PSMD – Chapter 66

Understanding something is sometimes very difficult, and sometimes extraordinarily simple.

For example, Qiu Yang previously couldn’t quite understand why Tao Sixian treated her that way. She cared so much about Tao Sixian, thought about her constantly, and showed her a kind of love she had never shown anyone else. How could this happen?

After a period of calm, she figured it out.

Because Tao Sixian didn’t like her at all; she just treated her as a… roommate? Or maybe a nanny?

Or neither. A roommate at least splits the rent, and a nanny gets paid. She got nothing, and basically covered all the expenses herself.

Another example is how she previously didn’t want to continue with Shen Ningruo, only wanting to settle everything and stop contact once the debt was repaid. But now, she wants more of a future with Shen Ningruo. This change in mindset is because she saw herself reflected in Shen Ningruo’s eyes.

Shen Ningruo’s face has an assertive look, and she seemed a bit that way when they first met. But after getting to know her, Qiu Yang felt she was actually a very gentle person.

At work, her serious demeanor makes her seem like the aloof Director Shen, but in private, she’s the shameless Shen who can be thick-skinned around her.

Qiu Yang took some time to adjust to this contrast at first, but now she’s used to it.

It’s rare for someone to show you their true self, isn’t it?

So, to cooperate with Shen Ningruo’s request to “take a look,” Qiu Yang specifically timed it, holding a cup, and left her office, preparing to go to the pantry for a cup of coffee.

How could she not want to take a look at Shen Ningruo herself?

Shen Ningruo was being led by Qu Yan towards the meeting room. When they were in the outer office area, she saw Qiu Yang come out holding a cup. They quietly exchanged a glance, then Qiu Yang withdrew her gaze and looked straight ahead.

It really was just one glance.

Shen Ningruo couldn’t help but smile, a quiet smile appearing on her lips, which both Qu Yan and Ke Yezi noticed.

Qu Yan was good at socializing. Seeing this, she simply smiled and asked, “Director Shen, did something amusing come to mind?”

“Mm.”

“Yes.”

The curve of Shen Ningruo’s lips flattened again. She had no intention of revealing why she was smiling.

Qu Yan’s smile stiffened slightly, but she didn’t think much of it, as this was how Shen Ningruo was rumored to be.

Qiu Yang entered the pantry and happened to run into Gu Lan, who was also getting coffee.

Gu Lan stood beside her, glanced around, lowered her voice, and quietly asked, “Xiao Qiu Jie, want to have dinner together tonight?”

Qiu Yang looked at her. “Why the sudden invitation?”

“I just got a new boyfriend, can you help me see what you think of him?” Gu Lan sighed. “My taste isn’t great. Every time I like a handsome guy, he turns out to be a jerk.”

Qiu Yang remembered the few relationships Gu Lan had told her about before and nodded in agreement. “Indeed.”

“So, do you want to have dinner together tonight?” Gu Lan’s eyes were full of anticipation.

Qiu Yang hesitated. She had actually gone to meet Gu Lan’s exes like this before, but the situations were always incredibly awkward. Especially one time, the guy even tried to get Qiu Yang’s WeChat while Gu Lan was in the restroom. Qiu Yang refused, and Gu Lan still didn’t know about it. Qiu Yang only felt relieved after Gu Lan broke up with that guy.

“Not tonight.” Qiu Yang, rarely one to refuse, showed an apologetic smile. “I have other plans. Maybe you can ask someone else?”

Gu Lan was inevitably a bit disappointed but wouldn’t force Qiu Yang. She just nodded. “Okay, I’ll ask one of my other friends then.”

“Alright.” Qiu Yang smiled and returned to her office with her coffee.

Qiu Yang didn’t know the exact time Shen Ningruo and her group left Wanming. She was just sitting in her office working until she received a WeChat message from Shen Ningruo: 【Just one glance, huh?】

【Yes.】 Qiu Yang typed a definite reply back.

When Shen Ningruo received this message, the corners of her mouth lifted again. She could already picture Qiu Yang’s smug expression.

Inside the car, Ke Yezi sat beside Shen Ningruo. She looked out the window, and as her gaze returned, she saw their director smiling again.

Ke Yezi: …?

Their director is acting strange.

Ke Yezi thought carefully. It seemed that ever since they returned from Xicheng, she had seen Shen Ningruo smiling like this more than once.

Before, she usually had a cold expression, occasionally curving her lips slightly, but the smile never reached her eyes.

So, it seemed she hadn’t seen a ghost, but a miracle.

And there are only two reasons why someone would involuntarily smile: a person or an event.

Ke Yezi fell into deep thought.

Shen Ningruo put away her phone, lowered her gaze slightly, and called out to Ke Yezi, “Manager Ke.”

Ke Yezi immediately snapped back to attention, responded, and waited for instructions.

“The collaboration with Wanming is progressing smoothly. Find a time to arrange a dinner for people from both companies.”

“Last time Wanming hosted, this time we’ll be the hosts.”

Ke Yezi was startled, then quickly said, “Okay.”

Forget it, she must have seen a ghost after all.

It was one thing that their director agreed to socialize for the first time before, but now she was actively requesting to have dinner with people from Wanming.

This wasn’t a miracle, this was definitely something fishy!

Ke Yezi was very efficient. She scheduled the time for 7 PM on Wednesday, still at Xinhao Hotel, and still in the same private room where they had dinner before.

Qu Yan announced this news in the group chat. Qiu Yang was startled for a moment, her first reaction was to ask Shen Ningruo.

She didn’t know if Shen Ningruo would go. If Shen Ningruo wasn’t going, she would also find an excuse to slip away.

Shen Ningruo’s reply was: 【I’m going.】

Qiu Yang: 【Okay.】

Actually, Shen Ningruo was a bit uncomfortable physically. Her period was usually in the first ten days of the month, but this month it was delayed by about four days, only arriving on the 13th.

And the dinner was on the 14th.

This day also happened to be exactly one month since they met.

Qiu Yang looked at the calendar and felt a moment of daze. She had thought they had known each other for over a month, but it had actually only been one month as of today.

“Xiao Qiu Jie.” Peng Kaimiao came up to Qiu Yang again and quietly asked, “Qu Jie knows that you and Director Shen have a good relationship?”

They were now at the entrance of Xinhao Hotel and happened to run into Peng Kaimiao. Peng Kaimiao’s voice was very low as he spoke, glancing at Qu Yan who was greeting people at the door.

Qiu Yang shook her head. “She doesn’t know.”

Qiu Yang looked at him. “There’s nothing to tell her, is there?”

Peng Kaimiao made a zipping motion over his mouth again. “Okay.”

“This is our little secret.” He smiled, seeming very happy about it.

Qiu Yang didn’t know why he was a bit excited. She walked a few steps and reached Qu Yan.

Qu Yan patted Peng Kaimiao’s shoulder. “Were you just talking bad about me? I saw you zipping your mouth again.”

Peng Kaimiao looked wronged. “How could I dare, Qu Jie?”

He looked at Qiu Yang. “It’s a little secret between me and Xiao Qiu Jie.”

Qu Yan looked at Qiu Yang, raising an eyebrow. “Yangyang, won’t you share it with me? We don’t have any little secrets between us.”

Qiu Yang chuckled. “Qu Jie, don’t listen to his nonsense.” She changed the subject. “We’ll go in first.”

Qu Yan: “Okay.”

“Director Shen and her group will be here soon. I’ll wait here.”

Qiu Yang’s steps paused for a moment, then she continued forward. Unlike last time, she didn’t run into Shen Ningruo at the entrance, so there was no need for her to stay.

Otherwise, it would be too obvious.

Qiu Yang and Peng Kaimiao entered the private room and sat down, still in the same seats as last time. Qiu Yang held her phone, occasionally looking towards the door.

After a while, Shen Ningruo sent a message: 【Just got out of the car.】

Qiu Yang’s eyelids twitched. Her colleagues around her were chatting and laughing, but she was only focused on the direction of the door.

After about three minutes, she saw the door open a crack. The first person to enter was Shen Ningruo again, followed by Ke Yezi and Qu Yan.

Actually, Qiyao Company was hosting this time, so the people greeting should have been from Qiyao. However, they finished work late and had worked overtime today, so Ke Yezi had to trouble Qu Yan.

Qu Yan was also willing; she wouldn’t miss such an opportunity. Thus, it was the same as last time.

Qiu Yang and Shen Ningruo’s eyes met. She couldn’t help but clear her throat and then pretended to be calm, picking up her water cup and drinking some water.

Meeting in a public setting had a different kind of feeling, especially since no one else present, except for Peng Kaimiao, knew they knew each other.

However, even Peng Kaimiao only thought they knew each other; he didn’t think in any other direction.

Ke Yezi’s gaze also fell on Qiu Yang’s face. She smiled at Qiu Yang as a greeting.

However, the seat next to Qiu Yang was empty. Ke Yezi looked at it, pointed, and said, “Director, let’s sit next to Department Head Qiu.”

“Alright.” Shen Ningruo responded. She naturally wanted to sit next to Qiu Yang, but Ke Yezi sat down before her.

Shen Ningruo: …

Shen Ningruo sat down next to Ke Yezi, with Qu Yan on her right.

“Manager Ke, will we be drinking beverages again later?” Qiu Yang’s voice held a smile as she turned her head to ask Ke Yezi.

However, her gaze subtly lingered on Shen Ningruo’s face, finding Shen Ningruo’s awkward expression from just now quite amusing.

But perhaps only she could see Shen Ningruo’s speechlessness.

Ke Yezi nodded. “Yes, no drinking and driving. Safety is most important.”

“Right.”

Qiu Yang’s voice sounded in Shen Ningruo’s ears, but she wasn’t talking to her. This feeling was a bit strange.

It was…

She inexplicably had the illusion that she was having a secret affair with Qiu Yang.

Is this what an office romance feels like?

Shen Ningruo furrowed her brow.

---

If you’d like to read ahead and support me, you can request extra chapters or get the full novel as an EPUB.