Devil or Angel (GL) - Chapter 30

The next morning, Yiyang got up early—or rather, she hadn’t slept at all during the night. When she finally rose, it was just before dawn, so she decided to go for a run to pass the time.

Not long after Yiyang left, Zhiyu also woke up. She checked the time—it was half an hour earlier than usual. She wanted to avoid running into that person awkwardly. Regardless of whether what Yiyang said and did last night was true or not, and whether she even remembered it all, it was still a sensitive situation to meet now, so she got up early to avoid her.

But fate often has a sense of humor, or perhaps their connection was too deep. Despite her efforts to avoid Yiyang, she accidentally ran into her when Yiyang was returning from her jog and Zhiyu was coming down the stairs.

Instantly, both of them froze. Their eyes met, and neither knew what to say. After almost a minute of awkward silence, Yiyang, towel draped around her neck, wiped her sweat and brushed past Zhiyu expressionlessly.

Her calm demeanor, as if nothing had happened, left Zhiyu somewhat puzzled. What was going on with this kid? What did it mean?

Seeing that Yiyang seemed unaffected, Zhiyu felt slightly relieved. Otherwise, she really wouldn’t have known how to face her—the first woman, and perhaps the last, to confess to her in her life.

Given the situation, Zhiyu figured she might have overthought things. The kid probably drank too much last night and reacted abnormally upon seeing her past lover. Perhaps by now, she had already forgotten everything.

With that thought, Zhiyu comforted herself: last night, she had just done a favor for the kid, though it had been a bit extreme. Even now, recalling it, she could hardly believe she had kissed another woman!

Since Yiyang wasn’t mentioning it, Zhiyu decided she would try to forget everything from last night—and absolutely must forget it. No thinking about it again.

But, as the saying goes, the calm before the storm is often deceptive. Zhiyu didn’t know that Yiyang had remembered everything from last night vividly, both in her mind and her heart. A long-lasting battle awaited the two of them. Who would win or lose was still uncertain—stormy chaos or inevitable defeat remained unknown.

After going upstairs, Yiyang took a shower and got dressed, but more slowly than usual. Her lingering thoughts from last night had continued during her run. Initially, she had planned to retreat early, thinking that since Zhiyu had decisively rejected her, it was better to avoid getting too entangled.

But seeing Zhiyu face-to-face completely dismantled that plan. Her feelings had arisen unconsciously but had now firmly taken root. Seeing her, Yiyang felt a strong desire she couldn’t suppress, an urge to possess growing stronger by the moment.

Even if she was her father’s woman, even if she could become her future stepmother—none of that mattered. Yiyang would never allow herself to miss out. Once she liked someone, she would pursue them relentlessly, regardless of rejection or dislike.

As Yiyang leisurely made her way downstairs, she looked around and realized Zhiyu had already left. She didn’t know that Zhiyu had finished breakfast quickly and left early. Only Madam Liu remained, tidying up. Seeing her young lady come down, she hurried over.

“Yiyang, why did you and Zhiyu get up so early today? You should drink less and pace yourself—look at those dark circles, like a panda! You’d be exhausted at work! Lucky you’re the boss; otherwise, you’d be fired by now…”

Listening to the usual scolding and teasing from the housekeeper, Yiyang didn’t respond. She stared at the milk left on the table from someone else, lost in thought. She had left in such a hurry… am I that intimidating?

Madam Liu sighed. After lecturing for a while, all she got was a simple “hmm.” The child was off in her own world again—nothing could be done.

Following Yiyang’s gaze, Madam Liu noticed Zhiyu’s cup on the table and reached for it to wash it. But Yiyang was quicker, picking it up herself and casually saying, “Don’t waste it. I’ll drink it. You can clean up later.”

With that, she finished the remaining milk in one go. Madam Liu stared in disbelief. “Yiyang, I remember you never liked sharing a cup. When you were little, a classmate drank your milk, and you even threw away the cup! Now… how come?”

“Well… I guess I had that cleanliness obsession as a child. People change as they grow up! Besides, I don’t want to waste the milk you worked hard to make, right?” Yiyang said, clearly making up an excuse to placate Madam Liu.

Madam Liu gave up. Young people are unpredictable these days—let her drink it. She went to the garden to water the plants, leaving Yiyang to her antics.

Yiyang finished the milk and licked her lips, savoring the lingering scent of Zhiyu. It reminded her of the thrilling kiss from last night—simply unforgettable.

It seemed this was the second time she drank after Zhiyu. The first had been accidental; this time, deliberate. As the old saying goes, if you drink someone else’s leftover, you must obey them forever. If that were true, Yiyang wouldn’t mind at all.

While Yiyang was joyfully fantasizing, Zhiyu had already arrived at the company. Her unexpected arrival startled her colleagues who were eating breakfast. “Did the clock break?” they wondered.

Seeing Zhiyu, the staff slightly panicked. One said, “It’s okay, continue. Don’t be nervous; she came in early today!”

Once Zhiyu entered her office, everyone returned to their routines, whispering and gossiping. “Manager Shen came in much earlier than usual. She looks exhausted—didn’t go home last night?”

“But her clothes are clean… doesn’t seem like someone who stayed out all night…”

Outside, the speculation was lively, while Zhiyu sat at her desk staring at her computer screen, lost in thought with no motivation to work.

Meanwhile, Yiyang, having finished her run and breakfast, drove to work. She arrived at the studio, full of energy, and even greeted the front desk enthusiastically, leaving Xiaomei pleasantly surprised.

“Boss, you’re in a good mood! Did something nice happen? Has your second spring arrived?” Xiaomei asked slyly.

“What second spring?”

“Oh come on, boss. Don’t pretend. Xiao Zhou already sent me the footage of your hero saving the beauty. Look at your nervous little face. So… did you win her over?”

“Don’t mention it. Unrequited love. She already rejected me, said we’re impossible. I’m hesitating whether to continue… sigh.”

“Of course you should continue! After nearly two years of moving on from your first love and stepping into a new life, you finally fell for someone who excites you—it’s not easy!”

“But reality is cruel. Just because I like her doesn’t mean she’ll feel the same…” Yiyang slumped in frustration.

“Boss, I fully support you pursuing your own happiness. Life is short—you’ll regret missing out.”

Hearing her 90s-generation receptionist speak so earnestly, Yiyang couldn’t help but smile. Yes, it was so rare to meet someone who could reignite her heart. She would never give up until the very last moment.

Seeing her boss’s smile grow, Xiaomei patted her shoulder meaningfully. “The revolution isn’t over yet. Boss, you must keep trying!”

“Alright, thanks for the encouragement. If I succeed, I’ll treat you all to a meal.”

“Of course! By the way, boss, your taste is impressive. How did you find such a beauty?”

“Do you think this is Taobao? That’s none of your business—you should be giving me advice, that’s the main point.”

“Okay, fine. Just a friendly tip: even the coldest woman can soften under a gentle approach. You could start with flowers or little love notes.”

“Comrade Xiaomei, what era do you think this is? That’s so old-fashioned. I’m ignoring you—work, work!”

“How did you win over your first love then?” Xiaomei was curious.

“By bringing breakfast every morning, probably.”

“Wow, economical and eco-friendly. Sending flowers is still in style, you know. Every woman likes fresh flowers and sweet words. Think about it yourself!” Xiaomei made a face at her back.

After returning to her office, Yiyang reflected and realized Xiaomei’s advice wasn’t entirely unreasonable. Thinking for a moment, she opened her computer and looked at some photos, and an idea struck her.

“Done!” Yiyang smiled, admiring the photos on her phone.

Scrolling through recently imported photos of Zhiyu, she was captivated. How had she never noticed how charming this woman was? Her every gesture and movement radiated elegance. No wonder she had called her an “old woman” before—hatred had blinded her eyes.

She didn’t know whether to feel fortunate that the model harassment incident had happened. It made her realize how important Zhiyu was to her—far beyond their superficial relationship. Without that, she might have almost lost her chance.