Chapter 47: Marriage First, Love Later; Smacking Down Scum on the Side (Part 25)
The office was dead silent, which didn’t surprise Ning Ruojun.
Most of the employees in the company were single, and even the married ones didn’t have the habit of bringing packed lunches. Back when they were in Nancheng, she noticed people ordering takeout, so she strictly forbade ordering in unless absolutely necessary.
It wasn’t because she was afraid the office pantry would smell; it was because their line of work led to many occupational hazards. Lumbar disc issues and cervical spine problems from sitting too long were rampant due to near-zero physical activity. Going out to eat at least forced them to move their joints a little.
Therefore, during the lunch hour, the office was practically empty.
Ning Ruojun had come directly from the airport. Having already eaten lunch, she planned to hold a brief meeting with everyone later before taking Ning Qingqing to the birthday banquet in the evening.
She set down her bag and walked toward the restroom, intending to freshen up.
Separated by just a single door, Ning Qingqing was still in Gu Youchen’s arms.
The man showed absolutely no intention of stopping. Because of their zero-distance contact, the desire burning within him only grew hotter and more intense. A certain part of him had undergone a distinct change—not only was he aware of it, but Ning Qingqing had noticed it too.
Just as she was about to snap the man back to reality, she heard footsteps outside.
Gu Youchen heard them as well. He stopped immediately.
However, his lips lingered on Ning Qingqing’s, grinding gently against them as if unsatisfied and wanting more. The hand resting on the back of her head moved to the restroom door lock and quietly turned it.
Ning Qingqing’s eyes went wide, and she panicked slightly. “Put me down, quickly.”
Gu Youchen nodded and lowered her to the ground first.
Immediately after, both of them heard the sound of the door handle being turned.
Outside, Ning Ruojun failed to open the door and felt a bit puzzled. Was the lock broken, or was someone inside?
She tried turning it forcefully again but couldn’t open it.
She figured that if someone was inside, they might be dealing with something inconvenient, so she gave them enough respect and privacy. Thus, the two inside the restroom heard the sound of high heels gradually fading away.
Ning Qingqing let out a sigh of relief. She didn’t know who was outside, but she glared fiercely at Gu Youchen, silently accusing him of his beastly behavior.
And right now, due to his physical reaction, said beast’s intentions were clear as day.
Ning Qingqing didn’t want to pay him any attention. She planned to seize the opportunity while the person outside was gone to sneak out. She stood before the sink and looked at herself in the mirror.
Her hair was slightly messy, so she quickly reached up to smooth it out. Fortunately, her lipstick had already worn off from lunch, so her lips just looked exceptionally full and rosy from the kissing, without any smeared makeup. Her buttons were all intact, though her blouse, which had been tucked into her skirt, had pulled out a bit when Gu Youchen lifted her up.
Ning Qingqing glanced at Gu Youchen, who was standing to the side trying to calm his agitation. She decided to go into one of the stalls in the ladies’ room to tidy up properly.
But before she could move, the man behind her took a step forward and hugged her from behind.
Ning Qingqing instinctively looked up, her eyes meeting Gu Youchen’s in the mirror.
He encircled her from behind, her entire body practically embedded in his embrace. He tilted his head slightly, pressing his cheek against hers and resting his chin on her left shoulder, gazing deeply at her.
Behind her was his warm chest; she was enveloped by his scent, and the familiar taste of him seemed to linger on her lips. His gaze entangled with hers, watching their incredibly intimate posture in the mirror.
Ning Qingqing had never told anyone that her most sensitive spot was being hugged from behind. She felt her heartbeat accelerate uncontrollably, and every cell in her body seemed to heighten in sensitivity.
Because they were so close, Gu Youchen seemed to sense that the person in his arms wasn’t resisting. So, he turned his head and kissed Ning Qingqing’s cheek.
The restroom lights were bright, and the mirror was clear and clean, reflecting their pose perfectly.
Ning Qingqing felt the air becoming stiflingly hot. She wanted to breathe, but it felt as if there was no fresh air to be found. She could only use her last shred of reason to say, “More colleagues will be coming back soon.”
Gu Youchen nodded, the sensation on his lips leaving him yearning for more. He turned her body slightly and pressed his lips down again.
Ning Qingqing couldn’t push him away; she was held tight in his embrace.
He kissed her for a while longer, only releasing her when he realized the body he had just calmed down was becoming agitated again.
He panted low and breathy, sounding somewhat helpless. “Qingqing is too sweet. I can’t help getting addicted.”
Ning Qingqing’s ears and cheeks burned red. She pushed at Gu Youchen’s chest. “Then hurry up and quit!”
“I won’t quit.” He caught her hand, his tone stubborn. “I like the feeling of being addicted.”
Afraid this guy would stay here endlessly, Ning Qingqing quickly dragged him to the sink and turned on the cold water. “Rinse off—”
Seeing Ning Qingqing’s face flushed like peach blossoms, Gu Youchen nodded with a smile. “Okay.”
He actually washed his face with cold water.
It seemed to help. Gu Youchen smoothed out the wrinkles on his shirt before saying, “Qingqing, you go out first. I’ll come out in a little while.”
The sink area was shared, but the corridor further in split into male and female sides. So, it wouldn’t be a problem if he exited two minutes later.
Ning Qingqing had never imagined a day where she would be sneaking around like a thief in her own company. She quietly pushed the door open a crack, checked the outside, and after confirming no one was there, hurried to her desk.
She sat down, heaving a sigh of relief, but couldn’t resist checking a mirror again.
Oh no, my face is still flushed. I look exactly like someone who’s been doing something naughty!
She drank a few mouthfuls of water to calm herself down.
Her phone vibrated. Ning Qingqing picked it up and realized she had a missed call. Seeing it was from her mother, she immediately called Ning Ruojun back.
Ning Ruojun picked up quickly. When Ning Qingqing asked why she had called, Ning Ruojun responded calmly, “I just wanted to ask when you were coming back to the company.”
“Oh, oh, I just got back,” Ning Qingqing said.
Ning Ruojun replied, “Mn, okay. It’s fine now. We’re attending a birthday banquet together tonight. Ask Youchen if he wants to go, if he’s free.”
“Okay,” Ning Qingqing agreed.
After hanging up, she suddenly felt puzzled. Didn’t her mother say earlier that they probably wouldn’t make it to the banquet?
While she was thinking, she clicked open a message she had just received.
It was actually from Gu Youchen, containing just one sentence: “Sorry, my wife. I missed you too much and couldn’t help myself.”
Ning Qingqing: “……”
Just as she felt she couldn’t reply to this message, the sound of footsteps approached from the direction of the CEO’s office.
The familiar sound of high heels.
Ning Qingqing looked up and saw Ning Ruojun walking toward the restroom. She instantly froze.
What petrified her even more was that, at that exact moment, the restroom door opened. Gu Youchen walked out and ran right into Ning Ruojun in the corridor outside the restroom.
Gu Youchen greeted her calmly, “Mom, you’re here?”
Ning Ruojun glanced at Gu Youchen’s face and neck for a second or two, her tone equally calm. “Mn. There’s a birthday banquet tonight for Old Master Tan. If you have time, you can come with Qingqing and me.”
Gu Youchen nodded. “My father actually mentioned this. He planned for me to take Qingqing as well.”
Ning Ruojun nodded. “That works out perfectly. Are the gifts ready?”
Gu Youchen replied, “Everything is prepared. We’ll head over together this evening.”
Ning Ruojun said, “Good.”
Gu Youchen listened as the familiar rhythm of high heels walked into the restroom.
He walked over to Ning Qingqing’s desk. Seeing his little wife sitting there with a look of utter despair—like a cat baring its claws the moment it saw him—he leaned down, supporting himself on her desk.
“Qingqing, it’s fine. Your mother will just think I was the one who locked the door.”
“How is that possible?” Ning Qingqing waved her phone. “She called me just now. While I was in the restroom, my phone was ringing on my desk, and I wasn’t at my seat. Even a fool could guess that you and I were in the restroom together!”
Ahhh, it’s so awkward in front of my own mom. My reputation is ruined!
Her mom might even think that doing that at home wasn’t enough for them, so they had to seek thrills in the company restroom!
She just wanted to die…
Seeing the myriad of expressions changing on Ning Qingqing’s face, Gu Youchen couldn’t help but laugh. “Qingqing, don’t forget that your mother was once young like us.”
Ning Qingqing looked up.
Gu Youchen continued, “Everyone has times of youthful impulsiveness. When she saw me just now, she didn’t show any displeasure, which proves she doesn’t mind.”
Ning Qingqing asked dejectedly, “Really?”
“Mn. She asked if I wanted to attend Old Master Tan’s birthday banquet and said we should go together.” Gu Youchen comforted her. “So actually, my Qingqing is the only one stressing over this.”
Ning Qingqing was indeed comforted, but she still said, “Of course. Who has skin as thick as yours?”
“Mn, I have thick skin.” Gu Youchen played the rogue. “Otherwise, how would I chase my wife?”
“Alright, that’s enough. You can go now.” Ning Qingqing started shooing him away.
Gu Youchen smiled. “Okay, I’m going back to the company.”
Ning Qingqing deliberately turned her head to the side.
After waiting for half a minute and hearing no footsteps, she couldn’t help but turn back.
Gu Youchen was still standing there, watching her.
Seeing her look over, he immediately said, “Qingqing, walk your husband out?”
Ning Qingqing let out a haughty hmph, but stood up anyway and walked Gu Youchen to the elevator hall.
Gu Youchen pressed the button, looked at the girl beside him, and reached out to hug her again. “Qingqing, see you this afternoon.”
Ding! The elevator arrived.
Gu Youchen reluctantly let go of Ning Qingqing. Just as he was about to enter, he realized several colleagues were inside. Seeing the scene, everyone wore “auntie smiles,” winking and making faces at Ning Qingqing.
Gu Youchen, however, generously nodded and greeted everyone before stepping into the next elevator going down.
The colleagues around her were still teasing, “Qingqing, President Gu seems to like you so much.”
“Did you guys do a lot of kissing, hugging, and lifting high while we were all away just now?”
Ning Qingqing glared at everyone and returned to her seat. Although she was a bit annoyed, she also felt inexplicably sweet inside.
She realized that Gu Youchen’s clinginess toward her had reached a somewhat fanatical level.
He wanted hugs and kisses at any given moment, and now he had even learned the “lift-high-and-kiss” move. Even for brief separations, there were all sorts of hugs and kisses: farewell kisses, good morning kisses, goodnight kisses, celebration kisses…
She was becoming increasingly accustomed to having him in every fragment of her life. She didn’t reject his intimacy; in fact, she was somewhat immersed in it.
Ning Qingqing thought, I think I really like Gu Youchen a little bit.
So much so that she had been infected by him; he had only been gone for a little while, and she already missed him slightly.
However, these thoughts were quickly interrupted by a meeting called by Ning Ruojun.
After all the employees returned at noon, Ning Ruojun held a general meeting.
She announced, “On the first of next month, which is next Wednesday, all work in Nancheng will be wrapped up, and I will officially come to work here in Dicheng.”
Everyone applauded in unison.
Ning Ruojun continued, “Our team performed well in Q1 and Q2 of this year. 90% of colleagues achieved their targets. The next step is to fight the battle here in Dicheng seriously!”
“We’ve been here for some time now. Everyone, please discuss the status of the projects you are responsible for and your understanding of the market here.”
Ning Ruojun looked at Ning Qingqing. “Ning Qingqing, you go first.”
Ning Qingqing hadn’t expected her mother to call on her first. After a brief moment of surprise, she quickly got into character. She summarized her current project and mentioned the solar energy project with Qiao Xiaomian. Finally, she shared her judgment on the capital market in Dicheng.
After she finished, Ning Ruojun offered no critique but simply asked the next person to continue.
Once everyone had spoken, Ning Qingqing realized she had found her own shortcomings through everyone’s perspectives and learned quite a lot.
Finally, Ning Ruojun used a case study as an example—a failed attempt by a leading company from the north to expand into the southern market ten years ago.
Everyone knew about the event, but the specific reasons for the failure had never been analyzed openly. After a two-hour brainstorming session, many people realized the issues they needed to watch out for, the risks they had to avoid, and found the motivation to dare to venture forward.
By the time it ended, it was already past 4 PM. Ning Qingqing returned to her seat and continued organizing her project.
The landline rang; it was Ning Ruojun calling her. “Qingqing, come to my office.”
Ning Qingqing stood up quickly, terrified that her mother was going to ask what she and Gu Youchen were doing in the restroom. But upon entering, she found her mom in full work mode.
“Regarding the Si family, do you plan to strike indirectly and acquire their entire industrial chain?”
Ning Qingqing breathed a sigh of relief and nodded. “Yes. Si Luoqing and Kenny have provoked matters time and time again. I really can’t tolerate it anymore.”
“Mn,” Ning Ruojun said. “Do you need people?”
Ning Qingqing quickly shook her head. “Youchen told me at lunch that he’s lending me his brother, Zhou Linghang. Since Zhou Linghang only acts as a financial partner in his own projects while the Gu Corporation handles the operations, he doesn’t have much to do himself, so he can help me keep an eye on things.”
Ning Ruojun nodded upon hearing this. “That’s good too. Although the Zhou family heir is rumored to be a bit idle, he’s actually not an embroidered pillow [useless but pretty]. Since Youchen trusts his ability, introducing him to you won’t be a mistake. With his status, navigating certain connections will be easier. However, when you hire people, discuss the distribution of benefits in advance.”
Ning Qingqing nodded. “Mn, the company registration should be completed by next Monday. I’ll sign a contract with him then.”
Seeing that her daughter had everything planned out, Ning Ruojun said with gratification, “Qingqing, this is how you must be in the future. Don’t let anyone bully you! And you don’t need to have any burdens. Although you are a Ning Chuang employee, you are also my daughter.”
Ning Qingqing felt warm inside. Just as she wanted to say something, she saw her mother’s expression suddenly become somewhat complex.
Ning Qingqing asked, “Mom, is there something else?”
Ning Ruojun chose her words carefully. “Although I understand that you young newlyweds are passionate like fire, if you don’t plan on having children immediately, remember to take precautions.”
Recommended Reads
