Chapter 102: What strange reddish thing has gotten into your eyes?
Her tiger’s den?
Even if he were allowed to go into other "den", he would still go in without hesitation as long as it was permitted.
Crap, crap, crap! I have to stop thinking like this. If I keep it up, even those three words—"deep and complex"—start sounding dirty!
He kept telling himself, “Calm down!”
This was all just to go on a date with the girl in front of him. He must not mess it up now.
After taking a few deep breaths, Xia Changyu finally managed to settle down a bit.
He took a long breath and slowly said, “Tonight? Let me check the time...”
Before he could finish his sentence. Lin Yibai scratched her head.
She liked to think she wasn’t the type to be overly sensitive or dramatic like some other girls who made things difficult on purpose.
So she nodded and interrupted him. “You don’t have time? Oh, I see! If you’re busy, then let’s just forget about it.”
Xia Changyu froze. “Huh??”
Wait, he was just trying to be polite... How did she take that seriously?!
No way, for the sake of her tiger’s den, ugh, no! For the evening invitation, he can’t keep pretending like this!
He decided to tell the truth.
Pretending? That never ends well.
And somehow, Lin Yibai only needed one sentence to break his whole act?
Seeing that she was about to make other plans for the evening, Xia Changyu quickly said, “Who said I’m not free? Not only am I free today, but if it’s for you, I’m always free, any time.”
Lin Yibai squinted at him. “So now you do have time?”
Xia Changyu said, “When it comes to you... I’ve always had time. Always.”
Why did he say that?
Lin Yibai raised an eyebrow. His words made her feel a little uneasy.
It just… felt weird!!
Xia Changyu seemed to be seriously into her.
No, no—wait. It’s not just a feeling. He had already made it clear before. He wanted to date her and asked for a chance.
No! That can’t happen! Her body was already weird enough, her mind couldn’t become weird too!
She had made up her mind. Once she earned enough money this time, she was going to find a quiet place, to take care of her body, and calm her heart.
First rule: Don’t fall in love with any guy.
Second rule: Not important.
Third rule: Also not important.
Final rule (most important): Don’t let any guy fall in love with her! Especially that one!
But now that she had agreed to Xia Changyu’s invitation, meeting him tonight shouldn’t be a problem, right?
That afternoon, she continued practicing.
When someone spends nearly two full days, over fifteen hours, just to prepare for a five-minute dance, then that dance no longer feels hard.
“Hard work always pays off!”
By the time Lin Yibai had memorized every dance move and all the small details. She no longer cared about what others said, whether it was praise or criticism.
Because to her, that’s how it should be.
She began focusing more on showing her form and movements with elegance. She kept practicing until the sun began to set.
Xia Changyu was in a really good mood today. He even pulled a few employees into his office who were planning to work overtime and scolded them.
“What do you think this company is? Work is not the most important thing, being happy and relaxed is. Listen to me, stop working and go home!”
The employees were confused but not angry. Instead, they were a little surprised. “Huh?”
Xia Changyu glanced toward the practice room and urged them again.
“Go already! You really should be off work by now. And I’m not even giving you overtime pay.”
“Boss,” one of them said, “I just need half an hour more and I can finish all my tasks. I don’t need extra pay, it’s part of my job.”
Xia Changyu replied, “Do it tomorrow.”
“But—”
“Go home!”
“Okay then... Boss, you’re really kind.”
Years later, would they look back fondly on their days working for Xia Changyu?
They’d probably hope he kept this little company running, Instead of going back to inherit his family’s wealth and becoming another spoiled rich guy with no ambition.
After everyone finally left, Xia Changyu let out a long sigh of relief.
“Those people getting in the way are finally gone.”
There was still some time before the appointment with Lin Yibai, so Xia Changyu quickly left the office. It was the perfect time to go get something good to eat.
He snorted and muttered to himself.
“You won’t let me treat you? You won’t give me a chance to show off? Doesn’t matter, opportunities are something people create. A delicious dinner doesn’t have to be at a restaurant. Even in an empty office, it can be just as special, If you give me the chance.”
He ordered signature dishes from several popular local restaurants.
“Tonight, I can finally show her my feelings, right?”
Just the thought of spending time alone with Lin Yibai made him excited.
So, she was alone in the office?
Was she not afraid of something bad happening?
Luckily, this wasn’t some weird anime or drama. Otherwise, something terrible might happen to Lin Yibai in that kind of setup.
But honestly speaking... Wasn’t her private invitation a bit dangerous too?
If Xia Changyu had even a little bad intention, no one would hear her even if she screamed.
But, maybe people aren’t that bad, right?
At least, from Lin Yibai’s "man’s heart" perspective, she didn’t think anything bad would happen from being alone.
She was more concerned with something else. She wiped the sweat from her pale neck and said to herself.
“Now that no one’s around, it’s the perfect time to freshen up. Looking clean and neat is also part of being a good host.”
Inside the sports bag she brought, Lin Yibai had a change of clothes. Actually, it was just a T-shirt.
But things didn’t go the way she expected. She pulled at the strap on her shoulder and complained,
“Ugh! Why are these tiny things girls wear so annoying? Can I just not wear it?”
She didn’t notice it earlier while she was still dancing. But now that she had taken a break, she started to feel really uncomfortable. Like two wet, sticky pieces of old cloth were stuck to her chest.
Was she seriously supposed to keep wearing this?
Her mom had always said, “If your clothes get wet, change them right away.”
So Lin Yibai decided to listen to her mom.
She quietly checked around the empty office one more time, and after making sure no one was there. She reached behind her back, pulled a bit, and unhooked something.
Then she slipped her other hand under her shirt and pulled out the small piece of clothing. Finally, she let out a long sigh and said, “Ahh, much better.”
This time, she didn’t dare smell it.
No need. That would just be too weird.
Since no one was around, she figured she might as well wash it.
But wait, was there some special way to wash underwear?
Lin Yibai didn’t really know.
She just did it like she washed normal clothes. Soaked it, scrubbed it a bit, then wrung it out.
She shook off the water, looked at it.
Good. Very clean.
She glanced at it again, and then heard the elevator ding! A certain someone named Xia had popped his head out, sneaky as ever.
The elevator opened right where you could see the bathroom sink area, and he immediately saw the little piece of clothing there, it looked kind of familiar.
If, just if, he remembered correctly, wasn’t that the same one he bought her last time?
In that one second, even the delicious food in his hands didn’t smell so good anymore.
Of course, he pretended like he didn’t see anything.
Lin Yibai, hearing the sound, quickly balled up the little clothing item and hid it behind her back with both hands.
The two of them locked eyes.
She said, “You’re here?”
He answered, “Yeah, I went out to buy some food.”
She asked again, “Did you see anything?”
He shook his head and looked confused, “See what? You were just washing your face at the sink, right?”
Good.
Looked like he really didn’t see anything.
Xia Changyu also thought this was great. Because actually, he did see everything. And what’s more… he might have figured something out?
He gave her a glance.
Wait, was she only wearing a T-shirt now?
And she’s still going to dance later??
( ˶°ㅁ°) !!
Oh no.
Oh no!!!