CH 6

Shen Tiantian waited for another five minutes before she got into the car. It was already past the rush hour and there was no traffic jam. She was not too far away from Oriental Times Plaza and arrived in about ten minutes.

Liu Wanjun hadn’t arrived yet, so Shen Tiantian found a relatively clean stone slab to sit on in front of the square’s flower bed.

It was not even ten o ‘clock yet and there were still many people coming and going. Someone tapped her shoulder from behind, and she instinctively turned around to see Liu Wanjun’s enlarged face almost touching hers.

“Have you been waiting for a long time?”

Shen Tiantian smiled and shook her head. “I just arrived.”

“What do you want to eat?” Liu Wanjun took her hand. “Japanese food? Or Western food?”

Shen Tiantian thought for a moment. She realized she rarely ate Japanese food and decided to give it a try.

Although the two of them hadn’t seen each other for almost half a month, they chatted almost everyday in the group, so their conversation was very casual.

Liu Wanjun casually asked, “Did you happen to see your CEO when you went back today?”

Hearing this, Shen Tiantian’s expression became a little unnatural. She had seen her just half an hour ago, although it wasn’t a pleasant encounter, her ears involuntarily turned red.

It was too embarrassing.

There was probably no one as silly as her.

She realized that she was always making a fool of herself in front of Shan Yi.

Seeing that she did not react for a long time, Liu Wanjun tilted her head and looked at her. “Seems like you did see her.”

Shen Tiantian nodded stiffly, feeling too embarrassed to tell her friend what had just happened.

Liu Wanjun teased, “Anyone who can attract our Tiantian must be very good-looking.”

Shen Tiantian did not deny that it was indeed Shan Yi’s appearance that had initially attracted her, along with her starry-like eyes and reserved temperament. However, she realized that she didn’t really know her well enough. 

As Liu Wanjun watched Shen Tiantian’s smile gradually disappear, she sighed inwardly and said, “You’ve only known her for a short time. If you really like her, then go and clarify things with her.”

Shen Tiantian was at a loss, “I have no idea how to do that!”

Liu Wanjun led her by the hand into a Japanese restaurant and they were led by a waiter to a small booth. From time to time, they could hear Japanese conversations, and the doors and walls were densely covered with Japanese poems and place names, creating a strong sense of being in Japan and the atmosphere was also very pleasant.

Putting Shan Yi’s matter aside for the time being, Shen Tiantian took the initiative to change the topic and asked her friend if she had encountered anything interesting during her honeymoon.

In front of her, Liu Wanjun was completely comfortable and could talk about anything. She even came close to talking about her and her husband’s activities in bed.

“If there’s a chance, the three of us can go together,” Liu Wanjun said.

Shen Tiantian was already full from eating as she listened to her. She immediately nodded in agreement when she heard the last part. 

Liu Wanjun glanced at the time and noticed it was not yet ten o ‘clock, so she suggested taking a stroll. Shen Tiantian didn’t object; she didn’t know what to do at home anyway. Perhaps because she had worked overtime, she was actually a little tired, but she agreed, thinking that she didn’t know when they would have dinner together again.

Liu Wanjun was also very career-driven. If it weren’t for the half-month wedding leave, she wouldn’t have been so at ease.

The two slowly walked from the sixth floor to the first floor without buying anything. Suddenly, Liu Wanjun’s phone rang. It was her new husband checking in on her and reminding her to come home early.

Shen Tiantian was very envious of this kind of life where there was someone waiting for you, but at the same time, she was also happy for her best friend.

Liu Wanjun hung up the phone and complained, “He’s like an old man.”

But her tone was very sweet, she was just saying one thing but meaning another.

Shen Tiantian smiled, “It’s getting late, let’s go back so that Mr. Lin doesn’t worry.”

Liu Wanjun agreed with a “mmhmm,” and said, “Let’s plan for another time. I’ll take you home first.”

“No need. I’ll take a taxi.”

“It’s not safe to take a taxi at this hour. You’re a girl and you’re so cute. What if-…”

Shen Tiantian didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She interrupted her, “Okay, okay, okay, enough with the compliments, you’ll make me blush.”

Under her friend’s persistence, Shen Tiantian eventually gave in.

On the way, they chatted about irrelevant things. The pedestrians outside the window gradually decreased, while the night snack stalls by the roadside were filled with people, causing the outside noise to become muffled. 

In less than twenty minutes, Liu Wanjun’s car stopped in front of the residential area where Shen Tiantian lived.

“Be careful on the road.” Shen Tiantian said to her as she got out of the car.

“You go up quickly.” Liu Wanjun waved to her and drove away.

Watching the car disappear from her sight, Shen Tiantian swiped her card and entered the residential area.

The security in the neighborhood where she lived was very safe. Although the rent was a bit high, it was still acceptable within her range.

The next morning, Shen Tiantian arrived at the company slightly earlier and printed out all the documents she had organized the day before, placing them in a folder on Li Fanghua’s desk.

As time passed, most of the people in the office had returned and the leaders of the various departments were notified to attend a meeting on the 18th floor.

Shen Tiantian was the leader of the marketing department, so she naturally had to attend.

The 18th floor meant that she might meet the CEO.

She was feeling a little bit nervous, but at the same time afraid and hopeful.

Although her heart was in a mess, she still sorted out the documents Tian Jing had given her and nervously pressed the elevator to the 18th floor.

Various department managers and team leaders, about 40 people in total, had filled the conference room by the time Shen Tiantian arrived. Seeing that the CEO had not arrived yet, she quietly breathed a sigh of relief and took a seat next to Tian Jing.

Tian Jing whispered to her to relax and calmly said, “It’s probably just some work arrangements.”

Shen Tiantian wasn’t worried about the content of the meeting being a big deal; she was just afraid of seeing Shan Yi.

She shook her head to indicate that she was fine.

As the door of the meeting room was pushed open, the whole room fell silent. Shen Tiantian even held her breath and unexpectedly met the other person’s eyes.

In less than ten seconds, Shen Tiantian suddenly averted her gaze and lowered her head to compose herself.

She felt so strange.

‘Why was Shan Yi looking at her with such a doting gaze?!’

To confirm, she looked up again and saw that Shan Yi had resumed her usual cold expression. Her emotionless face gave no indication of her feelings.

Shan Yi glanced at everyone present, her gaze lingered on Shen Tiantian for a few more seconds before she simply introduced herself. “This meeting is very simple. Don’t be nervous.”

The screen on the wall switched to a page featuring a skincare product, and Shan Yi’s pleasant voice sounded, “Summer is coming soon, and Yuefeng has launched more and more summer products in recent years. The ones with strong feedback every month are …”

Shen Tiantian became a little distracted and her eyes slowly drifted from the screen to Shan Yi, her thoughts were completely taken away by that confident face.

‘How could someone be so perfect?!’

Shan Yi had already noticed Shen Tiantian’s gaze and couldn’t help but curl up the corners of her mouth, enjoying the way she looked at her.

When Shen Tiantian realized what she was doing, she quickly looked away and pretended to be taking notes. When she looked up again, she avoided looking at Shan Yi, as if she was staring at someone else.

The meeting ended with everyone applauding. Everyone packed up their notes and left the conference room.

Shen Tiantian was seated inside and was thinking about how to leave. Leaving from next to the CEO would be closer, she originally wanted to go around from behind, but that would seem too deliberate.

Shan Yi hadn’t left yet and was still there, looking down at something.

Shen Tiantian braced herself and stiffly walked over. Perhaps she was too nervous, her left foot stumbled, and she instinctively reached out to hold onto the nearest object. Fortunately, someone pulled her and prevented her from falling.

“Be careful.” Tian Jing’s voice came from behind her.

She had originally intended to leave quietly, but instead she drew more attention to herself. Shen Tiantian’s face turned red and she cursed herself inwardly.

She realized that she had been doing stupid things lately.

Shen Tiantian laughed dryly. After she steadied herself, she turned around to thank Tian Jing. She saw Shan Yi looking at her from the corner of her eye and her heart began to beat uncontrollably.

“Are you okay?” Shan Yi asked with a complicated expression.

She was now sure that Shen Tiantian was really afraid of her. Every time they made eye contact, she would quickly avert her gaze and every time they met, she would run away.

“I’m fine. Thank you.” Shen Tiantian nodded and quickly opened the door to leave.

Just like now.

Shan Yi frowned slightly, looking through the glass door at Shen Tiantian’s receding figure. She thoughtfully touched her own face, thinking that she looked pretty okay.

She sighed, picked up the project proposal, and headed back to her office. As she walked, she said to Assistant Yang, “Please get me a cup of coffee.”

“Okay.”

Putting the documents aside, Shan Yi took off her light-colored suit and unbuttoned one of the buttons on her chest. She propped up her head with one hand, her mind full of Shen Tiantian’s evasive gaze.

She reminisced about how soft Shen Tiantian was when she was drunk, how she liked to nuzzle her neck and act coquettishly, and how she would cry and beg her to slow down…

The sound of knocking interrupted her thoughts. Yang Li pushed the door and walked in, “CEO Shan, the coffee you asked for.”

“Thank you,” Shan Yi said indifferently.

“Young Master Shan is here. He’s in the lounge.” Yang Li said. She had seen Shan Xu once when she was still working in the old company and  recognized him at a glance.

Shan Yi’s brow furrowed even deeper.