Sweet as Honey and Sugar - Chapter 5:

The design department was unusually tense that day.

Everyone kept their heads down, flipping through files, the sounds of typing and mouse clicks

filling the air. No one dared to slack off.

Everything okay? her male coworker whispered.

I’m fine, He Qingrou replied, pulling a file toward her and marking it only to realize her pen had

run out of ink. Can I borrow one? I’ll return it later.

Sure, take it. I’ve got He suddenly cut himself off, his expression stiffening as his gaze shifted

behind her. M–Manager Yang.

Yang Shuncheng strolled in with his hands clasped behind his back, wearing the smug look of a

petty emperor inspecting his court. He gave the man a frosty glare. Chatting during work hours? Want a pay deduction or should I have HR escort you out with the other two?

The man ducked his head in silence.

Yang’s eyes then landed on He Qingrou. Standing there all day? Should I invite you in personally?

Seeing her untouched project file, his expression darkened further. Why don’t I make you some tea

while you chat? I’ll handle the work for you.

I was just about to come to you, she replied smoothly. But the records office urgently needed File

No. 3, so I asked Wan-ge to deliver it for me. She placed the file neatly on the desk beside her.

After so long in this company, she’d grown used to Yang Shuncheng’s daily habit of picking fights; what once made her upset now went in one ear and out the other.

Wan-ge, the coworker’s name was Wan Keyin, immediately caught on and grabbed the file.

Ah, then I’ll go take care of it, Manager! You two carry on.
He bolted before Yang could say another word.

Yang’s eyes narrowed. You come with me.

He Qingrou followed him into his office.

Did you finish the project I gave you? he asked, slouching into his chair with a sideways look.

Yes, she replied calmly. It’s already been submitted.

Keep track of the progress. Don’t mess anything up, he said, sipping his water leisurely. How’s the

Quality Inspection department?

All fine. Nothing to worry about.

Good. He nodded. I read your report. We’ll let this one slide but don’t let it happen again.

I understand.

Words are easy, he sneered. Tilting his chin toward two folders on his desk, he said, Since you’ve

got time, handle these two designs Jiahe and Tiancheng. I want them on my desk by Friday.

Do it well, and I’ll make sure your year-end review looks good.

Otherwise, even if I talk you up, it won’t help.

Jiahe and Tiancheng were small partner companies with the Dongning Auto Group.

Their projects were basic usually assigned to junior designers for practice.

Giving them to He Qingrou was pure spite. He was clearly settling scores from yesterday, using her performance review as leverage.

Understood. Anything else? she asked evenly. No point arguing; when you’re under someone like

him, all you can do is endure.

That’s it. You can go. He waved her off lazily, yawning.

Just as she reached the door, his voice drawled again. Wait.. Make me a cup of Pu’er tea.

And be generous with the leaves.

The company didn’t stock Pu’er tea her stash was from home, top-grade leaves she’d once let him

try. Since then, he’d been shamelessly asking for more, acting like it was his right.

He Qingrou’s jaw tightened. Okay.

During lunch break, only a few people lingered in the office, chatting idly.

Hey, do you guys know anything about her? someone whispered, nodding toward the new Director’s office. I heard she’s only twenty-three just graduated last year, studied abroad.

I know a bit,” another replied. But not the details.

The small group huddled closer. The speaker lowered her voice. I’ve got a relative at HQ. He told

me last night the new Director? She’s the daughter of one of the major shareholders.

Supposed to work at the head office, but since she’s new,

they sent her here to build experience first.

So she’ll probably go back after a couple of years?

Most likely. Starting out as a Director here when she goes back, she’ll be at least a VP.

Remember when we bid against the Anning Group in May? She was the one leading that project.

Took the deal right out from under them brought in a fortune.

No way! I thought Manager Yun handled that!

Nope. Yun was with her at the time, but because she was new, no one knew her name,

so everyone assumed it was him.

Damn, impressive.

Right?

Heard she’s worked on several major projects. Real capable type.

And gorgeous, too, another added in a hushed tone. I overheard a bunch of the guys in the cafeteria

drooling over her earlier, practically craning their necks to get a look.

Talking doesn’t get them anywhere.

You never know, someone giggled. Some of the young guys here are decent-looking and rich. These

days, women love the whole ‘boy toy’ type.

Ha! They wish. She’s miles out of their league.

Sitting nearby, He Qingrou heard more than she wanted to.

Just my luck, she thought wryly. Out of everyone, she had to spend the night with her. Now, not

only was she a colleague she was her direct superior. She could win the lottery at this rate.

From now on, there was no escaping each other.

She sighed quietly. Oh well nothing to be done now. Best to act like nothing ever happened and

focus on work. She still had two design projects to finish, and Jiahe and Tiancheng’s drafts would

need at least a couple of nights’ overtime.

The morning passed in a blur of sketches and rendering. By lunchtime, she’d finished about two-

thirds of Jiahe’s design. With a bit more time after hours, she could complete both by tomorrow.

Manager Yang had been nitpicking her all year, ever since the failed negotiation with Beiqi Motors.

He’d wanted credit for the deal, but it fell through—and because she was handling it,

he’d been holding a grudge ever since.

Typical office politics. But quitting wasn’t an option. The auto industry was in a slump, jobs were

scarce, and Dongning was one of the better companies out there.

Besides, Yang would be transferred by the end of the year. All she had to do was wait him out.

With that thought, she kept working. One task led to another, and before she knew it,

it was past eleven at night.

The whole building was dark, the design department deserted except for her.

She planned to stay just another half hour.

Meanwhile, in the Director’s office, Lin Nai finished reviewing the last file. As she walked past the

design department on her way out, she noticed a light still on. She paused.

Inside, He Qingrou was completely absorbed in her work, unaware that someone was watching from the doorway.

Lin Nai stood there for a while before finally speaking.

Still here at this hour?

He Qingrou’s hand jerked, her stylus slipping across the screen and ruining a line.

Lin Nai walked over, picked up one of the drafts, and flipped through it. Is this for a coworkeror

something Manager Yang assigned you?

There’s nothing much to do at home anyway, He Qingrou said quietly, avoiding the question.

Complaining about her boss to the Director would be foolish.

You’re good with words, Lin Nai said, handing the file back to her whether as praise or irony, He

Qingrou couldn’t tell.

She reached out to take it, but Lin Nai caught her hand instead.

You don’t have to be so formal with me.

The warmth of her touch startled He Qingrou. The gesture was too close, too intimate.

She quickly pulled her hand back and stood up, putting some distance between them.

I didn’t know you worked here, Lin Nai said softly.

He Qingrou said nothing. If she’d known who this woman was that night, she never would have.

The memory alone made her ears burn.

Don’t overthink it, Lin Nai continued.

He Qingrou murmured an acknowledgment. That was the classic one-night-stand goodbye line

let’s just pretend it never happened.

Really? Lin Nai suddenly stepped closer. Close enough for He Qingrou to see the fine hairs on her

skin, to feel the faint warmth of her breath mingling with her own.

The air grew heavy between them. The bright office lights dimmed in her perception;

all she could hear was her own heartbeat.

Their lips were inches apart. Temptation glimmered like heat. Then Lin Nai bent forward,

capturing He Qingrou’s lips in a soft bite.

He Qingrou froze.

Taking advantage of her dazed stillness, Lin Nai deepened the kiss her tongue tracing the shape of

her lips, teasing, tasting, coaxing her open. The kiss was slow, deliberate, filled with restrained fire,

utterly different from that drunken chaos that night.

The faint scent of her perfume wrapped around He Qingrou’s senses,

dizzying and warm, like a spell.

Her fingers brushed the pale curve of He Qingrou’s neck those same hands that had once explored

her skin, patient and sure.

This kiss was gentler, lingering, not wild but tender—testing, savoring.