Chapter 15

The commercial street at six in the evening was always packed with an astonishing number of people.

Wen Xin had been swamped with work all day, glued to her computer without so much as standing up. She hadn’t even managed to eat lunch, and now her stomach was rumbling fiercely.

A steady stream of exhaustion made her too lazy to go home and cook. It was better to grab something quick outside. There was a bustling commercial street right near Qi Qing, so she wouldn’t lack for choices.

It had been ages since she’d last eaten out.

Wen Xin was an introverted person, not one for crowds or socializing much. She’d grown accustomed to solitude from a young age, handling most things on her own. She could even entertain herself, finding ways to lift her spirits when she was feeling down.

—Like taking the time to seriously mull over what to eat tonight.

The street was beautiful, steeped in classical Chinese charm. Tall archways in verdant green and vibrant red flanked the smooth bluestone pavement. The surrounding shops each had their own unique flair: some sold pastries, others dim sum for breakfast, face masks and cosmetics, perfumes and qipaos…

Wen Xin strolled slowly along the bluestone path, taking it all in. A bit of rain had fallen in the early hours of the morning, keeping the day’s temperature mild. By evening, a breeze had kicked up, carrying a chill.

She craved something soupy to warm her stomach. After mulling it over, she settled on a noodle shop famous for its broth—diners raved about it endlessly.

Even with the long line snaking out the door, Wen Xin didn’t change her mind. She grabbed a number from the counter and settled obediently into a chair in the outdoor waiting area.

It might take a while, but she had plenty of time to spare.

Shi Yu hadn’t come online all day. Severing a connection on her own was rude, so Wen Xin logged into her account. Seeing the gray avatar, she decided not to disturb her and planned to talk later when she was on.

She logged out of the chat and tossed her character into a random dungeon on auto-play. Then she zoned out, staring at the passersby. She sat there like that for quite some time, lost in her own world.

Until she suddenly heard someone call her name. “Wen Xin, what are you doing here?”

Wen Xin glanced over on instinct. It wasn’t a coincidence—lately, she’d been running into Director Shi Qianyu with startling frequency.

“Director Shi.” She greeted her, feeling the usual knot of tension in her chest whenever she saw Shi Qianyu. “I… came here to grab something to eat.”

“Would you like to join me?” Out of politeness, she opened her mouth to ask.

“No need.” Shi Qianyu curved her lips in a smile. “I have plans ahead. I’m on my way to visit an uncle.”

“Oh.” Wen Xin nodded, then noticed the bags Shi Qianyu was carrying—mostly pastries and gifts from renowned old brands. “Do you need me to help carry some?”

Of course, it was just a courteous offer.

But Shi Qianyu didn’t stand on ceremony. She nodded right away. “Really? That would be fantastic.”

Without missing a beat, she stepped closer and stopped in front of Wen Xin. She looked down at her with a smile, amusement dancing in her amber eyes. “Thank you~”

Shi Qianyu was serious.

“…”

Wen Xin froze for a few seconds, suddenly regretting her impulsive offer. But words spoken were like spilled water—impossible to take back. Even though her number was almost up in line.

In the end, Wen Xin stood.

Shi Qianyu sorted through the gifts with a downward glance and handed over the lightest ones. “There are too many people on the street; it’s hard to drive in. I’ll have to trouble you to walk with me a bit farther.”

Wen Xin shook her head, pushing down her hunger. “It’s fine. Let’s go.”

Shi Qianyu said nothing more, gesturing for Wen Xin to walk on her inner side. They proceeded shoulder to shoulder along the long stretch of bluestone pavement.

Had the walk in felt this long?

Wen Xin still wasn’t used to being alone with Shi Qianyu. She kept her head down in silence, silently counting her steps in her mind as she accompanied Shi Qianyu all the way to the street’s end.

Shi Qianyu opened the trunk of her car, took the items from Wen Xin’s hands, and stowed them away. Wen Xin stood there observing for a moment. Seeing no further need for her help, she prepared to say goodbye.

But before she could speak, her stomach let out a loud gurgle. The area buzzed with noise, but perhaps because they stood so close, the sound carried straight to Shi Qianyu’s ears.

In the next second, Shi Qianyu turned to look.

“Are you very hungry?” Her lips quirked up—whether in amusement at Wen Xin’s expense, Wen Xin couldn’t tell. “Did I hold up your dinner?”

“No.” Wen Xin’s face flushed red, but she stubbornly shook her head, not wanting Shi Qianyu to see her in such an embarrassing light. “It’s fine, actually I…”

Before she could finish, her stomach growled again.

Wen Xin fell silent on instinct.

Shi Qianyu waited patiently for her answer, her voice soft and gentle. “Go on, what were you saying?”

Her words invited an explanation, but it was clear she’d already pieced everything together.

Wen Xin didn’t want to argue further or linger. If this were a game, she’d swear she was stacked with a debuff called “Lose face every time you see Shi Qianyu.”

In the end, she came clean. “Yeah, I’m a little hungry.”

“Didn’t you eat lunch properly?” Shi Qianyu asked.

“Too busy,” Wen Xin replied. “I was revising some designs.”

“I saw the draft you submitted.” Shi Qianyu finished stowing everything and closed the trunk with a lift of her hand. Dusk was falling, and the streetlights had flickered on sometime, blending with the neon glow to make her eyes sparkle. “It’s fantastic. What needs changing?”

“Is Fei Yuan giving you a hard time?” She feigned anger. “Want me to go chew him out tomorrow?”

“No, no!” Wen Xin shook her head frantically, unsure if Shi Qianyu was serious but not wanting to drag Fei Yuan into it. “It’s just that I’m not fully satisfied with some parts myself.”

“You can tweak it some more,” she said. “You’ll nail it by tomorrow.”

She had always been diligent like this—dedicated and focused, qualities Shi Qianyu truly admired. But not to extremes; everything needed balance, and nothing mattered more than health. “I’m giving you an outstanding employee award. Right now.”

“?” Wen Xin blinked. “What?”

“A big dinner as a reward.” Shi Qianyu opened the passenger door for her. “Turns out I haven’t eaten either. We’ll go together.”

“I…”

“You’ve already walked me this far.” Knowing a refusal was coming, Shi Qianyu didn’t give her the chance. Wen Xin couldn’t resist her wheedling, and Shi Qianyu knew it—she always pulled this card. “Stick with me a little longer.”

She smiled warmly, her voice soft. “What do you say?”

“Okay?”

~~~

Wen Xin couldn’t refuse. In the end, she went with Shi Qianyu to the restaurant.

It was a newly opened place, grand in scale and lavishly decorated. The prices looked steep just from a glance. Since it was still in the trial operations phase, they were hosting close friends and family, so the spacious hall felt even emptier and more expansive.

Wen Xin had rarely been to a spot like this. Glancing down at her casual clothes, she felt a pang of self-consciousness. She took a deep breath, trying to project confidence and avoid embarrassing Shi Qianyu.

Shi Qianyu took in every fidget and gesture. It was adorable, tugging her lips into a gentle curve.

“This is my uncle’s place.” To ease Wen Xin’s nerves, she struck up a conversation, hoping to distract her. “It just started trial operations today. You’re doing me a huge favor coming here to try the food.”

“Mm.” Wen Xin nodded, listening intently. Soon, a few people approached. Leading them was a middle-aged man, presumably the uncle Shi Qianyu had mentioned.

“Xiao Yu’s here!” The man beamed, laughing heartily. “Your mom called this morning to say you’d drop by tonight. So, what do you think of the renovations?”

“They’re excellent.” Shi Qianyu nodded sincerely and handed over her gifts. “I’ve been so busy with work; it’s been too long since I visited. I remembered you mentioning you wanted pastries from Fortune Moon Pavilion a while back, so I picked some up.”

“And some skincare products for Auntie,” Shi Qianyu added. “Picked based on her skin type and preferences—they’re supposed to work wonders.”

“You really thought of everything.” The man took the gifts and passed them to an assistant. His gaze quickly swept to Wen Xin beside her. “And who’s this?”

“A friend of mine.” Shi Qianyu introduced her.

Wen Xin hurried to greet him. “Hello.”

“Good girl, good.” The man chuckled heartily and gestured for them to follow upstairs. “Thanks for coming to support us today. The food’s all prepped—see if it suits your tastes.”

“But I’ll have to trouble you to take the stairs to the third floor with me.” He added, “Elevator broke down this morning; haven’t fixed it yet.”

“No problem.” Shi Qianyu shook her head, replying earnestly on the surface. But under the table, she subtly nudged Wen Xin’s hand with the back of her own.

Wen Xin looked over quickly and whispered, “Wh-what is it?”

“My feet hurt.” Shi Qianyu leaned in to murmur in her ear, nodding toward her high heels. “These are new, and they don’t fit quite right. Walking that far on the street already had them aching. Climbing stairs might make it worse.”

She seemed a bit spoiled now, a far cry from her usual strong, independent self. Despite the crowd of people all around them, she stubbornly insisted on holding Wen Xin’s hand. “Will you hold my hand and take me upstairs?”

It sounded like a question—one that seemed to offer Wen Xin the chance to refuse. But that soft tone and unwavering gaze clearly sealed Wen Xin’s lips, like a gentle knife that unceremoniously stripped away her right to say no.

Wen Xin was helpless against her. Her mind wasn’t slow at all; when facing a boss, she could even rattle off several strategies on the spot. All her guildmates praised her sharp intellect.

Yet when it came to Shi Qianyu, Wen Xin’s brain seemed to crash in an instant. All her considerations and thoughts vanished without a trace, leaving her completely at Shi Qianyu’s mercy—toyed with in the palm of her hand.

Wen Xin simply couldn’t bring herself to refuse. A few seconds later, she finally nodded and reached out to touch her hand, just as Shi Qianyu wished.

The moment their fingers brushed, Shi Qianyu gripped it tightly. There was no escaping now. Wen Xin looked up and met Shi Qianyu’s smiling eyes.

“I knew you were the best~”