I Revealed My True Identity After Confessing My Love - Chapter 19

Ye Nanning returned to her room, packed her luggage, and got ready to leave at any moment. She had already met with both clients, so it was likely they could return early.

She rested in her room for a while when someone knocked on the door. She quickly opened it.

“Pack up quickly,” Du Xiran said.

“I’ve already packed,” Ye Nanning replied.

“So fast?” Du Xiran was surprised and glanced inside. The suitcase was neatly placed aside. “Then let’s go. We’re heading to the neighboring city.”

“Huh? Aren’t we going back to B City?”

“You want to go back so soon?” Du Xiran smiled. “I just received news. There happens to be a potential client on a business trip in the neighboring city. We might as well go meet them. Dinner has already been arranged. Wait downstairs and check out of the room.”

“Okay.”

Ye Nanning hadn’t expected Du Xiran to waste a single moment. She dragged her suitcase to the lobby and put on a pair of sunglasses before checking out.

On the way to the high-speed rail station, Ye Nanning quickly booked tickets and rescheduled her evening flight back to B City. After handling that, Du Xiran handed her another set of documents.

“Take a look. The more you know, the better,” she said.

“Got it.” Ye Nanning opened the documents; they were about the client they were about to meet.

The high-speed train arrived in just over half an hour. They took a taxi straight to the hotel and then headed to the dinner meeting.

This time, the person in charge was a middle-aged woman with a gentle and soft voice. She didn’t push alcohol, and they simply sampled some red wine. The conversation flowed smoothly.

The woman in charge not only praised Du Xiran highly but also complimented Ye Nanning from head to toe.

Although Ye Nanning remained expressionless on the surface, she felt happy inside. Everyone likes to hear praise, especially when it’s in front of Du Xiran.

Afterward, Ye Nanning’s fondness for the woman increased. In a good mood, she had a few drinks enough to feel a little tipsy but not drunk. Her courage rose, and she spoke more openly, saying, “Du CEO, do you think we have a chance this time?”

Leaning half against the car window, Du Xiran’s lips curved, and the corners of her eyes lifted beautifully. She replied, “What do you think?”

“I think the probability is high at least higher than this afternoon,” Ye Nanning said. “Negotiations should be easier, and if we really cooperate, it’ll be very pleasant.”

Du Xiran smiled but remained noncommittal.

Ye Nanning looked at her curiously. “Isn’t that the case?”

“You’re smart and observant, but you lack experience,” Du Xiran said with a smile. She thought back to her younger self, diligent and always optimistic, often overlooking risk assessment.

“If she praises you, do you feel happy?” Du Xiran asked.

Ye Nanning paused, thought for a moment, and nodded. “Yes.”

“And if she refuses your request, will you feel unhappy?”

Ye Nanning shook her head. “I might still feel that I didn’t do a good enough job.”

Du Xiran smiled. “Good. You’ve grasped the highest art of receiving rejection.”

Ye Nanning finally came back to her senses. “You mean… she might reject us?”

“Think about it. How much of this dinner was spent discussing business, and how much was spent listening to her praise our work, appearance, and clothing?”

Ye Nanning pondered for a moment and sighed. “Alright… I got carried away by the praise.”

Du Xiran noticed her calm expression but couldn’t hide a hint of disappointment in her voice. She reached out and patted Ye Nanning’s head. “You’re still young. You’ll experience much more in the future. Maybe one day, you’ll surpass me easily.”

Ye Nanning looked at her.

The one who should have been upset was Du Xiran, yet she was comforting Ye Nanning and teaching her a lesson.

Ye Nanning didn’t know how to express her gratitude and admiration. At that moment, Du Xiran withdrew her hand from her head. Ye Nanning stared at the hand, wishing it would touch her again.

“What are you looking at?” Du Xiran asked.

“Your hand.”

“What about it?” Du Xiran lifted her hand to check.

Ye Nanning leaned closer.

Du Xiran tentatively placed her hand on Ye Nanning’s head. The tense body relaxed.

Du Xiran laughed. She ruffled her hair. “Why are you like a cat? Even when you’re not happy, you want someone to stroke you?”

Ye Nanning smelled her nearby and felt her whole body go numb, her heart racing, drawing her closer.

As Du Xiran continued, Ye Nanning suddenly sat up and moved slightly away. “What’s wrong?”

Ye Nanning didn’t answer, turning her head away.

“If you move any further, you’ll fall off the car,” Du Xiran reminded her.

“…….”

“Are you embarrassed after showing affection just now?” Du Xiran said with a soft laugh.

“…….”

At the hotel, Ye Nanning quickly got out of the car and pressed her chest to calm her heartbeat before exhaling. She noticed Du Xiran hadn’t followed and saw her standing on the roadside, looking around.

“You smell so good,” Du Xiran sniffed, smiling at her. “Haven’t you eaten enough? Want some late-night food?”

Ye Nanning thought: Just say you want it already!

Nearby was a food street that came alive at night with stalls. Foldable wooden tables were covered with disposable tablecloths, filled with barbecue and beer. Conversations rose and fell, from trivial matters to national affairs.

Ye Nanning sat carefully. She wasn’t unfamiliar with street food but usually only ordered takeout or ate quickly at the stall. She had never stayed to eat.

The bustling atmosphere made her feel out of place.

“I say…” Du Xiran finished ordering and tapped the table in front of her. “It’s just late night food. Why are you still wearing sunglasses?”

Ye Nanning adjusted them and said coldly, “Fashionable.”

Du Xiran burst out laughing. “You young people have so many tricks.”

Several nearby tables peeked at them. Ye Nanning pursed her lips and glanced at Du Xiran’s beauty, wishing she could put sunglasses on her too.

“Don’t you think we’re attracting too much attention?” Du Xiran asked.

Ye Nanning nodded fiercely. “You’re too beautiful.”

“……And here you are flattering me?” Du Xiran pointed at her face. “Don’t you think everyone is looking at your sunglasses?”

Ye Nanning: !

It made sense. She thought sunglasses shielded her from attention but might have drawn more eyes.

She lowered her head and took them off.

A sharp inhalation came from nearby, and a bold young man approached, asking, “Two beauties, mind if we share a table?”

Ye Nanning frowned and kept a stern face.

He looked at Du Xiran, who was wiping her hands with a wet tissue. Without looking up, she said, “We mind.”

The man left awkwardly. Du Xiran then raised her hand. “Boss, another bottle of beer!”

Ye Nanning was surprised. “You can still drink?”

“Beer’s nothing. Barbecue must have beer,” Du Xiran said confidently.

When the barbecue arrived, Du Xiran started eating heartily, raising her beer. “Cheers!”

Ye Nanning clinked her cup with both hands.

“Now, forget about ranks and titles. Just enjoy the drink,” Du Xiran said.

“Okay,” Ye Nanning smiled, watching her in formal attire seamlessly fit into the casual environment.

“Drink a little more. We’ll be back to work soon. Just don’t get drunk,” Du Xiran advised.

“Mm.”

Half an hour later, Du Xiran hiccupped. Surprised, she said, “You’re really drinking freely! That’s the eighth bottle!”

Ye Nanning felt embarrassed. “I have a good appetite.”

“Seems like you didn’t eat much at the dinner,” Du Xiran commented.

Ye Nanning thought: No, I just felt happy seeing you, so naturally I ate well! Truly, a feast for the eyes!

After settling the bill, Du Xiran staggered, swaying slightly. She turned to Ye Nanning. “Are you dizzy?”

“Not really.”

Beer isn’t as strong as wine. Besides feeling full and a bit flushed, there was no other reaction.

“Good.” Du Xiran spun around, nearly falling, and Ye Nanning wrapped her arms around her from behind.

Du Xiran, her vision blurred, looked at Ye Nanning and murmured, holding her hand, “Good thing you’re here. Quick, take me back.”

Ye Nanning looked down at her gripping hands, feeling a ripple in her heart.

As Du Xiran leaned on her, she looked at the ground and suddenly said, puzzled, “Am I seeing things? You seem… mirrored in movement with me.”

Ye Nanning: “……”