Movies and TV: Neighbor Qiao Yingzi, Crazy Pursuit of Song Qian and Wen Jie

Chapter 16: When a Secretary Has Work to Do…

“Xiaomeng jie, you’re working here too?” Su Bai asked in a tone of exaggerated surprise.

Xiaomeng hadn’t expected Su Bai to remember her, and her surprise was mirrored by the other instructors around them. Their gazes darted back and forth between Xiaomeng and Su Bai, brimming with curiosity.

The new boss not only knew Xiaomeng but was also breathtakingly handsome—a combination that set off murmurs of envy and admiration among her peers.

Hearing Su Bai’s familiar greeting, Xiaomeng stepped out of the group, a polite smile on her lips. “Su Bai, I didn’t expect you to be our new boss. I guess I’ll be relying on you to take care of us from now on.”

“No problem, Xiaomeng jie,” Su Bai replied with a playful grin. “Why don’t you give me a tour of the place? Everyone else, go ahead with your work. Don’t worry—I’m not the kind of boss who’ll micromanage you.”

As Su Bai moved deeper into the yoga studio, Xiaomeng followed behind, unable to conceal her mix of astonishment and curiosity.

“Boss… you’re still in high school, right? How on earth did you manage to buy an entire yoga studio?” she asked, barely masking her disbelief.

Su Bai chuckled mischievously. “What if I told you I bought it just for you, Xiaomeng jie? Would you believe me?”

Caught off guard, Xiaomeng hesitated for a moment before regaining her composure. “Don’t tease me like that! Even Yingzi calls me Aunt Xiaomeng, but you’re directly calling me jie—don’t you think that’s a bit inappropriate?”

[“Xiaomeng jie” (晓梦姐): A familiar and respectful term used to address an older woman, typically one who is close in age but senior in status or experience.]

Su Bai’s lips quirked in amusement. “That’s because calling you ‘Aunt Xiaomeng’ makes you sound so much older than you really are. You’re young and vibrant—you deserve to be called ‘jie.’ Don’t you agree?”

At this, Xiaomeng’s cheeks tinged pink. She was 29 years old—still youthful by most standards—but there was no denying that being called “jie” by Su Bai made her feel flattered.

“All right, fine. You can call me jie. After all, you’re the boss, so what you say goes,” she replied, her tone half-joking.

“Really? In that case, can I officially appoint Xiaomeng jie as my personal secretary?” Su Bai teased again, a devilish grin lighting up his face.

“Hey, don’t joke around like that! I’m not that kind of person,” Xiaomeng retorted, playfully rolling her eyes.

“What kind of person? Is being a secretary a bad thing? Or is it just that Xiaomeng jie is thinking about something inappropriate?” Su Bai countered, his tone dripping with mock innocence.

Realizing she’d fallen into Su Bai’s trap, Xiaomeng shot him a feigned glare. “You cheeky brat! Picking on me already? You’re so young, but you’re already this sly?”

Su Bai laughed lightly, his relaxed demeanour infectious. “I’m just kidding.e. Don’t take it so seriously.”

After the playful exchange, Xiaomeng led Su Bai on a thorough tour of the yoga studio, eventually guiding him into the office designated for the boss.

As Su Bai sank into the plush leather chair behind the desk, he noticed the overtly feminine decor that had been left behind by the previous owner. It was clear that the studio’s previous boss had been a woman, as evidenced by the pastel accents, floral prints, and delicate ornaments scattered throughout the room.

“Xiaomeng jie, what I said earlier—it wasn’t entirely a joke,” Su Bai said, his tone suddenly more serious.

“What part, exactly?” Xiaomeng asked cautiously, her earlier levity replaced by genuine curiosity.

“The part about wanting you to be my secretary,” Su Bai replied. “You already know this business inside and out, and as a guy, I’m not exactly familiar with the ins and outs of running a yoga studio. You’re the perfect person for the role.”

Su Bai paused briefly before continuing, his voice steady and sincere. “To be honest, I bought this yoga studio because I trust you. With you managing it, I know everything will run smoothly.”

Xiaomeng stared at Su Bai, momentarily at a loss for words.

Is he… making a confession?

Su Bai’s striking features and confident demeanour had already made an impression on her, but now, this sudden declaration threw her into a whirl of emotions. For a moment, her thoughts spiralled into conjecture: Is Su Bai really saying he bought the studio for her?

Suppressing the chaotic thoughts running through her mind, Xiaomeng gave him a measured smile. “I can accept the role of your secretary and help you manage the studio. But just to be clear, Su Bai—we’re colleagues, and that’s it. There’s no need for… anything beyond that.”

Su Bai raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean by ‘beyond that,’ exactly?”

“You know… the kind of thing people associate with secretaries and their bosses,” Xiaomeng muttered, a hint of exasperation creeping into her tone.

“Oh, so Xiaomeng jie was the one thinking about inappropriate things after all,” Su Bai said with a teasing smirk.

“Su Bai!” Xiaomeng exclaimed, swatting playfully at him. “You’re impossible!”