Chapter 59: Xiaoqing Delivers a Meal (Part 2)

Jiang Yang adjusted his collar in the elevator door's mirror, puffed out his chest, and flashed a smug smile. "No need to take-out for lunch today. Someone is bringing me food."

"With how radiant you look, is your girlfriend bringing it?" Ruolan asked in an even tone, her expression entirely undisturbed, not even deigning to look at him.

"That's right, my auntie is bringing it. Aren't you her biggest hater?" Jiang Yang deliberately emphasized the point.

"Manager Jiang, I've told you before, we are strictly in a professional superior-subordinate relationship. Which woman you date, or which club you visit for commercial sex, is entirely your personal freedom—as long as it doesn't affect the company's business," Ruolan said indifferently.

The corners of Jiang Yang's mouth twitched. He had wanted to provoke her, but she truly looked as though she couldn't care less, practically encouraging him to patronize prostitutes.

You, Wang Ruolan, bought the entire company and deliberately set a trap so I couldn't even resign. I refuse to believe you can calmly stomach this public display of affection right in front of me!

"Why don't you join us in the company for lunch, President Wang? Since you just arrived, eating with everyone will help foster friendships with your colleagues."

Ruolan nodded thoughtfully, then broke into a brilliant smile. "Mm, that makes sense. Shortly, I'll join everyone in the pantry for lunch as well."

Her extreme composure left Jiang Yang feeling rather perplexed. Previously, the mere mention of Sister Xiaoqing contacting him would send her into a frenzy.

How could she possibly take the initiative to watch them dine together right before her eyes today upon learning about it?

Could it possibly be that she had suddenly developed some kind of voyeuristic or NTR fetish?

The thought of sharing intimate moments over a meal with Xiaoqing right in front of Ruolan suddenly made Jiang Yang wonder if he was going a bit too far.

For a moment, he felt a little dazed, even doubting whether Wang Ruolan had ever shared that absurd relationship with him at all.

With a chime, the elevator doors opened, and Ruolan stepped out briskly in her high heels.

Seeing Jiang Yang lingering inside the car, she urged, "Are you coming out, or are you done working? I'll dock your pay."

Snapping out of it, Jiang Yang followed the president back into the office and began his workday.

Over the past few days, Jiang Yang had gradually grown accustomed to his position as manager.

He was inherently a capable individual with a genuine passion for design, so he poured tremendous effort into his work.

In just a few days, both the clients and his colleagues in the design department were quite satisfied with his performance. The skeptical murmurs within the company regarding his replacement of Manager Zhao had abruptly ceased.

Once he settled into his desk and the work piled up, he had no spare time to dwell on midday matters, throwing his entire focus into his tasks.

As noon approached, his phone vibrated with a text message from Xiaoqing: "Are you done with work? I'm heading over now."

Reading the message, Jiang Yang recalled Ruolan's nonchalant expression from earlier and felt a vague, unsettling sense that something was off.

He replied, "How about we find somewhere quiet outside where nobody will disturb us for lunch?"

Xiaoqing immediately fired back: "No. Back in university I was afraid of gossip, so why are you the one acting scared of people seeing us now? Eating right at your company is great—let all your colleagues know I'm your girlfriend, and crush the hopes of any girls eyeing you. Enough said, I'm on my way."

Gazing at the word "girlfriend" in her text, Jiang Yang felt the unease in his heart intensify.

She was bringing food, yes, but she was also coming to stake her claim.

Why hadn't he realized it sooner? A simple video call between the two women had already kept him on tenterhooks; he really shouldn't have intentionally engineered a meeting between them today.

Yet now that she was on her way, what could he do? He had no choice but to bite the bullet.

He stepped out of his office just as his colleagues were leaving their desks for lunch. Glancing far down the hall toward Ruolan's general manager's office, he saw the door still tightly shut; she appeared to still be busy.

This provided a slight sense of relief. If she remained occupied, he could quickly finish his meal and send Sister Xiaoqing away, thereby avoiding any encounter between the two.

Stepping into the front lobby of the company, he was surprised to see that Sister Xiaoqing had already arrived at the entrance.

Her tall figure was clad in a form-fitting pink pantsuit that perfectly outlined her graceful curves. Paired with her radiant smile, she seemed to glow, instantly capturing everyone's attention.

Spotting Jiang Yang, she hurried over, shaking the food container in her hand. "I made all your favorites today, and I brought soup, too."

Hesitating for a moment, Jiang Yang probed cautiously, "Are you sure we can't eat outside?"

Xiaoqing knitted her brows slightly. "Of course not. Why are you constantly nagging? Didn't I just tell you—"

"Manager Jiang, who might this be?" Her words were cut short by another woman's voice from behind.

Turning toward the sound, the two colleagues watched as Ruolan strolled leisurely between them in her high heels.

"And you are?" Xiaoqing scrutinized the beauty before her, whose poise and appearance clearly outshone her own, a flicker of vigilance rising within her.

Positioning herself directly in front of Jiang Yang, Ruolan extended a hand to Xiaoqing. "I am Wang Ruolan, the newly appointed general manager of Xinlan Advertising."

"The new general manager?" Xiaoqing repeated, suddenly recalling Jiang Yang mentioning yesterday that the company had been acquired, making a change in management entirely normal.

Even so, this general manager looked far too young. Regardless, she needed to establish her territory first.

"I am Jiang Yang's—" she began.

"Ah, right, right. Look at my memory, I almost forgot," Ruolan interrupted her once more. "Manager Jiang mentioned to me today that his auntie would be coming over to have lunch with him."

Xiaoqing stared wide-eyed at Jiang Yang. "Did you really need to report this to the general manager as well?"

Jiang Yang stammered awkwardly, "I just happened to run into President Wang this morning and casually brought it up."

A wave of displeasure washed over Xiaoqing. She and Jiang Yang had just made these plans this morning, yet he had immediately spilled it to this female general manager who was even prettier than she was.

Furthermore, she had always harbored an aversion to the title "auntie." Why did he insist on calling her that in front of others instead of simply declaring her his girlfriend?

Reaching out to take Xiaoqing's arm, Ruolan smiled. "Don't just stand at the door, come on in. I ordered take-out as well; let's all eat together in the pantry."

Now looking even more shocked, Xiaoqing turned to Jiang Yang. "Your general manager wants to eat with us?"

Ruolan answered with a beaming smile, "That's right. I was originally going to eat out, but Manager Jiang insisted I stay and eat with you. Isn't that right, Manager Jiang?"

Jiang Yang was completely baffled. How did the exact same statement transform into such sarcastic tones once it passed through her lips?

Turning back to Xiaoqing, he saw that her gaze fixed upon him was now laced with a hint of suspicion.