After Breaking Up with the Crazy CEO - Chapter 4

Throughout the journey, Xiang Yan’s mood was complicated.

She searched online for “What does it mean when a suitor asks you to a sports venue?” The answers varied wildly, but the most common conclusion was: This sport isn’t that kind of sport.

The answers were explicit, but given Xing Bingwu’s reputation for being wild and unrestrained, they seemed highly plausible.

She even imagined how she would retaliate if the woman lunged at her, aiming to anger her as little as possible.

When they arrived at the location Xing Bingwu had specified, Xiang Yan was immediately led inside by staff as soon as she got out of the car.

Standing before the rock climbing gym, Xiang Yan took a deep breath and entered. Her eyes immediately fell on Xing Bingwu, who was warming up. The other woman also spotted her and walked over.

Xing Bingwu wore a sports tank top and tight-fitting leggings, her graceful arm and waist curves subtly visible, her toned physique on full display.

Xiang Yan: …

She had never exercised and had no idea of her own strength. If Xing Bingwu really lunged at her, let alone retaliate, would she even be able to move?

But judging by her attire, she’s probably here to actually exercise, right?

Xing Bingwu stepped forward and placed the back of her hand against Xiang Yan’s forehead. She nodded with satisfaction. “It seems you’ve completely recovered.”

Too close.

Xiang Yan subtly leaned back, keeping her composure. “Thanks to President Xing’s care, I’m truly grateful for your help that day.”

“It seems Miss Xiang hasn’t forgotten that day,” Xing Bingwu said, feigning hurt. “You’ve been ignoring me these past few days. I was worried I’d done something wrong.”

Xiang Yan’s eyes widened slightly. “No, not at all! I’ve been genuinely busy preparing my graduation thesis.”

“Ah, your thesis,” Xing Bingwu nodded, satisfied. “It’s important, but you can’t neglect your health. Do you usually exercise, Miss Xiang?”

Xiang Yan realized she’d been subtly tricked into revealing her lack of exercise, but it didn’t matter. The important thing was that Xing Bingwu had really come to ask her to work out.

She let out a silent sigh of relief and shook her head.

“I figured,” Xing Bingwu teased. “Miss Xiang is always so busy, busy, busy.” Then, she turned serious and extended the invitation. “So, Miss Xiang, would you be willing to join me for your first workout?”

The words were simple, yet somehow, from Xing Bingwu’s lips, they carried an inexplicable weight, a subtle undertone that made them anything but ordinary.

It was such a simple request, and one that would benefit her, that Xiang Yan couldn’t think of any reason to refuse.

Before she could answer, Xing Bingwu continued, “Or perhaps we could change locations, try a different kind of exercise…”

“Wh-what?” Xiang Yan gripped her bag strap, her ears perking up like a rabbit’s, its alarm bells ringing.

“What’s the matter?” Xing Bingwu tilted her chin slightly, narrowing her eyes to stare at her. “What is our good little Yanyan’s little brain thinking right now?”

Realizing she’d overreacted, Xiang Yan immediately relaxed slightly. “Nothing… I just haven’t exercised much before, and I’m a little nervous.”

“Oh? So the kind of exercise Yanyan was just imagining, you’ve never done it yourself?” Xing Bingwu didn’t let her off the hook.

The pale, unblemished cheeks flushed crimson instantly. Xiang Yan avoided her gaze, forcing a calm expression. “I don’t know what President Xing is talking about.”

The cool back of Xing Bingwu’s hand again touched her forehead. Feigning surprise, she asked, “Miss Xiang? Why is your face so red? Do you have a fever again?”

Xiang Yan backed away, her retreat taking her almost to the door. She seemed ready to flee at any moment, pulling her scarf up to wrap herself tightly, like a rabbit covering its face with its ears.

“No, it’s just a little warm.”

Receiving no response, Xiang Yan slowly raised her eyelids, their eyes meeting briefly before she immediately lowered her gaze.

I shouldn’t have searched for that, and I definitely shouldn’t have looked at those ridiculous answers…

“The heating is indeed a bit high. If you’re too hot, feel free to take off your scarf and coat.” Fearing the woman might bolt like a rabbit, Xing Bingwu magnanimously let her off the hook and continued what she was saying earlier. “This venue is mine. Besides the climbing gym, we have badminton courts, tennis courts, table tennis courts, and more. Miss Xiang, if you’d rather not climb, we can switch to a different location and a different sport.”

The last sentence was deliberately slowed and emphasized, each word landing like a heavy whip on the overactive nerves in Xiang Yan’s brain.

Xiang Yan took a silent, deep breath, composed herself, and untied her scarf. “I’m fine with anything. I’ll follow President Xing’s lead.”

Xing Bingwu glanced at her. “You can’t exercise in that. Come with me.”

Xiang Yan hesitated for a moment, then shook her head slightly and obediently followed her to the locker room.

“Choose an outfit you like and change.” Xing Bingwu opened the wardrobe, revealing a variety of athletic wear.

Xiang Yan chose a black athletic t-shirt and shorts. The tight-fitting outfit accentuated her curves, and her long, straight legs glowed with a cold, pale light, like a piece of fine, cold-white jade.

Xing Bingwu praised, “Miss Xiang, maintaining such a figure without exercising is truly a remarkable talent.”

They returned to the climbing gym and stood facing each other.

Xing Bingwu asked, “Miss Xiang, do you know what’s most important during exercise?”

Xiang Yan shook her head.

“Proper warm-up, of course,” Xing Bingwu replied. “Especially for someone like you who’s never exercised before, you need to relax thoroughly and open up your body to prevent injuries.”

“Alright, I’ll find a video to follow for the warm-up,” Xiang Yan said, reaching for her phone.

Before she could, a pale, slender arm blocked her. “No need for a video. I’ll help you.”

Before Xiang Yan could react, her arm was gripped by a cool hand. As Xing Bingwu massaged it, a tingling sensation like electricity surged through her arm. In an instant, Xiang Yan shot back a full three meters.

Xing Bingwu’s expression turned rarely bewildered, her hand frozen mid-air. “What’s wrong? Did I squeeze too hard?”

“No, it’s just a bit sudden.” Xiang Yan felt a little embarrassed, unsure why she was reacting so strongly to such a normal muscle relaxation technique. “President Xing, just teach me how to do it yourself. I can do it myself.”

Xing Bingwu nodded thoughtfully and readily agreed.

“Alright, let’s relax your calf muscles one last time.” Xing Bingwu walked to a low step and demonstrated. She placed the ball of her foot on the step while letting her heel rest on the ground. “Miss Xiang, just stand like this.”

Xiang Yan followed suit.

“Now, raise your hands, clasp them together, and swing your waist from side to side while stretching your shoulders, neck, and lower back.”

Xiang Yan continued to follow the instructions. After completing the entire sequence, she genuinely felt her body relax.

She closed her eyes, savoring the moment of physical ease. Just then, a hand suddenly supported her lower back, and another gently pressed against her abdomen. The instant she realized who it was, that tingling sensation from earlier surged through her again. She couldn’t hear a word of Xing Bingwu’s instructions. Abruptly, her eyes snapped open, and her balance suddenly shifted, sending her stumbling forward into Xing Bingwu.

The kiss was fleeting, just a brush of lips against her cheek, as they both tumbled onto the soft cushions. Still, Xing Bingwu let out a muffled groan from beneath.

Even with the cushions, such a sudden fall couldn’t be entirely painless, especially with another person pressing down on her.

Xiang Yan immediately tried to stand up, completely unaware that her body was still weak. She’d barely gotten halfway up before collapsing back into Xing Bingwu’s arms.

Xing Bingwu groaned softly and wrapped an arm around her waist. “Yanyan, I welcome your embrace, but couldn’t we tone down the intensity next time? Hmm?”

Xiang Yan felt her face burn instantly. She quickly explained, “I didn’t mean to! It was an accident!” and rolled away, leaving Xing Bingwu with her back.

Like a rabbit cowering in a corner, silently reflecting on its misdeeds.

Xiang Yan buried her face in her arms, feeling utterly mortified. It was just normal physical contact, yet she’d overreacted and turned it into this awkward situation.

Sensing Xing Bingwu approaching, she burrowed her face even deeper into her arms, her voice muffled by her sleeve. “President Xing, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.”

“Mm-hmm, I understand. Miss Xiang, please get up. Are you hurt anywhere?”

Xiang Yan’s body trembled. It was Xing Bingwu again. In her life, the few times she’d been cared for had come from this woman she desperately wanted to avoid.

She peeked out from under her arm, looking at the woman squatting before her, a mix of emotions swirling within her.

“Why are you looking at me like that? Are you hurt too much to get up?” Xing Bingwu reached out to help her up, but Xiang Yan sat up on her own. “Thank you, President Xing. I’m fine.”

Xing Bingwu stood up. “That’s good. You’ve warmed up enough. Let’s go. Time to exercise.”

Before they set off, Xing Bingwu added, “Don’t push yourself too hard. Listen to your body.”

Despite this, Xiang Yan gritted her teeth and climbed the entire way. When she finally descended from the rock summit, Xing Bingwu had already reached the top three times and was stretching and resting.

Xiang Yan walked over to another soft mat and sat down against the wall, her long, slender legs bending and straightening. She panted slightly, her mouth slightly open. In the sub-zero temperature, beads of sweat formed and dripped down her forehead.

Xing Bingwu walked over, a lollipop in her mouth. “Tired? It’s always like this at the beginning. Lie down, and I’ll help you relax. Otherwise, you’ll be sore tomorrow.”

Xiang Yan immediately stood up. “Thank you, President Xing, but it’s not necessary. I can manage on my own.”

Just as she finished speaking, her phone rang.

It was a special ringtone she’d set for the evening’s appointment.

She picked up her phone, replied to the message, and waited for the other person’s response before putting it down.

“What happened?” Xing Bingwu asked.

Xiang Yan shook her head. “Nothing.”

“Let me guess…” Xing Bingwu smiled. “The person you were supposed to meet stood you up?”

A flicker of shock crossed Xiang Yan’s eyes, and she nodded slightly. “Yes, but I understand.”

Xiang Yan didn’t say anything more, but it was impossible not to feel disappointed. This was the sixth time she’d been stood up.

Still, if the meeting hadn’t happened, it must mean she hadn’t tried hard enough. She just needed to keep trying.

“Which company and who were you supposed to meet with?”

Xiang Yan raised her eyebrows, looking puzzled.

“Tell me who it is, and I’ll help you reschedule,” Xing Bingwu said.

Xiang Yan finally understood and immediately shook her head. “No need. I’ll try again later…”

“I’ve always thought people who refuse to eat the resources fed to them are fools,” Xing Bingwu said, conjuring a lollipop out of thin air. She unwrapped it herself and gently but firmly pressed the candy into Xiang Yan’s mouth. “Don’t look so glum. Have a candy—it’ll sweeten things up.”

Xiang Yan: “……”

Was I even looking glum?

“Tell me who it is.”

Xiang Yan leaned back slightly. “Really…” No need.

“Alright then,” Xing Bingwu said, twirling the rejected lollipop between her fingers and crunching the candy bits in her mouth with a loud crack. She stood up. “In that case, Yanyan might have to work hard on her thesis to secure a case company.”

“I’ll introduce you to one later. Don’t worry, they definitely won’t dare to ditch you.”

!

This time, Xiang Yan instantly understood Xing Bingwu’s veiled threat. She snatched her hand, popped the lollipop into her mouth, and immediately blurted out a company name and a person’s name.

“Such a good girl,” Xing Bingwu praised, immediately turning to make a call.

Watching her figure recede, Xiang Yan felt a complex mix of emotions. Though Xing Bingwu had forced her way into this, it was also the first time someone had stood up for her like this.

Xing Bingwu… had given her so many firsts, so many wonderful firsts.

A snap of fingers before her eyes brought Xiang Yan back to reality. Xing Bingwu had returned without her noticing.

“What were you spacing out about?” Xing Bingwu asked, pulling out a lollipop and twirling it on her fingertip. “Don’t worry, it’s handled. Same time as before.”

“Thank you, President Xing.” Xiang Yan felt a wave of relief. The meeting had been postponed for over a month, and now that it was resolved, a weight lifted from her heart.

“Miss Xiang, are you only thanking me with words?” Xing Bingwu fixed her with a stare.

Though they’d only met three times, Xiang Yan felt she could already discern the emotions behind Xing Bingwu’s different forms of address and tones.

Xiang Yan removed the lollipop from her mouth. “I’m not sure how you’d like me to thank you, President Xing.”

“Tsk, it seems Yanyan hasn’t even considered thanking me. In that case, let’s just forget it.” Xing Bingwu turned to leave.

“No, that’s not it!” Xiang Yan hurried after her. “President Xing, I do want to thank you. I just don’t know what you’d like. Could you tell me how I can express my gratitude for this matter?”

“You really want to thank me?”

Xiang Yan nodded. “Very much.”

Xing Bingwu stopped. “Since Yanyan is so eager, how about dinner together after it’s done?”

“Dinner together?”

“Seems unlikely,” Xing Bingwu said, turning to leave.

Xiang Yan hurried after her. “It’s possible.”

For some reason, every time Xiang Yan expected Xing Bingwu to make an unreasonable demand, the woman would unexpectedly suggest something beneficial to her.

“Alright, then let’s get ready to go. I’ll join you later,” Xing Bingwu said, quickening her pace.

“Ah?!” Xiang Yan followed. “President Xing, there’s no need to trouble yourself. The interview will take an hour. You’ll be bored waiting there. I’ll contact you right after.”

“Yanyan, don’t worry about me,” Xing Bingwu replied.

Xiang Yan: “……”

In the end, they went together. On the way, Xiang Yan updated Xiang Lunsen on her day’s schedule, carefully omitting any mention of Xing Bingwu.

The interview was with the female CEO of a tech company, a young woman who had already achieved legendary status in the industry. Xiang Yan had long wanted to speak with her in depth, which was why she had chosen the company as a case study for her thesis.

The meeting took place in the company’s reception room. When they arrived, the CEO’s expression was somewhat grim, but she maintained basic courtesy.

Xiang Yan entered the inner room for the interview, while Xing Bingwu remained in the outer room, checking work emails and playing a simple offline game to pass the time.

After the interview, Xiang Yan walked out with the president, chatting as they went.

“Miss Xiang, you’ve done your homework thoroughly, and your questions were very insightful…” the president said.

The woman in front of her suddenly swayed and lunged forward. Xiang Yan instinctively reached out and caught her.

They were locked in a tight embrace.

Xiang Yan helped her to her feet. “President Yuan, are you alright?”

“I’m fine. It’s probably low blood sugar.”

Xiang Yan guided her to the sofa, took a candy from the dish, unwrapped it, and offered it to her. “President Yuan, rest here for a while. I’ll call your secretary.”

“No need.” The president grabbed her wrist, then quickly released it. “I’m already feeling much better.”

“Miss Xiang, how about we exchange personal contact information? You can ask me anything you want anytime.”

“Okay.”

Just as Xiang Yan pulled out her phone, an arm wrapped around her waist and something pressed against her shoulder. Before she could react, a low, eerie voice whispered in her ear, “Yanyan, I’m hungry.”

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