Crossing the Line – Chapter 25
by Little PandaJiang Siyi’s Lips Are Softer Than Lin Ji Imagined
A head full of question marks.
Jiang Siyi remembered coming to check on Lin Ji’s fever last night. Her hand had been caught and held, and she couldn’t leave—so she’d sat by the bed, telling herself she’d just observe for a while, then slip away quietly when she was sure everything was fine. Pretend nothing had happened.
But…
When did she get into the bed?
Trying to recall, she vaguely remembered the floor being too cold and too hard, her body instinctively seeking out a comfortable spot.
It seemed, perhaps, maybe, probably—she had felt the softness of the mattress, and the warm, sweet-smelling heat source on it.
And then she just… climbed in?
The two of them sleeping together on a 1.2-meter-wide single bed, almost pressed against each other.
Beneath the thin fabric, their body temperatures were melting into one.
Sharing a pillow, hands still clasped together.
Lin Ji had held her hand like that the entire night.
Right now, she could even feel the contours of a mature body tracing a tantalizing outline against her arm…
The darkness had faded, and Lin Ji’s serene sleeping face was right before her eyes.
Pale daylight spilled across her features, beautiful as a dream she didn’t want to wake from.
In broad daylight, everything felt dangerously real—enough to make her pulse race.
Jiang Siyi, dizzy from the flush of heat, barely managed to pull together a coherent thought.
And at the same time, realized a serious problem.
If Lin Ji suddenly woke up right now, how would she explain why she—who should be in the living room—was in the bed?
Wouldn’t Lin Ji think she had a habit of sneaking into people’s beds while they slept?
Just as she was at a loss, Lin Ji, eyes still closed, rolled to the far side of the bed, shifting her sleeping position, and released her hand.
Jiang Siyi’s eyes lit up.
An opening!
She immediately rose without a sound, crept off the bed, and practically tiptoed across the floor holding her breath.
Only upon reaching the door did she realize she hadn’t grabbed her slippers.
The rope always breaks at the thinnest point.
She held her breath again and slipped back into the bedroom, moving like a thief to the bedside, scooped up her slippers, and made her silent exit a second time.
Once again at the door, she suddenly realized the hair tie she’d worn around her wrist last night was missing.
It couldn’t have fallen on the bed, could it?
Oh god.
Jiang Siyi crossed herself, resigned, and circled back through the bedroom—barely daring to breathe—to the side of the bed once more.
She felt around by the pillow for ages before finding the hair tie, nearly asphyxiating from holding her breath.
This time she did a full-body check to make sure she wasn’t forgetting anything, then slipped out of the bedroom in a crouch.
Finally—out.
She’d circled the bedroom several times early in the morning. More exhausting than her morning workout.
Wiping the light sweat from her forehead, she was relieved Lin Ji hadn’t woken up the entire time.
While washing up, Jiang Siyi reflected that Lin Ji’s color looked normal and her breathing was steady—she probably hadn’t spiked a fever again.
The night had been touch and go, to put it mildly.
Thankfully it passed safely, without any truly mortifying incidents.
Spitting out the toothpaste foam, Jiang Siyi thought happily: I really am lucky.
In the quiet bedroom.
Lin Ji turned back over, her open eyes showing not a trace of sleepiness.
She had been awake for a while now.
She had heard every movement of Jiang Siyi’s three trips in and out.
When Jiang Siyi was searching all over the bed for the hair tie, Lin Ji—feigning sleep with her eyes closed—had actually wanted to remind her:
It’s right by the pillow. The hair tie can see you.
Last night she’d had a slight fever, and when she occasionally stirred, she’d seen Jiang Siyi, who’d somehow come into the room, fallen asleep sitting by the bed.
Why was she sleeping here?
While puzzling over this, she discovered that Jiang Siyi’s hand was being gripped by her own.
So she’d been pulled in and couldn’t leave.
And Jiang Siyi hadn’t even woken her—just let her hold on like that, choosing to sleep on the floor instead.
She’d definitely feel awful in the morning.
“Silly.”
Lin Ji gently tapped her forehead.
Jiang Siyi made a soft “Hmm?” in her sleep, her elegant brows furrowing in confusion.
Lin Ji coaxed and carried the drowsy Jiang Siyi onto the bed.
After a full day of the auction, handling the unexpected disruption, and the near-danger to Xueqiu at night, Jiang Siyi’s mind had been on high alert almost the entire time. She was utterly exhausted, shrouded in sleepiness from start to finish.
Once she was laid on the bed, Lin Ji’s hair fell against the side of her face, softly brushing her skin.
Jiang Siyi scratched her cheek. Her pink lips, slack from sleep, parted slightly—completely unguarded.
Lin Ji’s gaze fell on the lips that had appeared in her dreams. Her eyes darkened. She lowered her long neck, drawing closer slowly.
Light strands of hair cascaded down further.
Jiang Siyi’s brow creased gently. Another “Hmm?”
The soft murmur, its trailing note sweet and yielding, swept across Lin Ji’s chest like a feather, sparking a vivid tingle.
Just as her lips were about to cover Jiang Siyi’s, Lin Ji suddenly stopped.
Stealing a kiss would be classless.
And what she wanted wasn’t Jiang Siyi in this state.
She wanted to kiss her when she was awake.
She wanted to watch Jiang Siyi’s eyes lose focus, her cheeks flush, her hands not know where to go, her toes curl involuntarily, her body burn hot.
Her breath exhaled in warm currents. Her unfocused eyes slowly regained their focus.
Regulating her ragged breathing, Lin Ji was about to get up and leave when Jiang Siyi suddenly lifted her chin, her lips pressing accurately against hers.
A completely unguarded kiss.
Jiang Siyi’s lips were softer than Lin Ji had imagined—slightly cool, like tempting jelly.
Lin Ji’s thoughts scattered for a second, and she was about to press deeply into those unguarded yet inviting lips, when she heard a muffled, drowsy giggle from beneath her.
“Xueqiu, that tickles…”
Lin Ji: …
She wasn’t even awake—still dreaming, mistaking her for Xueqiu.
Jiang Siyi scratched her cheek again, and before the hand that had scratched even lowered, her breathing became even and steady. She’d fallen back asleep.
Kissing someone and then just falling asleep without a care in the world?
Lin Ji stared wordlessly at Jiang Siyi’s sleeping face for a long moment.
Her body temperature seemed to be rising again, so she had to lie back down.
She’d thought this night would be sleepless because of that sudden kiss.
Yet somehow, she slept quite peacefully.
Perhaps because the distant moon on the horizon was now in the closest possible place.
Her elevated temperature did not rise further after a night of restful sleep, and by dawn it had returned to normal.
Right now, though, the wound in her palm still throbbed with a hot, stinging ache.
She uncurled her hand, turning it slowly before her eyes.
When she was saving Xueqiu yesterday, she could have managed to stand without bracing against those sharp rocks by the water’s edge.
Yet in a split-second calculation, she’d slammed her palm down anyway.
She’d deliberately let her palm be cut open.
Fan Qing had definitely noticed, but said nothing.
She also understood what the BOSS wanted—what she was scheming toward.
Lin Ji admired the palm Jiang Siyi had tended to, as if admiring a beloved work of art, the corners of her eyes gradually warming with a smile.
7 AM sharp.
Fan Qing drove over with the clothes Lin Ji would wear today, picking her up to head to the Huanwei Technology Headquarters Building1—there was an important board meeting this morning that she couldn’t miss.
Evidently, Fan Qing had never seen Lin Ji dressed this casually either. She paused for a moment at the sight of the BOSS in a T-shirt and shorts before handing over the suit.
Lin Ji said to Jiang Siyi, “Let me borrow your bedroom to change.”
The memory of those alluring curves still lingered on her arm. Jiang Siyi didn’t quite dare to meet Lin Ji’s eyes, holding the leash as she said:
“You change. I’ll take Xueqiu out for a walk.”
Probably still shaken from yesterday, Xueqiu had little appetite this morning. He’d only managed two or three of his favorite sweet blueberries, and after a walk outside, he didn’t even pee—just refused to keep going, wanting Jiang Siyi to carry him.
Jiang Siyi scooped him up, her heart aching, staying alert to her surroundings.
Watching the innocent Xueqiu suffer made her heart ache.
It seemed he’d need a good long while to recover.
She pushed open the door to find Lin Ji in front of the mirror, smoothing her hair, now back in her formal work attire.
The exquisitely tailored cinched-waist blazer paired with her dark, glossy long curls radiated pure sophistication—elevating the rented apartment itself by several notches of class.
The lazy ease of last night’s athleisure was swept away entirely. Under the sunlight, Lin Ji had reverted to the flower on a high peak2 that Jiang Siyi knew so well.
The sense of distance instantly maxed out, too.
“How’s Xueqiu?”
The flower on a high peak asked the question without any particular expression—no different from a superior assigning work.
Jiang Siyi unconsciously shifted into her meticulous work mode.
“He’s a bit off his appetite. Probably still spooked. I’ll keep an eye on him for a few days, and take him to the vet if things don’t improve.”
“Mm. Let me know if you need help.”
“Okay, thank you.”
The exchange was perfectly normal—that familiar sense of distance, neither too close nor too far, remained intact.
Jiang Siyi’s gaze wandered, occasionally brushing past the space around Lin Ji, never quite landing directly on her.
They’d slept in the same bed for an entire night, even held hands—and Lin Ji surely didn’t know about that.
Thank goodness, thank goodness.
In reality, not only did Lin Ji know about last night—she was well aware of many things Jiang Siyi didn’t even realize.
For instance, someone had a habit of kissing people in her sleep and mistaking them for Xueqiu.
Before leaving, Lin Ji packed Jiang Siyi’s borrowed clothes into a bag, saying she’d wash them and return them.
Now the items she needed to give back included not just the hair clip, but an entire outfit.
Fan Qing watched this silently, thinking to herself: Miss Jiang’s apartment has a washing machine. The BOSS is clearly taking hostages—no, taking material goods hostage.
They were both heading to work, and Lin Ji offered to drop Jiang Siyi off.
Without thinking, Jiang Siyi blurted out:
“It doesn’t seem like it’s on the way, though. We’re in opposite directions.”
The Huanwei headquarters had only been in operation for a short time. The fact that Jiang Siyi knew it was in the opposite direction from Jiashibi clearly meant she’d looked it up.
She’d been paying attention to Huanwei.
Which meant she’d been paying attention to Lin Ji.
Lin Ji’s fingertips stroked the handle of the garment bag with quiet pleasure.
“My meeting this morning is at ten. There’s still time.”
Since she’d put it that way, Jiang Siyi couldn’t very well refuse the offer.
Settling into the car, Lin Ji asked if she started work at nine-thirty.
Jiang Siyi: “My schedule isn’t fixed on auction days. Last night was an auction, so today was supposed to be a day off. But I have some things to take care of this morning, so I don’t need to clock in—going in a bit late is fine.”
“And the afternoon?”
“Just a short meeting in the afternoon. I should be home fairly early.”
The previous two times she’d ridden in Lin Ji’s car, it had been either heavy snow or pouring rain.
Now, getting in on a bright, sunny morning, Jiang Siyi finally realized what had felt off before.
This car had very transparent window tinting and a massive sunroof—the interior lighting was exceptional.
Unusually so.
Lin Ji: “Then let’s get breakfast first. What do you usually eat in the mornings?”
Sometimes half-cooked buns. Sometimes fried dough sticks tougher than a dishrag.
Whatever was available—on days she overslept, instant noodles would do.
Or even skipping solid food entirely and just downing a coffee, which happened often enough.
Which was why she’d get the occasional canker sore, and her stomach lodged intermittent protests.
But compared to her sister—who casually went thirty-six hours without sleep to ascend in the art world—or Duan Ning, who could cut carbs for a week on a whim, Jiang Siyi felt her habits were still relatively healthy.
Feeling a twinge of shame in front of Lin Ji, she said tactfully:
“That depends on what the breakfast places have to offer.”
Which told Lin Ji absolutely nothing about what she actually wanted to eat.
“I’ll decide, then.”
“Okay.”
No polite back-and-forth—Jiang Siyi was happy to let someone else decide the meal and spare herself the mental effort.
The calming tea incident had given Lin Ji a reputation for questionable taste, but as long as it wasn’t douzhi3 mixed with rice, Jiang Siyi had no objections.
The Bentley drove three blocks, then took the elevated highway, before pulling up to a private room at a member-only restaurant.
The room faced a manicured garden, where layers of soft peach-colored Juliet roses bloomed under the sunlight.
From the garden to the private room, it was hushed and still, with an occasional wisp of floral fragrance drifting in.
The undisturbed dining atmosphere was delightful. The decor was French vintage—exactly the style Jiang Siyi liked.
Breakfast arrived quickly.
The main course was whole wheat European bread; Greek yogurt with crushed nuts served in a pink half-circle cup, visually pleasing. Soft-boiled eggs cut in half, smoked salmon, and six spears of white asparagus from the tenderest part arranged on a beautifully designed plate, the presentation meticulous. A large platter of strawberries, blueberries, golden tomatoes split in half, plus an Americano—the kind she always ordered—though this one was a hot Americano that tasted roughly like traditional Chinese medicine.
Jiang Siyi, who had never been particularly sensitive to nutritional balance and operated on the principle of “as long as I don’t starve,” could tell at a glance: this meal wasn’t just delicious and beautifully plated—above all, it was nutritionally balanced and genuinely healthy.
By comparison, the way she’d been living was practically the Stone Age.
Lin Ji’s taste might be questionable, but she really knew how to order.
Lin Ji ate quietly, without the social habit of forcing conversation.
It made Jiang Siyi feel at ease.
She was hungry, too—eating contentedly, bite after bite.
The moment the strawberry touched her tongue, her eyes lit up.
She’d never had strawberries with such intense fruit fragrance—sweet with a hint of tartness at just the right level, bursting with juice.
These were incredible… She couldn’t help slowing down, savoring each one.
Lin Ji, sipping her coffee, caught the momentary shift in her gaze when she ate the strawberry.
After the meal, the Bentley dropped Jiang Siyi at the company entrance.
Before she got out, Lin Ji said, “Starting today, someone will be secretly protecting you and Xueqiu. Don’t worry—this person won’t appear in front of you, won’t intrude on your privacy, and won’t disrupt your life. They’ll only step in when you or Xueqiu are in danger.”
Seeing Jiang Siyi’s slightly stunned expression, Lin Ji added:
“She’s a young woman around your age. Fan Qing’s friend.”
Jiang Siyi hadn’t expected Lin Ji to have thought things through so thoroughly on her behalf. For a moment, she didn’t know how to express her gratitude.
Before she could struggle to find the right words, Lin Ji continued:
“As we agreed last time—I’ll pick you up in the afternoon. Around two. If your meeting runs late, just let me know in advance.”
Pick her up in the afternoon?
Jiang Siyi blinked in confusion. No wonder Lin Ji had asked about her work schedule in such detail.
Still having no idea what she’d agreed to, Jiang Siyi was about to ask where exactly they were going when Lin Ji’s phone rang—perfectly timed—with a work call.
She took the call softly, waving goodbye to Jiang Siyi with a polite gesture.
Jiang Siyi: …
Before rolling up the window, Fan Qing said, “Miss Jiang, my friend is very conscientious and respects boundaries. If you or Xueqiu encounter any danger, you can call her name directly. She’s Zhou Ni.”
Jiang Siyi: “Okay…”
Fan Qing maneuvered the Bentley’s large frame with practiced ease, executing a smooth turn on the narrow road before driving off.
Jiang Siyi glanced around—she couldn’t spot anyone who might be her secret protector.
The building where Jiashibi was located had good hardware across the board, but the elevators were outdated and painfully slow.
The location was prime, and office occupancy was over 90%—practically bursting at the seams—making every elevator ride a battle. Miss one car, and you might wait forever while the queue of people behind you grew longer and longer.
Seeing the elevator doors about to close in front of her, Jiang Siyi quickened her pace.
“Hold on!”
The doors reopened—inside, it was empty except for Duan Ning.
Right—she could come in late today. The morning rush hour had already passed.
“Morning, Ms. Arrived-by-Bentley.”
Duan Ning, who’d witnessed the entire drop-off from the building entrance, was grinning with mischief.
Jiang Siyi: “…It’s not what you think.”
Duan Ning draped an arm over Jiang Siyi’s shoulder, raising an eyebrow with a wicked glint, poking at her chest.
“I didn’t say what I thought—you’re the one jumping to conclusions. A thoughtful ride to work in the morning… don’t make me guess. You two didn’t spend the night together last night, did you?”
Duan Ning had a real gift.
She’d never gotten a single appraisal right, but she could sniff out gossip with uncanny accuracy.
Jiang Siyi wanted to protest, but after saying “I—” she went silent.
Because she had, in fact, shared a bed with Lin Ji for an entire night.
Jiang Siyi managed a weak “Don’t be ridiculous,” and fled the moment the elevator doors opened.
The last routine auction had gone smoothly. This month’s performance and commissions were in the bag, and today was essentially a half-day. The Gold, Stone, and Jade Department was steeped in a relaxed, cheerful atmosphere.
While pouring coffee, Duan Ning glanced at her colleague Zhao Yong and teased:
“What’s the special occasion? You clean up nicely.”
Zhao Yong was from the Network Operations Department next door, and he often dropped by the Gold, Stone, and Jade Department to mooch coffee.
Today he was decked out in Ralph Lauren, with an intentionally styled American fade. From the moment Jiang Siyi walked in, his eyes had been trailing her slender silhouette.
Taking a sip of scalding coffee, Zhao Yong smiled:
“It’s definitely a good day.”
Duan Ning: “Blind date?”
Zhao Yong smiled without confirming.
It was, in fact, a blind date.
His manager, Manager Ke, had already arranged things with Manager Wu—after work this afternoon, both departments would go out for dinner together, do some team-building, then hit up a karaoke spot in the evening, all on the Network Operations Department’s tab.
Manager Wu had laughed and asked: “This kind of good deal?”
There was no such thing as a free lunch. Free things were always the most expensive.
The truth was, Zhao Yong had quietly suggested to Manager Ke that the manager help him out—he wanted a chance to spend time alone with Jiang Siyi. Essentially, a blind date.
If it worked out, he’d treat the manager’s entire family to a cruise—any route he wanted to pick.
Manager Ke had slapped Zhao Yong on the back and laughed: “You’ve got ambition, kid. Setting your sights on Xiao Jiang4, no less.”
Zhao Yong chuckled. “Nothing’s happened yet. Just trying to win her over.”
Manager Ke naturally didn’t disclose Zhao Yong’s real motive to Manager Wu—if she found out, she might not even come.
First invite them for dinner and team-building to build camaraderie between departments.
Lure them in first, then worry about the rest.
Jiashibi had quite a few departments. The auction-side departments had their share of tense KPI competition, but the relationship with the Network Operations Department was purely collaborative.
Other departments regularly did team-building with them, and CEO Gu also encouraged cross-departmental communication, so Manager Wu hadn’t overthought it and had already agreed.
Zhao Yong was eagerly anticipating today’s blind date. He’d spent a fortune on a new hairstyle, and this morning he’d bought trendy mini cakes for everyone in the Gold, Stone, and Jade Department who’d come in early.
Jiang Siyi’s portion was the prettiest and most expensive—a little sweet treat before the “date.”
Zhao Yong sipped his coffee, watching Jiang Siyi take a client call across the room, just waiting for her to sit down at her desk and discover the surprise cake.
Jiang Siyi walked slowly to her desk, sat down, and hung up the phone.
Zhao Yong stared at her for ages, watching her set down her phone and turn on her computer, bustling about—without so much as a glance at the mini cake on the corner of her desk.
He raked a frustrated hand through his hair.
He should’ve put it in the center of the desk.
Duan Ning strolled over, eating cake, and asked:
“Have you had cake yet? It’s really good.”
Jiang Siyi finally noticed the mini cake’s existence.
“Who bought it?”
Colleagues often shared snacks with each other. Duan Ning didn’t think much of it:
“No idea. Everyone got one, so someone must have treated us. I know this place—it’s super trendy lately. Seriously delicious. Try it.”
Having just had breakfast with Lin Ji, Jiang Siyi was completely full.
“I already ate. Can’t fit another bite. You have it.”
“Free cake? Don’t mind if I do.”
“Why be polite with me?”
Duan Ning happily polished off her own portion in two bites, then picked up the box from the corner of Jiang Siyi’s desk and dug right in.
Zhao Yong, who’d been waiting all this time: …
Duan Ning walked off with her cake. Jiang Siyi opened her computer, getting ready to work, when she noticed a red circle on her calendar reminder.
Wait.
Jiang Siyi suddenly remembered.
No wonder Lin Ji said she’d pick her up this afternoon.
Today was Lin Ji’s birthday.
The author has something to say:
Lin Ji: Wife-luring step… uh, another day of being seduced by the wife.
Footnotes
- 'Huanwei' means 'illusion and dimension' — the company name combines cutting-edge tech connotations with a visionary sensibility.
- A Japanese-origin metaphor (高嶺の花, takane no hana) widely used in Chinese to describe someone outstandingly attractive yet seemingly impossible to attain—admired from afar, with the distance itself creating desire.
- Douzhi is a traditional Beijing fermented mung bean drink with a sharp, sour taste—decidedly an acquired taste, even for many Chinese people.
- A casual, affectionate diminutive meaning 'Little Jiang,' formed by prefixing 'Xiao' (small/young) to a surname—commonly used by colleagues and family friends as a friendly nickname.
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