Fresh out of YN Group, Jiang Xiaoyi let her curiosity get the better of her and doubled back. The receptionist recognized her right away. “President Meng is up in the meeting room on the twelfth floor,” she said.
Jiang Xiaoyi nodded. “Thanks.”
She rode the elevator up to the twelfth floor and paused outside the meeting room door, hesitating. Meng Chuning was free to meet whoever she wanted—was it really okay for Jiang Xiaoyi to tail her like this?
Sure, they’d just done… that. But it had been for the sake of completing the task. Meng Chuning had probably just needed it at the time, that’s all.
“…” Jiang Xiaoyi leaned against the wall and mentally screamed for System PP.
Finally, under the onslaught of her brainwaves, it popped up. 【Host? What’s up?】
Jiang Xiaoyi itched to send it a smirking emoji. 【Because of your damn task, I actually… fingered Big Boss Sister…】
System PP stifled a laugh. 【What?】
Jiang Xiaoyi swallowed the word and blurted instead, 【What do I do now? Can you stop throwing tasks like this at me? It’s not right!】
System PP: 【…】
Jiang Xiaoyi tried negotiating. 【Fine, you can make Big Boss Sister do whatever to me—anything! Just don’t make me do that to her.】
Worst of all, she’d been out of her mind in the moment, trying to please Big Boss Sister with it, even boldly promising unlimited use for a whole week. Who talks like that?
And now here she was, still scheming to meddle in Big Boss Sister’s personal business. That was even worse.
System PP: 【So you wanna be the bottom?】
Jiang Xiaoyi snapped back. 【Shut it! That’s not what I meant by “do”!】
System PP wheezed for air. 【I’m really worried I’ll never shake you off. We already did it and you’re still this dense.】
Jiang Xiaoyi: 【?】
Jiang Xiaoyi: 【I should be the one worried.】
System PP was about to pop a vein. 【Host, instead of arguing with me, why not practice your technique? Didn’t you brag it was great?】
Jiang Xiaoyi: 【Heh?】
She’d actually been mocked by a system.
System PP composed itself. 【On the plus side, your stamina’s impressive. Worthy of praise.】
Jiang Xiaoyi narrowed her eyes. 【Do you spy on me 24/7? I feel so watched.】
System PP: 【!!!】
System PP: 【Injustice! I don’t have that kind of hobby!】
Jiang Xiaoyi: 【Then how do you know everything?】
System PP: 【No comment.】
Jiang Xiaoyi: 【…】
System PP had figured it could kick back for a few days and savor the sweets. Clearly, it’d been too optimistic. Or maybe too eager. How many tasks in, and Jiang Xiaoyi was already head over heels for Meng Chuning? No way.
System PP sweetened the pot. 【Didn’t you want Meng Chuning to do you? Your wish is granted.】
Jiang Xiaoyi: 【?】
System PP: 【Punishment Task: Keep moaning for a full minute so Meng Chuning can hear—and get her to praise how good you are at it. Fail within forty-eight hours, and your entire account balance gets wiped.】
What kind of deranged punishment was this?
Kick the system, and you’d kick steel.
System PP vanished. Jiang Xiaoyi was left stunned. What had she done to deserve this?
The meeting room door swung open, and Meng Chuning emerged, accompanied by a woman in sportswear.
“You go ahead and wait for the notification,” Meng Chuning said. “Director Wu will contact you if there’s any issue.”
“Thanks, Senior Sister.” The woman in sportswear thanked her, then asked, “Chuning-senpai, could I add you on WeChat? There’s some stuff I’d like to ask you privately.”
Meng Chuning glanced at Director Wu. “Add Director Wu instead. You can ask her anything.”
“Alright.” The junior sister scanned Director Wu’s code. “See you later, Senior Sister. Bye, Director Wu.”
Once she was gone, Meng Chuning turned to Director Wu. “She’s not right for the product endorsement. Find a reason to turn her down.”
Director Wu nodded. “Got it.”
Meng Chuning pinched the bridge of her nose. “Next time someone this persistent shows up, send her to the image department for an interview first. If that doesn’t work, call security. No need to drag me into it.”
Director Wu nodded to show she understood. “Sorry, President Meng. She camped out for days—I couldn’t keep her away.”
Jiang Xiaoyi lingered in the hallway, her gaze following the junior sister. She looked familiar—probably someone she’d seen while running background roles. Those arms were ripped; she could probably bench-press two of Jiang Xiaoyi.
From overhearing Meng Chuning and Director Wu, Jiang Xiaoyi pieced it together: the junior sister had been cozying up, trying to shortcut her way into an endorsement deal.
Same bottom-rung status, but the junior sister dreamed bigger.
Still, Meng Chuning clearly didn’t like clingy types. So wouldn’t Jiang Xiaoyi, pestering her daily for tasks, come off as even clingier?
Jiang Xiaoyi winced. She’d even gotten jealous, thinking Meng Chuning was on a date with her.
“…” She was utterly speechless with herself.
Before Meng Chuning could spot her, Jiang Xiaoyi slipped into the stairwell and hurried down. She couldn’t be this clingy. They’d just seen each other—not even that long ago—and already she was creeping back. She was annoying herself.
She hustled down from the twelfth floor, panting lightly for a dozen seconds until her breathing evened out.
Not bad, actually. A decent workout, and she’d only panted for ten seconds. Unconvinced, Jiang Xiaoyi hit the hotel gym and ran lap after lap nonstop, until sweat poured off her.
She paused, hands on her knees, heaving hard a few times. Then she whipped out her phone and sent Meng Chuning a voice message.
Pressing record, she panted steadily. “Sis… let me… tell you a story.”
By the end of the sentence, her heart rate had slowed, her breaths normal. Not a hint of panting.
Jiang Xiaoyi: “?”
How was she supposed to moan for a full minute like this? Fake it?
She canceled the message. No way she could pull that off.
And as a total top, why the hell was she supposed to be the one good at moaning?!
Fuming, the total top Jiang Xiaoyi ran a few more laps—until Lu Xi called.
Still huffing, she answered. “Hello, Sister Lu Xi?”
Silence stretched a full ten seconds on the other end. “Xiaoyi, what are you doing?”
“Huh?” Jiang Xiaoyi’s breath hadn’t evened out yet.
“…” Lu Xi pulled the phone away and bellowed into it. “I told you to rest and have fun—not like this! You’re supposed to be a future superstar!”
“What are you talking about?” Jiang Xiaoyi’s breathing steadied. Then it hit her. “Oh! I was just running.”
Lu Xi went silent again, ten seconds this time. “Running, huh? Running’s great. Good for the body.”
Jiang Xiaoyi chuckled dryly. “So, what’s up? Got work for me?”
Lu Xi: “Yeah. Script’s in your email. Not a huge role, but it’s key.”
Jiang Xiaoyi pulled up her inbox and found the Want to Hear You Say script. Lu Xi had highlighted her parts—about a dozen pages.
“That’s a lot of scenes! More than anything I’ve done before.” Jiang Xiaoyi beamed. “Must mean over two weeks on set, right?”
Lu Xi laughed. “Director Zhou fought for the role. Don’t forget to thank her properly.”
“Got it!” Jiang Xiaoyi eagerly flipped through. Then, “Sister Lu Xi, what’s the pay?”
“Studio offered three hundred thousand. Still negotiating—I’ll push for more tomorrow.”
“Three hundred thousand!” Jiang Xiaoyi had never heard a quote that high. It nearly matched her account balance.
“That excited, huh?” Lu Xi tsked. “Study that script hard. Monday back at the company, three days of crash dubbing lessons. Take it seriously.”
Jiang Xiaoyi: “Yes ma’am. I’ll be there.”
Lu Xi: “Oh, and the pay from the last gig hit your account. Check it.”
Balance up eight grand—forty-nine wan total now.
After hanging up, Jiang Xiaoyi dove into the script with glee.
In Want to Hear You Say, she played a pretty voice actress.
Everyone knew CVs rarely showed their faces, but her character was a mid-tier talent in the dubbing scene, blowing up online mostly for her looks and marketing.
Jiang Xiaoyi got it. She was the foil to the heroine—hot but no skills, there to make the lead shine as both beautiful and pro. All she had to do was look good.
“…” Jiang Xiaoyi touched her face. Being valued for her looks didn’t feel half bad.
But… just the looks.
Did Director Zhou Yiyan think the same? Was that why she’d recommended a role so perfect for her?
Back at the hotel, she showered and spent hours on the living room couch finishing the script.
Halfway through, she realized it was past midnight. Lights still burned at the YN branch across the way. Was Meng Chuning still working?
Sleepless, Jiang Xiaoyi powered through to the end.
Two episodes featured her character going viral for a steamy moaning segment—despite lacking the heroine’s skills. Worst, the script specifically noted recording two backup moan takes.
Perfect. Moaning it was.
Jiang Xiaoyi steeled herself. “From now on, I’m the best damn moaner there—”
The suite door beeped open. Meng Chuning stood in the entryway, frowning curiously at her. “Xiaoyi, what were you just saying?”
“…” Jiang Xiaoyi clamped her lips shut and shook her head.
Meng Chuning had set her up in a two-bedroom suite. Jiang Xiaoyi’s room was left of the entry; Meng Chuning’s was on the other side.
The living room was shared, so Meng Chuning could see her right away—cross-legged on the couch, cheeks flushed.
Jiang Xiaoyi closed the script and checked the time, shocked. “Sis, you’re back super late.”
It was already one a.m.—really late. And Jiang Xiaoyi was still up. Waiting for her?
Meng Chuning swapped into comfy slippers and padded over. Her eyes caught the black lace hanging on the balcony.
She bit her lip. Jiang Xiaoyi had really washed it clean.
Not just the panties—her skirt was there too, spotless. Next to it hung Jiang Xiaoyi’s still-damp white dress shirt.
A night breeze stirred, sending the shirt’s sleeves dancing against the skirt.
“…” Meng Chuning tore her heated gaze away. Her chest swelled with fulfillment, but the ache from the office lingered, growing emptier.
Jiang Xiaoyi stood. “Sis, shower and hit the hay. It’s late.”
Meng Chuning looked beat. Still buried in branch work?
Meng Chuning steadied her breathing. “Yeah, in a bit.”
“Then I’m off to bed.” Jiang Xiaoyi grabbed the script from the couch, headed to her room, and shut the door.
Meng Chuning: “?”
Just like that.
“…” Meng Chuning sank onto the couch, staring at Jiang Xiaoyi’s door. She replayed the last few days.
After parting at Lovers’ Water Bay, Meng Chuning hadn’t mentioned her weeklong business trip. What would have been the point? Jiang Xiaoyi probably wouldn’t have cared anyway.
During those five days in City B, Meng Chuning was so busy she felt dizzy-headed. Countless times, she wanted to contact Jiang Xiaoyi but held herself back, worried that Jiang Xiaoyi might think she was being clingy. Even though Jiang Xiaoyi had said she wouldn’t ignore her, Meng Chuning hadn’t received a single message.
Just when Meng Chuning had given up hope and planned to reach out first, Jiang Xiaoyi actually chased after her. She said some intoxicating words that left Meng Chuning reeling, and in the end, kept her pinned in the office for a full two hours.
Looking back on it now, it all felt utterly wild. Meng Chuning still hadn’t quite recovered. She wanted to wrap up her work quickly so she could continue cuddling with Jiang Xiaoyi—maybe even hear a confession straight from her lips.
But after they got back, they hadn’t exchanged more than a few words before Jiang Xiaoyi left her alone and retreated to her room to sleep.
Meng Chuning felt utterly depressed, with no idea what was going through Jiang Xiaoyi’s head.
Suddenly, the door swung open. Jiang Xiaoyi stepped out wearing soft, fluffy pajamas. Her hair looked tousled, as if it had been thoroughly rumpled.
“Sister…” Jiang Xiaoyi bit her lower lip lightly, her expression hesitant, like she had something on the tip of her tongue.
Light gradually bloomed in Meng Chuning’s eyes. Jiang Xiaoyi’s fidgeting meant she had words to say. A confession, perhaps…?
“What’s… up?” Meng Chuning asked, a flicker of anticipation in her voice.
Jiang Xiaoyi dragged her feet as she approached, her cheeks growing hot. “Sister, I want to tell you…”
Meng Chuning tensed a little. “Tell me… what?”
Summoning her courage with a deep breath, Jiang Xiaoyi licked her lips and said, “I like puppies—woof woof woof…”
Meng Chuning blinked. “?”
She likes puppies?
Jiang Xiaoyi nibbled her lip again. “I like kittens—meow meow meow…”
Meng Chuning’s brows furrowed slightly.
She likes kittens?
Jiang Xiaoyi squeezed her eyes shut. “I like Sister—mmm~ ah~ ha~”
Meng Chuning held her breath. “…”
The trailing mmm~ ah~ ha~ was identical to the involuntary sounds that had escaped her throat back in the office when she couldn’t hold back anymore.
“Xiaoyi, you…” Meng Chuning’s face grew warm. Was Jiang Xiaoyi saying she liked hearing her moan? Imitating her moans as a hint? But this hint was a bit too blatant, wasn’t it?
Jiang Xiaoyi drew out the final mmm~ ah~ ha~, repeating it three full times. Only ten seconds had passed.
Her feigned panting grew stiffer and more strained. Ashamed, she dropped her gaze to Meng Chuning.
Big Boss Sister’s cheeks flushed a soft pink, her eyes shifting from confusion to shy embarrassment.
Jiang Xiaoyi felt a spark of hope. Sister must like the way she was moaning—that had to be it.
Jiang Xiaoyi kept up the pinched-voice mmm~ ah~ ha~, watching the second hand crawl along. She’d never realized a single minute could drag on so endlessly.
“…” Meng Chuning’s eardrums buzzed from the sound. She stood up and clapped a hand over Jiang Xiaoyi’s lips. “Stop imitating me…”
The relentless mmm~ ah~ ha~ cut off abruptly. Jiang Xiaoyi’s throat itched from all the panting, but with her lips covered, she could only swallow it down.
What did Sister mean by that? Why tell her to stop? Was her imitation that bad—too unbearable to listen to?
Meng Chuning released her hold and gently rubbed Jiang Xiaoyi’s lips with her fingertip. “Tonight, I can moan for you to hear.”
Jiang Xiaoyi’s eyes widened in confusion. “Wha…t?”
“Didn’t you say you like Sister’s mmm~ ah~ ha~?” Meng Chuning pinched her finger playfully. “Though it’ll be hard on you.”
!!!
It was a total misunderstanding—she hadn’t meant it like that at all.
“No, Sister…” Jiang Xiaoyi bit the tip of her tongue, stumbling over her words. There were so many ways to do this, so why had she picked the one most open to misinterpretation?
Meng Chuning had never heard anyone confess like that before, but she found it oddly charming.
With a light chuckle, Meng Chuning said, “Xiaoyi, I’m going to take a shower first.”
“Okay, okay—go ahead, Sister!” Jiang Xiaoyi wanted nothing more than to bolt back to her room, rethink her approach to the task, and make sure Sister didn’t misunderstand any further.
Meng Chuning’s voice turned soft and lingering. “Xiaoyi… go wait for me on the bed first.”
Jiang Xiaoyi froze mid-escape. After a long pause, she turned back toward the bathroom to explain. “Sister, I…”
Meng Chuning’s skirt was already half off, revealing the smooth, pale expanse of her back. A delicate white lace bra was all that remained, hugging her graceful curves.
“Sorry, Sister—I thought you hadn’t started undressing yet…” Jiang Xiaoyi slapped a hand over her face. Why hadn’t Sister closed the bathroom door?
As Jiang Xiaoyi started to back away, a pair of fair, slender hands wrapped around her waist, tugging her deeper into the bathroom.
In the blink of an eye, the door clicked shut. Jiang Xiaoyi’s back pressed against the cold glass.
Meng Chuning stepped closer. “The bathroom works too—the sound effects will be even better.”
“That’s not what I meant!” Jiang Xiaoyi’s eyes were squeezed shut, her lashes quivering. She could feel Meng Chuning drawing nearer. Was Sister naked? Jiang Xiaoyi stretched out one hand to create some distance while her other pushed at the door.
“Sister, wait—let me go out first…”
The moment the words left her mouth, Meng Chuning seized her raised wrist and guided her hand forward. Jiang Xiaoyi’s palm closed around something soft and yielding.
“Xiaoyi…” Meng Chuning let out a soft mmm.
Jiang Xiaoyi went rigid, her face burning crimson. “…”
The sensation felt strangely familiar.
