That evening, Wen Xin stayed late at the office.
Most of the people in the office had already left by then, and only after that did she finally shut down her computer. Fei Yuan was heading out on a business trip in a couple of days and had handed off some unimportant but tedious tasks to her. Wen Xin didn’t dare slack off, afraid of holding back the team, so she double- and triple-checked everything she finished.
At noon, Shi Qianyu had given her a heads-up in advance, inviting her out for dinner. Wen Xin kept an eye on her colleagues’ movements until the office was completely empty before finally getting up.
The light was still on in Shi Qianyu’s office, and she hadn’t left yet. Wen Xin knocked lightly on the door and stepped inside only after hearing “Come in.”
Shi Qianyu was still working. Wen Xin glanced up at her and was surprised to see that she was wearing glasses.
Shi Qianyu had naturally fair skin, with hair and eyes a shade lighter than most people’s. The first time Wen Xin saw her, she’d thought she looked unique—like the ethereal fairy sisters from the fairy tales on TV when she was a kid, elegant and beautiful.
Now, with the gold-framed glasses perched on her nose and her hair pinned up, sitting intently in front of her computer, Shi Qianyu exuded a different kind of beauty: restrained, yet irresistibly alluring.
Wen Xin was curious about this sudden change in her appearance. She padded softly over to sit beside her without saying a word, her gaze lingering for a long time.
Until Shi Qianyu looked over.
“What are you looking at?” Shi Qianyu’s lips curved up the moment she saw Wen Xin. “You’ve been staring at me for so long~”
Ah.
Wen Xin realized with a start that she’d been staring for quite a while. It made her feel a bit embarrassed, and she quickly averted her eyes.
“…A-Yu.” She remembered Shi Qianyu’s request to use a more intimate name when they were alone. “Why the glasses all of a sudden?”
“Are you nearsighted?” she asked.
“No.” Shi Qianyu shook her head. “They’re just blue-light blocking glasses without prescription. I don’t wear them often—only when I’m staring at the screen for too long.”
“They look weird?” She leaned in closer, peering earnestly into Wen Xin’s eyes, her voice soft and teasing.
“No.” How could they look weird? Shi Qianyu looked good no matter what. “They’re pretty.”
“Really?” Shi Qianyu wrapped her arms around Wen Xin’s neck and murmured the question lightly.
Wen Xin nodded. “Really.”
“Want to try them on?” Shi Qianyu held her gaze for a moment, then suddenly got an idea. She reached up, removed the glasses from her own face, and gently placed them on Wen Xin.
The frames, which should have felt cool, carried a trace of warmth from Shi Qianyu’s skin. Wen Xin sat rigidly, not daring to move as Shi Qianyu adjusted them for her. Having something suddenly on her nose felt strange—she’d never worn glasses before and worried she might look ugly in them.
Feeling a little self-conscious, she touched the frames and ventured, “D-does it look… good?”
But Shi Qianyu didn’t respond right away.
Wen Xin quickly backpedaled, reaching up to take them off. “It’s ugly, isn’t it…”
“Not ugly.” Shi Qianyu caught her hand gently, stroking it. “Very pretty.”
Now it was Wen Xin’s turn to ask, “Really?”
“Really.” Shi Qianyu’s smile deepened. “So pretty I want to kiss you.”
“Can I?” she asked, her gaze dropping as her forehead rested against Wen Xin’s, her voice tender as she sought permission.
The office building was nearly deserted at six in the evening, silent enough to hear a pin drop, with only the sound of their heartbeats.
Wen Xin knew no one would barge in unexpectedly, but they were still out in public, and that made her a little timid. Yet Shi Qianyu’s expression and tone were too enticing to refuse.
In the end, she nodded slowly, her voice barely a whisper. “Okay.”
Shi Qianyu leaned in, pressing a light kiss to her lips that gradually deepened into something more passionate and inseparable.
She was an excellent kisser. Wen Xin’s body went soft in the kiss, her breathing ragged. Shi Qianyu wrapped an arm around her waist, guiding her to straddle her lap as the kiss intensified once more.
Wen Xin gasped for air between kisses, her hot breath fogging up the lenses, tears welling at the corners of her eyes. She reached to remove the glasses, but Shi Qianyu caught her wrist, holding her in place.
The lenses grew even more clouded, blocking her vision entirely. When people couldn’t see, they instinctively clung to whatever was within reach. Wen Xin’s words said it was enough, but her arms tightened around Shi Qianyu’s neck, unsure if she was seeking more or pulling away.
It was so thrilling—the tension made it even more so. Wen Xin’s heart pounded like a drum, her breaths coming fast, as if they were sneaking around like illicit lovers in an empty office.
Until a sudden knock sounded at the door.
Wen Xin froze, her heart nearly stopping. She had no idea who it could be or where to hide, and she buried herself in Shi Qianyu’s embrace on reflex.
“It’s okay,” Shi Qianyu whispered, sensing her tension. She kept her voice low. “No one comes in without my permission.”
“Who is it?” she then called out to the visitor.
“It’s me, Assistant Wang.” The voice from outside sounded breathless.
She explained why she’d come back. “I was already at the subway station when I realized I’d forgotten my house keys, so I had to rush back.”
“Why haven’t you gone home yet?” she asked. Without Shi Qianyu’s go-ahead, she didn’t enter, staying outside to chat. “Do you need help with the rest of your work?”
“No need.” Shi Qianyu replied promptly. “You go ahead. I’ll be done soon.”
“Alright then.” With Director Shi clearly not needing assistance, Assistant Wang didn’t push. She chatted a bit more, said goodbye, and turned to leave.
Wen Xin didn’t dare move the whole time, her hearing sharper than ever. She caught the sound of Assistant Wang’s footsteps retreating, the elevator doors opening, then closing again.
The surroundings fell silent once more. It took a long while before Wen Xin finally lifted her head, staring at Shi Qianyu’s face as she took deep breaths.
“You got scared, huh.” Shi Qianyu stroked her hair with one hand and patted her back with the other, her motions full of reassurance. “It’s fine now. She’s gone.”
“Need a moment to recover?” Shi Qianyu wasn’t in a hurry to leave. She knew Wen Xin must have been frightened. “No need to be scared.”
Like soothing a child.
But Wen Xin had to admit it worked. Under Shi Qianyu’s comforting touch, her nerves gradually settled, though a faint blush still lingered on her cheeks.
“I’m okay now.” A moment later, she looked up again, thoroughly embarrassed.
“Good.” Shi Qianyu smiled. She reached up to remove the glasses from Wen Xin’s nose, then carefully smoothed her disheveled hair. “Hungry?”
“Shall we go get dinner?”
“Mm.” Wen Xin replied softly. “Okay.”
Shi Qianyu smiled and patted her head. “Good girl~”
~~~
Shi Qianyu had reserved a table at a Chinese restaurant in the bustling downtown area. The decor was elegant, the atmosphere perfect.
It was a members-only spot, pricey and exclusive, serving only a handful of customers a day. At that time slot, Shi Qianyu and Wen Xin were the only two guests—no risk of running into anyone they knew.
So they didn’t need to be overly discreet. The moment they stepped out of the car, Shi Qianyu took Wen Xin’s hand.
Led by the server, they passed through a beautiful courtyard to their private room. No menus here—the meal depended entirely on the kitchen’s fresh ingredients and the chef’s whims. Once they’d settled in, the server left.
Wen Xin had seen this kind of place in documentaries and knew without asking that dinner would cost a fortune. Their relationship had evolved beyond boss and subordinate to lovers, but that didn’t mean she was comfortable always letting Shi Qianyu foot the bill and pamper her.
So Wen Xin spoke up. “President Shi…”
The name slipped out by habit, almost forgetting their agreement—until Shi Qianyu met her eyes with a hint of displeasure.
Wen Xin caught herself and corrected quickly. “A-Yu!”
“A-Yu, let me treat you to dinner this time.” She didn’t want Shi Qianyu spending so much. “Okay?”
Shi Qianyu knew her temperament and didn’t argue, just reminding her, “It’s expensive, you know.”
“No problem.” Wen Xin shook her head firmly. “I’ll treat.”
Her tone left no room for debate. Respecting her wish, Shi Qianyu agreed. “Then thank you in advance~”
“I’ll make it up to you later,” she added.
Wen Xin wasn’t sure what she meant by that and reflexively declined. “No need, no need.”
Shi Qianyu said nothing more, sipping her tea demurely. Then, as if struck by a thought, she suddenly asked, “Will you come to the restroom with me?”
“I’m feeling a bit off,” she said. “Need to adjust my clothes.”
“Okay.” With no objections, Wen Xin stood and followed her into a stall.
“Where doesn’t it feel right?” she asked, hoping she could help Shi Qianyu somehow. “Do you need me to…”
“Then I won’t stand on ceremony.” Shi Qianyu indeed didn’t hold back with her. She promptly unzipped her skirt.
Wen Xin jumped in fright, wondering what she was about to do. “A-Yu, you—you…”
“It feels like my bra isn’t on straight.” Shi Qianyu laid out her request, staring at Wen Xin’s face with big, pleading eyes. “Can you help me adjust the straps?”
Oh. So that was it.
Realizing she’d let her mind run wild, Wen Xin’s face instantly turned bright red. She nodded and then focused intently on adjusting Shi Qianyu’s bra for her. “Is that better now?”
“Much better.” Shi Qianyu fastened her clothes back up.
The two emerged from the stall together and washed their hands at the sinks. As Shi Qianyu recalled what had just happened, a flicker of amusement danced in her eyes. “I just remembered—weren’t you blushing a second ago?”
“What were you thinking?”
“Nothing.” Wen Xin denied it in a rush, terrified Shi Qianyu would tease her. “I wasn’t thinking anything at all.”
But her flustered expression and burning red ears gave her away.
Shi Qianyu said nothing at first. Her gaze roamed over Wen Xin’s face—her eyes, her nose, her lips, her ears—before she finally spoke, drawing out her words on purpose. “Ohhh, I get it now.”
“Sister, you’re such a perv~~~” She narrowed her eyes, her voice barely above a whisper.
Wen Xin ducked her head immediately. Shi Qianyu seemed able to read her mind, seeing straight through to her core. With no defense against it, Wen Xin could only bury her face even lower, praying she wouldn’t bring it up again.
She looked just like a pitiful little hamster.
