After Flirting, She Runs Away, Chasing the White Moonlight to the Ends of the Earth - Chapter 4

This Lu Jin’an was truly no ordinary woman.

Every word and gesture of hers was subtly alluring.

Ning Nai cast a cool glance at Lu Jin’an, her expression frosty, yet a faint ripple stirred in her heart.

Just as she was slightly distracted, she suddenly felt a warmth at her waist—a hand had wrapped around her.

Ning Nai: !

Her heart skipped a beat, nearly leaping out of her chest.

It turned out Lu Jin’an had drawn close, reaching out to pull her into an embrace.

At social gatherings like this, a bit of casual physical contact wasn’t unusual, but such an unprovoked advance carried an unmistakable air of deliberate flirtation.

Ning Nai frowned slightly. In her eyes, this behavior was no different from outright frivolity.

The words of reproach were already on the tip of her tongue when she heard the woman beside her say with a smile:

“President Ning, may we take a photo together?”

Unnoticed, a photographer had appeared before them—a young woman holding a Polaroid camera, part of the hotel’s ambiance team.

The girl, still brimming with youthful energy—likely a part-time student—grinned and said, “You two are both so beautiful! Let me take a few more shots for you~”

So, it was just for a photo.

Ning Nai exhaled softly, and the words she had been about to say vanished without a trace.

Since it was just a photo, how could she appear ungracious?

So, she allowed Lu Jin’an to keep her close, arms wrapped around her, as the camera clicked away three times.

Once the photos were taken, the hand at her waist showed no sign of letting go.

Turning her head slightly, Ning Nai studied Lu Jin’an with a questioning look, forgetting just how close they were.

As she tilted her head, she inadvertently met Lu Jin’an’s warm, gleaming gaze. Her heart fluttered, and she could only lower her eyes slightly.

But as her gaze drifted downward, things took a dangerous turn.

What greeted her was a vision of smooth, fair collarbones and elegantly curved shoulders. Following the line of sight further down, a delicate gold chain dangled, leading to soft, alluring curves—just enough to catch a glimpse of something utterly indecent.

That single glance sent Ning Nai’s heart racing wildly.

She immediately averted her eyes, chastising herself for the impropriety.

Suddenly, the hand at her waist gave a teasing squeeze, sending a jolt through her body. She nearly gasped aloud.

A whisper, hot and flustering, brushed against her ear: “President Ning’s waist is so soft… truly captivating.”

The warmth of those words sent Ning Nai’s pulse thundering.

How was one supposed to respond to such brazen words from a playgirl?

Her body stiffened, and she took a step back, breaking free from Lu Jin’an’s hold.

Forcing composure, she said, “Enjoy yourself, Ms. Lu. I’ll excuse myself first.”

Lu Jin’an: ?

Wasn’t genuine praise the quickest way to someone’s heart?

Why did this tactic keep failing with President Ning?

Watching Ning Nai’s retreating figure, Lu Jin’an felt utterly bewildered, still clutching the three freshly taken photos in her hand.

“…No problem, President Ning. I’ll hold onto these for you.”

Ning Nai strode away from the dessert area without looking back, her heartbeat refusing to settle.

Was she angry at being accosted by a playgirl?

Lu Jin’an was attracted to women, yet she paid no heed to appropriate social boundaries—utterly shameless.

She clearly had a girlfriend, yet spoke to others with such ambiguity—utterly wanton.

And she seemed acutely aware of her own charm, flaunting it without restraint—wielding her beauty like a weapon.

Final conclusion—

Lu Jin’an might be impeccable in her profession, but she was truly lacking in interpersonal skills.

Ning Nai silently deducted another ten points from Lu Jin’an’s score.

Meanwhile, Lu Jin’an remained lost in thought, watching Ning Nai’s stiff, slightly resistant back with a complicated mix of emotions.

The initial coldness before their partnership could be chalked up to the reserved hesitation of a client in the decision-making phase. But now that they were officially working together, Ning Nai still maintained an icy, unapproachable demeanor—clearly, she didn’t think too highly of her.

As fellow women, there was nothing wrong with expressing mutual goodwill. Besides, everything Lu Jin’an had said came from genuine admiration.

Could it be that Ning Nai simply disliked close interactions between women? Or maybe she just disliked her specifically?

Lu Jin’an mentally reviewed their earlier friendly exchange but found nothing inappropriate.

It seemed the issue was personal.

A sense of helplessness washed over her, and even the cake in her mouth lost its flavor.

At the start of their collaboration, Xu Kun had briefed her on the domestic industry dynamics—much of a successful partnership with a client depended on how well the key representatives got along. The better the rapport, the smoother the project would progress.

So, Director Ning’s attitude would determine how many years of stable income Qing Design could secure.

At this rate, the future looked bleak.

Lu Jin’an had a vague premonition that the work ahead would be challenging. She couldn’t fathom why Ning Nai had signed her in the first place.

Sigh. Maybe Xu Kun should’ve come today instead.

Weekend.

While most people spent their weekends catching up on beauty sleep, Lu Jin’an was moving into her new place.

The disappointment from the banquet had faded somewhat under the morning sun. Reinvigorated, she drove to Hidden Garden Residences.

After returning to the country and joining Qing Design, she had quickly purchased a 102-square-meter, two-bedroom flat in the city. It had a spacious, well-lit living room with a quiet orientation—perfect for immersing herself in painting.

She’d been too busy lately, so her cousin had helped receive the furniture deliveries. Judging by the photos he’d sent, everything was already in place.

Today was also an auspicious day for moving in.

But she didn’t expect to run into a familiar face in the elevator.

“Director Ning?”

Ning Nai stood impeccably dressed in a silk nude-colored sleeveless blouse and camel-colored wide-leg cropped pants, her heels clicking softly against the elevator floor.

“Ah, Professor Lu?” She seemed equally surprised.

No way. Did this playgirl track down my address and follow me here already?

Fortunately, Lu Jin’an smiled and said, “What a coincidence. I live here too.”

Ning Nai returned a polite smile while thinking, You’d better not be lying.

The elevator ascended in silence, the only sound the soft hum of machinery. It was then that Ning Nai noticed only one button was lit on the panel—the “9” she had pressed earlier.

Ning Nai: “Professor Lu, you haven’t pressed your floor yet.”

Lu Jin’an glanced at the buttons and chuckled. “Ah, I’m going to the ninth floor too.”

A sinking feeling settled in Ning Nai’s chest.

The apartment opposite hers, Unit 906, had been vacant until last week. Since then, it had become a nuisance—blaring dance music at odd hours. But the real shock came two days ago.

Just as she was about to unlock her door with her fingerprint, someone suddenly tapped her on the shoulder.

Ning Nai, already standing in front of Unit 905, nearly jumped out of her skin. A young girl’s voice called out:

“Hey, sis.”

Suppressing her alarm, Ning Nai turned to find a girl in a short skirt and spaghetti-strap top. Judging by her youthful face, she was probably still in school.

“Big sister, please go out with me.” The girl suddenly grabbed Ning Nai’s hand, eagerly asking.

Ning Nai swiftly pulled her hand back, sizing up the girl.

At the same time, a strange feeling surged in her heart. Forcing herself to stay calm, her mind began racing: The neighborhood has security guards, and to enter the building, she must likely be a resident—so this is probably a resident’s kid.

She glanced at the surveillance camera nearby, steadied herself, and asked:

“Are you playing some kind of game?”

The moment she said this, a burst of laughter erupted from behind. Ning Nai turned around and realized that Unit 906, which had always been vacant, had miraculously opened its door.

Several heads peeked out from inside, all looking like students still in school.

Hah, I was right.

Ning Nai exhaled silently in relief. “Sorry, I don’t play games. Have fun, bye.”

The girl covered her mouth with a giggle and reluctantly walked away.

Watching as the heads in 906 disappeared back inside, Ning Nai finally relaxed. She entered her fingerprint, swiftly slipped into Unit 905, and shut the door behind her.

This neighborhood was nestled in the bustling city center—a rare oasis of tranquility amid the noise.

Low density, excellent layout, and close to work—these were the reasons Ning Nai had bought this place in the first place. And with Unit 906 across the hall always empty, the entire ninth floor had felt wonderfully peaceful.

She had loved it.

But now? A bunch of kids had moved in… and even a player had moved in…