The Crybaby Mistress GL - Chapter 58

“Still not talking to me?” Chen Xin glanced over as the car rolled to a stop at the school gate. Luo Jing had not said a single word to her.

She was not just silent. She refused to even glance in Chen Xin’s direction. Her expression made it obvious she was furious. Her pink lips were pursed high, as though Chen Xin owed her hundreds of yuan. The sour look on her face could curdle milk.

Luo Jing kept her lips tightly pressed together. The twin heart-shaped marks on her body still throbbed faintly, both warm and sore. She could not possibly forgive Chen Xin so easily. With a huff, she reached to open the car door. After tugging twice and getting nowhere, she realized Chen Xin had activated the central lock. Her expression turned even more sour as she glared.

“Open the door.”

Chen Xin had no intention of unlocking it just yet. There was still some time before the bell rang. It was just enough for a meaningful conversation.

“If you stay silent this morning, Mom will start to worry and ask questions,” Chen Xin said in a calm voice. Luo Jing had even pulled a face during breakfast. Before they left, Xu Fangting had pulled Chen Xin aside and asked if something had happened between them.

Chen Xin had brushed it off with a vague excuse. Now she turned to Luo Jing and added, “I honestly didn’t know how to explain it to her. Should I just tell her the truth?”

Luo Jing spun her head around. That would never do. Sharing something as private as their disharmony in bed with an elder was unthinkable. She cried out, “You mustn’t!”

The moment she said it, she noticed the teasing smile forming on Chen Xin’s lips. It took her a beat too long to realize she had been led right into another trap. Embarrassed, she turned her face away. Turning back again felt too awkward. Trapped between irritation and shame, she looked flustered and stubborn.

“So now you’re talking to me?” Chen Xin’s voice turned gentle, breaking into a soft laugh. Coaxing this little troublemaker out of a real tantrum was no easy feat. After ignoring her all morning, she had finally managed to get a few words.

Sensing progress, Chen Xin leaned closer. Luo Jing did not flinch or retreat, which meant her mood had softened.

“Don’t be angry anymore. I already applied the ointment for you. By tonight, the marks should be almost gone. Also, those little hearts look especially adorable on you.”

Luo Jing recalled how that morning Chen Xin had said she would apply medicine, then sneakily took a photo of the injury. As if the secret snapshot were not enough, she had waved the phone in front of her like a prize.

Luo Jing had caught a glimpse of the peachy backside on the screen, clearly stamped with a vivid red heart. In a blink, Chen Xin had hidden the phone. Luo Jing did not even get a chance to grab it.

“Not mad anymore?” Chen Xin gently poked her.

Luo Jing gave her a moody side-eye. “Then delete the photo.”

Chen Xin’s eyes flicked mischievously. She leaned in and gave Luo Jing’s pouting lips a quick kiss. “It’s getting late. Time for class. You promised not to sulk tonight. After school, I’ll take you for barbecue.” She pressed a button, and the door locks clicked open.

Luo Jing climbed out of the car, still unable to erase the photographic evidence. She stomped her foot in frustration before running toward the classroom, determined to make it before the final bell.

Meanwhile, Chen Xin drove off in a good mood. Her private photo collection had gained a treasure: a snow-white peach marked with a heart she had personally left. Every time she looked at it, her lips curled in an amused smile. Delete it? Never. That masterpiece was staying forever.

When she arrived at the company, Chen Weiguo was already there, lying in wait by her office door. Chen Xin saw him and kept her cheerful expression.

“Cousin, you’re early.”

“Good morning, Cousin Xin.” Chen Weiguo greeted her with a sheepish smile. His shoulders hunched slightly. Although Chen Xin had no personal dislike for this cousin, their personalities never matched. As children, they often saw each other but rarely played together.

Nevertheless, Chen Xin remained polite. “Let’s talk inside.” Holding any conversation outside the office would be pointless.

Inside, it became clear that Chen Weiguo had come to apologize. He glanced nervously at her, not daring to meet her eyes for long.

“Cousin, Uncle really exaggerated that day. I know you deserve the main credit for that case. I’m fully aware.”

He had always been this way: timid and cautious. Around someone with Chen Xin’s commanding presence, he seemed both eager to connect and fearful. Over time, this had morphed into a kind of respectful fear.

So that was the reason for his visit.

Chen Xin offered a relaxed smile. “Dad just wanted to give you a boost. Saying a few nice things in front of the executives was harmless. It is nothing to worry about.”

Truthfully, she was not concerned. What confused her was her father’s choice. Was age making him less discerning? The executives were far from gullible. They would not be swayed by a few words of praise. His effort was almost useless.

“Still, it should not have gone that way,” Chen Weiguo muttered. He was clearly still brooding over what had happened in the meeting. His brow furrowed. “Cousin—”

“Enough. Let’s not dwell on it.” Chen Xin had no interest in replaying that day’s events. She preferred planning ahead rather than lingering in the past. “More importantly, since Dad is putting so much faith in you, you need to learn every aspect of your work thoroughly. Only then will the people under you truly respect you.”

Chen Weiguo looked even more miserable. “I understand, Cousin Xin. It’s just… really difficult.”

His passions and talents clearly lay elsewhere. No matter how much he tried, he could not get the hang of this job. With each mistake, his confidence slipped further away.

“Even if it’s difficult, you still need to learn.” Chen Xin sighed and watched as he shuffled away like a dejected dog. She was more convinced than ever that he was not fit for the position.

If she had a say in the matter, she would have transferred him out of headquarters. His lack of ability was one factor. More crucially, he simply was not suited for office work. It would be far better to give him full control of one of the family’s restaurants. That would actually put his skills to use.

She remembered when they were applying for university and how both of them had listed top schools. Chen Xin, full of confidence, only wrote down her first choice. Chen Weiguo, in contrast, listed a long row of alternatives.

Among those backups, there was a culinary school tucked quietly into the list.

Although he ended up at a decent university studying management, Chen Xin had always suspected where his real passion lay.

Still, he was not her responsibility, so she had no authority to intervene.

From her perspective, climbing the ranks at headquarters, where talent was abundant, would be an extremely difficult task for him.

She had assumed the issue was behind her and returned to work. She even opened a tab to search for a barbecue restaurant with excellent beef. Her plan was to make sure Jing Jing forgot all about her sore bottom.

Just as she was settling into her tasks, the office door suddenly opened. Without even looking up, Chen Xin knew who it was. Only one person would barge in without the secretary announcing them.

As expected, it was Chen Zheng. He walked in with an air of imperial inspection, his expression stern and dignified.

For some reason, Chen Xin found herself thinking about how this same dignified face had been involved in that disgraceful affair with Liu Ruoya. Showing respect for him had become… rather difficult.