After Being Bent by Reader
Chapter 34: Pt.2

"You seem to be very concerned about Little Xu."

"Me? Concerned about her?" Murong Shi's lips curled up when she heard Linda's words. Letting out a soft chuckle, she asked, "In what way do you see me being concerned about her?"

Everyone in the company was afraid of Murong Shi, and even Linda was no exception. However, after interacting with Murong Shi for long periods, Linda realized that Murong Shi was a considerably reasonable leader. She also learned what she could and couldn't say in front of Murong Shi.

Putting on a smile, Linda carefully said, "You've shared a meal with her, you've messaged me to return sooner to remove the paint from her hair, and you're now asking why she didn't apply for the dorm as well. Did you not do all these things because you are concerned about her?"

Initially, Linda had suspected that Murong Shi was thinking of promoting Xu Chuanchuan into her assistant. However, she later received verification from Murong Shi herself that this wasn't the case. While this was a comforting fact, Linda also couldn't help but grow confused. For a time, she even wondered if Xu Chuanchuan was a relative of the Murong household. Otherwise, why would Murong Shi repeatedly seek her out for no good reason?

Murong Shi was slightly stunned. After pondering in silence for a moment, she said, "Aunt Lian prepared that meal for her because she helped Aunt Lian once. The paint incident was your fault, to begin with, so shouldn't you take responsibility for it? As for the dormitory, she's my employee. Is it strange for me to ask about her?"

When Linda noticed Murong Shi narrowing her eyes, which was an indicator that she was about to lose her temper, Linda sensibly put a stop to the topic and fawningly said, "No, no, it's not strange at all."

After secretly wiping away her cold sweat, Linda changed the topic and asked, "It's been some time already. Why hasn't Young Master Jiang arrived yet?"

Linda then glanced at the surveillance monitor and found that Jiang Shaohua was no longer standing before the front desk. After looking through the other surveillance videos, she finally found his familiar figure standing in the corridor outside Murong Shi's office. At this time, though, Jiang Shaohua wasn't alone. Instead, a woman was standing in front of him. Currently, this woman appeared unnatural and did not seem to be particularly willing to converse with Jiang Shaohua.

Linda quickly recognized the woman to be Xu Chuanchuan. After sneaking a glance at Murong Shi, she looked back to the video and asked in surprise, "What are they doing?"

Frowning, Murong Shi said, "Call him in."

"Oh, okay." Linda quickly left the room and approached Jiang Shaohua and Xu Chuanchuan. "Young Master Jiang, why aren't you coming in? What are you talking about with our Little Xu?"

Seeing that someone had finally come to save her, Xu Chuanchuan sent Linda a look of gratitude. She then snuck away while Jiang Shaohua wasn't paying attention to her.

When Jiang Shaohua saw Xu Chuanchuan running away, he called out to her, "Pretty lady, what are you afraid of? I won't eat you! Come back and chat with me!"

However, Xu Chuanchuan did not respond and quickly disappeared into the Engineering Department's office.

While spitting at Jiang Shaohua in her mind, Linda smiled like a beautiful flower and politely said, "Young Master Jiang, are you perhaps interested in our Little Xu?"

Stroking back his glossy hair, Jiang Shaohua faked a sigh and said, "So what if I'm interested? It's not like I can lay my hands on her. Once Murong gets angry, she's no different than a tigress."

Her lips twitching, Linda said, "It's good that you're aware of that. Please come in."

After Jiang Shaohua entered the office, Linda shut the door behind him and left to do some other work.

Looking up at the person who just entered, Murong Shi indifferently said, "I'm warning you. This isn't a place for you to pick up girls."

Jiang Shaohua leisurely found himself a seat in the lounge area and grabbed the teapot on the coffee table. While pouring himself a cup of tea, he said in annoyance, "I know, I know. You don't have to keep rambling about it."

In a cold tone, Murnog Shi asked, "Why did you still mess around just now, then?"

After taking a sip of the tea, Jiang Shaohua quickly put it aside because of its astringent taste. He then leisurely said, "You mean that chick just now? I didn't plan to do anything to her. I just think that she looks familiar, so I decided to have a casual chat with her."

Smiling contemptuously, Murong Shi said, "You toyed with her one and a half months ago. She was manning the front desk back then."

Tilting his head, Jiang Shaohua racked his mind and said, "Is that so? Who would remember something from that long ago? What I meant to say is that she resembles someone I saw on the internet."

"The internet?"

"A female streamer. You wouldn't know even if I told you about it," Jiang Shaohua said as he stood up and approached the water dispenser.

Following his movements with her eyes, Murong Shi asked, "Did you come here to get a drink?"

With his back facing her, Jiang Shaohua said, "I met your dad yesterday. He told me that you'd managed this place quite well recently, so I got curious and came to take a look. Murong, wouldn't it be better if you just took on an easy job at your dad's company? Is there a need to work so hard like this every day?"

"I'm happy to do so."

Wandering his way up to Murong Shi's desk, Jiang Shaohua stared at Murong Shi's face for some time before shaking his head and saying, "Women who are too competitive aren't cute."

Unfazed by Jiang Shaohua's comment, Murong Shi said, "Whether I'm cute or not is none of your concern. I don't need your love."

After taking a gulp of water and wiping the residue off his lips, Jiang Shaohua laughed and said, "I can love anyone but you. You're too scary of a woman. Marrying you will be equivalent to bringing a Female Yaksha home. I'd rather— Hey—"

Partway through his words, Murong Shi had suddenly tossed a pen at his face. And although he had successfully avoided the flying projectile, he ended up spilling the water in his cup all over the floor.

His face crumpling up in anger, Jiang Shaohua shouted, "I'll fight you to death if you disfigure me!"

Paying no heed to Jiang Shaohua's outburst, Murong Shi stared at him quietly for some time. She then changed the topic and said, "Fang Qin's coming back."

His expression stagnating, Jiang Shaohua asked, "When?"

"She still hasn't decided on the specific date, but she should be back by next month."

Putting on a serious expression, Jiang Shaohua said, "Alright. Make sure to notify me when she's back. Even so, this fellow really is something. She went completely silent for three whole years. I miss her quite a bit now."

…

Afterward, Jiang Shaohua toured the newly-refurbished employee dormitories under Linda's lead. Before he left the company, he had coincidentally spotted Xu Chuanchuan. Approaching her with large strides, he shouted, "Pretty lady!"

Xu Chuanchuan had just entered the printing room looking to photocopy some documents. When she heard Jiang Shaohua suddenly calling out to her, she was so surprised that she dropped the several dozen sheets of paper she held. And when she recognized that the other party was Jiang Shaohua, her complexion quickly changed as she stepped back warily and asked, "W-What do you want with me again?"

Pointing at Xu Chuanchuan's reddened cheeks, Jiang Shaohua laughed and said, "Haha, you look adorable. Also, I wasn't lying to you before. The live streaming application I downloaded recently has a streamer that looks a lot like you. Though that girl is much more outgoing than you, and her mouth is like a machine gun when she starts speaking."

While inwardly cursing at Jiang Shaohua, Xu Chuanchuan silently picked up the documents she dropped.

"Do you need my help?" Jiang Shaohua offered in a gentle tone.

"No need," Xu Chuanchuan replied stiffly.

Fortunately, Jiang Shaohua only limited his actions to verbal teasing and nothing more. While Xu Chuanchuan quietly picked up her documents, she heard a cold voice coming from nearby, "Why are you still here?"

When Xu Chuanchuan looked up, what entered her eyes was Murong Shi and Linda.

Currently, Murong Shi had her arms wrapped around her chest and an unhappy expression on her face.

For a moment, Xu Chuanchuan reacted as if she had just seen her savior. The next second, though, she recalled Jiang Shaohua's relationship with Murong Shi. Afraid that Murong Shi would misunderstand, she quickly distanced herself from Jiang Shaohua and sped up her hands.

Showing no signs of fear, Jiang Shaohua shrugged and casually said, "I just wanted to say hi before I left."

Sending Jiang Shaohua a glare, Xu Chuanchuan thought to herself, I'm not even familiar with you.

Noticing Xu Chuanchuan's glare, Jiang Shaohua beamed a bright smile and waved at her, saying, "I'll be leaving now, pretty lady. I'll see you next time."

Xu Chuanchuan: "..."

At this time, Murong Shi spoke to Linda, who stood behind her, "See him off. Come back only after you've made sure he's left the entrance."

Jiang Shaohua protested, "Hey, hey, hey, I'm not a criminal."

Sneering, Murong Shi said, "I'm preventing you from harming others."

Instead of retorting, Jiang Shaohua walked up to Linda and said, "Poor Linda, your boss is such a cruel person to have you keep an eye on me. Is she not afraid I'll bring harm to you?"

Jiang Shaohua's words exasperated Linda. Putting on a reserved smile, she said, "It's fine, Young Master Jiang. I already have a boyfriend."

"What of it?"

Her smile widening, Linda said slowly and clearly, "Oh, he's a bodybuilding trainer. He has an eight-pack, and his arms are thicker than your thighs."

In response, Jiang Shaohua grunted and left in a huff.

Halfway through picking up the dropped documents, Xu Chuanchuan heard the sound of shoes tapping against the floor. Just when she thought everyone had left, she suddenly saw a slim and fair arm appearing in her vision and picking up the documents on the ground.

Looking up, Xu Chuanchuan saw Murong Shi's face within proximity of her. Her heart tensing up, she said, "I can do it by myself."

Pretending not to hear Xu Chuanchuan's words, Murong Shi continued picking up the fallen documents one after another.

When Xu Chuanchaun saw Murong Shi's eyes hidden under her long eyelashes, she secretly exclaimed to herself, What beautiful eyes. After calming herself, she softly said, "Thank you."

Xu Chuanchuan wasn't used to receiving help from Murong Shi. Amidst her daze, the documents she had picked up started sliding down her chest. Just when the documents were about to scatter all over the floor again…

Murong Shi swiftly reacted and gave Xu Chuanchuan a hand, preventing another tragedy from occurring.

However, amidst her panic, Xu Chuanchuan had tightened the arm holding the papers to her chest. This, in turn, led to her hugging the helping hand Murong Shi hand had offered.

With their exposed skin making physical contact with each other, Xu Chuanchuan could feel a warm and subtle sensation coming from Murong Shi's arm. However, this wasn't the most important point. The key thing in this situation was that Murong Shi's slender fingers were poking at her breasts…

Xu Chuanchuan's cheeks flushed red, and she was at a loss on what to do for some time. If she released Murong Shi's arm, the documents she had collected would fall to the ground again. If she didn't release Murong Shi's arm, they would remain stuck in this awkward posture.

Murong Shi probably also didn't expect to be put into such a situation, a trace of surprise flashing across her typically calm eyes. And when she realized that the soft sensation she felt from the fingertips originated from Xu Chuanchuan's breasts, she couldn't help but be stunned.

Xu Chuanchuan made a low cough out of embarrassment.

Immediately, Murong Shi regained her calm and slowly withdrew her hand from Xu Chuanchuan's embrace. She then resumed picking up the scattered documents.

Xu Chuanchuan was incapable of behaving as calmly as Murong Shi, so her face remained flushed and heated even after Murong Shi had retracted her arm. To prevent another accident from happening, she placed the collected documents aside first before silently burying her head into her knees.

Amidst the silence, Xu Chuanchuan could hear her heart thumping furiously. At this time, she was so nervous that even her throat had become parched. And when she noticed Murong Shi looking up toward her, her heartbeat started accelerating even further.

Looking at the blushing woman in front of her, Murong Shi smirked and said, "We're both women. What you have, I do too. What's there to be embarrassed about?"

Xu Chuanchuan wished to cry but had no tears to do so. She also couldn't understand why she was blushing.

Hearing no response, Murong Shi casually added, "Not to mention, yours are smaller than mine. With how flat they are, there's nothing really to take advantage of."

Xu Chuanchuan: "..." Is there a need to land such an emotional blow?