Adopting Myself from the Young Heiress - Chapter 35

Under what circumstances would one need to change clothes?

Though it was midsummer, the building’s air conditioning was running, and Yan Ciwei’s private office was certainly not one to skimp on such luxuries.

The only logical explanation was that An Chixu’s clothes had been soiled or damaged.

Realizing this, the gazes directed at An Chixu shifted again.

Their familiarity and intimacy suggested a deeper connection than a recent fling. How much had An Chixu been hiding about her relationship with the higher-ups?

What had she relied on to secure her position as team leader and obtain those two new projects?

“I still have work to finish,” An Chixu’s voice cut through the tense silence of speculation.

Yan Ciwei’s sweeping glance around the room silenced any lingering stares at An Chixu, quelling further conjecture about what she had or hadn’t done.

“I’ll wait for you,” Yan Ciwei replied, unfazed by An Chixu’s dismissal and ignoring her subtle hints. She dragged a chair over and sat down half a meter away from An Chixu.

Wait for her.

An Chixu said nothing, turning back to review the documents submitted by her team members.

Even as Yan Ciwei’s gaze occasionally landed on her shoulder, cheek, or fingers, sweeping over her entire body with a sharp, focused intensity that felt like a heavy, concentrated weight, An Chixu remained unfazed.

An ordinary person subjected to such an intense gaze would become as flustered as a child caught misbehaving, let alone focus on their work.

An Chixu, however, continued with her tasks at a steady pace, completely undisturbed.

Yan Ciwei stared for a while, then, as if growing bored, casually picked up a stack of documents.

They were An Chixu’s recent work summaries, future plans, and project proposals.

Leaning back in her office chair as if seated on a priceless throne, Yan Ciwei flipped through the pages with leisurely grace, a slight curve to her lips.

She seemed to exist in a different dimension from the employees around her, who were busy organizing and pondering. She had stepped into a classical ink wash painting, leaving the others behind in the mundane world, still tethered to earthly concerns.

Even under this scrutiny, An Chixu didn’t glance at her once.

Two employees sitting together exchanged knowing glances.

They genuinely couldn’t understand An Chixu’s thinking. If they were in her shoes, they wouldn’t bother with work at all. They’d cling to Yan Ciwei’s coattails and enjoy unimaginable wealth and status.

Yan Ciwei possessed formidable strength, a favorable personality, and striking beauty. The recent incident had shown that she still held a firm position within the group, her influence undiminished.

Even if Yan Zhaoyin were to retaliate later, a dying camel would still be larger than their herd of oxen and horses.

“She doesn’t know what’s good for her,” one of them said, winking.

“Born into privilege, yet clueless about her blessings,” another replied.

Many probably felt the same way, but their sentiments hadn’t yet reached An Chixu’s ears.

Over an hour passed, and Yan Ciwei still hadn’t left.

She was nearly finished reviewing the documents in her hand. Some colleagues, having completed their own tasks, lingered at their desks, secretly observing her.

They were all curious to see if Yan Ciwei would eventually lose patience.

To put it bluntly, they were superior and subordinate within the same company, and Yan Ciwei was the chairman’s daughter. The gap between her and An Chixu was like that between an ancient noble lady and her serving maid.

For a maid to give her mistress the cold shoulder for over an hour?

That’s truly remarkable.

Just then, An Chixu finally stirred.

She turned her head, finally granting the young lady a glance.

Yan Ciwei immediately set down her documents. Unbeknownst to anyone, she had barely read a word during the past hour, her gaze constantly drifting toward An Chixu.

An Chixu poked Yan Ciwei’s hand, which rested on the table.

“What is it?” Yan Ciwei’s voice was softer than usual, a tone none of her colleagues had ever heard before.

Heaven knows how cold this man was during meetings. His smile was even more terrifying than his usual blank expression, radiating a ghostly, sinister aura that deterred anyone from acting rashly.

Yet in private, he was gentle and accommodating, even leaning forward to listen intently as An Chixu spoke.

“You’re blocking the way,” Ran An Chixu said flatly, seemingly unmoved by Yan Ciwei’s charm. Her strictly professional demeanor poured cold water on the surrounding colleagues.

Yan Ciwei paused, then turned her head to notice two hesitant figures beside her.

The two young women met Yan Ciwei’s gaze and simultaneously shrank back.

“S-Sister An asked us to come listen to the report…” the braver of the two stammered.

Yan Ciwei lowered her eyes, shifted slightly to the side, and offered not a word of complaint.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s fine,” An Chixu said, patting both women on the shoulder to reassure them. She handed them the revised document and began explaining the revisions and key issues.

“The second planning meeting is in two weeks. Just submit the revised version to me by Friday,” An Chixu concluded.

She had indeed finished the overtime tasks for the day.

Though she could still review Shen Jibai’s case, it could wait until tomorrow.

After seeing off the two team members, An Chixu began packing up her belongings.

Yan Ciwei helped her organize her documents and handed her a glass of water.

An Chixu took the glass, glanced inside, and confirmed it had been washed.

She hadn’t even noticed when Yan Ciwei had left the office.

It was Yan Ciwei’s uncanny ability to appear and disappear that was to blame. An Chixu, engrossed in her work, rarely noticed her movements and could only guess at her whereabouts.

As for the rest of the office, they were even more oblivious. If they had been paying attention, they would have been astonished the last time Yan Ciwei brought An Chixu milk.

After helping An Chixu pack up, Yan Ciwei took her hand and led her out of the office.

And she really did take her hand. It took three attempts before she finally grasped An Chixu’s hand, interlacing their fingers without hesitation.

An Chixu seemed to flinch, but ultimately didn’t pull away.

Only after the two women had left did the office begin to stir with activity.

The conversation inevitably turned to An Chixu and Yan Ciwei’s relationship, with all sorts of rumors and speculations flying around.

“Sister An asked me to remind you all,” He Yuyan said, tapping the table after reading the message.

“This involves Director Yan. If you spread rumors…” Although He Yuyan believed Yan Ciwei knew what she was doing, appearing so openly affectionate and unreserved around An Chixu suggested she had the confidence and a plan to handle any gossip.

But An Chixu had given her an order, and she had to follow it.

“You’re not second-in-command,” Mu Feng retorted from nearby, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

Both women were vying for An Chixu’s favor, and today’s events had only intensified the tension between them.

“Heh, just bear the consequences yourself,” He Yuyan replied with a dismissive glance before settling back into her seat.

There’s even more compensation for staying until 10 PM. I should stick around a bit longer.

As expected, the office chatter quieted down considerably after her warning.

But while their small group might be silenced for now, what about the rest of the company?

As they stepped into the elevator, An Chixu pinched Yan Ciwei hard. Yan Ciwei chuckled softly and simply wrapped her arms around An Chixu from behind.

“Are you angry?” she murmured. “My Tuantuan is still so thin-skinned.”

What does it matter? Yan Ciwei thought. I’ll always protect my Tuantuan.

I’ll take good care of her. I’ll help her.

Just like before.

An Chixu exhaled sharply and stopped pinching Yan Ciwei.

“You haven’t changed,” she said, her voice tinged with bitterness. “You’re still the same as you were in school.”

Forcefully breaking through my social circles, squeezing your way in, then whisking me away from everyone’s gaze, trapping me in a bubble of isolation.

Packaging me like a beautiful doll, adorning my exterior with your own touches.

And then the kisses, the wet, surging heat.

Yan Ciwei didn’t know how to love. All she knew was how to droop her tail after doing wrong, transforming her peach-blossom eyes into pitiful puppy-dog eyes as she clung to An Chixu, kissing her while apologizing.

An Chixu, caught off guard, found herself tacitly consenting.

In truth, she didn’t know how to handle Yan Ciwei’s transgressions, resorting only to extreme cycles of cutting off contact and then reconnecting.

An Chixu’s mind was in turmoil, a growing sense of unease making her heart race.

Yan Ciwei’s embrace no longer calmed her anxiety.

“Don’t be mad,” Yan Ciwei murmured, still clinging to An Chixu’s back. She gently nuzzled her neck, tangling both their hair into a messy tangle.

Sometimes, An Chixu thought Yan Ciwei really was like a dog. She loved to nuzzle against her, sniff her skin, and even mess up her clothes.

That’s why An Chixu had only ever considered getting a cat. She didn’t want to see another Yan Ciwei.

“Hmm? Tuantuan… are you really upset?” Yan Ciwei pressed closer against An Chixu’s back, quieting down slightly. She sniffed the ends of her hair, trying to absorb the scent of geranium.

“No,” An Chixu replied. The elevator had reached the underground parking garage, and the doors slid open to reveal rows of colorful cars.

An Chixu reached back to stroke Yan Ciwei’s head, earning a nuzzle against her cheek. She couldn’t dwell on who was right or wrong anymore.

“I’m not angry. I still love you,” An Chixu said, patting Yan Ciwei’s cheek and turning her furry smile into a full-blown grin.

They shuffled a few inches before finally stepping out of the elevator. Yan Ciwei immediately wrapped her arms around An Chixu, pulling her down.

“Not here…” An Chixu barely had time to protest.

Yan Ciwei’s kiss had already landed.

They weren’t even office lovers, at most exes. Though they still loved each other, this brazenness…

Yan Ciwei pecked away An Chixu’s anxious tears.

Those three words—I love you—had made the fierce dog wag its tail, completely losing its senses.

“Yan, mmm…” An Chixu couldn’t even speak.

Yan Ciwei bent An Chixu’s waist, suspending her in mid-air. Despite the discomfort, she felt no unease.

Held securely in Yan Ciwei’s arms, she gradually relaxed.

She was indulging the domestic dog’s audacity, a bad owner.

“Let’s… talk… at home,” An Chixu managed to say, catching her breath. Seeing Yan Ciwei about to continue, she pinched her arm hard.

Yan Ciwei finally stopped.

Yan Ciwei placed An Chixu in the passenger seat, fastened her seatbelt, and couldn’t resist pressing another kiss to her cheek in the car.

She hadn’t experienced such heartfelt moments in far too long, and her restraint was crumbling.

Training a dog required both rewards and punishments.

But what if pain itself could be pleasure?

An Chixu had no choice but to endure.

An Chixu had assumed they would return to their usual home.

Instead, Yan Ciwei took her to the place she had moved into after their breakup—a place An Chixu had never been.

Gazing at the unfamiliar surroundings, An Chixu gripped the armrest tightly.

Yan Ciwei’s humming drifted through the air, mingling with the faint, rose-like fragrance of geraniums. Today, the geraniums lacked their usual bitterness, exuding only a heady, rose-like intoxication.

Instinctively, An Chixu gradually relaxed.

Within ten minutes, they pulled into an upscale residential complex.

Yan Ciwei switched off the engine and got out. As An Chixu unbuckled her seatbelt, Yan Ciwei opened the passenger door and extended her hand.

After a moment’s hesitation, An Chixu’s hand moved faster than her thoughts.

Yan Ciwei had already pulled her into a hug and helped her out of the car.

“I didn’t grab my bag,” An Chixu murmured, muffled against Yan Ciwei’s chest.

“It doesn’t matter.” The bag contained only work-related items, which she could retrieve when she went to the office tomorrow.

“Don’t worry about it,” Yan Ciwei whispered, cutting off An Chixu’s protest with a sound like a puppy’s warning whimper.

Her voice brushed against An Chixu’s ear, sending a shiver down her spine.

An Chixu tightened her grip slightly but remained silent.

Yan Ciwei’s house was far too large for one person.

It was a small villa, four stories tall. The ground floor housed the butler and maids, while the remaining three floors belonged entirely to Yan Ciwei.

As An Chixu followed Yan Ciwei into the house, she felt a slight unease.

Having been with Yan Ciwei for so many years, she had never set foot in such a grand villa.

“Everything’s arranged. Toiletries are all provided,” Yan Ciwei said, leading An Chixu into the bedroom. An Chixu paused, her gaze sweeping over the room.

The bedroom’s decor and layout were identical to the apartment they had shared during their university days.

“Shall we shower first? I’ll prepare it. Love me well tonight…” Yan Ciwei whispered from behind, her words echoing the same ones she had spoken back in their university days.

An Chixu closed her eyes. In her mind’s eye, she saw the plane trees of University Town, sunlight filtering through the leaves to illuminate Yan Ciwei’s face. She remembered strolling hand-in-hand across campus, Yan Ciwei buying them two ice creams before taking her home.

Home.

An Chixu opened her eyes. Yan Ciwei was already before her, gripping her collar.

The same collar Yan Ciwei had fastened for her earlier that afternoon.

In that moment, An Chixu felt as if she had regressed to her eighteen-year-old self, still innocent, still able to accept her mother’s care.

“Sister…” she murmured softly as Yan Ciwei unbuttoned the top button of her shirt.

The kiss mark from earlier that afternoon was revealed.

“Good girl, Tuantuan,” Yan Ciwei murmured, biting down again, deepening the mark.

An Chixu slept lightly.

She woke twice in the middle of the night, each time Yan Ciwei gently coaxed her back to sleep.

When she finally opened her eyes, the sky was still dark.

She glanced at Yan Ciwei beside her, her mind flooded with the absurdity of the previous night, and let out a soft sigh.

An Chixu tiptoed out of bed, originally intending to use the restroom.

But as she walked, she suddenly remembered that Orange might also be in this villa.

She quietly slipped out the door and found the butler to inquire. He led her to the sunroom where Orange lived.

“Orange!” An Chixu hugged the little cat that came to nuzzle against her. Orange’s fur was glossy and smooth, without a single mat—clearly meticulously cared for.

The room was filled with specialized toys, cat trees, and elaborate scenery.

Even Orange’s meals were freshly prepared daily by a dedicated chef.

Yan Ciwei could truly provide Orange with a life An Chixu herself could never offer.

An Chixu sat in a chair, holding a cat wand, her gaze drifting upward until her eyes glazed over, lost in thought.

Barely two minutes later, Yan Ciwei opened the glass door of the sunroom.

From across the room, she saw An Chixu sitting motionless, cat wand in hand, staring blankly at the sky. A familiar sorrow flickered in her almond-shaped eyes.

Like her mother.

Yan Ciwei froze in the doorway, her footsteps halting.

Suddenly, she felt an overwhelming urge to lock An Chixu in this sunroom.