Sweet as Honey and Sugar - Chapter 18:

Other than that night, the two of them rarely spoke. They only met in that private room full of heat

and blurred boundaries, until their bodies were exhausted and their breaths tangled.

The younger one had more stamina, always eager to take control.

Compared to her own restraint, she was simply no match.

That woman was bold and domineering, coaxing and teasing until she was left blushing

helplessly ashamed yet unable to resist.

The details of that night seemed carved into her mind, glowing like living magma that flared up

without warning. Every time the memories surfaced, they sent her heart spiraling into confusion.

During the day, she forced herself not to think about it, but at night, lying alone in the quiet dark,

those thoughts rose like waves, pulling her back to that night after returning from Beijing

when she dreamt of the sea, of herself being swept and swallowed by one wave after another.

She floated helplessly in the water, waiting for someone to save her.

The shower water slid down her smooth back, tracing the curve of her arm before splashing against

the floor, spraying up against her calves. He Qingrou turned, eyes shut tight, letting the hot water

rush over her face, trying to clear her thoughts. She wiped her cheeks roughly,

and when her hand fell, her fingers brushed lightly against her collarbone.

Tonight, the water felt hotter than usual.

She washed quickly, wrapped herself in a towel, and stepped out. While blow-drying her hair,

she tried calling Chi Jiayi. No one answered probably asleep already.

She sent a message instead, reminding her to pack her things for the car show at Xinan Mountain

the next day. Chi Jiayi would be helping out, and with her forgetful nature,

He Qingrou worried she’d leave something behind.

After sending the message, she checked the time. Half past midnight.

Still wide awake.

She grabbed some documents and started flipping through them absentmindedly.

Though she was one of the coordinators for the car show, she didn’t have much to handle

personally. On Sunday, they’d pick up the representatives from the headquarters,

leaving around one in the afternoon for Xinan Mountain to prepare in advance.

Xinan Mountain was about forty kilometers from the city. It used to be an eco-tourism zone,

but since it never drew crowds, it had long been running at a loss.

After several rounds of redevelopment, it was turned into a mountain racing circuit in 2003.

Back then, the racing craze had just begun, and Xinan Mountain became the only official racetrack

in the region, drawing in both tourists and racing events.

Now, it hosted competitions and car exhibitions year-round.

He Qingrou had been there twice before, back when she was still new to the company,

accompanying Yao Yunying on business trips. They hadn’t closed any deals then.

It had been years since her last visit. Out of curiosity, she looked it up online and found the

complete placely transformed, nothing like what she remembered.

She couldn’t help but sigh at how fast things change.

By the time she finally felt sleepy, it was nearly two in the morning.

She shut her computer, put away the documents, and fell asleep the

moment her head hit the pillow.

Morning came bright and clear. A message blinked on her phone:

Got it, mwa mwa…..

Then another: She called me last night too! But I slept through it!

I’m furious!!!

He Qingrou could almost picture Chi Jiayi stomping in frustration.

She smiled, sipped some water, and replied: You can call her back now.

Chi Jiayi shot back a flurry of messages: There’s an eight-hour time difference!

It’s the middle of the night over there. I don’t want to disturb her dreams.

He Qingrou couldn’t help but laugh. Since when was she this considerate?

She, who once knocked on Chen Mingxing’s door at three in the morning back in college,

second or third year when Mingxing was renting a place off-campus.

They spent the whole night there. Chi Jiayi had been giddy about it for weeks afterward.

After all those years of relentless pursuit, her skin had grown thicker than a fortress wall.

Maybe this sudden hesitation was because of what happened last time.

He Qingrou typed a single word: Oh.

A while later, another message came: Do you think I should call her?

It’s nine here, so it’s only one in the morning in the UK. Not too late, right?

She’s probably still awake.

He Qingrou typed her response and tossed the phone aside:

Do as you like.

Of course Chi Jiayi would call. That was just who she was.

Love, after all, is like a cough—you can’t suppress it.

The more you try, the worse it tickles your throat.

She had the day off and little to do, so He Qingrou lazed around until dusk

before heading out to the hotpot restaurant.

They’d set the time for eight-thirty; she arrived forty minutes early.

She ordered a half-spicy pot—someone on the team couldn’t handle chili.

By the time the dishes arrived, everyone else had shown up.

He Qingrou disliked formalities. As soon as people sat down, she told them to start eating.

The talkative one, Wan Keyin, kept the table lively.

He’d actually brought his girlfriend a petite southern girl, soft-spoken and sweet,

barely over one and a half meters tall. Wan Keyin was witty and funny,

every time he spoke, she’d cover her mouth and giggle.

The group got along well. Soon they were teasing him, asking when he’d marry her.

Wan Keyin grinned and said, soon maybe next year.

His girlfriend blushed crimson and pinched his arm while everyone laughed and cheered.

Under the table, He Qingrou quietly checked her phone. Lin Nai had sent a photo of her cat,

Fatty, along with a message: I’ll head to Xinan Mountain first tomorrow, something came up.

You and Manager Zhang handle the pickup from HQ.

If anything unexpected happens, message me.

He Qingrou lowered her eyes, exited WeChat, and slipped the phone back into her pocket.

Dinner wrapped up around ten-thirty. Everyone knew she had work early the next day, so they

headed home one by one. As she got up to leave, Wan Keyin called out,

Hey, team leader don’t forget us when you’re rich and famous!

She smiled. Of course not. Then, as if remembering something, she added,

Be careful in City C when you negotiate that contract.

While she’d be at Xinan Mountain for the car show,

Wan Keyin was being sent on a business trip to meet with a small company in City C.

This time, he’d be bringing an intern. She wasn’t sure he could handle it smoothly.

Don’t worry! he thumped his chest. I’ll get it done perfectly.

She didn’t press further, just waved goodbye and drove home.

The next morning, she was in the office early. When Manager Zhang arrived,

the two of them headed to the airport to meet the team from headquarters.

Their flight was delayed an hour. While Zhang went to the restroom,

the passengers finally came through the gate.

He Qingrou froze for a second. Even from twenty meters away,

she recognized the three of them immediately.

At the front walked Yun Xining in a sleek gray suit, tall, composed, radiating authority.

Even her stride was straight-backed and deliberate.

A manager walking ahead of the deputy general manager He Qingrou thought,

this one must be tough to deal with.

She was right. They had barely exchanged a few polite greetings when Yun Xining asked sharply,

How’s the car show preparation going?

Almost ready, He Qingrou replied, careful not to sound too confident.

After all, they were only heading there today.

Almost? Yun Xining’s brows furrowed. What do you mean, almost?

He Qingrou hesitated, searching for an answer.

The deputy general manager caught sight of Zhang returning and quickly stepped in,

calling out cheerfully, Hey, Manager Zhang, long time no see!

He moved forward to shake hands, subtly placing himself between the two women. Zhang,

an old fox himself, instantly sensed the tension and greeted everyone with practiced warmth,

defusing the moment. The male manager laughed and joined in, lightening the mood.

Yun Xining’s face remained tight with suppressed irritation. She didn’t explode

but the air around her cooled noticeably.

He Qingrou’s heart sank. How had she managed to offend her already?

She decided it was best to stay quiet, following at a respectful distance the rest of the way.

After lunch, the group drove up to Xinan Mountain.

Halfway there, they passed one of the company’s race teams.

On a whim, Yun Xining ordered the car to stop—she wanted to inspect the track.

Everyone exchanged looks. As the liaison, He Qingrou had no choice but to accompany her,

leaving the others to continue ahead.

Manager Zhang sighed and joined them too.

The short detour turned into an entire afternoon. Even though her heels were low,

walking that long left the backs of her feet raw and stinging.

Yun Xining, meanwhile, seemed perfectly at ease chatting with the

racing crew as they practiced a few laps.

He Qingrou took the chance to rest on the sidelines.

A quiet voice came from behind her. You alright?

She turned. Ye Xun was standing there, expression blank, tone cool.

I’m fine, He Qingrou said. How’s training going?

Alright, Ye Xun replied.

They didn’t have much to say. A few brief sentences passed before

Manager Zhang’s voice called her name from across the track.

She gave Ye Xun an apologetic smile. Sorry, duty calls.

Ye Xun nodded. As He Qingrou walked away, she took out her phone and dialed a number.

After a long pause, someone picked up.

She said softly, She’s here with me.

A few indistinct words came through the receiver.

Got it. I’ll handle it.

The line went dead within thirty seconds. Ye Xun slipped the phone back into her pocket,

her eyes flicking toward Yun Xining laughing with the racers.

Her brows drew together, faintly, in displeasure.