~~~
The sudden intimacy left Ning Jiuwei’s nerves on edge. Su Jinglan’s body heat seeped into her without any barrier, sending waves of tingling electricity rippling through the dizzy haze.
Su Jinglan was dangerous. She needed to keep her distance.
The moment the thought crossed her mind, Ning Jiuwei put it into action and shuffled toward the edge of the elevator car.
As she retreated a step, Su Jinglan advanced one, her gentle voice leaving no room for refusal. “There’s no need to make your assistant come all this way. Designer Ning, just relax and spend the night at my place.”
Su Jinglan stepped back after speaking, her gaze shifting to the flashing display screen.
The elevator came to a stop on the 22nd Floor. Su Jinglan’s long legs carried her out first, leading the way.
Ning Jiuwei eyed Su Jinglan’s back warily, trailing two steps behind.
Though it shared the same penthouse layout, Su Jinglan’s place was a world apart in decor. Her entryway was pristine and uncluttered, devoid of any objects. Bright lights intertwined with warm orange LED strips, weaving an air of unique coziness.
Just as Su Jinglan opened the door, Ning Jiuwei’s phone rang.
Su Jinglan had ended the previous call, but it showed up as a missed call on Assistant Tan’s end.
“Designer Ning, you called?” Tan Yushu’s voice brimmed with anxious worry. The second time she and Ah Xiao had left, a nagging sense of foreboding had settled in her gut, though she couldn’t quite put her finger on why.
Logically speaking, the president knew Miss Shen, so Miss Shen wouldn’t dare lay a hand on Designer Ning right in front of her.
Designer Ning had an exceptionally even temper—mild-mannered and polite to everyone. She always returned greetings with a smile, showing none of the aloof arrogance one might expect from an untouchable beauty.
What on earth had Miss Shen done to Designer Ning for them to end up like that on the sofa? Designer Ning had been holding Miss Shen’s arm at the time, hadn’t she?
Assistant Tan had spent the entire drive speculating, never imagining she’d miss Ning Jiuwei’s call due to a momentary lapse.
Cold sweat prickled her skin. What if Designer Ning had suffered some double assault? Then she’d be an accomplice as her assistant.
“I’ve been drinking and wanted you to come pick me up,” Ning Jiuwei said into the phone from the entryway.
Tan Yushu agreed at once. “I’m turning around right now! Just wait for me, Designer Ning—I’ll be there soon.”
She was riding in Ah Xiao’s car to fetch the gems and didn’t have the wheel, so she asked if Ah Xiao minded making a U-turn. Ah Xiao shot her a look and flicked on the turn signal, merging into the left-turn lane.
“My assistant’s coming back to get me. I’ll wait for her in the car,” Ning Jiuwei said. She had zero desire to step inside Su Jinglan’s home or be alone with her.
Su Jinglan acted as if she hadn’t heard, pressing down on the door handle. “Come on in.”
The door swung inward. Su Jinglan shifted her stance to hug the wall, clearing a path for Ning Jiuwei.
“. . . Sorry to intrude.”
In the end, Ning Jiuwei stepped inside Su Jinglan’s home.
The smart home stirred from sleep mode. Every light in the place flickered on, and the temperature rose to a comfortable twenty-six degrees. Su Jinglan entered the entrance cloakroom to change her shoes, then handed Ning Jiuwei an identical pair in smoky gray.
“Designer Ning, no need to worry—I’m the only one here,” Su Jinglan said with perfect hospitality. She waited for Ning Jiuwei to emerge from the entrance cloakroom, then poured her a glass of boiled water.
The insulated glass made it impossible to gauge the temperature. Ning Jiuwei sat awkwardly on the sofa, mentally calculating how long it would take her assistant to arrive.
Her dizziness intensified. Ning Jiuwei clutched the glass tightly. Su Jinglan noticed her discomfort and fetched some hangover remedy.
“No need,” Ning Jiuwei said, taking a sip from the glass.
Steam rose from the water, but the temperature was perfect for drinking. Ning Jiuwei registered Su Jinglan’s thoughtfulness and finally let her gaze drift toward her.
Su Jinglan’s deep eyes curved in a gentle smile. Meeting Ning Jiuwei’s look, the warmth in them deepened, like a soft breeze brushing over her, utterly captivating.
Ning Jiuwei froze for a moment before looking away. Her heart hammered wildly, sending blood surging through her veins. Her throat tightened and itched. She downed half the glass to quell the inexplicable, untimely discomfort.
The water only dulled the taste of alcohol and soothed her parched throat—it did nothing for the fog clouding her brain. Fortunately, she’d chosen the sofa corner right by the armrest when she sat down. Propping herself up on one elbow, Ning Jiuwei tried her best to look clear-headed.
“Why did you choose jewelry design, Designer Ning? From what I know, you majored in Pattern Recognition and Intelligent Systems in university—that’s in the artificial intelligence field.”
Su Jinglan cradled her own glass and tossed out the question casually, injecting a bit of life into the quiet living room.
It was like a serene sea suddenly rearing up massive waves that slammed against the rocks. A dull ache throbbed in Ning Jiuwei’s chest. Her fingers dug into the armrest as if to crush it, but she kept a mild smile on her upturned face.
“Nothing in particular. I discovered I had a talent for creation, so I got into jewelry design.” Ning Jiuwei steadied her nerves, countering to seize control of the conversation. “Where did President Su work before? To become Hengsu’s president at such a young age?”
“Hengsu Group Headquarters.”
Su Jinglan offered no further details on the department or position. Ning Jiuwei didn’t press the issue. She had no interest in learning more about Su Jinglan—she only wanted to keep her distance.
A brief silence settled between them. Su Jinglan set down her water glass and rose to her feet. “I’ll go prepare the guest room,” she told Ning Jiuwei.
“My assistant is already on her way to pick me up.”
“If Designer Ning finds me untrustworthy, she can have her assistant stay over as well.” Without waiting for a reply, Su Jinglan headed straight for the guest room.
Share a bed with her assistant at the president’s home?
She had no choice but to spend the night at Su Jinglan’s. To prevent any uncomfortable scenarios from unfolding, Ning Jiuwei sent her assistant a message telling her not to come.
Assistant Tan, who was just about to reach the building downstairs, stared at the message in stunned silence for a moment before typing back: Are you really Designer Ning?
What if someone had gotten her drunk, stolen her phone, and tossed it onto a bed?
Ning Jiuwei let out a wry chuckle and replied with affectionate familiarity: Ah Yu, it’s me.
Tan Yushu breathed a sigh of relief. It was definitely Designer Ning.
In the whole world, aside from her parents, only Ning Jiuwei called her Ah Yu.
It was a name she’d shared with Ning Jiuwei herself.
Spotting the car parked at the entrance, Tan Yushu’s unease returned. The car’s right here—where’s Designer Ning? If she’d called a designated driver, why wasn’t she in the car?
Tan Yushu pressed her face to the car window and peered into the back seat. From behind her, Ah Xiao spoke in an eerie tone: “No one’s in the car.”
Tan Yushu: “…”
No chance of retrieving the gemstone tonight. Ah Xiao turned back toward the building, and Tan Yushu hesitated before following, hoping to check on Miss Shen.
“Assistant Tan, Sister Yan needs her rest. If there’s something important, come back another time.” Ah Xiao blocked her path outside the elevator.
Assistant to assistant—why make things difficult for each other? Tan Yushu sighed inwardly and turned to leave.
“Designer Ning, I see your car is still parked at the entrance.” Tan Yushu messaged Ning Jiuwei, needing confirmation that all was well.
Ning Jiuwei replied with a simple “Mm,” instructing her assistant to head home and get some rest.
From the guest room, Ning Jiuwei typed out her reply to the assistant while keeping an eye on the doorway. Catching a glimpse of a figure in her peripheral vision, she quickly closed the WeChat screen and volunteered the information before Su Jinglan could speak. “I told Little Tan to head back. I’ll be imposing on you tonight, President Su.”
“It’s no trouble at all.” Su Jinglan stepped aside. “Designer Ning, take a look and see if anything’s missing.”
The guest room in this sprawling penthouse was impressively spacious, easily rivaling the master bedroom in Ning Jiuwei’s own home. A faint scent of blue windbell hung in the air. The bed was a generous six feet wide, impeccably made up, with a spherical nightlight on the bedside table, a wardrobe spanning an entire wall, and a matching sofa set. Every detail reflected meticulous care and comfort.
Ning Jiuwei paused before the perfectly smooth expanse of the king-sized bed. Su Jinglan’s gaze lingered on her face, noting every flicker of expression and subtle shift.
“The linens in the guest room were changed by Auntie this morning.”
Ning Jiuwei had been wondering if Su Jinglan had made the bed herself. Su Jinglan had voiced her exact thought.
“Does President Su have any clean pajamas?” This was Ning Jiuwei’s first time staying over at someone else’s place, and the unfamiliarity made her regret not insisting on going home.
Suggesting she leave now would only make her seem flighty and indecisive.
“Yes.” Su Jinglan stepped out briefly and returned with a neatly folded set of long-sleeved, two-piece pajamas trimmed with gold silk cloud patterns at the cuffs and collar. “These have never been worn—just laundered once.”
They were close in height, and though Su Jinglan’s figure was slightly more generous, the loose-fitting style meant the pajamas would fit despite the minor difference in bust size. Ning Jiuwei thanked her, accepted the pajamas, and issued a gentle dismissal.
“Rest well, President Su. I’m going to take a shower.” Ning Jiuwei spoke the words but made no move to proceed, her eyes fixed on Su Jinglan.
Su Jinglan understood and left the guest room.
Once the door clicked shut, Su Jinglan glanced back.
The solid wooden door blocked her view, affording her a moment to compose herself. Su Jinglan lowered her gaze, her lips curving into a subtle smile. She stood there at the door for a little longer before retreating to her own bedroom.
After holding her tension for so long, Ning Jiuwei could finally let go. Her steps felt unsteady and light as she shuffled slowly into the bathroom. She stared at her reflection in the mirror, turned on the faucet, and splashed a handful of cold water onto her face.
The sharp chill snapped her mind awake. As the reality of her situation sank in, her heart began to pound. She pressed a hand to her chest and spoke to her mirrored self: “It’s all in the past. Don’t be afraid.”
Her racing heartbeat eased somewhat. Ning Jiuwei drew in several deep breaths, shed her clothes, and stepped under the showerhead.
Hot water poured down over her from above, her hair clinging wetly to her cheeks and skin. She remained still for a long while, until steam enveloped the entire bathroom and the warmth brought her back to her senses. Only then did she sweep her hair back from her face and take a small step forward.
Water streamed over her shoulders and the nape of her neck. Under the bathroom lights, Ning Jiuwei’s skin glowed with a rosy flush beneath its fairness as the delicate foam rinsed away the cedar white musk clinging to her body, leaving only the clean, refreshing scent of cherry blossoms from the body wash.
Su Jinglan had been exceedingly thoughtful, preparing not just pajamas but also clean underwear tucked neatly in the middle. The moment Ning Jiuwei picked up the top, she spotted the black panties folded atop the pajama bottoms.
Wearing Su Jinglan’s clothes and lying in a house infused with her scent, Ning Jiuwei found sleep elusive.
Tossing and turning restlessly, she replayed the evening in her mind—from her encounter with Shen Lanyan to winding up here at Su Jinglan’s home. The realization that she hadn’t gone back to her own place made Ning Jiuwei sit up and lean against the headboard.
She simply couldn’t fall asleep here.
Ning Jiuwei glanced down at the pajamas clinging to her body and undid the buttons to slip them off.
Oblivious to what was unfolding in the guest bedroom, Su Jinglan chose that precise moment to knock on the door. Her voice came warm and gentle through the wood. “Ning Jiuwei.”
~~~
