters?
Chu Wantang chuckled, answering their confusion. “She joined the company behind my back. Just treat her as you normally would. Don’t think she’s any different.” She dragged out the sound and continued sincerely, “But, I only have this one little sister. I’ve spoiled her, and I’m afraid she’ll be wronged in any way. So I’ll have to trouble the two team leads to let me know if there are any important matters concerning her in the future. Of course, you don’t have to tell her this. She has always not wanted anyone in the company to know that she’s my sister, for fear of being treated specially.”
The two team leads in the back seat immediately nodded. “Don’t worry.”
Gu Rufeng even added, “Huai Xing is very good. She doesn’t complain much, and her conduct is also proper.”
As they chatted, they got closer and closer to Yuelan Wu.
Yuelan Wu had a vast water area, surrounded by mountains on three sides, with beautiful scenery. It was a relatively famous place for relaxation in recent years.
The company had about three hundred people in total, and they got off the bus in a crowd.
Everyone was wearing the red “Lan Ling” armband. At a glance, this area was full of company employees, and they looked very neat, attracting the attention of other tourists who came here.
Chu Wantang got out of the car and first went to meet CEO Mei, who had been brought by a driver. They held parasols, smiled, and tried to avoid work topics, only talking about the air, environment, and so on.
Such an activity also had to be documented. The photographers found their angles and raised their cameras.
The camera swept over a girl with delicate features in the crowd. She was turning her head, and from her eyes, it looked like she was looking for someone.
In fact, Huai Xing had easily found Chu Wantang not far away. Only after seeing Chu Wantang chatting and laughing with CEO Mei did she contentedly follow the crowd forward.
After checking in, everyone was free to move around.
The sun was bright, and there was still some time before lunch. Huai Xing planned to hike around the lake and enjoy the scenery.
She didn’t know many people in the company, so she asked Ren Jiao and He He. He He said she had no problem. Ren Jiao, the lazy one, on the principle of “since we’re here,” hesitated for a moment and followed.
The lake in Yuelan Wu was not large, with a circumference of less than five kilometers, and the road was flat, so it was not very physically demanding.
Huai Xing wore a sun-protective jacket, carried a backpack, and set off with her buddies.
There were quite a few people who had the same idea as them. They had just walked a short distance when they saw many colleagues with the same armband.
“So tired,” Ren Jiao sighed after walking a few hundred meters.
He He glanced at her sports watch. “It seems like we’ve just started.”
Huai Xing was taking pictures with her phone. She was not in a hurry and said with a smile, “If you’re really tired, there’s a supply station ahead. You can sit and rest for a while.”
“Aren’t you tired?” Ren Jiao asked.
He He: “Not very. I practice yoga at home.”
Huai Xing: “I go to the gym occasionally, and sometimes I wake up early to do fasted cardio with my sister.”
When He He heard Huai Xing mention her sister, she couldn’t help but think of what she had seen at the venue that day. In the end, she attributed the feeling to being an only child, so she couldn’t understand such a close sisterly relationship.
In fact, it was very normal, right?
Hearing them say this, Ren Jiao was speechless for a moment, and finally gave up. “It’s impossible for me to exercise.” She didn’t want to drag the team down and clenched her fists. “Let’s go! Let’s conquer these five kilometers!”
The clear lake water reflected the mountains in the distance. When the gentle breeze blew, ripples spread across the lake surface.
This was the fourth time Huai Xing had hiked around the lake. The person beside her was no longer Chu Wantang.
But with Chu Wantang’s promise, she was not so sad and was looking forward to the end of the activity tomorrow.
She took pictures and videos all the way and sent them to her group chat with Tu Zhaoyu and the others. Her friends were crazy with envy and started to complain about their companies and work again.
After thinking for a moment, she opened her chat with Wen Shiwei and typed: [Sister Shiwei, if you have time on the weekend recently, you can come to Yuelan Wu to play. It’s about a two-hour drive. Now is a good time for a spring outing.]
Wen Shiwei had just come to Jingcheng not long ago. She had been following Wen Shiwei since she was five, and it had been so many years now.
She should recommend more delicious and fun places in Jingcheng to Wen Shiwei.
Not long after the message was sent, Wen Shiwei’s call came through.
Huai Xing was surprised for a moment and answered, “Sister Shiwei?”
“I happen to be here with a client, Xingxing,” Wen Shiwei said with a smile, inviting, “Are you free tonight? There’s a pretty good barbecue place here. I’ve been busy with work recently and haven’t seen you in half a month.”
Thinking that she probably wouldn’t have time to see Chu Wantang tonight, Huai Xing agreed at once. “Okay.”
“What about Sister Wantang? Will she be with you?”
“She won’t.”
Huai Xing looked at the scenery in the distance and added two words, “She’s busy.”
“Alright, see you tonight then. I’ll pick you up.”
“Okay, see you tonight.”
After hanging up, Huai Xing took a deep breath, in a good mood.
He He at the side asked curiously, “Who are you going to see tonight?”
“A friend of mine.”
Ren Jiao, panting, followed up and asked, “You have friends to see here too?”
“Coincidentally.”
Huai Xing’s lips curled up. “Victory is just ahead. Only a few hundred meters left, comrades.”
…
Chu Wantang had been fishing with CEO Mei nearby for half a day. When she returned, the sky was getting dark, with only a sliver of pale white left.
The company provided three meals, and the dining location was fixed at a restaurant.
She entered the restaurant and scanned the room.
She could see the colleague named Ren Jiao, who sat next to Huai Xing at the company, and He He, who had touched Huai Xing’s neck in the venue corridor before.
But… where was Huai Xing?
Chu Wantang’s brows furrowed slightly, and she went outside the restaurant.
She pressed her lips together tightly, the pressure around her low. When people from the company saw her and were about to greet her, they swallowed the words that were on the tip of their tongues.
She thought for a moment and called Huai Xing.
A few seconds later, the girl on the other end answered, calling her, “Jiejie.” She then asked, “What’s up?”
“Where are you?” She didn’t like the feeling of Huai Xing being out of her sight, and her tone was a bit stiff.
“Wait a second, Jiejie. It’s a bit noisy in the shop.”
The streetlight stretched Chu Wantang’s shadow. She lowered her lashes and waited for Huai Xing’s reply.
A dozen or so seconds later, Huai Xing’s voice sounded again. “I’m eating barbecue outside.”
“Alone?”
“…No, with a friend.”
Chu Wantang squinted her eyes and spat out a name she didn’t like to hear. “Wen Shiwei?”
“…Sister Shiwei happens to be here with a client.” Huai Xing suddenly felt guilty.
Chu Wantang pressed her brow, trying to make her tone sound natural and normal as she parted her lips. “Then you two take your time. Do you need me to pick you up tonight?”
“No need, Jiejie. Sister Shiwei will send me.”
The call ended. Chu Wantang gripped her phone tightly, the gloom in her eyes hidden in the darkness.
A few minutes later, she chuckled softly.
What to do?
She wanted to taste what Huai Xing’s tears tasted like again.
