This Director Is Not To Be Trifled With - Chapter 19

Xiao Yutong blew Xiao Qiang a flying kiss, then dragged her tired body into the room.

While washing up, she hummed a tune, looking at herself in the mirror. The phrase her mother said popped into her mind: “True love can transcend gender, and it can also transcend age. If gender doesn’t matter, then why should age?”

Buzz buzz. At that moment, her phone vibrated twice it was a message from Song Xian.

Song Xian: [Director Xiao, don’t forget what you promised me once you get the Liloca advertisement, you owe me a reward.]

Xiao Yutong, toothbrush in her mouth, replied: [When did I ever promise that?]

Song Xian: [Ah, Director Xiao, you don’t keep your word. Feeling wronged.jpg]

Seeing that emoji, Xiao Yutong recalled how pitiful Song Xian looked today and asked: [Remember to do your face mask and apply your medicine.]

Song Xian: [Already did it. I’m good, right?]

Song Xian: [Don’t change the subject, Director Xiao.]

Xiao Yutong figured Song Xian wouldn’t ask for anything too much after all, they had done all sorts of things before. So, she agreed.

Xiao Yutong: [What reward do you want?]

Song Xian: [I haven’t thought about it yet. I’ll ask when I figure it out.]

Before Xiao Yutong could reply, Song Xian sent another message: [Don’t worry, it won’t be too much.]

Xiao Yutong put down her phone and looked up at herself in the mirror. Her face unexpectedly wore a smile she had never seen before. She wiped away the thin layer of mist on the mirror. The features of the person inside became clearer, and she became even more certain that it was Song Xian who had changed her like this.

Lying in bed, Xiao Yutong tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Song Xian’s face the way she cried, laughed heartily, teased her playfully, and then got shy when teased back. Every moment was vivid in her memory.

Unable to sleep, she scrolled through her phone and opened Song Xian’s Moments (social media posts). Song Xian loved posting moments, several a day. The latest was taken at a milk tea shop, seemingly just below the office, with Zhang Xin accompanying her; they looked very close.

Xiao Yutong thought, “She’s only been at the company a few days and is already that familiar with people.” She continued scrolling. Song Xian’s posts radiated the vibe of “eating, drinking, and having fun.”

Traveling here and there, drinking, eating skewers, flirting such a party loving person actually had time to study? Xiao Yutong began to doubt the authenticity of Song Xian’s resume.

Once started, she couldn’t stop, finishing reviewing Song Xian’s entire university life. Oddly, there was a blank year with no posts after the college entrance exam. Was that why she spent five years in university instead of four?

Just as Xiao Yutong was puzzled, the lights suddenly went out, followed by a startled shout. She turned on her flashlight and opened the door.

Xiao Qiang arrived just then. “What’s wrong? Is the wiring fried? Should I call Kevin?”

Xiao Yutong: “Weren’t you guys fighting?”

Xiao Qiang waved her hand casually. “Ah, nothing. He’ll definitely come. Just wait. I said, what’s a house without a man?”

Xiao Yutong sighed, walked to the breaker box with the flashlight, checked the switches none tripped then remembered she forgot to pay the electricity bill.

“Alright, stop calling. I forgot to pay,” Xiao Yutong said as she sat on the sofa, opening the electricity payment app. “Don’t keep saying that around me. No man and you still raised me this well, and so excellently.”

Xiao Yutong was unapologetic. She really was outstanding and hardworking, always getting the highest scholarships from high school through college. She wasn’t doing badly after school either considered quite excellent.

Xiao Qiang: “Okay, okay, I can’t argue. But do you really want to live like this alone?”

Xiao Qiang didn’t know about Liu Qianwen yet. She had planned to tell Xiao Qiang after the wedding preparations, since Xiao Qiang did the same.

Xiao Yutong: “Alone isn’t so bad.”

“You’ll be lonely,” Xiao Qiang deliberately dragged the word out.

Having experienced an unfortunate marriage herself when young, she wanted Xiao Yutong to find someone to accompany her for life. She knew the pain of loneliness too well and didn’t want her daughter to suffer the same. But her daughter was just like her unyielding.

Back in college, Xiao Yutong had come out to Xiao Qiang, saying she liked girls. Xiao Qiang couldn’t accept it at first anger, then guilt. She blamed her failed marriage for Xiao Yutong losing faith in men, so she kept trying to bring her daughter back to the “right path.”

Xiao Qiang: “When will the power come back? I still need to use my facial steamer.”

Xiao Yutong: “Maybe about thirty more minutes.”

Xiao Qiang was anxious her beautician required her to sleep before 10:30. This would push her bedtime too late.

Xiao Qiang: “I’ll go upstairs to use it.”

Xiao Yutong suddenly remembered: “No.”

Xiao Qiang: “Why not?”

Xiao Yutong: “I rented it out.”

Right Song Xian rented that apartment from Xiao Yutong. Xiao Yutong had fully entrusted the renting process to an agency, listing over twenty requirements. A few days ago, the agency called and said someone met all the conditions. Without much thought, Xiao Yutong signed the contract. After all, few people could meet all her demands.

She was surprised to learn Song Xian was the tenant and even suspected Song Xian might be deliberately getting close to her. But from observation, Song Xian didn’t seem to know she was the landlord probably didn’t even look when signing.

That neighborhood’s rent was beyond what most office workers could afford. Xiao Yutong guessed Song Xian’s family must be wealthy enough to support the seemingly extravagant lifestyle shown in her social media.

Song Xian’s life was colorful. Compared to her own dull, boring existence, how could they even intersect? If they did, it would only be a brief encounter. Better to clear things up with Song Xian quickly before she got tired of playing and left, leaving Xiao Yutong stuck in the abyss.

Xiao Qiang often stayed over when she fought with her boyfriend. Xiao Yutong was used to it. She promised to go to work with Song Xian, so after tidying up, she went upstairs and knocked on Song Xian’s door.

She promised Song Xian but if she couldn’t get up herself, no one else could be blamed. She knocked once with no answer, secretly pleased.

Just as she was about to leave, the door opened. Song Xian was dressed in a youthful outfit denim white shirt, shorts, and a strikingly designed tie. She had changed her hairstyle too, something that would take almost an hour to do.

Xiao Yutong: “Let’s go!”

Song Xian: “Wait, I’m grabbing something.”

Song Xian ran into the kitchen and came out with two boxes. Xiao Yutong didn’t ask and the two took the elevator down together. Xiao Yutong had left early to avoid rush hour; she hated being late.

To avoid being seen going to work together by colleagues, Xiao Yutong dropped Song Xian about a hundred meters from the company. It was still early, so no one really noticed.

Still, better to be cautious. Being too close with her boss would only hurt Song Xian. Xiao Yutong didn’t know why she always worried about Song Xian maybe it was the maternal instinct kicking in with age.

“Xiao Yutong, remember to bring this.” Song Xian pointed to the box left in the car.

Xiao Yutong nodded, then drove toward the company. Song Xian watched from afar until Xiao Yutong drove into the underground garage before heading to the office building.

Xiao Yutong carried the box, wrapped in a delicate cloth. She guessed it was a lunchbox and was surprised Song Xian could cook, since wealthy second-generation kids usually didn’t lift a finger in the kitchen.

She turned the box around, examining it carefully. Could it be takeout from a restaurant that Song Xian pretended was homemade? TV dramas often had such scenes. Based on what she knew of Song Xian, it wasn’t impossible.

But considering they left before 7:30 AM, she didn’t think Song Xian had time to “conjure” it.

Not long after Xiao Yutong arrived at the office, Song Xian came in too. Xiao Yutong’s head bumped into Song Xian’s eyes in the large office, only the two of them inside. It felt like their private world. Although separated by glass, Song Xian felt very satisfied she might even love waking up early now.

Xiao Yutong only looked up for a few seconds to meet Song Xian’s gaze, then lowered her head to work. But Song Xian rested her chin on her hand, staring intently at Xiao Yutong inside. Occasionally, Xiao Yutong glanced up and saw Song Xian watching her, making her blush. She closed the blinds and lowered the air conditioner to the lowest temperature.

The commercial shoot was scheduled for tomorrow and a lot of prep was needed another busy day. Strangely, everyone seemed to have agreed to bring their own lunch, turning the break room into a makeshift restaurant.

Song Xian found a hidden corner and called Xiao Yutong to the rooftop.

“Director Xiao, I hope I haven’t offended you!” Song Xian said while backing away.

Xiao Yutong: “Hmm? What do you mean?”

Song Xian: “You brought me up here. Don’t tell me you want to kill me!”

Xiao Yutong: “Wasn’t it you who asked me out here?”

Song Xian: “Yes, but you led me here.” Song Xian was thinking they could have gone downstairs to the milk tea shop. She had never gone for milk tea with Xiao Yutong wondered what flavors she liked.

“Then you can go down,” Xiao Yutong teased.

Song Xian: “Ah, I trust you, you wouldn’t do that. You care about me.”

Song Xian was stepping backward, unaware there was a step behind her. Xiao Yutong saw it just in time and pulled Song Xian back before she could step off the edge.

Confused, Song Xian felt the softness and warmth of Xiao Yutong’s embrace. She secretly thought, “Xiao Yutong is quite impatient. This is the rooftop center; maybe she wants to do something here for me… like some service or the like. If it were here, I wouldn’t mind her settling the score quickly.”

Song Xian felt Xiao Yutong’s breath getting closer, the pleasant scent coming unexpectedly. Her body reacted immediately. She had no resistance at all toward this woman and wrapped her free arm around Xiao Yutong’s slender waist, softly uttering, “Xiao Yutong, I…”

Before she could finish, Xiao Yutong pushed her aside with force.

Xiao Yutong: “There’s a step.”