"The board thinks highly of your project, so you need to do a good job. Also, the afternoon tea delivery last time was well handled. Come by more often these days to reward your hardworking colleagues."
Zhang Hongbin paused for a moment, then seemed to understand: "Yes, President Ying. I'll come by this afternoon."
*
Since Ying Jingsheng had taken the position of General Manager and Tao Xinrou had been sent to work at headquarters, the two had hardly seen each other.
That day, after work, Tao Xinrou came home, and coincidentally, Ying Jingsheng also left work on time. The three of them sat down to have dinner together again.
Right after dinner, Ying Jingsheng took the initiative to help wash the dishes.
The water ran noisily, and the kitchen was cramped. As Tao Xinrou wiped down the counter, the distance between them was close enough to smell each other's faint scent.
"Are you settling in okay at headquarters?" Ying Jingsheng suddenly asked.
Tao Xinrou's hand, wiping the counter, paused slightly. Although the question was as ordinary as a superior caring for a subordinate, coming from him, it stirred an odd feeling in her heart.
He must be asking about the project progress, she told herself.
"It's okay, but there are a lot of rules. Accessing the archives isn't as convenient as I thought."
"Is Zhou Yun watching you closely?" Ying Jingsheng asked again.
"Yeah, pretty strict. Every step has to be reported. It doesn't feel like working on a project; it feels like being under surveillance," Tao Xinrou complained involuntarily.
Ying Jingsheng turned down the water flow and picked up a dry cloth to wipe: "Better to be cautious. You should be careful too. Don't cross any lines, or else I'll have to worry about you."
Worry?
Tao Xinrou turned her head and met his gaze, which had lifted at some point.
In those deep eyes reflected the warm light of the kitchen. She seemed to see something indescribable, something like concern.
For a moment, Tao Xinrou felt a surge of attraction in her heart.
What was that saying? A short separation makes the heart grow fonder.
Pfft!
They were just landlord and tenant, nothing more.
"Or else I'll have to worry about Auntie," Ying Jingsheng added, turning his head away as he continued wiping dishes.
Oh, so he's just concerned about the project progress. And here I am, thinking about all sorts of nonsense.
Regaining her composure, Tao Xinrou replied, "Got it. Thank you for your concern, President Ying."
"When it's just the two of us, you don't have to call me President Ying. I'm not used to it," he said suddenly.
Tao Xinrou was taken aback and blurted out, "Then what should I call you?"
"Just call me by my name."
Tao Xinrou paused. That... seemed a bit rude.
She felt it was hard to say.
But somehow, she mustered the courage to test it out softly: "Ying... Jingsheng?"
He didn't look back, just hummed in acknowledgment.
Both of their ears turned red.
He placed the dried plates into the cupboard: "Alright, I'm heading to my room now." With that, he turned and left the kitchen.
Tao Xinrou stood there, listening to his receding footsteps, clutching the rag in her hand, her mind in chaos.
What did he mean just now? Was it just routine concern from a CEO to an employee? Or was there a hint… something beyond the superior-subordinate relationship?
She shook her head, trying to shake off these messy thoughts.
Tao Xinrou, wake up! Who is he? Don't get dizzy over some vague concern!
As she pondered, she started washing grapes.
But just then, Tao's mother walked in from the living room: "Xiaorou, what were you two chatting about just now? He seemed pretty concerned about you."
Tao Xinrou's face flushed: "Mom, what are you saying? He's the President. He was just asking about the project progress as a superior caring for a subordinate."
"Really? You two haven't seen each other these past few days, yet he kept telling me to remind you not to always eat junk food. It's unhealthy."
Tao Xinrou was shocked: "Huh? No way? How does he know I order takeout?"
"Of course, he knows because he cares. And just now, I heard it from the living room—he said 'I'll have to worry about you.' That's not something a normal leader would say."
Tao Xinrou's face grew even redder. She swirled the grapes she was washing like a washing machine: "Mom! You misheard. He said 'Or else I'll have to worry about Auntie.'"
"Really? But I clearly heard 'I'll have to worry about you' first."
Tao Xinrou was flustered: "Oh, I can't explain it to you."
Tao's mother smiled as she picked up a grape: "If that's the case, then I won't worry. Fang Rong—ah, I mean President Ying—is a pretty good person. You two should spend more time together. I think you'd be good together."
"Mom! Please don't talk nonsense. What if someone hears you? You take this plate of grapes yourself. I'm not going!" Tao Xinrou angrily handed the washed grapes to her mother and turned away.
Tao's mother chuckled, holding the grapes: "Alright, alright, I won't say anything more."
*