Chapter 08 - The unexpected encounter

Tearing up the wind and taking long breaths, she ran towards the turn.
As calm as Zhao Ming looked, she looked full of anger. That anger only came out after seeing people close to her in trouble. Even when the boys tried to tease Rong while shopping, Ming stood up for her like a true friend.
Reaching further into the turn, she called out her name and informed her, "Cong Rong, they're coming. Be ready!"
Saying this, she turned left.
*Bamp!!*
A voice started echoing amidst the calm weather. Holding a baseball bat, Rong opened her eyes as Ming began to panic.
"Boss!"
"Boss?" She looked down at Ming with puzzled eyes. Her hand covered her wide-open mouth as she realised it was none other than Wen Shaoqing. She gulped, stepping back to hide.
He put a hand over his head and rubbed it in a circular motion.
"What were you even doing?" He asked, throwing a pissed-off look at Ming.
She quickly bowed and asked for an apology. "I'm so sorry, boss. Some goons were after us. We were only trying to protect us."
Grasping over her arm, Rong peeked from a side and hesitatingly grinned.
"Mr. Wen, are you okay? I'm sorry for the trouble we've caused you."
Squinting at her, he raised her hand and pointed one finger at her. "Did we meet before? You look a bit familiar to me."
She soon recalled the cake incident and hid her face behind Ming's back. "I don't think so."
"Shaoqing!" A young-looking guy called him from a distance and walked towards them. "Are you okay? What happened here?"
His eyes shifted from him to Ming, and he got startled. "Ms. Zhao?"
Greeting him, she curved her lips a little. "Xiaomi Ge, hello."
"What are you doing here at this hour?"
"Well, I was..."
"Leave it, Xiaomi." He cut her words off and directed their attention to him.
"Let them go. She'll get late for the office tomorrow."
"Right. Ms. Zhao, go now."
"Okay. See you tomorrow."
She shifted her gaze to Shaoqing and gave him a pleading look as he nodded his head in assurance.

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The next morning, Zhao Ming arrived at her office and followed her usual routine. She sat at her desk and arranged the files while talking to Rong.
Rong: Are you sure you'll be okay until the evening?
Ming: Hmm, don't worry. Just buy the medicines, and I'll take them once I'm home.
Rong: As you say,
Taking the medications from the pharmacy, she walked towards the exit door. Her entire focus was on the call. She didn't even notice the person coming from the front.
Both were busy on call.
When they collided shoulder to shoulder, their medicine bags fell down. Without even exchanging a glance, they picked up the bag and walked away.
While walking, he reached inside a room and put that bag on the table.
??: Xiaomi, I'll talk to you later. I have to take medicine now.
Xiaomi: Alright, take care of yourself, Shaoqing.
He took a pill out of the box and put it in his mouth. Grabbing the jug, he filled the glass with water.
"WAIT!!!" 
A voice came from the back as he turned around, only to find Cong Rong running towards him.
The slippery floor made her lose control, and the next moment, she keeled over and fell on him.
He gulped the pill, taking a long sigh. Her head rested on his chest, which flustered her. She quickly raised her head and met his eyes.
She blinked instantly, as his deep brown eyes were breathtaking. The moment felt like the world had paused for a while. She found her heart beating faster than usual. It was mesmerising. Moreover, it was a fresh and weird feeling that she had never experienced before.

.......................................

While preparing her coffee, she suddenly started coughing. Her health was getting worse with time, and she had no idea. Coming inside the snack room, Xiaomi looked at her and asked, "Ms. Zhao, are you okay? You're looking pale today."
She nodded her head. "I'm all fine. I've arranged the files already. I'll put it on your table."
"Hmm."
Taking all the files, she reached Xiaomi's cabin and placed them on the table.
"Xiaomi Ge, I put the weekly report at the top. Let me know if there's a correction needed."
"Okay, I will. Also..." He took a pack of medicine from his pocket and extended his hand to her.
"Huh?"
"Take it and rest for a while."
She kept looking at him, saying nothing made him unsettled.
"I... I just want my employees to work efficiently."
"Oh!" She took the box from his hand and gave him a smile. "Thank you, Xiaomi Ge."
"You don't need to thank me. I want you to improve your performance."
"I will." 
As she walked out, her smile turned into a sigh. "I even thanked you, and you started scolding me again. I guess you will never like me like those childhood days when you used to bully me."
Zhao Ming and Xiaomi grew up together. Be it studying together in school or living in the same building, they were always together. But as he grew up, Xiaomi became a bit rude to her, or else he started trying to hide his feelings, which he would not let Ming know.
He himself did not know how he became her enemy because of his unsaid feelings. But everything came to a halt when Xiaomi had to transfer to another city. She instantly turned into a quiet person, as he was no longer there to argue with her.
However, fate had already planned something else for them. He returned as her boss, working for the publishing company. Yet he failed to win her heart.

................................................

Taking a step back, Cong Rong quickly came back to her senses when she noticed his annoyed gaze.
She rapidly gulped, walking back as he approached her, coming in her direction.
"Are you a stalker or what? How come we kept encountering each other?"
Looking down, she answered, "I don't know."
He kept stepping closer to her until her back hit the wall.
"Or maybe..." He leaned his head closer to hers to look deep into her eyes. "Maybe you're my fan."
Choking on her breath, she rolled her eyes and wrapped her arms. "What? Your fan? You think so highly of yourself. I just came here to inform you about our medicine getting exchanged."
"What? Then, what about the medicine I took right now?"
Before she could answer, his stomachache answered. He stepped back and growled in pain, grabbing his stomach tightly.
"You, Just wait for me. Ahhh! Where is the washroom?"
Pressing her lips together, she pointed in the left direction as he ran away.
She bit her lower lip, chuckling to herself. "It seems like I got myself into trouble again. Phew!"