Secretly Seducing the Third Female Lead Behind the System’s Back - Chapter 20

Chapter 20: The First Confession

After the sound of the door closing, Bai Chu slowly opened her eyes.

Her head was still groggy, but the pillow smelled nice, which made her feel much better.

Outside, the city bustled as if it were daylight. Looking out at the distant Yujiang Tower, Bai Chu’s gaze lingered in a daze. She pulled the blanket up past her nose and inhaled softly.

In the twenty-one years since she lost her parents, no one had ever treated her like this.

When she was seven, someone told her she was already an adult. And now, at twenty-eight, someone was saying she was still a child.

The beaded bracelet she saw at the seaside and thought was pretty—but didn’t buy—turned out to be a gift someone had deliberately picked out for her.

After drinking, someone prepared hangover soup and brought her home…

So this is what it feels like to be cared for.

Bai Chu had to admit—she was becoming attached to this feeling.

Tonight, leaning in Jiang Yisheng’s arms, Bai Chu clearly heard her own heartbeat.

But she didn’t seem to understand what that heartbeat meant. She didn’t know why she acted so childish tonight—she only knew that everything came from instinct.

As her consciousness rose and fell, she eventually drifted off to sleep…

Jiang Yisheng was lying in the guest room, her eyes wide like copper bells, staring at the ceiling with not a trace of drowsiness.

What now? I think I like Bai Chu even more.

She turned over, thinking about the feel of Bai Chu’s waist—and… and the neckline of that shirt…

Jiang Yisheng suddenly sat up straight, hoping to channel her desire into something righteous. She got out of bed barefoot and did a full set of tai chi on the floor.

Panting, she climbed back into bed, but her brain couldn’t stop thinking about Bai Chu.

She pulled the blanket over her head, forcing herself to close her eyes and think of something else.

Suddenly, Jiang Yisheng kicked off the blanket. Her messy hair clung to her face.

Should I just confess to Bai Chu tomorrow? Her courage suddenly surged.

But… but would doing this affect her fate somehow?

Sigh.

Jiang Yisheng flopped back onto the bed with a long sigh…

—

The next morning.

Bai Chu opened her eyes, momentarily tense at the sight of an unfamiliar room.

Then a familiar, pleasant scent reached her nose, and once she realized where she was, she let out a sigh of relief and rubbed her sore temples.

She gently turned the doorknob. As soon as she looked up, she saw Jiang Yisheng’s bright smile.

“Bai Chu-jie, you’re awake,” Jiang Yisheng called to her softly.

“Mhm.” Bai Chu nodded.

“I made some congee. Want to try it? I cooked it myself!” Jiang Yisheng’s tone lifted at the end.

“Okay. Thank you, President Jiang.” Bai Chu’s smile was polite and composed, a stark contrast to her drunken self the night before.

But Jiang Yisheng didn’t mind. She grabbed Bai Chu’s wrist and tried to lead her downstairs.

“I… haven’t washed up yet.” Bai Chu lifted her other hand to stop her.

“Okay, then I’ll go with you.” With that, Jiang Yisheng followed her back into the room, brought her to the sink, and found a new toothbrush for her.

“There’s no new toothpaste… If you don’t mind, you can use mine?” Jiang Yisheng offered.

Bai Chu took the toothbrush, nodded, and used Jiang Yisheng’s toothpaste.

Jiang Yisheng leaned against the door, lips slightly curved, hands behind her back, watching Bai Chu.

Her stare made Bai Chu feel a little self-conscious. She didn’t say anything, but her movements sped up.

“Bai Chu-jie, how much did you drink last night?” Jiang Yisheng asked.

“I don’t remember.” Bai Chu’s mouth was full of foam, her words muffled.

“Do you always drink that much when discussing business?”

Bai Chu spat out the foam. “Not always.”

Suddenly, something occurred to her. She turned and looked at Jiang Yisheng. “I drank a lot last night… I didn’t do anything inappropriate, did I?”

“No, no, you were very well-behaved. You drank the hangover soup and fell asleep right away,” Jiang Yisheng waved her hands quickly.

Though honestly, she kind of wished Bai Chu had done a bit more.

…

After washing up, the two went to the dining room on the first floor. Bai Chu picked up a steaming bowl of congee and took a sip under Jiang Yisheng’s expectant gaze.

“How is it? How is it?” Jiang Yisheng asked excitedly.

“It’s delicious,” Bai Chu replied sincerely.

Her stomach had been empty after vomiting last night. The warm congee in the morning felt soothing.

“Then have some more.” Jiang Yisheng pushed her own bowl in front of Bai Chu.

“I can’t eat that much. One bowl is enough.” Bai Chu shook her head.

“Okay then.” Jiang Yisheng moved her bowl back and continued eating with her.

At one point, Bai Chu took a napkin and wiped her mouth.

“Wipe mine too,” Jiang Yisheng leaned in, blinking at her expectantly.

Bai Chu paused, coughed lightly, and pulled out another napkin to hand her.

But Jiang Yisheng didn’t take it and kept leaning closer.

Helpless, Bai Chu reached out.

Her fingers held the napkin and slowly moved toward Jiang Yisheng’s lips.

Her fair skin made her lips look even redder. The tissue brushed lightly across them—so soft.

A strange feeling rose in Bai Chu’s heart.

She couldn’t quite explain what it was.

“Shengsheng, are you up yet?”

Suddenly, a voice came from the entrance.

Startled, Bai Chu quickly pulled her hand back and turned toward the sound. Her ears gradually turned red.

Yu Mushan walked into the living room: “…”

“Uh, you two go ahead and eat. I’ll go take a walk outside,” Yu Mushan, upon seeing the scene, quickly turned to leave.

“Mom, where are you going? I made congee—come try it!” Jiang Yisheng waved at her without a hint of embarrassment.

Bai Chu stood up and politely greeted her. “Director Yu.”

“Oh, President Bai is here too. I was just passing by and thought I’d stop to pick Shengsheng up for work.” Yu Mushan sat nearby, smiling at both of them.

“Don’t mind me, keep eating.”

Bai Chu sat back down and quietly continued eating her congee.

Jiang Yisheng served a bowl for Yu Mushan and handed it to her.

“Didn’t Dad come? Too bad, he missed out.” Jiang Yisheng said proudly, “Bai Chu-jie said my congee was delicious. You have to try it.”

“Not only is he missing out on the food, but also the view.” Yu Mushan gave her a meaningful look and raised an eyebrow.

Jiang Yisheng finally caught on and hurried to explain.

“Bai Chu-jie had too much to drink yesterday. I didn’t know which building she lived in, so I brought her home. She slept in my room, and I slept in the one next door.”

“I’m terribly sorry for the trouble,” Bai Chu chimed in at the right moment.

“No need to be so formal. This is the first time Shengsheng’s ever brought a friend home,” Yu Mushan said, looking at Bai Chu. “It’s clear Shengsheng really likes you.”

“Mom, try it!” Jiang Yisheng quickly shoved the bowl toward her, her cheeks slightly red.

Yu Mushan took a bite and exaggerated, “Our baby is amazing—she even knows how to cook now!”

Jiang Yisheng pressed her lips together in a shy smile, her eyes curving into crescents as she looked at Bai Chu.

…

As the Spring Festival approached, employees at Yujiang Company were busy wrapping up tasks before the holiday.

According to the official schedule, they had to work until New Year’s Eve, but to accommodate employees with long travel distances, the company granted extra days off.

Those who finished their work early left with their luggage in tow.

Departments had pasted festive paper cuttings on the windows, and the main doors were decorated with elegant Spring Festival couplets—everything felt very festive.

Jiang Yisheng sat in Yu Mushan’s office chair, texting Bai Chu:
“Bai Chu-jie, when do you get off for the holiday?”

“On New Year’s Eve.”

“Where will you spend the New Year?”

“I’m bringing dinner to the hospital for Uncle He.”

Jiang Yisheng clenched her teeth and slammed her fist on the desk with a grunt.

Yu Mushan, on the sofa making a phone call, gave her a puzzled glance.

Jiang Yisheng spammed a bunch of angry dog emojis from her sticker collection and blasted them over to Bai Chu.

Then she pressed and held the voice button and let out a loud “Hmph!” and sent the audio.

Bai Chu was in her office finishing up tasks with her assistant when her phone buzzed repeatedly.

The assistant paused her report and looked at her.

“Go on,” Bai Chu said, picking up her phone and opening her chat with Jiang Yisheng.

A stream of angry puppy emojis.

A faint smile flickered across her eyes.

Then a one-second voice clip popped up.

She instinctively tapped it—and the voice, soft and sulky, let out a dramatic “Hmph!”
It interrupted her assistant again.

Bai Chu quickly locked the screen and looked back at her assistant with a serious expression.

“Yes, just double-check those dates in part two…”

Her gaze was calm, but her ears were faintly red.

…

On New Year’s Eve.

Bai Chu prepared dishes at home and brought them to the hospital. In the ward, He Youran and Gao Tingyuan were helping He Dafang change clothes.

His test results were out—moderate thrombosis. The doctor recommended conservative treatment, regular thrombolytic medication, and avoiding emotional stress.

“Bai Chu’s here,” He Dafang was the first to see her. “What good food did you make?”

Bai Chu set up the table and unpacked the containers one by one.

Braised ribs, sweet-and-sour carp, shrimp with corn, and several light vegetable dishes.

He Dafang couldn’t eat greasy food.

“Great, great. All these years, your cooking has clearly benefited from me and your aunt’s training,” He Dafang said with a laugh. “Let’s eat—I’m starving.”

“Thanks so much, Chu Chu,” He Youran took her hand, grateful.

“Don’t mention it.” Bai Chu smiled and gently pulled her hand back to serve everyone rice.

He Youran turned the TV to the Spring Festival Gala, and the four of them sat around the table watching while eating.

Gao Tingyuan gave both He Dafang and He Youran two ribs, then added two to her own bowl.

She turned her eyes and was about to give some to Bai Chu.

Bai Chu moved her bowl away. “No need, Auntie. I’m on a diet lately.”

Gao Tingyuan simply moved the ribs into He Youran’s bowl instead.

After the meal, Bai Chu and He Youran began clearing the table.

He Dafang picked his teeth with a toothpick and grumbled, “Don’t block the TV!”

Gao Tingyuan pulled He Youran to sit beside her on the bed. “Look at this skit—it’s hilarious.”