I Secretly Read My Boss' Diary (GL) - Chapter 15

October 4th, the day Silly went missing

Ever since that day she had a good cry, Silly had been a bit gloomy. Though she put on a brave face in public, I could see in her eyes that she still hadn’t let go of what happened.

I started “running into” her again, but today she seemed to have vanished.

Having observed Silly for so long, I knew she wasn’t one to go out wandering alone. I searched everywhere she might have gone, but in the end, I found her squatting by the roadside at the school gate, eating a grilled sausage.

Watching her endure the heat to devour the food, I just wanted to ruffle her hair.

If I actually did that, she’d probably think I was crazy, though.

*******

By the time the two returned to the company, it was already six o’clock in the evening.

Twilight had settled in, and the streetlights outside the windows began to flicker on one by one. Yan Zhao, clutching her small backpack, gazed out the window, longing for the comfort of home. The long bus ride ahead seemed especially daunting.

But on the way back, she had boldly declared her intention to treat Gong Muyu to dinner. Now, fleeing would be utterly unsightly.

Besides, there was that jacket she had cried into…

Only three people from the Shipping Department remained, working overtime. Gong Muyu greeted them, had Yan Zhao order three coffees, then gathered her things and led Yan Zhao out of the office.

Yan Zhao watched Gong Muyu carry the red jacket, her face burning with embarrassment as she recalled the morning’s events. Sitting in the passenger seat, she fidgeted with the edges of her seatbelt. Suddenly, she remembered something Gong Muyu had mentioned earlier about her alma mater.

Yan Zhao turned to face Gong Muyu and asked, “General Manager Mu, how did you know I graduated from Huaying University?”

Gong Muyu, who was steering the car, paused momentarily at the question. Keeping her eyes fixed straight ahead, she replied, “Oh, I reviewed your resumes after joining the company.”

As the General Manager, Gong Muyu naturally had access to their resumes, so it made sense that she would know which university Yan Zhao had attended.

Yan Zhao felt relieved.

“No wonder. Manager Zhang mentioned you returned from abroad. Did you specifically study maritime logistics while you were there?”

After a few days of working together, Yan Zhao had grown less reserved around Gong Muyu. While she still couldn’t interact with her as casually as she did with Dong Wan, she at least felt comfortable discussing topics beyond work.

“Maritime logistics was only part of it. Although shipping is currently the main focus, we may shift more towards aviation in the future, so I studied both. But the theories in books are quite basic. To excel, you really need to gain practical experience on the job.”

Yan Zhao nodded in agreement. Their industry was constantly evolving, and the problems they encountered were as varied as they were bizarre. Some issues required following a step-by-step process, but clients often couldn’t afford the time and were willing to pay a small sum for under-the-table solutions to save time.

“How long have you been living abroad? You seem about my age—did you leave early?”

The topic of going abroad was the deepest thorn buried in Gong Muyu’s heart, a thorn personally planted in her chest by that silly fool. Now, the very “culprit” who was completely oblivious to it was daring to touch this sore spot. How could Gong Muyu possibly feel comfortable?

Gong Muyu answered Yan Zhao’s question, but her tone turned frosty.

“It wasn’t that early.”

Sensing Gong Muyu’s discomfort with the topic, Yan Zhao tactfully avoided further questions.

******

The car sped to the entrance of a luxury hotel. The opulent decor made Yan Zhao estimate that a single meal here would cost more than half a month’s salary. The one who had boasted about treating her to dinner now felt like crying as she patted her empty wallet.

“We’re here. Get out.”

Gong Muyu unbuckled her seatbelt, glancing at the silly girl beside her, who clutched her seatbelt with a woeful expression. The gloominess from their earlier conversation vanished, and she nearly burst into laughter.

Pretending ignorance, she helped Yan Zhao unbuckle her seatbelt, poked her small head, and teased, “The one who’s supposed to be treating me to dinner… planning to feed me air in the car?”

Hearing Gong Muyu’s words, Yan Zhao, desperate to survive the next half-month, decided to throw caution to the wind.

“Ah, are we eating here?” Yan Zhao’s voice trembled. “But I might not have enough money…”

“Then you’ll have to work here washing dishes to pay for it.”

“No, no, no! Let’s go somewhere else, okay? I know a place where the auntie makes the most delicious food!”

Yan Zhao blinked expectantly at Gong Muyu, as if afraid she would refuse. She unbuckled her seatbelt and crawled over to the other side of the car, reaching for Gong Muyu’s already unbuckled seatbelt.

Their close proximity made Gong Muyu feel as if she were pressed against the back of her seat. She realized that with just a slight tilt of her head, she could press her lips to the side of Yan Zhao’s neck.

The faint scent of lavender emanating from the little fool was like a catalyst, igniting a burning desire that nearly consumed her rationality.

Her hands clenched and relaxed on her knees as she suppressed the urge to pull the little fool into her arms. Her voice turned hoarse as she growled, “Fine, do as you wish. Now get down!”

Unaware of the danger approaching, Yan Zhao climbed down, holding Gong Muyu’s seatbelt buckle, and considerately offered to fasten it for her.

“Let me buckle you in, hehe.”

Before she could finish the last “he,” Yan Zhao’s knee collided with the gearshift, causing her to collapse with a yelp and fall onto Gong Muyu.

Gong Muyu instinctively caught her, the small, soft body pressed against her chest. Her arms tightened almost subconsciously, as if she wanted to crush Yan Zhao into her very being.

“General Manager Mu, are you okay? Did I hurt you?”

Hearing Yan Zhao’s anxious voice, Gong Muyu snapped out of her daze. Just before letting go, she inhaled deeply, taking in Yan Zhao’s scent like a pervert, before reluctantly releasing her grip.

“General Manager Mu, are you alright?” Yan Zhao asked, wincing as she rubbed her sore knee.

“Could you please be more careful in the future? It’s dangerous.”

As they spoke, the car behind them, seeing Gong Muyu’s group hadn’t moved, flashed its lights. Seeing this, Gong Muyu told Yan Zhao to start the car and drive away from the hotel entrance.

“Where to?” Gong Muyu asked.

“Huaying Road. There’s a hotpot place there with fried skewers that are incredibly delicious!”

Gong Muyu: “……”

The car sped to Huaying Road. Gong Muyu watched Yan Zhao greet the auntie at the restaurant entrance warmly before finding a small table in the corner. She left her backpack on the seat for Gong Muyu to watch while she went to order food.

A moment later, the auntie brought over a tray laden with fried skewers and urged them to eat while hot. As she turned to leave, her gaze swept past Gong Muyu’s face, and she suddenly paused. “Is this beauty also a student at Huaying? You look somewhat familiar!”

“Really? People often tell me I have an approachable face.”

Yan Zhao, who was eating across from Gong Muyu, couldn’t help wrinkling her nose at these words, thinking: More like a face that invites trouble!

******

Yan Zhao got out of Gong Muyu’s car. Since it was getting dark, Gong Muyu stayed in the car with the headlights on, illuminating the path to the gate. Yan Zhao, with her backpack slung over her shoulder, waved over her shoulder and ran through the gate. Just as she reached the flower bed by the entrance, her phone beeped with a notification.

She stopped and checked her phone to see a friend request notification. She tapped on it and saw Gong Muyu’s name. Her hand trembled, and she accidentally swiped “Reject.”

Yan Zhao: “……”

Immediately, another friend request notification popped up from Gong Muyu. Yan Zhao quickly cupped her phone in both hands and carefully tapped “Accept.” Almost instantly, a message from Gong Muyu arrived.

Don’t skip around while you’re walking!

Yan Zhao waved back in the direction of the car lights, then immediately resumed her skipping as she ran inside.

*******

Half an hour later…

An hour later, Yan Zhao, freshly washed up, lay on her bed with a pillow hugged to her chest, reflecting on the day’s events. Her lips curved into a smile despite herself.

She had initially assumed Gong Muyu, with her stern and unapproachable demeanor, would be difficult to get along with. But today had completely changed her perspective. The occasional glimpses of warmth and consideration she’d shown made Yan Zhao find herself growing fond of her.

She opened her phone, still on the WeChat page where Gong Muyu had just sent her a message.

Gong Muyu’s WeChat profile picture showed a little girl standing under a streetlight, looking up at the sky. The image always gave Yan Zhao a sense of melancholy. Seeing the unanswered message below, Yan Zhao paused before solemnly replying with a simple “Thank you.”

Feeling her initial reply was too perfunctory, Yan Zhao quickly added: “I really had a great time today. Thank you!”

As soon as Yan Zhao sent her message, Gong Muyu immediately replied.

[No need to thank me.]

Gong Muyu wanted to add that she had enjoyed herself too, but remembering that bouncy, carefree figure, she deleted the half-written words.

[Don’t bounce so much when you walk.]

[It’s too unsteady.]

Yan Zhao watched the messages come in one after another, pouted, sent a playful emoji, and tossed her phone aside. Clutching her pillow, she rolled around a bit before falling asleep.

Several dozen kilometers away, Gong Muyu, already in bed, stared at the picture sent by “Silly” on her phone. Her mind involuntarily drifted back to the embrace in the car earlier. The faint, lingering scent of Silly seemed to still linger in her nose, stirring a provocative heat in her body.

Gong Muyu lay in bed, resisting the urge for a long time, before finally getting up and heading to the bathroom…

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