Downtown, Lingya Building, CEO's Office.
Mom leaned on the desk with one hand, the other holding a project proposal aloft, looking down at her subordinates. She stood behind the desk by the floor-to-ceiling window, sunlight streaming in from behind, casting an aura of authority upon her.
Mom wore the same impeccably tailored beige suit she'd worn that morning. The stitching at the collar was meticulous, highlighting her elegant figure. The matching trousers were straight and long, the flesh-colored stockings peeking out from the cuffs shimmering softly in the sunlight. On her feet were beige patent leather high heels, their surfaces gleaming, the 10cm stilettos casting elegant shadows on the carpet, perfectly complementing the suit and accentuating her regal bearing.
"This is the press conference plan you revised eight times?" Her expression was icy, her phoenix eyes flashing with a dangerous glint. "You dare to submit this level of work?"
The marketing manager lowered his head, cold sweat already beading on his forehead.
His gaze unconsciously drifted to Xia Ling's beautiful legs encased in trousers; through the hem, he could vaguely see the smooth, lustrous flesh-colored stockings at her ankles, like a second skin.
"Ms. Xia... I'll..."
Just then, Xia Ling's phone vibrated. She glanced at it casually, her pupils contracting sharply, but quickly returning to normal.
She took a deep breath, elegantly put down the proposal, and said in her usual CEO tone, "That's all for now. You can leave. Give me the new plan as soon as possible."
The marketing manager, relieved, quickly led his team out of the office.
Only after the office door closed softly and the footsteps faded into the distance did Xia Ling slowly walk back to her leather executive chair and sit down.
She opened her phone again. The screen displayed a photo sent by Wang Xiong—she was lying on the classroom floor, surrounded by his henchmen, blood trickling from her mouth, her school uniform covered in dust.
"How about it, Aunt Xia? Your son's pretty good at fighting, just a bit too green," Wang Xiong's message popped up immediately afterward.
Xia Ling's finger hovered over the screen for a long time before slowly typing: "Didn't we agree yesterday that you wouldn't bully my son anymore?"
Even through the words, she could feel Wang Xiong's ugly face: "This isn't me bullying him. He started it. I was forced to retaliate. My brothers can all testify."
Looking at the cold words on the screen, Xia Ling forced herself to remain calm, but the scene from last night at the French restaurant kept flashing back: Wang Xiong repeatedly dropping his fork on the floor, forcing her to bend down and pick it up; him deliberately spilling red wine on her silk blouse, taking the opportunity to grope her; and finally, the humiliation of forcing her to take off her silk stockings and walk out of the restaurant bare-legged.
Mom didn't know how to reply, typing and deleting several times.
"Aunt Xia, come pick up your son from school today. Let's have a good talk," Wang Xiong messaged again. "Remember to wear stockings. I like seeing you in stockings."
Mom looked at the message, her legs trembling slightly beneath her beige high heels.
Just then, the secretary knocked and entered: "Ms. Xia, the CFO wants to see you. It's about the quarterly report."
Mom took a deep breath and quickly replied, "Okay, I understand." Then she immediately adjusted her posture, regaining her commanding presence as a female CEO: "Let him in."
When the CFO cautiously pushed open the door, Mom transformed back into the decisive and efficient CEO of Lingya Group, as if her earlier weakness had never existed.
However, if the CFO simply lowered his head slightly, he could see Mom's beautiful legs in stockings, still trembling slightly, beneath her large desk.
...
As the sun set and the school bell rang, the day's learning ended, and students poured out of the classrooms.
After leaving the school building, I slung my backpack over my shoulder and dragged my weary body towards the school gate.
The whole day was shrouded in shadow, and everyone looked at me with strange smiles. They gossiped, saying that Wang Xiong and Xia Ling's relationship was "unusual," and repeatedly asked Wang Xiong to pull out Xia Ling's worn-out grey stockings to show them.
"Hey, Xiao Wei!"
Wang Xiong's voice came from behind. Surrounded by several thugs, he swaggered down the corridor, with Cobra and Fatty naturally following, acting like bodyguards, forcing the other students to give way.
"Xiaowei, your mom's definitely dressed very sexily today," Wang Xiong deliberately raised his voice. "I told her to wear stockings to the school gate, you'll see her soon."
Cobra let out a lewd laugh: "Brother Xiong, you're amazing! You said you'd have Xiaowei's mom come, and she actually came?"
"That's right," Wang Xiong proudly raised his chin, "How can I be your boss if I don't show some strength?"
"Then, can I ask Xiaowei's mom to give me a pair of stockings too?"
The fat guy's cheeks flushed red, his breathing became rapid, and he excitedly waved his arms and legs.
"Get out of the way," Wang Xiong laughed, slapping the fat guy. "Xiao Wei's mom is mine. It's already a favor that you guys get to see her. What are you thinking?"
"Hehe...hehe..." The fat guy scratched his head sheepishly, then nodded, saying, "Yeah, Xiao Wei's mom is Xiong-ge's woman after all. Sorry for being so forward, sorry for being so forward, hehe."
Cobra added, "Watch your words! What 'Xiong-ge's woman'? She's sister-in-law!"
Wang Xiong and his gang burst into laughter again. I clenched my fists, but didn't even have the courage to turn around and look at them.
The school gate was bustling with people after school. Groups of two or three students chatted and laughed, heading in different directions.
Suddenly, the noisy environment quieted down for a moment. The commotion of Wang Xiong and his gang abruptly stopped. A chorus of exclamations rose from the surroundings. The boys unconsciously slowed their pace, and the girls' whispers subsided.
I followed the gaze of the crowd and saw Xia Ling standing alone under a sycamore tree.
Today, she didn't have the driver take her conspicuous extended Mercedes, but even standing on this ordinary street corner, she still radiated beauty.