Chapter 49

Zhao Tongtong wanted to cry. Every additional word from Xiao Qing turned her face a shade redder. By the end, not only was her face thoroughly flushed, but her legs had gone so weak that if Xiao Qing weren’t holding her waist, she would have slid straight to the floor.

Seeing even Tongtong’s ear tips bright red, Xiao Qing leaned down and planted a gentle kiss. Zhao Tongtong pushed at her twice, letting out a few muffled “mmphs,” but her lips were sealed by Xiao Qing’s, stifling any words. Her feeble pushes felt just like Little Kitten playfully scratching at her owner.

Xiao Qing tightened the arm around Zhao Tongtong’s waist, deepening the kiss. Tongtong’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears from the intensity, her ear tips and cheeks a vivid pink. When Xiao Qing pulled back just a little, the sight reminded her of that night—this girl really couldn’t handle teasing; even a simple kiss left her body unbelievably limp.

Leaning into Xiao Qing’s embrace, Zhao Tongtong pushed at her again. “Let go of me. This is workplace harassment. Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell someone?”

She tried to sound fierce, but with her legs kissed into jelly, her voice came out soft. To Xiao Qing, it sounded like a little milk cat coquettishly whining at her.

“Do whatever you want. What’s wrong with kissing my girlfriend?” Xiao Qing’s lips curved in a smile as she gazed at Zhao Tongtong.

“Who said I’m your girlfriend? I told you, I’m straight…” Zhao Tongtong wanted to explain her orientation further, but Xiao Qing sealed her lips completely. All thoughts in her mind dissolved into how incredibly good the kiss felt.

When Xiao Qing finally released her, Zhao Tongtong clutched the hem of her suit jacket with both hands, barely able to stand. Her eyes red-rimmed, she glared at Xiao Qing, panting as she spoke. “What are you doing? It’s still working hours, and now I have no strength left.”

Xiao Qing’s smile deepened. Her fingertips gently stroked the back of Zhao Tongtong’s neck as she chuckled softly. “Not claiming to be straight anymore?”

“Of course it’s all your fault,” Zhao Tongtong shot back, trying to sound tough. She didn’t dare repeat that she was straight, afraid it would provoke another kiss.

“Good girl. This kiss is your reward.” Xiao Qing tightened her arms, drawing her closer, and kissed Zhao Tongtong’s lips again. Only when the orange lipstick was thoroughly smudged did she let go.

“You kissed me even though I didn’t say I was straight?” Zhao Tongtong’s voice was soft and whiny, laced with a hint of grievance.

Xiao Qing leaned in to kiss the corner of her lips again, coaxing gently. “I told you, this is your reward.”

“I don’t want any of your rewards. Let go—I’m going back to work.” Zhao Tongtong pushed weakly at Xiao Qing, who simply stared at her face in silence.

“Why are you staring at me and smiling like that?”

Seeing the Little Kitten in her arms puff up in indignation, Xiao Qing smiled and said, “Do you really think you can go back to work looking like this?”

“What’s wrong with how I look? Where’s a mirror?” Zhao Tongtong figured her face was just a little flushed, nothing more.

Xiao Qing unlocked her lounge door with her fingerprint. Inside was essentially a bedroom with an attached bathroom. Worried that Zhao Tongtong couldn’t stand on her own, she half-hugged and supported her all the way to the bathroom.

One glance in the mirror made Zhao Tongtong’s legs weaken even further. Was that really her? Her eye tails and cheeks were flushed as if she’d been thoroughly bullied, and worst of all, her lipstick was a complete mess.

With Xiao Qing still standing behind her, arms around her waist, she felt even more embarrassed and pushed at her. “You go out first. I’ll touch up my makeup and then leave.”

Xiao Qing pulled her into an embrace from behind and kissed her ear tip, her voice warm and coaxing. “You’re already in here. Wouldn’t it be rude not to keep me company for a little rest?”

“It’s… it’s still working hours. I need to go back.” Zhao Tongtong reached for the tissues by the sink, but the next instant, Xiao Qing pinned her against the cool bathroom tiles. The kiss left her dazed and confused, and she didn’t even realize how she ended up lying on the bed in Xiao Qing’s lounge.

One moment Zhao Tongtong was thinking of struggling a bit more; the next, Xiao Qing’s kisses made her forget all about resistance. Her mind filled only with how good it felt.

Shen Zhirou noticed Zhao Tongtong had been gone for half the day. It was nearly noon, and she still hadn’t returned. A few unanswered WeChat messages left her a bit worried. The other girls in the office were discussing it too.

“Do you think our office is too lax? Maybe Finance wants to crack down on the company and dock our department’s year-end bonus?”

“No way. If that were the case, we’d have heard rumors by now.”

“Yeah, it’s unlikely.”

“Or maybe Tongtong offended CEO Xiao, which is why she hasn’t let her come back? Hey, Zhirou, do you know what’s going on?”

Shen Zhirou shook her head. “I’m not sure either, but it’s already noon. Let me give her a call and check.”

Shen Zhirou was getting worried about Zhao Tongtong. She tried calling several times with no answer, so she went ahead and ordered lunch for herself. While eating in the office, she kept waiting for Zhao Tongtong to show up.

Meanwhile, Zhao Tongtong had buried herself under the covers, wallowing in utter despair. How could she have lost all reason and let Xiao Qing seduce her into doing something like that right there in the company? How was she supposed to face anyone ever again? Waaah~

Xiao Qing sidled closer, coaxing her in a soft voice. “We’re both adults here. Food and sex are basic human nature—it’s perfectly normal. And I wasn’t joking before. How about we give dating a try? Let me be your girlfriend, okay?”

“No trials for me. I’m straight,” Zhao Tongtong shot back, her words stubborn even as her legs turned to jelly.

Xiao Qing’s smile deepened. She glanced at the clock on the wall and drawled, “Straight, huh? It’s noon now. Guess you won’t be heading back to work this afternoon. Want to keep going?”

Zhao Tongtong immediately caved with a whine. “Fine, not straight anymore! I have to go back this afternoon, or they’ll wonder what’s up with me. Plus, your secretary knows when I came in. If I leave later, it’ll be gossip central at the company.”

Xiao Qing scooped Zhao Tongtong into her arms and planted a tender kiss on the tip of her ear. “Let them gossip. Our company doesn’t ban office romances anyway. The sheets are soaked, and you’re still not letting me be your girlfriend? Hmm?”

Zhao Tongtong slapped a hand over Xiao Qing’s mouth and glared at her. “Shut it!”

She really felt like she’d been blind. She’d once pegged Xiao Qing as this aloof Big Devil—pah! The woman was the opposite; her dirty talk in bed was endless. Just recalling it made Zhao Tongtong’s face burn.

Seeing Zhao Tongtong bristle like an angry kitten, Xiao Qing fell silent. She kissed the palm covering her lips instead. Zhao Tongtong jerked her hand away at the warm tingle.

A pang of disappointment followed. She fixed Xiao Qing with a rare serious look. “What are you really thinking? Don’t toy with me. I want the truth.”

Her breakup wasn’t long ago. She’d figured she’d grieve for ages after all those years with Wei Xuan. But lately, he barely crossed her mind. The guy was a total sleaze anyway; she wasn’t sorry to ditch him. If anything, dodging a bullet before marriage felt like a win.

These days, though, her thoughts kept drifting to that night at the bar—and to Xiao Qing. The heartbreak? Barely a blip.

“I’m dead serious. Let’s date and see where it goes. I’ll be your girlfriend,” Xiao Qing said, leaning in to brush a gentle kiss over Zhao Tongtong’s lips, her eyes brimming with warmth.

The kiss left Zhao Tongtong flustered and defenseless. She couldn’t deny it: Xiao Qing was a master at sweet-talking, thoughtful to a fault. But they’d only known each other a short while. Could it really work? Doubt gnawed at her.

Xiao Qing seemed to sense it. “Don’t overthink. If we click, let’s try. Time will prove if we’re right for each other.”

“Tch, you sure have a way with words. I used to think you were so icy,” Zhao Tongtong mumbled, burrowing back into the covers. She had to admit, her heart was swaying.

“How else do I win you over, girlfriend?” Xiao Qing kissed her earlobe again. “Rest up, then let’s get up. I’ll have Xu Hui bring in the food she ordered.”

“I’m eating in your office too? Won’t that be weird?” Zhao Tongtong stammered, still blushing.

“What’s weird about it? They’ll find out eventually. I want to date you for real—no hiding. Unless you think I’m not worth showing off?” Xiao Qing teased, leaning closer.

“I didn’t say that. Your words, not mine—don’t regret it when word gets out…” Zhao Tongtong kept up her cute grumbling. Xiao Qing found it irresistible and kissed her deeply until she was satisfied, then pulled away to get dressed.

Mortified, Zhao Tongtong hid under the covers. She was hopeless—one kiss from Xiao Qing, and her legs and waist went weak.

Xiao Qing finished dressing, freshened her makeup in the bathroom, then returned to the bedside. She lifted the edge of the covers over Zhao Tongtong and smiled. “Need a hand?”

“No, no! Don’t peek—just wait outside. Oh, mind if I borrow your makeup to touch up?”

“Use whatever. It’s all yours if you want.”

“As if!”

Seeing she’d ruffled her Little Cat again, Xiao Qing wisely retreated. She left the lounge in high spirits, settled at her desk, and skimmed a few files.

It wasn’t until more than ten minutes later that Zhao Tongtong finally emerged from the lounge inside. Seeing her come out, Xiao Qing picked up the phone and called to her secretary Xu Hui outside. “Bring in the lunch we ordered.”

Once she hung up, Xiao Qing pulled Zhao Tongtong over to the sofa to wait for the food. The tips of Zhao Tongtong’s ears were still faintly flushed, and she felt a touch of embarrassment.

Of course Xu Hui knew that Zhao Tongtong hadn’t left Xiao Qing’s office—her own desk was right outside the door, after all. Secretaries like them might not be the best at everything else, but they had to know how to keep their mouths shut.

She soon delivered the meals. The portions were clearly meant for more than one person. After helping Xiao Qing set everything out, Xu Hui quickly slipped out of the office. On her way, she shot Zhao Tongtong a glance and noticed that the other woman’s lipstick shade had clearly changed. Earlier in the day, her lips had borne an orange-toned shade, but now they were a reddish-brown—matching CEO Xiao’s exactly.

The realization hit Xu Hui like a thunderbolt. Zhao Tongtong’s lipstick, combined with her spending the entire morning in CEO Xiao’s office… Xu Hui felt as if she’d stumbled onto some earth-shattering secret! And from the looks of it, CEO Xiao had no intention of hiding it from her.