Which 'Me' Is the One You Love? [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Question: What is the difference between having slept together and not having slept together?

Jiang Zhou, who was highly qualified to answer this question, flatly refused to respond. Don’t ask—and if you must ask, the answer is: No difference! Not a single bit of difference!

Jiang Zhou had finally realized why this stinky woman, Xia Shang, was judged to have a “Cold Personality.” Her initial suspicions had come true—this woman changed her face the moment she put her clothes back on. Aside from arranging a guest room for Jiang Zhou and providing free board and lodging, absolutely nothing else had changed!

“President Xia, the meeting starts in fifteen minutes.” Dressed in professional attire, Jiang Zhou stiffened her expression, mimicking the look on Xia Shang’s face while simultaneously plotting how to move the capture progress forward.

It had been five days since the “incident,” yet she felt Xia Shang’s attitude toward her hadn’t changed much at all. Was that 99% favorability progress a lie?

“Alright. Was the notification sent out in advance?” Xia Shang asked, her eyes still fixed on the computer screen, not looking up once.

“It was delivered this morning,” Jiang Zhou replied. From her position, she could see Xia Shang’s collarbone through the opening of her shirt—half-hidden and half-visible, it was strangely beautiful.

Xia Shang’s typing paused for a fraction of a second. “This meeting will run quite long. It probably won’t end until seven o’clock.”

Jiang Zhou nodded. Her gaze shifted to Xia Shang’s long, fair fingers, and she let out a slightly awkward cough.

“…” Xia Shang pursed her lips. “As an assistant, you need to take the meeting minutes.”

“President Xia, I’ve been on the job for over three months.” Jiang Zhou was confused. What was Xia Shang trying to say? She had been working this long; of course she understood such basic common sense.

Xia Shang gave a hum of acknowledgement and continued typing. Then, as if casually, she added, “Book a restaurant. For the two of us.”

“Okay.” Jiang Zhou skillfully pulled up the contact list and dialed the restaurant.

Today was a routine high-level executive meeting. Xia Shang maintained her usual icy expression, sitting at the head of the table as she listened to the reports from each department.

“The after-sales service must be up to standard. I don’t want to hear this many complaints next month. If it’s our mistake, admit it and provide compensation. Don’t be penny-wise and pound-foolish; it affects the company image,” Xia Shang’s tone was somewhat cold.

“Understood, President Xia. I will definitely suppress the complaint volume next month,” the after-sales manager responded.

“Good. Next person.” Xia Shang rotated the coffee cup in front of her. Because of the time passed, the walls of the cup were already cold.

Seeing this, Jiang Zhou stopped her recording, intending to brew a fresh cup of coffee for her.

Before Jiang Zhou could move, Xia Shang stopped her with a glance. She then handed the cup to a newly hired assistant and whispered a few instructions to her.

Oh ho. Had Xia Shang already “liked the new and loathed the old”? That was a bit too heartless!

Jiang Zhou grumbled silently in her head, her fingers flying across the keyboard so fast they almost left afterimages, nearly synchronizing with the speed of the reports.

About twenty minutes later, the new assistant walked in with a tray. She replaced the coffee cup in front of Xia Shang and then placed another cup next to Jiang Zhou.

“Thank you,” Jiang Zhou thanked her instinctively.

“You’re welcome.” The new assistant gave a shy smile and lowered her voice. “President Xia ordered this. It’s hot milk tea. Be careful, it’s hot~”

Hot milk tea? Jiang Zhou’s brow twitched. This was something Xia Shang did?

“President Xia, aren’t your requirements a bit too high? The marketing department’s sales volume this month has already exceeded last month’s.” The Vice President, who had been acting as background decor, finally spoke up. The marketing people were his cronies; seeing his own people criticized made him feel like he was losing face.

“What time was last month, and what time is this month?” Xia Shang threw an emotionless glance at the Vice President. “What’s the use of looking at sales volume alone? Why don’t you look at the fact that promotional expenses have doubled?”

“Doubled promotion costs in exchange for less than a one-percent increase in revenue? Who are you calling a fool?” Xia Shang’s voice wasn’t loud, but when she spoke, no one dared to make a sound.

Well, except for Jiang Zhou. Jiang Zhou was practically immune to Xia Shang’s cold aura. She calmly sipped her milk tea; with every small sip, the fragrance of the tea filled her mouth.

To be honest, drinking a cup of milk tea at a time like this was simply too… comfortable. It would be even better if it were paired with a dessert.

The Vice President’s questioning was ruthlessly suppressed. Aside from receiving an extra scolding, he gained nothing else.

With the Vice President as a precedent, the remaining department heads became even more cautious. Whatever Xia Shang said was law; no one dared to say an extra word.

Surprisingly, in this atmosphere, the meeting ended earlier than expected. Jiang Zhou stood up and stretched. Checking the time, it was just 6:00 PM.

“President Xia, why did you order milk tea for me?” Once the meeting ended, Jiang Zhou couldn’t help but ask.

“You don’t like it?” Xia Shang looked toward Jiang Zhou, their gazes meeting in the air.

Jiang Zhou blinked. “It’s okay. A different flavor would be even better.”

“What flavor do you want?” Xia Shang continued to ask.

Jiang Zhou tested the waters: “Matcha, I guess. Ideally with ice.”

Xia Shang’s brow furrowed slightly. “Eating ice?”

“Hot is good, but some milk teas have more flavor when they’re iced,” Jiang Zhou explained.

“Don’t let it happen again.” Xia Shang’s brow smoothed out. Walking to the door, she turned back to look at Jiang Zhou. “Not leaving yet?”

“Eh? Oh, coming.” Jiang Zhou shut down her computer and followed Xia Shang with her small bag.

Breaking from routine, Xia Shang didn’t have the driver go directly to the restaurant. Instead, they stopped on a busy, bustling street.

Jiang Zhou followed Xia Shang out of the car, a bit confused. “President Xia, what are we doing here?”

Xia Shang gave her a flat look. “It is currently off-work hours.”

“Huh?”

“Don’t call me President Xia,” Xia Shang said expressionlessly.

“Alright, Xia… Shang.” Jiang Zhou changed her wording smoothly.

Following Xia Shang’s lead, Jiang Zhou realized they were standing in front of a milk tea shop—the very one she frequently visited.

Seeing the somewhat simple and crude facilities inside, Xia Shang’s brow couldn’t help but furrow again. She walked up to the counter with a wooden face.

“Welcome! What would you like to drink?” the clerk gave a professional smile.

“Matcha.” Xia Shang glanced at the menu. “Iced.”

“How much sugar would you like?” the clerk continued. “Do you want any free toppings? Pearls, boba, red bean, coconut jelly—these can all be added for free.”

Xia Shang couldn’t answer the questions and could only turn to look at Jiang Zhou.

Jiang Zhou realized what was happening now. No wonder Xia Shang had asked her what flavor she liked earlier; she had planned this all along.

Rare indeed. As expected of 99% progress; it was actually worth something.

“Seventy percent sugar, add boba, to-go. Two identical cups, packed separately.” Jiang Zhou stepped forward and skillfully reeled off her requirements.

“Alright, please wait a moment. Here is your number.”

Jiang Zhou took the number slip. Because of Xia Shang’s actions, she was in a pretty good mood.

“Why two cups?” Xia Shang asked, puzzled. “If you drink both, will you still be able to eat dinner?”

“…” The corners of Jiang Zhou’s mouth, which had just begun to curve upward, immediately threatened to drop. She didn’t answer. Instead, when the clerk handed over the tea, she shoved one bag directly into Xia Shang’s hand.

“Drink it.”

Xia Shang frowned at the green beverage in her hand. After hesitating for a long time, she picked up the straw and took a tentative sip.

When the ice-cold liquid hit her mouth, Xia Shang’s frown deepened. “You think this tastes good?”

“Yeah, don’t you?” Jiang Zhou asked.

Xia Shang’s expression flattened into her usual calm. “It’s average. Not particularly delicious. Besides, this kind of drink probably contains many additives. It’s better to drink less of it.”

“Oh.” Xia Shang’s management was a bit too broad. She even had something to say about drinking milk tea? If she was so capable of talking, why wasn’t she capable of increasing the favorability progress?

By the time they reached dinner, before Jiang Zhou could even speak, Xia Shang reeled off a string of dish names—eight or nine out of ten were Jiang Zhou’s favorites.

Jiang Zhou wasn’t slow. At first, she just thought Xia Shang was acting weird, but now she realized Xia Shang was actually catering to her.

Actually, if she looked closely, Xia Shang’s face and figure were… Well, they were actually quite nice.

So what if the world wasn’t real? At least her current feelings were real enough.

Jiang Zhou was an open-minded person. Five days had been enough for her to digest that accident and adjust her mindset to face Xia Shang.

“I want to eat shrimp,” Jiang Zhou said in a somewhat willful tone.

“Then eat,” Xia Shang’s reply was as flat as ever.

“But I don’t want to peel them,” Jiang Zhou continued. “I want you to peel them for me.”

“Hmm?” Xia Shang arched an eyebrow at Jiang Zhou, a trace of surprise in her eyes. “Me? Peel shrimp?”

“Are you the type of person who stops recognizing people once you put your clothes back on, Xia Shang?” Jiang Zhou huffed. “Scumbag.”

“…” Xia Shang found it inexplicable. She hadn’t done anything, so how had she become a “scumbag”?

“Regarding what happened last time, you had a need, and I satisfied that need.” Xia Shang intended to be reasonable with Jiang Zhou. “If you require compensation, you may state it.”

“Didn’t I just state it?” Jiang Zhou met Xia Shang’s eyes. “I want you to peel shrimp for me as compensation.”

“…” This was surprisingly logical. Xia Shang couldn’t find anything wrong with it.

Unable to find a rebuttal, Xia Shang asked the server for disposable gloves and honestly began peeling shrimp for Jiang Zhou.

Jiang Zhou didn’t say another word. As soon as Xia Shang peeled one, she ate one, right until Xia Shang finished the very last shrimp.

“Open your mouth.” Jiang Zhou picked up the last shrimp with her chopsticks.

Xia Shang instinctively followed Jiang Zhou’s command, only to find the last shrimp being placed into her own mouth.

“This is your reward,” Jiang Zhou said, her eyes twinkling with a smile. “Because you were so good.”

Xia Shang bit into the shrimp, narrowing her eyes as she looked at Jiang Zhou.

It was a little sweet.