After Being Forced to Kiss My Superior (GL) - Chapter 1

It was 1 a.m., yet the city’s busiest bar street was still lit up like daylight—buzzing with neon lights and noise.

Inside one of the private rooms, the party was in full swing. Two rounds of drinks had already gone around, and people had sung themselves hoarse. Yan Weiwei let out a long breath, set down the microphone, then staggered over with a bottle in hand to nudge the person next to her.

“Ah Qiu, Ah Qiu—Li Wanqiu!” she called, tapping her on the shoulder. “Your turn to sing.”

“No thanks,” Li Wanqiu replied, shaking her head. She lowered her eyes, emptied her glass, and leaned back into the pillow behind her with a soft voice. “I didn’t come here to have fun.”

“I get it—you’re hiding out,” Yan Weiwei said with a chuckle, poking her playfully. “But since you’re already here…”

“And besides, you’re dressed way too pretty tonight,” she added, leaning in close and whispering like it was a secret. “There are a lot of people checking you out.”

She grinned and gave her a big thumbs-up. “No surprise there—our Miss Li is stunning.”

And she wasn’t wrong. Li Wanqiu was undeniably beautiful.

Her chestnut-brown hair fell just past her shoulders. Her features were delicate and elegant, her skin pale and flawless, her waist slim. She wore a simple black spaghetti-strap dress that made her skin look even fairer. Paired with slightly upturned eyes and bold red lips, she looked like a playful, charming cat.

Tonight’s party had been arranged by one of Yan Weiwei’s friends. There were a lot of people there—some they knew, many they didn’t. A few people meeting Li Wanqiu for the first time were completely stunned by her looks.

Yan Weiwei, always worried about Li Wanqiu’s love life, didn’t let a little alcohol stop her from trying to play matchmaker. Every few minutes, she’d nudge her, asking if some guy caught her eye, or if another seemed like a good match.

Li Wanqiu found it annoying. She covered her right ear and turned away, pouring herself another drink. Just as she raised the glass, Yan Weiwei’s voice came again—louder, more urgent—as she slapped her arm.

“Ah Qiu! Ah Qiu!”

“What is it now?” Li Wanqiu asked, exasperated. “Did you see a ghost?”

“No… worse.” Yan Weiwei gulped, trembling a little as she pointed toward the door. “It’s… it’s your mom.”

Li Wanqiu looked up—and sure enough, someone was standing at the door. Reflected in the small window was her mother’s face. She was dressed in elegant, high-end clothes that made her look completely out of place in a bar like this. Her brow was tightly furrowed, her expression so cold she looked like she could explode at any second.

Li Wanqiu froze. The drink in her hand nearly spilled onto her lap.

Tonight, had originally been a family gathering at the Li house. Li Wanqiu hadn’t wanted to go, so she came to the bar to avoid it. What she didn’t expect was for her mother to actually come looking for her.

The private room had decent soundproofing, and the noise behind them faded quickly once the door closed. Li Wanqiu shut the door carefully, then said softly, “Mom.”

“Oh, so now you remember I’m your mother?” her mom snapped, her voice sharp. “You said you were too busy to come to the family dinner—and then ran off to drink instead? So busy, huh?”

“It just happened to overlap,” Li Wanqiu replied calmly. “Family events are important, but so are friendships.”

“Don’t try to fool me with that nonsense,” her mother scolded, her voice rising. “You think I don’t know what kind of little tricks you’re playing?”

“You’re just afraid of embarrassment. Scared of what others will say about you.”

Well… she wasn’t entirely wrong.

The Li family had been in business for generations, filled with talent and success. Their company was one of the top performers in its field. Just as they spared no effort in business, they also held their children to the highest expectations.

Take Li Wanqiu’s older brother, Li Qing, for example. He had been groomed from a young age to take over one of the family’s branch companies, walking the exact path their parents had paved for him.

So naturally, they wanted to do the same with their younger daughter. But Li Wanqiu was nothing like her brother. Not only did she have no interest in business, she was like a wild horse—completely unmanageable.

Even though she showed talent in other areas, in her parents’ eyes, none of it counted. It wasn’t “serious” or “proper.” At home, she was constantly lectured. At family gatherings, it was even worse—they picked her apart until she felt worthless.

Li Wanqiu didn’t bother arguing. She just looked away.

She knew what was coming next—her mother’s usual speech: first criticizing her for being aimless, then comparing her to her brother and sister, and finally circling around to the real point.

—Her dad had found her another job.

In Li Fu’s eyes, if Wanqiu had a single free day, it meant she had too much time on her hands. He probably wished he could tattoo “unmotivated” across her forehead. A daughter like her made him feel ashamed, so he kept trying to find things to keep her “busy.”

At first, it was a job in the family business. Later, they stuck her with random titles at partner companies, hoping she’d just blend in. But no matter what it was, she simply couldn’t get interested. She was completely resistant to it all.

Still, her father never gave up. Now that he had a bit of time, he’d arranged yet another position for her.

And this time—it was at a winery.

Li Wanqiu had already had quite a bit to drink. The alcohol was finally starting to hit her, and she was struggling to process what she was hearing. Even so, one word came through loud and clear.

Bixia.

Her brow lifted slightly. “Oh?”

Her father had really gone all out this time.

The name Bixia was no stranger to her. In fact, anyone in the wine industry would know it well. The winery was famous for its high-quality products, recognized not only within China but also internationally, with countless awards under its belt.

Compared to Bixia’s impressive scale and reputation, the Li family’s business accomplishments seemed almost laughable.

She had no idea how her dad had even managed to get in touch with them.

Before she could dwell on it further, her mother continued, “I’m busy and don’t have time to waste repeating myself. You’ve heard it all before. So here it is—be ready by 10 a.m. tomorrow. We’ll pick you up at the entrance to your complex. Your father and I are coming together.”

Li Wanqiu blinked, a little surprised. “So formal?”

“Of course!” her mother snapped. “President Ji’s time is precious. Your father’s friend happened to be doing business with her recently, and luckily, the relationship is decent. That’s the only reason he managed to squeeze out this small opportunity for you. Don’t waste it.”

From the sound of it, nothing was confirmed yet.

Li Wanqiu let out a quiet breath of relief and was just about to speak—when her mother cut her off again.

“I mean, seriously—look at the rest of the Li family. Is anyone like you? Forget your siblings—even your cousin is miles ahead. She landed a major position at a state-owned enterprise right after graduation. Her future is bright!”

“But you?” Her mother sneered. “Useless. Like mud that won’t stick to a wall. If you weren’t my own daughter, I would’ve kicked you out a long time ago.”

Li Wanqiu froze when she heard that, her expression stiffening. A moment later, she couldn’t help but frown slightly.

—That was the one thing she hated hearing most.

It all traced back to when she was five years old and got separated from her parents at a banquet.

Back then, her parents were rarely around. She barely saw them a few times a year. Afraid they didn’t like her, she always tried her best to be sweet and obedient. For that banquet, she’d even worn her favorite little dress and asked one of the maids to help her dress up carefully.

But even then, Li Fu and Li Mu hadn’t paid her much attention. They spent the entire evening chatting and socializing, eventually leaving her alone in the lounge. When she woke up from a nap and realized she was all by herself, she thought they had abandoned her. Tears had streamed down her face on the spot.

What had started as childhood trauma… still haunted her, even now.

She paused, the words she wanted to say stuck in her throat. After a long silence, all she could manage was a single syllable.

“…Okay.”

The night passed quickly, and soon it was time for her scheduled meeting with her parents. Li Wanqiu got in the car, and an hour later, they finally arrived.

She’d done a bit of research online beforehand—learning about Bixia’s size, layout, and annual output from their official website. She thought she was prepared.

But seeing it in person still stunned her.

Bixia… was huge.

She took out her phone and snapped a few casual pictures to send to Yan Weiwei.

“Hurry up,” her mother snapped.

The three of them walked through a landscaped courtyard and headed straight for the reception hall. Someone greeted them and, after confirming their purpose, led them to a guest lounge.

“Please wait just a moment,” the young receptionist said with a sweet smile. “President Ji is still in a meeting.”

“Yes, of course,” Li Fu replied with a nod. As soon as the girl left, he turned to Li Mu and started discussing the winery, praising its impressive size, state-of-the-art facilities, and President Ji’s outstanding achievements at such a young age.

Li Wanqiu quickly lost interest. After listening for a few sentences, she lowered her head and started fiddling with her phone.

Just then, a call from Yan Weiwei came through.

“I’m stepping out to take this,” Li Wanqiu said, standing up. She left the room, closing the door behind her just as her mother’s scolding followed after her. Once outside, she found a quiet corner and answered the call.

“You really went?!” Yan Weiwei’s excited voice burst through the speaker. “How is it?!”

“Haven’t seen her yet,” Li Wanqiu said, playing with a strand of her hair. “But the stuff online wasn’t lying—Bixia’s massive.”

“And they say President Ji is super gorgeous,” Yan Weiwei added happily. “I’ve seen pictures of her—she’s prettier than most celebrities. Gorgeous features, a slim waist, long legs… even a casual photo is swoon-worthy. You’re totally gonna like her.”

“Is she really that pretty?” Li Wanqiu hesitated. She hadn’t looked into it as thoroughly as Yan Weiwei—she’d only skimmed a few details. What she did remember was President Ji’s age.

Thirty. A full seven years older than her.

Li Wanqiu had never been interested in women much older than herself, so she replied without thinking, “She’s okay. Ji Jinyan’s too old for me.”

“Old?!” Yan Weiwei protested. “That’s not old—that’s mature.”

“Mature—” Li Wanqiu laughed, just about to argue when she suddenly heard footsteps behind her. A moment later, someone brushed past her shoulder.

She turned instinctively—and the first thing she noticed was the soft scent that drifted by. It was crisp and cool, like spring water—refreshing but not cold, with just a hint of sweetness beneath it.

She paused, words caught in her throat, eyes lifting—only to be instantly captivated by the woman in front of her.

She was beautiful. Exceptionally beautiful.

She wore a perfectly tailored women’s suit. Her long black hair was tied back in a sleek low ponytail, most of it falling behind her shoulders. But a few strands framed her pale neck, drawing the eye. Above that—buttoned collar, elegant lips, mesmerizing eyes.

They were standing close enough that Li Wanqiu even noticed a small beauty mark near the woman’s neck, half-hidden in her hair.

Restrained. Elegant. And impossibly alluring.

A moment later, their eyes met.

The woman tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, then glanced over—her gaze pausing on Li Wanqiu’s face for half a second before she smiled faintly.

“Miss Li, I’ll see you in the lounge shortly.”

“…Ah. Alright,” Li Wanqiu replied, nodding slightly.

Her eyes followed the woman’s figure—and then dropped to the name badge pinned to her chest.

What a coincidence.

She was the exact person they’d just been gossiping about on the phone.

The woman rumored to be beautiful, capable, and enigmatic—

President Ji. Ji Jinyan.