However, Han Xuan didn’t have to wait until evening to see Chu Susu again.
At that moment, the art team had just wrapped up a day of exchange and study sessions. As expected, they went ahead with a group dinner, and there was an unfamiliar face at the table who clearly didn’t belong to the team.
The team leader patted Chu Susu’s shoulder and introduced her to everyone: “This is Susu, who’s in charge of the MC project from upstairs and downstairs. Not sure if you all know her.”
The team members exchanged glances, all showing puzzled expressions.
Susu? Could it be that…
Most people rarely interacted with Chu Susu on a daily basis since they were in different departments, so they had no idea who she was.
But not long ago, there had been a shocking incident. The company had even revised its regulations because of it, and everyone had received plenty of documents from above. They’d all gossiped about it privately, so naturally, they had some impression of that name.
—Rumor had it that the head of the upstairs project team had gone all out and hired a thug to kill a colleague!
And Chu Susu seemed to be the name of that victim.
The team leader cleared his throat lightly, signaling them not to speak carelessly and embarrass Chu Susu: “Alright, alright, no need to be strangers. We’re all colleagues. She just happened to be on a business trip here, so she’s eating with us.”
Everyone knew full well that she had only just recovered from a serious illness—where did this “business trip” come from? But they all saw through it without saying anything, their expressions varied as they sized her up with curious gazes.
Chu Susu, however, didn’t pay it any mind.
She and the team leader had both been at the company for a few years, and they got along decently. She knew he wouldn’t bring up something unnecessary. As for the others, she couldn’t be bothered with what they were thinking. Let them gossip if they wanted.
Chu Susu sat down directly across from Han Xuan, with that colleague Tan Qian—who had just lied about a stomachache to trick someone upstairs—sitting beside her.
Seeing the two of them face to face, Tan Qian finally lowered her head sheepishly and said to Han Xuan,
“Sorry about noon… Susu said she had something to find you for, to give you a surprise, so…”
Han Xuan shook her head, indicating it was fine.
Chu Susu smiled and cut in: “She’s not the petty type anyway. In the end, it was my idea. Let me order you two a drink.”
“Hey, can you even drink? Isn’t your health…”
Tan Qian asked subconsciously, then realized she’d said the wrong thing and reflexively covered her mouth, catching a quick glance from the team leader.
“It’s fine, no need to be so sensitive.”
After all, Chu Susu wasn’t the one at fault here—there was nothing she couldn’t address openly, so she continued straightforwardly:
“But you’re right. The doctor did tell me not to drink, so I’ll just order for you two.”
Seeing how candid she was, the team leader didn’t say anything more, and the others around them relaxed a bit too.
After the server came to confirm the orders and brought the drinks, they all leaned in. No one knew who started it, but someone tentatively opened the conversation: “I heard that Jack’s already been fired by the company?”
Before Chu Susu could even speak, someone beside her replied with a speechless look: “What else? The cops already arrested him. You think the company would keep him?”
The questioner realized how dumb that sounded and shut up awkwardly.
Someone else asked: “I heard he hired some underworld killer to go after you—is that true?”
At those keywords, a few of the more timid ones got scared right away: “A killer? That terrifying?”
Seeing their frightened looks, Chu Susu’s first instinct was to glance at Han Xuan, only to meet a calm expression.
She quickly realized—how could Han Xuan be scared? Back then, she had personally subdued that thug.
Even knowing she wasn’t as fragile as she appeared, Chu Susu couldn’t help but still see her as that little lamb.
“It’s not that exaggerated—just a desperate thug,” she explained breezily. “Private gossip is only half-true at best. Don’t believe it all.”
“So you weren’t beaten until your head split open and nearly paralyzed from the waist down?”
Chu Susu nearly burst out laughing at that and countered: “…Do I look half-paralyzed to you right now?”
The crowd came to a sudden realization: “Exactly! If it was really like the rumors, things would’ve been way more serious. So, how did you get saved back then?”
On this question, Chu Susu couldn’t help but glance at Han Xuan again.
The police naturally wouldn’t share every detail of the case with the company, and Han Xuan hadn’t mentioned anything either. So despite all the gossip these people had eaten up, they didn’t even know this most crucial bit.
She smiled: “Han Xuan saved me.”
“Huh?”
The others knew they knew each other but had no idea about this connection, so they shot suspicious looks over.
Han Xuan looked so delicate and frail—no one could imagine her saving someone from a vicious thug. Was Chu Susu joking?
“Really?”
“It’s true,” she continued. “She happened to be looking for me at the time, called but couldn’t get through, and then…”
Chu Susu was speaking when she suddenly paused.
Under the table, out of sight, a soft, dainty foot suddenly brushed lightly against her.
She glanced down and saw that foot had slipped out of its boot, clad in a clean white sock, teasing at her ankle.
The black boot set aside nearby looked very familiar—it was the pair she’d bought for Han Xuan’s birthday not long ago.
The others didn’t notice these details and just thought she was building suspense, urging her on: “And then what? Come on, tell us!”
An itchy sensation spread through her, surging across her whole body.
Chu Susu took a deep breath, looking at Han Xuan’s cheeks already flushed with a drunken glow, suddenly a bit distracted:
“And then… she called the police.”
Considering Han Xuan couldn’t hold her liquor, Chu Susu had ordered plum wine earlier—very low alcohol content, refreshing taste, perfect for sipping.
But unexpectedly, in just a short while, taking advantage of a moment of inattention, she’d drained the glass completely.
Now she was already tipsy.
Han Xuan’s eyes swayed like rippling water, on the verge of stirring waves yet filled with scattered stars, sparkling brightly.
“Really?” The others were all very surprised. “What a coincidence? Right when you were in danger?”
“…Yeah, thanks to her. That’s how the police were able to find me so quickly.”
Chu Susu answered offhandedly, not even paying attention to her own words.
Her gaze was fixed only on Han Xuan.
That little lamb listened intently to her words, giving a shy smile before shaking her head modestly.
On the surface, she looked so obedient, but that foot in the white sock suddenly moved, sliding up along her calf.
The teasing touch, faint yet insistent, had already plucked at the string in Chu Susu’s heart, stirring it to restlessness.
She wasn’t into secret flirting in front of others, but once in a while, it was particularly thrilling.
They kept chatting about other things on the surface, but what they were really doing? Only the two of them knew.
Like spring waters surging, quietly submerging their forms.
But unexpectedly, the other’s movements grew even bolder. Seeing no resistance from Chu Susu, it daringly shifted toward…
A place she never let anyone else take control of.
Under her skirt.
Chu Susu instantly frowned and nudged back warningly with her knee, unwilling to let her territory be invaded.
“That really was too close a call. Without Han Xuan, who knows what might’ve happened.”
It was the team leader’s first time hearing the specifics too, so he sighed and teased: “Susu, shouldn’t you thank Han Xuan properly for that?”
Han Xuan sat there silently with pursed lips. Chu Susu gave her a look, and a vague, indescribable desire welled up from deep inside—impossible to suppress no matter what.
Like a cluster of flames, burning restlessly.
“Of course.”
She parted her lips slowly, then stood up under everyone’s gazes, suddenly grabbing Han Xuan’s wrist without allowing refusal. With a half-smile, her voice soft:
“Sorry everyone, she gets out of hand when she’s drunk. I’ll take her to sober up.”
Han Xuan let herself be pulled along without resisting, her eyes hazy and unfocused. After roughly slipping her shoe back on, she stumbled and leaned against her side.
Anyone looking would think she was drunk.
“That’s fine, that’s fine.” The team leader nodded. “How’s this kid’s tolerance so bad? Get some good rest.”
Chu Susu said nothing more and directly dragged Han Xuan out of the restaurant.
The place was right downstairs from the hotel, so they could easily return to the room via elevator.
After being pulled along all the way, once they entered the elevator, Han Xuan finally came back to herself a little and called out hazily, seeming a bit scared:
“Susu…”
There was no one else in the elevator—whatever was said could only be heard by the other.
“Where are you taking me?”
“What do you think?”
Han Xuan bit her lip and couldn’t help shrinking back.
Chu Susu turned to eye her: “Weren’t you pretty bold just now?”
“I…”
The elevator doors opened, and Chu Susu didn’t listen to any more, pulling her straight out, swiping the card to enter the room.
The longer the time passed, the faster the alcohol spread through her body.
Han Xuan dazedly flopped onto the bed, watching the face draw closer and closer, her heart pounding like a drum.
Chu Susu blinked lightly, her brows threaded with seductive charm, accompanied by a faint perfume scent.
“Where did you want to rub just now, hmm?”
She murmured lowly, then leaned down and grabbed that disobedient foot.
“I…” Han Xuan yielded weakly, letting her take control. “Can’t I?”
Chu Susu stared into her eyes, gazing at the faint purple haze within. “No.”
“Why?”
“No reason.”
It was simply that she didn’t want to let anyone else take control of her. Controlling others was the true pleasure, wasn’t it?
Moreover, the person before her was drunk beyond reason, her clumsy attempt at seduction clearly that of a tempting dessert.
Han Xuan lowered her head and said nothing. Moments later, she suddenly spread open her left hand in front of Chu Susu.
Nestled quietly in her palm was a thin, rectangular little gadget, its surface dotted with a circle of small round bumps.
Chu Susu’s eyes gleamed with even greater interest.
She had even prepared this?
She watched as Han Xuan pinched the small square between her fingers, her expression still reserved and subtle. Then, she bit down on it with her mouth and slowly tore open the plastic packaging, revealing what was inside.
Chu Susu had originally planned to take a shower first, but since she had already brought it out, she went with the flow and extended her own right hand.
Unexpectedly, the instant Han Xuan lifted her gaze, a purple mist silently unfurled, as if they were immersed in a field of lavender.
She bit down on the finger cot. After a moment, she revealed a smile with ambiguous meaning.
Then, swiftly, she slipped it onto her own hand.
