Volume One, Chapter 42: Beauty at My Feet

She was wearing a black form-fitting dress that cut off just above her knees, revealing a pair of slender, shapely legs whose fair skin seemed almost luminous under the glow of the crystal chandelier.

Her porcelain skin appeared even more delicate against the contrast of the black dress, and her figure was simply breathtaking.

"Have you been waiting long?"

She tossed her waterfall of long, cascading curls and walked slowly toward me in her exquisite high heels.

"Not too long."

With that, I gave her a head-to-toe appraisal before pausing, then asked with a smile, "Are you planning to go for a stroll in high heels?"

Director Mei offered a wry smile. "What choice do I have? I didn't pack any flats for this trip."

I nodded, and together we walked leisurely out of the hotel.

The surrounding area was mostly filled with warehouses and factories, leaving little to look at except for a nearby river that could barely pass as scenery. We strolled along the riverbank while Director Mei scrolled through a livestream on her phone.

I glanced at her sideways and realized she was actually watching Zhou Shutong's broadcast. Chuckling, I remarked, "Still keeping work on your mind even while out for a walk? Shutong probably never imagined her boss would still be monitoring her livestream while away on a business trip."

The corners of her eyes curved gracefully. "I wouldn't call it monitoring! I just wanted to see the feedback after the new arrivals went live. You know, I've noticed that Shutong's energy seems completely different depending on whether you're around or not."

I raised an eyebrow. "Oh? How so?"

"When you're not there, she seems a bit wilted—not nearly as spirited as when she's broadcasting alongside you."

I was momentarily stunned, then offered a bitter laugh. "Really? I hadn't noticed."

Director Mei gave me a lingering look, the corners of her lips turning up slightly. "I'm a woman, and my sixth sense is sharper than yours. Shutong is a truly wonderful girl, you know. Don't let her slip away."

I smiled and remained silent.

Whether it was my imagination or not, whenever she brought up Zhou Shutong, I always felt she was offering subtle hints, both direct and indirect. But Zhou Shutong and I were simply too close, and besides, I had just broken up and was hardly in the right frame of mind to start a new romance.

Just as I was racking my brains to figure out how to steer the conversation elsewhere, Director Mei let out a sudden gasp, pulling me back to reality from my reverie.

I looked over and saw that the heel of her left shoe had wedged firmly into the gap of a drainage grate. She struggled for a moment, but couldn't pull it free.

Seeing this, I hurried over. "Let me help."

I stepped up to her, bent down, and squatted. Supporting the shoe with one hand while gripping the heel with the other, I pulled upward with force. After a few attempts, however, because it was wedged so deeply, all my efforts were in vain.

I glanced up at her. A flush of red had crept up her cheeks, and she offered me a shy, apologetic smile.

"I'll slip my foot out first. It might be easier to manage that way."

She gently eased her foot out of the shoe and squatted down beside me in her bare foot, a delicate, refined feminine scent washing over me.

My heart hammered even faster. Being this close to her made my face feel as though it were burning, and I was too intimidated to look up.

She sighed. "If it won't come out, just forget it. The heel was already worn down anyway."

I cast a glance at the shoe heel and realized she was right; it was battered beyond recognition.

Before I could react, she gave a sharp snap, physically breaking off the trapped heel, and hopped over to toss the ruined shoe into a trash can.

Director Mei's mood didn't seem dampened in the least. She gathered her wind-tossed hair, slipped off the other shoe as well, and stepped barefoot directly onto the chilly stone pavement.

I lowered my gaze to those fair, delicate little feet and felt a ripple in my chest. *Beauties with breathtaking feet—the ancients did not lie.*

Pulling my eyes away from her tender toes, I looked at her skeptically and asked, "Director Mei, are you seriously planning to walk all the way back like this?"

Director Mei smiled softly. "Why not? I actually quite like the feeling of walking barefoot."

We walked quickly side by side, but it wasn't long before our path was blocked by a large puddle of murky water.

I looked at her, and seeing her delicate brows furrowed, I couldn't help teasing with a soft laugh, "Don't stop, keep going! After all, didn't you say you liked the feeling of walking barefoot?"

Director Mei shot me a sidelong glance. True to her status as a beauty, even a casual look was brimming with effortless charm.

I forced a dry laugh, walked over, and crouched down in front of her. "Hop on. I'll carry you across."

Director Mei froze for a moment, then lowered her gaze slightly. After a brief hesitation, she gently wrapped her arms around my neck and slowly climbed onto my back.

She was very light, and carrying her across the water was no burden at all. Yet, the sensation of her soft, warm body pressed against my back set my pulse racing.

"Yu Bin..."

At that moment, she spoke my name softly, her warm breath brushing against my neck, causing my heart to beat like a drum.

"Yes? Director Mei, what is it?"

"Stop calling me Director Mei. It's just the two of us. If you don't mind, you can call me Sister Mei in private."

A stir ran through my heart. Though it was just a form of address, it unconsciously bridged the distance between us.

I beamed. "Alright! Sister Mei."

Hearing that, she gave me a light tap on the shoulder, and my heart fluttered as if scratched by a kitten's paw.

"Hmph! Such a smooth talker..."

I chuckled inwardly. While it was just adding a syllable, changing a title into its affectionate diminutive form instantly altered the atmosphere entirely.

True to her word, she accepted the new moniker. "Fine, then I suppose I'll take you on as my little brother."

After crossing the watery patch, I didn't put her down immediately. There were plenty of sharp little stones further up the path, and I was afraid they would scratch her delicate feet.

I carried her all the way while we chatted, the space between us seeming to shrink dramatically with every step. When we reached the hotel, seeing that it was still early, I suggested going over to inspect the warehouse alone.

Mei Xueyan paused, looking at me in surprise. "It's so late, why are you going to the warehouse?"

I smiled. "Didn't they say they'd be receiving our shipments tonight? I'm uneasy about it and want to go check if they're slacking off. You should get some rest; I'll go by myself and report back if anything comes up."

Mei Xueyan smiled gently, though she still offered a few words of parting advice out of concern: "Thank you for your hard work, then. If anything happens, let me know immediately so I can coordinate with Chen Zheng."

I agreed with a smile. In my mind, this was nothing more than checking on their receiving progress—what could possibly go wrong? Yet, as it turned out, events were about to unfold in a way that completely defied my expectations...