Peach Passion Chapter 3

Arriving back to work, Xiang Ti originally intended to tackle the mounting workload on her desk, but is still feeling upset and unable to focus on work.  Her emotions at the moment were very chaotic.

Finally, she was able to calm her heart enough to start work, but hears someone give a great sigh from the side.

“Oh!”  Yi Xuan doesn’t sound like her usual lively self.

“What’s wrong?”  Xiang Ti puts away the file, knowing if she didn’t listen to her friend, she wasn’t going to get any work done today.

“You know about that rotten stone, right?”

“Well, sure.”

Stone is Yi Xuan’s nickname for an architect named Jin Dafu.  The two had a run-in and ended up quarreling, but Jin Dafu approached them anyway with some work.

“The big boss of Stars Technology is very difficult and doesn’t like to deal with strangers.  This project is really nerve racking, I feel my brain cells will soon die out!”

“Stars Technology?”  Why does that name sound familiar?

Xiang Ti opens the bottom desk drawer and takes out her briefcase to look for the crumpled business card.

Stars Technology, Science and Technology Division!

Han Zheng Leng is the chairman of the division, if he is willing to help pull a few strings, perhaps Yi Xuan will be less troubled.

However, did she have ask him?  Oh, she’s already so embarra.s.sed!

“Xiang Ti, what did you say?  Hey, what’s that?”

Yi Xuan sees her clutching a small piece of paper in a daze, curious she leans over to see what’s written on the paper, but Xiang Ti suddenly jumps up abruptly and stuffs the card back into the bag.

“No, it’s nothing!”

Concerned over her friends sudden behavior, but they were always respectful of each other’s privacy, so Yi Xuan did not say anything, sighs and walks away.

Looking at Yi Xuan’s troubled back, Xiang Ti feels guilty towards her friend.  What should she do?

She takes out the business card again, look at the number, and hesitates for a long time before picking up the phone.

“Mr. Han, I brewed some coffee.  Would you like a cup?”

Zhou Min Jing asks fawningly, taking the initiative to place the coffee on the corner of his desk.

“Yes, thank you.”  Zheng Leng glances at the coffee, but quickly focuses on the screen again.

Zhou Min Jing is a little disappointed but not discouraged by his cold persona.  It only makes him seem more attractive.

“Why don’t you try it while it’s hot?  I ground the powder myself, it’s very sweet!”  Zhou Min Jing smiles.

Zheng Leng looks at the coffee, takes a sip, and then puts its back on the table.  “It’s good.”

He praises her out of politeness, but Zhou Min Jing still does not give up and continues to find topics to chat with him.

“Mr…Mr. Han?”  She approaches carefully.

“Is there anything else?”  Zheng Leng finally takes his focus off the screen, eyes on her.

When she has his full attention, Zhou Min Jing excitedly says, “So, a friend gave me two movie tickets, it’s for the latest mega-hit movie.  If you are not busy Mr. Han, we can go and see it?”

This trick is too old-fas.h.i.+oned, the intent too obvious, but she couldn’t let this opportunity pa.s.s.  Mr. Han has not shown her any interest, so she has no choice but to take the initiative.

“No thanks, I’m not interested in watching movies, and I have no time.”  He politely declines.

All his time and energy are focused on work, how would he have time to go see a film?

“Well, how about a concert?  A j.a.panese singer is supposed to hold a concert in Taiwan soon, or do you like western music, there is also……”

“I have a lot work to do.” He smiles, but did not forget to add, “Thanks for the coffee.”

“Oh, don’t mention it!”  All proposals rejected, Zhou Min Jing sadly leaves his office.

When she was gone, Zheng Leng wastes no time and turns his attention back to the screen, inputting more data.

“Min Jing is a beautiful girl, how can you refuse her?”

Suddenly hearing laughter, he raises his head to sees Lin Sheng Nan leaning against the door, giving him a look of mockery.

Lin Sheng Nan is a fifty year old business woman, known for always wearing dark suits, has a serious speech and manner, and is known to be tough and ruthless.

But she is unexpectedly kind towards Zheng Leng, and because of this many seniors in the company are jealous of him.

Naturally, many rumors began to spread, saying Lin Sheng Nan is robbing the cradle.

What others say, he does not care.  He grew up an orphan, and have heard much worse.  He has learned to ignore these gossips, and turned a deaf ear.

He is just trying to do his job, as for what others have to say, he really doesn’t care.

“Chairman.”  He greets respectfully.

“Ah, why didn’t you accept the secretary’s kindness?”  Lin Sheng Nan seems very interested in his personal life.

“I have no special feelings for her.”  Zheng Leng knows he is unable to continue working, so simply stops and picks up the coffee.

“Then who are you interested in?  Could it be that…?”  Lin Sheng Nan suddenly frowns.

Thinking back, she has never seen him being close with a woman before.  Is he not at all interested in women?

“If I’m not interested in women, men are less likely also!”  Zheng Leng resists the urge to give her a dirty look, answering flatly.

“Oh, I believe you, I was only worried is all.” Lin Sheng Nan says in self-mockery.

“Chairman Lin is so caring, but these are private matters, please don’t interfere.”

His tone is a little rough, causing her to raise an eyebrow, and could not help but feel funny.

What, she can’t inquire?

“Good, good, young people have their own ideas, I also will not interfere.”

She turns and smiles indulgently, and was about to leave when his phone rings, he immediately picks it up.

In the next moment, he suddenly becomes silent, a strange silence that causes Lin Sheng Nan to become curious, quietly stopping, wanting to know who the caller is.

Zheng Leng does not know she hasn’t left yet, all thoughts are on the person at the other end of the line.

“Liu Xiang Ti?”  He slowly smiles, thinking she is finally taking the initiative.

Liu Xiang Ti?  Lin Sheng Nan secretly remembers this name, the name sounds like it belongs to a woman.  She wonders what kind of relations.h.i.+p these two have?

Lin Sheng Nan has never heard him speak with such a relaxed tone with anyone before, and can’t help but smile.

“Thanks…thanks for helping me today.”

Xiang Ti feels like a trapped animal, constantly pacing back and worth, her right hand holding the phone.  She’s finding it difficult to spit out the words, as if every word is like a knife stabbing her in the throat.

“Oh?  After so long, can only think to say thanks?”  Zheng Leng deliberately teases.

At the sound of his teasing, Xiang Ti’s face turns redder, but thank G.o.d he couldn’t see.

“Well…I’ve been thinking, what you said is not without reason……  Uh, no, it should be very reasonable, so I just called to say thank you.”  Ah! What is she talking about?!

“So I only get a thank you?”  Zheng Leng’s eyes turn cunning, but no one can see.

“Ah?”

“When a hero rescues a maiden, shouldn’t he receive something more than just a thank you?”  He is like a greedy villain, shamelessly demanding a bigger reward.

“What do you want then?”  Xiang Ti asks in a tight voice.

He is not demanding cars, diamonds, or a mansion, right?

“Don’t be so nervous, I’m not too greedy.  Only for a meal, that’s not so much is it?” He asks amused.

Did he just ask for a meal?  Lin Sheng Nan nearly bursts out laughing.

So he also knows how to chase a woman, and is quite shameless about it.

It seems that she needn’t worry about him liking men.  She wears a happy smile and leaves before Zheng Leng discovers she’s still there.

 

“You want to have dinner?!”  Xiang Ti ponders.

In fact, his request suits her just fine.  Surrounded by a table of friends, it wouldn’t be so hard to ask for help.

But, to eat at the same table with him…

Others might feel good, but she doesn’t know why she always feels a lot of pressure.

Although he appears harmless, but facing him, she feels she needs to pile on more defenses.

But he just splashes hot water on each of them until they melt away.  She spent many years building up those defenses, but with just a look, smile, or word, her defenses collapsed.

To tell the truth, she’s afraid of him.

This is something she will never admit to and speaking of it is just too shameful, but she’s afraid of him, afraid that her resolve would melt at his gentle smile.

However, if she doesn’t pluck up the courage to ask him, then she won’t be able to help Yi Xuan.  She can’t bear to watch a friend so upset.

“Alright!  Is anywhere okay with you?  Or if you want to eat something in particular, I can make reservations, of course, if you want to eat at home, I can also call for catering, or……”

“Stop!”

She was going through a long list of suggestions, but Zheng Leng stopped her.

“Don’t worry, I’m not going eat you.”  Zheng Leng laughs.  “It’s just a meal, eat whatever you want, whatever is convenient for your schedule is fine!”

Food was not important, getting to dine with the person was important.  He wants to have dinner with her because she is the only one that he feels relaxed with.  He is looking forward to their meal.

“I…I am not nervous!”  Xiang Ti strongly denies that she’s nervous, even when her stomach is in knots.

“Oh, you don’t sound nervous at all, your voice sounds wonderful, absolutely not pulled too tightly.”

He was laughing, how hateful!

Xiang Ti blushes angrily, “I will make the arrangements and then inform you, good-bye!”

Ending the phone call, Xiang Ti is surprised to discover her earlier tension has disappeared.

That’s right!  Have to go to the restaurant to order, however in the end, what kind of restaurant is good?

She hurriedly rushes out of the office to ask her friends for help.

Xiang Ti stood in front of the mirror, looking at herself again.

Today, she deliberately picked a delicate yellow suit to complement her skin tone.

She also chose a purple floral scarf to add a bit of feminine charm to her style.

Of course, she denies she’s dressing up for him, she just wants to wear the outfit today!

She looks at herself in the mirror again, left then right, up then down, she’s still not satisfied with her lipstick.

In the past, the mauve colored lipstick matched very well with her outfit, but why does it look so dull today?  Should she apply the red one?

“I don’t know if lip gloss would have been better?” She mutters.

“Hey!”  Xiang Ti was frightened to death.

“Yi Xuan!”  She was both shy and embarra.s.sed, and angrily took it out on her friend.  “Why did you suddenly run out to scare people?”

“I came early, you were too busy looking at yourself in the mirror, so you didn’t see me.”  Yi Xuan says innocently.

“I…was not busy looking at the mirror!”

Xiang Ti immediately denies, her cheeks turning red as she hurriedly gathers the few cosmetics scattered on the counter into her bag.

“Don’t close it yet, let me have a look at your makeup.”  Yi Xuan turns her body to face her.

Xiang Ti did not resist because Yi Xuan is beautiful and if she can give some pointers, she would be more at ease.

Yi Xuan slightly raises her face, looks carefully for a moment, then takes some tissue to wipe off her brown eye shadow.

“Lighter eye shadow is better for you.”  Yi Xuan takes out the eye shadow case, tells her to close her eyes, and proceeds to apply a purple eye shadow.

“Wait, this isn’t too strong?”  Xiang Ti tries to stop her.

She doesn’t want to turn from a smart businesswoman into an enchantress.

“Rest a.s.sured, I have a sense of propriety.”  Yi Xuan pats her shoulders so she could feel at ease, then began to transform her makeup.

Ten minutes later, Yi Xuan finishes her transformation.  “Well, have a look for yourself!”

Xiang Ti opens her eyes, and trembling with fear, turns to the mirror.  When she saw a strange woman staring back at her, she is shocked.

Who is this?  Is that her?

“How?  I look beautiful!”  Yi Xuan is very satisfied with her response. “Come on, let’s let everyone have a look.”

Yi Xuan pulls her out of restroom, allowing no explanations back into the office, and everyone marvels.

Xiang Ti’s usual office attire can be considered old-fas.h.i.+oned, but suddenly she has become a fas.h.i.+onable working girl.

Even Xiang Ti can’t believe this is really her.

“Well, let’s not keep your date waiting.”  Yi Xuan and Cheng Long teases and pushes her to the door.

“Hey, but…”

“Hurry up and get going.”  Yi Xuan puts the bag into her arms, happily waves good-bye, and quickly shuts the door.

“I –”

She was about to say it wasn’t a date, but a work “sacrifice”!

 

Sitting in the taxi, Xiang Ti is well aware the taxi driver has been casting looks at her through the rearview mirror.

Although the taxi driver appears to be honest and upright, but due to the recent rise in s.e.xual a.s.sault reports on the news, she could not help but worry.

Fortunately, the taxi driver is just curious – only, not bad.

He stops at a red light, and looking into the rearview mirror, finally asks, “Miss, are you a star?”

“No!”  Xiang Ti replies stiffly, and didn’t want to continue anymore.

“So, you must be going on a date?”  The taxi driver grins, confident he was absolutely right.

What the taxi driver said stuns Xiang Ti to the bottom of her heart.

Really?  Is she dressed so obviously?

She looks at her reflection in the rearview mirror.  A strange woman stares back at her, she’s beautiful, fas.h.i.+onable, and is absolutely compelling.

Xiang Ti’s aesthetic image is not the problem, she can’t deny that she looks beautiful, but it is not her!  She does not want to have to dress s.e.xy like this to please a man.  This is nothing like her!

Shame and disgust suddenly wells up, she can’t believe she is doing all this way for a man.

She takes off the purple scarf, and then with a tissue, wipes off her makeup without pity.

The taxi driver immediately shouts, “Ah, miss, why are you wiping off your makeup?!”

Xiang Ti coldly responds, “Excuse me, why do you care so much?  This is my personal matter, please concentrate on driving.”

Seeing the customer is angry, the taxi driver does not dare to ask further, and drove her to her destination.

Zheng Leng arrives at the agreed upon restaurant, and quickly spots Xiang Ti, her back facing him.

She was meeting him for dinner, but was also looking over some files, the woman really deserves the t.i.tle of workaholic.

He couldn’t help smiling faintly while slowly making his way towards her.  Feeling someone nearing her, she immediately raises her head.

Tonight, she did not appear particularly beautiful in her conservative suit, but he still felt that she is beautiful.

Seeing him approach, Xiang Ti quickly puts the files away, but not before Zheng Leng notices the “Stars Technology of Science and Technology” words.

The corners of his mouth lift into a full-blown smile.  No wonder she suddenly wanted to “thank him”, so this is it!

“So, what do you want to eat?”  The waiter brought them menus, as Xiang Ti asks uncomfortably.

“Clam pasta with white wine.”  Zheng Leng does not even look at the menu.

“Ah?”  Xiang Ti looks at him questioningly.  “How do you know without looking at the menu?”

“I often frequent this restaurant, one of our company’s Chairmen favors the restaurant’s lasagna.”  Zheng Leng briefly explains.

“Oh.”  The mention of Lin Sheng Nan, Xiang Ti really wants to directly ask, but cannot open her mouth.

She randomly points to the smoked salmon, and then settles back from the small table, the two of them looking at each other.

Zheng Leng is sitting in front of her, looking at her with deep eyes.

Not to be outdone, Xiang Ti also looks at him directly.  The two are seemingly locked in a staring contest.  He can unblinking look straight at her, while she can’t.

Under his intense scrutiny, her whole body feels like it’s been thrown into the oven, heart inexplicably jumping faster, and mouth is dry, she just wanted a big gulp of water.

How did this happen?  Didn’t she say, she wasn’t going to be “charmed” by this man?  She hung her head in frustration.

“How’s work lately?  Having difficulty with a project?”  Zheng Leng leisurely reaches for gla.s.s of water.

“No.”  Hesitating for a few seconds, she shakes her head.

“No?”  Zheng Leng’s appears to be pensive.

Strange, what does he know?  Xiang Ti wonders.

Well, whatever!  She had intended to sweet talk him, but now she cannot open the mouth.

Always a determined person, Xiang Ti has turned into a turtle, escaping into her sh.e.l.l, procrastinating.