She’s Being Naughty - Chapter 29

By seven in the morning, Xu Zhaoyi was already seated at the breakfast table.

Since her father’s passing, she had developed the habit of starting work early. Company documents were piled high on her desk, she frowned as she scrolled through a quarterly financial report, her coffee sitting forgotten and cold after only a single sip.

“Skipping meals again.”

A pair of slender hands suddenly reached out and snatched away her tablet.

Jiang Yao stood there, wearing a pale pink apron, her hair loosely tied back with a few stray strands framing her face. She had applied light makeup today, and as the sunlight streamed through the kitchen window, it cast a soft glow over her exquisite features.

Xu Zhaoyi looked up at her. “Give it back. I need to review that statement one more time.”

Instead of returning it, Jiang Yao took away her coffee cup as well.

“Cold coffee is bad for your health,” she said, turning toward the kitchen. “I’ll brew you a fresh cup.”

Xu Zhaoyi opened her mouth to argue, but ultimately gave up. Over the past two months, she had discovered that Jiang Yao was more stubborn than her when it came to certain things like ensuring breakfast was hot, never drinking coffee on an empty stomach, and getting enough sleep regardless of how busy work was.

Xu Zhaoyi used to ignore these details, but now, she found herself gradually growing accustomed to Jiang Yao’s “supervision.”

Jiang Yao soon returned with a fresh breakfast, hot coffee, fluffy golden scrambled eggs, and perfectly toasted bread.

“Thank you,” Xu Zhaoyi said, taking the plate. “You don’t have to make me breakfast every day.”

Jiang Yao sat opposite her, resting her chin on her hand with a smile. “I like doing it.”

Those four simple words caused the tips of Xu Zhaoyi’s ears to heat up.

Ever since their divorce agreement took effect a month ago, the relationship between her and Jiang Yao had become subtle. They were no longer “mother and daughter” in the legal sense suddenly, they stood on more equal footing.

Jiang Yao seemed to be intentionally or perhaps unintentionally, adjusting the way they interacted. Before, she had always cared for Xu Zhaoyi like a child. Now, she seemed to be treating her more like… an equal?

Sometimes, Xu Zhaoyi felt there was something indescribable in the way Jiang Yao looked at her. It wasn’t the affection a senior has for a junior, but rather…

She pulled her thoughts back and focused on eating.

Jiang Yao picked up the newspaper and flipped through it casually. “By the way, you’re going to Norway for a business trip next week?”

Xu Zhaoyi nodded. “Yes, there’s a new energy project to negotiate.”

Jiang Yao looked thoughtful. “I heard Tromso is a fantastic place to see the Northern Lights.”

Xu Zhaoyi looked up, her heart stirring. A month ago, Jiang Yao had mentioned wanting to see the Aurora Borealis. And now, the opportunity had presented itself.

“Do you…” Xu Zhaoyi hesitated. “Do you want to come along?”

Jiang Yao’s eyes lit up. “Can I?”

Those amber eyes sparkled with anticipation, like a child who had just received a long-awaited toy. Xu Zhaoyi felt her heart skip a beat.

“Of course,” she said, trying to remain composed. “You know a lot about new energy anyway. You can help me look over things.”

Jiang Yao put down the paper, unable to hide her grin. “Then it’s settled.”

She stood up, walked over to Xu Zhaoyi, and gently ruffled her hair. “Thank you, Zhaozhao.”

The sudden touch caused Xu Zhaoyi to freeze. The sensation of Jiang Yao’s fingers moving through her hair was so vivid that for a moment, she forgot to breathe.

Worst of all, Jiang Yao clearly noticed her reaction because her smile deepened.

This subtle flirting left Xu Zhaoyi both embarrassed and flustered. She stood up abruptly. “I’m heading to the office now.”

“Aren’t you waiting for me?” Jiang Yao asked leisurely. Usually, they drove to the company together.

“No,” Xu Zhaoyi grabbed her briefcase. “I have… an early meeting.”

She hurried out, her departure looking very much like a retreat. Behind her, she heard Jiang Yao’s soft laughter. The sound brushed against her heart like a feather, leaving her blushing and her heart racing even after she stepped out the door.

An Unexpected Realization

Xu Zhaoyi’s “early meeting” was actually at two in the afternoon. She sat in her empty office, staring blankly at her computer screen.

Norway, the Aurora, Jiang Yao’s excited expression…

She suddenly realized that she was losing her composure just because of one of Jiang Yao’s smiles. This wasn’t normal. At least, it shouldn’t be this intense.

She picked up her phone, hesitated, and messaged Zhou Xiaoxiao.

“I want to ask you something.”

Zhou Xiaoxiao replied instantly: “Shoot.”

“If a person…” Xu Zhaoyi typed, then deleted it. “Never mind, it’s nothing.”

Zhou Xiaoxiao called her immediately. “Xu Zhaoyi, what’s wrong with you? Why are you being so cryptic?”

Xu Zhaoyi bit her lip. “I’m just curious… how do you know for sure if you like someone?”

Silence followed on the other end for three seconds. Then, a burst of laughter erupted. “Oh my god! Is our Miss Xu finally having an awakening?!”

“Keep it down!” Xu Zhaoyi’s face was as red as a ripe apple. “I’m just… asking.”

“Yeah, right,” Zhou Xiaoxiao lowered her voice. “Who is it? That new Nordic client? Or the pianist from the gala last month?”

“Neither,” Xu Zhaoyi denied immediately.

“Then who?”

“…No one.” Xu Zhaoyi said dejectedly. “I was just curious.”

Zhou Xiaoxiao sighed. “Fine, fine. Let me ask you a few questions, and you think about them yourself.”

“What questions?”

“First: Does your heart race when you see this person?”

Xu Zhaoyi thought of her heart malfunctioning when Jiang Yao ruffled her hair this morning. “…Sometimes.”

“Second: When they are happy, do you feel happy? When they are sad, do you feel sad?”

Xu Zhaoyi recalled how her own spirits soared just seeing the radiance in Jiang Yao’s eyes at the mention of the Northern Lights. “…It seems so.”

“Third,” Zhou Xiaoxiao’s voice turned gossipy, “do you ever have the urge to kiss them?”

Xu Zhaoyi nearly dropped her phone. “What?!”

“It’s a crucial question,” Zhou Xiaoxiao laughed. “The body doesn’t lie.”

Xu Zhaoyi’s mind went blank. The urge to… kiss Jiang Yao? The thought was so shocking she didn’t know how to respond.

“I…”

Just then, there was a knock on the office door. Jiang Yao’s voice came through. “Zhaozhao? I’m coming in.”

Before Xu Zhaoyi could respond, the door opened. Jiang Yao walked in wearing a light grey professional suit, carrying a stack of files. The sunlight behind her created a soft halo. She looked capable and elegant, moving with an effortless charm.

Xu Zhaoyi’s heart began to race again.

“Anyway… Xiaoxiao, I have to go.” She hung up hurriedly.

Jiang Yao tilted her head. “Did I interrupt something?”

“No,” Xu Zhaoyi put her phone down. “Is something wrong?”

Jiang Yao walked over and placed the files on the desk. “I’ve organized the materials for the new energy project for you.”

A faint scent of gardenia drifted from her hair, lingering around Xu Zhaoyi. Xu Zhaoyi stared at the files, not daring to look up. “Thanks.”

“This is the local climate data for Northern Europe,” Jiang Yao stood beside her, leaning down to point at a page. “The time we’re going coincides perfectly with the peak observation period for the Aurora.”

She was too close. So close that Xu Zhaoyi could smell her perfume, see the delicate skin of her neck, and…

Xu Zhaoyi suddenly stood up. “I need to… I’m going to the restroom.”

Jiang Yao straightened up, a faint smile playing on her lips. “Sure.”

Xu Zhaoyi practically fled the office. She looked at her flushed face in the restroom mirror, feeling utterly humiliated. She was twenty-six, the head of a listed group, yet she was acting like a lovestruck teenager in front of Jiang Yao.

Worst of all, Zhou Xiaoxiao’s question kept echoing in her head: “Do you ever have the urge to kiss them?”

She hadn’t. She had never consciously thought about kissing Jiang Yao. But if…

Xu Zhaoyi shook her head and splashed cold water on her burning cheeks. She needed to stay calm. She needed to keep some distance and figure out her feelings.

A Shared Journey

However, reality gave her no such chance. Over the next few days, she and Jiang Yao were inseparable while preparing for the Norway trip. They handled projects at the office during the day and discussed the itinerary at home at night.

Every time Xu Zhaoyi tried to create distance, Jiang Yao would find a way to close it, a subtle touch, an accidental gaze, or that soft, smiling call: “Zhaozhao?”

Like now.

They were sitting in the car on the way home when Jiang Yao suddenly spoke. “Zhaozhao?”

“What is it?” Xu Zhaoyi stared at the road ahead, not daring to look away.

Jiang Yao took a small box out of her handbag. “For you.”

Xu Zhaoyi glanced at it. “What’s this?”

“Open it and see.”

While waiting at a red light, Xu Zhaoyi opened the velvet box. Inside was a pair of sapphire earrings. The gems shimmered with a deep blue light, mimicking the colors of the Aurora dancing in the night sky.

“This…”

“I thought they suited you the moment I saw them,” Jiang Yao said softly. “Think of it as a thank you for taking me to see the Northern Lights.”

Xu Zhaoyi’s fingers brushed against the earrings. This wasn’t the first gift Jiang Yao had given her, but it was the first time she had given something so… personal.

“Thank you,” her voice was much softer than usual. “They’re beautiful.”

Jiang Yao smiled. “I’m glad you like them.” She paused. “By the way, I’ve booked the hotel in Norway.”

Xu Zhaoyi nodded. “Mm.”

“I booked… a suite,” Jiang Yao’s tone was natural. “The company budget is limited, and it’ll be easier to discuss work this way.”

Xu Zhaoyi nearly choked. “A suite? Just one?”

“Is something wrong?” Jiang Yao tilted her head. “Didn’t we used to stay together when we traveled before?”

That was… that was when they still had a legal relationship. Back then, she took it for granted that Jiang Yao was family, and staying in a suite together was nothing. But things were different now.

Now, they were just… what? Friends? Partners? Or…

Xu Zhaoyi’s mind was a mess.

“If you mind,” Jiang Yao’s tone dropped slightly, sounding a bit hurt, “I can book another room for myself.”

Those eyes, usually full of smiles, dimmed. Xu Zhaoyi immediately softened. “No, it’s fine. One room is… one is fine.”

Jiang Yao’s eyes brightened again. “Really?”

“Yeah,” Xu Zhaoyi nodded, trying to appear calm. “The suite is spacious anyway.”

Jiang Yao beamed. “Then it’s settled.”

Xu Zhaoyi turned back to the road, pretending not to notice the flash of triumphant playfulness in Jiang Yao’s eyes. She didn’t know that out of her line of sight, Jiang Yao was watching her profile with a gaze full of complex emotions, partly anticipation, partly restraint.

As the car pulled into the villa’s driveway, the final weekend before the Norway trip began.