Water and Fire~Chapter 24.2: It Smells So Good, So Good

 

Chapter 24.2: It Smells So Good, So Good

In Rongda University's crowded office, Ren Yan oversaw the project, steadily advancing progress step by step. Whenever someone got impatient, or two parties were about to argue over a particular issue, he always skillfully defused the conflict and quickly devised a mutually beneficial solution.

He could still be fierce at times, but now Chu Qianmiao was completely convinced. Without the courage and ability of Ren Yan have, it would be impossible to move a project forward so efficiently.

The office grew smaller and smaller. After sitting for so long, Chu Qianmiao felt suffocated. She glanced around and saw that several people were away. She figured they must be feeling suffocated, so she went outside for some fresh air.

Taking advantage of the fact that no one was asking her to review the materials, she stood up, planning to step outside for a while and walk around for some fresh air.

Leaving the office, a rich scent wafted from the doorways of every room she passed. Some smelled like rags, some like foot odor, some like a damp towel that had been used for a long time, and some like a rotten old mop. The root cause of all smells is the carbon dioxide released by too many people crammed into the same room, their tense and tense atmosphere.

Walking downstairs and out the door, Chu Qianmiao was greeted by a rush of fresh air, nearly feeling like she was intoxicated.

She swung her arms around, doing chest exercises and taking deep breaths. While taking a breather, she glanced toward the distance, and unexpectedly, she saw Ren Yan. He was standing right in her line of sight, smoking.

He wasn't wearing a jacket, just a white shirt and black trousers. He wasn't wearing a tie either. The top button of his shirt was undone. He didn't seem to have shaved this morning, and a light bluish stubble covered his chin.

Looking at that bluish stubble, Chu Qianmiao couldn't help but curse inwardly.

Damn it. Others would look slovenly like this, but he looked so handsome and charming.

She slapped her forehead to calm herself, telling herself she couldn't look any further. Although she was truly attracted to his looks, she couldn't kneel before his cold attitude. She had to behave herself.

She turned and walked in the opposite direction, intending to walk the other way before heading upstairs.

But Ren Yan, turning around, saw her and called out to her.

"Chu Qianmiao." His voice was clear yet magnetic, his tone plain yet flat.

Chu Qianmiao sighed inwardly, stopped, and turned to walk towards Ren Yan.

"Are you hiding from me?" Ren Yan exhaled a puff of air, and he raised an eyebrow behind it and asked.

"I'm not hiding. I didn't see you," Chu Qianmiao said stubbornly. "You called me because you need something?"

Ever since their exchange of harsh words, their interactions had seemed slightly awkward. Or perhaps, more accurately, she felt awkward. Perhaps Ren Yan hadn't taken the incident seriously, because he had no reason to take her, the one who caused it, seriously.

"Don't go too far," Ren Yan flicked the ash over his cigarette case. "I need to review the documents you're responsible for later. Once everything is clear, I'll print them."

"Oh," Chu Qianmiao nodded. "Okay."

She thought the conversation might end there. Should she continue her stroll or go upstairs?

She didn't dwell on the question for long, because Ren Yan asked, "Why did you come downstairs?"

"I was short of air up there, feeling sleepy. I came down for a walk to get some fresh air," she answered honestly.

Ren Yan finished a cigarette. He pulled another from the case, lit it, took a puff, and suddenly asked Chu Qianmiao, "Want one?"

Chu Qianmiao was stunned, thinking he was going to give her weapons to keep her awake.

She casually said, "One then."

Ren Yan raised an eyebrow, then frowned.

"When did you learn to smoke?" His voice seemed inexplicably colder.

Chu Qianmiao

Didn't you ask me to smoke a cigarette? Are you trying to get me to smoke it?

She grinned. "If it's a cigarette given by a friendly company leader, I'll take it. Whatever you say, boss, I have to take it."

Ren Yan exhaled another cloud of air. When it dissipated, he looked at her with half-closed eyes and asked, "Is there something else?"

"No, no," Chu Qianmiao said quickly. "How dare I?"

The conversation grew increasingly dull. She rubbed her hands and said, "That's right, Mr. Ren, I'm almost done with my walk. I'm going upstairs first."

"Okay." Ren Yan raised the half-smoked cigarette in his hand. "You go upstairs first. I'll finish this one and then go upstairs to find your materials."

Chu Qianmiao let out a long, silent breath. She turned and raised her foot, but then stopped. After a pause, she couldn't help but turn back.

She couldn't help but say to Ren Yan, "That's right, smoking too much is bad for your health. You should smoke less."

With that, she turned and went upstairs.

Ren Yan watched the slender figure walk into Rongda. He glanced at the half-smoked cigarette in his hand. He raised his hand to bring it to his lips. Just as it was about to touch his lips, he paused for some unknown reason.

Then he stubbed it out in the cigarette case.

After going upstairs, Ren Yan had Chu Qianmiao and Qin Qianyu switch seats, and he led Chu Qianmiao in reviewing the materials.

Chu Qianmiao felt that Ren Yan transformed as they reviewed the materials. He became extremely strict and fierce, a little frightening. She faced him with trepidation, feeling like she was in a pressure cooker, bearing the pressure he unleashed from all sides.

Their computers were close together. They were also close together. She could smell the faint scent of cigarettes on him. It wasn't offensive; there was even a refreshing, pleasant air to his breath. Unlike heavy smokers, whose body odor even lingered after a cigarette. She figured he must have cleaned his mouth.

"Is it okay to change it this way?" She asked, turning her head and getting a close-up look at his profile.

His face was fair, with a faint bluish stubble on his chin. His nose was remarkably straight, revealing a silent resolve. His thin lips were pursed, giving him an air of otherworldly coldness and elegance. For a moment, she felt the urge to curse again.

He was so damn handsome.

She quickly turned back.

"Let's change it this way." This time, it was Ren Yan's turn to look at her and answer.

He saw her tucking her hair behind her ear. Her fingertips were like the tips of young bamboo shoots, their nails untouched by any artificial treatment, naturally translucent and pink. As she traced her fingertips along her ear, her graceful, elegant demeanor was fully revealed.

Up close, her skin was as white as porcelain, without a single blemish; it felt as if she could sense its touch just by looking at it. It must be incredibly delicate and smooth, like the skin of a young child still nursing.

Her eyelashes were incredibly long, like two fans, fluttering ever so slightly.

As his gaze reached her slender nose, he heard Qin Qianyu ask, "Leader, leader!"

He turned to see Qin Qianyu asking, "I'm going downstairs to buy something. Can I pick up a pack of cigarettes for you?"

He lowered his head and tapped the cigarette case on the table; it was empty.

He turned to look at Chu Qianmiao, who was editing a document as he'd requested. His gaze slid from her file to her. She began typing furiously, her ten fingers, like tender bamboo shoots, practically flying off the ground, like a dazzling finger dance.

He looked up again and told Qin Qianyu, "No thanks, no smoking today."

They persevered, and just when Chu Qianmiao felt like she was turning into a shrew, they finally finished the application. During this time, Chu Qianmiao felt like she was dealing with the devil.