The Overnight Chosen Wife: Darling, Kiss Me Deeper

"Hey Lanni." She flashed a smile at Lanni who was beside Xiehan. 

When the latter merely smiled and nodded to acknowledge her, she pulled a lock of hair behind her hair nervously. "Can we talk?" 

Lanni shifted her gaze to Xiehan while in thought, trying to confirm her last conclusion. The man was not paying attention to Ruby and was busy showing Lin Jian something. Relieved, she pulled Ruby to the side. "What do you want to talk about?" 

"I'm sorry." Ruby went straight to the point. "I may have said things… that caused a misunderstanding." 

"Misunderstanding?" Lanni raised an eyebrow. She had clearly confessed that she liked Xiehan. What was there to misunderstand? 

Ruby knew this, which was why things had almost spiralled out of control. "Lanni, if I leaned against you and said that I like you, what would you think of it?" 

Lanni thought about it and really couldn't think too much of it. 

"That's my point." Ruby smiled. "The misunderstanding was only caused because I was beside him and because he is a man." 

"Right…" Lanni decided to let go of the matter since she wouldn't gain anything from dwelling on it anyway. 

Ruby knew that Lanni didn't really trust her words so she added, "actually, I'm in love with Lin Jian." 

"What…?" Lanni was surprised. There was someone who liked that idiot? 

Ruby looked embarrassed. "Well, I couldn't help it. But being with someone like him… is there any woman in B City who hasn't been with him? Just how many girlfriends does he have already? Although I like him and I know he has interest in me too, I would rather keep my feelings to myself than be with a man who can't keep his d*ck in his pants for a moment." 

Lanni was still surprised about the sudden information. Nonetheless, she was not surprised about Ruby's decision. After all, being with a man who would only date you for a day or two and then break up was merely asking for a heartbreak. Recalling what the idiot had been yapping about lately, she couldn't help remarking about it. "Love changes people. Perhaps he will stop playing around since he is in love with you now." 

"If only that can happen." Ruby smiled. It was near impossible, considering this was Lin Jian they were talking about. "Well, I hope you're no longer mad at me. Can we still be friends?" 

Lanni had to admit that she did feel happier about Ruby being in love with someone else and not having an interest in her Xiehan. "Sure." 

The girls hugged, but Lanni was still slightly wary. After all, if Ruby hated her and wanted to get rid of her, she might just pretend to be friendly to her. 

"Xiehan must be waiting. I'll get going now." Lanni was about to turn and go back when she noticed Ruby's troubled look. "Is there something else?" 

Ruby took the latter's hands. "Lanni…" 

She was about to say something when she changed her mind midway. "Do you want to grab a drink together sometime?" 

Lanni knew that it was not what the girl wanted to say, but she didn't say anything about it. 

… 

Xiaoshi went to say goodbye to Ruby before she could get into Xiehan's car with Lanni. 

"See you soon?" She said as she hugged Ruby. 

Ruby sighed and was about to leave when she recalled something. Xiaoshi could be of help too… Hence she carefully brought it up. "Xiaoshi, could you help me with something?" 

"Of course." She was happy to be of help. 

"Could you…" Ruby carefully made sure that no one was listening. "Could you help me meet up with Xiehan?" 

Xiaoshi was stumped. What?! 

"Please don't misunderstand. It's just that he has been avoiding me but I have something very important to tell him. I would have asked Lanni for help but we just cleared a misunderstanding and I am not ready to start another. 

Xiaoshi blinked her eyes in disbelief. "What could be so important? Tell me about it and I will pass the message to him, or tell Lanni about it." 

"I can't… it's a secret as well." 

Xiaoshi looked at her suspiciously. What was so secretive that Lanni couldn't hear about it? She was at a loss too. "I'm sorry. My cousin would be mad at me if I helped another woman meet up with him in secret. You do know what someone else might think, right?" 

"Please." Ruby pleaded earnestly. "I promise, it's not anything that could sow discord between Lanni and Xiehan." 

"My cousin's waiting." Xiaoshi saw that Xiehan was waving at her and used it as an excuse to flee. What a strange woman. But why was it that when she saw Ruby looking so pitiful, she almost couldn't take it? If she stayed for a single second more, heaven knew she would have thrown away all her caution and helped Ruby. 

…

Lanni's apartment. 

Xiaoshi unknowingly paced the living room in distress. No matter how she tried, she couldn't get Ruby's pitiful gaze off her mind. In the end, Xiehan grabbed her hand so she would stop pacing. "What's wrong with you?" 

Xiaoshi stopped and glanced towards the kitchen, where Lanni was making some snacks for them. "Cousin, can you do me a favor?" 

Xiehan chuckled helplessly. "If you need something, you can just say it. Why do you need to look so depressed?" 

Xiaoshi felt guilty that she was about to do this, but she couldn't stop herself. What if it really was an emergency and only Xiehan could be of help? Hence, she pushed the guilty thoughts to the back of her mind. "Could you meet me tomorrow? I will tell you then." 

Xiehan raised an eyebrow. Was it because Lanni couldn't know whatever they were going to talk about? "Xiaoshi, what mischief are you up to this time?" He asked strictly. 

"Nothing! I have never been up to any mischief, okay? Then it's decided. I will see you at Flowery Ile Hotel at noon." She dashed into the kitchen before he could say no. 

"What are you making? It smells delicious!" She exclaimed as soon as she barged into the kitchen. 

"Does it? I hope it tastes as good." Lanni laughed. "I'm making strawberry cupcakes and the last time I made them, they were a disaster." 

"I'm sure they will be awesome." Xiaoshi rubbed the back of her neck and then took a glass and half filled it with water. She took the water in small sips and when Lanni was not looking, she quickly sent a message to Ruby. 

The two of them had exchanged contact numbers the first time they met tonight. 

[Flowery Ile Hotel at noon.] 

'Sorry cousin.' She thought as she sent the message, then hoped that Ruby indeed had something important to say. She then acted as though nothing was happening. 

___

The next day.

In a large conference room in Moonlight Studios. 

Because she had been away from work for a while, Luna had many reports to listen to. When they were done, she finally talked about the new face in the meeting room, who everyone had been curious about throughout the meeting. 

"Everyone welcome Yun Xiaoshi, the new programmer. She is capable and talented and I hope no one will give her a hard time." Luna introduced and everyone looked at Xiaoshi. 

"Please take care of me." Xiaoshi said modestly, then shyly added, "Don't listen to boss. I would never be a hundredth as good as her." 

"She is pretty and humble. Is she single?" A male employee asked, and everyone burst into laughter. 

"She is pretty, but I still want to contest with CEO Jiang for boss. Do you think I can win?" Another male employee interjected. 

"Jokes aside." Luna massaged her temples. It was because she was usually friendly even when she was serious that everyone grew a little too close to her, not that she minded it. 

Knowing that the male employees were not joking and they really had feelings for her, she deliberately raised her hand so they would see her engagement ring. Heaven knew that a certain someone would explode if he heard them joke around about stealing her away.

After the meeting, Xiaoshi was shown to her office, where she would be working with a few other programmers. Her new workmates were friendly and spent most of the morning explaining Moonlight Studio's current project to her. 

____

Noon, at Flowery Ile Hotel. 

Xiehan wondered what the hell his little cousin was up to. But knowing that she rarely made unnecessary trouble, he went over to the VIP room that she had sent to him. 

Alas, as soon as he opened the door, the person he saw holding a menu was not Xiaoshi, but Ruby! 

"You…" He was in disbelief, quickly understanding the situation. What lowly trick was this? 

"I'm sorry I used this trick. Xiehan, can you sit? It's important." She said immediately. 

"If you want to talk business, give my assistant a call. If not, then stay in your lane and don't ask for trouble." He growled and turned to leave.

"Xiehan!" Ruby stood up, but perhaps she stood too fast, a thud resounded as she fell onto the floor, passing out.