Chapter 12

Monday and Tuesday were both packed with classes.

Wednesday afternoon finally brought some free time.

As agreed, Tang Yiling arrived at Li Lan’s company right on time.

She didn’t know when Li Lan had gotten back.

These past few days, Li Lan hadn’t contacted her, and she hadn’t asked either.

The elevator stopped on the sixteenth floor.

Tang Yiling stepped out and saw a girl with bags slung over both shoulders, another hanging from one hand, and two dogs in the only hand she had left free.

She looked a little overwhelmed, so Tang Yiling stepped forward to help.

“Hello, do you need help?”

Only when she got closer did Tang Yiling realize that all the bags were full of cats.

Altogether, she had four cats and two dogs.

“Thank you.”

The girl looked as if she’d just seen a savior. “Could you help me watch them for a bit? I’m going to ask whether they can be brought inside.”

Before Tang Yiling could say anything, Yan Zhenzhen came out from inside to greet them.

She held out her hand toward the girl. “Miss Lu Yin, right? I’m President Li’s employee, Yan Zhenzhen. I’ll take you in.”

Tang Yiling helped carry the two bags.

One held a tabby; the other, a ginger cat. The two cats were different sizes, and the weight difference was noticeable.

Lu Yin thanked them both. “They’re all very well-behaved. They won’t pee everywhere or bark at random.”

Then she turned to Tang Yiling. “So you work here too. No wonder you’re so nice.”

The cats and dogs were lined up beside an empty desk in the office area, and Yan Zhenzhen was getting ready to take her to Li Lan’s office.

Lu Yin took a bag down from the desk; it happened to be the tabby’s carrier. “I have to bring Tuan Tuan with me. It has a bit of separation anxiety.”

Tang Yiling happened to meet Tuan Tuan’s sharp gaze.

In its amber eyes, the pupils were narrowed, like a dagger poised to be drawn at any moment.

Three parts cool and indifferent, three parts disdainful, and four parts looking down on all living things.

Would a domineering tabby like this also have separation anxiety?

She set down her backpack, and Yan Zhenzhen had already come back.

“Yiling, President Li asked if you’re here yet. She said you still need to handle the records today; Sister Xia Xin went to Zheng Lexin’s place.”

Tang Yiling said, “Okay,” and picked up the record book.

She hadn’t even sat down before she was back at work.

Inside the office, Li Lan was chatting with Lu Yin.

The two of them looked up together when Tang Yiling came in and sat down, which counted as a greeting.

“Miss Lu, you must have had a hard trip.”

Lu Yin waved it off with a smile. “Don’t be so polite. Just call me Lu Yin, or Six-Six.”

From their conversation, Tang Yiling pieced together the general situation.

For work reasons, Lu Yin had been transferred from Duo City to Ancheng.

To make it easier to bring along her cats and dogs, she had driven here alone for a long time.

Li Lan had been in touch with Lu Yin online for quite a while, and the house was already under renovation.

There were still a few finishing touches left; it was expected to be done within two weeks.

Li Lan poured Lu Yin some tea. “We’ll definitely do our best to move things up as much as possible while still making sure the quality holds.”

Lu Yin shook her head. “No rush. I came over first, anyway. It isn’t even the agreed date yet.”

“Then where are you staying in the meantime?”

“I rented a pet-friendly guesthouse temporarily. The owner can also help me walk the dogs.” As Lu Yin spoke, she glanced at Tuan Tuan. “Maybe the cats can even work part-time.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Tuan Tuan in the cat carrier let out two meows.

Lu Yin unzipped the bag a little and reached in to scratch Tuan Tuan’s head. “Don’t worry. You don’t have to work.”

Li Lan also looked toward the carrier. “It’s a tabby.”

Tang Yiling happened to be looking at Li Lan at that moment, and it seemed she saw the corner of Li Lan’s lips curve slightly.

“Yes. I’ve had Tuan Tuan since it was little.”

“Back then it was only that big. It climbed a tree and couldn’t get down, so I borrowed a ladder and worked hard to carry it down.”

Lu Yin looked at the tabby, her eyes full of tenderness. “Even if Tuan Tuan’s name isn’t as stylish as the other cats’ names, it’s still my favorite cat, and my favorite name too.”

She was about to keep talking about Tuan Tuan when Li Lan interrupted her.

“Didn’t they say tabby cats all have a heart that wants to travel the world with a sword in hand?”

“That’s exactly why I wanted to turn the house into a pet paradise, so they can live a little more comfortably!”

Lu Yin sounded a little regretful. “I’m busy with work and don’t spend enough time with them, so I’ll let them enjoy a comfortable home on my behalf!”

Li Lan nodded, understanding.

“If anything comes up later, we can talk anytime.”

Lu Yin nodded in thanks. Before leaving the office, she said she wanted to go to the restroom and touch up her makeup.

There were a lot of people outside in the office, and she was worried Tuan Tuan would get scared, so she asked whether it could stay with Li Lan temporarily.

Li Lan didn’t refuse.

Tang Yiling escorted Lu Yin back, then turned around and returned to Li Lan’s office to get the record book.

It had only been about two minutes.

Li Lan’s office hadn’t even been closed.

Tang Yiling subconsciously pushed the door open.

She hadn’t expected to be shocked by what she saw.

Li Lan had both hands out in front of her, holding Tuan Tuan up; it seemed she had just said something.

A person and a cat were facing each other like that, glaring at one another.

Even stranger, the instant the door opened, Tang Yiling felt as if Li Lan and Tuan Tuan were both looking at her.

That look made it seem as if Tuan Tuan wasn’t a cat, but a person; or rather, something that had become a spirit.

“President Li, what are you doing?”

Li Lan put Tuan Tuan down and quickly stuffed it back into the bag. “I just wanted to take a look, and it ran out. I just caught it.”

That was reasonable enough.

But Tang Yiling still felt that Li Lan was hiding something.

For example, she actually really liked cats.

For example, if given the chance, she’d very much want to keep a cat of her own.

Otherwise, why would she be unable to resist temptation whenever she came across one?

Why would she have to look at someone else’s cat even when it was rude?

Tang Yiling thought they might as well go to a cat café together next weekend.

She had wanted to go for a long time.

Tuan Tuan meowed twice more from inside the bag, as if protesting.

Tang Yiling looked at Li Lan. “The cat didn’t scratch you, did it?”

“No.”

Li Lan lightly patted the cat carrier and sat back down. “It’s pretty well-behaved.”

Tang Yiling gave a soft “mm.”

She looked at Li Lan, as if drawn by something.

She stared so intently that the distance between them kept shrinking, until only about ten centimeters remained.

She said nothing; her gaze swept slowly down over Li Lan’s face.

Unconsciously, the two of them edged even closer.

Li Lan didn’t understand what was going on and instinctively leaned back.

She lowered her voice to remind her, “We’re still at the company.”

Tang Yiling nodded. “We are at the company.”

“Then you—”

Li Lan’s words were cut off.

Tang Yiling raised her hand and plucked something from beside her nose. “Sister, there’s a cat hair on you.”

Oh, it was a cat hair.

Tang Yiling had thought it was something else.

Li Lan coughed softly and sat up straight again.

A little flustered, she opened the documents beside her. “Okay, thank you.”

Tang Yiling didn’t notice anything unusual. “You’re welcome.”

She took the record book and left the office.

Since Lu Yin was carrying so much, Tang Yiling and Yan Zhenzhen escorted her downstairs to the parking lot.

Lu Yin thanked them and invited them to come play when they had time.

A brief escape from the office.

Tang Yiling felt even the sky outside was bluer.

She walked back slowly with Yan Zhenzhen. “By the way, President Li said she was on a business trip over the weekend. When did she come back?”

Yan Zhenzhen tilted her head and thought for a moment. “It seems like Monday afternoon.”

Tang Yiling made an “oh” sound and continued, “Did she go deal with company business?”

“No, I don’t think so. It seems like it was personal matters.”

It really was personal matters.

And she even went to deal with them together with Xun Banxing; it seemed their relationship really was very good.

Tang Yiling pursed her lips slightly.

She returned to the office, organized Lu Yin’s related materials, and at five o’clock left with everyone to go to Zheng Lexin’s place.

Li Lan’s car had been sent in for maintenance, so they had to take a taxi.

Originally, one car could seat four people, but Yan Zhenzhen and the other coworker would rather pay out of pocket than ride in Li Lan’s car.

As the boss’s assistant, Tang Yiling had no way to avoid it.

She resigned herself to opening the door for Li Lan, then got into the back seat with her.

As soon as they got in the car, Zheng Lexin sent Tang Yiling a message: “Yiling, can you send me a look at the renovated room first?”

“Your company said it has to be kept secret, but I’m really curious.”

The corners of Tang Yiling’s lips lifted. “I actually haven’t seen it either.”

“But if that’s the case, then I can look at the surprise with you!”

Zheng Lexin must still have been at work; she sent over an emoji of a kitten dancing.

Tang Yiling was smiling more openly now as she searched her phone for similarly cute emojis.

Suddenly, Li Lan spoke beside her.

“Who are you chatting with? You look so happy.”

Tang Yiling froze for a moment, then simply handed her the phone.

She was talking to the client for the sake of the company.

Li Lan glanced through it.

Then she handed the phone back. “Then wait downstairs later and go up with Zheng Lexin.”

“Can I?”

Tang Yiling’s eyes lit up. Although it wasn’t her house, she was very willing to share in the surprise.

Li Lan nodded.

She had already turned to look out the window, but after a few seconds she turned back.

“You like Zheng Lexin that much?”

Tang Yiling answered without hesitation, “I do!”

Li Lan’s brows moved slightly; her gaze seemed to cool a little again.

Tang Yiling looked at her face and unconsciously shrank her shoulders.

The car fell quiet.

Outside the window, the shifting shadows of the trees flickered across both their faces.

The driver seemed to notice it too.

He cracked open the front window and let in the evening breeze.

Maybe because of the wind, her mind cleared a little too.

Tang Yiling reacted. “It’s because Zheng Lexin and I are about the same age, so we chat a lot.”

“That’s also because of work. After today, we definitely won’t be in touch as much.”

“And besides,” she paused, “it’s not that kind of liking.”

After hearing that, Li Lan’s expression finally softened a little.

She looked away and didn’t answer.

Tang Yiling wasn’t sure what she meant and still felt uneasy.

Could it be that her sugar mama thought she was being unfaithful and violating their agreement?

She lowered her head slightly and saw Li Lan’s hand resting casually on the bag.

Her pinky hung naturally downward, almost touching Tang Yiling’s leg.

Tang Yiling hesitated for a moment, then reached out anyway.

Using her fingers for leverage, like a clumsy crab, she slowly inched closer bit by bit.

At last, only a tiny gap remained.

She extended her pinky and lightly hooked Li Lan’s fingertip.

Li Lan hadn’t expected her to do that.

Her gaze dropped to their faintly linked pinkies.

Then she looked out the window again.

Tang Yiling couldn’t see her expression, only heard her say very softly, “Mm, got it.”