Was it because of those bright, clear eyes, or that pure, untainted sincerity? Tang Xue couldn't say for sure, but she knew that if she wanted to get close to this person, that was enough.
"You can call me Xiaoxiao." Lin Xiaoxiao picked up her beer and clinked it against Tang Xue's. "Are we friends now?"
“Of course.” Tang Xue’s whole body softened. “You can also call me Xiao Xue, Xiao Xiao.”
Lin Xiaoxiao's pupils widened slightly, and she almost jumped up with joy, "Xiaoxue!"
"Mmm." Looking at the girl who seemed to have the whole world in her heart, Tang Xue's eyes shone with a tenderness that she herself was unaware of.
Chapter 23
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"You're up so early?" Lin Xiaoxiao walked into the kitchen with a messy head and saw Tang Xue busy inside.
Tang Xue snapped out of her daze, looked at Lin Xiaoxiao who was yawning and completely unrefined, and the corners of her mouth seemed to curl up slightly as if she had a mind of her own. "Go wash up, breakfast will be ready soon."
"Sorry to make you cook." Lin Xiaoxiao scratched her messy hair. She had already gotten up half an hour earlier than usual, but she still hadn't gotten up as early as Tang Xue.
Tang Xue looked at her seriously, "If anyone should be embarrassed, it should be me. I'm eating your food and living in your house now. If I don't do something, I'll feel embarrassed to stay any longer."
After wiping her hands, Tang Xue walked up to Lin Xiaoxiao and said with a smile, "Aren't we friends? So, there's no need to feel embarrassed."
"I understand." Lin Xiaoxiao paused for a moment, then scratched her messy hair again. Her already messy hair was now so messy that it was unbearable to look at.
Lin Xiaoxiao used to have no close friends, so she hasn't been able to change that yet.
Looking at Lin Xiaoxiao's messy hair, Tang Xue wiped her hands on her apron, trying to hold back, but still couldn't resist.
Tang Xue raised her hand and ruffled Lin Xiaoxiao's hair. Sure enough, it felt great. Tang Xue squinted her eyes. She had wanted to touch this hair for a long time, but she hadn't dared to before.
After their conversation last night, Tang Xue felt much more comfortable with Lin Xiaoxiao. Just now, when she saw Lin Xiaoxiao's slender, fair fingers moving through her hair, she felt a surge of desire again.
Lin Xiaoxiao was stunned for a moment, then quickly took a step back, increasing the distance between herself and Tang Xue.
"My hands are clean." The soft hair slipped through her fingers, and Tang Xue let out a heavy sigh, feeling somewhat regretful.
Lin Xiaoxiao was both amused and exasperated. "I know, but my hair isn't clean."
Tang Xue wanted to say she didn't mind, but then she realized that her behavior just now had indeed been a bit too intimate.
Although they are friends now, her behavior just now was still a bit excessive. Tang Xue reflected on herself for a moment, rubbed her fingers together, and coughed lightly, "Go wash up quickly."
"Hmm." Before leaving, Lin Xiaoxiao looked back at Tang Xue one last time. She felt that Tang Xue seemed a little down just now.
Lin Xiaoxiao scratched her hair. Should she have avoided it? But she hadn't washed her hair. Otherwise, she could have let her touch it a little more. If not, she could wash it and let her touch it again later.
However, even after the two finished breakfast and went out to work, Lin Xiaoxiao did not receive Tang Xue's second pat on the head.
As Lin Xiaoxiao got out of the car, she looked at Tang Xue sitting in the passenger seat. Her lips moved slightly. If she said now, "You can touch my head now," would it seem like she was crazy? Lin Xiaoxiao was a little conflicted.
"What's wrong?" Tang Xue paused as she reached for her seatbelt, somewhat puzzled.
"It's nothing." Lin Xiaoxiao sighed inwardly. She decided not to say anything. Asking to be touched would make her seem like she had some kind of perverted hobby.
Although it felt quite comfortable as Tang Xue's fingers ran through her hair, she didn't want Tang Xue to think she was sick.
Tang Xue looked at Lin Xiaoxiao, who had already gone down, with a hint of worry in her eyes. She quickly unfastened her seatbelt and followed her down. "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
"No, I'm fine. I don't feel unwell, so don't worry." Lin Xiaoxiao blinked.
Tang Xue stared at Lin Xiaoxiao for a while with some unease, and only breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that Lin Xiaoxiao was indeed not feeling unwell.
She remembered Bai Bing saying that Lin Xiaoxiao had a stomach problem, and for a moment just now, she was worried that there might be something wrong with the breakfast she made.
"Good morning." Bai Bing quickened her pace and walked alongside the two of them, smiling at Lin Xiaoxiao.
"Good morning, Sister Bingbing," Lin Xiaoxiao greeted, ignoring Bai Bing's meaningful smile. "Xiaoxue, let's have lunch together."
"Okay," Tang Xue replied naturally.
Seeing the two greeting each other so naturally, Bai Bing's eyes widened, her surprise undisguised. Wasn't this development a little too fast?
Bai Bing's gossip was burning fiercely. She really hadn't expected that Lin Xiaoxiao would win over Tang Xue in just one night? She even called her Xiaoxue!
"Tang Xue, I've arranged a performance lesson for you today, and it's almost time." Bai Bing glanced at the time while looking at Lin Xiaoxiao, who had already walked away. "Go and wait there." Without giving Tang Xue a chance to reply, she dashed off as if she had oiled her feet.
Tang Xue rubbed her eyes, expressionlessly averting her gaze. It's okay, a persona is meant to be broken, she has to get used to it. Yes, all of this is normal.
Watching Bai Bing enter the elevator one after the other, Lin Xiaoxiao just wanted to roll her eyes at her.
"Xiaoxiao, I didn't realize that. Tell your sister how you won over Tang Xue. In just one night, you helped her get over her heartbreak. You're amazing."
Lin Xiaoxiao resisted the urge to facepalm. "Sister Bingbing, when did you become so gossipy?"
"What gossip? I'm just concerned about you." Bai Bing righteously corrected Lin Xiaoxiao's words. What gossip? Was she that kind of person? She was clearly concerned about Lin Xiaoxiao. Where can you find a good older sister like her who cares about her younger sister?
Lin Xiaoxiao was speechless. "You can say that to my face, but don't say it in front of Xiaoxue."
Bai Bing rolled her eyes. "Am I the kind of person who has no sense of propriety? You've finally made some progress, and I'm not going to ruin it for you."
At this point, Bai Bing's smile suddenly became somewhat ambiguous, "So, isn't it convenient to live together?"
"It's very convenient." Lin Xiaoxiao nodded honestly. How could it not be convenient? Looking at her current relationship with Tang Xue, which is now so close, Lin Xiaoxiao could only say "Awesome!"
"Just ask if you need help. I'll always be your strong support." Bai Bing winked at Lin Xiaoxiao. "Don't worry, Tang Xue is with me now, and I'll protect her innocence for you."
Lin Xiaoxiao opened her mouth, wondering how she could explain herself to the person in front of her so that she truly only considered Tang Xue a friend, and not some perverted person lusting after her body.
Little did Lin Xiaoxiao know that one day in the future, she would become the perverted man who lusted after other people's bodies, just as she had imagined.
Chapter 24
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After seeing Bai Bing off, Lin Xiaoxiao threw herself into her work, especially the system that couldn't help with the mission.
The only thing that Lin Xiaoxiao felt it was still somewhat useful was that after inheriting everything from her predecessor, she also accepted her predecessor's business acumen.
Otherwise, such a large company could easily go bankrupt for someone like her who has no experience in this field.
After finishing her work for the day, Lin Xiaoxiao pinched the bridge of her nose, glanced at the time, and took out her phone to message Tang Xue to invite her to lunch together.
Before the message could even be sent, there was a knock on the office door. Looking at the person who walked in, Lin Xiaoxiao felt as if all her fatigue had vanished.
"Xiaoxiao." Tang Xue closed the door and looked at Lin Xiaoxiao nestled in the chair. Her gaze softened a little. Lin Xiaoxiao's office chair was very large. When she nestled in it, Lin Xiaoxiao looked particularly small. How should I put it... she was especially cute.
"Was today's class tough?" Lin Xiaoxiao put her phone in her pocket and stood up.
"It's no trouble at all." Tang Xue turned her gaze away from Lin Xiaoxiao's desk and glanced at the small closed door beside it. "Isn't Secretary Li here?"
"Something came up at her home," Lin Xiaoxiao said, her gaze following Tang Xue's to the empty glass on the table. Only when she saw the glass did Lin Xiaoxiao realize what was going on.
She started working as soon as she sat down, without even having a sip of water. "Um..." Lin Xiaoxiao said a little embarrassedly, "Let me have some water first, then we'll go eat."
"Sit down and rest." As she spoke, Tang Xue walked over to Lin Xiaoxiao, put her hand on her shoulder, and pressed her back into the office chair. She could tell that Lin Xiaoxiao was very tired.
Pressed back into the chair, Lin Xiaoxiao didn't struggle, and instead buried herself in the chair more comfortably. "Then I'll have to trouble you."
Watching Lin Xiaoxiao close her eyes and pretend to sleep, her soft and thick short hair obediently clung to her forehead, her gentle and long breaths were extremely noticeable in the quiet office.
Her long, thick eyelashes concealed the weariness in her eyes. At this moment, Lin Xiaoxiao no longer had her usual vitality, nor was she the cold and arrogant person Tang Xue remembered.
The girl, curled up tightly in the chair, was completely unguarded, like a kitten that trusted its owner implicitly, revealing her most vulnerable side.
Looking at those long eyelashes, Tang Xue suddenly felt a little itchy. She rubbed her fingers together, as if trying to release the itch that arose in her heart for some unknown reason.
Biting her lip, the slight stinging sensation brought Tang Xue back to her senses. After taking a deep look at Lin Xiaoxiao, Tang Xue turned around and pushed open the small door that was closed next to her.
Lin Xiaoxiao didn't know how she fell asleep, but she knew she was woken up by a loud noise, and then that voice she hated so much rang in her ears.
"Lin Xiaoxiao, where is Tang Xue? Where did you hide her? Give her back to me." Leaning on the desk and looking at Lin Xiaoxiao, was Lin Yu, who had just broken up with Tang Xue yesterday. Lin Yu's appearance was not much better than yesterday.
When those bloodshot eyes stared at you, it really gave you the creeps. Lin Xiaoxiao pinched her brow hard.
Perhaps because she had just woken up, her mind was still a little foggy, and she seemed unable to understand how this thing in front of her had ended up in her office.
"Lin Xiaoxiao, don't think that just because you used such despicable means to separate us, I'll be with you. Let me tell you, you're delusional." Lin Yu clenched his fist and slammed it heavily on the table. He really wanted to tear the person in front of him apart.
"Tang Xue." Lin Xiaoxiao was startled and quickly came to her senses. She took a key from the drawer, ran to the room Tang Xue had just entered, and locked the door with the key.
Although Tang Xue and Lin Yu have broken up, and Tang Xue told her yesterday that her feelings for Lin Yu were perhaps only gratitude and affection, not romantic love,
But who can say for sure about such things? Lin Xiaoxiao doesn't want to try to figure out how powerful the plot is, not to mention that Lin Yu looks like a madman right now.
But she couldn't bear to see how pitiful the person was now. If Tang Xue saw this and softened her heart, all her efforts over the past few months would have been in vain.
"Lin Xiaoxiao, what are you doing? Open the door." Tang Xue realized something was wrong when she heard the noise outside, but while she was fast, Lin Xiaoxiao was just as quick.
Just as she put her hand on the doorknob, the door was locked. Tang Xue was furious and pounded on the door, almost kicking it.
"Don't be nervous or worried. He can stay calm now that he can't see you. If he does see you, he might go crazy. Just bear with it for now, I'll take care of it right away. Also..."
Lin Xiaoxiao rubbed her face. "Don't bang on the door anymore, it hurts. If you want to smash something, you can smash whatever you want inside, just don't hurt yourself."
Lin Xiaoxiao quickly finished speaking, not caring how angry Tang Xue was. Seeing Lin Yu coming this way, she quickly ran over and stopped him.
Once she came to her senses, Lin Xiaoxiao wanted to give herself a good beating for her carelessness. She remembered to greet the security guard in the residential area, but she had overlooked the company. Her predecessor had given Lin Yu the right to come and see her directly, how could she have forgotten that?
"Lin Yu, don't throw a drunken tantrum here. I've already called security. Are you going to leave on your own, or should I have someone throw you out?" Lin Xiaoxiao naturally wouldn't be polite to Lin Yu.
"Lin Xiaoxiao, what exactly do you want? Don't you like me? If you like me, why are you treating me like this? Why?" Lin Yu tried to grab Lin Xiaoxiao's neck, but Lin Xiaoxiao nimbly dodged him.
Lin Xiaoxiao frowned, glanced at the door she had locked, and really wanted to slap Lin Yu to death. "I like you?" Lin Xiaoxiao sneered. "Lin Yu, aren't you overestimating yourself?"
Do you know what you are in my eyes? You're trash. If you truly deserved your so-called deep affection, I might have looked up to you a little, but look at what you've done—is that something a human being would do?
Lin Xiaoxiao walked to the side, opened a drawer, and took out a small box with a lock. She waved it at Lin Yu and asked, "Do you know what's in here?" Lin Xiaoxiao slowly opened the box, which was full of photos, all of them of Lin Yu with different women.
She hired someone to take these photos. At the time, she was thinking about how to make Tang Xue see Lin Yu's true colors, so she hired a private investigator to take these photos.
He had originally planned to use these photos to persuade Tang Xue and make her believe him, but before he could even use them, Tang Xue had already broken up with Lin Yu.
"Tell me, if you want to make money with your body, don't go around harming such a lovely and kind girl. Tang Xue is an artist under my management, someone I'm protecting."
"You're really giving me too much credit. Don't be so narcissistic. Don't you have any self-awareness that you're actually quite filthy? Before you claim someone likes you, please have some self-awareness."
Lin Xiaoxiao assured him that she really didn't intend to provoke Lin Yu. She was just presenting the facts, reasoning with him, and listing the evidence.
But this was also her only mistake. Since she was trying to reason with someone who had gone mad, Lin Xiaoxiao paid the price for her naivety.