Chapter 49: Celebrating the Task

Caught off guard by Jiang Xiaoyi’s words about it being tight, Meng Chuning’s entire body trembled even harder, as if a single sentence from Xiaoyi could send her straight over the edge.

“Xiaoyi…” Meng Chuning turned her face slightly toward her and invited softly, “Why don’t you give it a try and see if it’s really that tight?”

Jiang Xiaoyi buried her face in the crook of Meng Chuning’s neck, too embarrassed to lift it. “I just wanted to help you relax a bit, not… not try it out…”

Her soft, shy tone was so endearing that Meng Chuning chuckled lightly, her shoulders shaking with small tremors. “I want to try it.”

“…”

Jiang Xiaoyi fiddled with the Little Butterfly before easing it in, only to feel Meng Chuning deliberately clench and laugh, tightening her lower abdomen.

“Sister…” Trapped in place by the sensation, Jiang Xiaoyi watched as Meng Chuning leaned back against her, taking it all in with a teasing smile. “Do you have to be on set tomorrow morning?”

“No need.” Jiang Xiaoyi was completely at her mercy now, with Meng Chuning dictating the pace—rising and falling, swallowing it deep before pulling away, over and over.

Outside the window, the sky gradually lightened. Jiang Xiaoyi gripped Meng Chuning’s waist, holding her still. “Sister, let me take over.”

Meng Chuning collapsed onto the pillow, her cheeks flushed and damp, her whole body limp and soft. She had no choice but to surrender control to Jiang Xiaoyi.

Pressing down from behind, Jiang Xiaoyi freed one hand to turn off the comedy audio that was still playing, finally feeling the tension ease.

All night long, Meng Chuning had moaned and laughed, exhausting herself until her voice grew hoarse. In her hazy drowsiness, she felt Jiang Xiaoyi’s gentle soothing touches.

The next morning, when Meng Chuning woke, faint light filtered through the curtains, hinting at the beautiful day outside.

“Xiaoyi…” Instinctively, Meng Chuning reached out with her hand toward the edge of the bed. She found no one there, and the sheets were cool—no warmth left behind. It seemed Jiang Xiaoyi had been up for quite a while.

Meng Chuning opened her eyes and sat up. She was wearing a sleep shirt, and the sticky feeling on her body was gone. Jiang Xiaoyi must have cooked breakfast and even wiped her down. How deeply had she slept last night? She couldn’t remember a thing.

“Xiaoyi.” Meng Chuning slid out of bed, pressing a hand to her sore waist before calling out lightly as she headed downstairs. “Xiaoyi, did you help me bathe last night?”

No one answered. Where had Jiang Xiaoyi gone? Hadn’t she said there was no need to head to the set this morning?

Meng Fanyu emerged from a room, cradling Little Dumpling in her arms. “Chuning, you’re awake?”

“Sis?” Meng Chuning cleared her throat. “When did you get back?”

“I came back this morning.” Meng Fanyu asked, “Were you looking for Xiaoyi? I ran into her heading out right as I arrived.”

“She left first thing?” Meng Chuning wondered if Jiang Xiaoyi hadn’t slept at all last night. Did she have something urgent to attend to so early?

After sharing all those things with Jiang Xiaoyi last night, had she put too much pressure on her? Or maybe Xiaoyi thought her desires were too intense and got scared off.

Meng Chuning frowned, raking a hand through her hair. Had she gone too far last night? Did Xiaoyi dislike her acting that way? What if she’d just up and left?

“Chuning, what’s wrong?” Meng Fanyu looked at her troubled expression with concern. “Did something happen between you and Xiaoyi?”

Meng Chuning shook her head. “It’s nothing, Sis. I’ll go wash up first.”

“Oh, right—Chuning, did you see the hot searches from this morning?” Meng Fanyu asked cautiously.

Meng Chuning paused. “What hot searches?”

Meng Fanyu showed her the screenshots. “I spotted them on Weibo when I got back this morning, but YN Group’s PR team took them down pretty quickly. Still, plenty of people must have seen them.”

LP’s New Designer Yan Shan Teams Up Perfectly with YN Group President Meng Chuning#

Yan Shan and Meng Chuning’s Compatibility Level#

Meng Chuning Holding Hands with C-List Actress Jiang Xiaoyi#

Jiang Xiaoyi Living Off a Woman#

The attached images included a photo of the three of them before the LP Banquet last night, one of Yan Shan gazing wistfully at Meng Chuning’s back, and another of Meng Chuning and Jiang Xiaoyi hand in hand.

Staring at these glaring gossip headlines, Meng Chuning’s frown deepened. “Sis, I need to head to the company.”

She’d turned her phone off last night, and now, powering it on, she saw a flood of missed calls—including a few from familiar tabloid reporters, probably trying to negotiate a deal that never went through.

Meng Chuning didn’t care about being photographed herself; she wished her relationship with Jiang Xiaoyi could go public. But she couldn’t be sure Xiaoyi felt the same upon seeing all this.

At YN Group’s office floor.

Meng Chuning had just stepped out of the elevator when Shen Ling hurried over. “Chairman Meng looks pretty angry.”

Shen Ling had jumped for joy upon seeing the hot searches, but her excitement faded fast when the comments were all slamming Jiang Xiaoyi for living off a woman. Where did these netizens get off saying that?

PR had panicked first thing in the morning upon spotting their president’s entertainment gossip and scrambled to pull the searches. Unfortunately, they spread too quickly—people had already screenshotted and saved them.

Shen Ling said worriedly, “President Meng, the LP Banquet only invited media we have good relations with. How did they leak your gossip story?”

Meng Chuning found it odd too. “Shen Ling, have PR investigate which outlet posted it first.”

Shen Ling nodded. “Right away.”

Meng Chuning knocked on Meng Qinglan’s office door. She heard Meng Qinglan say, “Come in.”

Pushing the door open, she saw someone else inside. “I’ll come back later.”

“Come in, Chuning.” Meng Qinglan glanced coolly at the middle-aged woman before her. “Whatever you have to say, you can say it in front of Chuning.”

The middle-aged woman beamed. “Qinglan, come on. Isn’t Chuning your daughter? Don’t tell me you can’t make decisions for her.”

“…”

The woman approached with a smile. “You must be Chuning. Your mom and I have been friends for over a decade. Do you remember me?”

Meng Chuning stepped back a few paces. “I don’t know you.”

The woman’s smile faltered for a moment. “That’s fine, Chuning. You don’t know me, but you know Yan Shan. I’m her mother.”

Meng Chuning furrowed her brow. What was Yan Shan’s mother doing here talking to Meng Qinglan?

Meng Qinglan rubbed her temple. The morning hot searches had already soured her mood, and now this woman was giving her a headache.

“Here’s the thing, Chuning. Yan Shan really likes you, and you’re both around the same age. Our families know each other well inside and out, so we thought we’d make a match between you two.” Yan Shan’s mother couldn’t hide her glee. “Chuning, Auntie knows you’re a good girl. Whatever’s going on with that Jiang Xiaoyi is just baseless rumor. Our family doesn’t mind.”

Meng Chuning glanced at Meng Qinglan. “Mom, you agreed to this?”

Yan Shan’s mother chuckled. “You and Yan Shan are such a perfect match. Our families are equals, and I’m friends with your mom…”

“Not anymore.” Meng Qinglan looked at her. “You can leave now.”

Yan Shan’s mother’s smile froze on her lips. “Qinglan, what do you mean? If Yan Shan and Chuning get closer, those online rumors will fall apart on their own. I’m thinking of your company’s reputation too.”

“My Yan Shan is definitely better than that Jiang Xiaoyi. Besides, does YN Group really want to be known for getting leeched off?” Yan Shan’s mother laughed even wider, her tone brimming with the joy of an impending alliance between their families.

Who wouldn’t want to marry into YN Group? She’d seized the moment the news broke and come straight over to propose. Meng Qinglan had no reason to refuse outright—maybe she’d even be grateful.

Meng Chuning was about to snap at the grating words when Meng Qinglan stood, her face ashen. “We’ll handle company matters ourselves. No need for your concern. Leave now, or I’ll call security.”

Yan Shan’s mother was stunned. “Qinglan, think about what I said. I’ll give you time to consider.”

Meng Qinglan had reached her limit. “Do you not understand plain speech? Get out.”

“You!” Yan Shan’s mother’s face flushed purple with anger. Sure, they had mutual friends, but how could Meng Qinglan give her no face at all? Still, she didn’t dare truly offend her. Forcing a smile, she turned and left.

With the office door closed again, Meng Chuning gently hugged Meng Qinglan’s arm. “Mom, that was so cool. I thought you might not be on my side.”

Meng Chuning rarely acted coquettish with Meng Qinglan, especially during those years abroad when she hardly ever called home. Meng Qinglan looked down at her, eyes lowered. “Is that the image you have of me?”

“No, Mom.” Meng Chuning pressed her cheek to Meng Qinglan’s arm, tilting her face up with reddening eyes.

Meng Qinglan hated being threatened, so she’d shot down Yan Shan’s mother the moment she suggested Meng Chuning date Yan Shan to quash the YN Group president’s scandal.

In the year since Meng Chuning returned, plenty of board members had come forward with marriage proposals to strengthen the group, but she’d refused them all. This was the first time someone had tried to opportunistically leverage a crisis, and the nerve to say they didn’t mind—ridiculous. Meng Qinglan could only scoff inwardly.

Though Meng Qinglan didn’t particularly like Jiang Xiaoyi, she loathed Yan Shan’s mother even more for belittling the Meng family and treating her daughter’s marriage like a transaction. If the woman had kept talking, Meng Qinglan might have slapped her.

Meng Qinglan looked at Meng Chuning. “You and Jiang Xiaoyi were at Lovers’ Water Bay last night?”

“Yes.” Meng Chuning nodded. “Blame me if you want. I was the one who brought Xiaoyi back.”

Meng Qinglan eyed her. “You sure know how to take responsibility. Protecting her that much?”

Meng Chuning nodded. “Mom, I really like Xiaoyi. Could you try getting to know her?”

“I’d like to.” Meng Qinglan was still fuming. “She causes a huge scandal and then vanishes? Not even as proactive as Yan Shan’s mother.”

“She wouldn’t,” Meng Chuning countered.

Shen Ling knocked and entered. “Chairman Meng, I just saw Jiang Xiaoyi downstairs.”

Meng Qinglan looked up at the news. Jiang Xiaoyi was actually here.

“Xiaoyi’s here?”

Meng Chuning yanked the door open and bolted out, heart pounding as she rode the elevator down. Would Xiaoyi be scared off by the online gossip? Did she know about Meng Chuning’s high school crush and feel too pressured to stay together?

Bursting out of YN Group, Meng Chuning spotted Jiang Xiaoyi standing on the steps, head bowed.

“Xiaoyi!”

Jiang Xiaoyi turned around. A warm, soft warmth rushed into her arms—wait, it was Meng Chuning throwing herself into her embrace. Jiang Xiaoyi steadied her just in time.

Meng Chuning wrapped her arms around Jiang Xiaoyi’s waist. “Why did you leave without a word?”

Jiang Xiaoyi’s hands settled securely around her before she could even speak.

Tears welling in her eyes, Meng Chuning launched into accusations. “Why do you always tease me and then run off? Do you think I’m not gentle or cute enough?”

“Or do you feel pressured being with me? Don’t you like me anymore?” Meng Chuning peppered her with questions in a rush, terrified Xiaoyi might be dissatisfied.

“I don’t, Sister.” Jiang Xiaoyi’s face flushed as she spoke. “I sent you a message.”

As for always teasing and leaving before, that had been her fault. But not today—she had serious business to handle.

Jiang Xiaoyi had only just completed the mission that System PP issued that very morning. She was about to lie down comfortably for a nap when a Weibo push notification popped up with news mentioning her name. She tapped it open, and after reading it, sleep was the last thing on her mind. The gossip article accused her of mooching off Meng Chuning—that was one thing—but it went further, claiming Yan Shan would be a far better match for Meng Chuning. That crossed the line. Bright and early, Jiang Xiaoyi switched to her burner account and started arguing with the netizens.

System PP, ever indulgent toward Meng Chuning, suddenly chimed in. 【Host, I’ve got the missions for the next week all planned out.】

【Shut your mouth and stay out of trouble,】 Jiang Xiaoyi shot back.

But System PP wouldn’t let it go. 【Sofa session today, bathroom tomorrow, office the day after…】

【…】

Did System PP ever act seriously?

“Xiaoyi…” The woman who had been standing nearby for quite some time finally spoke up, her hand covering her eyes. “Are you two done hugging yet?”

Jiang Xiaoyi patted Meng Chuning’s back. “Sister, hold on just a second.”

Meng Chuning hadn’t noticed her earlier, but now she did. “Aunt Jiang?”

Jiang Meilian lowered her hand in delighted surprise. “You recognize me?”

“Of course I do,” Meng Chuning said with a smile. “I saw you plenty of times back when I was at No. 1 High School.”

“I remember now,” Jiang Meilian replied, her laughter hearty and warm. “Xiaoyi gave you a pineapple back then, didn’t she? So you two were fated all along.”

Jiang Xiaoyi felt a pang of guilt. “Mom, your memory is incredible. You even remember that.”

Meng Chuning reached out and gave Jiang Xiaoyi’s waist a playful pinch, grinning. “Aunt Jiang’s memory is way better than yours, Xiaoyi.”

Jiang Xiaoyi trailed off. “…”

Delighted to see how well the two women got along, Jiang Xiaoyi ventured, “Is Director Meng around? Could I go up to see her?”

“She’s in her office,” Meng Chuning replied.

Jiang Meilian had visited YN Group a few times for business dealings and knew the office floor reasonably well. “In that case, I’ll head up first.”

With a deep breath, Jiang Meilian strode inside purposefully.

Meng Chuning turned to Jiang Xiaoyi, puzzled. “Xiaoyi, what’s Aunt Jiang want with my mom?”

Jiang Xiaoyi flushed with embarrassment. “She’s here to talk about us.”

“About us?!” Meng Chuning’s eyes widened in surprise.

Jiang Xiaoyi nodded. “Mom called me the second she saw the hot search news. I got up early to pick her up, and on the drive over, I told her everything about us. So…”

Meng Chuning smiled. “So Aunt Jiang’s come to propose on our behalf?”

That was exactly Jiang Meilian’s intention. Jiang Xiaoyi had mentioned that Meng Chuning’s mother wasn’t on board yet, but her mother believed they should state their position clearly first—and Jiang Xiaoyi had agreed.

Once the gossip from the hot search blew up, the peanut gallery was convinced Jiang Xiaoyi had designs on Meng Chuning. After all, a no-name actress like her must be scheming to climb the social ladder by mooching off her.

Jiang Xiaoyi gazed at Meng Chuning earnestly. “Sister, aren’t you worried I’m just after your money?”

“I wish you were,” Meng Chuning said, puffing out her cheeks. “Come on, mooch off me all you want, Xiaoyi.”

“Who asks like that?” Amused and exasperated, Jiang Xiaoyi leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “Sister, will you be with me?”

Meng Chuning’s lips tingled from the contact, leaving her momentarily stunned.

“But your mom might not approve,” Jiang Xiaoyi continued in a quiet voice. “I just want you to know I won’t run away. I’ll work hard to win her over. I’ll get a real job, make good money—I promise I won’t mooch off you. And people on the outside might not support us. If you choose me, YN Group could face some backlash…”

Jiang Xiaoyi laid out every concern she could think of. “Sister, take your time to think it over. Make sure before you decide.”

Meng Chuning stood on the steps, bringing her eyes level with Jiang Xiaoyi’s. A sheen of moisture glistened in her gaze.

Jiang Xiaoyi met her eyes steadily, and Meng Chuning couldn’t hold back any longer. “Come to the office with me.”

“Okay.” Hand in hand, Meng Chuning led Jiang Xiaoyi into the elevator. Employees they passed gawked with wide eyes. Only once they were inside the office with the door locked did the curious stares fade away.

Meng Chuning guided her to the sofa. “Sit down first.”

The atmosphere grew inexplicably tense. Jiang Xiaoyi perched awkwardly on the edge of the cushion, wondering if Meng Chuning had weighed the pros and cons and decided the downsides were too steep—that she didn’t want to go through with it after all.

Lost in her thoughts, Jiang Xiaoyi barely registered Meng Chuning until she swung a leg over and straddled her lap face-to-face. Her professional skirt rode up almost entirely, baring her pale thighs as they clamped around Jiang Xiaoyi’s waist.

“Sister…” Jiang Xiaoyi whispered, hearing the footsteps of passing employees outside. “We’re still at work.”

“Xiaoyi, that backlash you mentioned? It’s nothing to me. YN Group’s weathered far worse storms than this and come out thriving.” Meng Chuning spoke reassuringly, like a soothing balm. “Besides, my mom actually values my feelings a lot. If she doesn’t agree now, it doesn’t mean she never will.”

She pinched Jiang Xiaoyi’s chin. “So there’s nothing for me to consider. I want to be with you—right now.”

Jiang Xiaoyi fell silent, absorbing her words. Meng Chuning leaned in for another kiss. “Xiaoyi, do you like me?”

Jiang Xiaoyi’s heart turned utterly to mush. “I like you, Sister.”

“I’ll like you more with every passing day,” she added solemnly. She didn’t want Meng Chuning doubting her sincerity or thinking her feelings fell short, so she made the promise with utmost gravity, hoping it would put her at ease.

“Xiaoyi…” Meng Chuning hadn’t expected such words. She’d only wanted confirmation of Jiang Xiaoyi’s affection, but now emotion welled up, stinging her nose.

Seeing Meng Chuning’s eyes redden again, Jiang Xiaoyi panicked. “Sister, please don’t cry.”

“Mm…” With her eyes rimmed red, Meng Chuning closed them as Jiang Xiaoyi kissed the corner tenderly. “Sister, how come you cry so easily?”

A wave of warmth spread over her eyelids. Jiang Xiaoyi trailed kisses down to her cheek, then her nose, and finally her lips.

Meng Chuning melted under the affection, humming softly as she took Jiang Xiaoyi’s hand and guided it toward the soft skin of her inner thigh.

Jiang Xiaoyi’s fingers brushed slick warmth, but she clasped Meng Chuning’s hand instead. “Sister, let’s just sit like this for a bit. Nothing more.”

“Ah?” Meng Chuning wriggled in her lap. “Xiaoyi…”

“Don’t rub against me, Sister.” Jiang Xiaoyi steadied her waist to still her movements. “Your… down there’s still swollen.”

Meng Chuning’s pulse quickened. “You saw?”

Jiang Xiaoyi murmured a slow affirmative. “And I put medicine on it.”

“Ah… I must’ve gone too far last night.” Meng Chuning buried her face in Jiang Xiaoyi’s neck. “Did you… not like it?”

“I loved it,” Jiang Xiaoyi murmured, lips brushing the pale curve of her neck in praise. “Sister, you grip so perfectly.”

System PP, thoroughly flustered, piped up. 【Time for a celebration reward mission: Host, drink more hot water.】

Jiang Xiaoyi coughed lightly. 【I can handle that myself. No need for reminders.】

【Got it, got it.】 System PP chuckled. 【Just remember to get your face clamped and head pressed down while you drink.】

【…】

Blushing furiously, Jiang Xiaoyi suspected. 【How did you know that’s exactly how I want to drink it?】