My Boss Transmigrated Into a Maid and I Became Gay - Chapter 26

Lu Ying felt like crying, but all she could manage was a “distressed” smile, mirroring her Eldest Brother’s melancholy expression. “The money’s in.”

She and Sister Zhuan packed up for lunch. In the elevator, Yu Linchuan waved her phone around. “Payday means treating yourself! Let’s get something good for lunch. Oh, and tomorrow is Friday. Should we go out for a massive feast tomorrow night? I found a new barbecue joint; the fat-to-lean ratio of their meat is literally perfect…”

While Sister Zhuan was brimming with excitement, Lu Ying felt like a deflated balloon. “I’m still not in a great mood. I think I’ll skip it tomorrow…”

Yu Linchuan went quiet, asking cautiously, “Are you still… unable to let it go?”

Let what go? It took Lu Ying a moment to realize her friend was referring to the “ugly online date” she had fabricated yesterday.

“It’s not because of him,” she denied, explaining, “I’m just feeling a bit ‘down’ lately.”

“Alright. Take your time to reset. If you need to vent, I’m always here.”

After more comforting words from Sister Zhuan, they finished lunch and headed back. Lu Ying bought an ice cream cone downstairs, licking it as they entered the elevator. Just as the doors were closing, someone pressed the “Up” button, and they slid open again.

Lu Ying was about to take a massive bite of her ice cream when President Jian walked in. She froze instantly.

Crap, crap, crap! I do NOT want to see this person!

When she first woke up, she hadn’t known how to face Jian Qin; now, she just plain didn’t want to see her. Who would enjoy being kissed by someone they actually liked, only to realize they were just a stand-in for a “White Moonlight”?

Still feeling petty, she took a viciously large bite of the ice cream. Only after Sister Zhuan said, “Hello, President Jian,” did she follow suit with a muffled, frozen greeting.

Jian Qin looked at Lu Ying’s face, and a flash of last night’s memory made her heart skip a beat. She quickly looked away with a curt “Mm.”

Having done that last night, she was feeling incredibly guilty.

Standing in the corner, Lu Ying wasn’t faring much better. That bite of ice cream had been too big; the intense cold made her hiss and gasp as the frozen cream rolled around on her tongue.

I shouldn’t have taken a ‘spite-bite’! It’s freezing!

Hearing the noise, Jian Qin turned back to look at her. Yu Linchuan was quietly teasing her for being greedy, while Lu Ying glared at her with her head tilted back and her lips slightly pouted, desperately trying to melt the ice in her mouth.

“Why did you eat so much at once? Hahaha!”

“…Don’t laugh!”

The vivid, lively scene was almost painful to watch. Jian Qin lowered her eyes, pretending to check her phone.

In truth, she should be satisfied. To encounter someone she thought she’d never see again and to spend so much time with her was more than she could have hoped for. When she woke up this morning, she’d initially felt the “roller coaster” aftereffects, but once she realized what she’d done, she had collapsed back onto the bed in a daze.

What on earth did I do…?

After holding back for so long, she had finally succumbed to the devil on her shoulder.

Because Jian Qin had crossed a line in the other world, she had no idea how to face Lu Ying in the real one. She felt she had wronged her. The worst part was that this apology had to stay locked in her heart; she couldn’t tell the victim.

******

Back at her desk, Lu Ying felt a tiny prickle of annoyance.

She knew President Jian was the maid. This meant President Jian knew she had kissed someone who looked exactly like her subordinate last night, yet she was acting like nothing had happened.

Lu Ying felt she deserved some kind of reaction, but no—the woman had just given her a lukewarm “Mm.”

She started getting angry again. First, she was mad about being a substitute; now, she was mad that President Jian was acting so dignified during the day when she was actually a “hooligan scumbag” who forcibly kissed people in another world!

When Lu Ying gets mad, she needs an outlet. she pulled up Jian Qin’s contact and changed her nickname to “Female Hooligan.” Feeling slightly better, she finished her ice cream and got to work.

That afternoon, a massive pile of cases arrived from headquarters. The office was soon filled with groans; it looked like a collective overtime night. By 2:00 PM, Lu Ying’s stomach started to churn.

Was it that ice cream from lunch?

She drank some hot water, but the pain only sharpened. It was a full-blown stomach ache at the worst possible time. She ordered some medicine via delivery and spent the rest of the afternoon making four trips to the bathroom, only feeling slightly better by dinner time.

The department assistant sent an email for dinner orders. Lu Ying and Sister Zhuan both picked the “Spicy Seafood Noodles.” But looking at the menu now, Lu Ying’s face crumpled. She hadn’t expected a stomach ache when she ordered; now, she couldn’t eat it, but she didn’t want to waste it.

Sister Zhuan had the same thing, so they couldn’t swap. Lu Ying asked around, but one colleague had a breakout and couldn’t eat spicy food, another had just eaten noodles for lunch, and several others couldn’t handle the heat.

Lu Ying was about to order something else when a clear, pleasant voice sounded behind her: “I’ll swap with you.”

She stiffened and looked back. The fire in her heart flared up again. Knowing full well that President Jian’s allergies were cured, she said pointedly, “No thanks, President Jian. Can’t you not eat seafood?”

Jian Qin paused for a fraction of a second. “I can pick it out.”

“Thank you, but I’ll just have some curry rice,” Lu Ying said stubbornly.

“I ordered Tomato Beef Brisket Noodles. Noodles are easier to digest than rice. You’re working hard and you’re sick; don’t mess around with dinner.” Jian Qin didn’t give her a chance to argue, swapping the bags on the desk.

Sister Zhuan, concerned for Lu Ying, chimed in, “She’s right, Sakura. Don’t be shy.”

With everyone watching, Lu Ying had to accept. “Thank you, President Jian. I won’t be polite then.”

As the boss went back to her office, the colleagues whispered, “President Jian is so nice.” “Yeah, she’s so gentle compared to my old boss.” “She’s just… someone you can genuinely respect.”

One veteran employee shared a story about how Jian Qin had driven her son to the hospital in a rainstorm during an emergency. Lu Ying slurped her noodles, listening to the praise. She usually hated the overtime Jian Qin assigned, but she knew she was a good leader.

Workaholic, beautiful, kind… she had no reason to hate her.

But now I do! Lu Ying thought, thinking of the “substitute” kiss. Hmph. I shouldn’t have cured her allergies.

Then, a new thought struck her: Is the White Moonlight a man or a woman? If it was a man, surely Jian Qin wouldn’t mistake a girl for him. Lu Ying gasped. President Jian did treat the female staff better.

Is the White Moonlight a soft, cute girl?!

Lu Ying stood by her cubicle, convinced she’d found the truth. But work was too busy to dwell on it.

******

By 10:20 PM, the office was clearing out. Sister Zhuan rushed for the bus, while others had cars or rides. Lu Ying had to catch the last subway at 10:40 PM. After a frantic pack-up, she sprinted out.

She didn’t see Jian Qin walking toward the parking lot right after her. Three minutes later, a familiar car pulled up beside her.

Lu Ying felt a tightness in her chest. She pretended not to see it and kept walking.

Jian Qin could feel Lu Ying was in a bad mood. She drove a bit further and opened the door. “Get in. I’ll take you.”

Lu Ying acted like she just noticed her. “President Jian? It’s okay, I can make it if I walk fast.”

“You’re not well. Don’t push yourself. Get in.”

Looking at her, a wave of grievance washed over Lu Ying.

How can she kiss me like that and then act like nothing happened in reality!

She was so passionate when she kissed me, and now she’s playing the ‘caring boss’!

She knew Jian Qin couldn’t exactly confess her “maid” identity, but she still felt wronged. Lu Ying got in, her eyes turning red with frustration.

Her nose felt itchy, and she gave a small sniff. Jian Qin noticed. “What’s wrong?”

Lu Ying couldn’t tell the truth. She looked away, fabricating a lie. “I was just thinking about the novel I read yesterday. It was so tragic.”

“A novel?” Jian Qin asked.

“Yeah. The hero’s ‘White Moonlight’ was a princess from an enemy nation. She was captured in the war while she was pregnant. To crush the enemy’s spirit, the hero’s father hung her on the city walls for three days until she died of thirst and exposure.”

Jian Qin: “…”

Setting aside how toxic that plot is… what kind of grudge does this author have against ‘White Moonlights’?!

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