Chapter 16: A New Role and Lingering Shadows

Bai Mengqi, flustered, lunged forward. She reached out to snatch the item from Zi Yanran’s hand, all while exclaiming, “What’s your problem? This is just normal, private curiosity, not perversion!”

Her voice, tinged with urgency and embarrassment, wavered slightly. She resembled a child caught red-handed in mischief, yet desperately trying to argue their innocence.

Zi Yanran merely offered a soft smile. Without engaging in further debate, she calmly continued her search through the wardrobe.

Her slender fingers moved deftly between the garments. Soon, from a somewhat cluttered corner of the wardrobe, she pulled out more feminine clothing and other various items.

Holding the items, she cast a half-smile at Bai Mengqi, her tone teasing. “I don’t mind, but aren’t you afraid your friend will find out and think you’re a pervert?”

Bai Mengqi felt a flush of shame. In the year since she had become a woman, her mindset had undergone several tumultuous shifts, experiencing profound changes.

She recalled how, upon first transforming, her heart had been heavy with despair and frustration. It felt as though the world had played an immense trick on her; how had she inexplicably changed genders?

Each day, gazing at the familiar yet alien female face in the mirror, she felt a heavy stone lodged in her chest.

However, as time progressed, approximately half a year later, she gradually began to grudgingly accept her new reality.

Since it couldn’t be changed, she could only adapt.

Her journey evolved from initial resistance, to slowly attempting acceptance, and eventually, a glimmer of curious exploration even emerged within her.

She found herself wondering what kind of skincare products girls typically used. She would linger on pretty dresses, and sometimes, she would even secretly purchase feminine clothing to explore this new facet of herself.

Though she had worn women’s clothes before, it had always been for disguise, never for the sake of experience.

This was, in essence, a form of psychological adjustment. While it might seem incomprehensible to outsiders, for Bai Mengqi herself, it was a necessary process to undergo.

“Do you think all us men are like you, just casually rummaging through other people’s wardrobes?”

As Bai Mengqi retorted, she didn’t forget to wave the item she had just snatched, attempting to lend more conviction to her words.

However, the object clutched in her hand was undeniably awkward, rendering her statement instantly hollow and weak. Even she couldn’t help but purse her lips slightly after speaking, lamenting inwardly, ‘My rebuttal truly lacks finesse.’

Seeing her expression, Zi Yanran decided not to tease her further. After all, it was getting late, and they had other matters to attend to.

She gently patted Bai Mengqi’s shoulder and said with a smile, “I understand, I understand. Once we’re together, I’ll buy you all sorts of clothes. Let’s go.”

The remark sounded uncannily like a proposition to keep Bai Mengqi as a mistress.

“Get lost! Who said I want you to buy me clothes? You make it sound like I’m your girlfriend,” Bai Mengqi retorted.

After speaking, Zi Yanran turned, opened the door with practiced ease, and walked out with light steps.

Bai Mengqi quickly hid her belongings, grabbed her bag, and then hurried to the living room, where she greeted Wang Lei, who was seated there.

Wang Lei looked at her with a hint of confusion, then glanced at Zi Yanran, who had already left. He didn’t ask further, simply nodding with a smile.

Observing his peculiar expression, Bai Mengqi sighed again. Without further delay, she hastily followed Zi Yanran out.

Once they had departed, Wang Lei immediately pulled out his phone, eagerly relaying this earth-shattering news to his friends.

****

The moment she stepped out of the apartment, Bai Mengqi sensed something amiss. Her gaze instinctively darted towards a nearby corner, a flicker of doubt and vigilance instantly crossing her eyes.

She stood there, gazing thoughtfully at the corner for a moment.

After a brief pause, she collected herself and quickly caught up to Zi Yanran, who had already reached the elevator. Together, they stepped inside.

Meanwhile, a figure was concealed at that very corner.

The figure pressed tightly against the wall, striving to remain unseen, revealing only a pair of eyes that intently watched the direction Bai Mengqi and Zi Yanran had taken.

Upon closer inspection, it was none other than the mysterious man who had been by Zi Yanran’s car earlier. He was dressed entirely in black, wearing a baseball cap pulled low, its brim almost completely obscuring his face, making his features impossible to discern.

He remained hidden in the corner, motionless, until the elevator doors carrying Zi Yanran and Bai Mengqi slowly closed. Only then did he swiftly emerge from his hiding spot and follow quickly after them.

“Yanran, I think someone was following us,” Bai Mengqi said, her brows furrowed with worry, as soon as they were inside the elevator.

Her voice, though soft, carried with unusual clarity in the confined space of the elevator.

Upon hearing this, Zi Yanran merely raised an eyebrow slightly. Her face retained its composed expression, as if being followed was an entirely common occurrence for her.

She chuckled softly. “With you here, what’s there to be afraid of? Anyway, my safety is in your hands. If you don’t protect me well, your child might end up without a mother.”

At her words, Bai Mengqi was instantly caught between laughter and tears.

‘This Zi Yanran, really,’ Bai Mengqi thought to herself. ‘In front of others, she’s so aloof, projecting an aura that keeps everyone at a distance, making people hesitant to approach.’

‘Yet, when we’re alone, she’s always so unreserved, constantly saying things that are both exasperating and amusing. I truly don’t know what to do with her.’

The two quickly descended in the elevator to the ground floor, then immediately drove out of the residential complex.

Seated in the car, Bai Mengqi fastened her seatbelt, then spoke to Zi Yanran with a hint of worry. “After work, let’s try to be a bit more discreet, alright? Maybe don’t drive such an expensive car back to the apartment.”

Her eyes were filled with concern. While she admired Zi Yanran’s impressive car and the allure of such luxurious possessions, at this moment, her primary concern was Zi Yanran’s safety.

After all, they had just detected a follower; who knew what dangers might arise?

Zi Yanran, hearing Bai Mengqi’s thoughtful suggestion, agreed without hesitation.

As she started the car, she smiled and said, “Mm-hmm! Alright, I’ll listen to you on these matters.”

She understood that Bai Mengqi was looking out for her. The recent incident with the stalker had indeed instilled a flicker of caution within her, and though she maintained a nonchalant facade, she was already mentally strategizing how to handle potential future scenarios.

The car glided smoothly along the road, the scenery outside the window rushing past.

A while later, around half past three in the afternoon, the two returned to the company.

Inside the car, Bai Mengqi had already shed her disguise, reverting to her female form.

She meticulously tidied her appearance in the mirror, ensuring everything was impeccable, before following Zi Yanran out of the car.

Afterward, Zi Yanran personally led Bai Mengqi to the Human Resources department.

The moment they stepped through the HR department’s door, the Human Resources Director spotted them. She hurried over, a warm smile on her face, and said, “Yanran, you—what brings you here?”

Zi Yanran immediately greeted her with a smile, then gestured to Bai Mengqi beside her. “Sister Zhou, this is my new dedicated secretary, Bai Mengqi. I mentioned her on the phone earlier.”

Upon hearing this, Director Zhou quickly scrutinized Bai Mengqi from head to toe.

The girl before her was tall and exceptionally beautiful, her delicate features seemingly sculpted by a divine hand.

Honestly, beyond her striking appearance, Director Zhou truly doubted the girl’s suitability for the position.

In her view, a dedicated secretary required far more than just a pretty face; they needed extensive professional qualifications and abilities.

Moreover, Zi Yanran was a woman herself, so what use was another beautiful female secretary?

As the current head of the company, Zi Yanran possessed the authority to appoint her own dedicated secretary.

Indeed, Zi Yanran’s father was the company’s chairman, but he largely delegated the group’s operations, entrusting full authority to his daughter.

Thus, within the company, Zi Yanran’s words carried considerable weight.

“Alright, Miss Bai, please follow me. We’ll proceed with the onboarding process,” Director Zhou promptly stated, despite her inner reservations. After all, this was someone Zi Yanran had personally brought, so she couldn’t say much. She could only follow protocol and see what Bai Mengqi was truly capable of.

As Zi Yanran led Bai Mengqi inside, the personnel in the HR department cast curious glances their way.

It was, after all, an exceptionally rare occurrence for the company’s top executive to personally escort someone through the onboarding process.

Everyone wondered inwardly about Bai Mengqi’s background and why Zi Yanran held her in such high regard.

At this moment, Bai Mengqi also felt the numerous curious gazes around her. A slight nervousness stirred within her, yet she straightened her posture, striving to appear composed, and followed Director Zhou and Zi Yanran further inside.