——It's getting hard to breathe.
Lu Cixue pushed lightly on Luo Li's shoulder, but Luo Li, lost in the lingering fear from hours ago, didn't seem to notice.
It wasn't until Lu Cixue, on the verge of suffocating, bit her warningly that Luo Li finally pulled back. Her head drooped as she leaned against Lu Cixue's shoulder, lips pressed together, her eyes red and lacking the usual lively spark.
The person holding her patted her back gently in comfort. Although Lu Cixue didn't know what had happened, seeing Luo Li in this defeated state stirred an unsettling ache in her heart.
After swiping her key card and closing the door, Lu Cixue glanced down at the person clinging to her without any intention of letting go. She opened her mouth to ask what had happened but decided against it, instead hugging her tightly.
It wasn't hard to guess. It seemed her suspicions were correct—Li Lvtong must have done something while Luo Li was abroad. But when Lu Cixue had called earlier, no one picked up, and it seemed like Luo Li didn't want her to know.
"Are you hungry? There's a place nearby with great seafood porridge." After spending so much time with Luo Li, Lu Cixue had unconsciously started to seek out good food in every new location. It was kind of amusing.
The head buried in her neck shook slightly, a muffled voice replying, "I want noodles."
At least she still cared about food.
Ordering takeout, Lu Cixue stayed close, but Luo Li remained glued to her side, as if holding in a massive grievance. She stayed silent, keeping her eyes downcast, only occasionally glancing at Lu Cixue, who tenderly wiped the corners of her mouth with a tissue and lifted her chin.
Luo Li stared blankly at Lu Cixue's graceful neck as her brow was kissed softly, the familiar cool scent surrounding her. In that moment, Luo Li felt an unprecedented sense of calm.
"Still don't want to tell me what happened?" Lu Cixue's soft, melodic voice came from her delicate, elegant face—words that seemed reserved only for Luo Li.
Luo Li stammered, her explanation vague. "It was just an accident. Everything's fine now."
Lu Cixue frowned, clearly not believing a word of it.
In the company, plenty of employees would try to shirk responsibility when things went wrong. But under pressure or with a little trickery, they would eventually tell the truth. Those methods wouldn't work on Luo Li, though.
Cat-Cat wasn't pleased with Luo Li hiding things from her, but soon enough, she came up with a plan.
Luo Li blinked in confusion as Lu Cixue, who had been stern just moments ago, suddenly straddled her lap. The calculating glint in her bright eyes hinted at a mischievous plan, softened by a faint smile.
Luo Li immediately gave in, knowing she had no chance of winning against the person on her lap.
But she couldn't help but be curious—what was Lu Cixue up to?
Kisses rained down on her lips, and as they parted, she caught glimpses of a delicate pink tongue teasingly darting out and retreating, barely enough to satisfy.
It was maddeningly enticing.
Luo Li instinctively leaned in for more, but a slender finger pressed gently against her swollen lips, stopping her.
"Do you like it?"
Luo Li nodded eagerly, her eyes wide with anticipation as her left hand snuck around Lu Cixue's waist.
Lu Cixue had already showered earlier and was dressed in modest, comfortable silk pajamas, which only made it easier for Luo Li's hand to roam.
The earlier fear and sadness were soothed by the loving kisses, and things were clearly heating up between them.
Seeing Lu Cixue smile brightly at her, Luo Li's heart fluttered.
But then, as if in the blink of an eye, the cool, aloof woman transformed into a small, fluffy white cat, curling up on her lap and turning its head away, tail flicking lazily.
Arrogant and proud.
How could she!
It was clear this was payback: a kiss was just a kiss, nothing serious.
She had riled Luo Li up and then left her hanging—this was revenge, plain and simple.
Luo Li pouted, reaching out with her right hand to scoop the little cat into her arms, calling her "baby" over and over, though the cat seemed to care less.
"I'll tell you everything, but you have to turn back first."
"Meow."
The small cat raised its head, clearly not intending to return to human form just yet.
Fine, Luo Li had no choice but to back down, carefully considering how to explain what had happened the day before. Her right hand unconsciously scratched the little cat under the chin, earning a sharp glare from those ice-blue eyes, but she didn't stop.
The little cat tilted its head and gently bit Luo Li's finger—not hard, just enough to tickle. Luo Li mischievously switched hands and kept scratching.
"It's nothing, really. I just got a bit scared afterward. I should have listened to you and my mom and been more cautious around people."
Somewhere along the line, the little cat released her finger, letting Luo Li pet her freely.
The soft ball of fur rested on Luo Li's lap, almost as if it was comforting her.
But before Luo Li could pet her a few more times, the little cat changed back into Lu Cixue. Neither of them seemed to notice just how intimate their position had become. Gently, Lu Cixue pulled up Luo Li's left sleeve, revealing the white bandage wrapped around her arm where she had been cut.
"It's really nothing. Seeing you makes the pain disappear," Luo Li, who had come here seeking comfort, now found herself comforting Lu Cixue instead.
Despite that, Luo Li felt overwhelming warmth and security in her heart. Seeing her lover show such concern and worry for her—who wouldn't be moved?
Suddenly, Lu Cixue sighed and wrapped her arms around Luo Li's neck.
"Don't hide things from me again."
Luo Li blinked in surprise, then smiled and patted her back. "I won't, I promise."
They hadn't been hugging for long when Lu Cixue suddenly pulled away, her expression serious, as though she was about to share something important. Luo Li, infected by the mood, immediately sat up straight as well, though their position was still quite unorthodox.
"This incident was likely orchestrated by Li Lvtong."
"Huh?" Luo Li was confused, unable to see the connection.
Director Lu patiently explained the undercurrents currently stirring within the board.
"So, he wanted to frame me and use those photos to get on your side?" Luo Li finally understood, her face falling as she silently cursed the man, wishing him an endless supply of ill-fitting shoe insoles.
"But Auntie didn't want you to know, afraid you might give something away." Lu Cixue poked Luo Li's puffed-up cheek. "Now that you're in on it, we can change tactics."
"What tactics? How come you all have everything planned out without telling me?" Luo Li felt like a little lamb being protected by a pack of wolves—a helpless lamb.
—Ugh, how frustrating.
Her mix of defiance and sudden dejection made her expression especially amusing. Lu Cixue patted her head, soothing her as she briefly explained the plan.
"We don't have enough evidence yet. Li Lvtong and his uncle have done too many dirty things over the years. We need something that can take them down completely."
"They've been making bold moves lately, acting like they're certain of victory."
Seeing Lu Cixue's smile after deep thought, Luo Li's frustration vanished in an instant.
That look of hers when she was about to take someone down was just like her parents'.
"So, what do I do?" Luo Li asked, excitement returning as she leaned in close.
Being a little lamb wasn't so bad after all.
Lu Cixue stared at her for a moment, then smiled and said softly, "Let's break up."
——
Luo Li returned to Jianghuai City two days before Lu Cixue was due back.
Everyone at the company noted that her mood seemed foul, a dark cloud hanging over her, making everyone who visited her office tremble with fear.
Except for one person who seemed to be in an exceptionally good mood.
Li Lvtong, after hearing Lu Cixue's response the night before, was elated.
Even though the lack of news from abroad made him uneasy, Lu Cixue's initiative to approach him for a partnership made him feel like he had already won.
Still cautious, he asked anyway:
[Why the sudden change of heart?]
At that moment, Lu Cixue was lounging in Luo Li's arms, too exhausted to even lift a hand. Luo Li sent the message in her stead.
The story they told was that Luo Li had indeed met with an old flame while abroad. After secretly seeing her ex, Luo Li, wracked with guilt, confessed to Lu Cixue and suggested they break up. Unable to stomach the betrayal, Director Lu had approached him with the proposal.
"Tsk, I'm such a scumbag," Luo Li muttered as she scrolled through the messages, rubbing her forehead against Lu Cixue's. Still brimming with energy despite her excitement, she asked, "Wife, have you rested enough?"
"Don't touch me. Go sleep in your own room," Lu Cixue, eyes closed, wanted to reprimand Luo Li for her shameless behavior, but she didn't even have the strength to move away.
"But we won't get to sleep together for a while after this." Luo Li ignored her, lifting a single finger. "Just one more time. The last time."
In the end, the one who couldn't keep her promise was Luo Li, who demanded much more than just "one more time."
Li Lvtong later received word from abroad. Under Luo Zhining's pressure, the girl had confessed in front of her that she hadn't taken any photos but insisted that she and Luo Li were in love and that Luo Li had promised to break up with her current partner.
Despite all this, something still didn't sit right.
Li Lvtong thought it over and suddenly had an epiphany after overhearing his coworkers gossiping.
"Heroes fall for beauties just as easily as anyone else, no matter the gender. Take Director Lu, for example. She seemed so untouchable, but even she ended up in a relationship."
"If someone loves so deeply and breaks up, they might end up resenting the other person."
"Yeah, that's true."
Suddenly, it all made sense to Li Lvtong, but he decided to observe a bit longer.
His suspicions were confirmed over the next few days. When Director Lu returned, she happened to run into Luo Li. The two didn't even exchange greetings, acting as if they hadn't seen each other.
Of course, Li Lvtong didn't notice Luo Li sneakily brushing her pinky finger against Lu Cixue's as they passed.
During the management meeting, it was even more obvious. The two sat at opposite ends of the table, completely ignoring each other.
Luo Zhining visited once to check in, and her attitude toward Lu Cixue was noticeably cold.
Feeling triumphant, Li Lvtong eagerly reported the situation to his uncle.
"Are you sure?" The older man in the chair remained doubtful.
"Of course! I even found out they were living together, but now Luo Li's moved back to her villa. They're practically acting like enemies."
"Think about it, Uncle. Now that Lu Cixue is being targeted by the entire Luo family, she's bound to seek an ally. Otherwise, she won't survive here. That's why it makes sense for her to come to us."
After a moment of contemplation, the man nodded. "Alright, proceed as you said."