I Just Want to be a Throwaway Character - Chapter 41

Chapter 41: A Deliciously Awkward Walk Home

Ji Wan was feeling a little bit ashamed. She got caught staring at the devil director… Her little face was flushed red, like a juicy, ripe apple. Jiang Zhi Li laughed softly at the sight of the girl who looked like she wanted to hide under the desk.

Jiang Zhi Li shut down her computer, pushed her chair back, and grabbed her jacket. “Let’s go. I’ll take you home.” She said this as she walked over to the shy little rabbit.

Ji Wan was pleasantly surprised, but she immediately shook her head. “Thank you, Director, but there’s no need. My place is very close; I can get back by myself.” No way am I walking home with this evil woman! No matter how pretty she is! She hadn’t forgotten who made her stay late.

A playful light entered Jiang Zhi Li’s eyes, and her voice was cool and magnetic. “Is it Garden District, Building A?”

Ji Wan was stunned. How did she know?! Is she secretly in love with me? Is she stalking me? Seeing the look of shock on Ji Wan’s face and her strange, suspicious eyes, Jiang Zhi Li frowned. She had a feeling Ji Wan wasn’t thinking anything good.

“It’s on your employee file,” Jiang Zhi Li said, cutting off Ji Wan’s wild imagination.

“Oh, right…” Ji Wan said, a little guiltily, rubbing her nose. Ugh! I’m not a pure person anymore. I’m already making things up about the female lead.

“I happen to live there, too. I’ll walk with you,” Jiang Zhi Li said simply, looking at the dazed Ji Wan. She had indeed moved into that neighborhood today and, by a strange coincidence, was on the same floor as the person she had her eyes on.

“Oh? Okay,” Ji Wan said, still in a daze, as she followed. What a coincidence! What kind of crazy luck is this?

The walk was filled with an awkward silence. They just walked quietly side by side. The tempting aroma of street food wafted by, and Ji Wan’s stomach began to protest. But seeing Jiang Zhi Li’s unwavering gaze, she resignedly followed her. I’m so hungry! I want to eat BBQ, fried chicken, hot pot, spicy skewers… Ji Wan clutched her stomach, her expression of longing not escaping Jiang Zhi Li’s notice.

She’s so cute, Jiang Zhi Li thought, a hint of a smile in her eyes.

When they got to the apartment building, Ji Wan thought she could finally order some takeout. But Jiang Zhi Li pressed the elevator button for her floor. Wait! There are only two apartments on each floor of this building… Am I her neighbor?!

Ji Wan’s worst fears were confirmed when Jiang Zhi Li walked to the door across from hers and unlocked it with her fingerprint. This is a sin!

Ji Wan awkwardly smiled at Jiang Zhi Li. “Uh, Director, what a coincidence.” She forced a smile that looked like she was about to cry. Inside, she was a waterfall of tears.

Jiang Zhi Li pushed her door open, turned to Ji Wan, and smiled. “Come in. I’m treating you to dinner.”

Ji Wan, who had been planning to order a massive amount of takeout to compensate herself, was speechless. The devil director is treating me to dinner?! Is she being nice?

Ji Wan nervously sat down at the table in Jiang Zhi Li’s apartment. She swore it wasn’t because she was afraid that if she refused today, Jiang Zhi Li would fire her tomorrow. She’s the daughter of my boss… no, the adopted daughter… no, she’s the real boss’s daughter! Ji Wan’s thoughts spiraled, and she just decided to sit obediently and wait for dinner.

In the kitchen, Jiang Zhi Li had changed out of her professional clothes into a comfortable home outfit. She rolled up her sleeves, revealing her slender, pale arms. She moved with focused purpose, handling the ingredients with grace and precision. She looked less like a cook and more like she was playing a beautiful instrument. She was clearly a master in the kitchen.

Jiang Zhi Li glanced at Ji Wan, who was sitting as stiffly as a first-grader. With a gentle stir of the chicken soup, she motioned for Ji Wan to come over. Her voice was cool but gentle. “Try this. See if it needs more salt.” Jiang Zhi Li scooped a spoonful of soup from the pot, blew on it to cool it down, and held it out with elegant poise.

Looking at the beautiful woman, Ji Wan shamelessly swallowed. I’m definitely just craving the chicken soup! I’m not mesmerized by her beauty at all! Ji Wan walked over obediently and took the spoonful of soup that Jiang Zhi Li was holding out. It felt a little strange, as if a wife were feeding her husband. Ji Wan shook away the weird thought and took a sip.

The next second, her eyes lit up. It’s so good! The chicken soup was rich and fragrant, with a beautiful golden broth and a scattering of finely chopped green onions. The flavor of the chicken blended perfectly with a hint of sweetness, making it incredibly savory. The spices and ginger elevated what would have been a simple soup into a delicacy.

Seeing Ji Wan’s hungry expression, Jiang Zhi Li turned off the heat. “Alright, let’s eat,” she said with a doting tone.

A Meal and a Glimpse of the Truth

At the dinner table, Ji Wan looked at the four dishes and one soup, all of which looked perfect. Despite her hunger, she had to maintain some manners. She didn’t dare to move, just staring at Jiang Zhi Li like a puppy waiting to be fed.

Jiang Zhi Li served Ji Wan a bowl of rice. Seeing her so restrained, she sat across from her and took a slow bite of food, chewing carefully. “There, I’ve eaten. You can eat now,” Jiang Zhi Li said with a soft expression.

Once Jiang Zhi Li started eating, Ji Wan lost all sense of decorum. She was starving, having only had one cup of instant noodles all day. Jiang Zhi Li watched the girl eat quickly and obediently, then served her a bowl of chicken soup. “Eat slowly. No one is going to take it from you.”

Ji Wan’s face turned slightly red. The food was so good that she had forgotten all her manners. Unbeknownst to her, Jiang Zhi Li was smiling faintly, finding the girl’s cute, innocent expression endearing. Having a little girlfriend like this might not be so bad after all, Jiang Zhi Li thought, her eyes growing intense and a sharp glint appearing as she looked at the oblivious girl.

Ji Wan, who was eating with her head down, suddenly paused. For some reason, she felt a gaze on her. A strangely dangerous feeling made her heart flutter. She looked up, but Jiang Zhi Li’s expression was calm, and she was eating with graceful poise. Ji Wan found her own reaction strange and decided to just go back to eating. Why am I overthinking this?

After finishing her meal, Ji Wan rubbed her full stomach. She had eaten too much. Like a lazy cat, she sat at the table. Jiang Zhi Li walked toward her. Ji Wan looked at her strangely. What is the female lead doing?

Jiang Zhi Li bent down, bringing her face close to Ji Wan’s. The distance was so small that Ji Wan could see her long, thick eyelashes and her deep, mesmerizing eyes, which seemed to want to pull her in. Ji Wan instinctively leaned back, trying to get away.

The next second, Jiang Zhi Li’s hand gently touched Ji Wan’s face. Her expression was deep and intense. Ji Wan’s face instantly went red. What is she doing? It looks like she’s going to kiss me! Ji Wan shyly turned her head, but Jiang Zhi Li quickly moved her hand away, revealing a grain of rice on her fingertip. Jiang Zhi Li held her hand out, a smile in her eyes. “I saw this,” she said in a clear, magnetic voice.

Seeing Ji Wan’s face turn even redder, the mischievous part of Jiang Zhi Li’s heart resurfaced. “Thank you… Thank you, Director. I’ll… I’ll go now.” Ji Wan was so embarrassed, thinking Jiang Zhi Li was going to… She hastily stood up and walked toward the door, as if a monster were chasing her. She even remembered to close the door behind her.

Jiang Zhi Li didn’t stop her. She had all the time in the world to lure this little sheep. As she thought of Ji Wan’s shy, tempting face, she touched her own lips. Her eyes darkened, becoming both dangerous and alluring.

“I really want to do it again. But if you want to play amnesiac, I’ll play along. You’re the one who came to me. We have all the time in the world,” Jiang Zhi Li whispered. She was no longer the aloof, ascetic figure. Her expression was now dark and alluring, like a true demon trying to tempt someone into ruin. Everything was now in her hands. She was setting a trap for Ji Wan. The moment Ji Wan fell into her arms and kissed her, she had to bear the consequences of messing with the wrong person.

“I hope she can handle it,” Jiang Zhi Li said, looking at Ji Wan’s apartment door as if she could see the person she truly wanted inside.

Later, while taking a shower, Ji Wan suddenly felt a cold chill. She adjusted the water temperature, but the feeling remained. She had no idea she had already fallen into someone’s trap. She was just a silly girl thinking the female lead was a great person who cooked good food.

The Cat-and-Mouse Game

The days passed with Ji Wan being called into the director’s office to revise her proposals every day. Even when there was nothing to revise, Ji Wan was called in for various other reasons. The other employees’ sympathy for her turned into a routine. Some of the bolder ones even started a fan fiction for them, which quickly became the most popular gossip in the office.

Strict, Aloof Big Bad Wolf x Soft, Cute Little White Rabbit.

Ji Wan was stunned. She was in Jiang Zhi Li’s office for three-quarters of her workday. It was as bad as it could get. And Jiang Zhi Li was a workaholic devil, ruthless and expressionless to everyone else. She wasn’t that mean to Ji Wan, but it didn’t stop Ji Wan from being terrified. Staying with Jiang Zhi Li all day was going to give her a mental breakdown. If Jiang Zhi Li didn’t occasionally reward her with a meal for her hard work, Ji Wan swore she would have had a massive outburst.

But soon, good news came. The workaholic Director Jiang decided to take the department on a team-building trip to a hot springs resort. Two days and one night, a whole weekend. This meant Ji Wan could finally escape the devil’s presence.

So happy!

Ji Wan wanted to jump for joy. If only the great figure of Jiang Zhi Li wasn’t standing there. Seeing Ji Wan’s excitement, Jiang Zhi Li revealed a sly smile in a corner where Ji Wan couldn’t see.

It’s time to provoke this little sheep, isn’t it? I want to see how long she can keep up the pretense.