Sweet as Honey and Sugar - Chapter 20:
The night was so dark she could barely see her own hand,
yet the tingling on the top of her foot made her heart race.
The world was swallowed in black, but her senses felt sharper than ever.
Shame swept over her like a flood.
She tried to move back, but it was useless.
Don’t move, came Lin Nai’s low, tired voice, quiet and cool like the night itself.
She shifted closer, her hands finding He Qingrou’s calf, kneading gently.
Her fingertips were cold. Qingrou wanted to pull away,
but the touch measured and precise was soothing.
The ache in her legs melted into warmth.
Done with work? Qingrou murmured, voice barely above a whisper.
She gripped the bedsheet, her body tense, her skin ticklish.
Almost. I handed the rest to my team. Lin Nai’s hands moved slowly,
tracing the smooth curve of her calf. She knew this skin had seen it, felt it before.
Once it had been wrapped around her waist, soft as porcelain, pale and flawless.
Sometimes Qingrou wore pencil skirts to work, heels that showed off her long legs.
Men in the factory floor would stare as she passed, eyes fixed without shame.
Whenever that happened, Lin Nai wanted to wrap her up in layers of cloth,
to keep that beauty hidden, a secret meant for her alone.
Her palms smoothed over the soft skin again, this time more deliberately,
though her movements seemed innocent enough. Her fingertips pressed, kneaded, lingered.
Qingrou didn’t notice. She only felt her muscles relax, the soreness fading away.
She leaned back against the headboard but kept her posture stiff, glancing toward the window.
Outside was pitch dark. The room felt small, air thick and heavy.
Every sound stood out the rustle of fabric, the faint slide of skin against the sheets.
She froze completely.
How was your day? Lin Nai’s voice broke the quiet as she shifted, lifting Qingrou’s leg onto her lap.
Her shorts brushed skin to skin. Warmth spread instantly, and Qingrou’s breath hitched.
She tried to pull away, but Lin Nai’s hand held firm.
Her toes brushed against the soft inside of a thigh.
Shock made her fingers curl tight.
It went fine, she said quickly, forcing herself to sound calm.
Everything went smoothly.
Lin Nai’s hands paused, then continued their slow rhythm.
She already knew what had happened today—
Ye Xun had told her over the phone. A whole day of frustration, blisters forming on her heel.
But still, she said, smoothly.
Her fingers pressed harder. Qingrou gasped. Pain flared.
Softer, she hissed. That hurts.
Lin Nai said nothing, only pressed again, harder.
The pain made Qingrou yank her foot back and hide under the blanket.
No more, no more it hurts worse when you keep pressing!
If I don’t, it’ll hurt even more tomorrow, Lin Nai said as her hand
slipped under the blanket, finding her again.
That makes no sense. You’ll ruin my legs if you keep going.
Trust me, Lin Nai said simply.
This time she was gentle. The pressure came in light pats and slow circles.
Qingrou waited for the pain, but it never came. Slowly, she stopped being afraid.
He Xin International will arrive tomorrow morning, Qingrou said.
I’ll handle the reception; Manager Yun will be with Director Zhang.
He Xin International switched representatives, Lin Nai replied.
She brushed her thumb near the ankle too close then moved away like nothing had happened.
It’s not the same people as last time. You know Song Tianzhong?
Qingrou’s toes curled. She tried to ignore the teasing touch.
I know of him, she said.
He was known to be difficult, strict to the point of cruelty.
It’s him this time. You don’t need to deal with it, I’ll go.
You’ve got your own work. I can handle it, she said. I’m not new at this.
Don’t overthink it, Lin Nai answered, her tone neutral.
Uncle Song called me this afternoon.
Uncle? Qingrou blinked. You’re related?
No, Lin Nai laughed softly. He and my dad used to start businesses together when they were young.
Qingrou made a small sound of understanding. Then why the last-minute change?
Something happened. The general manager can’t make it. Lin Nai didn’t press for details
Song Tianzhong never shared more than he wanted to.
Tomorrow, check the exhibition site again.
Make sure everything’s in place before the event starts.
Alright.
If anything goes wrong, call me.
I will.
Remember, I’m your direct supervisor, Lin Nai added quietly. You answer to me. No one else.
Qingrou fell silent for a long time. Finally she said, It’s my job.
There were layers in her words. Work was never easy.
She’d dealt with worse than Yun Xining before many times.
It wasn’t worth worrying over. She just wanted to do her work properly.
Lin Nai had already blurred too many lines between them, she didn’t
want that confusion to spread to the office too.
Lin Nai stilled, caught off guard by the answer.
But only for a heartbeat. Then she slipped off her shoes, climbed onto the bed,
and moved closer in the dark. Qingrou only realized what was
happening when she felt a hand touch her again.
The silence between them turned strange.
Enough, Qingrou said after a moment. No more massaging.
Lin Nai murmured in agreement and let go. Don’t wear heels tomorrow.
There’ll be someone delivering your outfit in the morning casual shoes will do.
Thank you, Qingrou said quietly after a pause.
Lin Nai didn’t respond.
The blanket shifted. Cool air brushed her skin.
What are you doing? Qingrou couldn’t see her, but she felt the heat, the closeness.
Her body tensed.
Lin Nai slipped into her arms, her face pressed into Qingrou’s neck,
her voice muffled with exhaustion.
I’m tired tonight.
Then go back and rest.
Don’t want to. I’ll stay here.
No.
But Lin Nai didn’t move. Her lips brushed behind Qingrou’s ear, a faint, pleading whisper.
Before Qingrou could react, the woman slid fully under the blanket beside her,
stubborn and quiet as a cat that refused to leave.
Go back, Qingrou hissed. Someone might see you in the morning.
Lin Nai just pulled her closer, covering them both completely. I wake up early.
That’s not the point. What if someone—
There’s no what if. Sleep, Lin Nai interrupted, wrapping an arm around her waist.
The thin fabric of Qingrou’s sleepwear did nothing to block the warmth of skin against skin.
She froze, then whispered, Stop scaring me like that.
Hmm? Lin Nai tilted her head forward, resting her forehead against the back of Qingrou’s neck.
Jumping out from behind me, or sneaking up like you just did…
Lin Nai chuckled softly. Then next time, I’ll hug you from the front.
Qingrou went silent. That wasn’t what she meant.
You…..
Before she could finish, a knock came at the door.
Qingrou, are you asleep? It was Chi Jiayi’s voice.
Qingrou opened her mouth to answer, but Lin Nai’s hand clamped over it. Don’t, she whispered.
If Jiayi saw them together like this, the gossip would never end. Qingrou froze, holding her breath.
Behind her, Lin Nai shifted mischievously, fingers brushing in ways that
made it impossible to stay calm.
Jiayi waited outside for two or three minutes. Then, hearing no reply, left.
Two or three minutes wasn’t long but to Qingrou, it felt endless.
When the footsteps finally faded, she smacked Lin Nai’s hand in quiet protest.
Lin Nai only smiled against the pillow, saying nothing.
Qingrou lay back, her spine pressed to the warmth behind her. Sleep crept in slowly.
Before drifting off, she asked, Are you ever planning to return to the main office?
The phone lit up briefly. A spam message. She set it back down.
Lin Nai didn’t answer right away. Qingrou thought she’d fallen asleep.
Then came the quiet reply. No.
A pause, then softer still. Not for the next few years.
Qingrou pulled the blanket tighter and said nothing more.