It’s Not Okay to Kiss Me as Soon as We Meet (ABO) - Chapter 21

“Then let’s go to Devil’s Gap Island!” Shen Jun laughed heartily and instructed his secretary.

“Spread the word—for celebrating how Shen Corporation so neatly resolved the patent authorization this time, Executive Yi is footing the bill for all staff to team-build on Devil’s Gap Island for three days. Make it this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday!”

“It’s Wednesday today, so tomorrow everyone hurry and wrap up urgent work. We’ll charter a flight straight there Friday. For any positions that absolutely can’t be left, Friday gets triple overtime pay!”

The secretary cheered and went off beaming to send the email.

Compared to the secretary’s beaming joy, Shen Yi’s face looked downright awful. He glared at his son, who dared to bet without money, and forced a dry laugh. “Big Brother, Devil’s Gap Island is too far, isn’t it? Why not pick somewhere closer?”

Shen Jun smiled without reaching his eyes. “What, feeling the pinch on your wallet?”

Shen Yi quickly shook his head, but he couldn’t keep up the smile anymore.

Devil’s Gap Island had another name—”Eye of God”—and had become a hot tourist spot these years. Many middle-class families chose it for their once-in-a-lifetime honeymoon.

Devil’s Gap Island had beautiful scenery, and its entertainment facilities were all world-class. For a company team-building, it really counted as a big perk. Shen Yi hadn’t expected Shen Jun to show no mercy this time and seriously make him and his son bleed. His already gloomy, unlikable long face grew even more overcast where Shen Jun couldn’t see.

Shen Yi had entered the company young, and Shen Jun this big brother had always done his utmost for him—pampering and protecting. To drop his face in front of so many people like this was a first.

Shen Yi harbored dark resentment inside. As the family’s second son, he lacked his big brother’s abilities and looks—his parents put most of their energy into the elder, inevitably neglecting him.

Shen Jun knew this, so he tried to pamper and yield to him as much as possible. Shen Yi had grown used to it. Shen Jun’s lack of mercy this time hurt him to the core.

Shen Yi shot Shen Yan a look, and the two stood together. “Big Brother, seeing Li Li make it back on time today, as her uncle I’m relieved. It’s too late now—I’ll take A Yan and head out first.”

Shen Jun waved indifferently, and a flash of hatred crossed Shen Yi’s eyes, but he still left obediently.

Shen Jun turned to Shen Li with a kindly father’s smile. “Li Li, you’ve worn yourself out these past two days, haven’t you? Go home and rest well tonight. Come to my office tomorrow and tell me all about it. Oh, right—the press conference tomorrow is at two in the afternoon. Prepare properly.”

Shen Li smiled radiantly. “Got it, Dad. Oh, for tomorrow’s press conference, I want to bring Lin Huaiyi too. Without her this time, I’d already be swept out the door.”

Shen Jun teased Shen Li, feigning a sigh. “Daughters grow up and slip away from dads. In just a few days, three sentences out of your mouth are about Lin Huaiyi. Lin Huaiyi this, Lin Huaiyi that—Dad’s ears are about to sprout calluses.”

Though he was teasing Shen Li, as he spoke, Shen Jun really felt a sour twinge inside that wouldn’t quit.

Shen Li’s face flushed a bit, and she said with mock annoyance, “Dad, what are you saying? I’m not talking to you anymore—it’s been days since I slept properly. Tonight I’m going home for a good rest, and you can’t call me.”

After dropping Shen Li at the company, Lin Huaiyi headed early to her small apartment next door. After a refreshing shower, she flopped her clean self onto the little bed.

The small apartment the Lin family gave her was a one-bedroom, one-living-room setup over ninety square meters—each room smaller than the villa from her previous life. But Lin Huaiyi found that in just a few short days, she had started treating this little place like home. Turns out a small room gave such a strong sense of security. Lin Huaiyi grumbled to herself and drifted into dreamland.

“Lin Huaiyi, where are your mom and dad?” Little Lin Huaiyi stood alone, surrounded by a circle of kids.

She didn’t know how to answer that question and just pursed her lips, standing ramrod straight.

She had always known she had no mom or dad—the orphanage teacher told her that.

Kids that young always played in packs, and little Lin Huaiyi wanted to join in too.

When they jumped rope, she held the ends. When they played king and servant, she was the servant. All her fawning finally seemed to get her in.

But Lin Huaiyi knew in her heart it was only seeming—she had never truly been one of them.

The loneliness in her heart felt like an empty, hollow cavern, plunging straight to a heart-aching depth.

Lin Huaiyi breathed in big gulps and struggled awake from the dream.

After waking, Lin Huaiyi could still feel that suffocating sensation from the dream, seeping in everywhere.

Many said scars from youth followed you a lifetime, and that rang true.

Lin Huaiyi was grown now, long into adulthood. With her striking looks, excellent abilities, and sharp eye for reading people, she became the center of attention in any crowd.

But no one knew that in the dead of night, Lin Huaiyi still often dreamed of how, because she was different from the other kids, she had never gained a single true, equal friendship from any child.

It had been many years, always like this.

Having had a nightmare last night and slept poorly, Lin Huaiyi lazed in bed the next morning and wouldn’t get up. Shen Li had already told her yesterday not to rush into the company early—rest well.

She rolled around in bed wrapped in the quilt when her phone rang. She reached out and tapped the screen, and Shen Li’s voice came through the line, carrying a smile—Lin Huaiyi’s mood lifted right away.

Lin Huaiyi asked in a voice still thick with sleep. “What brings Miss Shen to call so early?”

Shen Li’s voice sounded as polished as a broadcast. “This is early? Get up—Dad says there’s a press conference this afternoon, and you’re going too.”

Lin Huaiyi wasn’t fully awake and mindlessly echoed Shen Li. “Dad says there’s a press conference this afternoon…”

Shen Li said with thin anger, “My dad—not yours!”

Lin Huaiyi’s drowsiness fled halfway from Shen Li’s sudden raised voice. She pouted. “Yes, yes, yes—your dad, not mine. But Miss Shen, what does a high-level press conference from you executives have to do with a foot soldier like me?”

Shen Li rolled her eyes at her, too bad Lin Huaiyi couldn’t see over the phone. “It’s not thanks to me putting in a good word for you? With your level, you definitely wouldn’t qualify for such a senior press conference. I wheedled and insisted, said you Lin Huaiyi were the big hero this time, before the board relented.”

Lin Huaiyi smiled full of delight. “Then thanks so much to Miss Shen for thinking of me everywhere.”

Shen Li huffed proudly. “Hmph, not mad at me anymore for interrupting your lie-in?”

Lin Huaiyi cried injustice. “When did I ever blame you? Did I eat bear heart or leopard gall?”

Shen Li couldn’t stand this person bantering with her—far off, she looked like a cool alpha type, but she had a mouth that annoyed people.

“Lin Huaiyi, hurry and wash up—I’ll come pick you up soon. It’s your first time at a press conference this level—you need to spruce up properly.”

Lin Huaiyi was stunned and quickly demurred. “You can doll up pretty—me, an A…”

Shen Li cut her off impatiently. “Less talk—fifteen minutes to wash up. If you’re not downstairs when time’s up and I don’t see you, you know the consequences.”

“Wait, Shen Li—how do you know my home address?”

Shen Li was utterly exasperated by Lin Huaiyi’s low-IQ state half-asleep and tossed out, “Your resume has your home address.” Then she hung up.

Lin Huaiyi sat on the bed in a daze for a moment. Was this playing out the domineering CEO coming to pick me up?

She grinned foolishly for half a minute, then let out a cheer. Whatever—soon she’d see Shen Li again.

Fifteen minutes later, a not-so-subtle little supercar pulled up downstairs. Shen Li dressed coolly, long hair flowing—completely different from her professional look at the company.

Lin Huaiyi couldn’t help her heart stirring. She got in obediently, buckled up, and said, “CEO Shen, you’re different today.”

Shen Li laughed with high spirits and pulled off a flashy turn. “You think I wear suits every day? That’d kill me.”

“At the company, I have to hold down employees ten or twenty years older than me—how else without dressing mature? As for you.” Shen Li glanced at Lin Huaiyi. “You’re younger than me—what I say, you wouldn’t dare not listen?”

Lin Huaiyi was utterly dazzled and didn’t care what Shen Li said—just “yes yes yes,” “okay okay okay.”

Shen Li saw this usually mouthy person not clashing with her at all today and felt her mood soar, driving even faster.

It scared Lin Huaiyi into gripping the handle and reminding her, “Shen Li, not too fast!”

Shen Li shot Lin Huaiyi an displeased eye-roll. “I know! Law-abiding citizen here—watching the speedometer.”

Shen Li’s little runabout finally stopped in front of a luxurious standalone villa. The outer walls were pure white, surrounded by neatly trimmed lawns, with high-quality speakers in hidden spots playing soothing music. If you didn’t know ahead of time this was a styling salon, most would think it some tycoon’s private mansion.

A lady who looked like a housekeeper waited at the door. The housekeeper miss wore a custom qipao, in her thirties or forties, blending professional poise with the grace of years. Clearly, she was an omega, and not a low-level one.

Seeing the car pull up steady, she hurried down the steps to open the door and smiled at the two. “Miss Shen, is it you and this alpha lady here for styling?”

Shen Li nodded slightly. “Mm, we have a press conference this afternoon—the styling should be serious and formal. Pick her a suit fitting for the conference too, with watch and accessories all matched—charge it to my account.”

Lin Huaiyi was just about to speak when Shen Li gave her a warning look. No words, but Lin Huaiyi got the message right away: shut up.

Lin Huaiyi closed her mouth sullenly, her heart only saying one thing: “Rich lady, I’m hungry, feed me.”

Who gets it—who understands that today was another day of being kept by an omega.