Boss, Please Go Easy On Me (GL) - Chapter 27
Yan Xiaomi hunched her shoulders, her eyes closed for a long time, not daring to open them, waiting for An Yao to speak. But the office was completely silent. All she could hear was her own rapid breathing and fast heartbeat.
An Yao was never the type to answer right away when spoken to; she would usually wait for a while when busy. But there shouldn’t be absolutely no sound, not even breathing.
Yan Xiaomi cautiously opened her eyes and looked up. Her expression instantly relaxed. Huh? How come no one is here? The usually dedicated and responsible President An was not in the office!
She probably went to a meeting, a gust of desolate wind seemed to blow past Yan Xiaomi’s head. How could this happen! She finally mustered the courage to come and see her, to confess, but now her courage was all used up, her heart was failing, and there was no one here…
Yan Xiaomi walked out of the office and ran into a colleague, who looked quite surprised. “Xiaomi, you’re finally back? How was the business trip? Were you happy for a whole month?”
“What?” Yan Xiaomi didn’t know what nonsense she was talking about. She pulled her over and asked, “Did you just say I went on a business trip?”
“Didn’t President An say you went on a business trip?” The colleague looked envious. “I heard business trips are fun. She actually let you go for a month. President An is really good to you. Hey? What’s wrong with your hair?”
Yan Xiaomi didn’t care about her hair. She pulled her colleague and asked, “Where is President An now?”
“She’s at…?” She paused, thought for a moment. “Oh, right. President An went to meet a client today, at the Golden Joy Hotel.”
Yan Xiaomi immediately took off running, sprinting all the way. She found her high heels cumbersome, so she took them off and ran with them in her hand. Her hair, long on one side and short on the other, was flying wildly in the wind. Even her long dress fluttered stylishly, making her look quite cool and garnering a high rate of second glances.
“Yan Xiaomi?” As she reached the company’s main entrance, someone called her name. A loud shout made her stop. Due to inertia, her hair was plastered all over her face, a mess. Yan Xiaomi bent over, panting heavily, brushed her hair aside, and turned around.
“It really is you, Yan Xiaomi?” Lin Ran looked surprised and happy to see her. Yan Xiaomi didn’t feel much, she was just heavily panting, extremely embarrassed, and also very anxious.
“Mr. Lin, Mr. Lin,” Yan Xiaomi took two more breaths. “Is there something you need?”
Lin Ran then noticed her hair, pointed at it in astonishment, and asked, “How did your hair get like this?” He cleared his throat and smiled. “It’s quite stylish.”
Stylish my foot! Does your aesthetic have to be so bizarre!
“Mr. Lin, if you don’t need anything,” Yan Xiaomi didn’t want to waste time talking nonsense, she waved her hand. “I have something important to do, I’m leaving first.”
“Hey, where are you going?” Lin Ran grabbed her arm. “I’ll give you a ride.”
Yan Xiaomi glanced at him, pulled out her hand. Since you’re so free, why not? It’ll save on taxi fare.
“Then thank you.”
In the car, Yan Xiaomi kept wondering why An Yao told people she was sent on a business trip and why she still kept the secretary position. Was she waiting for her to come back?
An Yao was waiting for her to come back?
But why?
She had done something to betray her trust. Even if An Yao was broad-minded, it was impossible for her to let it go so easily. If it were her, she definitely couldn’t, unless it was someone she liked.
Someone she liked?
An Yao likes her? Yan Xiaomi shook her head. That’s too whimsical. Does An Yao look like someone who would develop Stockholm Syndrome? You think you’re charming, Yan Xiaomi!
“I haven’t seen you for a long time,” Lin Ran turned his head to look at her. “I only found out that An Yao sent you on a business trip when I asked around. I didn’t expect you to be gone for so long.”
Yan Xiaomi finally recovered her senses and smiled. “Yeah, it was a bit long.”
She habitually scratched her hair, only to realize this side was really much shorter. She looked at herself in the rear-view mirror. She had gained weight from not going out for a month. Oh my god, she had some extra fat on her face, making her look chubby.
Yan Xiaomi pinched her face and sighed softly. “I gained weight.”
“Really?” Lin Ran turned his head to look at her again and smiled. “That’s good, though. You’re very cute.”
Very cute…
It was the first time Yan Xiaomi had heard anyone call her cute, but she didn’t think it was a compliment at all. It felt a bit silly, like a silly sweet girl.
“Thank you,” Yan Xiaomi replied politely out of courtesy.
“Do you have some business at the Golden Joy Hotel?”
“Mhm,” Yan Xiaomi watched the trees quickly receding outside the window. The closer she got to the Golden Joy Hotel, the more nervous she became. She looked out the window and added, “I’m going to find President An.”
To apologize, to surrender, to compromise, to use up all the luck in her life, just so An Yao could forgive her.
She truly had no idea if An Yao would forgive her. She felt her heart beating faster and faster. Her legs were getting weak from nervousness. You can’t be a coward again, Yan Xiaomi! She cheered herself on, but she kept deflating as she cheered.
Even after getting out of the car, she wasn’t ready to face An Yao. She stood at the entrance of the Golden Joy Hotel, unable to move for a long time.
Yan Xiaomi swallowed. Why be a coward? Just go in. At worst, I’ll kneel down, apologize, and shamelessly beg for forgiveness.
She took one step forward, then retreated two steps, covering her face, twisting and turning, not daring to enter.
Lin Ran parked the car and walked out, finding her awkward expression at the entrance somewhat amusing.
“Are you waiting for me here?”
Lin Ran looked at her and asked.
“Ah?” Yan Xiaomi stared at him for a moment, then gave an embarrassed smile. “Yes, waiting for you, waiting for you.”
“Which floor is An Yao on?” Lin Ran suddenly took her hand. “Let’s go, we’ll go find her.”
Yan Xiaomi looked at her hand being held, greatly surprised. “Hey… that, Mr. Lin…” Could you please let go of me first? This half-sentence was stuck in her throat.
Yan Xiaomi froze in place, looking at the person walking around the corner. She was wearing a formal dress today. Due to her outstanding figure and looks, passersby kept turning their heads to look at her. She was talking to a middle-aged man, with a smile in her eyes, exuding an air of grandeur with every move. She looked elegant, beautiful, and poised. No matter what, An Yao was always so eye-catching, so radiant.
“Isn’t that An Yao?” Lin Ran pulled her over. Yan Xiaomi followed blankly, her heart almost jumping out, her head feeling like it was about to explode.
An Yao turned and saw her. The moment their eyes met, both were startled. Yan Xiaomi was fixed in place, unable to move.
An Yao said something to the middle-aged man beside her, then they smiled, shook hands, and said goodbye.
An Yao remained turned sideways for several seconds before turning around, her gaze locked onto Yan Xiaomi. Her high heels made a crisp sound on the floor, tap, tap, tap… Each step seemed to be stepping on Yan Xiaomi’s heartbeat, making her so nervous she didn’t know how to react.
What on earth is wrong with that hairstyle? An Yao’s gaze darkened slightly. An Yao hadn’t seen Yan Xiaomi wear this light pink dress before. It was quite pretty. Her face seemed a bit chubbier. It looked like she had a good time while she was “gone.”
Following her gaze down to the hands she and Lin Ran were holding, An Yao frowned slightly. What exactly did she do during the month she was gone? Why is she appearing with Lin Ran, and why are they holding hands?
Lin Ran saw Yan Xiaomi frozen in place and gently pulled her. Yan Xiaomi suddenly realized she was still holding Lin Ran’s hand. She broke free abruptly as if startled, stumbled with her foot, and fell backward. “Ah ∼∼∼”
Lin Ran was quick and managed to graze her fingertips. At the same time, An Yao also reached out. Yan Xiaomi saw An Yao’s outstretched hand and slightly avoided Lin Ran’s hand. An Yao was a little too slow and didn’t catch her. Yan Xiaomi fell to the ground. She got up, propping herself up with one hand on the floor and clutching her butt with the other. She grimaced in pain but didn’t dare to cry out.
An Yao was defeated by her. All her temper vanished. She walked to her side, stretched out her hand, and stared at her calmly. Yan Xiaomi met her gaze, then lowered her head like a child who had made a mistake, slowly reaching out and placing her hand in An Yao’s.
“Did you hurt yourself?” Lin Ran looked at her, quite anxious.
“I’m fine,” Yan Xiaomi stood up, patted her butt, and waved her hand with an embarrassed smile. “I’m fine, I’m fine.”
An Yao gently let go of her hand and walked out without saying a word.
“President An,” Yan Xiaomi called out hastily, afraid she would just leave and they would never meet again.
“If you have something to say, say it,” An Yao didn’t turn around, her voice was quite cold. “Unlike you, I don’t have time for flirting. I’m very busy.”
Yan Xiaomi felt very uncomfortable hearing these words. She quickly took two steps forward. “There’s nothing going on between Mr. Lin and me. We just know each other.” Not even friends.
“Yes, An Yao,” Lin Ran also followed, giving a somewhat awkward smile. “Although I intend to pursue Xiaomi, I haven’t even started yet. Since you suddenly told her, it looks like I need to speed up.”
Hearing this, Yan Xiaomi instantly turned to stone, not daring to look at Lin Ran for a while. Did this person’s brain grow mold, or does he have no brain at all? There are so many people like her on the street, and their hairstyles are even better than hers, aren’t they? Which eye did Lin Ran use to find her attractive? He must be blind. Never mind that for now.
“President An,” Yan Xiaomi took a deep breath and walked to her side. “I know you’re angry with me. I know I wronged you. I…”
“Lin Ran,” An Yao suddenly interrupted Yan Xiaomi, calling him without turning around, her voice still very cold. “Yan Xiaomi might have something to tell me. If you want to pursue her, do it another day.”
Lin Ran saw the tension between the two of them, like they were about to fight. If they started fighting, Xiaomi would probably be beaten by An Yao. He had just said he wanted to pursue Xiaomi; how could he abandon her at a crucial moment?
Absolutely not!
Lin Ran walked in front of An Yao and said with a smile, “We’re all friends. Just talk things out nicely, An Yao. Don’t be angry. If Xiaomi offended you in any way, blame me…”
“Mr. Lin!” Yan Xiaomi quickly stopped him. What is all this? What nonsense! “President An and I have things to talk about that have nothing to do with you. Thank you for giving me a ride to find President An. I’m very grateful. If you have nothing else, please go back now.”
“Oh,” Lin Ran blinked. He really couldn’t understand the world of women. But seeing Yan Xiaomi’s expression, he knew he would be unwanted if he didn’t leave. He gently patted An Yao’s arm, smiling with a pleading tone. “Just talk things out nicely.”
An Yao lowered her gaze and then opened it again, taking it as an acknowledgment. Her mood was indeed not good right now, and she didn’t want to talk any more.
Lin Ran looked at Yan Xiaomi again and said with a smile, “Then I’ll come find you another day.”
Yan Xiaomi was quite embarrassed, truly not knowing where this Cheng Yaojin (a metaphor for a surprise, unexpected person or event) had come from. His sudden intervention left her completely at a loss.
“President An,” Yan Xiaomi looked down at her sandals and whispered, “I’m sorry…”
After much deliberation, she didn’t continue. An Yao was speechless. She turned to look at her. “Are you asleep?”
“No, I’m not,” Yan Xiaomi looked up at her, then immediately lowered her head, whispering, “I don’t know what to say. If you’re unhappy, hit me, scold me.” Yan Xiaomi hunched her head, almost covering it, and closed her eyes. “It’s okay. I have thick skin. I can take it…”
An Yao looked at her and realized: This person is like cotton in your hand; you can squeeze it however you want. But if she’s stuffed inside a pillow, you feel her presence in your mind wherever you sleep, yet you can’t grasp her or touch her. She really is sorely missed.
The hand raised above Yan Xiaomi’s head paused for a long time. An Yao sighed softly, then forcefully rubbed her hair. “Aren’t you embarrassed to have such an ugly haircut!”