I Revealed My True Identity After Confessing My Love - Chapter 41

At the dinner table, everyone was chatting and laughing. Since those present were all at the leadership level, the conversation naturally drifted toward company matters. From recent projects to the company’s future development, there was no shortage of grand talk.

Du Xiran joined the conversation occasionally, but for the most part, she just listened. If her Managing Director (MD) hadn’t asked her to come to this dinner, she would have preferred to work overtime at the office.

Setting aside whether she liked the topic of conversation, just the thought of all the food and alcohol going down was a total weight-loss killer. How many days at the gym would it take to burn off all this grease?

Thinking about how she’d be turning thirty next year, she certainly didn’t want to become “middle-aged and greasy” like some of her colleagues.

“I heard General Manager Yu is getting married at the end of the year,” one colleague pivoted from a project to the person in charge. “Time to prepare another red envelope.”

“Wasn’t GM Yu already married?” another asked curiously.

“Second marriage.”

Everyone laughed. The MD suddenly looked at Du Xiran and teased, “GM Yu is on his second marriage before thirty, yet our great beauty Du is still single.”

Du Xiran sipped her wine: “No need to compare and contrast, okay?”

The others laughed. A female colleague asked curiously, “Old Du, tell us the truth, are you really not dating? Or is it a secret underground romance?”

“I’m really not. If I were, why would I hide it from you? I’d definitely announce it far and wide so you’d all have to treat me to dinner,” Du Xiran said.

“Fine, as long as you can get out of singlehood, I’ll definitely treat you,” the female colleague promised on the spot. “It just depends on whether you’ll give me the chance.”

Du Xiran smiled: “I’d like to know if that chance exists, too.”

A male colleague added, “It’s you who doesn’t give people a chance. Plenty of people chase you, but everyone gets rejected as soon as they confess. We’re all adults; not many people are going to be stubbornly devoted. Usually, once you reject them, they start looking for someone new. Sometimes you shouldn’t set your standards so high; at least get to know them a bit before saying no.”

Du Xiran countered, “What’s going on? Why have we stopped talking business to gossip about me? Let’s get back to company matters. Any good projects to introduce?”

“All the good projects end up in your hands anyway,” a colleague joked. “By the way, I heard President Ye is coming to inspect the departments at the end of the month. Is that true?”

The MD replied, “You’re well-informed. Yes, that’s happening. Just a routine inspection, no need to spread it around. Just work as usual.”

Du Xiran nodded. Thinking of the elusive and busy President Ye, she felt a sense of admiration.

Years ago, when she was an intern, she had the privilege of meeting President Ye once. Back then, the assistant training her had made a mistake on a project, causing a significant loss for the company. The entire team was implicated, and she was nearly fired along with them.

At that time, she had just sent her money back home and had almost nothing left. If she had been fired, it would have been an ugly mark on her resume, potentially affecting her future job search.

Helpless, she hid in the stairwell and cried, only to bump into President Ye coming out for a cigarette. President Ye asked about the situation, looked into her usual work performance, and not only didn’t fire her but transferred her to a very formidable VP. Her career had been smooth sailing ever since.

Colleagues came and went, but she stayed at Zhenghe. Headhunters tried to poach her with high salaries, but the higher she climbed, the more she valued a company’s spirit. To her, it was rare for someone in such a high position to be willing to listen to the plea of a lowly intern.

Previously, she hadn’t wanted to take on interns, partly because she was busy and partly because she didn’t think she could do a good job. Perhaps it was because President Ye set such a high bar that she felt she couldn’t measure up.

However… she looked down at her bag, which contained a pair of gloves and socks. A smile unconsciously spread across her face.

Maybe, I’m doing okay as a boss?

After the dinner, Du Xiran realized that everyone else had family or partners coming to pick them up, leaving her alone to call a designated driver.

How hateful.

Being nagged to get married a thousand times wasn’t nearly as painful as this current scene.

The usually stoic Du Xiran suddenly had a thought, maybe I should try dating?

The night scenery blurred past the window as she leaned her head and watched.

Initially, she wanted to own her own house in this city, so she threw herself into work, ignoring everything else to focus on making money.

Now she finally had her own place, her parents’ old house had been renovated, and Du Heruo had been brought here for better resources.

Most of what she needed to handle was done. Was it time to consider her personal life?

Having someone pick her up after she’d been drinking… it sounded quite nice.

The car stopped downstairs. She had drunk some wine, she wasn’t wasted, but her steps were a bit unsteady. She could still manage, though.

The sound of her heels clicking in the hallway was loud as she walked to her door. She fumbled in her bag for a long time but couldn’t find her keys. Instead, she accidentally squeezed out the socks Ye Nanning had given her.

She simply squatted down to pick up the socks and used the light to look for her keys in her bag.

Just then, the door opposite opened. Ye Nanning stood at the doorway and called out, “Director Du, you’re back.”

Du Xiran tilted her head up. The light from behind Ye Nanning fell on her, making her look like she was draped in a thin layer of wings, possessing a hazy beauty.

Du Xiran blinked slowly, feeling a bit dazed: “Hmm… you’re not asleep yet?”

“I couldn’t sleep, so I made some hangover soup. Would you like some, Director Du?” Ye Nanning invited.

“Hangover soup?” Du Xiran repeated.

“Yes.”

“Okay.” As soon as Du Xiran stood up, the combination of alcohol and the sudden movement made her head spin. She stumbled.

Ye Nanning quickly ran over. A faint scent of lime wafted toward her, it smelled wonderful. Du Xiran’s eyes cleared a bit.

“Did you shower?” Du Xiran looked at her, instinctively touching the ends of Ye Nanning’s hair; it was slightly damp.

“Yes. Careful, Director Du.” Ye Nanning helped her into the apartment and sat her directly on the sofa. She then ran over with those pink slippers, helped her take off her heels, and swapped them for the slippers. Then, she washed her hands and brought out a bowl of hangover soup.

Du Xiran propped her head up with one hand on the armrest, watching the fluid sequence of movements in surprise: “You’re far too practiced at this.”

Ye Nanning lowered her head shyly: “Drink some soup first.”

Du Xiran shook her head to clear it, sat up straight, and took a few sips. It was sweet and sour, refreshing and appetizing.

“This tastes great. This can’t be your first time making it, right?” Du Xiran marveled.

Ye Nanning shook her head: “Someone at home used to drink a lot.”

“No wonder…” Du Xiran quickly finished the bowl and leaned back against the sofa. “I don’t want to move right now. Can I sit here for a while?”

“Of course.” This was exactly what Ye Nanning wanted. “Rest here. I’ll go wash the bowl.”

The sound of running water soon came from the kitchen. Du Xiran turned her head, staring at her back: “Ye Nanning, is there anything you can’t do?”

Ye Nanning turned back and gave her a slight smile: “There’s plenty I can’t do.”

“But it seems like you know how to do everything.” In terms of life skills, Du Xiran felt she wasn’t even half as capable.

“Because I live alone, I have to do everything myself,” Ye Nanning explained. For some reason, this made Du Xiran’s heart ache slightly.

Perhaps it was the alcohol, but Du Xiran felt sentimental. She felt this young girl hadn’t had it easy. She said, “Things will get better. You have a good job now, and when you find a partner later, you can have whatever you want.”

Ye Nanning paused for a moment, then continued washing the dish.

Du Xiran still had the faint sour taste in her mouth and smiled to herself: “But this is nice too. Our two households getting along so harmoniously. I didn’t expect to have such delicious hangover soup after getting drunk.”

“I can make it for you in the future, too, but you should still try not to drink,” Ye Nanning said.

“Can’t be helped. So much socializing, especially with clients.” Du Xiran yawned.

Ye Nanning dried her hands and stood across from her. After a moment, she slowly moved to sit beside her. She turned and asked, “How are you feeling now? Is your head still spinning?”

“Better. Thanks.” Du Xiran felt sleepy and simply lay down on the sofa. “You don’t mind if I lie here for a bit, do you?”

Ye Nanning shook her head, got a blanket to cover her, and gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

Du Xiran looked at her questioningly. Ye Nanning explained belatedly, “I thought you were about to lie on your hair.”

“I didn’t say anything, why are you so nervous?” Du Xiran smiled faintly.

Ye Nanning sat quietly by her side, watching her. Du Xiran had only been dozing for a few minutes when her phone rang.

“Director Du,” Ye Nanning called. Seeing the other had no intention of waking up, she poked her cheek with a finger. “Director Du, your phone is ringing.”

“Mhm.” Du Xiran heard it, she just didn’t want to wake up. She irritably fished out her phone, saw the caller ID, and answered softly, “Hello, Mom.”

Ye Nanning immediately became alert, not daring to make a sound. She picked up an orange from the fruit plate and began peeling it quietly.

The living room was silent. She could even hear the voice on the other end. After a flurry of concerned greetings, the voice asked if Director Du was coming back for New Year’s Day.

“I’m not coming back. I’ll come for the Lunar New Year,” Du Xiran replied.

“Alright, then you definitely have to come back for the Lunar New Year.”

Hearing this, Du Xiran sensed something was up. She asked, “Do you want me to go on a blind date again?”

“Yes. Your second aunt introduced a nice boy. I heard he’s quite a catch. Do you want to meet him?”

“I don’t want to go on blind dates.” Du Xiran turned over petulantly.

“If you don’t go on blind dates, what else are we to do? You don’t look for anyone yourself. You’re in City B alone with Heruo, two girls with no relatives nearby, do you really think we aren’t worried?”

Du Xiran pouted silently but didn’t flatly refuse this time.

“How about you add him on WeChat first? If you get along, then meet up.”

Du Xiran let out a long sigh: “Fine, you win.”

After hanging up, Du Xiran turned her head and found Ye Nanning holding a peeled orange, staring at her in shock.

“What?”

“Director Du, are you going on a blind date?” Ye Nanning asked softly.

“Just to deal with my parents,” Du Xiran said.

“Oh…” Ye Nanning broke off two segments of the orange and held them to her lips. “Do you want some, Director Du?”

Du Xiran opened her mouth and bit into them, oblivious to the fact that she had touched Ye Nanning’s finger. She shook her feet comfortably: “This is the life.”

Ye Nanning’s fingers trembled slightly. She continued feeding her, feeling incredibly happy inside.

Once the first orange was finished, Ye Nanning started peeling a second one.

Du Xiran checked her phone and saw a friend request had already arrived. After accepting it, the blind date man sent her a smiling emoji.

She politely replied with a smile.

Blind Date Man: [Hello, I was introduced by your second aunt. My name is XXX. I currently work in City C. I already have a house and a car, and I earn a million a year. I wanted to ask, can you accept a long-distance relationship?]

Du Xiran: [Hello, I cannot.]

Blind Date Man: […]

Du Xiran laughed: [You really are easily satisfied. Smile Emoji.jpg]

Blind Date Man: [?]

Du Xiran: [I wish you happiness, goodbye.]

Ye Nanning had just finished peeling the orange when Du Xiran snatched it away. Seeing her eat it all at once with a sour expression, Ye Nanning asked, “Who made you angry, Director Du?”

“A man,” Du Xiran said.

“Which man?”

“Don’t know him.”

“…”

Du Xiran finished the orange and wiped her mouth. “Tell me, why are these men so annoying?”

Ye Nanning nodded: “Right.”

“Help me… the thought of spending a lifetime with these men makes me want to stay single forever.” Du Xiran collapsed weakly on the sofa. “I’m seriously starting to doubt I’ll ever get married.”

Ye Nanning: “Why?”

“Maybe it’s a social difficulty? It’s hard to build a good relationship with the opposite sex. It’s too easy to see through their real thoughts. Even when I meet an excellent man, it’s hard to feel a spark. It always stays at the level of admiration. I can’t take the relationship any deeper.” Du Xiran said all this in one breath, fueled by the alcohol, though she had said similar things to her friend Zhang Mishuang before.

Back then, Zhang Mishuang just thought she hadn’t met “the one” yet and proceeded to introduce her to high-quality candidates even more frequently, believing she would eventually find a match.

After her vent, Du Xiran realized Ye Nanning was sitting next to her. Seeing her about to speak, Du Xiran thought: Great, here comes another one trying to convince me to meet ‘quality’ men.

Instead, Ye Nanning said: “What a coincidence. Me too.”

Du Xiran froze: “You’re what too?”

“I’m in the same state. It’s very hard for me to build a good relationship with the opposite sex. I’m completely uninterested in them,” Ye Nanning replied.

“Right! I knew I couldn’t be the only one! There are so many single women in the world!” Du Xiran sat up and looked at her new ally with a smile. “Isn’t that right?”

Ye Nanning nodded, then shook her head: “But I’m not a celibate.”

Du Xiran looked at her with curiosity: “Then what are you thinking? Are you planning to waste your time on these men?”

Ye Nanning shook her head.

“But if you can’t be intimate with the opposite sex, and you don’t want to be single… what do you plan to do?” Du Xiran leaned forward, very close to her, staring into her eyes. She then pinched Ye Nanning’s right cheek. “Wake up. That’s impossible, unless you force yourself to marry a random man.”

Ye Nanning winced from the pinch and instinctively cupped her own face, her hand covering the back of Du Xiran’s hand. “No, I won’t marry a man.”

Du Xiran stared at her blankly. Her grip loosened, but she forgot to pull her hand back, letting it stay cupped against Ye Nanning’s cheek. “What does that mean?”

Ye Nanning took a deep breath, gazed into her eyes, and said:

“Director Du, I like women.”