VBNWDW - Chapter 32
Chapter 32
"CEO Xi, here is the coffee you wanted."
Sunlight streamed into the traditional-style office. A porcelain cup was placed on the desk, its crisp clink cutting through the heavy silence.
The newly hired secretary hesitated for a moment before adding timidly, "This is the medicine you just bought. I brought it up for you."
Only then did the person in the office chair show a slight reaction. She lifted her eyes and said, "Just put it on the desk."
The secretary quickly complied. The package was wrapped so securely that its contents were completely hidden. It rustled as she picked it up, and she quickly set it down on the desk.
The secretary glanced cautiously at Xi Zhoulu. She seemed to want to say something but ultimately held her tongue, turning to leave so as not to disturb her any longer. Her mind, however, was racing with doubt.
It was only her second day on the job. Did her new boss already not need her?
She had ordered her own takeout and bought her own things. Was it because she found her incompetent, or was she annoyed by her constant questions?
But CEO Xi had just asked her to make coffee…
Surely she wouldn't be fired this quickly.
With a heart full of unease, the secretary gently closed the office door.
Behind the desk, knuckles clenched around an expensive fountain pen, quickly scribbling a few words on a page before the notebook was snapped shut and set aside with the pen.
Xi Zhoulu looked up at the takeout bag on the other side of the wooden desk, a complex, struggling expression flashing across her delicate features.
Her long fingers tapped against the desktop, producing a dull, rhythmic sound. It was a rare moment of hesitation for her.
Taking a deep breath, Xi Zhoulu finally resolved to reach for it, but the movement pulled at her waist. Instantly, the feeling of sore, weary exhaustion she had been suppressing surged back.
"Hiss…" A low sound escaped Xi Zhoulu's lips. Her outstretched hand froze before she hastily grabbed the bag and pulled it toward her.
She didn't open it right away. Instead, she pressed a hand to the small of her back, her brow furrowing into a tight knot, her expression exceedingly complicated.
She had only ever heard of Alphas being scared off by Omegas in heat, never of an Omega being bullied by an Alpha to the point of being unable to get out of bed, clutching her aching back and panting for breath.
At that moment, Xi Zhoulu didn't know whether to rub her lower back or her temples first.
Luo Yueqing must have been truly furious last night. Though she had been excessive before, she had never been so relentless. After one or two rounds, she would usually stop to let her rest, proactively massaging her back and legs to help her recover. Because of that, Xi Zhoulu had always found it bearable.
But last night…
The hand massaging her back paused for a moment, as if she could once again feel Luo Yueqing's hand covering it, her light laughter urging her on. "What's this, CEO Xi? Can't move your hips anymore?"
"You promised to compensate me. Don't tell me it's only going to last a few minutes."
The fox-like woman blinked, then feigned a wronged expression. "I was on my knees for a very long time, you know."
"Look, my skin is all scraped."
Xi Zhoulu was helpless. Her legs were already weak, and she rarely exercised. Fifteen minutes had been her absolute limit. She took a deep breath but could only draw in half of one before she collapsed, the mist in the corners of her eyes instantly shattering.
Pleased, Luo Yueqing had laughed. With a gentle hook of her finger, she made Xi Zhoulu tense up involuntarily, her breathing turning ragged as her strength waned even further.
Forcibly suppressing the memory, Xi Zhoulu rubbed her back and even began to wonder if she might end up with abs after some time. It sounded unreliable, but it felt entirely possible.
The soreness in her back was difficult to alleviate; it was simply a case of overexertion. She had forced herself to stay away during the first half of the night, only to be tormented relentlessly by Luo Yueqing in the second. Xi Zhoulu hadn't slept at all. When it was time, she had rinsed off quickly and rushed out the door for work.
The one who was comfortable, ironically, was the troublemaker herself, Luo Yueqing. While Xi Zhoulu was busy changing, she had leisurely stretched out on the bed and said with a beaming smile, "Goodbye, CEO Xi. Work hard."
"I'll wait obediently for CEO Xi to come back."
The bite mark on her pearly white shoulder had already faded considerably. Wracked with guilt and too weak to resist, Xi Zhoulu hadn't been able to deepen the mark at all.
The sight left Xi Zhoulu fuming and grinding her teeth. For the first time, going to work, something she had never complained about, had become detestable.
And what about Luo Yueqing? She had pulled the blanket up and then let it fall, clucking her tongue and teasing, "Oh, so tired. I'll have to ask someone to change the sheets before I can sleep."
She even feigned ignorance, asking, "How did it get all wet? There isn't a single dry spot left."
She knew perfectly well why there were no dry spots left. Xi Zhoulu had cried and begged her to stop, but she had continued, and in the end…
In the end, of course, it was a twitching, chaotic mess.
The memory made Xi Zhoulu even more incensed. She couldn't help but press harder on her back, which was immediately followed by a sharp intake of breath. Her overly sore muscles couldn't handle the pressure; any sudden movement made her feel as if her back was about to snap.
But that wasn't the most troublesome part. The most frustrating and helpless issue was the redness and swelling from the excessive friction. She hadn't noticed it before, but now, even slightly lifting her leg sent a strange sensation spreading through her. There was no way to relieve it; she could only endure.
If one dared to punish the little fox, one had to be prepared to be bitten and retaliated against by an angry little fox.
This time, however, Xi Zhoulu had truly experienced what it meant to be a smiling fox.
No matter how angry she was, she maintained a smiling facade. Her words were coaxing and pitiful, but in reality, she would grab the ankle of the person trying to escape, pull them back, and then drape their leg over her own shoulder. A slight lift, and her waist and abdomen would be forced to hang in mid-air. Although it was more comfortable than before, it was also more exhausting. She was constantly tense, with no way to find leverage.
Rubbing it for a long time brought no relief. In fact, it seemed to be getting worse, the ache spreading outward from her spine. There wasn't a single part of her that felt at ease.
Xi Zhoulu's lips pressed into a thin line. Just as a few thoughts began to form, she was interrupted by a knock on the door.
—Knock, knock-knock!
Xi Zhoulu immediately composed herself and called out in a low voice, "Come in."
The person pushed the door open and walked straight in, stopping before the desk. "CEO Xi."
She was about thirty, with shoulder-length hair. Her delicate features were well-maintained, and with a touch of light makeup, she looked remarkably sharp and capable.
Her eyes swept to the side, and before Xi Zhoulu could respond, she asked with concern, "Are you ill?"
Even though Xi Zhoulu had deliberately lowered her voice, she couldn't hide the hoarseness from all the crying. Her voice, usually as clear as a spring striking stone, was now muffled as if by a layer of gauze. Even someone unfamiliar with her would have noticed something was wrong, let alone this person, who had been Xi Zhoulu's trusted confidante for years.
Xi Zhoulu's expression stiffened. She masked her unnatural look with deliberate coldness and said only, "Is there something you need?"
How could Li Qingli not understand her meaning? Since Xi Zhoulu didn't want to talk about it, she moved on, immediately getting to business. "Xi Zhoukang has been placed in the company."
Xi Zhoulu's brow furrowed, but she showed little surprise.
Since Xi Yunting and the others had set their minds on it, they certainly wouldn't give up easily. They would undoubtedly do everything they could to get Xi Zhoukang into the company.
"Old Master Xi approved it. He even had someone arrange a manager position for him," Li Qingli finished, then looked up at Xi Zhoulu, awaiting her instructions.
Although she was also Xi Zhoulu's secretary, her status was far higher than the new hire's. She was responsible for arranging Xi Zhoulu's daily work schedule and communicating all personnel changes within the company. She was, in effect, Xi Zhoulu's second-in-command.
Xi Zhoulu nodded slightly. After a moment of thought, she waved her hand. "Ignore him for now. Let him stir things up for a few days. We'll see what the Old Master's attitude is."
It was a short sentence, but Li Qingli understood its many implications. She instantly knew what to do. "There are two small accounts that we haven't been able to collect final payment on. Should we hand them over to him?"
For someone to dare to withhold payment from a company as prominent as the Xi family, they had to be an extremely difficult client. It was the perfect task to dump on Xi Zhoukang. If he managed to collect the payment, everyone would be happy. If not, it was no great loss. It would at least keep him occupied for a while and prevent him from bossing people around in his little department and disrupting others' work.
It was a good idea, and Xi Zhoulu nodded in agreement.
"Also…" Li Qingli, who was usually concise, suddenly hesitated. She paused for a moment before speaking. "The anniversary of your mother's death is in a week. Do you need me to clear a day for you in advance?"
As she spoke, Xi Zhoulu's expression instantly became distant. Her lowered eyelids hid her eyes, making her emotions impossible to read. She only said in a low voice, "You can arrange it."
"Understood."
Li Qingli quietly glanced up, studying her expression. After confirming that she was sufficiently calm, she continued, "Miss Luo called just now. She told us not to send you lunch, as she's bringing some over herself."
She had said she would wait obediently at home, but after a light nap, she was already on her way over. Miss Luo wasn't a completely terrible, scummy Alpha after all; she was just very angry last night.
Xi Zhoulu's expression softened slightly. "Do as she says."
The little fox's conscience was bothering her. She couldn't very well stop her from coming over to make amends.
Li Qingli had expected this. After exchanging a few more words, she turned and left the office. Her eyes once again swept unintentionally over the takeout bag, a flicker of doubt in her mind.
Could CEO Xi really be sick?
It looked like she hadn't slept well at all last night. There were dark circles under her eyes, and her voice was weak. Thankfully, Miss Luo was thoughtful enough to bring lunch personally, solving the problem of how to painstakingly order a meal for Xi Zhoulu.
However, as a considerate and thorough secretary, Li Qingli still conducted a serious self-review. Perhaps she had booked Xi Zhoulu's flight too early, and the large temperature difference between the two locations had caused her to catch a cold.
She silently made a note of this, resolving to consider such factors in the future.
Back in the office, Xi Zhoulu turned her head to look at the takeout bag, her expression growing complicated again.
This medicine was for internal use…
Xi Zhoulu pressed her lips together. The timing was perfect, leaving her in a difficult position.
If Luo Yueqing arrived at the office early and happened to walk in on her applying the medicine in the break room, then…
Given the wicked sense of humor Luo Yueqing had displayed last night, the matter would probably not be dropped so easily.
But if she didn't apply it now and put it away in the break room, and Luo Yueqing happened to see it, things would likely spiral even further out of control.
Her expression grew complex as she agonized over it. In the end, she simply tore open the takeout bag and took out a box of Golden Throat Lozenges.
She had a meeting in the afternoon. Although she wouldn't need to say much, she couldn't keep speaking with a hoarse voice.
As for the rest…
Xi Zhoulu decided it was best to hide them well and deal with it after Luo Yueqing had left.
The cool, medicinal flavor spread across her tongue, soothing her sore, hoarse throat. Xi Zhoulu picked up her pen again and opened the file of unfinished work.
The sunlight after the rain was exceptionally brilliant, casting a soft glow into the office. The opened takeout bag was locked away in a cabinet in the break room, completely wrapped in clothes.
A short while later, a call came through, announcing that Miss Luo had arrived.
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