Chapter 9: Swimsuit

At lunchtime, Li Qingji did indeed have lunch with them in the cafeteria, along with several senior executives, including all team members. Jiang Nai’s group sat at a distance from him, but it didn’t stop them from whispering about him, like what he was wearing today or his tone when speaking to them.

After lunch, the small group from the same department went back to their rooms for a short rest and then set out together.

The hot spring resort not only had hot springs but also featured beautiful mountain scenery. Yao Qi had done some research before coming and knew there was a café within the resort that was perfect for enjoying the view. The group enthusiastically made their way there, and as they pushed the door open, the bell chimed softly.

Upon entering, they saw that the left side had the coffee preparation counter, while the right side led to an open seating area. Beyond the railings, layers of mountains rose and fell, varying in depth and lush greenery.

“Wow, it’s so beautiful.”

Wang Wenbo couldn’t resist taking out his phone and snapping a picture of the scene outside even before ordering coffee.

After taking the picture, he paused and put away his phone, pulling on the person next to him: “Sister Qi, is that our boss over there?”

Yao Qi and the others looked over, and naturally, so did Jiang Nai.

It was indeed Li Qingji.

He sat outdoors on the left side, closest to the railing. Today, he was dressed casually, quite different from his usual suited appearance at the office: a plain white T-shirt, black pants, a black trench coat, and a matching wristwatch, the dark blue dial exuding a subtle, understated glow.

He sat there nonchalantly, with a touch of laziness, yet still exuding an air of elegance.

With him at the table were two people: one was Snitt’s R&D director, and the other was a woman.

Not someone from their company, but… Jiang Nai had seen her before.

She recalled that once, when she was going with him to meet his parents, she waited in the underground parking garage of the Hengchuan headquarters and had seen this woman there too. She looked as beautiful as before, with exquisite makeup and a little black dress, her face carrying a gentle, charming smile.

Wang Wenbo: “Who is that woman, the boss’s girlfriend?”

Yao Qi said: “Keep your voice down, come order your coffee first.”

“Oh, right.” Wang Wenbo walked to the counter but couldn’t help glancing in that direction. “She’s probably his girlfriend, right? I mean, if she were just a business partner, why would she come to our team-building site? I bet the boss brought her to enjoy the hot springs.”

Xu Xiao: “That’s pretty normal; some colleagues even brought family members.”

Wang Wenbo: “I didn’t say it’s not normal, I just meant that the boss’s girlfriend is quite pretty, isn’t she, Nai Nai?”

Jiang Nai, suddenly named, paused for a moment, “Uh… she is pretty.”

After ordering coffee, everyone, mindful not to disturb Li Qingji, chose seats far from him.

After sitting down, Jiang Nai glanced in Li Qingji’s direction again, unintentionally.

What Wang Wenbo said did make sense; someone from work wouldn’t come during a company team-building event, so the only options were a family member or friend… but calling her a girlfriend? She felt that might not be the case.

After all, she was here too.

Even though they weren’t together because of love, for families like the Jiangs and Lis, appearances were important.

Li Qingji wouldn’t openly do something that would publicly embarrass her, right…

——

As for Li Qingji and his “girlfriend,” Jiang Nai didn’t think too much about it afterward.

It wasn’t something worth analyzing or pondering over for her.

After returning from the café, she and Yao Qi changed into their swimsuits and headed to the hot springs together.

The outdoor natural hot spring pool was unisex, but both of them felt it would be awkward with male colleagues around, so they chose a separate pool. The best moment for two working women was sinking into the water and leaning against the stone wall, but after twenty minutes, it became a bit much, and they decided to get out.

Yao Qi, saying that such a beautiful swimsuit shouldn’t go to waste, had Jiang Nai take a few pictures of her before getting out.

After taking pictures of Yao Qi, she then held onto Jiang Nai to take a few shots of her as well.

“That’s enough, sister Yao Qi, I’m done taking pictures,” Jiang Nai pleaded for mercy.

“Alright, I already got some nice ones earlier. Take a look,” Yao Qi handed her phone back to her.

Jiang Nai wasn’t particularly interested, so she glanced at it briefly and prepared to leave.

“Nai Nai, do you want me to take one of you from up there?”

Jiang Nai smiled helplessly, “No need.”

“But this outfit looks so great on you. What a waste of those beautiful legs and back! I’m lucky to have seen it.”

Jiang Nai laughed and pulled her, “Alright, let’s go back.”

Li Qingji had gone all out with the team-building perks this time; the dinner that night was the most expensive and delicious seafood feast at the resort. He probably wanted everyone to feel more relaxed, so he didn’t show up in the evening.

As a result, everyone did have a blast—enjoying the food, wine, and games—until the gathering finally dispersed at 10 p.m.

Yao Qi had drunk a bit too much and was unsteady on her feet, so Jiang Nai helped her back to her room.

“Nai Nai, I’m going to sleep first. If you want to go to the hot spring later, call me!”

“You’re in no condition to soak in a hot spring, just sleep.”

“I can do it…”

Despite saying that, she had already passed out.

Jiang Nai found it amusing and covered her with a blanket before lying down on her own bed. She had only had a bit of red wine, so she was still quite awake. Plus, being in an unfamiliar place, she found it hard to fall asleep.

She sat up again, deciding to go soak in a hot spring to help her sleep better. Moving quietly, she changed into her swimsuit and bathrobe and headed to the hotel’s outdoor hot spring pools.

The entire hotel had been booked out by their company for these few days. With everyone drinking and playing games that night, most had gone back to their rooms by this time, leaving the hot spring area almost empty.

Jiang Nai walked in and found an empty pool.

She brought her phone to keep track of time and soaked while chatting with her friend Xue Lin. After a while, when she figured enough time had passed, she got up to leave the pool.

“Not available for the next couple of days; I haven’t gone back yet. How about the weekend? We can have dinner together then,” Jiang Nai sent a voice message, followed by a relaxed-face emoji.

Xue Lin’s voice message quickly followed, “I really want to soak in a hot spring too.”

Jiang Nai replied, “Next time, let’s come together. It’s really nice here.”

As she was talking, she suddenly heard approaching footsteps.

Was someone else also coming for a late-night soak?

Jiang Nai turned her head casually to take a look, but her gaze froze in an instant.

In the quiet of the night, a tall figure became clearer under the soft lighting. He was wearing a bathrobe, revealing only two straight, toned calves that hinted at a hidden strength.

Li Qingji…

He also hadn’t expected anyone else to be at the hot spring at this hour, and when he looked over, the person in the pool had just emerged from the water. Water cascaded down her body, making the black swimsuit cling to her skin more tightly, showcasing her graceful curves. Her legs, stepping onto the stone slab, were fair and slender.

Li Qingji paused for a moment, and then his eyes met Jiang Nai’s startled gaze.

Jiang Nai was too stunned to react and stood there rigidly.

“…What a coincidence.”

Li Qingji looked at her for a moment and then said, “You’re here so late?”

The thin black straps wound around her waist, accentuating its slenderness, and disappeared behind her back, contrasting strikingly with her pale skin.

The black-and-white contrast was mesmerizing.

For a rare moment, Li Qingji was distracted, realizing how those scattered straps from that day were meant to be worn.

“I wanted to soak for a bit to help me sleep. What about you?”

“The same.”

“Oh…” Jiang Nai couldn’t hide her unease. “Well, I’m done, so I’ll head back. You go ahead.”

The night breeze brought a hint of chill, making Jiang Nai feel uncomfortable in her swimsuit in front of Li Qingji. She quickly moved to grab the bathrobe she had left on the stone by the pool’s other side.

But just then, more noises came from the other side of the path, voices approaching.

Jiang Nai recognized Wang Wenbo and Xu Xiao’s voices. She paused and was about to rush over to get her bathrobe when she felt warmth on her shoulders.

Li Qingji had draped his bathrobe over her.

“Put this on and head back,” he said as he stepped directly into the hot spring she had just been in.

In the blink of an eye, the voices of the approaching colleagues were already close. Had she tried to get her bathrobe, she probably wouldn’t have made it in time. The coworkers would have seen her standing next to the boss by the hot spring in her swimsuit.

That would surely lead to speculation.

Jiang Nai silently thanked Li Qingji for a brief moment, pulled the bathrobe tightly around her, and jogged forward.

“Jiang Nai?! You’re here this late too?” She bumped right into Wang Wenbo and the others.

Jiang Nai kept her composure, “Yes… couldn’t sleep, so I thought I’d soak for a bit. Why are you guys here? Weren’t you drinking?”

Wang Wenbo laughed, “A bit of alcohol is nothing. Xu Xiao and I couldn’t sleep either, so we thought we’d come soak.”

Xu Xiao noticed her wearing a bathrobe and asked, “Jiang Nai, are you heading back?”

“Yes, I’m done. You guys go ahead. I’ll be off now.”

“Alright…”

Jiang Nai hurried away. Xu Xiao watched her retreating figure for a moment before turning back around.

“Hey, your group’s new member is really beautiful,” a colleague from another team remarked.

Wang Wenbo proudly said, “Of course! She’s the flower of our marketing department!”

“Does she have a boyfriend? Introduce me!”

Xu Xiao frowned, “What are you doing? Don’t you have a girlfriend?”

The colleague replied, “Oh, don’t mention it. We broke up a while back…”

Xu Xiao said, “You just broke up. Don’t be so quick to go after someone new.”

“Hey, what are you saying? It’s not like I’m two-timing. Wait, Xu Xiao, don’t tell me you’re interested too, and that’s why you don’t want to introduce me.”

Xu Xiao’s expression shifted slightly, “Get lost.”

“Heh, I knew it”

“Stop talking nonsense.”

The group continued chatting as they passed by an occupied hot spring pool.

They took a closer look. Wasn’t that the boss?!

The group immediately quieted down and quickened their pace with a shared understanding.

“So late, and even he’s here?”

“Soaking helps with sleep, I guess.”

“Let’s move further in. With the boss around, we can’t talk too loudly.”

“Haha, what a coward you are.”

Xu Xiao laughed along but suddenly remembered something and glanced back.

Jiang Nai was here earlier…

Could they…?

However, before that thought could fully form, he dismissed it.

Xu Xiao shook his head—no way. Jiang Nai wasn’t that kind of person.

—

The hotel robes were separated by gender, and the one she wore was much too large for her.

Back in her room, Jiang Nai took off Li Qingji’s robe and went into the bathroom to take a shower.

Ding—

She had just stepped out when she heard her phone chime. Jiang Nai quickly walked over to silence her phone so it wouldn’t wake Yao Qi, then opened the WeChat message.

Li Qingji: [Which day over the weekend did you plan to meet your friend?]

Jiang Nai realized that he must have overheard her voice message at the hot spring and typed: [I haven’t decided yet.]

[Could you schedule it for Sunday?]

[Yes, I can. Why?]

Li Qingji: [A friend’s birthday is on Saturday, and I need you to accompany me.]

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