After Being Forced to Kiss My Superior (GL) - Chapter 23
Chapter 23: Li Wanqiu, I Hate You
Time passed quickly. Just two days after returning from the business trip, it was already Friday.
The Mid-Autumn Festival was approaching, bringing a three-day holiday. Everyone was in high spirits. Li Wanqiu had heard her colleagues discussing their plans for days. Some were going to see flowers, some were eager to enjoy good food, and a nearby city had recently opened a new scenic area that was attracting quite a bit of interest.
In addition to that, Bixia had arranged a company dinner and karaoke night that evening, so everyone could relax and have fun together.
Several departments were participating. During dinner, the atmosphere was already lively, but once the karaoke started, the energy reached its peak. People like Lu Ye and Sister Li, who could hold their liquor, made sure to drink with just about everyone in every private room.
“I don’t get it. They drink so much and still don’t get drunk,” Assistant An sighed. She had had a few drinks herself and was starting to feel tipsy, so she leaned back on the sofa and picked at some fruit.
She glanced at Li Wanqiu and instinctively offered a cherry tomato from her plate. “Wanqiu, want one?”
“I’ll pass,” Li Wanqiu said, shaking her head. When she saw the round little tomatoes in Assistant An’s hand, her mind wandered back to that day.
Even now, she still felt a bit regretful. She did not know what had gotten into her that moment. Biting the cherry tomato straight from Ji Jinyan’s hand had felt strangely natural. Thankfully, Ji Jinyan had not said anything at the time. She had only smiled gently.
Then, she had picked up another one and asked softly, “Want another?”
This time, no matter what, Li Wanqiu would not eat another one.
She sighed and got a little lost in thought. As she quietly sat there, she suddenly sensed someone sitting beside her.
She looked up, and the very person she had just been thinking about had now appeared next to her.
It was Ji Jinyan.
She had likely still been tied up with work and missed the dinner part of the event, only arriving now. Bixia had booked many private rooms for the evening, and Li Wanqiu had not expected her to walk into this one.
“President Ji,” Li Wanqiu paused before greeting her, “have you eaten yet?”
“I had a little something earlier,” Ji Jinyan replied with a smile. She poured herself a glass of wine, then looked around at everyone. “Sorry for being late. I’ll make up for it with a drink.”
The work culture at Bixia was always relaxed. There was no strict divide between management and employees, and the mood tonight was already warm and festive. Seeing Ji Jinyan take the initiative to drink, everyone naturally raised their glasses with her.
Someone, already a bit drunk, shouted out a toast to President Ji, to Bixia, and to freedom. Laughter broke out all around the room, the noise rising with every cheer.
After the toast, the karaoke continued.
“President Ji, would you like to sing a few songs?” Assistant An was sitting close to the karaoke system and turned to ask.
“I’ll pass,” Ji Jinyan said with a light smile. “You all go ahead.”
“Alright,” Assistant An nodded and did not press her. It happened to be Lu Ye’s turn to sing, so she mischievously turned off the original vocal track. Two seconds later, Lu Ye’s off-key wailing filled the room, and everyone burst into laughter.
Li Wanqiu smiled without thinking and glanced to the side. She noticed Ji Jinyan was also quietly smiling.
The lighting in the room was dim, with the only real brightness coming from the large karaoke screen. Some of the light cast across the room, while other streaks touched Ji Jinyan’s face. The contrast of light and shadow gave everything a slightly hazy, intimate feel.
Ji Jinyan’s eyelashes were very long. They became even more noticeable when she tilted her head back to drink. Li Wanqiu could not seem to look away, momentarily caught up in the sight.
That was when their eyes met.
“Li Wanqiu,” Ji Jinyan said after finishing her glass of wine and casually refilling it. “Would you like to have a drink with me?”
“You’re not alone tonight,” she added, her voice a little lower, as if she had remembered something. “You can have just a little.”
“I’m not that easy to get drunk,” Li Wanqiu replied, realizing she was referring to that night at the bar. She cleared her throat, as if defending herself, then picked up her own glass. “A toast to you, President Ji.”
Ji Jinyan clinked her glass with hers and took a sip before speaking again.
“You’ve been at Bixia for almost two months now,” she said. “Are you happy here?”
Li Wanqiu had not expected the question, but after a moment’s pause, she nodded and answered sincerely.
“Yes, I’m quite happy.”
Ji Jinyan turned slightly to look at her. Hearing that answer, the smile in her eyes deepened.
“I’m glad to hear that,” she said.
“Let’s continue to work hard together.”
As she spoke, Ji Jinyan gently placed the rim of her glass against Li Wanqiu’s. Her voice was soft and easily lost in the lively noise of the private room, fading almost as soon as it was heard.
Li Wanqiu gave a quiet nod and responded with a gentle “Alright.” She then lifted her glass and followed Ji Jinyan’s movement, drinking along with her.
She did not pay much attention to what was happening around them. She did not even notice who was singing at that moment.
All she could focus on was that one sentence Ji Jinyan had said earlier. It was spoken with a smile, filled with sincerity and warmth.
After several rounds of singing, people began to feel a little tired and decided to play games together instead.
There were many different kinds of games. Some of them Li Wanqiu had played before, but others were new to her. One of the games was a reverse-answer game, which she had never tried before with friends.
Assistant An laughed and decided to make things easier for her. She explained that the only two words Li Wanqiu needed to use were “like” and “hate.” The goal was to respond with the opposite of the truth.
Li Wanqiu nodded and agreed, although she felt a little nervous for no clear reason. Assistant An began the first question and asked what she thought of Bixia.
Li Wanqiu responded quickly. “Hate it.”
Assistant An smiled. “Grapes?”
Li Wanqiu replied, “Hate them.”
Assistant An continued. “Cilantro?”
Li Wanqiu said, “Like it.”
Assistant An laughed and patted her on the shoulder. “You are just like me.”
The first three questions passed quickly, and it was time for the next round. Li Wanqiu seemed to have bad luck that night and ended up being chosen again.
This time, the question came from a young woman in the sales department. She did not seem to have much tolerance for alcohol. By then, she was clearly drunk and full of energy. The first two questions she asked were normal, but the third one took an unexpected turn.
Clapping her hands cheerfully, she grinned and asked, “What about President Ji?”
Li Wanqiu froze.
She stayed silent for several long seconds before finally answering in a low voice, “I guess I hate her.”
Her hesitation was obvious, and her answer came far too slowly. The people around her immediately began to laugh and tease her.
“Too slow. Wanqiu, that’s three penalty drinks.”
It was too noisy to argue.
Li Wanqiu nodded and did not try to get out of it. She poured herself three glasses and drank them all without hesitation. By the end, she could feel the alcohol hitting her.
She could not even clearly see the expression on Ji Jinyan’s face when she gave her answer.
Time passed quickly. Soon it was midnight and the party finally came to an end. Some people called rides, others stayed behind to wait for a designated driver. One by one, everyone started to head home.
Ji Jinyan had driven herself that night, but she had already arranged for a driver in advance. As her eyes moved across the room, they landed on Li Wanqiu, who was sitting quietly on the sofa, looking calm and obedient.
She walked over slowly and asked, “Are you drunk?”
“No,” Li Wanqiu mumbled and shook her head. She did not want to admit it. “It was just a few drinks.”
Her voice was light and airy, barely steady.
Ji Jinyan smiled but did not argue. She reached out to help her up.
“Let me take you home, alright?”
Li Wanqiu blinked and thought for a few seconds before finally replying, “Okay.”
Ji Jinyan nodded, then guided her into the car. Before the driver even arrived, Li Wanqiu had already fallen asleep.
She looked peaceful and quiet while sleeping. Even after drinking, she did not cause any trouble. But she became a little clingy, as if she lacked a sense of safety. She held tightly to Ji Jinyan’s coat and refused to let go.
She was using more strength than expected, which made Ji Jinyan unconsciously lean in closer. At first, it was just a natural reaction. Later, it became something she did willingly.
After a few moments of silence, Ji Jinyan raised her hand and gently brushed her fingers across Li Wanqiu’s lips. The memory of what had happened in the private room came back to her mind.
Her touch was soft and her voice carried a quiet, amused smile when she spoke.
“Li Wanqiu, I hate you too.”