Mistaken ‘O’ is a Crazy Gorgeous Boss - Chapter 47

Less than five minutes after hanging up the call, the beta driver waiting at the north gate saw the passenger’s relative arrive to pick her up.

The Omega wore a brown coat and a white mask, with thin silver-rimmed glasses concealing her beautiful peach-blossom eyes.

After confirming multiple times, the female beta driver finally felt reassured and helped the drowsy passenger up. Glancing at the Omega’s slender figure, she kindly offered, “Miss, do you need any help? I don’t have any orders right now. If you need, I can help you carry your sister upstairs.”

Shen Zhikou thanked her, “Thank you, but I wouldn’t want to trouble you.”

After saying this, she first took off her own scarf and wrapped it around Qu Zhen, then steadily supported her and turned to leave.

The driver hadn’t expected such a frail-looking Omega to be so strong.

She stood there watching for a while, only shifting her gaze back to her car after the two steadily entered the building.

Meanwhile, Qu Zhen, heavily intoxicated, was barely conscious and completely drained. As the familiar scent of lily of the valley drifted into her senses, she softly called out to Shen Zhikou, “Sister.”

Shen Zhikou didn’t respond immediately, so she called again, “Sister.”

The streetlamp by the flowerbed cast the intertwined shadows of the two. Shen Zhikou replied softly, “Hmm, are you feeling unwell?”

The drunken little Alpha didn’t answer whether she was comfortable or not. Her usually clear almond eyes now shimmered like rippling autumn water. Gazing sideways at the person beside her, she continued murmuring “Sister” in a soft, low voice.

It was like the intimate whispers between lovers.

Shen Zhikou gave her all the patience in the world, responding to every word. After quickening her pace into the elevator and going upstairs, she unlocked the smart security door and settled Qu Zhen on the sofa.

Previously, it had always been Qu Zhen taking meticulous care of her. Now, with the roles reversed, she bent down to remove Qu Zhen’s scarf, took off her alcohol-tainted coat, and pulled a nearby blanket over her.

“Sister…”

“Hmm.” Shen Zhikou unbuttoned the first two buttons of her shirt. “Do you remember how much you drank?”

The drunk little puppy was actually quite well-behaved. She cooperated fully with Shen Zhikou, extending her hands or lifting her feet as instructed. Her cheeks were flushed pink, and her gaze remained fixed on Shen Zhikou’s face.

“Just a little.”

“Was that little bit even a full glass?”

“No.” Qu Zhen lay half-reclined. “Not even half a glass.”

Shen Zhikou pinched the cheek of the little Alpha who got this drunk on less than half a glass. “Wait here for a bit. I’ll go make you some sobering soup.”

“Okay!”

Before leaving, Shen Zhikou tucked a small bear plushie into Qu Zhen’s arms.

The ingredients were readily available; she just needed to prepare them simply and add them to the pot. Worried about the little Alpha’s condition, she glanced back frequently to make sure she wasn’t causing any trouble.

After adding the ingredients to the pot and setting the timer for fifteen minutes, she washed her hands, walked from the kitchen to the sofa, and released a bit of pheromones to soothe the little Alpha.

Seeing her approach, Qu Zhen blinked. “Sister.”

“Hmm.” Shen Zhikou sat down beside her. “Are you feeling uncomfortable?”

“Uncomfortable.”

Thinking she might be in physical pain, Shen Zhikou reached out to touch her abdomen. “Does your stomach hurt?”

“No.” Qu Zhen’s voice was soft and hazy. “It’s for another reason.”

Her current demeanor always reminded Shen Zhikou of when she was sixteen, making Shen Zhikou’s heart grow even softer, transforming from a pool of icy water into a soft cloud, long having cast aside any thought of punishment.

Moreover… she simply couldn’t bear to make her well-behaved puppy cry.

Those surging dark thoughts receded once again, hidden deep within the ocean, waiting for the next tide to rise and regain the upper hand.

“What’s the reason, then?” Shen Zhikou played along with her little alpha, softening her tone as if coaxing a child. “Can you tell your sister?”

Qu Zhen thought for a moment, then nodded like a little chick pecking at rice. “It’s a secret. If sister wants to hear it, I’ll quietly tell you.”

“Whispering?”

“Mm!”

Shen Zhikou leaned in, lowering her head to meet her gaze. “Go ahead, I won’t tell anyone else.”

The aroma of the sobering soup wafted from the kitchen. Qu Zhen gazed longingly at the person beside her, her voice as faint as a mosquito’s hum. “My heart feels uncomfortable. I had to part with you this morning, and it took so long before I could see you again. I didn’t want to go to the gathering. I wanted to come home quickly, to make you the fig, ophiopogon, and yam soup from the nutrition guide, and the fresh shrimp wontons you wanted to eat.”

“But… the gathering went on for so long. My head started to feel dizzy, and I still couldn’t see you.”

This answer was somewhat unexpected. Shen Zhikou, who had never once faltered or lost focus in the business world, was momentarily stunned by her beloved’s candid confession and vulnerability.

Although Qu Zhen had mustered the courage to express her feelings to Shen Zhikou after realizing her own heart, she rarely spoke like this. She almost always kept her negative emotions bottled up, dealing with them alone.

What she offered Shen Zhikou was always positive, uplifting emotional support.

After pouring out her feelings in one go, Qu Zhen took the initiative to hold Shen Zhikou’s hand, fully embodying the word “clingy” in her drunken state.

Shen Zhikou interlaced their fingers. “You’ve seen me now. Do you still feel uncomfortable?”

“A little bit.”

A flicker of amusement flashed in Shen Zhikou’s eyes. “Why is there still a little bit?”

“We’re supposed to hug three times a day and kiss five times,” the little drunkard said slowly. “You didn’t hug me when you saw me, and you didn’t… Are you angry with me?”

No sooner had she spoken than Shen Zhikou kissed her dimples. She had a particular fondness for her little alpha’s dimples and kissed them twice in a row.

“Still feeling a little bit now?”

The blush on Qu Zhen’s cheeks deepened. She pulled the blanket over her head, hiding in embarrassment. After a moment, she mumbled from under the covers.

“Now I’m so happy it feels like I’m seeing stars.”

“The soup is ready. I’ll go get it for you.”

The boiled sobering soup had a reddish-brown hue. Shen Zhikou ladled it into a bowl, brought it to the coffee table, and added a piece of rock sugar.

Qu Zhen, drawn by the scent, emerged from under the blanket, sat up obediently, and picked up the spoon to drink most of it. As the reddish-brown soup gradually disappeared, the haze in her eyes cleared, and she mustered the courage to ask.

“I finished it. Can I hug you now?” As if to prove something, she brought up the agreed-upon frequency again. “We’re supposed to hug three times a day!”

“Of course.”

Qu Zhen wrapped her arms around the omega’s slender waist. The embrace lasted for a long time. As her consciousness regained some clarity, she voluntarily placed the soup bowl back in the sink and prepared to wash up and rest.

“Sister, I want to take a shower.”

“Mm.” Shen Zhikou watched her search for clothes and followed her into the bathroom. “Wash your face and rinse your mouth first.”

Qu Zhen didn’t ask further. After finishing her own washing, she even squeezed toothpaste for Shen Zhikou and waited beside her until Shen Zhikou was done. Then, she took a towel and gently wiped away the tiny droplets of water from Shen Zhikou’s cheeks.

The stunningly beautiful Omega had skin as fair and delicate as fine jade. As the towel brushed against the corner of her lips, Qu Zhen wiped away the glistening droplets on her chin and asked politely, yet with a hint of shyness.

“Sister, may I kiss you?”

She repeated, “Sister, can I give you a kiss?”

There were still two kisses left for the day’s quota. The alpha, always concerned about the Omega’s well-being, asked with utmost seriousness. But when the Omega leaned in to kiss her first, she didn’t react immediately. It wasn’t until the kiss deepened that she reclaimed the initiative.

Their kiss grew increasingly unrestrained. In the cramped bathroom, the floral scents of their pheromones intensified rapidly.

The alpha, who had only just regained some clarity, grew dazed again amidst the rich floral fragrance. She grabbed a nearby bath towel, laid the Omega on it, and deepened the kiss further.

Scattered kisses trailed down the neck. Shen Zhikou’s satin white blouse had inner clasps, and Qu Zhen tried twice without success.

“Zhenzhen.”

“Sister.”

Shen Zhikou’s voice was slightly hoarse. “Help me take off my glasses.”

The silver-rimmed glasses perched on the bridge of her nose were removed and placed on the second shelf of the bathroom cabinet. At the same time, Shen Zhikou instructed Qu Zhen to retrieve a silver-toned package from the right-side cabinet.

It was the first time she taught Qu Zhen how to undo the inner clasps of such a blouse. The process was slow, and after Qu Zhen removed two packaging covers, all her sounds were swallowed by Qu Zhen’s kisses.

It wasn’t until the room was filled with undeniable passion, the mirror fogged and blurred by the steam, that she finally heard Qu Zhen’s words whispered in her ear.

They were the same lines Qu Zhen had written in her first love letter.

“I’ve tried everything the books mentioned.”

“Sister, I love you.”

…

The next morning, when Qu Zhen woke up, she noticed Shen Zhikou was wearing a high-necked inner layer.

Remembering the events in the bathroom the night before, Qu Zhen coughed lightly, continuously serving Shen Zhikou three-delicacy dumplings, and couldn’t help but smile with pursed lips.

After leaving the apartment and arriving at the company building, Shen Zhikou leaned over to unbuckle her seatbelt.

“During non-working hours, you can call me anytime.”

“Mm.” Qu Zhen nodded. “Sister, I’ll be more careful from now on and try to avoid getting drunk.”

“It’s fine. It’s hard to avoid in the workplace, especially since you’re a new intern.” Shen Zhikou said calmly. “But next time you get drunk, call me to pick you up. It’s not safe otherwise.”

Qu Zhen didn’t like drinking, and she disliked being drunk even more.

When she was a child, her neighbor would often come home drunk and take his anger out on his wife. She hated that and would never allow herself to become someone she despised.

Moreover, she remembered Shen Zhikou mentioning that her alpha mother had struggled with alcoholism…

So, she felt Shen Zhikou probably disliked it too but hadn’t said anything out of consideration for her situation. Firm in her resolve, she made a silent decision.

“Okay.” Qu Zhen squeezed her hand. “Sister, I’ll head off now. See you tonight.”

“See you tonight.”

After getting off the car and taking the elevator up to the company, Qu Zhen was swamped with work for the rest of the day. Cao Yuan had been very responsible yesterday, but today she didn’t guide them much, letting them dive straight into their tasks.

The four of them followed a senior from the department to participate in a project expansion site. After witnessing the bizarre negotiation where both sides engaged in a war of words yet remained unyielding, Qu Zhen’s expression turned serious.

An hour and a half later, the meeting concluded with both parties reaching a friendly cooperation agreement. They immediately moved to another small studio to continue their follow-up work.

The senior guiding them was named Belinda, a female Omega around thirty years old.

She didn’t seem as gentle as Cao Yuan, appearing more shrewd and capable, but she was exceptionally patient when teaching the four of them, listening carefully to their discussions and opinions.

Xiang Ting said, “According to the data provided by the business department, aside from the issue with the enforceability of the liability for breach of contract, the rest of this agreement seems fine.”

“I agree,” Tang Qian flipped through the papers. “The liability for breach of contract stipulated for Party B is too lenient.”

Xu Qingqing remained silent.

Belinda glanced sideways at Qu Zhen. “Xiao Qu, do you have anything to add?”

Qu Zhen moved her pen, circling a section in the printed template. “The requirement in this clause regarding the subject matter is quite vague. On the 29th of last month, the government issued new management regulations concerning product suppression. Article 21 specifically addresses quality inspection issues before product launch. I believe Party B is exploiting a timing loophole to conceal potential quality inspection risks.”

Belinda smiled, pulling up the new management regulations on the white screen and enlarging the clause Qu Zhen had mentioned.

“Xiao Qu is right. The new management regulations from the 29th have been in effect for nearly two weeks now,” Belinda said with a serious expression. “Did none of you take the time to read them during this period?”

The room fell silent. Qu Zhen looked at the screen as her phone lit up.

The other three responded with relative sincerity, so Belinda didn’t press the issue further, though she emphasized three times the importance of staying sensitive and up-to-date with new regulations and laws.

When they broke for lunch, Qu Zhen and Xu Qingqing walked ahead, unaware of the conversation happening behind them.

“What’s there to be so proud about?”

“Proud? Are you talking about Xiao Qu?” Tang Qian mused. “I don’t think so. She did identify the problem in time, and she didn’t seem proud about it.”

Xiang Ting hesitated. “Isn’t that pride? Never mind.” She lowered her voice. “Let me tell you, the wedding ring she’s wearing is a fake. If she can’t afford the real thing, why wear a counterfeit?”

“A fake? How do you know?”

“I only confirmed it after staring at it for a long time during dinner yesterday,” Xiang Ting raised an eyebrow. “My aunt is in the jewelry business, so I know a thing or two about this. The ring she’s wearing is from a high-end luxury brand owned by a jewelry family in T Country.”

“They only take custom orders, and the prices usually start at seven figures. Do you think an ordinary intern like her could afford such an expensive ring?” Xiang Ting scoffed. “Besides, that brand is only accepting orders from existing clients now; they’re not taking any new ones. If she could afford it, why would she be wearing cheap clothes and slogging through an internship? Don’t be ridiculous, it’s definitely a fake.”

“Could it be that you’ve mistaken it?” Tang Qian asked hesitantly.

“I couldn’t possibly be mistaken. My aunt once had a pinky ring custom-made there, and I recognize their emblem. Although Qu Zhen hid the emblem very well on her ring, I still caught a glimpse of it during the meeting earlier. My aunt’s pinky ring cost nearly four million. If Qu Zhen’s is genuine, it would start at ten million at the very least.”

Xiang Ting declared firmly, “So, the one she’s wearing must be a cheap knockoff.”

Tang Qian stroked her chin. “Tsk, I never expected Xiao Qu to be that kind of person. Does her wife know that even the ring she used for the proposal is fake? Hearing you say this, I’m really surprised.”

“Surprised by what? I’m even more surprised about how she and Xu Qingqing passed the interview to get in here…”

After having lunch and making a phone call to Shen Zhikou, Qu Zhen didn’t even have time for a nap and immediately threw herself back into work. The situation and progress were slower than she had anticipated, and by evening, all five of them stayed behind to work overtime.

They ordered takeout to fill their stomachs and worked until 8:40 p.m. before finally drafting a preliminary revision.

Belinda smiled. “Good work, everyone. Let’s call it a day here.”

“Hooray!”

“See you tomorrow.” Tang Qian stood up. “Finally off work.”

Qu Zhen rubbed her stiff neck, packed her things to head home, and the four of them took the elevator down together.

During the ride, Xiang Ting casually asked, “Xiao Qu, where do you live?”

“I live near Xinyu Garden.”

A flicker of understanding passed through Xiang Ting’s eyes. “That area is quite nice.”

Xinyu Garden was an old residential complex. Apart from its affordable prices, it couldn’t compare to newly developed neighborhoods in other aspects. Tang Qian understood the real intention behind Xiang Ting’s question.

After leaving the company, as Qu Zhen and Xu Qingqing were about to head toward the subway station, a white luxury car pulled over beside them.

The window slowly rolled down, and Cao Yuan, sitting in the driver’s seat, smiled at them. “Just got off work?”

“Attorney Cao,” Qu Zhen greeted. “Yes, we’re heading home now.”

“Where do you two live?”

After they gave their addresses, the car’s rear door automatically opened.

“Perfect, it’s on my way. It’s so late, let me give you a ride back.” Cao Yuan smiled warmly. “Hop in.”

The two exchanged a glance and eventually got into Cao Yuan’s car.

Xu Qingqing was even quieter than Qu Zhen, barely saying a word the entire ride. Her black-framed glasses covered most of her face, making her look even more like a student.

Qu Zhen responded intermittently to keep the conversation going. After all, Cao Yuan was their mentor, and letting the atmosphere turn awkward and silent wasn’t a wise move. Besides, Cao Yuan’s professional skills were outstanding, and her occasional guidance always hit the mark.

However… Qu Zhen noticed that Cao Yuan seemed to glance at Xu Qingqing through the rearview mirror, intentionally or not.

Did they know each other before? Qu Zhen wondered.

Her impression of Xu Qingqing was fairly positive, she was an easy colleague to get along with. But they had only worked together for two days, and asking too much would be overstepping.

Suppressing her curiosity, Qu Zhen lowered her head and sent a message to Shen Zhikou.

[Big sis, I’ll be home soon.]

[When I came back last night, I noticed roasted sweet potatoes being sold by the entrance. I wonder if they’ll be there tonight. If so, would you like to try some?]

[[Puppy wagging its tail.jpg]]

Shen Zhikou didn’t reply. Qu Zhen exited the chat and glanced at her dorm group chat, which was flooded with messages. She sent a recently popular meme, and when she looked up again, the car had already arrived at the North Gate of Xinyu Garden.

She picked up her bag and got out of the car swiftly. “Thank you, Attorney Cao. I’ll head back now. Please drive safely.”

“Mm,” Cao Yuan said gently. “You’ve worked hard with the overtime. See you tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow.”

Qu Zhen didn’t want to linger on the conversation. She turned and walked toward the North Gate. As she passed a shelter, she noticed the sweet potato vendor was still there. She bought the last three sweet potatoes from the elderly woman, who handed them over with eyes curved into crescents.

“You’ve worked hard, young lady, getting off so late.”

The grandmother’s kindly demeanor reminded Qu Zhen of her own grandmother. She smiled and was about to pick up the bag of sweet potatoes when she noticed a portion of stir-fried noodles on the front rack of the tricycle, clearly cold and stuck together.

When she had approached earlier, the grandmother had been eating the noodles.

Without a word, Qu Zhen took out the congee, milk, and some small bread rolls that Shen Zhikou had stuffed into her bag before she left in the morning. She quietly moved to the rack and, while the grandmother wasn’t looking, placed the items on it.

“It’s no trouble,” she said softly, picking up the bag. “The weather’s cold, Grandma. You should head back early to rest.”

“Mm, mm, I’ll go back as soon as I finish this bit of noodles!” The grandmother waved at her. “Goodbye, young lady.”

“Goodbye, Grandma.”

Qu Zhen walked along the right path, quickening her pace so the grandmother wouldn’t realize she had left the items behind.

If she were found out, the next time she came to buy sweet potatoes, the grandmother might charge her less, refuse to take her money, or even give her extra roasted sweet potatoes.

But Qu Zhen didn’t want that. Every penny the elderly earned was hard-won, and they often had to endure even more hardship.

A biting cold wind swept through. As she tightened her coat and entered the gate, she instinctively glanced back. The sight made her pause, Cao Yuan’s car hadn’t left. And for some reason, Xu Qingqing had pushed open the rear door, lowered her head, and was walking toward the front passenger seat.

A black car drove past, rustling a white plastic bag by the roadside.

In the blink of an eye, Xu Qingqing opened the passenger door, bent down, and got in. Soon after, the car, which had been parked for a few minutes, drove off. The already gloomy weather began to drizzle.

Qu Zhen stood under the gate, sheltered from the rain. She pulled out her phone, hesitated for a moment, and decided to find an excuse to call and ask.

If nothing was wrong, why would she move to the front passenger seat?

As a mentor and an intern, with different secondary genders, given Xu Qingqing’s personality, she shouldn’t have taken the initiative to sit in the front. Besides, Qu Zhen remembered that Xu Qingqing’s rented apartment wasn’t far away, about ten minutes by car.

She dialed the number.

Before she could ask tactfully, she heard Xu Qingqing say, “I’m sorry, Nannan.”

Nannan?

Qu Zhen thought she had dialed the wrong number. She checked carefully and confirmed it wasn’t an unfamiliar number. Just as she was about to explain, Xu Qingqing continued.

“I forgot to buy it for you after working so late. I’m in the area now and will go get it for you right away.” She paused, her voice tinged with obvious emotion. “Nannan, don’t hang up. I’m not very familiar with this place. Tell me over the phone how to get to that store.”