Chapter 117: Xue Tianai Takes Maternity Leave

With a soft ding, the elevator gradually slowed down before coming to a halt.

Xue Tian’ai’s expression remained largely unchanged; he merely cast a sidelong glance at the current floor, briefly furrowing his brow before relaxing once more. His hand, which had been holding onto Qiu Zhiruo’s, began to slide downward. Then, with a slight bow, as if nothing had happened, he stood quietly in the corner of the elevator, his face calm and composed.

Qiu Zhiruo, however, was blushing deeply, shyly lowering her gaze and nervously fussing with her hair and clothes, as if they had just done something utterly inappropriate inside the elevator.

The elevator doors slid open just as Xue Tian’ai had anticipated—there was no one waiting outside.

“Damn it! Who’s so shameless to press the elevator button at such a crucial moment? They pressed the button, but weren’t even there! This is a complete waste of my feelings! I could have just claimed Qiu’s lips!” Xue Tian’ai grumbled, sounding both frustrated and regretful.

At that moment, the elevator doors slowly began to close again.

“Really, Brother Xue, why are you so bad? I haven’t even agreed yet!” Qiu Zhiruo coyly leaned toward him, cheeks flushed as she playfully chided him.

“Tsk tsk tsk, you haven’t agreed, yet you keep moving closer. Qiu, you’re not so innocent after all!” Xue Tian’ai smiled gently, reaching out to stroke Qiu’s silky hair. “Your hair is wonderful—soft and smooth. It feels amazing.”

“What? Brother Xue really likes touching it?” Qiu Zhiruo provocatively arched her chest, teasing.

“I, Tian’ai, am only eighteen this year, so whatever you just said, Qiu, I don’t understand at all,” Xue Tian’ai replied with refined politeness, though his eyes remained fixed on those towering peaks before him.

“Alright, alright! Brother Xue, can you at least give me your number?” Qiu Zhiruo pulled out her phone and waved it toward him.

“Of course! To have Qiu’s number is an honor I could only dream of!” Xue Tian’ai also took out his phone. “My number is 180********.”

After inputting the digits, Qiu Zhiruo called the number. Soon, Xue Tian’ai’s phone rang.

“Not bad, Brother Xue didn’t lie—this number really works!” Qiu Zhiruo pressed the end call button, smiling brightly at him.

“How could I lie to a beauty? Especially to Qiu!” Xue Tian’ai smiled faintly.

The elevator dinged once more as it began to slow, and the doors slid open again.

“I’ll be waiting for your call anytime!” Qiu Zhiruo beckoned with a delicate finger, shot Xue Tian’ai a flirtatious glance, then stepped out.

“Of course I will.” As the elevator doors closed, a cold smile curled at the corner of Xue Tian’ai’s lips.

……………………………………

Meanwhile, Gan Bingning sat absentmindedly in her office, bored as she fiddled with a water-based pen.

Though Xue Tian’ai already had a wife, Gan Bingning didn’t particularly mind. From what she had heard, their relationship wasn’t good—the wife was reportedly very fierce.

Still, Gan Bingning was curious about the mysterious woman who had kept Xue Tian’ai tied down for three years. They had been married that long; surely they had children by now? Yet it was hard to imagine the carefree Xue Tian’ai as a father.

Just as Gan Bingning’s thoughts wandered, Xue Tian’ai pushed open the door and plopped down onto the guest sofa in her office.

“Speak of the devil—Tian’ai appears! Is Xue Tian’ai the reincarnation of Cao Cao? You say it, and he arrives!” Gan Bingning was stunned. Wasn’t it working hours? Why was he here?

Xue Tian’ai paid no mind to her inner monologue. Stretching his arms and legs comfortably, he flopped back into the sofa, his face radiating ease and contentment.

“Well, well, if it isn’t Assistant Xue! What brings you to my humble office?” Gan Bingning teased cheerfully, carrying a freshly brewed cup of tea as she sat beside him.

“Heh heh,” Xue Tian’ai chuckled but didn’t reply directly. Instead, he lazily twisted his body and looked at Gan Bingning. “But Bingning, what naughty thoughts were running through your head just now? You looked all dazed and giddy.”

Gan Bingning blushed, caught off guard. Flustered, she retorted, “N-no naughty thoughts! And I wasn’t giddy! But isn’t it work time? Why did you come over? Aren’t you afraid of Manager Qin scolding you?”

Xue Tian’ai inwardly grumbled but kept his cool, ruffling his hair with swagger. “If you’ve got the guts, go to work and take maternity leave at the same time!”

Gan Bingning burst out laughing but then considered—had Xue Tian’ai ever truly worked seriously, even in Qin Mengxue’s office?

Xue Tian’ai grabbed the hot tea Gan Bingning had brought earlier, took a large sip without concern for the temperature, and praised, “Ah, nothing beats a good cup of hot tea!”

The next thing Gan Bingning said almost made him spit out his tea.

“Tian’ai, how do you know so much about maternity leave? Have you taken it yourself?” She leaned closer with curiosity.

“...” Xue Tian’ai froze, staring at her incredulously. “Bingning, do I look like someone who has the ability or opportunity to take that kind of leave? Maternity leave would be nice, but my gender doesn’t allow it!”

“So that’s experience your wife gained during her maternity leave, right?” Gan Bingning asked casually, clearly intrigued.

“She didn’t take maternity leave. We don’t have any children,” Xue Tian’ai said lightly, sipping his tea.

“Oh? Really?” The news pleased Gan Bingning.

“Yeah, but let’s not dwell on that.” Xue Tian’ai quickly changed the subject. “Do you know someone named Qiu Zhiruo?”

“Who’s that?” Gan Bingning was puzzled; the name meant nothing to her.

“According to her, she’s from our company’s fashion planning department.”

“Fashion planning? I’m not familiar with that department. What does she look like?” Gan Bingning searched her memory but came up empty.

“Big chest, a bit shorter than you. Definitely a busty beauty,” Xue Tian’ai described as simply as possible.

“Oh?” Hearing that, a twinge of jealousy stirred in Gan Bingning. “So she’s a busty beauty, huh? Tian’ai, are you interested? Trying to gather intel on her?”

“...” Xue Tian’ai sniffed the air, surprised. “Hey, why does it suddenly smell so sour in here?”

He turned to Gan Bingning and exclaimed knowingly, “Ah, so it’s the old Gan family’s vinegar bottle that’s been knocked over!”

“Aiya! Tian’ai, you’re so mean!” Gan Bingning’s cheeks flushed crimson. She pounded his broad chest with her fists, but it was more like a gentle massage than anything painful.

“But really, men do like big ones!” After a moment, she lowered her head to gaze at her own ample bosom, murmuring softly.

“Not at all! I believe what suits you best is what matters, not bigger is better!” Xue Tian’ai shook his head earnestly, though his eyes honestly admired the majestic beauty before him.

“By the way, Bingning, have you been secretly taking supplements like papaya? Your chest looks a bit larger than before,” Xue Tian’ai pondered. “Could it be you’ve been giving yourself secret massages?”

“Have I? I haven’t noticed. I haven’t taken any supplements or done any massages...” Gan Bingning muttered quietly, then suddenly realized something. She flushed bright red and glared at Xue Tian’ai with mock anger. “You’re the one who massages yourself!”