"Indeed, this kind of clothing suits you very well."
Although it was Luan Yenan's own silk camisole nightgown, it had a different feel when worn by Zuo Baixuan.
This is Zuo Baixuan, who usually likes to cover herself up completely.
The novelty made Luan Yenan breathe more heavily, and "Ballade pour Adeline" started playing in his ears again.
Zuo Baixuan quickly averted her gaze and said with all her might, "We are just in a client-contractor relationship. Whether it's exploitation or yesterday... it's all about mutual benefit!"
Luan Yenan squinted.
The thought in my mind was abruptly interrupted.
Instead, a pent-up dissatisfaction settled in my chest.
Each gets what they need?
Is that how you define last night, Little White Flower?
If it's just a matter of each getting what they need, is it necessary to reveal secrets?
If it's just a matter of each getting what they want, is it necessary to cry to yourself?
If it's just about getting what you need, is it necessary to ask yourself what it means to like someone or to say you feel sorry for them?
Luan Yenan could barely contain his anger.
Zuo Baixuan wasn't much better off; she could feel that she had completely ruined Luan Yenan's good mood.
But this was all she could do; she couldn't think of any other way to deal with it.
Unable to continue looking at Luan Yenan, she hurriedly fled after speaking, not caring what to do with the clothes on the ground.
Luan Yenan watched as Zuo Baixuan dodged and fled.
But not only her face, but even the skin on her back was completely red.
Luan Yenan was pleased by this simple detail.
So, it's a mutually beneficial arrangement?
OK.
...
Zuo Baixuan had nothing to do today, and because she was sore all over, she didn't want to go out at all, so she stayed in her room. Even when Luan Yenan came to call her out for dinner, she had already thought of a way to deal with it.
I've decided I'm absolutely not going out today!
But Luan Yenan didn't knock on the door; instead, he sent a message.
[A batch of new employees are joining today, including Chen Huanyu who will be bringing Jiang Lingdan. Do you want to come along?]
"What? It's one thing for Senior Sister Chen Huanyu to join the company, but why does Ling Dan have to join as well?" Zuo Baixuan was stunned. She poked her head out from the side bedroom as if she had been taken hostage and was panicking and trying to get her released.
Zuo Baixuan had already changed into thick pajamas, but she still felt insecure hiding behind the door.
But when he peeked out, he saw Luan Yenan sitting next to the restaurant, leisurely eating brunch.
Luan Yenan was still wearing the same shirt he had worn when he woke up, but his eyes had become calm, lacking the enthusiasm he had when he first woke up.
This made Zuo Baixuan purse her lips slightly. Did this person's enthusiasm cool down so quickly?
After thinking about it, I realized how strange I was.
I was the one who rejected her first, and she just went back to where she was. Why am I making a fuss about it?
After a moment's thought, Zuo Baixuan walked out of the room.
Luan Yenan's gaze fell on the seat opposite him, gesturing for Zuo Baixuan to sit down. He swallowed the last mouthful of soup in his hand before speaking, "It's not just the two of them. Many new people will be coming. If you come too, it will be enough to form a new project team."
"I'm not good enough, am I? I have some skills working with others, but I probably can't lead a team on my own." Zuo Baixuan switched to work mode and calmed down a bit.
Luan Yennan stared at her for a while before saying, "That's fine too. I can make you a leader in administration, and you can work with Chen Huanyu in technical matters."
Zuo Baixuan's eyes lit up, and she quickly started calculating in her mind, but her eating remained calm.
Luan Yenan's arrangement is truly aimed at cultivating himself.
After making up her mind, she nodded and said, "I will do my best. The company is currently in need of staff. I have contacted several partners I have worked with before, and some of them are willing to come. I will send you their information so you can screen them."
Luan Yenan's voice was like an autumn breeze, dry and direct: "You can choose some team members that you feel comfortable working with. You don't need to go through me, just contact HR directly."
Zuo Baixuan hadn't expected Luan Yenan to actually trust her so much, and that it wasn't just empty talk. This reminded her of their conversation last night, the whispers echoing in her ears one after another.
Luan Yenan got up and went back to his room without saying a word.
Zuo Baixuan had the words on the tip of her tongue, but she didn't know how to say them.
Luan Yenan automatically reverted to their previous respectful and courteous relationship, but Zuo Baixuan felt extremely awkward.
Can't this person struggle even a little bit more?
The strange morning ended just like that, and when the two met again in the afternoon, they were both dressed in formal attire.
Luan Yenan put her hair up in a bun and wore a pair of black diamond earrings.
Since she acquired enough jewelry, she has been matching her jewelry to her daily outfits and mood.
The black diamond today might indicate that she's in a bad mood.
So, is she angry right now?
Zuo Baixuan followed behind Luan Yenan, secretly observing him. She had even brought butterfly ear clips today, but she didn't know if Luan Yenan had noticed.
Luan Yenan's expression remained unchanged as he typed messages on his phone.
Zuo Baixuan also received the message, and she subconsciously thought it was from Luan Yenan.
Isn't that unnecessary?
Are you going to start texting and chatting even in the same elevator?
But when I opened my phone, it wasn't like that.
It was sent by Jiang Lingdan.
[Little Zuo! My senior took me to your company, I'll be there soon! They even prepared an official position for me.]
What official position did he hold?
Zuo Baixuan then remembered that Luan Yenan hadn't mentioned why Jiang Lingdan had joined the company this morning.
[Perfect for my PR team leader role! Hahaha! I heard there are already several public relations graduates in the team, I'm practically a natural fit! It's great working with you, your wife has already cheated on me twice!]
One was Professor Chen's research group.
One time was when I joined the public relations department of the "First Group".
Zuo Baixuan stared at her phone for a while before replying: 【Go work hard in the public relations department. There will definitely be many opportunities to use you in the future, and I believe in your abilities; you'll definitely shine.】
[Hey hey hey, what's going on, Xiao Zuo! Not only did you not object to being called "your wife," but now you're acting like the boss's wife. Tell me honestly, did something happen between you and Luan Ye Nan last night?]
Zuo Baixuan's hands trembled slightly as she held her phone, but thankfully it wasn't a face-to-face question, so she could still feign composure: "What could possibly happen?"
[Seriously? Your news yesterday was like that, and nothing's happened yet? [Link]]
Zuo Baixuan clicked on the share sent by Jiang Lingdan.
The entire page was dedicated to Luan Yenan and Zuo Baixuan's interactions last night, from their high-profile entrance to their dance that stole the spotlight, to their little gestures during the interview, and finally, the scene of Luan Yenan carrying Zuo Baixuan away. Their black and white dresses were so striking that it was impossible to look away, and the happiness on their faces couldn't be hidden even through the low-resolution mosaic.
Seeing this, Zuo Baixuan clenched her hands even tighter.
After a while.
Luan Yenan drove the car to the park.
Zuo Baixuan followed Luan Yenan out of the car, then immediately jumped up and grabbed Luan Yenan's arm.
Luan Yenan seemed quite used to it, and grasped Zuo Baixuan's hand in return, but remained silent.
Seeing that Luan Yenan didn't react, Zuo Baixuan waited until they got on the elevator, then pulled her arm closer and whispered, "Did you see yesterday's news reports? Our photos are trending on social media."
"I didn't see it, but I heard Luo Yun mention it." Luan Yenan's voice was still very faint, as if he hadn't slept well yesterday and needed to rest, lacking energy and interest.
"So how are you doing now? You just showed off your love yesterday, and today you're already throwing out tragedies?" Zuo Baixuan seemed to be accusing Luan Yenan of his lack of professionalism.
Unexpectedly, Luan Yenan curled the corners of his lips into a smile that was neither a smile nor a smile. He turned his head and stared steadily at Zuo Baixuan, placing one hand on the back of her neck, and asked in return, "Who was it that had physical intimacy with Zuo Baixuan yesterday, and is now claiming it's a contractual relationship?"
Zuo Baixuan tilted her head back, but couldn't escape, so she could only nervously adjust her breathing.
Try to give a calm and composed answer: "I'm stating the facts. Our relationship is more of a partnership in public. Yesterday, we just drank too much, and everyone crossed the line, but it was comfortable, and no one lost out. We're all adults; we should all understand. Are you serious?"
That's infuriating.
Zuo Baixuan didn't believe that Luan Yenan, with his pride, would admit to being serious.
Even in her dazed state yesterday, the deep gaze they shared made her feel sincerity.
hiss……
What if Luan Yenan doesn't play by the rules and actually admits he's serious?
Zuo Baixuan was both afraid and expectant.
She couldn't accept that she could develop a stable intimate relationship when she was in a position of inferiority and in a situation of mutual exploitation.
But the hidden anticipation in her heart made her unable to suppress it.
A genuine smile appeared on Luan Yenan's lips.
If Zuo Baixuan could resist turning her ears and cheeks so red, she would really be willing to believe in the so-called "things adults should understand".
"Okay, so it's still a cooperative relationship then, right? We need to maintain our public image, right?"
Luan Yenan once again ran his fingertips through the part of her hair, brushing against the back of Zuo Baixuan's head and pulling it towards his own front.
bite--
The elevator has arrived.
The maintenance team, who were waiting outside the elevator to go to the factory for their shift change, suddenly froze, their voices filled with laughter and chatter.
Ahhhhh, help! The boss and his wife are kissing in the elevator!
Aaaaaahh ...
Are you even letting people have lunch?