This Director Is Not To Be Trifled With - Chapter 9

Xiao Yutong and Jiang Lan went to their usual restaurant. Jiang Lan was her college classmate. Back in college, Xiao Yutong barely had time for fun any spare time was spent working part-time jobs, so she didn’t make many other friends. Jiang Lan, on the other hand, was cheerful and had always looked out for her. Just like that, more than ten years had gone by.

Whenever they were both in Qingchuan City, they would meet up for dinner every Friday same restaurant, same people, same seat.

Jiang Lan was about to go on a business trip and would leave the next day. Xiao Yutong had originally planned to take her to the airport, but Jiang Lan said her “little friend” would take her instead. Seeing how Jiang Lan couldn’t go three sentences without mentioning this “little friend,” Xiao Yutong teased, “So this time, it’s serious?”

Jiang Lan replied, “Yeah, it is. Why? Jealous?”

Xiao Yutong scoffed, “Get lost.”

Jiang Lan often joked with her like that. She used to say that if neither of them could find a partner in the future, they could just settle for each other. But it was always said in jest. Over the years, Jiang Lan had dated countless girlfriends, and later even got involved with Liu Qianwen. Thinking back, Xiao Yutong still wondered how Jiang Lan ever found Liu Qianwen attractive sure, she was pretty and gentle, but still…

Xiao Yutong shook her head helplessly.

After driving Jiang Lan home, she stopped by a supermarket and picked up some household items. When she came out of the elevator, she was startled by a figure standing near her door. The elevator dinged as it opened, lighting up the hallway. The figure slowly turned around it was Song Xian.

Judging by her outfit and the strong smell of alcohol, it was clear she’d probably been to a bar again. Ah, youth. Even with all the work during the day, she still had the energy to party at night.

Drinking was fine, but why the hell was she standing out here?

“You’re back?” Song Xian asked, her words slightly slurred, tinged with a tipsy kind of flirtatiousness.

“You were waiting for me?” Xiao Yutong asked.

“Mm.” Song Xian nodded with her eyes closed. She was clearly drunk her cheeks were flushed, her lips pouted like a duck’s. It was… actually pretty cute.

“What are you waiting for me for?” Xiao Yutong thought to herself. Could it be she wants to have drunken s3x or something?

Song Xian stepped forward, now just inches away from her. She squinted at her and said, “I just wanted to see you.”

Xiao Yutong started to say, “Well, now you’ve seen me, you can ”

But before she could finish, Song Xian collapsed onto her. Xiao Yutong, still carrying her groceries, almost lost her balance and fell too. At that moment, a neighbor’s door opened, so she had no choice but to help Song Xian into her apartment.

Drunk people are really heavy. Even just dragging her from the door to the couch made Xiao Yutong break a sweat.

She looked down at the girl now lying motionless on her sofa. Song Xian was dressed like a rebellious teen tonight actually, she looked pretty cool. Back in college, Xiao Yutong had liked that kind of style too. She thought girls like that must be carefree and wild, living life unburdened.

She squatted down. Though they’d been physically close before, this was the first time she’d looked at her so carefully. There was a hint of boldness in her brows, and a tiny, barely noticeable mole at the end of her right eyebrow.

Xiao Yutong had to admit she was aware she was always a bit more tolerant and patient with Song Xian. Maybe that’s why she allowed so much, why she also let herself be drawn in. Like today hiding behind the blinds, watching Song Xian work, watching how she interacted with colleagues.

With a sigh, she went to the guest room and brought back a blanket, covering Song Xian gently. As she turned to leave, she felt a tug on her clothing.

“Turn off the lights… too bright,” Song Xian murmured.

That reminded her back at the hotel, when they’d been in the heat of passion, Song Xian had insisted on turning off the lights. She thought it was just shyness back then. Could it be the same now?

Without thinking too much about it, she went to turn off the lights. That’s when she noticed something about the house felt… different. Cleaner, somehow.

She turned off the living room light and walked into the kitchen. Yep, also sparkling clean.

She couldn’t quite identify her emotions, but her lips curled up involuntarily. In the dim light, she looked back at the peacefully sleeping girl.

Before going to bed, she peeked in on Song Xian again, then deliberately locked her bedroom door. She wasn’t even sure if she was locking Song Xian out or locking herself in.

The next morning, Jiang Lan called. Her “little friend” had gotten drunk last night and couldn’t take her to the airport.

Xiao Yutong sighed, thinking of the girl still passed out on her sofa. Do all young women drink like this these days? They’ll regret it when they’re older.

She had once messed up her stomach from drinking too much on an empty stomach, so in recent years, she had been strict about her meals except for the past few days, when Liu Qianwen had thrown her off balance.

Since she had to take Jiang Lan to the airport, she checked on Song Xian before leaving. Still sleeping like a log. She closed the door quietly, afraid to wake her.

Outside the door, she exhaled slowly. Song Xian would probably be gone by the time she got back. It was for the best. This way, she could avoid another encounter.

At the airport, flight announcements echoed overhead.

Jiang Lan said, “Just drop me off here. I’ll go check in.”

“Okay. Call me when you’re back, I’ll pick you up,” Xiao Yutong waved as Jiang Lan turned to leave. They’d done this countless times sometimes it was Jiang Lan leaving, sometimes it was her. Whoever was free would always pick the other up. They weren’t just friends they were more like family.

When she returned home, Song Xian was already gone. Just as she had hoped. But for some reason, the empty living room, and the sofa where Song Xian had slept, made her heart feel oddly hollow.

The strong liquor from last night still lingered, and Song Xian’s head was throbbing. She had just finished showering when Jiang Chen knocked on her door.

As soon as Jiang Chen came in, she began complaining. They had partied too late last night and completely forgot about the promise to send “big sis” to the airport. When she woke up, her sister had already texted her saying she was at the airport and it was her “good friend” who had taken her.

“Xianxian, do you think she’s mad at me?” Jiang Chen sniffled, on the verge of tears.

“If it were me? Yeah, I’d be pissed,” Song Xian said as she towel-dried her hair and opened the curtains.

Jiang Chen gasped at the view. “Whoa! Song Xian, your balcony is amazing!”

She stepped out onto the ten meter long balcony, which had several plants. From there, you could see the whole park and an artificial lake.

“I want to live here,” Jiang Chen sighed. “You should totally put a little table out here, maybe a sofa or a swing. Imagine chilling out here in the evening breeze.”

She began pacing and measuring the balcony, dreaming up decorations. “Seriously, I want to live here.”

Song Xian replied, “Then move in. It’s all your family’s property anyway.” The complex had been developed by Jiang Chen’s father’s company.

Jiang Chen waved a finger. “No no no, we shouldn’t rely on our parents.”

Song Xian scoffed, “You’ve been relying on them for 24 years. One or two more apartments won’t hurt.”

“Ugh, you don’t get it. I’ve already graduated for a year and still don’t have a job. Maybe it’s time I go back and inherit the family business,” she flopped on the couch, as if mourning her not-so-tragic life.

Soon, she forgot all about ditching her older sister.

Song Xian said, “Honestly, I think you should join your dad’s company. Don’t assume working for your family means no challenge. Doing it well isn’t easy.”

“I know it’s not easy that’s exactly why I’m hesitating. Anyway, forget that sad stuff. Let’s talk about you!” Jiang Chen perked up.

“Me? What about me?”

That sly smile on Jiang Chen’s face meant nothing good.

“So… that cute little girl from last night. Did you score?”

She was referring to the girl Song Xian had been dancing with at the bar. But when they kissed, Song Xian kept seeing Xiao Yutong’s face. She couldn’t stop wondering who had Yutong gone to see last night? Was she also kissing someone else? Was she

She didn’t dare continue. She couldn’t bear the thought of someone else kissing Xiao Yutong. She wanted to possess all of her the softness, the sweetness, the seduction.

She had had many wild nights, but none that haunted her like this. No one else’s body had stayed with her this way.

That kiss with the girl meant nothing. The moment she thought of Yutong, she pulled away, apologized, and left the bar.

Dazed, she somehow pressed the 16th floor instead of 17th. She stood at Yutong’s door for a long time. No one answered. She knew Yutong hadn’t returned. Who could she be with, she wondered? Were they at a hotel? In bed together?

So many questions. But she had decided to wait. Luckily, Yutong came back. She was drunk couldn’t remember much but she remembered falling into Yutong’s arms and being pulled inside.

Jiang Chen snapped her out of her daze, “Come on! Spill it! Did you sleep with her or not?!”

Song Xian shook her head.

“What happened then?” Jiang Chen was frustrated.

“Nothing happened… I just… felt nothing.”

At first, she didn’t explain, but then she decided there was no need to hide anything from Jiang Chen. She told her the whole story about Xiao Yutong.

“So… your one-night stand turned out to be your boss,” Jiang Chen said with an enlightened expression, “and instead of firing you for clinging to her, she gave you a big project? That means she’s definitely into you!”

Into her? Would Xiao Yutong really be interested in her? She was always rejecting her… unless that was part of the game? Maybe that’s why she warned her to be careful of people around her.

“Do you like her?” Jiang Chen asked.

Like? Craving someone’s body did that count as liking them? Song Xian wasn’t sure. She’d had a few college relationships, none lasting over three months. Everyone was just in it for fun. “I love you” was something she used to say daily, but it never came from the heart.

She’d always bragged about being a love expert, a heartbreaker, the dream girl of every woman. But now, she wasn’t even sure she understood what liking someone really meant.

“I think… maybe… I like her.”

Author’s Note:

Xiao Yutong: Take out the ‘maybe’.