Lin Ruijiao shuddered at hearing this form of address. What was with this inexplicable concern from Ye Ruihuan? This was very abnormal for her.
"Mm... very good. Thank you for your... concern, Ye..." Lin Ruijiao quickly stopped herself when she thought of that cloying way of addressing her.
Tsk, disobedient again. This vase really wasn't well-behaved. Ye Ruihuan's upturned lips turned downward, instantly losing interest and too lazy to pay her any attention, continuing to look at the tablet in her hands.
The air in the car suddenly became quiet, filled with the oppressive aura that Ye Ruihuan naturally carried. The driver and Assistant Li were already accustomed to it, while Lin Ruijiao simply didn't want any contact with her, so she kept her head down with eyes closed, resting all the way there.
When they arrived at the restaurant, Zhou Yanyan came over again, linking arms with the isolated Lin Ruijiao.
"Ruijiao, how are things going with President Ye?" The fire of gossip seemed to burn in her eyes.
"Sister Zhou, nothing special. President Ye was handling work matters the entire time," Lin Ruijiao replied with a smile.
"Ah?" Zhou Yanyan couldn't help feeling disappointed. She had thought something might happen between them. The way Sister Ye and Ruijiao acted during the day made it hard for everyone not to suspect they had a good relationship. "Ruijiao, as a newcomer, it's never wrong to perform well in front of President Ye, you know?" Looking at this well-behaved little sister, Zhou Yanyan couldn't help but give earnest advice.
Lin Ruijiao nodded: "Okay, Sister Zhou."
"Ahem." Assistant Li in front cleared her throat as a reminder. Wasn't this place a bit inappropriate for these two to be whispering?
At some point, Ye Ruihuan ahead had slowed her pace and was now in front of them. Hearing their conversation, Ye Ruihuan's face showed no expression, but her eyes were cold as frost.
Sister Zhou? This little rabbit called everyone "sister"? She was all smiles and laughter with others, but just couldn't stand her? It seemed she had been too lenient with her.
Zhou Yanyan immediately went forward with a smile: "Sister Ye."
Lin Ruijiao, who had been pulled along, quickly hid behind her, avoiding contact with Ye Ruihuan. Even when Zhou Yanyan created opportunities for her to perform, she dodged them all.
"Ruijiao?"
"Sister Zhou, I'm a bit afraid of President Ye," she whispered behind her, speaking into the other's ear.
"Sister Ye is quite nice, don't be afraid. Maybe she just looks a bit unapproachable," she quietly consoled.
"Mm-hmm." Lin Ruijiao nodded obediently. Where was Ye Ruihuan just "a bit unapproachable"? Her behavior made it difficult for anyone to get along with her well. Lin Ruijiao understood this all too clearly. In her previous life, she had simply been blinded by love, naively thinking everything about her was wonderful.
The entire dinner party, including Lin Ruijiao, had only about a dozen people. For an unknown artist like Lin Ruijiao, if not for Ye Ruihuan's favor today, how could she have been invited? Everyone present understood this clearly.
After everyone was seated, the producer smiled: "President Ye, Director Chen, see if there's anything else you'd like to order?"
Ye Ruihuan took the menu and looked through it seriously, selecting dishes she liked.
"Everyone here is familiar, but who is this?" Someone at the table looked at Lin Ruijiao and asked, probing for information.
"This is a newcomer from our company, please everyone..." Before Assistant Li could finish, Ye Ruihuan interrupted.
"A newcomer should be treated as such, no need for special consideration," Ye Ruihuan said indifferently.
Several shrewd people at the table exchanged glances. Ye Ruihuan's attitude was truly puzzling, but since she had said so, this person was probably of no importance.
In such a setting, Ye Ruihuan's words were undoubtedly humiliating, no different from public shame. The razor-sharp words pierced Lin Ruijiao's heart, but she herself remained internally calm, only cooperating with the scene by keeping her head down in silence.
Seeing her dejected appearance, Zhou Yanyan's eyes filled with sympathy, patting her arm in comfort. Assistant Li's gaze also fell on her, a flash of confusion in her eyes.
Throughout the meal, everyone was chatting and laughing, only Lin Ruijiao sat there like a pitiful creature, desperately trying to minimize her presence, keeping her head down and focusing on eating.
Zhou Yanyan beside her sighed softly, continuously serving her food. The other's situation reminded her of her own early days in the industry—ignored and met with cold stares. Afterward, Zhou Yanyan pulled Lin Ruijiao to share a car, comforting her all the way back to the hotel.
Lin Ruijiao nodded obediently throughout. She didn't actually care about these things. This dinner had made her suddenly realize that Ye Ruihuan controlled her filming opportunities. If she continued to displease her like this, her acting career might very well be destroyed by her hands. She had to change her approach toward Ye Ruihuan.
Meanwhile, in the black business car, Assistant Li looked conflicted before finally steeling herself: "Sister Ye, weren't today's words a bit... too harsh?"
"Too harsh?" Ye Ruihuan opened her eyes, looking directly at her.
"...No, but Miss Lin is a newcomer after all..." Assistant Li tactfully shook her head.
Ye Ruihuan didn't respond, closing her eyes to continue resting. But Assistant Li's words had firmly embedded themselves in her mind.
As soon as Lin Ruijiao returned to the hotel, Sister Wang came looking for her, asking various questions. Lin Ruijiao, in no mood to sort things out, could only give perfunctory responses.
Ye Ruihuan, also back at the hotel, called to Assistant Li: "Xiao Li, call Lin Ruijiao over."
Assistant Li's face lit up: "Yes, Sister Ye." She hurried to Lin Ruijiao's room. Hopefully this Miss Lin would be more sensible and stop constantly displeasing Sister Ye.
Assistant Li brought her upstairs together. "Miss Lin, do you have some kind of prejudice against Sister Ye?" she asked tactfully. Everyone had witnessed Lin Ruijiao's attitude toward Sister Ye, and everyone knew President Ye's personality too. Continuing like this would only hurt innocent people around them. She didn't know what had happened between the two before, but this Miss Lin seemed particularly resistant to President Ye. For the sake of smoother work in the future, she felt compelled to give this reminder.
"No, Assistant Li." Lin Ruijiao shook her head, returning a smile. "Thank you for your concern."
"You're welcome." Assistant Li unconsciously touched her nose. This Miss Lin was very easy to get along with—so why was she so cold when encountering Sister Ye?
Arriving at the presidential suite on the top floor, Assistant Li knocked symbolically twice before pushing the door open.
"Sister Ye, Miss Lin is here." Assistant Li said respectfully to Ye Ruihuan, who was curled up on the sofa. "Sister Ye, I'll go out first. Call me if you need anything."
The moment the door closed, Ye Ruihuan, who had been holding a tablet on the sofa, finally moved. She lifted her eyelids to look at Lin Ruijiao standing obediently before her. The other looked exactly like a student being punished to stand. Thinking of this, her serious expression softened somewhat.
"Come here."
"Okay, Ruihuan." Lin Ruijiao obediently sat down beside her. Since she couldn't avoid it, she might as well put on an act to get through it.
Hearing this form of address, Ye Ruihuan raised an eyebrow. Had the little rabbit learned to be good this time?
Ye Ruihuan turned around, raising her hand to hook the other's delicate chin. "Say it again." Her eyes held hints of anticipation and excitement.
Lin Ruijiao was startled, then smiled softly: "Ruihuan." Her voice was light like a feather, soft and fluffy, tugging at Ye Ruihuan's heartstrings.
Even though she appeared submissive and pleasing, she still unconsciously showed small movements—physiological resistance to her.
Ye Ruihuan took in all of her discomfort, but she didn't care at all. This pleasant sound erased the fatigue she'd accumulated over these days. She couldn't help but smile, her eyes harboring a few traces of infatuation.
"Why didn't you call me this during the day?" Ye Ruihuan smoothly caressed her cheek. This touch felt so good, soft and tender, and these round eyes were truly adorable.
"There were too many people, I felt a bit uncomfortable..." Lin Ruijiao shyly turned her head away. Ye Ruihuan was indeed still like this—flirting carelessly with naive young girls. But she was no longer a naive young girl, at least not in terms of mental age.
Seeing the other's slightly reddened ear tips, Ye Ruihuan couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Heh, I didn't expect you to be so easily embarrassed." She reached out to tuck the loose strands by the other's temples behind her ear. Where their skin touched, it burned hot.
"Say it a few more times and you'll get used to it, then you won't be embarrassed." Ye Ruihuan's smiling eyes sparkled brightly, like a pool of warm lake water with spring breezes stirring up ripples.
Lin Ruijiao couldn't help but lower her head. For the sake of her career, she had to grit her teeth and endure!! Besides, if Ye Ruihuan wasn't embarrassed, what was she afraid of! She wasn't at a disadvantage!!
Having given herself a mental pep talk, Lin Ruijiao raised her head and took a deep breath: "Ruihuan, Ruihuan, Ruihuan..." Her soft white cheeks unconsciously flushed with a hint of pink. She blinked at the other, her eyes sparkling and endearing.
"Mm, very good." Ye Ruihuan stroked her little head, a beautiful smile blooming on her face, seeming very satisfied. This substitute vase was finally getting into character.
"Look at me." Ye Ruihuan lifted her chin again.
Lin Ruijiao dodged slightly, then finally raised her eyelids to look directly at her. Their gazes met in the air. After seeing clearly the look in Ye Ruihuan's eyes, she quickly lowered her gaze. The burning adoration in the other's eyes was too scorching, searching through her for the person she truly loved.
"Jiaojiao, look at me." Ye Ruihuan's lips curved in a smile. This vase really couldn't handle teasing.
Lin Ruijiao frantically consoled herself: For the sake of my career, anything goes!! I'm not at a disadvantage, I'm not at a disadvantage!!!
Lin Ruijiao obediently met her gaze, various emotions flashing through her eyes before only shyness and a trace of discomfort remained.
"Your smile is a bit stiff, relax your expression." Ye Ruihuan studied her carefully but felt something was off. "Don't smile first, just relax."
Lin Ruijiao's throat involuntarily moved. This Ye Ruihuan really was... heh.
"Yes, that's much better. You look very good when you're relaxed." This finally had a bit of Yu Lan's feeling.
Ye Ruihuan leaned closer, a gentle smile on her face, her affectionate eyes seeming to contain spring water. This made Lin Ruijiao retreat a little.
How could Ye Ruihuan let her go before she had finished admiring the results of her training? She reached out to wrap around the other's waist, instantly closing the distance between them until their noses almost touched.
Even though Lin Ruijiao had been intimate with Ye Ruihuan in bed in her previous life, they had never had such tender moments together. Even across two lifetimes, she had only had one lover—Ye Ruihuan—so she truly lacked experience in romance. Acting this scene, she unconsciously became genuinely shy.
Having no choice but to lower her gaze, Lin Ruijiao mentally complained: Ye Ruihuan, this evil capitalist! This old woman! This scoundrel...
After Ye Ruihuan moved slightly away, Lin Ruijiao finally had some breathing room. She raised her head, but her lips brushed past the other's cheek and landed squarely on the corner of her mouth.
Lin Ruijiao's eyes widened, her face full of confusion and shock. She then instinctively raised her hand to wipe her lips, looking incredulous.
"Jiaojiao, do you like me that much?" Ye Ruihuan laughed even more heartily, her eyes full of teasing.