It’s Not Okay to Kiss Me as Soon as We Meet (ABO) - Chapter 22

The styling venue divided the space into Alpha and Omega areas. As soon as Lin Huaiyi and Shen Li entered, they were separated.

Lin Huaiyi’s footsteps on the luxurious carpet of the styling club were completely muffled.

“Miss Lin, is this your first time here?” the guide asked softly.

In this quiet, luxurious house, it seemed improper to speak too loudly.

Lin Huaiyi nodded.

In her previous life, she had risen from humble origins. Although she had achieved a certain status in the business world through her own efforts, she rarely encountered purely aristocratic luxuries like this. In fact, this was the first time in both of her lifetimes that she had entered a high-end private club just for styling.

The guide smiled. “You can just call me Lisa. Relax later, and I guarantee you’ll look completely refreshed afterward.”

Lin Huaiyi was first led to a bathing room. After bathing, she soaked briefly in a natural sulfur hot spring and then was taken to the massage room.

Lisa beckoned, and four beautiful Omegas surrounded Lin Huaiyi, pressing her down onto the massage bed. Lin Huaiyi blushed deeply and protested, “Sister Lisa, Alphas and Omegas shouldn’t be so intimate. Why don’t we skip the massage this time?”

Lisa smiled with pursed lips and waved the four little Omegas away. She gave Lin Huaiyi a flirtatious glance. “I never expected you to have the face of a playboy Alpha, yet you’re actually quite innocent. Our club’s Omega technicians are quite famous in Shangjing. Many people dream of having one of our Omegas give them a massage.”

City A had long been called Shangjing, and even in modern times, many people still referred to City A as Shangjing.

Lin Huaiyi raised her hands in surrender. “Sister Lisa, just let me off the hook. I’m really not used to people touching me all over. My body doesn’t feel uncomfortable right now, so let’s skip the massage.”

Lisa rolled her eyes at Lin Huaiyi and clapped her hands. Another twenty-four attendants lined up in two rows, pushing in various outfits.

Lisa directed Lin Huaiyi to try on the first set. After Lin Huaiyi grabbed the clothes and went into the fitting room, Lisa thought of something and spoke a few words softly into her walkie-talkie.

When Lin Huaiyi emerged in the first overly ornate suit, she felt a bit awkward inside. Who wore something so flashy and gaudy in broad daylight? She tugged at the clothes here and there, looking uncomfortable.

“Lift your head a little,” came Shen Li’s voice from the side.

Lin Huaiyi already felt embarrassed, standing there like a fool. When she looked up, she saw Shen Li standing in front, watching her with an almost-smile.

Lin Huaiyi bristled immediately. “Shen Li, what are you doing here?” She turned to Lisa with a aggrieved look, her eyes pleading like a puppy’s.

Lisa laughed at Lin Huaiyi’s expression. She explained softly, “We still need Miss Shen to approve which one looks best.”

Lin Huaiyi deflated like a punctured balloon. Fine, the sugar mommy was like heaven, and she had no right to say no.

This was the first time Shen Li had seen Lin Huaiyi shy. It differed from her usual shrewd, capable self who loved to spout nonsense, and Shen Li found it a bit novel.

She commented seriously, “This set isn’t good. We’re going to a press conference, not a banquet.” She instructed Lin Huaiyi to go back in and change into another set to see.

She then turned to Lisa. “But it looks pretty good. It suits Lin Huaiyi’s glamorous features. Package this set for me.”

Lin Huaiyi went back in and changed into a navy blue suit. She looked poised and spirited.

Shen Li commented, “Hmm, the color of this set is decent, but the style is a bit too plain. It’s suitable for work. Change to the next one.” At the same time, she gave Lisa a look, and Lisa quickly packaged this set as well.

Lin Huaiyi had lost track of how many outfits she had tried on. She started with a sense of novelty but ended up exhausted like a dog, just hoping Miss Shen would hurry up and pick one.

Finally, Shen Li’s eyes lit up. This time, Lin Huaiyi wore a silver-gray suit. The sleek cut nicely accentuated her long, straight legs and lean waist. Looking upward, it highlighted the Alpha’s broad, square shoulders. A diamond lapel pin adorned the chest, low-key yet luxurious without being ostentatious.

Shen Li stepped forward to examine it closely. She tiptoed to adjust Lin Huaiyi’s tie, and Lin Huaiyi caught a whiff of subtle fragrance, instinctively holding her breath.

Even Lisa, who was immersed in fashion shows daily, couldn’t help praising, “Miss Lin, with your figure, you could easily work as a model. You know, this suit looks simple, but few people can wear it with such elegance without being overwhelmed by the clothes.”

Shen Li nodded in satisfaction. “This is the one. Package the other clothes and deliver them directly to Lin Huaiyi’s apartment.”

Lisa’s smile grew even warmer.

Lin Huaiyi blinked in confusion. What other clothes?

After selecting the outfit, they simply styled Lin Huaiyi’s hair, and her look was nearly complete. After all, as an Alpha, styling was generally straightforward.

Lin Huaiyi waited in the lounge for Shen Li. She waited and waited, and waited some more. Lin Huaiyi felt time had never dragged on so long.

Finally, the lounge door opened. Lin Huaiyi looked up and felt time freeze for a few seconds.

Shen Li reminded her, “Breathe.”

Lin Huaiyi then felt time resume flowing. Air rushed into her lungs, and she choked herself.

After coughing thunderously a few times, Lin Huaiyi looked up with teary eyes.

Since they were heading to a press conference, Shen Li had chosen a professional outfit. Whether intentional or not, Shen Li’s set was also silver-gray, matching Lin Huaiyi’s like a couple’s ensemble.

The key point was that Shen Li had put on makeup today! Lin Huaiyi only then remembered that Shen Li had rarely worn makeup before. With her natural beauty, she was stunning even bare-faced, a case of effortless allure.

Shen Li was already beautiful without makeup. After applying it, she was breathtaking.

A light touch of eyeshadow at the corners of her eyes gave the former icy goddess of the Shen family a touch of mortal allure, deep red and enchanting, tugging at a string in Lin Huaiyi’s heart.

Shen Li’s lips were already plump and vivid. Now coated with a layer of glossy nude lipstick, they tempted one to devour them like jelly.

Lin Huaiyi’s throat moved unconsciously.

She wanted to speak but found her voice too dry to emerge.

Seeing Lin Huaiyi’s foolish expression, Shen Li smiled charmingly and teased her on purpose. “Do I look good?”

Lin Huaiyi nodded frantically. Of course—in her eyes now, even if the celestial fairy of the ninth heaven competed in beauty with Shen Li, Lin Huaiyi would cast a thousand votes for Shen Li.

Shen Li glanced at the diamond watch on her wrist. “It’s about time. Dad should have sent a car directly. We’ll take his car straight to the press conference venue.”

Outside the club, a black Bentley waited quietly by the roadside.

After Shen Li and Lin Huaiyi got in, the Bentley sped toward the press conference site like an arrow.

Once the car stopped, Lin Huaiyi got out and gentlemanly held the door to assist Shen Li down. As soon as they stood steady, the flashes were impatient, crowding forward eagerly.

One reporter couldn’t wait to ask, “President Li, what do you think about Shen Group’s stocks hitting the daily limit across the board today?”

Another unprofessional reporter fawned, “President Li, your styling today rivals a female celebrity’s. You look so beautiful.”

Lin Huaiyi acted as the flower protector, shielding Shen Li from clumsy reporters thrusting microphones too suddenly.

A sharp-eyed reporter already recognized Lin Huaiyi as the Alpha who had accompanied Shen Li the night before.

When they couldn’t get much from Shen Li’s side, they shifted tactics, surrounding and intercepting Lin Huaiyi.

“Excuse me, are you the mysterious Alpha who appeared by President Li’s side last night?”

“Excuse me, what is your relationship with President Li?”

And even more outrageous, “Is President Li about to tie the knot?”

Several black lines appeared on both Lin Huaiyi’s and Shen Li’s faces at the same time. By then, Shen Group’s security had rushed over, parting the media to let the two enter the press conference venue smoothly.

Shen Jun had skipped attending the press conference in person this time to give his daughter the spotlight. So after a brief rest in the lounge, Shen Li took Lin Huaiyi directly to the main seat at the press conference.

Shen Li sat in the main seat, with Lin Huaiyi in the adjacent one.

Shen Li had a voice as clear as a broadcaster’s. “Hello, fellow journalists. Shen Group is holding this press conference today regarding the authorization of parts for the X1 water purifier. Reporters may now begin asking questions.”

The cameras and microphones bombarded Shen Li and Lin Huaiyi chaotically. The reporters began asking orderly questions about the infringement incident that had been buzzing wildly online.

“What did you say? The board decided to remove me from my position? And they want me to face a company inquiry?” Luo Wen roared in disbelief, veins bulging high on his neck, looking utterly frightening.

Colleagues in the product department watched the scene and whispered among themselves, pointing at the email on their computers.

The email clearly stated: “Shen Group Board Resolution No. 97: Product Department Deputy Minister Luo Wen exhibits lax work habits and lacks responsibility. After board deliberation, effective immediately, Luo Wen is relieved of his duties as Product Department Deputy Minister. Product Department Gao Qin is appointed as the new Product Department Deputy Minister. Additionally, the company has established a special investigation team for the X1 water purifier parts authorization incident. Luo Wen is requested to cooperate with the inquiry.”

This was a direct board decision. From issuance of the order to formation of the special investigation team, it had taken only a few short hours.

The investigation team leader was Liu Weiyan, who had come now to escort Luo Wen for the inquiry.

Unexpectedly, upon hearing the news, Luo Wen not only refused to cooperate but began cursing wildly like a madman.

Liu Weiyan rarely encountered someone at the company who resorted to “crying, making a scene, and threatening suicide” over work matters, and she felt a bit of a headache.

Liu Weiyan was about to persuade Luo Wen when he suddenly sprang up like a cannonball and rushed straight to Gao Qin’s desk, grabbing her collar madly.

“Tell me, did you sleep with some leader? Otherwise, how could you be taking over my deputy position?” Luo Wen asked viciously.

Gao Qin lived up to her name as a gentle, refined Omega. She had never faced such a violent confrontation and froze in shock.

Liu Weiyan usually despised Alphas who bullied Omegas. She had planned to treat Luo Wen politely at first, but now she saw him for what he was—a scum who targeted weak Omegas.

Liu Weiyan walked over and, leveraging her superior height and arm span, easily lifted Luo Wen with one hand. She said disdainfully, “You can only bully soft Omegas like her. You ask why she is taking over your deputy position? Hmph, even though I’m not in the product department, I’ve heard that Deputy Minister Gao entered Shen Group through the ‘Children of Heaven’ program as one of the first recruits. After joining, she shone brightly in her professional field. As for you? You’re just yesterday’s wilted flower, demoted for incompetence.”

With that, she released her grip, dropping Luo Wen to the ground. “If you don’t come with me obediently, watch out—I might sue you in the company’s name for threatening a colleague’s physical safety.”

At the press conference, the first reporter had been called on. “Please, the reporter from ‘Business Era’ may speak.”

The reporter from “Business Era” was a round-faced newcomer. Excited to be called, she stood up and blurted out the question that interested her most. “Excuse me, President Li, what is your relationship with the Lin Huaiyi lady beside you?”