Becoming a Scum A in an Old-School Melodramatic Novel - Chapter 50

“No need, I just don’t want to be alone at home. How about I go with you to the company this afternoon?” Shen Xian hadn’t gone to the office for two days because she wasn’t feeling well, and Lin Qinghan was worried about holding her back.

“Alright. Are you hungry? Do you want to rest against me a little longer, or do you want to eat now?” Shen Xian gently wrapped her arm around Lin Qinghan and asked softly.

Lin Qinghan’s ears turned a little red. Leaning against Shen Xian’s embrace, she felt embarrassed to look at her. “A little longer.”

Shen Xian lowered her gaze, noticing the redness at the tips of Lin Qinghan’s ears. A faint smile curved her lips. The scents of sweet orange and osmanthus Longjing tea mingled in the living room, creating a unique fragrance.

“Okay, then I’ll cook later.” Shen Xian had woken up early that day and had been busy all morning, so she was feeling a bit sleepy. With the warmth of Lin Qinghan nestled in her arms, her eyelids soon grew heavy, and before long she had dozed off sitting up.

Noticing Shen Xian had been still for a while, Lin Qinghan raised her eyes slightly and saw that she had already fallen asleep. A smile flickered in Lin Qinghan’s eyes. Clearly, Shen Xian was exhausted from work, yet just one phone call from her had made Shen Xian rush home to cook for her. What should she do? She found herself even more reluctant to let Shen Xian leave her side.

As she drifted in thought, Lin Qinghan unconsciously tapped Shen Xian’s waist a few times. Seeing how soundly she slept, Lin Qinghan didn’t want to wake her. She carefully tried to lift Shen Xian’s arm from around her waist but accidentally stirred her awake.

Shen Xian blinked and asked, “What’s wrong, Qinghan? Did I just fall asleep?”

Lin Qinghan smiled lightly. “It’s nothing. You looked so comfortable sleeping that I didn’t want to disturb you. Why don’t you go rest for a while? I’ll make the meal.”

Shen Xian quickly caught her wrist. “No need. I came back to take care of you — how could I let the patient cook? Just wait here, I’ll do it.” Her voice, still husky with sleep, sounded even softer.

She urged Lin Qinghan to continue resting and went into the kitchen. The porridge and dishes had already been prepared in the morning, so reheating them didn’t take much time.

When Shen Xian left, the faint scent of sweet orange around Lin Qinghan began to fade. She eventually got up and leaned against the kitchen doorway, quietly watching Shen Xian at work.

Seeing her there, Shen Xian smiled. “Almost ready.”

Watching Shen Xian’s busy figure, Lin Qinghan pressed her lips together before asking, “Shen Xian, what plans do you have for the future?”

Shen Xian paused, then laughed. “Why so serious all of a sudden, Qinghan?”

Lin Qinghan tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Nothing, I was just asking casually.”

“The future…” Shen Xian thought for a moment before replying. “I don’t really have big ambitions anymore. I just want to take good care of my parents, of you, and of Tian Tian, and keep the company running smoothly. That’s enough.” In her past life, she had lofty goals and threw herself entirely into work, only to die suddenly at a young age. This time, she refused to repeat that mistake. Compared to her career, her family mattered far more.

Hearing her words, Lin Qinghan felt her ears grow warm again. She glanced up at Shen Xian and muttered, “Really? Don’t just say that lightly. I’ll take it seriously.”

Shen Xian smiled while serving the porridge. “Of course it’s real. When have I ever lied to you?”

Lin Qinghan thought to herself, just a few months ago, you were full of lies. But somehow, she couldn’t bring herself to compare the Shen Xian of the past with the Shen Xian standing before her now — and she didn’t want to remember the things Shen Xian had done before she changed.

“Alright, then I’ll believe you.” Lin Qinghan’s smile never left her lips as she spoke. When she tried to help carry the porridge, Shen Xian stopped her firmly.

“You’re still not fully well. Be good and sit down. With me here, you don’t have to carry a thing.”

Lin Qinghan pursed her lips but couldn’t suppress the upward curve at the corners of her mouth. She turned and went to sit in the dining room.

Soon Shen Xian brought out the porridge and dishes. While they ate, she said, “Qinghan, if you’re still not feeling well tomorrow, you should take another day off.”

Lin Qinghan shook her head. “No need, I’m almost fully recovered. I just don’t want to see Lu Jianbai.”

“With so many people at the hospital, he won’t dare do anything to you. Just ignore him. Tomorrow after work, I’ll pick you up.” Shen Xian thought to herself that Lu Jianbai would likely be dealt with in the next day or two — Fu Binbin’s side was about to act.

“Mm, then I’ll wait for you.”

After finishing their meal, they rested for a while before driving back to the company. In Shen Xian’s office, she handed Lin Qinghan a pillow and a small blanket. “If you’re sleepy, lie down on the sofa for a nap.” The sofa was big enough for one person to stretch out comfortably.

With Shen Xian nearby, the sweet orange scent of her pheromones was strong, making Lin Qinghan feel so relaxed she could hardly keep her eyes open. She obediently pulled the blanket over herself and fell asleep right there in the office.

Smiling at the sight of Lin Qinghan sleeping peacefully, Shen Xian thought that during the company’s next renovation, she really ought to set up a separate rest room — not for late night work, but so Qinghan and the little one would have a place to nap if they visited and didn’t want to leave.

When Lin Qinghan woke again, it was nearly four in the afternoon. Still a little groggy, she looked at Shen Xian and remembered she was in her office. A warm feeling spread in her chest. She looked up at Shen Xian and asked, “Shen Xian, have you ever let anyone else sleep here before?”

Shen Xian smiled, got up to pour her a cup of warm water, then sat down beside her. “Of course not. This isn’t a hotel. How could I let someone else sleep here? Thirsty? Do you want some water?” She handed the cup over.

Lin Qinghan accepted it, taking a few small sips. Her heart felt strangely light, and she looked up at Shen Xian with a smile. Shaking her arm playfully, she said, “I suddenly feel a little hungry. Shen Xian, I want to eat some cake from the shop downstairs.”

Shen Xian gazed at her gently and replied, “Alright. Do you have a particular kind in mind? I’ll go get it for you.”

Lin Qinghan held a cup in one hand and wrapped her other arm around Shen Xian’s, resting her head lightly on Shen Xian’s shoulder. “I don’t know either, you just pick.”

Shen Xian lowered her gaze to look at Lin Qinghan leaning against her, and replied with a smile, “Alright, then I’ll pick.”
Even though she said that, Lin Qinghan made no move to sit up from her shoulder. Speaking of which, lately Qinghan seemed to really enjoy leaning on her.

Shen Xian looked at the person in her arms with amusement. “If you won’t let go of me, how am I supposed to go?”

Only then did Lin Qinghan sit up, but when she noticed Shen Xian smiling and staring straight at her, she grew a little self-conscious. She brushed back her hair awkwardly and muttered, “Then go ahead.”

Shen Xian held back a laugh, gave her a few more glances, and finally left the office.

The cake shop Lin Qinghan had mentioned was on the first floor. They had quite a wide selection, and Shen Xian couldn’t decide right away.

Seeing her hesitate, the clerk began to introduce, “Miss, these cakes are among our most popular. Are you buying for a boyfriend or a girlfriend?”

Without thinking, Shen Xian replied, “I don’t have a boyfriend.”

The clerk smiled and continued, “Then it must be for a girlfriend. Generally, women prefer matcha or Black Forest flavors, but the ice cream and meat floss cakes also sell very well.”

Shen Xian nodded. “Alright, then I’ll take a piece of each of these.”
She figured she’d buy a few more so Qinghan could choose. Whatever was left would make a nice dessert for the staff. After all, the two guys on her team had big appetites — finishing a few slices of cake wouldn’t be a problem.

Meanwhile, Lin Qinghan sat idly in Shen Xian’s office, bored. She recalled how their little daughter had once sat in her chair, playing with toys. Shen Xian hadn’t said anything since the child was still young. But what if she herself sat there — would Shen Xian be upset?

She was also still brooding over Yu Qingwan’s matter and wanted to know just where Shen Xian’s boundaries lay. So she simply sat down in Shen Xian’s chair and began playing on her phone.

After paying, Shen Xian returned with the cakes. The moment she entered the office, she saw Lin Qinghan sitting in her chair, fiddling with something.

Smiling, Shen Xian walked over, leaned in to peek at what Lin Qinghan was doing, and teased, “President Lin is busy, I see? Come on, I bought afternoon tea. See if it meets your approval.”

As she spoke, Shen Xian pushed the stack of documents aside and laid out the six little cakes she’d bought. “Take a look, President Lin, see which one you’d like.”

Lin Qinghan’s ears turned slightly red after being called that. She gave Shen Xian a light smack on the arm, embarrassed. “Stop it.”

Just then, there was a knock at the door. Lin Qinghan instinctively tried to get up to give Shen Xian her seat, but Shen Xian pressed a hand on her shoulder, stopping her. “No need to get up.”

Then she called toward the door, “Come in.”

Li Xing entered with a file that needed Shen Xian’s signature. But the moment he pushed the door open, he saw the “lady boss” sitting in Shen Xian’s chair, with several cakes laid out on the desk. He immediately felt like a third wheel. Casting Shen Xian a glance, he said, “President Shen, it’s not urgent. I’ll bring this back for you to sign tomorrow.” With that, he quickly shut the door.

When Yan Qiang saw Li Xing return so quickly, he didn’t even look up as he asked, “Why are you back already?”

“Nonsense, you think I could just waltz in there?” Li Xing lowered his voice, “President Shen’s busy coaxing her wife. How could I interrupt?”

Yan Qiang chuckled softly. “That’s true. But it does look like President Shen and her wife have a good relationship.”

“Of course. President Shen’s such a good person, no doubt she treats her wife well too,” Li Xing muttered.

Back inside, once the person had left, Lin Qinghan gave Shen Xian a push. “You’re awful.”

Shen Xian only smiled and didn’t take offense. “Alright, I admit my fault, okay? Besides, you sitting here is no different.”

Lin Qinghan picked up a slice of matcha cake. “I’ll take this one. Save the strawberry for Tiantian, and that Black Forest one — you like that, don’t you? The rest can go to your staff.”

“Alright, whatever President Lin says.” Shen Xian packed the remaining three slices into a bag, took them over to the staff office, and handed the bag to Song Min to divide up.

Li Xing grinned. “President Shen, is this a treat from the lady boss?”

Shen Xian froze for a second at the title. She and Qinghan weren’t in that kind of relationship… but explaining would just be troublesome. So she simply nodded.

Li Xing’s smile widened, as if to say, I knew it.