C24 Choose Tea or Coffee

"No need, I can remember," Huo Niannian said, opting to stay silent and concentrate on her meal. However, she couldn't taste a thing she was eating.

Oh my, if something really happened... could she be pregnant? The mere possibility sent her mind reeling with worry.

After finishing her meal, Huo Niannian packed up her food container, preparing to leave, when a knock interrupted her thoughts. "Come in," came the voice.

Secretary Ding Xuelan entered with poise, her eyes immediately drawn to her boss, Gu Tingshen, seated on the sofa. Not far from him, the petite Huo Niannian was perched on the carpet, her high heels off to the side. From Ding's perspective, it appeared as though Huo was nestled against Gu Tingshen.

Ding Xuelan quickly averted her gaze, biting her lip in a flutter of anxiety. Director Gu's office was a place of work, and he had little tolerance for personal matters there. Yet Huo Niannian seemed as relaxed as if she were in her own living room.

Even though Ding Xuelan knew Huo Niannian was Director Gu's wife, she couldn't shake off a twinge of jealousy. She had been at Director Gu's side for many years, always cautious and deliberate, all in hopes of leaving a lasting, positive impression on Gu Tingshen. But now, it was painfully obvious that her careful conduct had garnered no special favor from him. She was just another staff member, no different from Assistant Zhou.

This thought deepened Ding Xuelan's sense of dejection.

"Do you need something?" asked Gu Tingshen, his voice carrying a note of concern.

Huo Niannian looked up, her expression curious. This secretary was quite striking. She hadn't encountered Secretary Ding when she first arrived, only hearing of her through Assistant Zhou, who had mentioned that Gu Tingshen's secretary was named Ding Xuelan.

She cast a sly glance at Gu Tingshen, her eyes twinkling with mischief. He certainly had an eye for hiring secretaries.

"Director Gu, would you like me to prepare some coffee for you now?" Ding Xuelan asked.

After posing her question, she acknowledged Huo Niannian with a courteous nod and a smile, though she stopped short of engaging in further conversation.

Gu Tingshen frowned slightly, his voice tinged with irritation. "In the future, just call for these kinds of things."

Secretary Ding used to handle such inquiries over the phone. What prompted her to come to the office today, especially for such a trivial matter?

And it had interrupted the enjoyable lunch he was sharing with his wife.

Ding Xuelan turned to leave, recognizing that there was no need for her to come in person when a phone call would suffice.

She knew Huo Niannian was in the room, but she wanted to see with her own eyes if Gu Tingshen genuinely cared for Huo Niannian.

As Director Gu's secretary, she had never seen him take an interest in any woman before.

"Wait a second," Huo Niannian called out, stopping Ding Xuelan in her tracks.

Ding Xuelan turned around, offering a polite nod and a smile. "Miss Huo, may I help you with something?"

Huo Niannian eyed her carefully, detecting a hint of something more behind Secretary Ding's formal address and her smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

She suspected Ding Xuelan had feelings for Gu Tingshen.

"Secretary Ding, would you mind waiting half an hour before preparing Tingshen's coffee?" she requested.

"Why?" Ding Xuelan asked, her annoyance creeping into her expression. Even as Gu Tingshen's wife, this request seemed presumptuous.

Gu Tingshen, on the other hand, let out a chuckle, clearly amused. "What, I'm not allowed to have my coffee now?"