At the hotel, Luo Li wandered around aimlessly, trailing behind Ji Qiubai.
"…"
"Miss Luo, isn't your room on a different floor from Director Lu's?" Ji Qiubai stopped, sensing the not-so-subtle gaze from behind her.
"Ah… yes, Director Lu asked me to check on you. She's worried about you." Luo Li boldly stepped forward, fabricating a story.
Hm? Could it be that Luo Li is the one who needs more concern here?
Since she was caught anyway, Luo Li walked over to Ji Qiubai and lowered her voice, "What's going on with you and Jing Yao? She's been acting pretty brazen lately."
Ji Qiubai's long lashes fluttered, a hint of panic flashing in her eyes. "Nothing, Miss Luo, you're overthinking it."
"Sorry, I'd like to rest for a bit."
Luo Li, full of suspicion, returned to knock on Lu Cixue's door. When she entered, Lu Cixue was on the phone, seemingly discussing something important.
Luo Li, not wanting to interrupt, quietly put on disposable gloves and began peeling a pomelo.
She had noticed her colleagues enjoying several of these since they were a local specialty.
"Alright, we'll discuss this further next time."
Lu Cixue turned around to see Luo Li already sitting with a small mountain of neatly peeled pomelo slices, creatively arranging them.
—This person always has such peculiar ideas.
"Finished your call?" Luo Li pointed to the fruit. "Try this. They said it's really sweet."
Lu Cixue sat down and reached for a slice, but Luo Li, with her face cupped in her hands, stared at her without moving.
Instead of eating it herself, Lu Cixue turned the slice around and fed it to Luo Li, who cheekily nibbled on her fingertips, giving them a little lick.
The cat seemed startled, freezing in place as her cheeks turned visibly red.
"It really is sweet," Luo Li savored the taste, mischief brewing in her eyes. "How about I feed you?"
Before Lu Cixue could voice a protest, Luo Li's lips were already on hers, pushing a piece of pomelo into her mouth with a skillful tongue, nibbling a bit herself before pulling back.
She repeated this several times…
Then, with an innocent yet serious expression, she asked, "Is it good?"
Lu Cixue noticed that Luo Li had been getting bolder lately. What started as simple hand-holding and brief kisses had escalated into long, lingering kisses, with Luo Li frequently finding new ways to coax her into initiating them.
Despite her initial resistance, she often found herself giving in. And when Luo Li stopped at just the right moment, it left Lu Cixue wanting more.
Luo Li knew she was pushing boundaries but found it impossible to resist teasing Lu Cixue, especially when her shyness made her all the more endearing.
Besides, Luo Li's engagement ring was ready, and she was eagerly planning the right moment to propose, which only emboldened her further.
"Don't do that," Director Lu tried to assert her authority, but her breathless voice lacked any real force.
—Not intimidating at all.
"Do you really not like it?" Luo Li pouted, looking downcast and crestfallen.
Lu Cixue's resolve instantly softened.
There was a reason Luo Li always got her way.
In the end, Director Lu allowed herself to be coaxed into sharing the pomelo with Luo Li.
The hotel was in a resort area, not far from a ski slope dotted with scattered groups of people. Luo Ran was having a great time.
She couldn't understand why Luo Li, who usually loved snowboarding, hadn't shown up yet.
"Ran Ran?"
Luo Ran turned to see a familiar face, a beautiful woman with a gentle smile.
"Jing Yao? What are you doing here?"
"Just taking a break," Jing Yao glanced around, noticing the absence of familiar faces. "Where's your sister?"
"Oh, I'm sure she's sneaking off with Director Lu for some alone time. They're inseparable during the honeymoon phase." Luo Ran shook her head in mock exasperation.
"Jing Yao, are you staying at our hotel too?"
Jing Yao nodded, then noticed a familiar figure a short distance away, chatting with a colleague. A subtle smile curved her lips.
"Why don't I take you to lunch? The hotel meals are pretty standard, but there's a great place nearby. I've been there before, and I doubt your sister will join us."
Excited to have someone she knew to dine with, Luo Ran eagerly started planning the menu, completely unaware of Jing Yao's wandering thoughts.
"Sure, sounds great."
Just as the person in the distance finally noticed them, Jing Yao turned her gaze away and left with Luo Ran.
When Luo Li and Lu Cixue arrived at the hotel restaurant, Ji Qiubai was the only one left from the company.
She was eating absentmindedly, clearly lost in thought.
"Assistant Ji, your food's gone cold. Maybe you should heat it up." Luo Li and Lu Cixue sat beside her, bringing her back to the present.
"Miss Luo, do you know what President Jing likes?" Ji Qiubai nervously clutched her utensils, trying to sound casual.
Huh? That direct?
Luo Li noticed Lu Cixue pause mid-bite, raising an eyebrow as she observed Ji Qiubai.
—So, even cats enjoy gossip.
"Oh, she likes lots of things, but most of them are just passing fancies. She's like that with people too." Luo Li candidly exposed her friend's fickle nature.
That "passing fancies" remark hit Ji Qiubai's fragile heart hard.
"Thanks, I'm full now. Enjoy your meal."
"Are they…" Lu Cixue couldn't help but wonder as Ji Qiubai walked away.
Luo Li flashed a mischievous grin. "Hard to say."
That evening, there was a group outing to stargaze. Although Luo Li and Lu Cixue preferred their own company, they decided to join in for a change.
Perhaps due to the approaching New Year or a local celebration, colorful fireworks lit up the sky, adding to the excitement of the crowd gathered in the open field.
"Look." After standing among the others for a while, Luo Li and Lu Cixue quietly moved to a secluded spot away from the crowd.
Luo Li pointed to where Luo Ran was enthusiastically chatting away.
Jing Yao occasionally nodded, pretending to listen, but her mind was clearly elsewhere.
Ji Qiubai hadn't even shown up and was likely holed up in her room, brooding.
"Director Lu, your assistant is just as stubborn as you are." Luo Li teased, her hand sneaking around Lu Cixue's waist in the darkness.
Lu Cixue gave her a half-hearted glare before looking up at the bright night sky, almost talking to herself, "Because it doesn't feel real."
For both her and Ji Qiubai, just getting through life took most of their energy. How could they believe someone would genuinely care for them?
Even now, Lu Cixue occasionally felt like she was living in a beautiful dream, as if the universe pitied her and gave her this small gift. She cherished it deeply but constantly feared it would all vanish if something went wrong.
She had grown soft, giving in to Luo Li's desires and learning how to love someone properly. She wanted to give Luo Li everything she could, hoping to bring only happiness into her life.
She was happy but also terrified.
"It won't," Luo Li squeezed her hand. "As long as you don't push me away, I'll keep coming to you."
Warmth spread from their intertwined fingers to Lu Cixue's heart. She slowly extended her fingers, locking them with Luo Li's under the shadow of the fireworks.
Back at the hotel, Luo Li slipped into Lu Cixue's room unnoticed.
"Why is Tao Jinxi contacting me again?"
Lu Cixue was reviewing emails on her laptop, while Luo Li curiously scrolled through her phone.
"She said she's coming back to the country soon and asked about my New Year plans, suggesting our families have dinner together."
"I turned her down. I'm spending New Year and Spring Festival with you this year." Luo Li, ever the loyal companion, snuggled up to Lu Cixue's leg.
—She really was like a little puppy.
Lu Cixue took off her glasses, sighing in amusement or exasperation. "You should spend time with your parents."
"Then come with me?" Luo Li couldn't bear the thought of leaving Lu Cixue alone for the holidays. It might be a bit soon, but it wasn't impossible.
Lu Cixue looked down at her, not entirely agreeing with the idea.
Family gatherings were meant to be warm and cozy, but with an outsider present, the atmosphere would become polite and distant.
"My parents really like you," Luo Li spilled the beans. "It's just me and my parents at home. You wouldn't have to feel awkward. They know about us."
Lu Cixue hesitated for a moment but ultimately shook her head. "Maybe next time."
After all, her family would undoubtedly start demanding money again at this time of year.
There was no need to burden Luo Li with such troubles.
Looking down at Luo Li's face, Lu Cixue couldn't deny that she was tempted to escape from that place entirely.
But she quickly suppressed the thought.
She had tried before, hadn't she? And what was the outcome?
"Alright, then I'll have dinner with them and come back to you afterward." Luo Li didn't push further, deciding she would simply return earlier.
——
Ji Qiubai sat in her room, scribbling on some papers when there was a knock on the door.
She opened it to find a woman in a loosely tied bathrobe, leaning against the doorframe with a playful look. "Are you really planning to leave without taking responsibility?"
"I didn't," Ji Qiubai quickly defended herself.
A young couple passed by in the hallway, giving them curious looks. Ji Qiubai glanced at the woman's barely fastened bathrobe, then pulled her inside and shut the door.
Jing Yao's smile deepened, and her fingers naturally intertwined with Ji Qiubai's. "I was just teasing. I already said you don't have to take responsibility. Why do you look so guilty?"
Ji Qiubai's expression soured even more.
As she walked toward the sofa, Jing Yao noticed the scattered papers on the table, along with a pencil, suggesting this wasn't work-related. Curiosity piqued, Jing Yao leaned in for a closer look.
"Don't—" Ji Qiubai tried to stop her, feeling her face heat up.
Too late. Jing Yao had already grabbed the papers.
Ji Qiubai's heart sank.
Jing Yao's expression shifted from curiosity to surprise, then barely contained laughter as she took in the messy mind map.
So this little "old soul" was jealous after all?
She had written down the names of a few of Jing Yao's ex-girlfriends, and even Luo Ran's name was there.
"So… Detective, what have you deduced?"