This Director Is Not To Be Trifled With - Chapter 26
Song Xian had lunch with Xiao Yutong, sitting on a bench on the rooftop. She still remembered the first time they had lunch here how she found out Xiao Yutong couldn’t eat shrimp. Yet today’s meal had been cooked by Xiao Yutong. In just two weeks, they had already done so many things together.
“Chilled pork skin, hot and sour shredded potatoes, sweet and sour pork ribs, tomato and egg soup.” Song Xian listed the dishes one by one from the lunchbox.
“Xiao Yutong,” Song Xian tilted her head to look at the woman beside her, who was eating casually, “you always make the dishes I love. You hit the mark every time when it comes to my tastes.”
She leaned into Xiao Yutong’s ear, whispering, “Just like in bed.”
Cough cough cough… Xiao Yutong choked violently on her food.
Seeing this, Song Xian quickly put down her lunchbox and gently patted Xiao Yutong’s back. As Xiao Yutong recovered, she scolded, “Song Xian, don’t you ever think about anything else?”
Song Xian handed her a bottle of water, smiling, “Aside from you? I really don’t think so.”
Xiao Yutong shot her a glance, feigning anger, “Smooth talker.”
“Smooth?” Song Xian teased, “But I haven’t even started eating yet. Why don’t you give me another taste?”
She leaned in with a mischievous grin and puckered lips, only to be swatted back by Xiao Yutong. Half annoyed, half amused, Xiao Yutong said, “Can I eat in peace?”
Though Xiao Yutong hadn’t hit her hard, Song Xian finally quieted down. After lunch, neither of them wanted to draw attention, so Xiao Yutong returned to her office while Song Xian went back to her desk.
As she watched Xiao Yutong walk back into her office, Song Xian leaned back in her chair, exchanged a flirtatious glance with her, and only then settled down.
Their apartment complex was close by, so theoretically, they could go home for a nap if there wasn’t anything urgent. But the time was too tight. The time spent commuting could be better used napping at their desks. Besides, since Xiao Yutong didn’t go back, Song Xian had no reason to go either.
To sleep more comfortably, Song Xian had brought a small cushion to put on her desk. It made things softer. She’d originally thought of buying a reclining chair, but since all chairs in the company were standard-issue, and she hadn’t seen anyone swap theirs, it was probably due to a policy set by a certain Director Xiao.
She’d stick with the cushion for now and maybe bring it up with Xiao Yutong later. After all, long-term desk naps weren’t good for the eyes.
The team from Liroka sent over the selected photos. After Xiao Yutong received them, she forwarded them to the responsible leads, handled a few more things, and when she checked the time, it was already 1:30. She looked up toward Song Xian, mostly hidden behind her monitor.
She remembered how the air conditioning vent had once blown directly at Song Xian. Worried she might catch a cold, she took the small blanket she usually kept on her office couch and quietly walked out to drape it over Song Xian. The office space was open-plan, and besides Song Xian, several other employees were napping. Wearing high heels, Xiao Yutong managed not to make a sound.
The desk had been rearranged, so the vent no longer blew directly at Song Xian, but someone asleep could still easily get chilled. Xiao Yutong had recently noticed that Song Xian had a habit of kicking off blankets in her sleep. She ran hot, so even her coat wasn’t on. The blanket had ties on each corner, which could be fastened to keep it from being tossed off.
Just as Xiao Yutong carefully approached to cover her, a few coworkers returned, chatting loudly. Xiao Yutong panicked, holding the blanket awkwardly neither able to put it down nor walk away. In her flustered state, she nudged Song Xian.
Song Xian jumped up, her chair scraping loudly against the floor, waking everyone else from their naps.
Seeing the situation spiraling, Xiao Yutong blurted, “Song Xian, come to my office!”
It seemed anything involving Song Xian would cause Xiao Yutong’s IQ to plummet. She had no idea what she was doing.
Still half-asleep, Song Xian, her face scrunched up in confusion, followed behind. What did I do? she wondered. All she did was nap. Did she snore? No way she never snored.
She stumbled after Xiao Yutong, even bumping into the doorframe on her way in.
“What is it?” she groaned, flopping onto the office sofa and burying her head.
“Nothing,” Xiao Yutong replied guiltily. “Just didn’t want you to get a stiff neck. Figured you could nap in here.”
She quickly hid the blanket under her desk.
Still drowsy, Song Xian didn’t notice anything amiss. She truly believed Xiao Yutong had invited her in for a nap. So she made herself comfortable and dozed off again.
Until her alarm went off.
“Please don’t sleep in…”
Song Xian sat up, turned off her alarm, and leaned back against the sofa. Xiao Yutong finally looked away from her screen and said helplessly, “Song Xian, can’t you change your alarm?”
“Why?” Song Xian stretched. “It sounds nice, doesn’t it?”
Xiao Yutong crossed her arms, brow furrowing slightly. “Every time I hear it, I feel like someone’s reminding me not to sleep in.”
But she did want to sleep in.
Song Xian chuckled. “Wow, even our ever punctual Director Xiao wants to sleep in?”
Xiao Yutong sighed, “It’s not that I don’t want to. I just can’t.”
“Pretty sure no one wants to get up early.”
Song Xian clicked her tongue, joking, “If people found out that the famously punctual Director Xiao actually loves sleeping in, they’d be shocked.”
“Let them,” Xiao Yutong said indifferently. “I’m human, not a god.”
So she did know she was human. Song Xian had honestly started to doubt, given how hard she worked. Never napping at noon, always alert in the afternoon if not a god, then surely a robot.
“Alright then, Ms. High Quality Human,” Song Xian said dramatically, “would you be so kind as to go on a date with me tonight?”
She and Xiao Yutong had done everything except go on a proper date. Now that they were officially together, it was time to do the normal couple things: go on dates, see movies, travel together.
It was Friday, meaning no work the next day. Their contract clearly stated that during the term, as long as the other party’s request wasn’t illegal or violated the agreement, it should be fulfilled. So, technically, Xiao Yutong had no reason to refuse.
They agreed: Song Xian would pick the place, and Xiao Yutong just had to show up. That suited her perfectly she hated planning dates. At work, she liked being in control. In life, she didn’t want to expend the same effort.
Song Xian chose a western restaurant and even ordered a bouquet from her friend’s flower shop. Xiao Yutong had lots of baby’s breath flowers at home, so Song Xian figured she liked them and picked that for her surprise.
She was wondering how to message her without giving it away when she received a WeChat from Xiao Yutong Yang Yuhan had called a last-minute senior management meeting, and Xiao Yutong wouldn’t be able to leave on time. She asked Song Xian to send her the restaurant address.
Perfect. Even the heavens were helping her plan this.
10 PM, the restaurant was warmly lit. The spacious dining area had only a few customers scattered about. Song Xian sat at a window-side table, the tableware before her untouched. The seat opposite her remained empty.
A waiter approached, polite but hesitant. “Miss, I’m very sorry. Our restaurant will be closing soon. If your friend hasn’t arrived yet, I’m afraid…”
Before he could finish, Song Xian smiled. “It’s fine. You can serve the food I’ll finish before closing time. Oh, and could you bring the flowers too?”
The waiter, seeing how gracious and beautiful she was, grew even more fond of her. Earlier, the staff had even gossiped that she’d been stood up. They felt sorry for her and angry at the person who ditched her. Now, seeing how kind she was, they felt even more sympathy.
While chatting, the restaurant emptied out completely, leaving only Song Xian.
The waiter returned with the bouquet. “Miss Song, your flowers.”
Song Xian took the bouquet of baby’s breath, glanced at the girl’s bright eyes, and thought the flowers suited her. She handed them over, smiling. “Here you can have them. Starlight in bloom. They suit you.”
The girl was stunned, then delighted. The flowers hadn’t originally been for her, but since Song Xian gave them to her, it felt like a gift. She reached out excitedly to take them
but was interrupted.
“I guess I came at the wrong time.” A clear voice rang from the entrance, followed by the sound of heels clicking across the floor. The girl looked up and saw a woman striding in with composed elegance. She sat across from Song Xian.
Instantly, the girl realized what was going on.
She froze, then quickly handed the flowers to the rightful owner. Seeing Xiao Yutong, her sympathy for Song Xian evaporated.
Xiao Yutong’s tone was casual and lazy, but there was a coldness in her aura that made her intimidating. Every movement carried authority that’s why the design department feared her.
She stared at the bouquet, then at the girl, smiling slightly. That smile scared the girl so much her hands trembled. After all, she knew what this scene could look like. Being mistaken for a mistress was highly possible.
Seeing the girl’s panic, Xiao Yutong stopped teasing her, took the flowers, and said, “Thank you.”
The girl fled in relief.
“You scared the poor girl,” Song Xian said.
Xiao Yutong shot back, “And whose fault was that?”
“You, Director Xiao who showed up three hours late,” Song Xian snapped.
Xiao Yutong didn’t think Song Xian would have anything with the girl nor did it matter. The contract only forbade intimacy with others, not flirting. Besides, that wasn’t even Song Xian’s type.
She’d thought the meeting would only take half an hour. But disagreements with Yao Mingkai dragged it out, and revisions to proposals took longer. She completely forgot about the date until Yang Yuhan’s girlfriend called, and she was reminded.
But she was curious why hadn’t Song Xian called her?
If it were Liu Qianwen, she’d have dialed ten times in twenty minutes.
“Sorry. I got caught up with work and forgot about our date.” Xiao Yutong admitted her mistake easily when she believed she was in the wrong.
Then she asked, “Why didn’t you call me?”
Song Xian replied, “You said you’d come. So if you didn’t, that meant you were busy. Director Xiao always keeps her word. I figured once you were done, you’d remember me. Right?”
Xiao Yutong smiled. “You trust me that much?”