Chapter 15: The Boss And Her White Little Lotus
She had to show Lin Qinglan she wasn't lying — it was necessary, important… and secretly, it was an excuse to keep her close.
Lin Qinglan's gaze was strong, sharp, almost aggressive, and the closer Yu Zixue looked, the more her composure faltered. Her mind tried to focus on the post, but the swirl of Lin Qinglan's presence — the heat, the subtle scent of her perfume, the commanding calm of her posture — made her thoughts trip and scatter.
Although Lin Qinglan was known for her clear, cold temperament, Yu Zixue couldn't shake the impression that she was the kind who observed, waited, and then struck — deliberately, decisively. Her restrained nature made every glance, every tilt of her head, feel like a deliberate test of control.
Du Ruxue, the original character Yu Zixue possessed, in contrast, had always been fiery. Blinded by jealousy, frustrated by the constant comparisons, her eyes darkened with possessiveness, and her personality — strong, domineering, unapologetically bold — made her someone Lin Qinglan could never easily dominate.
And yet, somehow, she didn't resent it; Lin Qinglan seemed to… accept it. She tolerated Yu Zixue's boldness in a way that made her feel simultaneously challenged and protected.
Hey, Aiyu, Yu Zixue whispered mentally, a sly curl at the corner of her lips. I'm betting right now that the heroine's preference is me, not Yao Yinuo. She's falling for me.
Helplessly, Aiyu said dryly, though there was an unmistakable hint of amusement.
Which I don't mind, Yu Zixue continued, a shiver of excitement running through her chest. I can't wait… for me to eat her, dominate her… she's so fragrant.
Host, Aiyu replied, sarcasm dripping from every word, you are… really something. Your exaggerated compliment mode engaged to the point the heroine will eat rainbow such a sweet talker. But your calculations are wildly off. Look at her. She's practically undressing you with her gaze. Two cents says we'll see who dominates who first, and who devours whom.
Yu Zixue's smirk widened. Hmm?
Yes, host, Aiyu added, finally giving a faint, begrudging acknowledgment, you're the best. And yes… I bet she'll be screaming your name soon.
Yu Zixue bit her lip lightly, almost a whisper of a giggle in her mind. I bet a hundred on Lin Qinglan, she thought internally, the corner of her lips twitching in secretive, triumphant smirk.
Her fingers brushed subtly against Lin Qinglan's as they moved, the contact fleeting yet electric. Every glance, every micro - expression, every quiet breath made the thrill of the bet pulse stronger in her chest.
Oh, yes, Aiyu murmured sarcastically, this is going to be… entertaining.
Yu Zixue only smiled, letting her mind swirl with the anticipation, the mischief, and the delicious knowledge that the heroine was already — unknowingly — right where she wanted her.
Lin Qinglan's eyes narrowed slightly, half - squinting, like curved, pointed moons that glinted with an almost dangerous sharpness. It was a look that brushed against Yu Zixue's skin like fire — deliberate, threatening, and thrilling all at once. The faint, almost imperceptible swish of her glance felt like it carved through Yu Zixue's defenses.
Yu Zixue bent closer to her phone, pretending to search. "…Qinglan," she said softly, looking up with wide, innocent eyes, "there really was a little bun called… the voiceless little bun, scolding me just now. I swear I'm not lying. Wait, I'll show it to you right away. You can find it yourself."
As she spoke, her head tilted slightly, letting strands of her silky blue hair spill across the side of her neck.
Her profile was quiet, almost ethereal, and the soft light catching her features made her look impossibly delicate.
It was a moment of vulnerability, and yet there was an underlying challenge in the way her eyes flicked toward Lin Qinglan — something daring, teasing, and unspoken.
Lin Qinglan reached out, her hand brushing against Yu Zixue's fingers as she pressed down gently on the phone screen to stop her from scrolling too fast. Her touch was light, but deliberate, firm enough to make Yu Zixue pause. Lin Qinglan's voice came out soft, almost a whisper, threaded with subtle meaning: "Du Ruxue…"
The use of her formal surname felt like a tether, grounding Yu Zixue even as it sent sparks skittering across her skin. Her breath hitched slightly, and she raised her eyes to meet Lin Qinglan's. The small, aggrieved pout she tried to maintain faltered, replaced by a flash of admiration, curiosity, and something more intimate that she didn't bother hiding.
Lin Qinglan held her gaze for a long few beats, letting the silence stretch between them. Yu Zixue felt each second as if it carried weight — the faint warmth of Lin Qinglan's hand, the predetermined calm in her posture, the electric pull of those deep eyes. It was teasing, challenging, intoxicating.
Finally, Lin Qinglan's expression softened just a fraction. She sighed inwardly, a quiet compromise, almost imperceptible but felt completely by Yu Zixue. In that small exhale, there was a subtle admission, a concession: that she, too, recognized the tension, the closeness, the dangerous pull of the space they shared.
Yu Zixue swallowed, her chest tightens briefly, but her fingers still moved over her phone. She found the comment, tapping it to display it. "…See?" she said softly, leaning just a fraction closer, the soft silk of her sleeve brushing against Lin Qinglan's wrist accidentally — or perhaps not. "The voiceless little bun said it herself. I didn't lie."
Lin Qinglan's gaze flicked down at the phone, then back up at Yu Zixue. There was a brief glimmer of amusement, mixed with that commanding force that always left Yu Zixue slightly breathless.
Her eyes traced the line of Yu Zixue's jaw, the slope of her shoulders under the silky blue fabric, and a faint shiver ran down her spine. She didn't pull away; she let the moment linger, fully aware of the pull between them.
Yu Zixue's mind raced, heart thudding. Every glance, every subtle movement, felt loaded — charged with teasing energy, with intimacy, with something daringly erotic that neither fully acknowledged aloud.
She tried to focus on the post, on the proof she was showing, but the warmth of Lin Qinglan's presence, the quiet weight of her hand near hers, made concentration impossible.
"You…" Lin Qinglan said softly, almost a murmur, "…you've always had this way of drawing attention, haven't you?" Her tone was low, teasing, layered with something more dangerous, more intimate. "…Even when you think you're hiding behind the screen, behind words, behind… all this…"
Yu Zixue tilted her head, eyes narrowing playfully. "…Drawing attention? Maybe I just like being close to certain person," she said lightly, letting her voice carry that teasing undertone that always made Lin Qinglan's calm composure tremble ever so slightly.
Lin Qinglan's lips curved faintly. "…Certain person, huh?" she repeated, voice low. She leaned just a fraction closer, letting their proximity become deliberate. The faint scent of her perfume, the warmth of her shoulder brushing against Yu Zixue's arm, made Yu Zixue's chest tighten.
Yu Zixue's fingers moved against the phone, but she didn't pull away. "…Maybe I just like making them look at me," she murmured, almost teasing herself, almost daring Lin Qinglan. "…See me, notice me. Even if it drives them a little crazy."