Chapter 48

"Your personal driver, Little Ruan, is at your service. Don't forget to leave a good review after the ride~"

Wen Xihan paused in the middle of fastening her seatbelt, turned her head slightly, and her thin jaw subtly moved as if suppressing a laugh.

But when Ruan Xinyi turned to look curiously, Wen Xihan's face was calm and expressionless. She even threw Ruan Xinyi a disdainful glance, as if finding her ridiculous.

Ruan Xinyi let out a soft chuckle, stopped fooling around, started the engine, and steadily drove the car out of the parking lot.

True to her word, Ruan Xinyi stayed quiet the whole way, as if she really was Wen Xihan's personal driver for the moment.

While it was a relief that Ruan Xinyi finally shut her mouth, Wen Xihan somehow felt unaccustomed to the silence. Her peripheral vision frequently drifted toward the focused driver.

As they neared the apartment, Wen Xihan could no longer hold it in. She fixed her gaze on Ruan Xinyi, her alluring peach blossom eyes dark and deep, and finally asked, "What time are you leaving tomorrow?"

She was referring to the departure time for the airport the next morning.

Ruan Xinyi gave her an odd look. "The flight's booked for ten o'clock."

Wen Xihan choked slightly, then rephrased her question. "Are you driving there or taking a taxi?"

It took a moment for Ruan Xinyi to react. She slowed the car slightly before responding, "I'll take a taxi."

"Leave by 7:30?"

Wen Xihan frowned in displeasure and tactfully suggested, "That's a bit early..."

Ruan Xinyi wasn't surprised. After all, Wen Xihan always cut it close for work every day. Judging from her deep morning resentment when waking up, it was clear that she was not a morning person.

In response, Ruan Xinyi compromised and pushed the time back a little. "The latest we can leave is 8:00."

Before Wen Xihan could protest, Ruan Xinyi patiently explained, "We need to be at the airport an hour early. It takes around forty minutes from the apartment to the airport, not counting potential traffic jams."

The logic was sound. Wen Xihan pursed her lips, reluctantly muttering an "oh."

Ruan Xinyi glanced sideways, amused.

"What are you looking at?" Wen Xihan lifted her chin, staring back in dissatisfaction.

With a light smile in her eyes, Ruan Xinyi answered candidly, "You."

"General Manager Wen is very cute."

Especially in the morning—when freshly woken up, her voice still husky, and her peach blossom eyes misty and dazed. She looked so soft and adorable that it made one want to...

Of course, Ruan Xinyi wouldn't dare say that out loud. She could only silently complain in her heart to suppress her urges.

She also couldn't help regretting missing that particular morning when Wen Xihan woke up in a daze. She had slept too soundly and didn't even know when Wen Xihan left, causing her to miss out on witnessing her adorable groggy state.

Wen Xihan's expression gradually turned cold, her features becoming increasingly aloof, but the tips of her ears hidden beneath her hair burned hot.

"Beep—"

The sensor detected the license plate and slowly raised the barrier.

Wen Xihan lifted her hand and pointed to the roadside ahead, gritting her teeth. "Pull over."

"Oh." The big boss had spoken—how could Ruan Xinyi dare to disobey? She obediently pulled the car over to the side and parked.

Without another word, Wen Xihan unfastened her seatbelt and ordered coldly, "Get out."

Ruan Xinyi complied, stepping out of the car.

She then watched as Wen Xihan moved to the driver’s seat, shot her an annoyed glare, and drove off without so much as a backward glance.

Ruan Xinyi, who had just been ‘abandoned’ by the roadside: "…"

Watching the black Mercedes gradually disappear from sight, Ruan Xinyi couldn’t help but hold her forehead and chuckle.

Such a Wen Xihan… was really cute.

---

At this moment, the phrase flustered and exasperated couldn’t be more appropriate to describe Wen Xihan.

To be fair, this was probably the first time in her life she had ever been called cute.

If it had been anyone else, she might have been fine. But of all people, it just had to be Ruan Xinyi—her mischievous little niece.

Parking the car with a huff, Wen Xihan touched the burning tip of her ear, her little finger trembling slightly.

Perhaps she could fool Ruan Xinyi, but at this moment, she could not fool herself.

Outside the car window, the sunset painted the sky a brilliant shade of red.

In the flowerbed, a nameless flower glowed warmly under the evening glow.

---

Being dropped off near home didn’t bother Ruan Xinyi in the slightest. She simply took it as an opportunity for a walk, strolling slowly with her hands in her pockets.

But when she spotted Wen Xihan standing beside her car, seemingly waiting for her, she was still slightly surprised.

"You left your stuff in my car." Wen Xihan shook the bag in her hand, her peach blossom eyes flickering as she deliberately avoided Ruan Xinyi’s gaze.

Ruan Xinyi’s eyes gleamed with amusement, her tone light. "Thank you, sister."

Pressing her lips together, Wen Xihan replied flatly, "I just didn’t want you to come back later to get it—too much hassle."

Ruan Xinyi nodded in agreement, the smile in her eyes not diminishing in the slightest. "Mm, I know."

"…"

Wen Xihan gave her a deep look, her jaw slightly tensed, before silently turning around and heading toward the apartment building.

Suppressing her smile, Ruan Xinyi maintained a small half-step distance behind Wen Xihan, following her upstairs.

The elevator was still descending from the third floor.

Ruan Xinyi casually kicked the corner of the wall and half-jokingly asked, "Sister, do you want to share a meal tonight?"

"What do you mean by share a meal?" Wen Xihan didn’t quite understand Ruan Xinyi’s slang, her gaze puzzled. Probably a generational gap.

"Ding—"

The elevator arrived.

Ruan Xinyi held the elevator door open, waiting for Wen Xihan to enter before following suit.

"Sharing a meal means pooling together to eat, like splitting the bill." Ruan Xinyi tucked her hair behind her ear, her smile slightly mischievous. "And today’s weather is perfect for hotpot."

"I already have all the ingredients at my place. You just need to help me wash the vegetables."

Ruan Xinyi’s suggestion was undeniably tempting, causing Wen Xihan’s resolve to waver.

Just the other day, the aroma of hotpot from her neighbor’s apartment had lingered in her living room for three whole days before dissipating…

She had been craving hotpot ever since but never found the time.

Swallowing hard, Wen Xihan was about to refuse when Ruan Xinyi casually added, "Ah, I was planning to have hotpot tonight anyway. But you know, eating hotpot alone feels a bit lonely, and there’s always too much food leftover. Plus, since I’ll be traveling to S City for a few days, I don’t want it all to go to waste."

"So, sister, do me a favor and help me finish it, okay? Don’t let the food go to waste."

Wen Xihan was speechless. "You could just prepare less."

Ruan Xinyi shrugged. "But hotpot has its standard ingredients, you know? Without them, it doesn’t feel right."

"…"

Once again, Wen Xihan witnessed Ruan Xinyi’s gift of gab. This girl could turn black into white with her words.

Coupled with her persistent efforts to get Wen Xihan over, the latter—already wavering—soon caved and agreed.

---

When they arrived, Ruan Xinyi wasted no time. She immediately pulled out the hotpot and ingredients from her fridge.

Following her into the kitchen, Wen Xihan rolled up her sleeves slightly and asked, "What should I wash?"

Ruan Xinyi casually washed a bunch of seedless grapes and handed them over. "Thanks."

"Thank you." Wen Xihan accepted the grapes. They were sweet, crisp, and juicy, making her eat several in a row, still not satisfied.

Ruan Xinyi plucked one from Wen Xihan’s hand and smiled. "Tasty?"

"Not bad." Wen Xihan responded while munching, her cheek slightly moving as she chewed with elegance.

Ruan Xinyi chuckled and playfully lifted another grape to Wen Xihan’s lips.

Wen Xihan hesitated for a moment before finally opening her mouth and biting into it.

"Aren’t you eating?" Wen Xihan regretted the question the moment it left her mouth. She realized that the grapes were probably too sweet for Ruan Xinyi’s taste.

"I am." Ruan Xinyi popped a grape into her mouth, wiped her hands, and turned to grab a yogurt from the fridge.

Twisting the cap open, she gently placed it beside Wen Xihan. "There are other fruits in the fridge. Help yourself."

"Mm." After taking a sip of yogurt, Wen Xihan finally snapped back to her senses and frowned. "So… what exactly do you want me to wash?"

Ruan Xinyi feigned ignorance. "Huh?"

Wen Xihan stared at her, her expression cool and silent, but the weight of her gaze spoke volumes.

Immediately cowed, Ruan Xinyi pointed at the bowls and plates on the counter, her voice small. "Just those…"

Wen Xihan gave her a mysterious glance and, with a delicate motion of her slender finger, picked a grape and popped it into her mouth. She then walked over to the dishwashing area and meticulously began to clean the dishes.

After spending some time together, Ruan Xinyi could easily tell that Wen Xihan had a bit of an obsession with cleanliness. Compared to the other tasks, washing the dishes seemed to be the easiest job at the moment. Moreover, judging by Wen Xihan's speed at washing the dishes, Ruan Xinyi was confident that she could prepare most of the ingredients before Wen Xihan finished.

Although there was a dishwasher in the kitchen, and Wen Xihan could easily spot it with a slight bend of her waist, Ruan Xinyi had no intention of pointing it out.

She quickened her pace, washing all the vegetables before moving on to handle the meat.

Wen Xihan was still scrubbing the foam off the plates — for the third time. After cleaning a plate, she carefully wiped off most of the water droplets with a napkin before neatly stacking it.

As Ruan Xinyi removed the shrimp veins, she suddenly asked, “Sister, is there anything you don’t eat?”

She had asked this question before.

The sound of plates being stacked echoed in the kitchen. Wen Xihan shook her head, her voice muffled: “I’m not picky about food.”

Hearing this, Ruan Xinyi looked up and smiled lightly, teasing, “Really?”

Wen Xihan, not picky about food? Ruan Xinyi didn’t believe it.

After all, she herself was very particular about food. There were so many things she didn’t like to eat. Moreover, the lunchboxes she made for Wen Xihan were actually tailored to Wen Xihan’s tastes — which, coincidentally, aligned closely with her own.

If Wen Xihan truly wasn’t picky, it would only mean that their taste in food was surprisingly similar.

“Are you trying to make me say something sweet?” Wen Xihan placed the last plate down and slowly washed her hands. As she lowered her gaze, her fine eyelashes cast two delicate, fan-shaped shadows on her eyelids, resembling ink that spread from the corners of her eyes — exuding a vague, indescribable tenderness.

Wen Xihan wiped her hands dry, and the faint ink-like softness in her gaze was soon replaced by her usual cool demeanor. Her peach blossom eyes now gleamed with clarity. “Is there anything else to wash?”

When Ruan Xinyi's gaze met Wen Xihan’s, she was momentarily distracted. In her absentmindedness, she accidentally pinched off a shrimp head.

Without much thought, Ruan Xinyi casually tossed the shrimp head into the trash, then lifted her chin slightly, her tone soft and coquettish, “Sister, I want to eat grapes.”

Wen Xihan glanced at her, then silently reached for the grapes. As she picked one, she glanced at Ruan Xinyi, who was still peeling shrimp veins, and pursed her lips. Without a word, she gently held the grape up to Ruan Xinyi’s lips.

“Thank you, Sister,” Ruan Xinyi said sweetly, biting into the grape. Her tongue accidentally brushed against Wen Xihan’s fingertip. She smiled, her eyes sparkling mischievously, her expression one of someone who had clearly taken advantage but still acted innocent. “It’s so sweet, sweeter than sugar.”  

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Translator's Note:

If you like my translation, you can buy me a coffee on Ko-fi. One coffee is equivalent to one extra chapter. I hope you enjoy reading!

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