SCHS - Chapter 43
Chapter 43
Qin Zhen looked at Wen Shixue's smile, as bright as the warm sun, then recalled her comforting words. She suddenly couldn't figure out why Wen Shixue was so happy. Was she happy that Qin Zhen was still single? Just that? It didn't quite seem like it.
She hesitated, saying, "You seem very happy? Why?"
Wen Shixue actually didn't know why she was so happy. This joy, along with the disappointment she felt when she heard Qin Zhen say she liked someone, had come just as suddenly and was naturally ignored by her. Why? She tilted her head slightly, resting a finger on her chin, beginning to search for traces of the answer. This was her habitual gesture when thinking, and Qin Zhen knew it instantly, feeling deeply helpless about it—who doesn't even know why they're happy?
Wen Shixue pondered for a moment, then suddenly showed an expression of realization, saying, "Because you won't be snatched away by someone else, and you can still work for me, that's why I'm very happy." She had grown accustomed to Qin Zhen being by her side and couldn't imagine life without her. If Qin Zhen didn't have someone she liked, it meant her current focus was still on herself and work, and she wouldn't be considering other things. As her boss, she wouldn't have to worry about her leaving. Thinking it over, she felt this answer perfectly explained her happiness.
Qin Zhen watched her silently, clearly remembering Wen Shixue telling her to find someone from Chenfeng to date, and also remembering that she had just told Zhang Tianhao she liked someone from Chenfeng. Given that, shouldn't Wen Shixue have been happy from the beginning?
"You seem unable to accept me dating," Qin Zhen said, looking into her eyes and getting straight to the point. "Including someone from Chenfeng." The little devil was going back on her word.
Wen Shixue heard this, looked back at her seriously for a moment, and then shamelessly admitted, "Probably."
"I can't imagine you dating anyone from Chenfeng and not worrying about you leaving." She didn't 100% trust many people at Chenfeng, and love was a matter of chance. With so many people at Chenfeng, who could say who Qin Zhen might take a liking to? And who could guarantee that the person Qin Zhen liked wouldn't betray her, wouldn't use love to force Qin Zhen to betray her? She absolutely hated being stabbed in the back by her own people, and Qin Zhen was the first person she trusted wholeheartedly, holding immense significance. She didn't want to lose her.
"I'm a selfish boss," Wen Shixue said. "Right?"
Going back on her word, interfering with her subordinate's love life—she was simply the most selfish person imaginable.
Her eyes flickered slightly, her naturally rosy lips pressed together tightly. Her smile silently faded, replaced by an expression of guilt and conflict. It was as if her inner self didn't approve of such selfishness, yet she was at a loss for how to deal with this side of herself.
Qin Zhen didn't know that her casual question would make the child so conflicted and guilty. It was the first time she had seen her wear such an expression. Then she saw her lips part, and she asked uncertainly, "Lao Qin, are you going to hate me?"
She looked exactly like a child about to be abandoned.
Qin Zhen's heart trembled, and in a trance, she saw her younger self.
She had never met her parents and didn't know what they looked like. After she could remember things, she thought she had been abandoned because they hated her. So, for a time, she was always afraid that the teachers at the orphanage would hate her and abandon her again. During that period, she was always cautious around the teachers, and the words she said most often were, "Are you going to hate me?" Fortunately, they never did; they never hated her, and she would never be abandoned by adults again.
However, in this emotional situation unintentionally triggered today, she suddenly became the adult making the choice, and Wen Shixue became the one being chosen.
Wen Shixue needed her, more than anyone else.
She placed her hand on Wen Shixue's dark, soft hair, sighing softly and gently, and asked, "If I had someone I liked, but you didn't like them, would you stop me from dating them because of that?"
Wen Shixue lowered her head and thought for a moment, then replied softly, "No, that's your business, I have no right to interfere."
Love is a matter of mutual consent, a matter between two people. What right did she, as a third party, have to force Qin Zhen to listen to her based on personal preference? If Qin Zhen truly liked someone, she definitely wouldn't spoil Qin Zhen's mood, wouldn't make things awkward, and wouldn't ruin their friendship. Her emotions might be a bit selfish, but she herself remained rational.
Qin Zhen smiled gently at her words, her tone softening as well: "So you're not selfish, you're just worried I'll be instigated by someone else to betray you."
Wen Shixue slowly raised her eyes to meet hers. Qin Zhen said, "I don't hate you either, don't worry."
Wen Shixue was suddenly stunned for a moment. For some reason, she suddenly found the Qin Zhen before her exceptionally captivating. The charm emanating from Qin Zhen was unconsciously drawing her closer.
Qin Zhen watched wide-eyed as Wen Shixue suddenly grabbed her arms and leaned in, getting closer and closer, so close that their breaths were clearly audible, creating an atmosphere called ambiguity.
She unconsciously tensed her body, her heart rate accelerating uncontrollably.
Then Wen Shixue started looking at her from the left, then the right, as if she needed to examine every angle of her face.
She felt deeply confused by this, and also afraid that if this continued, something might happen. So she grabbed her arm with one hand, straightened her up, and said, forcing calmness, "Stand properly."
Wen Shixue smiled at her and said, "Lao Qin, I just thought, if I cause you to be unable to date..."
"...then I'll compensate you with myself."
Qin Zhen's grip in her palm unconsciously tightened for a moment, then quickly returned to normal. Suppressing the shock in her heart, she frowned slightly and said, "Don't mess around, do you know what you're saying?"
What was worse, her heart, upon hearing Wen Shixue's idea, was actually inappropriately happy.
That was clearly just Wen Shixue's joke, yet she was happy because of it... She must be crazy.
"I know," Wen Shixue said seriously. "You're good-looking and nice, I wouldn't lose out by being with you."
In a certain moment just now, she had been attracted to Qin Zhen and couldn't help but examine her face, studying it closely. She suddenly realized that she could also try dating women.
Thinking back on the time she had spent working and living with Qin Zhen, she only now realized that Qin Zhen was simply a perfect dating partner, except for being strict about her diet.
Moreover, if Qin Zhen was with her, she would no longer need to worry about Qin Zhen being instigated by a girlfriend to leave her. She could more comfortably do her "duty" as Qin Zhen's... partner? Wasn't this killing two birds with one stone, how wonderful!
As she spoke, she scanned Qin Zhen's face, her eyes clearly showing the word "curiosity." "Besides," she added, "I've never dated a woman before. Is it wrong for my curiosity to have thoughts about this?"
Curiosity, again.
Qin Zhen still remembered that they became friends because she was curious about what it felt like to be friends with someone seven years older than herself.
Sure enough, the little devil would only ever be interested in her out of curiosity.
Qin Zhen accepted this fact, and her heart's beating gradually returned to normal. She gently rubbed her head, her voice becoming calm. "Stop talking nonsense. Let's go back, we still have things waiting for us to do." With that, she turned and walked away.
Wen Shixue was about to say she wasn't joking, but her phone suddenly rang mercilessly in her pocket, pushing back the words she wanted to say. She had no choice but to answer the call first.
Qin Zhen stopped and waited patiently for her to finish the call.
Wen Shixue didn't talk for long before the other person hung up in a hurry, leaving her completely bewildered.
"It was Lin Jiayu," she said. "She said she's coming over."
Qin Zhen was puzzled. "What is Miss Lin coming here for?"
Wen Shixue: "I don't know. She just asked if I was at Chenfeng, said she was coming, and hung up."
Qin Zhen: "..."
Wen Shixue rubbed her chin, secretly wondering if it was because of Zhang Tianhao, who had just been chased away...
... The Secretary General led Lin Jiayu to the President's office. Wen Shixue stood up to greet her and saw Lin Jiayu, dressed elegantly and sweetly, walk in holding a white dessert box.
"For you," Lin Jiayu said, placing the dessert box in her hand. "The strawberry cake from this place is good."
Wen Shixue said thank you and asked, "Why did you suddenly decide to visit Chenfeng?"
Lin Jiayu sighed, suddenly walked over to her side, linked arms with her, and leaned on her shoulder, saying, "Shixue, I'm someone who just broke up."
Wen Shixue, who had never experienced heartbreak: "So?"
Lin Jiayu: "So I need to get out more, find things to do, and quickly wash away the gloom of the breakup."
Although she knew Zhang Tianhao wasn't worth her affection, they had been together for quite some time, so it was inevitable to feel sad for a few days after breaking up. Wen Shixue was the one who had guided her to see things clearly that day, so she felt a natural fondness for Wen Shixue and came over, hoping she could find something here to help distract her.
Wen Shixue instantly felt relieved upon hearing it wasn't about Zhang Tianhao. She thought for a moment, cooperating, and casually suggested, "Work for me for free for a few days, let the fulfilling work wash away the gloom of your breakup?"
Lin Jiayu looked up at her. Wen Shixue said seriously, "Don't worry, to help you get over your breakup quickly, I will definitely increase your workload and arrange a mountain of tasks for you, leaving no time or opportunity for heartbreak!"
Lin Jiayu said speechlessly, "...Thank you, I'm very touched, but no need." She then released her and sat on the sofa. "Quickly, give me an idea. I'll even pay for it."
As soon as Wen Shixue heard the words "pay money," she instantly thought of something and couldn't help but smile. "Then get your money ready."
Lin Jiayu: "?"
... Today was the day Wen Shixue and Qin Zhen were to inspect the designers' finished products. This day also happened to be the day before Qin Zhen's business trip, so she could conveniently take a few sets with her to wear during the trip.
Who knows, maybe someone would see them and want to collaborate with Chenfeng? Wen Shixue wouldn't miss any business opportunity. Beautiful jewelry paired with beautiful people would also have an added filter of charm. When it came to beauty, she didn't think her Vice President would lose to anyone else.
These finished products were also made to attract clients, and Lin Jiayu was a client of Chenfeng, so there was nothing wrong with having her join the inspection. As expected, Lin Jiayu's spirits lifted significantly when she saw the finished products, and her mind could no longer hold thoughts of her breakup.
From Lin Jiayu's surprised expression upon seeing the finished products, Wen Shixue knew that this batch of products was very successful and didn't need to ask any further questions.
Lin Jiayu couldn't bear to part with any of the finished products, but Wen Shixue wouldn't let her take everything. After setting aside two sets designed by Tao Wanwan and Xu Jianfan as birthday gifts, she also needed to keep a few sets for herself and Qin Zhen for daily wear.
Lin Jiayu expressed understanding and even knew who the birthday gifts were for, as she herself had received an invitation. She simply took this opportunity to pick two sets as birthday gifts. Moreover, she usually enjoyed picking accessories for her friends, so after choosing the birthday gifts, she simply joined Wen Shixue in picking.
Qin Zhen, on the other hand, was indifferent, saying any set was fine. After all, it was her first time displaying products. Lin Jiayu thought she was beautiful and could afford to be willful; any set would match.
Wen Shixue didn't say anything, but as she picked, she unconsciously started picking for Qin Zhen. Not only did she pick, but she also pulled her over to try them on and compare.
Wen Shixue brushed Qin Zhen's long hair behind her ear and personally placed a ruby osmanthus leaf earring on her fair, jade-like earlobe. Her gaze lingered on the gently swaying earring for a moment, then unconsciously followed the smooth, perfect line of her neck downwards, stopping just above the collarbone, half-hidden by her clothes. Then she looked up at her, her smile pure and clean: "Our Lao Qin really looks good in anything."
Qin Zhen's gaze slowly converged on her face, her fanned eyelashes lowering gently, concealing a trace of embarrassment in her eyes. She said softly, "You don't need to go to so much trouble picking for me..."
"It's no trouble," Wen Shixue turned her head to search for the next piece, completely at ease. "I'm happy to pick for you."
Lin Jiayu, who was picking jewelry not far away, looked up and saw the two of them acting intimately and naturally. She vaguely smelled a hint of something unusual.
—Is this the legendary new era of socialist sisterly love?
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Rich sister, it's called lily! How about trying it with me 👀
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