Domineering Sponsor (GL) - Chapter 44

Ji Haolan felt a bit lost. The little girl hopping around in front of her looked incredibly lively. Her cheeks were soft and pink, the kind that made people instinctively want to protect her. She kept calling out to her, “Haolan, Haolan!”

Wei Xia had just opened her mouth to speak, but her secretary rushed over and whispered something in her ear. It seemed there was a minor issue at the company, and she needed to head to the meeting room. Xu Jiayan immediately said, “Sister Wei, you go ahead. I’ll ask Haolan to show me around the company.”

Her little mouth moved quickly. Wei Xia originally did not want Ji Haolan to leave her side, but after thinking it through, she realized that if Haolan followed her into the meeting room, she would only end up standing in a corner waiting. That would be boring and a bit pitiful. So, she agreed. “Alright then, you can show her around.”

Just like that, Ji Haolan was suddenly given a new task. Xu Jiayan blinked her big eyes at her. Clearly, she was more interested in Ji Haolan than in the company itself. After a brief stare-off, Ji Haolan finally said, “Where would you like to go? I can walk you around.”

Truthfully, Ji Haolan felt rather uncertain. She did not even know which department Xu Jiayan was interning with, so how much of the company could she really show her? The place she was most familiar with and spent the most time in was Wei Xia’s office. However, taking Xu Jiayan there for a tour did not seem appropriate.

Xu Jiayan said, “I’ve been walking for quite a while. Is there a place where I can get a drink?”

Ji Haolan nodded and took the lead, guiding the newcomer to the break room.

Xu Jiayan followed behind with her large eyes darting around. A few steps later, she caught up and asked, “Your name is Haolan, right? You’re really pretty. Can we add each other as friends?”

Ji Haolan turned around and saw Xu Jiayan staring at her with wide eyes, clutching her phone expectantly. Ji Haolan was a bit bothered and said, “It’s a bit strange for you to call me that.” It felt a little too intimate, considering they had only met a few times.

Xu Jiayan tilted her head, clearly not planning to change how she addressed her. “Then what should I call you? You’re younger than me, so I can’t really call you ‘sister,’ right? I think ‘Haolan’ is fine. Or should I call you Xiao Lan?”

“Hmm…” Ji Haolan frowned deeply, clearly troubled by the options. Yet even her frown looked beautiful. Xu Jiayan stared at her, captivated, and couldn’t help but recall that night when Ji Haolan nestled in Wei Xia’s arms, the two of them lounging on the grass with dazed, dreamy expressions.

Seeing her hesitation, Xu Jiayan quickly decided, “That settles it. I’ll call you Xiao Lan. You can call me Xiao Yan. We’re about the same age, after all!”

“Well… alright,” Ji Haolan finally gave in. Xu Jiayan’s delicate, doll-like face made it hard to resist her. Even when she acted a little pushy, she did not come off sharp like Wei Xia. It was more like a child pestering an adult for candy.

Ji Haolan had always been soft-hearted. Faced with a gentle plea, she thought it over and realized there was no real reason to refuse. So, she nodded.

Xu Jiayan was thrilled. She twirled around beside Ji Haolan, grinning widely. Then she raised her phone and chirped, “Now that we’re working in the same company, we should exchange contact info so we can look out for each other. Sister Wei is so busy; she won’t have time to take care of me.”

“I go wherever Wei Xia goes,” Ji Haolan explained. If Wei Xia did not have time for her, then neither would she. At this point, Ji Haolan’s position in the company was basically to follow Wei Xia around and slowly learn the ropes. Whenever Wei Xia had a moment, she would call her over to discuss company matters.

With the boss personally teaching her, Ji Haolan always listened attentively and would even raise thoughtful questions. Any teacher would be pleased with such a diligent student.

For now, however, Ji Haolan had no real role in the company. She was mainly there for Wei Xia to tease and command.

Still, Xu Jiayan refused to give up. No matter what, she wanted Ji Haolan’s contact info. When Ji Haolan started to walk away, she panicked and rushed over, grabbing Ji Haolan’s arm with her small hand.

“Wait! Don’t leave me behind!” she called out softly.

“Uh.” To her surprise, at that light touch, Ji Haolan suddenly grimaced and clutched her head as if in severe pain.

Xu Jiayan jumped in fright and steadied her. Ji Haolan’s face had gone pale, and with her already dark eye circles, she suddenly looked utterly unwell. “What’s wrong? Are you feeling sick?”

Ji Haolan rubbed her head and straightened up. She gently removed Xu Jiayan’s hand. “I’m fine. I just need to rest a bit. The break room is right ahead. If you’re thirsty, go get a drink.”

She then sat down on a couch by the hallway. She looked like she was enduring a strong headache.

Xu Jiayan placed a finger on her pink lips. After a moment, she said, “I’ll get you some water.”

Ji Haolan closed her eyes. She did not refuse.

When Xu Jiayan had tugged her and called out to her, Ji Haolan’s head suddenly buzzed. It was as if an old memory had completely overlapped with the present moment. There had once been another delicate voice behind her, calling her the same way, followed by the image of a flowing red ribbon and the sound of soft, tinkling laughter.

A flood of memories that did not belong to her surged into her mind. Yet they felt like a dream, hazy and unclear. Ji Haolan was not exactly in pain, just deeply uncomfortable and dizzy.

After sitting for a while, she caught her breath. Xu Jiayan came over with a cup of warm water and handed it to her. Ji Haolan took it and drank half. The little girl then sat beside her.

Xu Jiayan rubbed her hands nervously on her clothes and stole a glance at Ji Haolan. Her pink lips pouted slightly. “Did I bother you too much? Did that make you feel unwell?”

Compared to her earlier chirping energy, she now looked much more subdued and remorseful, like a child afraid of being scolded.

Ji Haolan, however, felt something subtly shift inside her. She could not shake the feeling that Xu Jiayan reminded her of someone from her fragmented memories. Her gaze softened. “No.”

“Really? But just now…” Xu Jiayan was still uncertain.

Ji Haolan shook her head to assure her that it was nothing. She tilted her head back and finished the water, then tossed the empty cup into the nearby trash bin. “Your free period is probably over soon. I’ll walk you back.”

Xu Jiayan jumped up. “Then, about your contact info?” She had already brought it up several times. Clutching her phone tightly, her face flushed. She had never been this bold before, but she could not give up now.

“Here.” Ji Haolan handed her phone over. “Add it yourself.”

Xu Jiayan left feeling overjoyed, nearly skipping down the hallway. Ji Haolan looked at the string of cute stickers she had sent. The little gummy bear figures rolled around the screen nonstop, an entire parade of animated bears. Ji Haolan could not help but smile faintly.

Wei Xia saw Ji Haolan still looking at her phone even after getting into the car. The smile on her lips looked suspicious. She snatched the phone. “What are you looking at? I’m right here next to you!”

It was not the first time her phone had been taken. Ji Haolan did not react. “It’s Xiao Yan. She sent me some messages.”

Xu Jiayan must have been overly excited, flooding Ji Haolan with all sorts of strange stickers. If Ji Haolan mentioned that she liked one, Xu Jiayan would send it as a gift. Ji Haolan’s previously empty sticker collection had suddenly grown by several sets.

Wei Xia flipped through Ji Haolan’s chat app, scanning their message history. She did not see anything suspicious, so she returned the phone and leaned into Ji Haolan’s arms, poking her chest with a finger.

“Tell me. What’s going on between you and Xiao Yan?”

“What do you mean, what’s going on?” Ji Haolan leaned back a bit. The car was spacious, and it made room for Wei Xia to snuggle up to her.

“Why is she so close to you?” Wei Xia narrowed her eyes and pinched Ji Haolan’s cheek. “Tell me, are you using your pretty face to charm someone again?”

Ji Haolan swatted her hand away. “Nonsense.”