Princess Syndrome - Chapter 8
Chapter 8: Soda
Su Lingyue took the keys, putting them in her bag. Thinking about all the books that she still needed to organize in the study made her head hurt. As she was thinking about what time she should come over to tidy up, Ji Zhiyi said, “Pick someone up at the airport at 9:00.” She took out her phone and asked Su Lingyue, “Your WeChat ID.”
Su Lingyue recited a string of numbers. Ji Zhiyi paused as she pressed the numbers on her phone, then calmly continued to type. She finally added her as a contact. Su Lingyue received a message. It was an address. Ji Zhiyi said, “After you pick up the person, take them here.”
It was the next-door neighborhood. It was only a couple of steps away. Su Lingyue saved the information and said, “Okay.”
Ji Zhiyi turned her head to look at her. Su Lingyue was meek and obedient, with no desires. She didn’t seem anything like the sharp, prickly woman from the night before when she’d been drunk. Now, she would do whatever Ji Zhiyi told her to do.
Even if she asked her to reach for the stars in the sky.
Su Lingyue would probably seriously think about how to do it.
Thinking of that possibility, Ji Zhiyi took a sip of milk, hiding the slight curve of her lips. Su Lingyue had no appetite and barely touched her breakfast. Ji Zhiyi put down her cup and asked, “Don’t you like it?”
What did she usually eat for breakfast?
French? Italian? Chinese?
Su Lingyue said, “I’m sorry, President Ji. I don’t have a habit of eating breakfast late.”
Ji Zhiyi: …
Even though she said she was sorry, her calm tone conveyed no sense of apology, and even had a hint of prickliness. Ji Zhiyi nodded, cheerfully asking her, “Are you trying to gain weight?”
Su Lingyue was taken aback. She shook her head, still unable to resist asking, “What does it have to do with gaining weight?”
Ji Zhiyi casually said, “If you don't eat breakfast, you will usually increase the amount of food you eat for lunch and dinner, resulting in weight gain.” She looked at Su Lingyue. “But Assistant Su is so thin, gaining weight is probably a good thing.”
Gain—weight?!
Su Lingyue subconsciously looked at her waist and legs. Then she recalled her words, and remained silent for a long while, but when Ji Zhiyi went back to her room to get something, she stuffed a piece of bread into her mouth.
And finished her milk.
When Ji Zhiyi came out, Su Lingyue was standing at the door, already having put on her shoes. As Ji Zhiyi walked past her and the table, she glanced at Su Lingyue’s plate, then lowered her head and smiled. Finally, with her expression back to normal, she walked to the entryway, picked up a pair of high heels, changed into them, and handed a beige scarf to Su Lingyue.
Su Lingyue was confused.
Ji Zhiyi said, “Tie it on for me.”
After saying that, she faced her, standing slightly taller, revealing the graceful curve of her swan neck, as well as her collarbone, which was hidden beneath her shirt.
Su Lingyue took the scarf. She wasn't as tall as Ji Zhiyi. Her gaze landed at her chin. The scarf was soft, and as her hands moved around Ji Zhiyi’s neck, a clear, subtle fragrance washed over her. Ji Zhiyi’s body stiffened, standing before her. She tilted her head, looking at her phone, sneaking glances at Su Lingyue from the corner of her eyes.
Su Lingyue quickly finished tying it, and it didn't look very harmonious outside the white shirt. She opened the buttons of the shirt, pushing the scarf inside. Her fingertips brushed against warm skin and smooth collarbones. Su Lingyue’s expression remained neutral, not changing at all. Finally, she took half a step back. “Okay, President Ji,” she said.
Ji Zhiyi took in her expression, pursing her lips, her jaw tight, her expression even more indifferent. Su Lingyue wondered if she hadn’t tied it correctly. Ji Zhiyi glanced at herself in the full-length mirror at the entryway, didn’t say anything, then put on her high heels and left first.
Su Lingyue hurriedly grabbed her bag and followed her.
She drove the car. It was still early when they arrived at the company. The office was almost empty. Su Lingyue’s office was in the back, closest to Ji Zhiyi’s office. Her desk was bare, with only a landline. Before she had even sat down, the landline rang. Su Lingyue knocked and entered Ji Zhiyi’s office, hearing her say, “Brew a coffee.”
Su Lingyue agreed.
Ji Zhiyi continued, “What’s the plan for lunch?”
Without thinking, Su Lingyue said, “I don’t have any plans for lunch.”
Ji Zhiyi turned her head to look at her, her gaze as cold as water. Su Lingyue finally realized that she wasn’t asking her about her lunch plans, but Ji Zhiyi’s lunch plans.
Would it kill her to add a few more words?
She gritted her teeth, forcing a smile. “I’ll contact Secretary Wu.”
Ji Zhiyi lowered her head and continued reading the documents. Su Lingyue left the office. As she was brewing coffee, Secretary Wu entered the office. When she saw Su Lingyue, she smiled. “Assistant Su, good morning.”
Su Lingyue had been about to look for her, so she returned a light smile. “Good morning. Does President Ji have plans for lunch today?”
Wu Meiyan said, “There are two agencies who requested lunch with President Ji. I haven’t asked her about it yet.”
Remembering what Ji Zhiyi had said earlier about Su Lingyue being responsible for all travel plans, Wu Meiyan said, “I’ll send you President Ji’s schedule later. You can arrange it.”
Su Lingyue nodded. “Okay, thank you.”
Wu Meiyan smiled. “No problem.”
Then she left with her cup. Su Lingyue went back to Ji Zhiyi’s office with the coffee. She stopped at the door, hearing her colleagues arriving at work one by one, starting to discuss the agenda for the day’s meeting. For the first time, she truly felt like she was working.
After graduating, she had never gone into the company. After that trip, she had clashed with her father. Her father had been determined that Zhou Yan was a good man, forcing her to marry him, or at least try to get to know him better and start a relationship.
She had thought about facing pressure to go on blind dates and get married after graduating, but she hadn't expected it to come so soon, or in such a way.
She would have nightmares at the thought of even being near Zhou Yan, much less getting into a relationship!
So she had gone to other companies. Then her father had used his connections to force her to resign. She hadn’t lasted more than half a month at any company. After tiring herself out for half a year, she went back home to live life as a spoiled young lady.
She hadn’t gone to work until Zhou Yan had been transferred to a branch company in another city. Not long after, her father had transferred Zhou Yan back and had forced her to work as his assistant, claiming it would help her learn things. Of course, she had refused. After a few arguments, the Xie Lan incident had happened, and she had legitimately come to the branch company.
The people at the branch company acted as if she didn't exist, and she treated her colleagues like air.
She couldn't be bothered to argue, to scheme, or to say another word.
She was waiting to see what new move her father would make.
Then she heard of her father’s death.
It was quite good.
She thought to herself, somewhat heartlessly. Then, she straightened her expression and stood before Ji Zhiyi’s office. After knocking, Ji Zhiyi said, “Come in.”
Su Lingyue brought the coffee in and said, “Mr. Zhao from Sansheng and Mr. Jiang from Jiangyuan have invited you to lunch…”
Ji Zhiyi said, “Decline them. Keep the lunch hour free.”
Su Lingyue noted it down.
The intercom rang. Ji Zhiyi didn’t move, still looking at her report. Su Lingyue glanced at her, and after two rings, Ji Zhiyi lifted her eyes. Meeting Su Lingyue’s gaze, Su Lingyue understood and immediately picked up the phone. “Hello, President Ji’s office.”
It was a call from Wu Meiyan, notifying Ji Zhiyi that the investment conference was about to begin.
Su Lingyue hung up and said to Ji Zhiyi, “President Ji, the 8:00 AM meeting has started.”
Ji Zhiyi nodded, then looked at her watch. “You should go to the airport.”
She was going to pick someone up. Su Lingyue nodded.
She grabbed the car keys and followed Ji Zhiyi out the door. Wu Meiyan was already waiting by the door. Seeing them come out, she grabbed her notebook and followed them. Su Lingyue stopped at the elevator. Ji Zhiyi brushed past her, and when she was at the entrance to the conference room, she turned her head to glance at Su Lingyue.
Su Lingyue was standing on her toes in her high heels, her hands behind her back, looking down as the numbers on the elevator ticked up. The light washed over her face, highlighting the mottled patterns of light and shadow. Her expression was calm.
Ji Zhiyi thought about the first time she had seen her. It had been the last mock exam of her second year of high school. All the bookstores in the city had sold out of grammar books. A classmate who was participating in the competition with her had an extra copy and had wanted to give it to her. When she had gone to find her classmate at the school gates on the weekend, she had seen a girl standing under a tree, listening to music. She was wearing a light-colored sweatshirt and a hat, relaxed and languid. She had tilted her head up, looking at the sun, revealing a golden earring which swung as she moved.
At that moment, Ji Zhiyi's heart had wavered.
She had stared at her for several minutes. She hadn’t even noticed when her classmate had appeared behind her, tapping her on the shoulder and calling out, "Zhiyi."
She had turned her head. “You’re here.”
Her classmate had smiled, handing her the book. She wanted to pay her, but the classmate had refused. She said, “Then, you wait for me a moment.”
She had gone to buy water. There were clearly only two of them, but she had bought three bottles. Her classmate hadn’t asked anything. Seeing that she wasn’t leaving, she said, “Do you want to take a tour of our school?”
No. 2 High School, was located across a large section of the city from her own school, No. 1 High School. She had only come here for the competition, and she had gone directly to the exam hall. She had never stayed. Even though she should have been back home writing practice tests, she had said, “Sure.”
Her classmate had accompanied her through the majority of the school. The bottle of water had been clenched and released in her hands, the cold water becoming warm.
Finally, she had asked, “Is she also a second-year?”
Her classmate had followed her finger. “That’s Su Lingyue.”
Her classmate's voice had gotten quieter, “Do you know the Su Qi Group? The one that sells shoes? That’s her family. She’s the Su family’s young miss.”
Young miss. It was a teasing tone. She had looked at her a few more times.
Su Lingyue was still sitting under the tree, her eyes lightly closed. The wind raised the fine hairs on her forehead, and she had raised her hand to brush them away. Ji Zhiyi had gripped her bottle of water, her heart suddenly beating fast.
A secret tremor had spread from the depths of her heart.
As she had thought about going over, her classmate had pulled her back. “I advise you not to talk to her.”
She had asked, “Why?”
“She’s really proud. Yesterday, someone confessed to her, and she said that they were a toad wanting to eat swan meat.” After finishing, her classmate had covered her mouth and laughed. Ji Zhiyi looked past her classmate’s shoulders at Su Lingyue. She was standing not far away, bathing in the sunlight, her entire body shining.
“President Ji?” Wu Meiyan called out softly, and Ji Zhiyi came back to her senses. She said, “Sorry.”
She walked into the conference room.
Su Lingyue glanced over. The doorway to the conference room was empty. She pressed the elevator button and walked in. In the parking lot, Ji Zhiyi's car, a white Cayenne, was parked near the elevator. She had driven the car this morning, so the seat didn’t need to be adjusted. After getting in, she put down her phone, her hand touching something else in the storage slot. She turned her head and saw a bottle of water.
It was carbonated.
She had noticed it when she had driven the car yesterday, but hadn’t paid it any attention. Now, seeing this bottle of water, Su Lingyue vaguely recalled her dream from the night before.
Last night, she seemed to have dreamt about Ji Zhiyi.
She had dreamt of being in her first year of college. They were all doing military training. She had been unable to stand for long, and had felt dizzy. The instructor had asked a classmate to help her sit under a tree. Just after she sat down, someone had offered her a bottle of water. She had looked over, and it had been Ji Zhiyi.
Ji Zhiyi hadn’t said anything, just had handed it to her before leaving.
She had looked at it back then, and hadn’t drank it.
She had given it to a classmate next to her.
She didn't like carbonated drinks.
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