[Don't go!]
Her body acted faster than her thoughts. By the time Shi Yue realized, the message had already been delivered. Her heartbeat quickened. She took a deep breath and gazed out at the starry night.
On the other side of the world, under the bright sunlight, Leng Yanmi paused, holding her phone.
"Sister Yanmi?" Shu Qingxi turned around, puzzled. "What's wrong?"
She pointed at a red-walled building not far away: "Just one more street, and you'll see where I live. Do you see that arched window?"
Leng Yanmi instinctively replied, "Sorry, I can't…"
Before she could finish, she froze. Why was she so obedient to Shi Yue's words? The demand "Don't go" seemed so domineering and unreasonable.
"What?" Shu Qingxi's eyes widened.
Leng Yanmi lowered her head and replied: [Why?]
Shi Yue had already thought of an excuse.
[Why would you go look at another cat? Pi Qiu would be jealous.]
Leng Yanmi: [Pi Qiu is staying with my grandpa. He wouldn't know.]
Shi Yue narrowed her eyes and chuckled coldly: [I'll tell him.]
Leng Yanmi: […]
Shu Qingxi, seeing her glued to her phone, asked disappointedly, "Is it about work? You're leaving for G Country tomorrow, and they can't even give you this bit of peace?"
Leng Yanmi felt a bit awkward.
She rarely lied, so she stammered, "Recently… I've been busy."
Shu Qingxi quickly grabbed her arm, "Sister Yanmi, we're almost there. You're not really going to leave me, are you?"
Leng Yanmi frowned and stepped back, pulling her arm away, "Miss Shu."
Her tone turned serious, "I've mentioned before, please respect the social boundaries between us."
"…" Shu Qingxi's face paled as she spoke sorrowfully, "I thought, given our relationship, these interactions were within acceptable limits."
"What relationship?" Leng Yanmi asked coldly. "I appreciate your advice at the auction. I'll have my secretary contact you for the appropriate consultation fee."
Shu Qingxi wrinkled her nose, "You've mentioned this before, and I already said there's no need!"
Leng Yanmi turned to leave, "Sorry, something came up, so I won't be visiting."
She messaged her driver to pick her up near a landmark and formally said goodbye to Shu Qingxi, "I have to go. Goodbye."
Shu Qingxi, desperate, blocked her path, "Wait, wait!"
She sniffled, "Sister Yanmi, my cat can really do backflips... If you can't come now, we can meet another time."
Leng Yanmi pursed her lips, feeling slightly reluctant.
But she maintained her rationality and declined politely, "I'll be busy with inspections afterward. I won't have the time."
Shu Qingxi's eyes brightened, "I'm actually planning to move back home. My grandpa says the china is thriving, and returning is better than staying abroad. Once you're done with your trip, we can meet back home."
Leng Yanmi: "I'll be busy even at home."
"…" Shu Qingxi softly suggested, "Sister Yanmi, don't you think work is taking up too much of your life? Sometimes, you need to think about your personal life too."
"Running around all alone—have you ever thought about finding a partner?"
Leng Yanmi froze momentarily and replied, "You're right."
Shu Qingxi thought her hint was understood, "So…"
"So, can you send me a video of your cat? The one that does backflips." Leng Yanmi interrupted.
Shu Qingxi swallowed her feelings and nodded, taking out her phone, "Let's add each other as friends."
After exchanging contacts, Leng Yanmi left in her car.
Once she had parted ways with Shu Qingxi, she promptly forgot about her. She turned to check her unread messages—Shi Yue had already sent several follow-ups in her absence.
[Auntie, I really will tattle on you!]
[If Pi Qiu knew you were this fickle, he'd cry for three days straight!]
[Auntie? Did you go?]
[What's so special about a backflipping cat?]
[You're a grown woman and still can't see through people's intentions? You just wanted to spend time alone with Miss Shu, didn't you!]
[…]
Leng Yanmi replied, confused: [What hidden intentions?]
Shi Yue had been spacing out on her bed, but the message notification startled her upright.
[Where are you?]
Leng Yanmi: [In the car, heading back to the hotel.]
Shi Yue paused for a few seconds before asking again: [You're done with the visit?]
Leng Yanmi rubbed her nose: [Didn't you tell me not to go?]
Shi Yue licked her dry lips, feeling something stir in her heart.
She needed confirmation: [I said don't go, and you really didn't go?]
Leng Yanmi: […Is there a problem?]
She found it strange that the girl, who had made the request herself, was now questioning her actions. It was just a simple sentence, yet Shi Yue felt as if she'd been caught on a hook.
Trying to calm her heartbeat, Shi Yue decided to push her luck with a demand she thought would surely not be met: [are my doubts strange? What if I asked you to come back now—would you?]
Leng Yanmi: [Hold on.]
She closed the chat and called her assistant.
Shi Yue stared at the screen for a while before sighing and turning off her phone.
Lately, their conversations often ended abruptly, as both were busy, frequently interrupted by unforeseen events.
Shi Yue had grown used to it. After not receiving a reply for over ten minutes, she assumed Leng Yanmi was busy with work.
But unease gnawed at her. She lingered in the chat for a long time, finally sending two more messages as a precaution.
[What's so great about a backflipping cat? I can do backflips too.]
[Don't go to her place. When you come back, I'll show you my backflip.]
Once the messages were sent, she relaxed, put her phone down, and went back to handling other tasks.
At this moment, Shi Yue had no idea what kind of consequences her playful words would bring.
The next morning, Shi Yue spent the first half of the day cleaning her apartment. In the afternoon, she grabbed her phone and headed to the nearby supermarket for a big shopping trip, replenishing the supplies that had been used up during her busy period.
On her way back, she passed by a small flower shop near her community. The owner was an elderly woman with elegant, silver hair, still dressed neatly. She greeted Shi Yue with a kind smile, and every wrinkle on her face seemed warm and inviting.
Shi Yue approached for a chat and found herself captivated by a large bouquet of blue and white roses.
Perhaps it was because she missed someone deeply. Although there was no direct connection, the sight of the roses made her think of Leng Yanmi, who was far across the ocean—equally stunning and distant, seemingly indifferent to everything.
The old lady offered to give her a few stems, but Shi Yue politely declined.
She smiled and said, "I'll buy the whole bouquet. I have a vase at home that would be perfect for these."
"Alright," the old lady chuckled, "Looking at flowers will brighten your mood."
She moved slowly, but with great care, picking out the nineteen best roses and wrapping them in oil paper meticulously.
When Shi Yue received the bouquet, she couldn't help but sigh in admiration, "They're beautiful."
The old lady squinted at her and said, "You're even prettier than these flowers, dear."
Who doesn't enjoy a compliment?
Shi Yue smiled and squinted back, "Thank you, grandma."
With the heavy bouquet and the groceries she had bought, Shi Yue found herself somewhat burdened. But her mood was light, and she treated the weight as a sweet load, walking briskly back home.
While riding the elevator, her phone rang with a pleasant ringtone from her pocket.
Both hands were occupied, so she stared at the numbers flashing as the elevator ascended, thinking that since there wasn't anything urgent, she could check the call after putting everything down at home.
Sure enough, the ringing stopped on its own just as she reached her floor.
Stepping out of the elevator, her view was partially blocked by the roses in her hands, but she vaguely noticed someone standing in front of her door—a figure taller than her.
Shi Yue couldn't think of anyone who would show up without an appointment, so she hesitated.
Just then, the person by her door heard the sound and turned towards her.
Once they confirmed her identity, they walked directly toward Shi Yue.
Before she could say anything, she felt the roses being taken from her hands. Then, the next second, the weight of her groceries was lifted as well.
Her vision finally cleared, and she instinctively looked up. Through the dense petals of the roses, she saw Leng Yanmi's clear brown eyes staring back at her.
At that moment, the strong fragrance of roses overwhelmed her senses, and Shi Yue felt as if she must be imagining things—in a surreal dream, one sees the person they miss the most.
So, she blinked hard.
Leng Yanmi leaned closer. Even in the heat of summer, the warmth radiating from her body made Shi Yue feel as though she was being set ablaze. A bead of sweat trickled from the back of her neck, sliding down her spine and soaking into her shirt.
Her throat was unbearably dry, and she swallowed.
"What's wrong?" Leng Yanmi asked softly, her eyelashes fluttering with each blink, brushing against Shi Yue's heartstrings.
"Don't you recognize me?"
"Hoo—ha—" Shi Yue heard her own breath grow ragged, as heat, mixed with indescribable emotions, filled the air.
Leng Yanmi looked down at the roses, unsatisfied with their elegance and faintly displeased by the overpowering fragrance. Frowning slightly, she moved the bouquet aside.
Shi Yue took a step forward, immediately filling the space that was left and pressing herself into Leng Yanmi's arms.
Leng Yanmi was stunned. As she lowered her head, she was met with Shi Yue's lips pressing urgently against hers: "Mmph—"
The moment their soft lips touched, her mind went blank, but soon the moist heat and glowing passion consumed everything. Her thoughts were only of Shi Yue, the girl clinging to her, kissing her fervently.
This kiss was different.
Shi Yue was far more eager this time. Though they hadn't been intimate many times before, Leng Yanmi had never felt such ardor from her. Shi Yue sucked on her lower lip, even parting her teeth to entwine their tongues together. At first, Leng Yanmi was holding onto the roses with one hand, groceries with the other, and Shi Yue—a full 100 pounds—was hanging off her chest, making it impossible for her to respond properly. Some of the mingled saliva dripped down her lips, and Shi Yue licked it up again, swallowing it, while the rest trickled down Leng Yanmi's neck.
When Leng Yanmi regained her composure and took control, her hand holding the roses moved to cup the back of Shi Yue's neck, pulling the girl even closer.
"Mm." Shi Yue's arms tightened around her shoulders, and her legs nearly gave way.
In her daze, she felt rose petals brushing against her neck and cheeks. Leng Yanmi's hand precisely found the sensitive spot on the back of her neck, gently kneading, while the overpowering scent of roses mingled with a hint of citrus from Leng Yanmi's perfume.
By the time Shi Yue could no longer breathe, Leng Yanmi finally let her go.
As fresh air rushed back in, Shi Yue gasped for breath, her back soaked in sweat, her thin summer clothes clinging to her uncomfortably, though she didn't mind.
Leng Yanmi gently licked the sensitive skin at the back of her neck, right where the scent was strongest.
Shi Yue trembled as if an electric current surged through her body, collapsing entirely into Leng Yanmi's arms.
"Auntie... don't…"
Leng Yanmi lifted her head, her gaze heavy with unspoken desire.
—Weren't you the one who started this?
Shi Yue managed to regain some clarity and pointed toward the apartment door, "Let's go inside first."
"Mm." Leng Yanmi supported her, helping her stand upright, then took a gentlemanly step back to allow Shi Yue to unlock the door.
If it weren't for the lingering flush on her face and the disheveled collar she hadn't had time to fix, Shi Yue might have thought that she was the only one affected by their reunion.
She cleared her throat twice, avoided Leng Yanmi's burning gaze, and opened the door, inviting her inside: "Auntie, please come in."
After they entered the apartment, Shi Yue suddenly felt relieved that she had cleaned that morning—earlier, during her busy times, her apartment was often cluttered with discarded design drafts. If Leng Yanmi had seen that, she would've been mortified.
Leng Yanmi seemed perfectly at ease, showing no signs of this being her first visit. She headed straight to the kitchen, putting down the groceries, then found an empty vase on the table, filled it halfway with water, and carefully arranged the slightly jostled bouquet of roses into it. With the water replenishing the flowers, the blue and white petals bloomed beautifully, fresh and vibrant.
Shi Yue, having calmed her heartbeat, sliced some fruit and brought it to the living room.
She looked at Leng Yanmi, who was sitting in the chair, and only now, after a closer look, did she realize how travel-worn Leng Yanmi appeared. Remembering the playful remark she made last night about wanting her to return, Shi Yue felt both touched and a little guilty at how that joke had become a reality.
She was too nervous to sit down, worried that any sudden movement might shatter the illusion of this dreamlike moment.
"When did you come back?"
"Just now," Leng Yanmi replied, glancing at her.
Even though Shi Yue already suspected the answer, she couldn't help but smile and ask for confirmation, "Weren't you supposed to be very busy? Why did you suddenly fly back?"
Leng Yanmi squinted slightly, "Are you pretending not to know?"
She reached out to pinch Shi Yue's cheek, her authoritative aura showing through as she scolded, "You've become cheeky."
Shi Yue was more than happy to be scolded. To be honest, at this very moment, every word that came out of Leng Yanmi's mouth, even her most mundane breaths, were precious to her.
Her eyes sparkled as she leaned in closer and asked, "Why did you listen to me?"
Leng Yanmi: "…"
She turned her face away, her gaze dropping as though she was pondering that very question.
Shi Yue pressed her advantage, leaning in further until she had Leng Yanmi pinned between the chair and her arms.
She called out again, "Auntie," and when Leng Yanmi looked back at her, she repeated the question, "Hmm? Why did you listen to me?"
Leng Yanmi's eyes drifted to Shi Yue's vibrant red lips, remembering the warmth of their earlier kiss.
She opened her mouth and asked in return, "You don't know?"
Shi Yue, in a bold move, swung a leg over and straddled her.
Wrapping her arms around Leng Yanmi's neck, she said, "I want to hear you say it."
Leng Yanmi gripped Shi Yue's waist, neither initiating nor rejecting, though her composed expression remained. Her thumb stroked Shi Yue's soft skin through the thin fabric of her clothing as she chided, "Your courage has grown."
Shi Yue couldn't suppress a smile.
She picked up a slice of tangerine and held it between her lips, then brushed it teasingly against Leng Yanmi's lips. But just as Leng Yanmi opened her mouth to take it, Shi Yue leaned back nimbly, dodging her, delighting in Leng Yanmi's brief expression of frustration.
The air conditioner hummed softly in the background, keeping the room cool so that they no longer broke out in sweat from just a touch, unlike when they were outside.
However, the heat between them hadn't diminished in the slightest.
Shi Yue bit into the tangerine, letting the sweet juice fill her mouth. The moment the sweetness peaked, she leaned forward, offering the piece of fruit along with a kiss, which Leng Yanmi eagerly accepted.
At first, they wrestled for the tangerine slice and its juice, but soon, the fruit was swallowed, leaving only each other's lips and tongues in a dance of intimacy.
They kissed passionately until both were breathless, and Shi Yue finally collapsed against Leng Yanmi's chest. As she caught her breath, she noticed a faint red mark blooming near her collarbone.
Shi Yue looked at Leng Yanmi with a pitiful expression.
The culprit, however, seemed pleased with her handiwork. She reached out to gently trace the bite mark, admiring it as if it were a masterpiece.
"You've been spoiled," Leng Yanmi said softly.
Shi Yue was confused, "Hmm?"
Leng Yanmi tilted her head back to meet her gaze, her demeanor unchanged despite being seated in a lower position, "This—are you doing it out of genuine desire, or because you've given in to the comforts of an easy life?"
Shi Yue was momentarily stunned but then couldn't help but laugh, her body shaking with mirth.
She snuggled into Leng Yanmi's embrace, answering, "Didn't you say you didn't care?"
No sooner had she spoken than Leng Yanmi playfully bit her collarbone again, right on top of the previous mark.
Shi Yue could've held it in, but instead, she playfully patted the top of Leng Yanmi's head, letting out soft, exaggerated groans to express her discomfort.
Once Leng Yanmi finally let her go, Shi Yue asked, "So, when you left for your overseas trip without a word, were you getting back at me for not responding that night?"
Leng Yanmi said nothing, instead lightly kissing the bite mark she had just made.
"I wanted to say 'goodnight,' but it was an accident. By the time I tried to explain, you had already turned off your phone." Shi Yue suppressed the tremor running through her body, "Then after that, Auntie, you just disappeared."
Leng Yanmi immediately lifted her head, her gaze intense, "Then explain now."
"What kind of explanation do you want?" Shi Yue cupped her face gently, "You said you didn't care. Do you think that means I can just close my eyes and ignore everything?"
She spoke earnestly, "I care. I care whether you can tell where we stand, and I care about how we'll interact in the future... how close we'll become."
After more than a month, Leng Yanmi finally received the response she had been waiting for that night.
She hesitated for a moment before sighing, her fingers pinching Shi Yue's cheek once more, "Should someone your age really be worrying about this?"
"Do you really see me as a child?" Shi Yue laughed, pressing a kiss to the corner of her lips. "Would you do these things with a child?"
Leng Yanmi's breathing grew noticeably heavier. She grabbed Shi Yue's arm, "Stop teasing."
Shi Yue cuddled into her embrace, catching a faint scent of tea.
She blinked, tracing the scent to Leng Yanmi's neck.
Suddenly, Leng Yanmi seemed startled and pushed her away.
Shi Yue blinked, confused, "Hmm? What's wrong?"
Leng Yanmi, blushing, covered the back of her neck, shaking her head, "Nothing."
Shi Yue grabbed her hand, about to say something, but Leng Yanmi had already stood up. Because of this, Shi Yue was forced to get off her lap and stand as well.
"You said you could do a backflip, right?" Leng Yanmi deflected, "I flew back just for that. Time's running short. You'd better get started on your performance."
"Ah?" Shi Yue's jaw nearly hit the floor.
Her first instinct was to play it off, hugging Leng Yanmi and whining, "Auntie, I… I was just joking."
"Joking?" Leng Yanmi raised an eyebrow.
She grabbed Shi Yue's wrist to prevent her from running away, "I flew back just because you told me to, and you're going to dismiss it with 'I was joking'?"
Shi Yue's eyes darted around, unable to meet hers, "I'm sorry..."
Leng Yanmi: "Have you thought about how to take responsibility for your words?"
"Huh?" Shi Yue sensed something in her tone and asked, blinking, "Auntie, how do you want me to take responsibility?"
Leng Yanmi didn't hesitate, directly stating her intent: "Come back with me."
"Huh?" Shi Yue was even more confused now, "Back where?"
"To Europe." Leng Yanmi answered, "I still have more than a month left in my work schedule, and there's a 7 PM flight to F Country tonight."
"Pack your things and come with me."
Shi Yue's heart raced.
She knew that Leng Yanmi's schedule was tight and that she might leave soon after flying back. However, she hadn't expected that Leng Yanmi had arranged everything to such an extent—that her return wasn't just to see her briefly, but to take her along. F Country was visa-free, so all she needed was her passport to get on the plane with Leng Yanmi.
But this sudden decision to leave, to head to a foreign country where she knew no one, didn't speak the language, and where her entire fate would depend on Leng Yanmi—could she really trust her life in her hands like this?
Leng Yanmi waited patiently for her response.
But even someone as calm as her was afraid of rejection. She held onto Shi Yue's hand gently, afraid to grip too hard. "Have you decided..."
"Let's go!" Shi Yue suddenly blurted out, interrupting her.
There was a flicker of fire in her eyes, her entire being brimming with excitement as if she were about to embark on an extraordinary adventure.
Leng Yanmi's worries dissipated instantly. A smile crept up on her lips, and the joy in her eyes shone brighter than the summer sun outside.
Neither of them was one to procrastinate. That afternoon, they packed up Shi Yue's belongings, and by 7 PM, the two were seated in first class.
As the plane took off, the brightly lit city below Shi Yue shrank into a strip of twinkling lights, like a sparkling galaxy. She turned back and saw that Leng Yanmi, lying on the seat next to her, was watching her intently.
Shi Yue smiled and held her hand. Their fingers intertwined tightly.
By the time they landed, it was already the next evening. Leng Yanmi's assistant was waiting at the airport and picked them up, driving straight to the hotel.
Shi Yue listened as they conversed in a foreign language with the hotel receptionist, feeling slightly nervous. But when they got upstairs and she found out they had booked two separate rooms, she finally relaxed.
Still, she couldn't help teasing, clicking her tongue as she said, "Tsk, I thought we'd be staying together."
Leng Yanmi said nothing and silently reached for the backpack on her back.
Shi Yue quickly leaned against the hallway wall, hugging the bag tight, pleading, "Auntie, I'm wrong! We won't stay together!"
Leng Yanmi gave her a glance and handed her the room key.
After a long flight, they only had a light meal that night before returning to their respective rooms to rest.
Leng Yanmi lay on the bed.
Two long-haul flights in three days had taken their toll. With work scheduled for the next morning, she knew she should close her eyes and get some rest.
But for some reason, she felt a strange excitement.
Only a wall separated her from Shi Yue, lying just next door. She had never been this close to her before.
Yet, for some reason, whether it was the soundproofing of the hotel or that Shi Yue had already settled in and fallen asleep, Leng Yanmi heard no noise from the room next door.
Staring at the ceiling for a while, Leng Yanmi finally pulled out her phone and started typing.
A few minutes later, she posted a WeChat moment:
[The foreign scenery has never felt so comforting]
She attached a picture of the hotel window view, deliberately angling it so that part of Shi Yue's balcony was also visible. Anyone paying attention would know exactly what she meant.
But the first comment she received wasn't from the person she was waiting for.
Leng Mingchuan commented first: [Auntie? Wow, is it really you? I had to double-check—you're actually posting something unrelated to Pi Qiu? Has the sun risen in the west?]
Leng Yanmi: […]
Oblivious to the mood, Leng Mingchuan continued ruining the moment: [I also want to go to Europe like you! But work at the company has been crazy. The design competition is coming up, and I'm pulling all-nighters at the office qaq]
For the first time, Leng Yanmi found her little nephew extremely irritating.
She immediately called him, using the conversation about work as a pretext to scold him thoroughly. At the end, she added, "You're busy, so go to bed early and stop sticking your nose in other people's business."
Leng Mingchuan felt wronged, "Bed? Auntie, it's only eight in the morning here. I'm about to head to the office…"
Leng Yanmi paused for two seconds and said, "Fine, then just watch where you're going and spend less time on your phone."
"…Alright." Leng Mingchuan replied shakily.
"Oh, and before I forget," she added just before hanging up, "You don't need to go to the airport to pick up that painting for me anymore."
"Huh?" Leng Mingchuan was surprised, "Why not?" He glanced at his schedule, "Wasn't it that expensive painting you won at auction? I've already made plans to personally go and pick it up."
"Mm, no need," Leng Yanmi explained, "I've made other arrangements."
Mingchuan laughed, "Alright then, I understand."
"If anything changes, let me know. I'm always ready to serve you, Auntie!"
Leng Yanmi snorted coldly, "I'll be satisfied if you stop causing me trouble."
With that, she hung up.
After the call, whatever romantic thoughts she had left had mostly dissipated, and fatigue quickly set in. She yawned.
Before falling asleep, she glanced at her phone again and noticed a new comment on her WeChat post.
Shi Yue: [Resting under the same comforting moonlight, wishing you sweet dreams tonight.]
Leng Yanmi's lips curved upward. She let the exhaustion overtake her and drifted off to sleep.
The next day, Shi Yue's plans in F Country differed somewhat from her expectations—she originally thought that being by Leng Yanmi's side would mean spending a few romantic days together in a foreign country. However, the reality was that Leng Yanmi had been working nonstop since they landed: one day inspecting a new factory in the south, the next finalizing a cooperation plan in a northern city. The only time they spent together was a rushed breakfast each morning.
Shi Yue tried her best to adjust her mindset, exploring the city of F, known for its artistic legacy, on her own. But with her heart so caught up in thoughts of Leng Yanmi, she found it hard to fully enjoy herself. Though she wasn't unhappy, she couldn't help feeling disappointed that, despite flying all the way to be with her, they weren't experiencing these things together.
One night, Shi Yue gathered the photos from her sightseeing and sneaked into Leng Yanmi's room, hoping to catch up and talk. But even after waiting until 1 AM, Leng Yanmi still hadn't returned. Eventually, Shi Yue couldn't resist her exhaustion and fell asleep on Leng Yanmi's bed.
The next morning, sunlight gently woke Shi Yue. She opened her eyes and was about to get up when she felt an arm wrapped around her waist.
Without looking back, Shi Yue already knew who it was.
Shi Yue felt both a little aggrieved for having waited all night and a bit heartbroken seeing how overworked Leng Yanmi was. She sighed quietly and carefully turned around to face her, admiring Leng Yanmi's sleeping face as morning light streamed through the curtains. She couldn't help but marvel at her beauty.
As her hand itched to touch Leng Yanmi's eyelashes for the fourth time, the "victim" caught her in the act. Leng Yanmi, still half-asleep, instinctively grabbed Shi Yue's hand and tucked it into her embrace.
Shi Yue dared not move, lying still in her gentle hold.
But soon enough, Leng Yanmi slowly woke up.
The first thing she asked was, "What time is it?"
Shi Yue whispered, "It's still early. Why don't you sleep a bit longer?"
Leng Yanmi turned over, hugging her tighter.
Shi Yue asked again, "What time do you have to leave today? I can wake you up when it's time."
"There's no need to rush today." Leng Yanmi pressed her face against Shi Yue's hair, inhaling the faint scent of jasmine mixed with a trace of citrus. "We can have lunch, then in the afternoon, I'll take you somewhere."
Shi Yue blinked in surprise.
Her vacation wasn't long, and this trip was only possible because she had finished her semester project early and taken a week off from school. Tomorrow, she was supposed to fly home. She had thought that this week in F Country would pass uneventfully, but it turned out Leng Yanmi had remembered that it was Shi Yue's last day here.
Several hours later, when Shi Yue returned to her own room to pack, she encountered Leng Yanmi's assistant outside. They chatted briefly, and Shi Yue finally learned the truth.
"President Leng has been incredibly busy," the assistant explained softly. "She already lost a day returning home, and now she's using her rest day. Her workload has been very intense. I hope you can understand, Miss Shi."
Shi Yue felt a twinge of guilt as she smiled wryly, "If I had known how busy she was, I never would've come at this time."
The assistant reassured her, "No, you misunderstand. President Leng is very happy. Your presence here is extremely important to her."
The assistant paused for a moment before continuing, "You probably noticed that she's been coming back very late every night. Normally, we'd book her a hotel near the workplace so she wouldn't have to travel far."
Shi Yue was startled.
The assistant smiled and explained, "But this week, President Leng insisted on driving back here, even though it takes hours each way."
Shi Yue blinked.
The assistant added, "Just so she could have breakfast with you each morning. It might only be twenty minutes, but that's the most she can manage with her schedule."
Shi Yue's feelings were complicated as she thanked him and returned to her room.
Was it really worth traveling several hours just for a twenty-minute breakfast? Shi Yue couldn't wrap her head around it. But this sharp, successful businesswoman had been quietly insisting on it every day.
Suddenly, Shi Yue realized that in this game of tug-of-war she had started with a playful message, Leng Yanmi had already invested far more than she had anticipated.
After lunch, Leng Yanmi took her to the headquarters of a renowned luxury brand in F Country.
Because the Leng Group had a long-standing partnership with this company, they were invited to tour the headquarters. In the exhibition hall, countless classic luxury items were displayed on the shelves, dazzling to the eye.
Shi Yue was thrilled, but it wasn't the price of the items that excited her. Rather, she was fascinated by the design inspiration and artistic value behind each piece.
Unexpectedly, what was supposed to be a leisurely shopping tour organized by Leng Yanmi turned into a full-on lecture, with Shi Yue enthusiastically explaining the history and design concepts behind each piece. She spoke with such passion that even the company guide, who was supposed to be leading the tour, found it hard to get a word in and could only chime in with occasional affirmations.
Only after her excitement waned did Shi Yue realize that something wasn't quite right.
"Uh," she cleared her throat and lowered her voice, "Auntie, did I ruin your plans? You probably don't care about any of this. I think I got a little carried away."
"Not at all." Leng Yanmi's eyes showed no trace of impatience. "What you've been telling me is interesting. It's more meaningful than what I had planned."
"Really?" Shi Yue blinked.
Then, Leng Yanmi turned to the guide and gestured, "Everything she mentioned earlier—buy one of each."
"???" Shi Yue quickly grabbed her arm, "No need for that!"
She protested, "If we buy all of that, there won't even be enough room in my little apartment to put it all!"
Leng Yanmi glanced sideways at her, a subtle smile forming on her lips, "Are you hinting that I should invite you to move in with me…?"
Shi Yue was so flustered that she immediately covered her mouth, "Don't say such things!"
Her face turned bright red, as vivid as the clouds at sunset.
Leng Yanmi murmured through her covered mouth, "There's plenty of space in my villa."
Shi Yue glared at her, turning around and stomping off.
Even though she didn't end up buying any luxury items, the next day, as she boarded her flight home, Leng Yanmi still gave her a parting gift.
It was a square, neatly wrapped flat box. Leng Yanmi didn't say much about it, only mentioning it briefly before handing it to her assistant to arrange for shipment. Shi Yue didn't even have to worry about carrying it herself.
Curious, Shi Yue asked, "What's inside?"
Leng Yanmi simply replied, "A little something. You'll find out when you open it at home."
Having already refused several of her gifts, Shi Yue didn't want to turn her down again.
She figured it was just a small item that Leng Yanmi had bought on impulse, and that it likely wasn't anything too expensive. So, this time, she accepted the gift without further protest.