Ning Xi returned to Zhan Meng's place from the Lu Group. As soon as he opened the door, he saw her sitting cross-legged with a laptop on her lap. He changed his shoes and walked closer, only to find an animated movie playing on the screen. The corner of his mouth couldn't help but twitch. His gaze at Zhan Meng was unreadable, but she couldn't be bothered to look at him. The cat had taken over the empty spot beside her, and Zhan Meng was holding snacks in her hands, crunching away.
"Meow..." Mengmeng tilted its head to glance at Ning Xi, seemingly not recognizing him as the one who had rescued it from trouble.
Zhan Meng picked up a potato chip and shot a glance at Ning Xi. "Back so soon?"
"Yeah, or did you think it would take longer?"
"I didn't think that. But your master is hungry—go get it something to eat." Zhan Meng turned her attention back to the computer, looking quite serious.
Ning Xi chuckled. "Didn't I leave breakfast on the table?"
At that, Zhan Meng rolled her eyes. "I meant the master is Mengmeng, not me."
"..." A few lines of exasperation crossed Ning Xi's forehead. As if he hadn't heard Zhan Meng's words, he turned around, picked up Mengmeng, and held it up high. Mengmeng gave him a haughty look, raised its paw in the air, meowed at him, and struggled a bit.
Ning Xi carried Mengmeng to the kitchen. Zhan Meng tilted her head, glancing at his back out of the corner of her eye. Lost in thought for a moment, she casually said, "Your family's pressuring you to go on blind dates?"
"Why are you asking about that?" Ning Xi reached up to the cabinet to grab the cat food for Mengmeng without turning around.
"Oh, just curious. I heard about it and couldn't help picturing you on a blind date—it must be quite a scene. By the way, have you ever been on one?"
"No." Blind dates were something he, handsome and charming as he was, would never do.
"What a shame. I wanted to ask what it felt like."
"What feeling would a blind date give?"
"Ning Xi, you're no fun. Think about it—a blind date is just two strangers sitting face to face, going back and forth introducing themselves. Well, maybe no introduction needed since your family probably already knows everything about the other person. As for you, I bet those girls are lining up to go on a date with you."
Hearing this, Ning Xi paused in his play with Mengmeng. He suddenly set the cat down and turned to look at the woman still happily munching on chips. Seeing her gossipy expression, he dismissed the strange thoughts in his head. "You suddenly caring so much about my life makes me uneasy."
"Tsk, Ning Xi, as a friend, what's wrong with me caring? Besides, you've been taking care of me like a nanny lately—I should be grateful." Zhan Meng silently placed the chip bag on the coffee table, picked up the cushion she'd tossed aside, and her slender fingers tapped on the keyboard. The screen paused, and she blinked, sneaking a peek at the unimpressed Ning Xi. Her heart suddenly felt like it was on fire.
"Miss, you do realize you've been treating me like a nanny lately? Forget gratitude—just hand over what you've got, and that'll be thanks enough." Ning Xi had hacked into Zhan Meng's system multiple times but never found any videos or files related to Ning Nan. He was starting to wonder if she didn't actually have them, but then again, she always sounded so confident when bringing it up. Maybe she'd hidden them somewhere he hadn't found yet.
"You want those things?"
"You'd give them to me?"
"No. Find them yourself—if you do, they're yours." Zhan Meng looked down, fiddling with her nails, completely ignoring Ning Xi's twitching expression as she happily watched her cartoon.
******
Xia Yan sat in her office, staring at the mountain of documents and files. Thinking back to what Ning Xi had said, she figured that if Ye Yunchen and Lin Xujia really ended up together, she'd have to wish them well—they were both her good friends. She tapped her fingers lightly on the desk, but then a thought struck her: if what happened to Lin Xujia last night was really connected to Ye Yunchen, Xia Yan didn't dare dwell on it. In her eyes, Ye Yunchen had always been a gentle, jade-like man, someone who brought warmth.
"Knock, knock..."
The knock broke the office's silence. Xia Yan frowned slightly and said softly, "Come in."
Secretary Zhou stared at Xia Yan with a knowing smile, making her feel a chill run down her spine. She smoothed the hair by her ear and asked, puzzled, "Secretary Zhou, is there something on my face?"
"No, nothing. I just realized I admire you a bit, Xia Yan."
"Admire me?"
"Yeah. Oh, by the way, President Lu wants you to organize the documents from the past few days—they'll be needed for tomorrow's meeting."
"Got it."
"Alright, I'll be off. Get back to work."
Xia Yan watched Secretary Zhou leave, catching the meaningful look and undisguised admiration in her eyes before she went. She racked her brain but couldn't figure out why she'd have that expression. Glancing at her empty teacup, she felt drowsy from a bad night's sleep. Rubbing her eyes, she picked up her cup and headed to the break room.
In the break room, Xia Yan had only meant to grab a coffee, but she ended up overhearing office gossip—and it was about her. Like last time, she stood on the balcony outside the break room. The window was closed, so the cold wind couldn't get in, and she didn't feel cold, especially with the warm teacup in her hands.
After eavesdropping for a while, Xia Yan suddenly understood why Secretary Zhou had looked at her with such admiration. She also realized why, after coming back from lunch, everyone in the office had been eyeing her with gossipy curiosity—or even a hint of "you don't know how lucky you are." It was all Xiao Han's doing. Clutching her teacup, Xia Yan stepped out from the balcony. One of the women was holding a mirror, about to touch up her makeup, but froze when she saw Xia Yan.
"Xia Yan, you, what are you doing here?"
"Yeah, what am I doing here? I remember the break room was empty when I came in."
"The break room is a public space—what are you implying?" In the office, the only one who regularly picked fights with Xia Yan was Coco. Few others dared, given Xia Yan's rising momentum. Crossing her could end badly, maybe even cost you your job.
Xia Yan glanced at Coco and smiled. "I know it's a public space, so why are you so defensive? Afraid I'll eat you? Or that I'll tell President Lu you're gossiping about him behind his back?"
"Xia Yan, don't talk nonsense! We weren't gossiping about President Lu—we were just talking about..." Coco faltered, losing confidence under Xia Yan's calm gaze, her words stumbling.
"Hmm? So what were you talking about? Let me guess—in this company, the only gossip that gets you this excited is about me, right?"
"No, no, we were just joking around. Don't take it seriously." The person who said this looked unfamiliar to Xia Yan.
"Joking? You must have too much free time..." Xia Yan didn't get to finish before Ke Yaru suddenly appeared.
Ke Yaru wore a black suit, her hair loose behind her, with flawless makeup. Her cold, elegant demeanor carried an air of superiority. She walked up to Xia Yan in ten-centimeter heels. In terms of height, Xia Yan was no match for Ke Yaru, especially with the heels. Ke Yaru looked down at Xia Yan, making her uncomfortable.
"What's this? Not even the boss's wife yet, and you're already acting like one?"
Hearing this, Xia Yan smiled instead of getting angry. Leaning against the wall, she glanced casually at Ke Yaru. "Manager Ke, I thought rumors stop at the wise. I assumed someone like you wouldn't believe them, but I guess I overestimated you. No matter—it doesn't seem to hurt me. I'll just take it as contributing some water-cooler gossip for everyone."
"Xia Yan, how dare you talk like that?" Coco jumped in when she saw Ke Yaru's face turn pale and red.
"Coco, what's wrong with you? I'm just speaking normally. Do you want me to talk like you?" Xia Yan paused, glancing at Coco. She was already irritated, and these people just had to pick a fight.
"Coco, you all go back to work."
"Manager Ke..."
Ke Yaru shot a cold look at Coco and the silent people behind her. "Go back to work."
The break room lost its lively buzz, replaced by an eerie tension. Xia Yan kept her composure, glanced at Ke Yaru, and said casually, "Manager Ke, I'll head back to work too."
"Xia Yan, stop right there!"
"Does Manager Ke have something to say to me?"
"Xia Yan, what will it take for you to leave Zhengting?"
Ke Yaru's question genuinely stunned Xia Yan. She looked up, staring at the serious Ke Yaru. "Manager Ke, I don't understand what you mean."
"Xia Yan, don't play dumb. Don't you know you'll never be happy with Zhengting?"
"Whether I'll be happy or not, I can't say for sure, but at least we're happy now. Manager Ke, I'm curious—what makes you so sure I won't be happy with Lu Zhengting? Money? Status?" Xia Yan said, word by word.
"Xia Yan, don't say I didn't warn you. You and Zhengting can never be together."
"Thanks for the warning. If that day comes, I'll part ways with him amicably. Manager Ke, if there's nothing work-related to discuss, I'll be going. President Lu is waiting for me to bring him the documents."
"Xia Yan!"
"..."
As Xia Yan stepped out of the elevator, she saw Xiao Han standing ramrod straight outside the doors.