Reborn as an Aloof Boss, Flirting Everywhere - Chapter 8

A strange, heavy silence spread between them.

Why was Su Qingmo still here at this hour? Had she heard the humming? Probably not; the sound was very faint, and there was a fair distance between them.

“Not off yet?” Su Qingmo asked.

Lin Qian stood up quickly. “I was just about to leave.”

Su Qingmo gave a slight nod. “Then I’ll wait for you.”

Lin Qian stared at her blankly, clearly not understanding what she meant.

Su Qingmo added, “I’ll walk down with you.”

Now Lin Qian understood. Although she didn’t grasp why they had to go down together, she didn’t dare ask. She began a frantic scramble to pack her desk—saving documents, shutting down the computer, and stuffing things into her bag.

These were simple tasks, but Su Qingmo’s offer to wait made them feel impossibly complex in the moment.

“No rush. Take your time, I’ll wait,” Su Qingmo said, her voice gentle.

Lin Qian mouthed an “okay” but actually sped up her movements. She grabbed her bag and jogged over.

Su Qingmo walked in front, while Lin Qian followed exactly one step behind—quiet, obedient, and smelling the faint scent of lemon in the air.

Is she waiting for me because there’s more work to discuss? Lin Qian wondered.

Su Qingmo tilted her head and asked, “Leaving so late… did you run into a difficult problem?”

Lin Qian: “No, you explained everything very clearly this afternoon. I just got caught up in the writing and lost track of time.”

Su Qingmo: “The project isn’t that rushed. Don’t worry, you need to balance work and rest.”

Lin Qian immediately took the cue: “Don’t worry, President Su, I will work hard and try to have it all organized by tomorrow.”

Su Qingmo: “…”

Once they entered the elevator, neither said a word.

Lin Qian debated whether she should find a topic to chat about or perhaps try some smooth-talking flattery like her colleagues would. However, it was clear that Lin Qian was capable of neither; she could only stand there awkwardly in silence.

Just endure it, she thought. It only takes thirty seconds to reach the first floor.

“I recall you live near the company,” Su Qingmo said suddenly.

“Yes, just nearby,” Lin Qian replied stiffly.

Su Qingmo nodded slightly. Just when Lin Qian thought the conversation was over, Su Qingmo spoke again: “Leaving this late… is it safe for you to walk home?”

Lin Qian: “It’s fine. It’s less than a thirty-minute walk. It’s quite safe.”

Su Qingmo: “I’ll drive you.”

Lin Qian’s eyes widened, and she waved her hands frantically. “No, no! I can just walk back myself.”

Su Qingmo glanced at her but didn’t say anything.

Lin Qian bit her lip, her heart racing. Did I just upset the boss?

Ding. The elevator doors opened.

Lin Qian let out a breath of relief. She walked out behind Su Qingmo, but just as she was about to say “Goodbye, President Su” at the main entrance, Su Qingmo spoke first.

“I’ll go get the car. Wait for me here.” Without waiting for a response, Su Qingmo walked toward the parking lot.

Lin Qian stood rooted to the spot, dazed for a second.

Five minutes later, a black sedan pulled up beside her. Lin Qian felt the car looked strangely familiar, though she couldn’t place why.

The window rolled down, revealing Su Qingmo’s cool, beautiful face.

“Get in,” Su Qingmo said.

Lin Qian opened the passenger door and sat down carefully. “Thank you, President Su.”

The car didn’t move for a long time. Lin Qian looked at her in confusion.

Su Qingmo’s gaze was fixed on the seatbelt. She had wanted to reach over and buckle it for her several times but restrained herself.

“Seatbelt,” Su Qingmo said.

Lin Qian realized and quickly buckled up.

The car started moving—not too fast, not too slow—very steady. It felt perfectly smooth, much like Su Qingmo herself.

The interior was quiet. Lin Qian took a deep breath to calm her nerves, and then another, before she found the courage to speak. “President Su, thank you for taking me home the night of the dinner.”

Su Qingmo kept her eyes on the road. “It was nothing.”

Lin Qian pulled a small box from her bag, containing the earring. “This is your earring. I think you might have accidentally dropped it at my place.”

Since Su Qingmo was driving, Lin Qian couldn’t hand it over directly and prepared to set it aside.

Before she could, Su Qingmo said, “You said you liked it that night. Consider it a gift.”

Lin Qian panicked. “That was just drunken talk! I’m so sorry for the trouble I caused.”

Su Qingmo’s voice turned cool. “A gift is a gift. I’m not in the habit of taking back things I’ve given away.”

Lin Qian squeezed the box in her hand.

Su Qingmo frowned slightly; her tone had been too sharp. She softened her voice and said, “What I mean is, just keep it. There’s no need to return it.”

Lin Qian placed her hands on her knees, her fingers curled into fists. She replied softly, “Okay. Thank you.”

“Have you had dinner yet?” Su Qingmo asked.

“Not yet.” She had been too busy writing.

“I haven’t eaten either,” Su Qingmo remarked.

Lin Qian stole a glance at her, her mind racing. What does that mean? Why is she telling me she hasn’t eaten?

“We’re here.” The car pulled over.

“Thank you. Sorry for the trouble—both for the dinner night and today.” Lin Qian finally summoned the courage to deliver the thank-you speech she had been rehearsing the whole way.

Su Qingmo looked at her. “Just a ‘thank you’?”

Lin Qian froze, tongue-tied. “Then…”

Su Qingmo: “Buy me dinner. Since you haven’t eaten either.”

Lin Qian was incredibly embarrassed. “Um, what would you like to eat?”

Su Qingmo looked outside. There were no restaurants nearby, but there were several street food stalls further down the road.

“How about that?” Su Qingmo pointed to a Jianbing Guozi (savory crepe) stall across the street.

Lin Qian followed her finger, taking a moment to process that the CEO was pointing at a street stall.

“You want to eat that?” Lin Qian asked in shock.

“Is it strange if I eat that?” Su Qingmo countered.

Lin Qian shook her head. “It’s not strange, exactly…”

“Let’s go then.” Su Qingmo pushed the door open and got out. Seeing this, Lin Qian hurriedly followed.

Walking behind Su Qingmo, Lin Qian kindly warned, “The hygiene might not be the best. If you haven’t had it before, you might not be used to it. Should we find something else?”

Su Qingmo stopped in her tracks.

Lin Qian didn’t expect her to stop and walked straight into her back.

Realizing what happened, Lin Qian stepped back quickly, her face heating up instantly.

“I’ve had it before, and I like it. I’m just like you; I eat these things too,” Su Qingmo said.

The person claiming to be “just like her” had been attracting the stares of almost every passerby since they stepped up to the stall. With her outfit, temperament, and looks, she did not look like someone who belonged there.

Even the stall owner stared at Su Qingmo for an extra few seconds before greeting them warmly: “Two Jianbing Guozi?”

Su Qingmo: “Two, please. Thank you.”

“Coming right up!” The owner got to work.

Before long, the crepes were ready. They stood by the side of the road, each holding one.

Lin Qian couldn’t even taste the food; she only felt the entire scene was incredibly surreal.

Why am I standing on a street corner eating crepes with my boss?!

“Is it good?” Su Qingmo asked.

“It’s good,” Lin Qian laughed awkwardly.

“I think the taste is quite ordinary,” Su Qingmo said, having taken only one small bite.

Lin Qian stopped chewing. For a moment, she didn’t know whether to keep eating or stop. She had to change her tune: “Right, actually, it’s not that great.”

Su Qingmo: “I actually know how to make these. If there’s a chance later, how about I make one for you?”

Lin Qian was surprised. “You know how to make these?”

Su Qingmo nodded.

Lin Qian: “That’s… that’s pretty impressive.”

Su Qingmo smiled.

Lin Qian followed with another awkward laugh.

Lin Qian couldn’t hold a conversation, she really couldn’t. If this went on, she was going to lose her mind.

President Su, aren’t you going home yet? Please, just go! Stop eating crepes on the sidewalk; the crepes can’t handle the pressure!

As if hearing her internal plea, Su Qingmo said, “It’s getting late.”

Lin Qian’s heart leaped with joy, though she didn’t show it. “Yes, it is quite late.”

Su Qingmo: “You should go up. I should head back too.”

Suppressing her excitement, Lin Qian politely thanked her again for everything today. Then, without looking back, she hurried toward the entrance of her building at a breakneck pace, as if she might be caught and dragged back if she moved too slowly.

Leaning against her car, Su Qingmo watched the fleeing figure, feeling a mixture of resignation and amusement.

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