The Secret of the Yoga Club: The Women's Identity is Not Simple

Ma Qingqing and Wang Yue have been getting along better and better lately. Although Wang Yue is her superior, they are like best friends in private. Wang Yue is easygoing and down-to-earth, patiently guiding her at work and taking care of her in every way.

She had few close friends growing up, her relationship with her college roommates was just so-so, and after starting work she was even more of a loner. She cherished meeting someone like Wang Yue, with whom she got along well.

She rarely refuses Wang Yue's suggestions.

Wang Yue's apartment is very close to the company, just a few minutes' walk away. It has two bedrooms and a living room, and one of the guest rooms has almost become Ma Qingqing's exclusive room, with Ma Qingqing having stayed there several times already.

After get off work, the two went to the fresh food supermarket near the company together. Ma Qingqing pushed the shopping cart while Wang Yue walked ahead, putting things into the cart.

Beef rolls, shrimp paste, tripe, lotus root slices, enoki mushrooms, baby bok choy, and four bottles of imported Japanese plum wine.

"I found this plum wine at the imported goods supermarket last time. It tastes really good, sweet and not too strong at all. Su Hui drank a whole bottle when she came to my place last time and said it was even better than fruit juice. Let's try it today. If you like it, I'll buy a few more bottles next time."

"Fruit wine should be fine. I've had it a few times during Chinese New Year at home and never got drunk." Ma Qingqing picked up the bottle and looked at the label, which was all in Japanese. She couldn't understand a single word, but she thought the bottle was very well designed.

Back in the apartment, the summer heat was instantly dispelled by the cool breeze from the air conditioner.

The two put their shopping bags on the dining table and prepared to change into more comfortable loungewear. Wang Yue changed out of her work shirt and pencil skirt, put on a light gray tank top and loose lounge shorts, and walked around the house barefoot, tidying up.

Ma Qingqing also changed out of her shirt and trousers. Since it was just her and Wang Yue, the two girls, there was nothing to feel awkward about. She changed into a white tank top and cotton shorts, a simple and refreshing style that made her look clean and neat.

She was tall with long, straight legs that peeked out from under her shorts. Her skin was fair and smooth, and her newly changed slippers made a soft pattering sound as they stepped on the floor.

Wang Yue plugged in the hot pot, and the red oil broth bubbled and steamed in the pot, its aroma quickly filling the entire living room.

She arranged the beef rolls and shrimp paste on a plate, sliced ​​a few potatoes, washed the baby bok choy, and placed it in a colander.

Ma Qingqing helped prepare the dipping sauce: sesame oil, minced garlic, oyster sauce, and cilantro. The two worked together, and soon the table was full of dishes.

The two chatted and ate in a relaxed atmosphere.

"Qingqing, your proportions are amazing! You're 1.8 meters tall, with a slim waist and long legs. You look good in everything. Standing next to you, I look petite and cute. Any guy who ends up with you will be so lucky. Look how good you look in this tank top I'm wearing, while it's all baggy on me. Tall people really do carry clothes off well."

"What are you talking about? I'm the one who envies you. You dress so well, have such a great presence, and are so capable at work. Everyone likes you. I used to think I was too tall, and nothing I wore looked good on me. In school, the boys would secretly call me 'Bamboo Pole.' I even cried several times in junior high, feeling out of place because I was too tall, and that no one would ever like me. I only started to feel a little better after I went to university, but I've never really been very confident."

Ma Qingqing was a little embarrassed by the praise. She lowered her head and stirred the dipping sauce in her bowl, her ears turning slightly red. "Now that I'm in the company, you all don't think I'm tall and you always praise me. I'm starting to realize that being tall isn't such a bad thing after all."

"That's certainly not a bad thing. You have a naturally good foundation. You just didn't know how to dress up before, so you didn't show it off. Now it's great, our Qingqing is becoming more and more elegant. Here, try this plum wine, it's especially suitable for girls."

Wang Yue picked up the plum wine and poured a glass for each of them. The amber liquid shimmered with a warm luster in the glass and emitted a faint aroma of green plums.

The two ate and chatted, their conversation ranging from work to life, and from life to trivial matters of the heart.

Wang Yue mentioned Lin Feng intentionally or unintentionally, saying how good he was to his subordinates, how generous he was, and how righteous he was. She also mentioned that Lin Feng had stood up for her and dealt with Lu Hao, who had been making things difficult for her, but Lu Hao later ended up in detention because of his own problems.

Ma Qingqing was so engrossed in listening that she forgot to put the sliced ​​beef she was holding on her chopsticks into the pot.

I had only heard of Lin Feng's reputation in the business world of Hehai City before, but I didn't know that he had so many stories behind him, which made me feel even better about him.

Seeing that her eyes were sparkling as she listened, Wang Yue poured her another glass of plum wine and continued talking about Lin Feng.

He talked about how he single-handedly built the company from a small team to its current scale, and how he led the transportation department's new energy vehicle fleet to achieve benchmark results in the province. He also mentioned his past work in his hometown of Zhaicun, where he repaired roads and provided welfare services for the elderly.

"President Lin is really amazing. When I interviewed him before, I felt that he was different from other bosses. He spoke very gently, which made me feel at ease. He also told me that he was from Hohai University, one year below me, so he was my junior. I couldn't believe it at the time. A junior has already built such a big business, while I, the senior, am still interviewing for entry-level positions."

Ma Qingqing picked up the plum wine and took another big gulp. Although plum wine is a fruit wine, with a sweet and sour taste, it has a high alcohol content. After drinking more than half of the four bottles, her face was already flushed, and she spoke much more freely than usual.

She held Wang Yue's hand, her eyes somewhat unfocused, and began to ramble on about her past.

She said that when she was in college, one of her roommates was dumped by her boyfriend. Before he got her, he would send her flowers and milk tea every day. After he got her, he started to complain that she was too clingy and was picky. Later, he cheated on her with another female student.

My roommate cried every day during that period, and almost failed her final exams. After that, she felt that many guys were unreliable; they would use sweet words when pursuing someone, but didn't know how to cherish them after they got them.

Having witnessed too many heartbreaking stories in relationships, she made up her mind that she would never casually fall in love until she met someone truly reliable and attractive.

"Qingqing, have you ever thought that it's not that you hate men, but that you hate irresponsible people? Someone like President Lin, who is capable, responsible, and caring towards those around him—isn't that a good person too?"

Ma Qingqing tilted her head and thought for a moment, then let out a small hiccup and answered very seriously, "President Lin shouldn't be considered an unreliable person. He's been very good to me; during the interview, he even proactively helped me transfer to a more suitable department. Moreover, he's very kind to everyone in the company; I've never seen him lose his temper easily."

Wang Yue felt there was a chance, and went on to talk a lot about Lin Feng's character. The four bottles of plum wine were quickly finished.

As Ma Qingqing spoke, her voice gradually lowered, her eyelids grew heavier, and finally her head tilted to the side as she fell asleep on the sofa.

Wang Yue looked at Ma Qingqing, who was fast asleep on the sofa, and gently called "Qingqing" twice. She then reached out and shook her shoulder. Ma Qingqing mumbled a few indistinct words, turned over, and fell into a deep sleep again.

Wang Yue picked up her phone and dialed Lin Feng's number. Lin Feng was at the company finishing up some work. After receiving the call, he went downstairs and walked a few minutes to Wang Yue's apartment.

The door was gently pushed open, and when Lin Feng walked in, the cool air from the air conditioner, carrying the aroma of hot pot, wafted over.

There were still bowls and chopsticks on the table that hadn't been cleared away yet, and several plates of unfinished vegetables were already wilting. A thin layer of oil film had formed on the red oil at the bottom of the pot.

The living room lights were dimly lit. Ma Qingqing lay on her side on the sofa, one hand hanging over the edge, her fingertips slightly curled.

She was only wearing a white tank top and cotton shorts. The thin strap of the tank top had slipped down a little from one shoulder, revealing a small patch of fair skin below her collarbone.

She had a slender waist, and her long legs were casually crossed beneath her shorts. Her face was flushed with the effects of alcohol, spreading from her cheekbones to her ears. Her lips were slightly parted, her breathing was steady and deep, and her chest rose and fell gently with each breath. She was fast asleep.

Wang Yue stood beside the sofa, made a "shh" gesture to Lin Feng, and said in a low voice, "She just fell asleep. She drank more than two bottles of plum wine, and this wine has a stronger aftereffect than the red wine last time. Based on previous experience, she should sleep for at least several hours and won't wake up easily in the middle of the night. When she wakes up tomorrow morning, her head will probably be a little heavy, and she probably won't remember anything after she got drunk."

Lin Feng squatted down in front of the sofa, looking closely at Ma Qingqing's pure and clean face. After taking off her silver-rimmed glasses, she looked even softer and more innocent, her eyes and brows quiet and serene, without the restraint she usually displayed at work.

He reached out and gently brushed away the stray hairs that had fallen across her cheek, his fingertips brushing against her cheekbone, her skin warm and smooth.

His fingertips gently traced her jawline, finally stopping at her neck and shoulder, where he pressed lightly. He could feel that her trapezius muscles were stiff, with several small nodules, similar to the situation he had when he had done neck and shoulder relaxation exercises for Ye Qinghan.

However, her stiff muscles were not due to long hours of desk work, but rather because she was tall and had been deliberately hunching over for a long time, which had caused a lot of strain on her shoulders and neck over time.

Wang Yue stood to the side watching, her dimples barely visible, and said softly, "She's always hunched over organizing documents at work, and she's always on her phone after get off work. I've told her before that her neck and shoulders aren't good and that she should move around more, but she always forgets."