After Breaking Up With the Scheming Bad Woman 4

Chapter 4: But She Still Counts as a Female Superior, Right?

When Huai Xing woke up, the entire city had been drenched by the downpour. Only fine, thread-like drizzles remained, like the finishing touches of a tapestry. Blown by the wind, the rain stuck to the windowpane, layering a blurry filter over the gray sky outside.

She blinked a couple of times at the beige curtains, only then remembering that she had come to Chu Wantang’s master bedroom last night. She was in Chu Wantang’s bed.

In truth, she wasn’t afraid of thunder. But during the first thunderstorm she experienced after coming to Jingcheng, a sudden clap of thunder had struck without any warning. It had startled her, and in front of Chu Wantang, she had cried out and flinched uncontrollably.

From then on, Chu Wantang assumed she was afraid of thunder and would insist she stay by her side during such times.

Sometimes it was a hug, sometimes it was holding hands.

After it happened a few times and she got a taste of the sweetness, Huai Xing had no choice but to “fearfully” comply.

The person beside her was long gone. Reaching out, her hand met a cool, empty space. The hand she had held before falling asleep last night had been released at some unknown point.

But there were sounds coming from outside the door. She perked up her ears and identified Su Cheng’s voice.

Su Cheng was probably complaining about a client again.

Sure enough, when she stepped out of the master bedroom, she saw Su Cheng standing two meters away from Chu Wantang in guest slippers, hands on her hips, vividly recounting her encounter with a bizarre client from the previous night.

It was clear she was thoroughly infuriated.

“It’s a good thing I’m educated and have some class, otherwise I would’ve ripped him a new one eight hundred times. He’s already getting a bargain with me being so meek while he bosses me around for that pathetic amount of money, and he still wants to hit on me? Get lost.” At this point, Su Cheng heard the door open. Her gaze shifted, and her eyes lit up.

She wasn’t surprised to see Huai Xing coming out of Chu Wantang’s room. She just asked, “Xingxing, you’re awake?”

“Sister Su Cheng.”

Huai Xing grinned and called out, then looked at Chu Wantang, who was sitting serenely on the sofa, and reported, “I’m going to go wash up first.”

Chu Wantang’s gaze landed lightly on her. “Su Cheng and I have a meeting to attend later. I’ve asked Auntie Chen to come over to make lunch.”

Huai Xing hadn’t been lying; Chu Wantang really didn’t let her do housework. Someone washed her clothes, someone tidied her room, and someone came to cook her three meals a day.

She was very well taken care of.

“There’s no need to trouble Auntie Chen, Jiejie. I’m having lunch with Tu Zhaoyu and the others,” Huai Xing said, running a hand through her slightly messy hair. “I have a get-together with them this afternoon. I need to bring my violin.”

Su Cheng sat down on the sofa, glanced at her watch, and asked, “It’s almost eleven now. When are you leaving? Where are you going? If it’s on the way, we can give you a ride.” Before anyone could answer, she started complaining about the weather again. “This damn weather. Was God giving all the lovey-dovey couples a green light yesterday? Yesterday was the only sunny day so far this month.”

Holding a different opinion, Huai Xing said, “No, it wasn’t.”

A faint smile appeared on her face, her lips parting. “It was a green light for Jiejie, because she was coming back to Jingcheng.”

“…” Su Cheng’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Wow, Sister Xingxing, when have you ever said such sweet things to me?”

A slight curve appeared at the corners of Chu Wantang’s lips. She was clearly pleased by Huai Xing’s words, her expression relaxing.

Her tone also softened considerably when she spoke. “Go wash up, Xiao Xing. Don’t listen to her nonsense. Is she even worthy?”

Su Cheng stood up, hooked an arm around Huai Xing’s neck, and locked her in an embrace. “Xingxing, you tell me, am I worthy or not?”

“You are, Sister Su Cheng,” Huai Xing said with a helpless smile.

Hearing this, Chu Wantang raised an eyebrow. She looked at the two of them being so close in front of her, and the smile on her lips froze for a moment.

Then, as if nothing had happened, she looked down at her phone screen and sent a message to Auntie Chen.

…

Huai Xing was heading to the west side of the city, while Chu Wantang and the others were going southwest. It wasn’t exactly on the way, but it was only an extra seven or eight kilometers.

On the road, the windshield wipers were still working diligently, adding another rhythmic note to the car’s interior.

Chu Wantang and Su Cheng were discussing the day’s business. They had been friends for years, having been classmates in middle school and university. After graduation, however, Chu Wantang had joined “Lan Ling,” while Su Cheng, after working for others for a few years, chose to open her own fashion design studio.

This afternoon, a big shot from the Italian fashion industry was visiting Jingcheng. They had both received invitations early on and had to make an appearance.

Huai Xing sat quietly in the back seat, watching the scenery flash by outside the window.

In mid-February, Jingcheng had little vitality on overcast, rainy days. Pedestrians hurried past under umbrellas, their steps quick even on a Saturday.

After a while, the conversation between Chu Wantang and Su Cheng came to a halt.

Sitting in the driver’s seat, Chu Wantang glanced at the person in the back through the rearview mirror and slowly parted her lips. “Xiao Xing.”

“Hm?”

“We have a flight to Yuncheng next Friday night.”

“Okay.”

The anniversary of Huai Zhao and Xu Zhixun’s deaths was approaching again.

As Chu Wantang’s long-time friend, Su Cheng naturally knew the significance of this time. She propped her head on her hand and sighed, “Six years have gone by so fast, in the blink of an eye.” She tried to liven up the atmosphere, turning to look at Huai Xing. “And I’ve known Xingxing for over four years now~~~”

“Well then…”

Huai Xing tilted her head. “Nice to meet you? Sister Su Cheng.”

“I’m fine, thank you, and you?”

Chu Wantang pressed her fingers to her forehead. “…”

Half an hour later, the car drove into the underground parking garage of the mall where Huai Xing was meeting Tu Zhaoyu and the others.

Su Cheng showed no intention of unbuckling her seatbelt, busy replying to messages on her phone.

After a moment’s hesitation, Chu Wantang got out of the car.

Huai Xing was holding her violin case. Hearing the driver’s door open, she had waited by the car door. She called out obediently, “Jiejie.”

Then, with wide, bright eyes, she asked, “Is something wrong?”

The parking garage was dim, and it was crowded with cars on a Saturday.

Chu Wantang lowered her eyelids. After making sure Su Cheng couldn’t see from her angle, she took out an expensive solid perfume she had prepared and issued a command: “Turn your head to the left.”

Huai Xing complied, looking at the shadow of an unfamiliar car in the distance.

The next moment, the hair on her right side was swept aside.

Chu Wantang’s fingertip had a layer of the solid perfume on it. The warmth of her finger melted it slightly as she lightly applied it to the side of Huai Xing’s neck.

Catching a glimpse of her sister’s expression out of the corner of her eye, Huai Xing’s lips pressed together more tightly.

What’s in this perfume? It was making her cheeks flush. Thankfully, the lighting here wasn’t great, so Chu Wantang probably couldn’t see it very well.

What made her heart race even more was that after applying it, Chu Wantang leaned in closer.

Chu Wantang lowered her lashes and took two distinct sniffs. After confirming that there was no trace of Su Cheng’s scent, she let out a low chuckle. “Mm, it smells very nice.”

With that, she returned her little sister’s hair to its original state and naturally held out the solid perfume. “This is a gift I bought for you on my trip. I thought it would suit you.” She raised her hand a little, indicating for the person before her to take it quickly. “Does it smell good?”

Huai Xing looked at the gift presented before her, her throat moving nervously. She took it and replied with a smile, “It smells good.”

She looked up at Chu Wantang, feeling her own voice grow heavy. “Thank you, Jiejie.”

A smile played on Chu Wantang’s lips.

The front passenger window rolled down. Su Cheng, feeling left out, asked, “What are you two sisters whispering about? Tang-jie, if we don’t go now, we’re going to be late.”

“I’m not your ‘Tang-jie’.”

Chu Wantang still had time to play along with Su Cheng’s lame joke. Without saying goodbye to Huai Xing, she turned and got back into the car.

“Xingxing, see you next time~~~” Su Cheng waved, not having rolled up the window yet.

Huai Xing smiled faintly. “See you next time.”

She tried to look inside but could only see Chu Wantang’s slender white wrist on the steering wheel. The word “Jiejie” was stuck in her throat, unsaid.

Two seconds later, the car pulled out of the parking space.

Huai Xing also walked in the designated direction, carrying her violin case.

She touched the side of her neck, where the warmth of Chu Wantang’s fingertip seemed to linger. But the solid perfume in her hand felt both hot and cold.

Hot because it was a gift from Chu Wantang, and cold for the very same reason.

She couldn’t quite remember when she had started to like Chu Wantang. Was it the night after coming to Jingcheng when Chu Wantang was the subject of her first wet dream? Or was it the day she was startled by a sudden clap of thunder and Chu Wantang held her comfortingly?

She really couldn’t remember. She only remembered the many moments when her heart had fluttered for Chu Wantang.

Like just now.

Chu Wantang was gentle and considerate.

She would soothe her when she fought with friends, take care of her when she was sick, and comfort her when she was sad…

Even on business trips, she would think of her and bring back gifts.

She had fallen into the trap Chu Wantang had unconsciously set, so easily.

But she couldn’t break free from the identity of “sister.” Otherwise, what would all of Chu Wantang’s kindness to her over the years amount to?

If her sister found out, wouldn’t it be a form of “repaying kindness with enmity”? The little sister you’ve carefully raised for years falls in love with you—isn’t that a horrifying script?

After walking for more than ten minutes, Huai Xing had composed herself.

From a distance, she saw her friends at the afternoon tea shop. Hiding all her thoughts, she put on a suitable smile, as if the pain and struggle of the past few minutes had never happened.

She and Tu Zhaoyu and the others were university schoolmates. They had all joined the school’s instrumental group and become friends.

They were gathered this time because a friend was getting married at the end of the month. None of them were bridesmaids, so they planned to practice a few pieces to perform at the wedding. Coincidentally, this afternoon tea shop had a piano.

“To think there are actually people who get married less than a year after graduating.” After eating and a few rounds of practice, during a break, Tu Zhaoyu, the pianist, couldn’t help but sigh. “Getting married at only twenty-two or twenty-three, isn’t that too early? I probably won’t get married until after I’m thirty.”

Han Ying, who played the flute, nodded. “Tell me about it. I think even getting married at twenty-five or twenty-six is early. I’ll probably be over thirty too.”

She looked at Huai Xing and asked, “What about you, Huai Xing?”

Huai Xing took a small sip of her room-temperature soda water. She looked at the still-gloomy sky, screwed the cap back on, and answered, “I’m not getting married.”

“Why? Do you think you won’t meet someone you like?” asked Lu Ling, the guitarist. “Our friend is about to get married, and we’ve never even seen you date.”

Huai Xing could only smell the fragrance from the side of her neck filling her nostrils. She pondered for a few seconds, as if the scent had disoriented her, before giving an answer different from her usual one. “Actually, I’ve already met someone. But it’s impossible.”

Tu Zhaoyu’s reaction was huge. She quickly asked, “Who, who, who?!”

“It’s a secret.” Huai Xing winked playfully, coming back to her senses. “Shall we continue practicing?”

Tu Zhaoyu rubbed her chin and said very seriously, “You’ve only been at your job for half a month and you already have a crush. Let me warn you, Comrade Xiao Xing, those male leaders and colleagues at your company are all lowlifes. What do you mean it’s impossible? Are they married? Then they’re just using their experience, qualifications, and wealth to attract you because you’re young and pretty. Don’t you fall for their tricks…”

“…” Huai Xing’s delicate brows furrowed. She denied it. “I’m not.”

But how should she put it? Although she and Chu Wantang weren’t in the same department, she still counts as a female superior, right?

Mm, and she’s unmarried, beautiful, outstanding, and charming.

Suddenly, Huai Xing remembered what Gu Rufeng had said that had made her choke and cough.

During the day… at night…

Seeing her expression, her friends exchanged a look, all of them collectively shocked—

The sky was falling!!!

Tu Zhaoyu had no choice but to use the excuse of going to the restroom to send a message to Chu Wantang: [Sister Wantang, it’s over!]

[I think Huai Xing has a crush on a married male superior at her company!!!]