CH 97

Yang Li looked at the woman in front of her with a blank expression, finding her both pitiful and pathetic. She had repeated countless times, “The CEO is not here.”

“She’s off accompanying her beloved wife again?” Celia had returned to the country for a while to take care of some business, and after finishing her work, she came to Yue Feng only to find Shan Yi absent. She was unwilling to have come for nothing. 

The office workers weren’t surprised by Celia’s appearance; this wasn’t the first time. Everyone knew that this foreign woman had a crush on the CEO, but it was poor Assistant Yang who had to deal with her every day.

“Didn’t you know? The CEO just got married to Shen Tiantian two days ago,” Yang Li said with an indiscernible tone, finally unable to hold back.

Over time, she had come to terms with it, unable to understand what the woman in front of her was persisting for—was it unrequited desire or a perverse sense of possessiveness?

Celia’s eyes widened, clearly shocked by this news. After a long pause, she said incredulously, “She didn’t invite me? How heartless!”

Yang Li shook her head, unable to understand the Western mindset. She sighed heavily and said in a calm voice, “Could you please leave now? You’re seriously disrupting my work.”

“I’ve been dumped again,” Celia murmured, as if not hearing her.

Yang Li: …

She ignored her and silently continued with her work.

Shen Tiantian didn’t have yoga class today and had finished reading her book. She planned to go out to buy some flowers and practice the techniques she had learned, but Shan Yi brought her back to the office instead. Shen Tiantian felt uneasy, having resigned from her job, and felt embarrassed to see her former colleagues.

When the elevator doors opened, Shen Tiantian shyly followed her wife, blushing at the curious glances from others.

Hearing a few arguments from the office, Shan Yi slowed her pace, and Shen Tiantian peeked inside, immediately spotting the foreign woman who slightly concerned her.

“What are you doing here again?”

Shan Yi pulled her wife forward, gently holding her waist with a slender arm, her hand firmly pressed against her pregnant belly, and walked over slowly.

Seeing Shan Yi, Celia’s eyes lit up, and she walked over with a smile. “Nothing, I just returned to the country and came to see you.”

Shan Yi glanced coldly at the employees who were eager to watch the drama and calmly said, “I remember telling you not to come looking for me.”

“You’re so cruel, Adele~”

Shen Tiantian glanced between the two several times, feeling a headache, especially from the constant stares that made her feel like they were monkeys on display.

She tugged on her wife’s clothes and whispered, “Let’s talk inside.”

Shen Tiantian had been resistant to coming, not wanting to encounter her former colleagues. She wasn’t bothered by the stares, but she was worried about her wife. She pulled her into the office first.

Celia, being petite, looked a bit cute as she jogged after them.

Yang Li felt her senses being overwhelmed again, her brain throbbing. She couldn’t stand girls like this. She closed the door, blocking everyone’s view. Shan Yi helped her wife sit on the sofa and then turned to Celia, her whole demeanor becoming much more intimidating. “What exactly do you want?”

Shen Tiantian tugged at her and shook her head. “Don’t be like that, let me handle this.”

“You’re not her match.” Shan Yi knew Celia too well; or rather, she had gained experience from being entangled with her. Shen Tiantian was too kind to deal with her.

Shen Tiantian put on a stern face. “Don’t you trust me?”

“I…”

Shen Tiantian interrupted, “Go to work, you said you’d take me to buy flowers later.”

Shan Yi glanced at her worriedly, but eventually compromised, though she kept looking back every few steps, afraid her wife would get hurt.

Celia chuckled in exasperation at Shan Yi’s behavior but didn’t stop her from leaving. Once Shan Yi sat distractedly at her desk, Celia turned her gaze to Shen Tiantian, teasingly raising an eyebrow. “What do you want to say? Adele is very honest, she must have told you all about me…”

Her broken Chinese flowed from her pretty lips, and Shen Tiantian barely understood. She paused, then laughed. “Yes, she told me everything.”

Celia didn’t understand her laugh and frowned. “What are you laughing at?”

“Nothing, I just think you’re cute.” Unlike what she knew about Westerners, Celia had such a long-standing obsession with one person. How much love was left in it?

Celia didn’t like being called cute, and her face darkened.

Shan Yi, observing them closely, stood up and was ready to walk over. Shen Tiantian gave her a disapproving look, making her sit back down reluctantly.

Shen Tiantian smiled and softly asked, “Do you really like Shan Yi?”

“I’ve chased her for so many years, do you think I like her?”

“Time doesn’t determine love.” Shen Tiantian’s expression remained unchanged. “Your feelings for her are probably just a matter of not being able to let go, right? You’re pretty, cheerful, and smart, with many suitors. Suddenly encountering someone indifferent to you sparked your desire to conquer, didn’t it?”

Celia didn’t respond, but her gaze on Shen Tiantian changed, showing interest. “Oh? What if I say no?”

“No, you do.” Shen Tiantian shook her head. “If you truly liked or loved Shan Yi, you wouldn’t be able to stand seeing her in pain.”

Celia slightly raised her chin, indicating for her to continue.

“I’ve said my piece.” Shen Tiantian smiled. “Change your approach. Let’s have dinner together sometime.”

Celia blinked, feeling like she had been led in circles by Shen Tiantian. She soon laughed. “Me and you? Dinner?”

“Of course, Shan Yi will be there too. She doesn’t let me get too close to other women.” Shen Tiantian winked playfully.

Celia smiled, then suddenly hugged Shen Tiantian, gently stroking her back. She glanced mischievously at Shan Yi and whispered near her lips, “Like this, right?”

Caught off guard, Shen Tiantian was frightened. Before she could struggle, she was pulled into another familiar embrace, a comforting scent enveloping her. She relaxed and hugged back.

“What are you doing?” Shan Yi’s English was laced with anger, almost burning Celia to ashes.

Celia, unfazed, looked innocently at her. “Nothing, just a friendly hug.”

Shan Yi glared at her for a moment, then slightly pushed Shen Tiantian away, checking her up and down. Seeing she was fine, she sighed in relief. “What did you tell her?”

“Do you really see me as such a malicious person?” Celia feigned hurt.

Shan Yi ignored her, waiting for her wife’s response.

Shen Tiantian said, “Nothing, we just chatted.”

“Chatting would lead to her suddenly hugging you?”

“Really,” Shen Tiantian said with amusement, tilting her head up to kiss Shan Yi on the corner of her mouth. Seeing that Shan Yi was still unsatisfied, she added, “I told her not to cling to you anymore and to seek her own happiness. How about that?”

Shan Yi was still upset about the earlier hug. “And she had to hug you for that?”

Shen Tiantian looked at her innocently. “Yes, aren’t Westerners supposed to express friendliness this way?”

Celia feigned disappointment. “I didn’t expect the Adele I know to be so petty.”

Shan Yi responded bluntly, “Yes, I’m petty. Now, disappear.”

“Don’t be like that,” Shen Tiantian gently scolded her.

“I’m leaving. My eyes feel sore.” Celia winked at Shen Tiantian, then suddenly stood up. “Remember next time.”

Shen Tiantian made an OK gesture. “No problem. See you.”

Unlike the relaxed exchange between them, Shan Yi was anxious. “Next time what? What did you promise her?”

Shen Tiantian chuckled, “Why are you so anxious?”

Shan Yi frowned. “Tell me.”

Seeing how serious Shan Yi was, Shen Tiantian decided not to tease her anymore. She smiled and said, “I just said we’d have dinner together next time.”

“Is that really all?”

Shen Tiantian didn’t answer. Instead, she cupped Shan Yi’s face and kissed her deeply. After the kiss, she gasped slightly and said seriously, “Really.”

Shan Yi looked at her, then held her by the back of her head and kissed her forcefully, asserting her dominance. “You can only let me hug you.”

“Okay, okay,” Shen Tiantian replied with a smile. After a few more minutes of kissing, she had to push Shan Yi away. “You should go handle your work. I’m going to the 17th floor to see Xiao Chun and Manager Tian.”

“I’ll take you down.”

Shen Tiantian quickly refused. “No need, I’m not a child. Besides, I’ve been on the 17th floor for over two years; I know it very well.”

“…Alright,” Shan Yi reluctantly agreed. “Be careful. Call me if you need anything, okay?”

Shen Tiantian replied, “Got it, Mom!”

Shan Yi affectionately pinched her cheek. “Don’t call me naggy.”

“I won’t, I won’t. My face is already big enough, don’t pinch it anymore!” Shen Tiantian rubbed her slightly rounder face, feeling helpless.

Shan Yi said, “It’s okay, a bit rounder and you’re still very cute.”

Shen Tiantian didn’t want to argue anymore. She straightened her clothes and left. To her surprise, Celia hadn’t left yet. She was sitting in the spot Shen Tiantian used to occupy, playing with a ballpoint pen. She had taken one of Assistant Yang’s earbuds and was uncharacteristically quiet. Seeing Shen Tiantian, she pulled out the earbud and smiled. “Are you leaving? Aren’t you afraid I’ll go into Adele’s office?”

“It doesn’t matter. Go ahead if you want,” Shen Tiantian replied, feeling more confident than before, perhaps because she’d recently felt Shan Yi’s deep love.

“Are you going back alone?” Celia asked.

“No, I’m going to the 17th floor to see some friends.”

Celia glanced at her belly. “Want me to accompany you?”

Shen Tiantian declined, “No need, you stay with Assistant Yang.”

Assistant Yang, looking stern, said, “I don’t need her.”

Celia was so strong-willed and occasionally so pitiful that Assistant Yang had been unable to refuse her. She had put on earphones to cope, but even then, Celia had taken one. Taking it back felt confrontational, but leaving it felt awkward, so she decided not to argue anymore.

“Fine.” Celia ignored Assistant Yang’s protest.

Shen Tiantian said no more and left the office under the secretaries’ gazes. She pressed the elevator button for the 17th floor. When the elevator doors opened, she stepped out and saw Manager Tian rushing out of her office, covering her mouth and heading towards the restroom.