Chapter 12

“I wasn’t doing it on purpose,” Mu Wanyan said softly, defending herself.

Su Xingwei gave a light huff. “I know you weren’t doing it on purpose. You did it deliberately.”

Mu Wanyan knew she couldn’t win an argument with her, so she stopped talking and went on helping her get dressed. This time, she was even more careful, and it took a full half hour just to get one outfit on.

Actually, Su Xingwei could have changed clothes herself and saved time, but she insisted on making things difficult for her.

Su Xingwei stood by the bed and let Mu Wanyan fuss over her, arms spread wide, her posture lazy and languid, like some pampered noble cat used to being waited on.

She looked away, her expression calm and unreadable. It was only after Mu Wanyan fastened the last button that she lowered her head and adjusted her cuffs. She looked composed enough, but the faint flush already blooming around her ears had long since betrayed her.

“Next time, if you do that again, I’ll take it as you’re deliberately throwing yourself at me.”

As soon as she finished speaking, she picked up her coat, turned, and left the bedroom. Her steps were heavier than usual, as if she were deliberately hiding something.

Mu Wanyan stared after her, utterly speechless. This woman was becoming more and more unreasonable.

It was clearly she who had deliberately ordered her around, yet she pushed all the blame onto Mu Wanyan.

Mu Wanyan looked down at the silk nightdress she was still wearing and hurried to change into her own clothes.

That day, with just one minute left before getting off work, Mu Wanyan was tidying the files on her desk when her phone vibrated.

It was a message from Su Xingwei; there was only one short line.

“Dinner engagement tonight. Come with me.”

Mu Wanyan replied with a simple “Okay,” then casually put the documents on her desk into a folder, shut down her computer, and stood up.

She picked up her coat and headed for the elevator just as the doors slowly opened. Su Xingwei was inside.

“Get in.”

Su Xingwei glanced at her and said coolly.

Mu Wanyan quickly stepped into the elevator and sneaked a glance at the person beside her. Su Xingwei’s face was expressionless, her entire body exuding a keep-your-distance air; she was nothing like the woman who had teased her last night.

Mu Wanyan had thought they were going to meet a business partner at some restaurant again, but the car turned into a familiar street. It was already evening; the streetlights on both sides had come on, and from a distance the road looked like an endless river of light.

The car stopped outside a club. Mu Wanyan got out and followed Su Xingwei inside. The waiter at the entrance, upon seeing Su Xingwei, immediately opened the door respectfully and led them in.

Xie Yin’s club combined dining, entertainment, and leisure. Aside from private rooms, it also had an open bar and a lounge area. On the first floor were the dance floor and bar, dimly hazed with light, the throbbing music deafening. In the middle of the dance floor, people swayed freely, and the bartender was putting on a flair show, drawing rounds of cheers from the crowd.

Mu Wanyan followed behind Su Xingwei through the glittering chaos. The two of them went up to the second floor, where a thick soundproof door cut off the noise outside, and the air finally fell quiet again.

The lounge area was softly lit. Several brown sofas were arranged in a circle, and on the coffee table sat elegant drinks and fresh fruit platters. Xie Yin was chatting with a group of young men and women, laughter rising and falling around her.

When Xie Yin spotted Su Xingwei and Mu Wanyan, she immediately slipped out of the crowd and came over with a glass in hand.

“It’s so hard to get you out, Chairwoman Su,” Xie Yin said with a smile as she draped an arm over Su Xingwei’s shoulder, still as playful as ever.

“Last time I asked you to play ball, you said you were discussing business; the time before that, I asked you to dinner, and you said you had a meeting. So how did you finally find the time today?”

Su Xingwei glanced around the lounge. “There are quite a few people here today.”

“Just old friends getting together for a casual hangout.”

Xie Yin waved at Mu Wanyan. “Little assistant, we meet again. I’ve been saying I’d treat you to a meal, but I just haven’t had the chance. Today happens to be perfect.”

Mu Wanyan nodded politely. “Miss Xie.”

“Don’t call me Miss Xie; that’s too formal.” Xie Yin had always been the familiar type. She immediately leaned closer. “Just call me Xie Yin like you do your Chairwoman Su, or you can call me Sister Xie Yin.”

Before Mu Wanyan could respond, Su Xingwei had already shot her a warning glance. “Don’t teach my assistant nonsense.”

Xie Yin raised her brows. “Your assistant? I seem to remember someone saying she didn’t need an assistant.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Su Xingwei glared at her again. Xie Yin hurriedly held up her hands in surrender. “Fine, fine, I won’t say anything.”

Just then, the young people in the lounge also noticed Su Xingwei and came over one after another to toast her, trying to strike up a conversation.

Su Xingwei only frowned slightly, and Xie Yin immediately stepped in to block them. Then she sent the others downstairs to sing karaoke or go play billiards across the hall. Out of deference to Xie Yin, everyone quickly dispersed.

The area quieted down again, and not many people remained in the lounge. Everyone else had a drink in front of them, while Mu Wanyan was the only one holding a glass of plain water.

Xie Yin noticed, and her eyes curved with amusement as she teased, “Little assistant, want to try one of our cocktails? We can make it sweet, not too strong. I’ll have the bartender make you a special one; I guarantee you’ll like it.”

Just as she was about to wave over a server, Su Xingwei spoke first. “She doesn’t drink. Give her juice.”

Xie Yin froze, her gaze flicking back and forth between Su Xingwei and Mu Wanyan as though she had discovered something extraordinary.

She leaned toward Su Xingwei with a look full of gossip. “Did I hear that right? Since when have you been this considerate? With your last assistant, you practically scolded her into tears. What’s going on this time?”

Su Xingwei looked at her expressionlessly. “Are you bored again?”

“I’m just livening things up,” Xie Yin said with an ingratiating smile. She no longer dared to provoke this young lady and instead turned to call a server over. “Bring this lady a glass of orange juice.”

Not long after, the server brought over freshly squeezed orange juice, with two slices of fresh lemon garnishing the rim of the crystal glass.

Mu Wanyan took a sip and smiled at Xie Yin. “Thank you.”

“No need to be polite.”

Xie Yin studied the two of them with deliberate sidelong glances.

The three of them chatted casually for a while. Mostly it was Xie Yin talking, with Su Xingwei responding now and then. Mu Wanyan stayed quietly to the side, slowly drinking her orange juice, not daring to interrupt.

She looked toward the billiards hall across from them. Through the glass door, she could see several young people gathered around a pool table, taking turns with the cues.

Su Xingwei followed her gaze and, on a whim, said, “Want to play billiards? I’ll teach you.”

She stood up and, without giving Mu Wanyan a chance to refuse, took her hand and led her toward the billiards hall.

Mu Wanyan quickly set down her cup, the bottom of the glass making a clear clink against the coffee table.

“I don’t want to play billiards.”

She had only been looking around casually.

But Su Xingwei didn’t stop. “Now I want to play. You can keep me company.”

This time, Mu Wanyan had no reason to refuse, so she could only follow her into the billiards hall.

Xie Yin remained seated on the sofa, watching their backs. The sympathy in her eyes vanished in an instant.