The Secretary - Chapter 7

That afternoon, Xie Ting summoned her again.

The office was deserted this time, the windows facing the outer courtyard flung wide open for ventilation.

A damp, chilling breeze seeped into the room, making Wei Wan shiver uncontrollably as she rubbed her palms together.  Xie Ting called her in and remained silent, preoccupied with flipping through files and taking calls. He didn’t even feign politeness by concealing his conversations from her, which made her acutely aware of the need for caution.

He was on the phone with someone in Beijing, his voice a cultured blend of warmth and swagger, as if he were simply catching up with an old friend.

“If you’re not too busy, do come visit during the New Year,” he said.

A voice broke the silence from a few meters away. “Cold?” 

Wei Wan initially didn’t realize it was directed at her. When she did, she quickly stood up and smiled. “It’s alright. It’s good to have fresh air circulating in the room.”

Xie Ting’s lips twitched into a slight smile, but it wasn’t a genuine one. It seemed more like a natural curve of his lip, something worth pondering over.

At this moment, Wei Wan couldn’t decipher its meaning. She walked forward a few steps and stopped, standing stiffly. “Xie Ting, do you have anything for me?”

“It’s not cold,” Xie Ning said, gesturing towards the windows. “Go shut them.” 

The windows were the European style – pushed outward from the bottom, with glass angled outwards. The icy wind whistled through them, making Wei Wan’s face ache.

She reached out to pull the handle but it wouldn’t budge. To exert any force, she would have to stand on her tiptoes and stretch her arm further.

From Xie Ning’s perspective, Wei Wan leaned against the windowsill with her left hand, her long arms straight as a ruler. The black sheath dress accentuated the fullness and smoothness of her curves. 

Her heels lifted high, making her legs appear even longer. 

The open cardigan rode up slightly from the stretching motion, revealing a sliver of waistline beneath. Her blouse was neatly tucked in, hugging her figure at the natural waist.

Even a casual glance revealed a slender waist that could be easily grasped in one hand.

Xie Ning removed his glasses and lowered his thin eyelids, rising to his feet. He walked towards her. 

Wei Wan felt his footsteps, his chest brushing against her back just a few centimeters away. She sensed the man’s unique, cool aura surrounding him.

But his body radiated warmth, though they weren’t touching.  A surge of invisible heat rose within her like a warm current.

Before she could react, Xie Ning snatched the window shut with one swift movement.

He poured himself a cup of hot water and offered it to Wei Wan, inviting her to sit on the sofa.

The whirring sound of the air conditioner heating up filled the room as Wei Wan sipped the water, her body slowly warming.

“Is it hard being the acting office director?”

“It’s fine, just normal work.” 

Xie Ting nodded, suddenly staring at her with an intensity that caught her off guard. His serious expression could easily intimidate anyone.

He inquired about the report from Chunhua County, stating, “You don’t know? The research data from Chunhua County was conducted by a team led by Director Xu.”

Wei Wan’s mind went blank for a moment, staring at Xie Ning in bewilderment.

She regained her composure as she watched Xie Ning twist around to retrieve his cigarette case, ignoring the goosebumps prickling across her skin.  She stood up and bent down to light his cigarette. 

Xie Ning observed her from behind the orange-blue glow of the flame, his black eyes piercing her with an unsettling calmness. 

The dancing flames reflected on the glass lenses of his eyeglasses. He was waiting for her response, studying her every move.

Wei Wan slowly sank back into the sofa, taking a sip of water to gather her thoughts.

She spoke calmly and directly, avoiding any mention of who was responsible for the situation. Xie Ting had intentionally steered the conversation, attempting to manipulate her into revealing the culprit. 

But ultimately, Wei Wan knew it wasn’t her place to determine responsibility. She lacked both the authority and the standing to make such a judgment.

Moreover, this was a blatant trap; whatever she said would be misconstrued.

Her only option was to objectively describe the known facts. The words came from her lips, but her mind seemed to be elsewhere, lost in a distant thought.

Xie Ning finished his cigarette, exhaling the smoke in long, wispy trails. He stared at her through the dissipating haze. 

Wei Wan emerged from the office as if she had escaped an interrogation. 

The hallway was empty; she leaned against the wall, taking deep breaths. A bead of sweat rolled down her temple as she wiped it away.

Soon, a meeting was called for all staff at the bureau. After New Year’s, a new team would be formed to re-conduct research in Chunhua County.

On the twenty-seventh day of the Lunar calendar, Wei Wan received an unexpected work assignment: she was to accompany Xie Ting on a business trip to Beijing.