Although she had deliberately concealed her earlier panic, I could still sense a hint of unease in the slightly tense lines of her shoulders.
She stood there, her black suit accentuating her elegant figure. The black stockings beneath her trousers gleamed delicately in the soft light of the crystal chandelier. Even in slippers, she maintained the aura of a CEO, her ankles encased in black stockings exuding elegance and mystery. "Sister Ling, I'm sorry…" Li Zheng hurriedly stood up. "I really…"
"I'm sorry about the suspension," Xia Ling interrupted him, her voice now completely regaining its usual authority. "If you need help, you can always come to me."
It was a businesslike tone, as if she were speaking to an ordinary subordinate.
"No need," Li Zheng shook his head, his eyes filled with painful determination. "For you, it's all worth it."
Xia Ling didn't respond, but simply turned gracefully and led him to the door.
Her footsteps in her slippers were soft and steady, each step seeming to widen the distance between her and Li Zheng.
"Sister Ling…" At the door, Li Zheng gave Xia Ling one last, heartfelt look. "I'm leaving."
The moment the door finally closed, I clearly saw Xia Ling's shoulders tremble slightly. She stood there for a few seconds, seemingly trying to calm herself.
Was it because she was uncomfortable with Li Zheng's offense? Or was it because the aftermath of what happened with Wang Xiong that afternoon was still lingering? Or perhaps both?
I wanted to ask, but I didn't know where to begin.
I could only watch Xia Ling's elegant back, her slender fingers unconsciously stroking the doorknob, her hands trembling slightly.
"I'm going to the study to take care of some work," she suddenly said, her voice tinged with weariness. "Xiaowei, you should get some rest."
Watching Xia Ling's back as she went upstairs in her slippers, a complex mix of emotions welled up inside me.
Her long legs, encased in black stockings, were faintly visible beneath her trousers; every step exuded elegance, yet beneath this perfect exterior seemed to lie too many secrets I couldn't understand.
I stood downstairs, gazing in the direction of the study, my heart filled with worry.
...
I went back to my room and did some homework, but I still couldn't shake the feeling of unease. So I tiptoed to Xia Ling's study and peeked through the crack in the door.
Under the soft glow of the desk lamp, Mom sat in her leather office chair. She had changed out of her suit and into a silk nightgown, draped with a beige cardigan. She was still wearing her usual slippers, her black stockings still on, her small feet in the stockings looking exceptionally elegant.
Mom was looking at some documents on her tablet when her phone suddenly beeped with a video call notification. She glanced at the caller ID and frowned slightly.
"Sister Xia."
Wang Xiong's greasy voice came through the screen. Even without seeing the image, I could imagine how disgusting his dark, ugly face would look on the screen.
"Don't call me Sister Xia," Mom frowned, a hint of displeasure in her voice. "You're the same age as Xiaowei, what kind of talk is that?"
"Calling you Auntie is too formal," Wang Xiong said with a grin. "Sister Xia is much more affectionate. Besides, you didn't object this afternoon, did you?"
At the mention of the afternoon, Mom's expression visibly stiffened. She sighed softly and didn't correct the form of address.
"Come on, let me see Sister Xia's beautiful legs," Wang Xiong said excitedly. "I've missed the feeling this afternoon."
"I'm already home, it's not convenient," Mom tried to refuse.
"That's perfect! What was Sister Xia wearing at home? A nightgown? Or just underwear?" Wang Xiong persisted. "Come on, Sister Xia, let me see."
Mom bit her red lips, slightly adjusting the angle of her phone so the camera was focused on her legs.
"Wow…those black stockings! Sister Xia changed her stockings again?" Wang Xiong exclaimed excitedly at first, then his tone became commanding. "Move the camera further away, I want to see her whole body."
Xia Ling hesitated for a moment, but complied.
The camera captured her complete sitting posture—the hem of her silk nightgown just reached her knees, her long, beautiful legs gleaming softly beneath the black stockings.
"Sister Xia is so alluring," Wang Xiong swallowed hard. "Take your feet out of your slippers so I can see."
"Enough already?" Xia Ling tried to take her phone away.
Wang Xiong's tone suddenly turned cold: "Does Sister Xia want me to go to school tomorrow and have a chat with Xiao Wei?"
Upon hearing this, Xia Ling's hand froze.
She slowly raised her right leg, placing it on top of her left. Her slippers slid off, revealing her perfectly shaped feet encased in black stockings.
"Good girl," Wang Xiong's voice turned flirtatious again. "Sister Xia's feet are so beautiful, a completely different style compared to the stockings this afternoon. Come on, turn to another angle."
Mom bit her lip, adjusting the position of her black-stockinged feet. In the study light, her jade-like feet encased in black stockings looked exceptionally alluring.
"Sister Xia, do you remember what happened this afternoon?" Wang Xiong suddenly asked.
Mom's body visibly trembled, and she subconsciously stroked her jade-like leg with her other hand.
"Don't mention that..." her voice was somewhat displeased.
"What, is Sister Xia shy?" Wang Xiong chuckled mischievously. "I remember when you gave me a footjob with stockings, your panties were wet too, right?"
"Wang Xiong!" Mom raised her voice, but then lowered it again. "If you keep this up, I'm hanging up."
"Okay, okay, I won't tease Sister Xia anymore," Wang Xiong laughed. "So, how's the sales department arrangement going? I think the sales department is great right now. I can't wait to join Lingya Group and become Sister Xia's right-hand man, helping her build her empire..."