One Year After Her Sister-In-Law Was Widowed - Chapter 40

Ji Zhuozhou’s lips were flushed red, and Xiao Shuangyu’s lips were also flushed red.

The two sat quietly for a few minutes, yet that redness showed no sign of fading.

Xiao Shuangyu watched guiltily as Ji Zhuozhou left with her reddened and slightly swollen lips, and she couldn’t help but purse her own mouth.

The sensation of the kiss still seemed to linger on her lips, making her heart feel itchy.

In the center of her vision, Ji Zhuozhou, who was about to turn the corner, suddenly stopped, turned around gracefully, and waved at her.

Xiao Shuangyu was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly raised her hand.

Ji Zhuozhou suddenly burst into a smile; on her gentle face, her gorgeous red lips curved beautifully, appearing heart-stirringly lovely.

Xiao Shuangyu watched in a daze, even as Ji Zhuozhou turned back to continue walking. It seemed that the smile on the corner of her lips was reserved only for her.

Her heart went thump-thump. Looking at the empty space, she inexplicably mimicked Ji Zhuozhou’s expression by curling the corners of her mouth. Carrying a great mood, she turned around, almost wanting to skip.

Xiao Shuangyu returned to the sixth floor, trying her best to calm her expression. Just as she stepped out of the stairwell, she bumped into Wang Ran coming out of the elevator.

Wang Ran had just switched to the morning shift two days ago. Having not seen each other for a month, Wang Ran had been incredibly cheerful upon seeing her these past two days. She immediately detoured toward her, “Lianlian, why were you taking the stairs?”

Xiao Shuangyu watched as Wang Ran’s gaze followed her words and landed on her mouth. Feeling even more guilty, she averted her face, “Sister Ran, what a coincidence. I just went to deliver something.”

Wang Ran looked at her meaningfully, “Delivering something, huh? To Teacher Ji?”

The matter of her seeking out Ji Zhuozhou to be friends happened after Wang Ran’s shift rotation, but Wang Ran had already heard about it during this past month. On the first day she switched to the morning shift, she had intercepted her at Huarui’s main gate and asked her in a low voice what was going on.

Xiao Shuangyu’s mouth was stubborn; she insisted she just wanted to be friends with Teacher Ji, which Wang Ran laughed at endlessly.

Then, Wang Ran patted her shoulder and said it was good to make more friends.

That’s what she said, but Wang Ran didn’t look like she believed it at all. Her eyes were sharp, as if she saw right through her, yet she was kind enough not to expose her.

Only now, the gaze Wang Ran fixed on her mouth practically had the words “Delivering a kiss to Teacher Ji” written on her face. The heat that had just subsided in Xiao Shuangyu’s face was about to rise again.

Xiao Shuangyu shook her head tenaciously, even twisting her head to look upward to prevent Wang Ran from seeing her, “No, I delivered a file to Director Shang.”

Director Shang was the director of the Fragrance Department. Besides requiring regular data reports, she often needed various different sets of data, usually in hard copy.

Eight out of ten times Xiao Shuangyu went upstairs, it was to deliver files to Director Shang. Her original intention for going upstairs this time was also to deliver files to Director Shang; she wasn’t lying.

Wang Ran nodded with a smile, as if to say, “Whatever you say,” “That’s good. Lianlian is adapting very quickly. I knew you could do it.”

Seeing her lower her eyes with an expression of not knowing how to reply, Wang Ran leaned in closer and whispered in her ear: “What else did you do? Someone actually complained to me about you.”

Xiao Shuangyu turned her head, two big question marks in her dark pupils, “What?”

Wang Ran pointed downstairs, “I just ran into someone from the Fragrance Department. They were hinting that you’re not to be trifled with. Did you catch them gossiping?”

Xiao Shuangyu blinked, suddenly understanding.

It must have been that incident in the pantry where she heard the gossip about Ji Zhuozhou and Mingyi. Because she had stepped forward to question them, people now avoided her even when she was on the ninth floor.

She didn’t expect the people avoiding her to go to Wang Ran.

Xiao Shuangyu thought of those people’s vicious rumors about Ji Zhuozhou and instinctively straightened her back, “Then I am not to be trifled with.”

Wang Ran laughed, “Alright, just don’t get bullied. You can come to me if anything happens; our security team is on standby at any time.”

Xiao Shuangyu couldn’t help but curl the corners of her lips in response, revealing a slightly sinister smile, “Okay.”

After parting with Wang Ran, Xiao Shuangyu returned to the office to work seriously.

In the time spent chatting with Wang Ran, the color on her lips had faded significantly, so she didn’t attract any attention upon her return.

She had been out for quite a while this time; she had to put in extra effort to make up for it.

However, while her hands were moving, her mind uncontrollably drifted to Ji Zhuozhou.

Because she looked like she wasn’t to be trifled with, those people took their gossip behind her back and detoured around her.

But Ji Zhuozhou was so weak and slender, and the rumors behind her back were so excessive—would someone has already bullied her to her face?

After all, that person from before, who hadn’t even left the employee cafeteria before unscrupulously telling a newcomer nonsense, actually had a workstation across from Ji Zhuozhou.

After discovering that, Xiao Shuangyu had also asked Ji Zhuozhou, directly and indirectly, if she was unhappy at work. Ji Zhuozhou always asked her back with a relaxed air why she said that, and said there was absolutely no such thing.

But as Wang Ran’s words echoed in her mind, she suddenly felt that perhaps she hadn’t said it correctly.

Wang Ran said “come to me if anything happens” and mentioned the security team. Whether it was Wang Ran or the security team, they were so reliable in Huarui.

It was as if regardless of whether something happened, just knowing Wang Ran and the security team were there made Huarui feel safe forever.

One didn’t need to ask or search; just by standing there, they were a support, a reliance.

She was a member of the security team a month ago; how could she have only thought of this now?

Thus, while the data on the monitor was loading, Xiao Shuangyu quickly picked up her phone.

Sister, if anything happens, you must tell me. I will absolutely not let anyone bully Sister.

Her dark eyes stared intently at the screen; she was still somewhat nervous.

Was it right to say it like this?

If she said it like this, would it make Ji Zhuozhou think of her when she was being bullied?

If she said it like this, could it make Ji Zhuozhou rely on her a bit more?

Ji Zhuozhou hadn’t replied yet, and the status under her contact’s name didn’t show that she was typing; she probably hadn’t seen it yet.

Xiao Shuangyu placed her phone in the center in front of her, leaving a bit of her peripheral vision for the phone, while she looked up to process the loaded data.

Her heart was apprehensive. She wasn’t sure if, in Ji Zhuozhou’s eyes, she could take on that role.

But perhaps, that was the role Xiao Mingyi once held.

She wanted to snatch it over.

What she didn’t know was that when the message was sent, on the ninth floor, Ji Zhuozhou was using discarded scent strips to make combinations. Taking advantage of a temporary lull in work, she intended to find inspiration for the perfume she was making for Xiao Shuangyu.

Seeing the phone screen light up, Ji Zhuozhou put down the scent strip and saw Xiao Shuangyu’s message immediately.

Ji Zhuozhou guessed that it was because President Si had proposed an outside meeting today, which made Xiao Shuangyu worried, even though her kiss and comfort hadn’t ultimately made Xiao Shuangyu feel at ease.

But looking at the firm tone revealed through just the text, that gloomy, perpetually grumpy face seemed to appear before her eyes.

Xiao Shuangyu was an Alpha, and ninety percent of that was reflected in that gloomy face.

When that face tightened and her brows furrowed, she looked very assertive, which compensated for a large part of the lack of pressure caused by her low pheromone level.

But Xiao Shuangyu was not an assertive person.

Xiao Shuangyu was reserved, silent, and timid. Every time she said or did something, she had to muster up great courage, and those excessively dark eyes were always trembling with panic.

But when she smiled at her, a faint brightness flickered in the depths of those eyes.

If they were face-to-face, if she replied with an “okay,” Xiao Shuangyu’s eyes would probably light up too.

Her deep, forest-colored eyes stirred slowly, appearing dark and indistinct.

“Absolutely,” huh?

The little lamb-like Xiao Shuangyu couldn’t do that.

The Data Analysis Group office became busy before long.

Very busy, extremely busy, suddenly busy.

Busy enough that Xiao Shuangyu didn’t even have time to be happy about seeing Ji Zhuozhou’s message; she quickly sent a bunny-nodding sticker and dove back into her work.

The bunny-nodding was from the same set as the bunny-congratulations Ji Zhuozhou had sent her after her successful transfer, a set she added to her list because Ji Zhuozhou used it.

Xiao Shuangyu stared at the data so hard she wished she had eight pairs of eyes, yet her only pair of eyes couldn’t help but narrow slightly into a smile.

Ji Zhuozhou said OKAY.

Ji Zhuozhou said she should be too, and said if something happened, they would discuss it together.

Ji Zhuozhou had responded to her seriously.

Thanks to meeting Wang Ran, if it weren’t for Wang Ran, she might still have failed to realize that she shouldn’t just be behind Ji Zhuozhou—she should stand behind Ji Zhuozhou.

Approaching off-work time, the portion in her hands was finally submitted, and Xiao Shuangyu’s eyes finally had a moment of relaxation.

But around her, the other three were still working with great fervor, looking like they had no intention of leaving on time.

Just as she was wondering if she could leave in this situation, she heard Bian Ya over there rub her brow and speak, “Lianlian, work some overtime.”

As she spoke, some materials were already sent over. Bian Ya quickly explained to her what needed to be done.

Xiao Shuangyu replied with an “okay,” and saw Bian Ya turn back to ask the other three about their progress.

They had worked longer after all and had more experience; they were all processing steadily and quickly. Especially Yang Shanhe—she originally had a heavy hand, and right now her keyboard and mouse were clicking and clacking together loudly.

Bian Ya nodded, “Everyone work hard. Once we finish quickly, I’ll take you all to dinner.”

Several people immediately cheered. Xiao Shuangyu hesitated for a second and followed with a small cry, which wasn’t very distinct amidst the voices of the others.

However, the small voice joining in was also affected by the atmosphere, sparking her motivation.

While the materials were not yet fully downloaded, Xiao Shuangyu opened her phone to find Ji Zhuozhou.

On the screen, it showed the “See you in the parking lot” message Ji Zhuozhou had sent a few minutes ago. Xiao Shuangyu suddenly felt a pang of heartache.

She endured the pain to send Ji Zhuozhou a message saying she had to work overtime and wasn’t sure when she could leave.

Ji Zhuozhou’s message came back quickly; that little sailboat jumped out soon.

Sailboat: Okay, Lianlian, keep it up. Let’s see each other at home later.

Xiao Shuangyu was silent for a moment, feeling as if her heart had been crumpled into a ball, unsure if it was distress or warmth.

She took a deep breath to cheer up, sent an “okay,” and quickly turned her attention to the new materials.

Work faster; once work ends, she can see Ji Zhuozhou.

But Xiao Shuangyu didn’t expect that this overtime would last for the entire weekend and almost all of the following week—an emergency ending followed by another urgent task.

She couldn’t leave work at all, staying until past nine or ten every day, let alone going home with Ji Zhuozhou after work.

Xiao Shuangyu became much more withered. Finally, on Thursday the 24th, she got off work after seven, feeling in a daze.

The dazed Xiao Shuangyu grabbed her canvas bag and ran incredibly fast. She had already rushed into the apartment elevator before remembering she hadn’t messaged Ji Zhuozhou.

She decided not to send it, intending to appear directly in front of Ji Zhuozhou to give her a little surprise.

The house was empty; Ji Zhuozhou wasn’t there.

Xiao Shuangyu suddenly became quiet, standing blankly in the middle of the dark living room to message Ji Zhuozhou.

Sister, I’m back. Is Sister not home?

Before long, Ji Zhuozhou’s replies came.

Sailboat: Mm, I went out for a bit, will be back soon. Has Lianlian eaten? Should I bring something for you?

Xiao Shuangyu indeed hadn’t eaten yet. She happily said anything was fine and waited obediently at the entrance.

This time, she remembered to turn on the light.

Before long, Ji Zhuozhou returned, smiling as she handed her the packed food, “Lianlian is quite early today. Will it be better tomorrow?”

Xiao Shuangyu hurriedly took it. While making room for Ji Zhuozhou to enter, she said uncertainly, “Hard to say.”

Ji Zhuozhou walked in, and Xiao Shuangyu leaned in to look at the food she had brought for her.

But before she could get close, Xiao Shuangyu froze and put it down.

She looked at Ji Zhuozhou.

On Ji Zhuozhou’s body, there was the scent of someone else.