After Being Forced to Kiss My Superior (GL) - Chapter 4

After a few more turns, the car finally pulled up to their destination.

The elderly gentleman Ji Jinyan had come to visit was named Mr. Liu. He had been working with Bixia since the very beginning and had maintained a close relationship with the company ever since. Both Ji Jinyan and her father had received a great deal of support and kindness from him over the years.

Ji had never forgotten his generosity, and she made a habit of visiting him during holidays and special occasions.

Today happened to be Mr. Liu’s birthday.

Ji Jinyan stepped out of the car, opened the trunk, and took out a bottle of wine and a wrapped gift.

Remembering Ji’s earlier comment about being “too casual,” Li Wanqiu took the initiative this time. Before Ji could say anything, she walked over and reached out her hand. “Let me carry something, President Ji.”

The title “President Ji” sounded a little stiff and unfamiliar coming from her mouth.

Ji Jinyan glanced at her, and a flicker of amusement passed through her eyes. The morning sunlight had fully broken through by now, casting a soft glow over everything. It landed gently on Li Wanqiu’s fingers, making her pale skin and polished nails shine—it was a quiet kind of beauty.

“Alright,” Ji agreed easily, not bothering to be overly polite. She shifted the gift into her right hand and handed the lighter bottle of wine to Li Wanqiu.

“All set,” she said. “Let’s go.”

Mr. Liu lived in a quiet area far from the city. His home was a large private villa surrounded by flowers and greenery, all of it perfectly maintained.

It was clear he was someone who truly enjoyed life.

Li Wanqiu followed Ji into the house, and soon they were welcomed by an elderly man with white hair and a warm, kind smile.

She greeted him respectfully, following Ji’s lead. “Hello, Mr. Liu.”

“Ah!” Mr. Liu responded cheerfully. “Xiao Ji, you’ve come again!”

“You always visit me around the holidays,” he said with a chuckle, then motioned for the staff to bring out tea and snacks. He gestured for them to sit and started chatting with Ji Jinyan. “Have things been busy lately?”

“It’s been alright,” Ji replied with a soft smile. “The usual pace.”

Mr. Liu nodded thoughtfully, his tone filled with concern. “Be sure to take care of yourself.”

Then his gaze shifted to Li Wanqiu. “This young lady looks unfamiliar. I don’t think we’ve met before.”

“She’s new,” Ji explained. “Today’s her first day.”

“Her first day, and you’re already dragging her around with you?” Mr. Liu said playfully. Though he was old, he still had the cheerful energy of someone young at heart. Leaning slightly toward Li Wanqiu as if sharing a secret, he asked with a kind smile, “Is it tiring working with her?”

Li Wanqiu glanced at Ji instinctively.

Ji happened to be watching her too. She clearly wasn’t planning to answer for her—on the contrary, she seemed to be waiting for her response, a faint smile playing at her lips.

Li Wanqiu paused, then smiled politely and replied, “It’s not bad.”

“President Ji is young and capable, and she treats people well. There’s a lot I can learn from her.”

A textbook answer—very proper and safe.

The very next second, Ji Jinyan let out a quiet laugh.

Li Wanqiu glanced over at her, not understanding why, and asked in a slightly hesitant voice, “Wh-what is it?”

“Nothing,” Ji replied, then gently patted her on the shoulder. Her voice was soft and calm. “You’ve got a bright future ahead.”

Her fingertips carried a faint scent—fresh and elegant, just like the one on her clothes. It spread gently through the air, subtle but unexpectedly pleasant.

Li Wanqiu froze for a moment, then turned her face away, a little flustered.

“…Oh.”

Mr. Liu’s wife had passed away years ago, and his children lived abroad, rarely returning home. So whenever Ji Jinyan came to visit, it always made him genuinely happy.

“My daughter should be home soon,” Mr. Liu said after chatting with them for a while. He checked the time and smiled warmly. “Why don’t you both stay for lunch?”

Ji Jinyan shook her head gently. “I still have work waiting at the office.”

“I’ll visit again soon,” she added, standing up and reminding him kindly to take care of himself. Then, with a warm smile, she said, “Happy birthday. Wishing you happiness every day.”

“You too,” Mr. Liu replied, clearly reluctant to see her go. But knowing how busy she was, he didn’t insist. He walked them to the door, hands behind his back, and watched as they slowly walked away.

When they were nearly at the end of the path, Li Wanqiu turned around—and saw that Mr. Liu was still standing there, watching them.

She paused, then instinctively waved at him. Lowering her voice, she leaned toward Ji Jinyan and whispered, “He really seems like he doesn’t want you to leave.”

“Yeah,” Ji replied with a small nod. She raised her hand to wave back too, but didn’t stop walking. With a soft chuckle, she said, “It’s always like this.”

“Is there something urgent at work today?” Li Wanqiu looked up at her. “Why not… stay with him a little longer?”

“I would if I could,” Ji said, turning her head slightly to meet her eyes. “But Mr. Liu’s children don’t like it.”

Li Wanqiu blinked, confused. “Why not?”

“They think I’m interfering in their relationship with their father,” Ji said casually, handing Li Wanqiu a bottle of water before starting the car again. “I’ve met them a few times before, and it didn’t go well.”

“So today, I thought it was best to avoid unnecessary drama.”

Now it made sense.

Li Wanqiu nodded slowly. She understood what Ji meant—Mr. Liu’s children, who were rarely around, were probably worried that their father was getting too close to Ji. They might’ve felt threatened and assumed Ji had some hidden agenda.

“That’s awful,” Li Wanqiu muttered, clearly upset. “They’re the ones who don’t even bother coming home, and now they’re blaming someone else for caring too much?”

“If they’re so worried, why don’t they just visit more often?”

“Seriously… what kind of people do that?”

She kept talking, clearly frustrated. It was rare for her to speak this much in front of Ji Jinyan. Just like last night, she was fired up again—like a small, puffed-up hedgehog full of stubborn energy.

Ji Jinyan smiled at her, amused by her reaction, and nodded in agreement. “I know.”

“They’re so annoying! How can they be like that?” Li Wanqiu grumbled, her voice rising just slightly—but still laced with emotion rather than anger.

Ji’s response was warm and light, more like someone soothing a child than scolding. Her voice held a trace of laughter, not irritation.

Li Wanqiu quickly realized something, glanced up at Ji Jinyan with a complicated expression, and suddenly felt a little embarrassed. She closed her mouth and didn’t say another word.

Ji Jinyan turned the steering wheel, made a turn, and pulled the car smoothly into a parking spot. “If there’s a chance later, I’ll bring you to visit Mr. Liu again.”

With that, she pushed open the door. “Let’s get out.”

Li Wanqiu got out of the car after her. “Where are we going now?”

Ji thought for a moment. “Hmm… someone else’s birthday.”

Li Wanqiu looked surprised. “Another one?”

“I’m joking,” Ji said, her voice rising slightly at the end. The playful glint in her amber eyes was obvious. “It’s getting late. I’m taking you out for lunch.”

“…”

Li Wanqiu didn’t even know what to say, but she still followed along. The two of them entered the restaurant through the revolving doors, and a waiter led them to a table.

That word “birthday” lingered in Li Wanqiu’s mind. Out of curiosity, she asked, “Do you remember a lot of your clients’ birthdays?”

Ji Jinyan swept her hair to one side as she glanced down at the menu. The motion revealed her pale, graceful neck and a small mole near her collarbone—subtle, but striking.

She didn’t seem to expect that question and paused for a second. Then she replied, “Not just clients.”

“I remember the birthdays of people who matter.”

She smiled as she propped her chin lazily on her hand. The slight curve of her lips made her look effortlessly elegant.

There was something quietly captivating about her.

Their food arrived, and as it turned out, Ji Jinyan’s taste matched Li Wanqiu’s surprisingly well. Every dish was delicious.

Since her morning had been rushed, Li Wanqiu had only eaten a piece of bread. By now, she was genuinely hungry and ate happily. After the meal, she felt full and relaxed from head to toe.

Ji Jinyan, however, barely ate—she kept stepping out to take phone calls.

Bixia’s success clearly wasn’t just luck. The company had gotten where it was through hard work and commitment, and as the leader, Ji carried much of that burden herself.

Li Wanqiu understood this, so she didn’t say anything. She quietly finished her food. Just as she was reapplying her lipstick, Ji came back.

“All done?” Ji asked.

“Mm.” Li Wanqiu nodded. “What about you? Do you want to eat a little more?”

“I’m fine,” Ji said with a smile. “Let’s go.”

“Okay.”

Ji had already paid the bill. The two of them walked out of the restaurant together. Before they could reach the car, Ji’s phone rang again. She picked it up and answered simply, “I’m heading over now.”

Sounded like work wasn’t done for the day.

Li Wanqiu noticed and didn’t want to take up any more of her time. She offered, “I’ll just take a cab home.”

“You sure?” Ji looked over at her.

Li Wanqiu nodded. “It’s really fine.”

“Alright then.” Ji didn’t insist. She nodded in agreement but didn’t leave immediately. Her eyes casually swept across the street—then stopped on a candy vendor nearby.

It was the weekend, and there were kids running around everywhere. The vendor had even added sugar art to their usual candied hawthorn skewers, shaping little animals from melted sugar. Business was booming—every kid had one in their hand, happily munching away.

To Li Wanqiu’s surprise, Ji Jinyan walked over and bought one.

“This is for you,” she said, handing it over.

“…Why?” Li Wanqiu blinked at her, puzzled. “Isn’t this stuff for kids?”

“It looked cute, so I bought it,” Ji said casually. “Consider it a reward—for working hard today.”

Then she stepped closer, her tone playful and a little teasing. “So? Do you want it or not?”

The challenge in her voice was obvious. She was clearly just trying to provoke her—like a grown-up daring a child.

Li Wanqiu frowned, annoyed but unwilling to back down. She snatched the candy from her and took a big bite on the spot.

A light sweetness spread across her tongue—it was actually really good. She looked up at Ji, deliberately chewing loudly as she said,

“Who said I didn’t want it?”

“I do.”