Paddle Position
Lin Xian excitedly received the “manual” from Shi Man, her heart beating with anticipation. Sadly, she realized that she had no time for learning or observation.
In the evening, after finishing her tutoring session and returning home, Xiao Wanqing was waiting in the living room as usual. They each went to take a shower. Lin Xian grabbed her change of clothes and hurriedly ran to the bathroom, quickly washing herself. Then, without time for skincare, she dashed back to her bedroom, sneakily turned on her computer, and entered the mysterious link Shi Man had given her.
Shi Man had thoughtfully categorized the link’s levels for her and explained some professional search terms. She advised her to start from the “novice area” and progress to higher levels once she gained some experience and ideas. Otherwise, she might get scared or develop strange habits.
Although Shi Man’s words seemed serious, Lin Xian had doubts about whether there were so many intricacies. Nevertheless, she obediently followed the advice of someone with experience.
Rumored to be a beginner’s link, the moment Lin Xian opened it, she couldn’t help but gulp down a mouthful of saliva as she looked at the screen full of captains and rowing postures.
She dared not close the door, afraid that Xiao Panpan would suspect something if she saw the door closed when coming out of the shower. So, she had to turn off the sound of the laptop, then shifted the laptop in a different direction, with the screen facing away from the door. Her eyes were fixed tightly on the screen, while her ears were alert, listening for any sound of Xiao Wanqing opening or closing the door.
Even though she had just taken a refreshing cold shower, feeling cool and comfortable all over, and she hadn’t even turned on the sound, she couldn’t hear the moans in the screen at all. Lin Xian only focused on the entangled movements, inadvertently recalling the charming appearance of Xiao Panpan in her dream, causing her whole body to heat up and nearly catch fire.
She didn’t feel anything towards the woman’s body on the video, even taking notes seriously in her mind. She couldn’t help but feel something was wrong with her lower abdomen.
Suddenly, her upright ears picked up the light footsteps getting closer from outside. Lin Xian’s hand trembled, hastily closing the webpage, then adjusting the laptop’s orientation back to normal, opening the antivirus software swiftly, and resuming a composed posture.
As Xiao Wanqing approached the door, she saw Lin Xian nervously fidgeting with the computer. She lightly wiped her slightly wet hair with a towel and curiously asked Lin Xian, “Xianxian, what are you doing?”
Lin Xian tilted her head, trying to feign composure as she casually replied to Xiao Wanqing, “It seems like my computer got a virus, I’m running a scan.” However, when she turned her head and saw Xiao Wanqing’s porcelain-white skin with a hint of post-bath blush, her eyes watery and exuding a seductive charm, Lin Xian’s stomach tightened suddenly…
Her face blazed even hotter all of a sudden. Feeling both embarrassed and shy, she couldn’t bring herself to meet Xiao Wanqing’s clear eyes directly and stammered, “I-I’m scanning for viruses.”
“Do you have a virus? Do you want me to take a look?” Xiao Wanqing asked, stepping closer.
Although the webpage had been closed, Lin Xian felt guilty. Instinctively, she shut her laptop abruptly and nervously replied, “It’s okay, there’s no need. I’ve just finished cleaning the virus. I’ve gotten rid of all of them.”
Feeling the awkwardness between her legs unbearable, Lin Xian closed her legs tightly, stood up, and made an excuse, “I didn’t wash my hair earlier. Suddenly, I feel uncomfortable. I’ll go wash my hair again.”
Xiao Wanqing furrowed her delicate eyebrows almost imperceptibly, sensing that Lin Xian seemed somewhat off. However, she didn’t confront her, simply nodding with a smile and instructing her, “Well, go then. I’ll help you blow-dry your hair after you wash it.”
Long after Lin Xian had left, Xiao Wanqing’s gaze lingered on the closed laptop. Was there a secret?
Yet, unlike the time Lin Xian hadn’t been truthful about her job, Xiao Wanqing chose to trust her this time. She believed that whatever Lin Xian hadn’t disclosed to her wouldn’t be something to harm her. Everyone has secrets they prefer not to share, even two people in love have personal boundaries they wish to keep inviolate. She respected Lin Xian’s privacy.
Still, she tilted her head while rubbing her hair, letting out a small chuckle. Curiosity was hard to suppress.
The next day during lunch break, Xiao Wanqing remembered and called Wen Tong.
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She knew that yesterday Wen Tong went to Shixing Headquarters for a meeting and wanted to check on her to see how it went. She also wanted to ask how she plans to spend this year’s National Day alone.
Wen Tong, with one hand supporting her forehead and the other tapping on the medicine box on the table, felt a mix of emotions. Seeing a call from Xiao Wanqing, she hesitated for a while but eventually decided to answer. “Hello, it’s me.”
As expected, Xiao Wanqing quickly picked up on something and asked her with concern, “Why does your voice sound hoarse?”
Wen Tong instinctively coughed, cleared her throat, and tried to sound composed, “Maybe just caught a cold.”
“Is it serious? Have you taken any medication?”
“It’s nothing, no big deal,” Wen Tong replied awkwardly. She listened to Xiao Wanqing ramble on for a few more moments before changing the subject and talking about something else.
When Wen Tong heard that Xiao Wanqing and Lin Xian were planning a trip during the National Day holiday, she offered, “I can drive you to the airport. I’ll be busy with work this National Day, so I’ll just rest at home for a couple of days, not planning to go out.”
“Well, Wen Tong, it’s too early for you to come with us. Just pick us up on the way back,” Xiao Wanqing responded after some thought, accepting Wen Tong’s offer without hesitation. She earnestly added, “We’ll be back in the evening. You can pick us up, and then we can go out for dinner together. Xianxian doesn’t know about what I’ve already told you. This time, let me officially introduce her to you.” Towards the end, her voice carried a rare sense of love and sweetness, cautiously warning Wen Tong not to intimidate Lin Xian, emphasizing, “Don’t pressure her or scare her.”
She wanted to introduce Lin Xian to her important person, as Lin Xian had done for her, to give Lin Xian recognition and security.
This was a decision she made with determination, wanting to try to walk a long way with Lin Xian before daring to do this.
“Offering myself as free labor, yet still having so many demands. I’m not going anymore,” Wen Tong joked. Hearing Xiao Wanqing’s increasingly lively tone, Wen Tong felt a mix of joy and sweetness in her heart. Overall, her happiness for Xiao Wanqing outweighed everything else.
Xiao Wanqing chuckled softly in response.
Before ending the call, Xiao Wanqing couldn’t help but remind once again anxiously, “No matter how busy you are, make sure to eat your meals regularly, and don’t forget to take your medicine.”
Looking at the medicine box on her desk, the sticky note attached to it, with the sharp words “Remember to take your medicine,” Wen Tong rubbed her temples wearily, sighed, and reluctantly agreed, “Okay, I got it.”
After hanging up, Wen Tong awkwardly adjusted her posture to make her back and legs more comfortable. Frowning, she looked at the four big characters for a while, then finally irritatedly crumpled the sticky note into a ball and tossed it into the trash can.
Yesterday’s nitpicking made her uncertain whether Shi Jinglan was trying to be difficult with her. But today, Shi Jinglan, who is a thousand miles away from Anjiang City, went out of her way to have an express delivery send medicine to the company for her, making Wen Tong realize that this was clearly a naked retaliation and mockery!
Last night, inexplicably, she followed Shi Jinglan upstairs and eerily had a midnight snack with her.
“Manager Wen’s skills are pretty good.” Shi Jinglan elegantly set down her chopsticks, glanced at Wen Tong’s neatly trimmed nails, and lightly praised her.
Feeling Shi Jinglan’s gaze, Wen Tong unconsciously tightened her hands, inexplicably feeling guilty.
After the meal, Wen Tong sat on the sofa, her rationality returning slightly, wanting to bid farewell and leave. However, Shi Jinglan opened a bottle of red wine, took out two wine glasses, placed them on the coffee table, and sat beside her, saying, “A friend recently gave me a good bottle of wine. Manager Wen, are you interested?” Pouring the wine, she handed a glass over, looking at her with a smirk on her face.
It seems like it’s hard to refuse.
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“President Shi, I’ll have to drive later.”
Shi Jinglan, hearing this, calmly smirked and leaned closer to Wen Tong, near her ear, and lightly smiled, “I have a guest room here. Didn’t you sleep over before?”
Wen Tong’s heart raced as she felt the refreshing scent and slightly magnetic voice emanating from her, suddenly speeding up.
Shi Jinglan backed away from Wen Tong’s ear, took a sip of red wine, and in the next moment, before Wen Tong could react, she suddenly leaned in and forcefully kissed her, parting her slightly open lips due to her daze and passing the sweet taste of red wine.
Drunkenness not from alcohol, but self-infliction. The deliberately forgotten memories and the revived desires resurge. Wen Tong, after enduring and evading passively, takes control effortlessly and quells the storm.
She witnesses a flicker of surprise and panic in Shi Jinglan’s calm eyes as she easily overpowers her. Suddenly, an infinite joy and excitement bloom in Wen Tong’s heart.
Despite the disparity in strength, Shi Jinglan’s attempts to regain dominance are skillfully subdued by Wen Tong.
Clothes strewn from the living room to Shi Jinglan’s bedroom in disarray.
This time, Wen Tong is sober. Though inexperienced, with exceptional observation and endurance, she perseveres despite Shi Jinglan’s impatient attempts to end it, gaining momentum until she finds the right spot. What follows is a victorious journey, leaving Shi Jinglan trembling like a drifting leaf in the wind.
After asking for it several times, the usually arrogant and domineering President Shi suddenly appeared weak like a delicate girl, clutching the blanket tightly, her eyelashes wet as she drifted off to sleep. Wen Tong’s heart softened for a moment. She gently ruffled Shi Jinglan’s sweaty black hair at her temples and let her be. Helping Shi Jinglan tidy up a bit, Wen Tong then went to take a shower herself before falling into a deep sleep.
At some point, Wen Tong felt herself waking up from the heat. Groggily, she sensed a weight on her body, as if something was pressing down on her. Opening her eyes, she realized it wasn’t a mistaken feeling!
The woman who had clearly fallen asleep due to exhaustion was now lighting fires around her body.
Wen Tong tried to move her hands to push her away but realized that Shi Jinglan had securely tied her wrists together with a ribbon.
Caught off guard, Wen Tong unconsciously blurted out, “Are you a pervert?”
When Shi Jinglan raised her eyebrows slightly displeased, the next moment, a hint of a smile appeared in her eyes. She gently nibbled on Wen Tong’s jawline and softly said with dignity and warmth, “I should at least charge you some tuition fees.”
Later, apart from some murmurs, Wen Tong couldn’t say another word…
When she woke up again, it was already mid-morning, and she was alone in bed. Shi Jinglan left a note, telling Wen Tong that she had caught an early flight for a business trip.
Well played, Shi Jinglan.
“A gentleman’s revenge will always be in time,” Wen Tong thought viciously, clutching her throbbing throat as if it were smoking.
Before the holidays, Lin Xian’s probation period of one year was up. Along with her, three other classmates were also due for the formal assessment. The branch arranged a time for them to hold a confirmation vote meeting.
Usually, such voting meetings are just a formality unless there are significant issues, so Lin Xian didn’t pay much attention to it.
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Not until the vote-counting began.
The other three classmates all received unanimous approval. However, Lin Xian had one dissenting vote and two abstentions. Everyone was a bit surprised.
Although these three votes didn’t affect the final outcome of her confirmation, Lin Xian still found it somewhat puzzling.
She couldn’t think of anyone in the branch she had offended.
Shi Man was in the same branch as her. She had been preparing in high school, and she became a formal member last school year. After the meeting, Shi Man walked with her towards the parking lot and couldn’t help but speak up for Lin Xian: “It’s toxic, right? Who voted against and abstained.” Seeing Lin Xian looking contemplative, she was afraid that she might be bothered, so she jokingly reassured her: “I know, Lin Xiaoxian, maybe some female classmate is jealous of you for being too beautiful, attracting bees and butterflies.”
Lin Xian chuckled at her teasing: “Looks like you’re not as beautiful as me.” Shi Man had also passed with all votes.
She wasn’t sensitive, so if she didn’t understand something, she wouldn’t overthink it. “It’s okay; once this is over, it’s over, and it won’t affect the final result anyway.”
Right now, she just wanted to go home, practice her hand speed again, rush to work on the travel guide she prepared for Xiao Panpan, and homemade chessboard, then quickly embrace their perfect holiday.