Turning Of the Tide by Diana Sander

Leia guessed that Chris would ask about his, but she did not expect him to come directly to the company to confront her. Indeed, as he had said, his personality was straightforward. ‘Well... indeed. He is quite straightforward,’ thought Leia.

As Chris's words fell, time seemed to freeze again. The air around them solidified, the wind ceased to circulate, and they could hear each other's breathing. Leia adjusted her emotions and said, "Our..." Chris, a straight-talking man, started to become a bit overbearing, not giving Leia a chance to find reasons. He directly cut off any possibility by saying, "I know you want to mention our family backgrounds are not compatible. But I'm just a doctor, skilled with a scalpel. If my mom kicks me off from our family, my bank balance won't be more than yours. Besides, my instincts have always been accurate. | think you like me too." Leia seemed to want to speak, but before she could continue, Chris interrupted, "If you are so concerned about my family business, | can choose not to inherit it in this lifetime. Then, I'll just be a doctor. Besides, | never intended to take over." Under the table, Leia's fingers stirred together, her thoughts a bit chaotic. Chris's sudden arrival caught her off guard, and she had not prepared her lines to respond. "Can you give me some more time to think about it?" she asked.

"I'm afraid not. The more you think, the more confused you'll become. It's like surgery. Once | open someone up, | have to act right away. Overthinking can be life-threatening if the patient is left hanging for too long," Chris replied, using the concept of surgery to discuss with Leia. He believed she should not take too much time to think it over. When someone was sick, it was important to seek medical treatment early. The longer one waited, the higher the likelihood of complications.

Leia found his statement amusing and thought, 'Why does love become related to surgery?’ She smiled helplessly, finding him quite adorable. His mind was filled with medical concepts, and even when expressing his feelings, he could relate them to performing surgery. Luckily, she also had a fondness for the medical profession. If a timid girl heard him comparing love and surgery, she would probably be scared off.

Suddenly, Leia felt relieved. She remembered what Quinn had said last night, "In life, how many people you like and who also like you can you encounter? We are not little girls anymore, and you are almost thirty. Although your parents are not urging you to find a boyfriend, deep down, they must be thinking about it. They also wish for a good man to take care of you, so they can feel reassured when they are gone. If you also like him, give it a try. How would you know if it's suitable or not without trying? You can't just leave a pair of shoes there, not try them on, and then directly say they don't fit, right? Allocate some of the courage you have in your work to your emotions, and everything will be solved." Quinn's words echoed in her mind, and as she thought about it, Leia smiled. She stood up, looked directly at Chris, and for a minute, neither of them spoke. From his eyes, she could see determination, expectation, and nervousness. It seemed like if she did not agree to be his girlfriend today, he would not leave, displaying a somewhat stubborn demeanor. It was amusing to think about.

After a while, Leia boldly took the first step, extending her hand with a gentle smile. "Dr. Yamin, how about we give this relationship a try?" With these words, Chris could not suppress the smile at the corner of his mouth, and his heart was so excited that he was on the verge of jumping in place. His hand quickly moved faster than his brain, grabbing the back of Leia's head and pulling her towards him. His thin lips sealed her tender lips and the sweetness of lipstick spread between their lips and teeth. He used concrete actions to convey the answer to her.

Chris didn't engage in a deep kiss; it was just a light peck. After all, she was a manager at the company, and maintaining a professional image was essential. The excitement from a moment ago had been a bit overwhelming. "Sorry, | could not help it. It was irresistible,” he apologized. Leia's heart was pounding. She licked her lips, her cheeks blushing. She smiled lightly as she said, "It's okay. It suits your straightforwardness." At this moment, Chris felt that his straightforward personality was quite useful; it allowed him to do many things. It was the first kiss for Chris, and his ears were slightly red from the experience. He wanted to continue, but seeing Leia shy away, he restrained himself from further impulses. As the kiss ended, the office fell silent again. Both of them did not know what to say.

With these words, Leia's awkward mood

I'd like to discuss with you." She was not sure if she could go all the way with Chris. She had a basic understanding of his mother's warm and friendly personality from Christina. As for Stella, she could never keep secrets. Considering Chris's special status, Leia did not want Angie and Stella to

agreeing? It's not a child's game. I'm just thinking can we keep our relationship a secret from Stella and your mom for now?" He was confused, replying, "Are you planning to break up?" Otherwise, why would she consider all this? Leia was speechless. She rested her elbows on the desk, her hands crossed, and her chin on the back of her hands. She looked at Chris, tilting her head, asking, "Do | look insecure to you?" Chris shook his head, and Leia continued, "We haven't tried, and there's always a possibility it might not work. I..." Chris did not like where this conversation was going and interrupted her, "My instincts have always been accurate. Don't worry about breaking up; it won't happen. If you don't want Stella and my mom to know, | won't say anything for now." Just as Leia was about to say something, there was a knock on the door. To avoid causing any trouble for Leia, Chris quickly grabbed a chair and sat across from her. She answered to the door, "Come in." The

and came out within five minutes. Watching Chris come out of

you win

wondering, 'Is he crazy? Wasn't he here to confess his feelings? Then why did he spend so much time in the office?

the company?" When Leia entered the break room, she overheard this comment. The employees, seeing their leader, straightened up, and said, "Ms. March. We are here for some water." "It turns out that when someone praises your boyfriend's good looks, you feel proud and happy.’ thought Leia as she spoke up, "Well, talk less then." Watching Leia leave, a colleague seemed puzzled. "Wait, what did Ms. March say just now? We weren't scolded, and she only asked us to talk less. Could it be that she is in love?" ‘That is absolutely impossible. If Chris is in a relationship with Ms. March, he would definitely tell me. Even if he did not tell me, he would tell Mom. This is the best chance for him to say goodbye to his single life,’ Stella thought in her heart and replied firmly, "Absolutely impossible. When was the last time you saw flowers in Ms. March's office? If they were just starting a romantic relationship, there should be

to the hospital. Upon arrival, he immediately informed Leia that he was at the hospital, waiting for her after work. During the honeymoon phase, couples tend to be clingy, sending messages frequently,

However, the sound of the vibrating phone hidden in the pocket caused her, who was conducting the meeting, to pause for a moment, lost in thought for a

another case of hormonal imbalance?" Kimble trailed behind, muttering like an old lady, observing Chris with a smirk and a face adorned with joy. Pulling out a chair for himself, he remarked, "Why do you look so strange? You're not in love, are you?" In a good mood, Chris's mind was filled with the sweet kiss earlier. His lips unconsciously curled upward. "Well, | guess | am." At this revelation, Kimble seemed to have heard something extraordinary. He almost fell off his chair. "Wait, are you in love?" Proudly glancing at Kimble,