Blood Orange, the Thirty-Fifth Slice

After the Jile Paradise incident, an odd married-couple dynamic developed between Shen Qiancheng and Liao Xue.

For instance, Liao Xue insisted on packing lunch for Shen Qiancheng every day, going so far as to demand that she put the washed dishes and chopsticks away in the cupboard. And Shen Qiancheng found herself voluntarily hanging up the laundry from the washing machine...

Shen Qiancheng sighed. It was all too bizarre.

Meanwhile, the project that Shen Qiancheng had once feared would go wrong at any moment was completed flawlessly. The project team voted to send Sui Shi to the office to ask if Shen Qiancheng would attend the team dinner.

Shen Qiancheng closed the file, her head full of question marks.

Dinner? What did they mean by dinner?

Seeing Shen Qiancheng's composed confusion, Sui Shi patiently explained, "It's when our team members go out to eat, sing karaoke, and stuff like that."

Shen Qiancheng said seriously, "Do I have to go?"

Sui Shi, somewhat intimidated by Shen Qiancheng, quickly added, "You don't have to if you don't want to..."

Shen Qiancheng thought it over. The moment she pictured going home to face Liao Xue's strange behavior, she waved a hand generously. "Pick the place, everyone. I'm treating."

Then Shen Qiancheng called Liao Xue and sent a message letting her know about the company dinner.

Liao Xue sent back an emoji of a fire-breathing cat holding a knife.

【Then I'll wait for you.】

The emoji looked like it had been sent by accident.

###

The team booked a mid-to-upper-range restaurant, with fair prices and delicious food. All the team members arrived earlier than Shen Qiancheng and waited for her before ordering.

Six people squeezed into the small private room. Everyone knew Shen Qiancheng was the sole heiress of the Shen Corporation, and none of them had expected her to lower herself to attend their gathering. When Sui Shi relayed the news that Shen Qiancheng would actually come, they all grew tense, sitting stiffly in their work attire, waiting.

And the highly anticipated Shen Qiancheng had gone home first to change.

Since this was her first time dining with subordinates, Shen Qiancheng, on Liao Xue's advice, wore something casual.

For the top, a pale green long-sleeved base layer; for the bottom, Liao Xue matched her with cropped jeans; and on her feet, a pair of black sneakers. The ensemble radiated youthful vitality, making her look like a college student.

Shen Qiancheng frowned at her reflection in the mirror, uncertain. "Does this really not look weird? I'm the boss!"

Liao Xue shoved the suit Shen Qiancheng had picked back into the wardrobe and said without looking up, "You're trying to get closer to them and blend in. Not something too formal. Just listen to me. I've been working for three years; I know what I'm talking about."

Shen Qiancheng felt utterly uncomfortable in these clothes—so stifled she could hardly breathe.

When Sui Shi saw Shen Qiancheng downstairs, she was so startled by the outfit that she froze for a second.

Sui Shi thought: Am I seeing a ghost? I've known President Shen for almost six years now, and even back in our school days, I never saw her dress so... young.

Falling in love really does make you youthful.

Even though Shen Qiancheng was footing the bill, the seasoned office workers weren't naive enough to accept she'd let herself be overcharged. So they chose a place where, even if Shen Qiancheng didn't pay, splitting the bill wouldn't be a burden.

It was a home-style restaurant—cheap and tasty, the kind they frequented after work.

Sui Shi had instructed them to book a private room at the very least; Shen Qiancheng would likely walk out in a huff if she had to sit in the main hall.

In the private room, everyone waited for Sui Shi's update.

Sui Shi: 【At the entrance.】

A rustle of fabric filled the room. Those who had been playing on their phones quickly put them away into bags; those who had been lounging on the table sat up straight; those who had been munching on appetizers immediately grabbed tissues to wipe their fingers... Everyone quietly awaited Shen Qiancheng's arrival.

The door to the private room slid open. Remembering Liao Xue's advice to smile, Shen Qiancheng entered with a pleasant expression.

"President Shen..."

"Hello, President Shen."

"...President Shen."

Greetings came one after another, and Shen Qiancheng smiled. "Hello, everyone. Please, sit."

Everyone let out a hidden sigh of relief as they took their seats.

Sui Shi went to call the waiter to order.

Shen Qiancheng glanced at the menu, noting that most dishes were ones Liao Xue often made at home. Nothing new. She looked up and asked, "Does anyone have dietary restrictions? What would you like to order?"

Liao Xue had said she should ask for everyone's opinions first.

The others exchanged uneasy glances, unsure what President Shen was up to.

Sui Shi forced a smile and bravely spoke up. "I like tomato and egg stir-fry. Wang Shuai, what do you want?"

Since someone had broken the ice, after Wang Shuai spoke, others followed suit, and soon the order was placed.

Silence fell over the table again, heavy and awkward.

Under the table, Sui Shi kicked Wang Shuai. He jumped.

Shen Qiancheng raised an eyebrow at him, and he blushed deeply.

Everyone had invited Shen Qiancheng not just for her to pay, but because, after witnessing her extraordinary leadership and formidable work ethic during the project, they had developed certain thoughts.

No worker wouldn't want to follow a boss with real ability.

What's more, this highly capable boss treated her subordinates incredibly well.

There was afternoon tea every day—exquisite desserts that looked expensive just by their appearance—and a different milk tea or coffee each day.

No cumbersome or unnecessary procedures, no baseless scolding or PUA, no endless revisions or unfounded opinions.

They had never seen such a good boss. They'd be willing to work for Shen Qiancheng for life!

But the project was finished, and this temporary team, gathered for the project, was about to be disbanded and sent back to their respective departments.

Someone had suggested just asking Shen Qiancheng what she thought, hence this dinner.

Because of her reputation in Tang City before her return, no one dared to bring it up.

At the beginning of the project, they hadn't even dared to talk to Shen Qiancheng directly; all communication went through Sui Shi.

Shen Qiancheng had quickly noticed and called a temporary meeting, stating that it was best to report directly, with no alternative.

The meeting lasted five minutes, after which everyone had to face Shen Qiancheng and make their reports, nerves raw.

But unexpectedly, the so-called "Big Demon of Tang City," aside from never smiling, was a perfectly wonderful boss.

Wang Shuai gritted his teeth. "President Shen, I have to ask you something face to face!"

Shen Qiancheng looked at Sui Shi in confusion, and the latter guiltily turned away.

"Can the six of us keep working for you from now on?"

As a grown man, Wang Shuai's legs trembled uncontrollably when he said this, and he couldn't even lift his head to meet Shen Qiancheng's eyes.

In an instant, you could hear a pin drop in the room.

Everyone held their breath, afraid to miss Shen Qiancheng's answer. When the silence stretched so long they thought she wouldn't respond, Shen Qiancheng spoke. "Did I ever say I wasn't keeping the six of you after the project?"

Tension snapped in an instant. Wang Shuai's face flushed red, and he scratched the back of his head like a shy boy, embarrassed. "I thought you were going to reject me, President Shen."

Shen Qiancheng smiled. "Am I really that scary?"

The youngest member of the team was an intern who would be converting to a permanent employee after the project. He still had a childlike naivety. "President Shen, you don't know—before you joined the company, we'd all heard about you, and everyone was terrified. I actually cried when I found out I'd been assigned to your project group."

A shadow fell over everyone's faces. The intern continued, "But you're genuinely great. That time I had my period, you not only approved my leave but also ordered me brown sugar ginger tea."

The tension eased.

Wang Shuai got emotional. "There was a time when Manager Sun wouldn't sign the approval. I was scared, but I went to you, and you marched me straight into his office to get it done."

"You never smiled when you first arrived, and I was really scared..."

Listening to her team members chatter warmly, speaking sincerely about things she had considered mere trivialities, Shen Qiancheng felt a faint warmth rise in her chest.

She recalled her childhood, when she was the dazzling eldest miss of the Shen family. No one approached her with genuine intent, and many schemed against her in countless ways.

To avoid trouble, Shen Qiancheng had always hidden behind a mask of malice—cold, ruthless, and intimidating.

Before long, no one in high society dared to approach her at all.

Hearing the employees' words now, Shen Qiancheng felt a bit dazed. Under Liao Xue's threats, she had admitted to being kind, and today she was being praised for being approachable?

The dinner ended, and Shen Qiancheng gave the department three days off. Three days later, she would enter the shareholders' meeting.

Before leaving the private room, she opened her phone and sent Liao Xue a message that she was done. When she reached the downstairs entrance, she saw that Liao Xue had read the message but hadn't replied.

Sui Shi had drunk and taken a cab home.

Similarly, Shen Qiancheng had also had some alcohol. She called a designated driver on her phone and went home in a daze.

###

Standing downstairs, Shen Qiancheng clearly saw a brightly lit window, and she knew Liao Xue was still waiting for her.

A playful child hopped down the stairs. Shen Qiancheng stepped aside and watched the kid run off, then slowly began her ascent.

She pushed the door open.

The motion sensor light in the entrance flicked on, and Shen Qiancheng saw clearly.

In the living room, Liao Xue, wrapped in a blanket, sat on the floor curled up watching TV.

On the table sat sobering soup.

Liao Xue heard the sound and turned her face, her voice listless. "You're back. Why so late? I cooked some sobering soup. Drink it, then go wash up and sleep."

As she spoke, Liao Xue threw off the blanket and got up to bring the soup.

Shen Qiancheng's heart was scratched by a soft cat's paw. She realized why she had become so warm and friendly—because she had someone she wanted to protect and draw close to.

Under the moonlight, Shen Qiancheng seemed solemn and noble, as if intoxicated.

"The floor is cold. Don't sit on the floor next time."

Liao Xue was speechless. Who was it that insisted the sofa was broken and had to be hauled away?

Liao Xue turned, but a pair of rough hands grabbed her from behind. The soup in her hand spilled in a half-circle arc, splashing everywhere.

The moment their lips met, Shen Qiancheng kept her eyes closed and didn't see Liao Xue's wide-eyed shock, eyes that held nothing but Shen Qiancheng's reflection.

Liao Xue copied Shen Qiancheng, closing her eyes, feeling the shape of the other's lips with her own, their breath mingling at the tips of their noses, intertwining, sharing each other's scent.

A racing heartbeat rose together with the countdown on the variety show, so urgent it spiked adrenaline.

The sweet smell of alcohol made Liao Xue's head fuzzy, until she lost the rhythm of her own breathing.

A cool hand had somehow slipped into her collar. Liao Xue blushed, snapped awake, and pushed Shen Qiancheng away, gasping as if she'd climbed Mount Tai.

Shen Qiancheng's eyes were hazy. She looked down and saw the pajamas she had bought for Liao Xue, and her face lit up with joy like a kindergartner who got a red flower from her teacher.

A feeling of... home.

Liao Xue took a deep breath and clutched her chest. The sobering soup had long since fallen to the floor, spilling everywhere.

"Stop fooling around. Go wash up." Liao Xue covered her face, refusing to look into Shen Qiancheng's eyes.

Shen Qiancheng giggled stupidly. "Okay, okay."

Liao Xue let out a long sigh. Every time Shen Qiancheng drank, she acted like she'd drunk fake liquor.

Shen Qiancheng staggered step by step toward the bathroom. The mirror over the sink showed her current state: the corners of her eyes were red with a hint of lingering desire, and her lips were swollen like ripe strawberries.

Shen Qiancheng touched her lips and giggled happily to herself.

She didn't know how long she stood there smiling, but only when she remembered she was supposed to be washing up did she look down and see that the toothbrush had already been squeezed with toothpaste.

Whether it was the steam or something else, Shen Qiancheng's nose tingled.

She looked up again into the mirror. Liao Xue had woken up sometime and was standing behind her.

Liao Xue's voice came out hoarse. "Why are you back so late?"

Shen Qiancheng felt irked by the question—just like a wife checking up on her husband, with a tone that wasn't at all pleasant.

Fueled by the alcohol, she began to be unreasonable. "I'll come back even later next time. And the time after that, I won't come back at all."

Liao Xue placed a hand on her shoulder, seeing the exhaustion in her eyes, and said, her voice full of concern, "Do you have a headache? Take a shower and wash up first. I made sobering soup; there's more in the pot..."

Shen Qiancheng pouted her swollen lips and whined, "Then feed it to me."

Liao Xue blushed. "You asked for it."

Drunk Shen Qiancheng was so cute!

Liao Xue ladled out the sobering soup. Shen Qiancheng, afraid it would be bitter, scooped a large spoonful of white sugar into it and stirred it thoroughly.

After her bath, Shen Qiancheng sat obediently at the head of the bed with wet hair, stretching her neck and opening her mouth wide. "Ah..."

Liao Xue's fingers tightened as she lowered her head and fed her spoonful after spoonful.

Those red lips were as soft as cotton candy, the pink hue as bright as roses.

Darkness flickered in Liao Xue's eyes.

When the feeding was done and Liao Xue put the bowl aside, Shen Qiancheng had already fallen asleep in a daze.

Liao Xue looked at her face and let out a soft sigh. She fetched the silent hair dryer and ran her fingers through the strands, drying the hair inside and out.

Then Liao Xue climbed onto the bed and wrapped her arms around Shen Qiancheng, burying her nose greedily against her body, inhaling her scent.

She probably won't remember any of this tomorrow.