Moving In

Lingling stood in her penthouse kitchen, fidgeting with the corner of her tablet. She had planned this conversation for days, rehearsing how to bring it up, yet every time she imagined saying the words out loud, she cringed. Asking Orm to officially move in felt... monumental.

Orm, sitting on the couch, was scrolling through her phone, utterly unaware of Lingling's inner turmoil. "You okay over there? You've been staring at that tablet like it owes you money."

Lingling's head snapped up, her cold exterior faltering. "I'm fine."

Orm smirked, leaning back. "Sure. You look totally fine. Definitely not plotting world domination or anything."

Lingling rolled her eyes, crossing her arms as she approached. "I've been thinking."

"That sounds dangerous," Orm teased, earning herself a sharp glare.

Lingling huffed, trying to maintain her composure. "I was considering... You spend a lot of time here."

Orm raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Uh-huh."

"And... you like it here," Lingling added, her tone unusually hesitant.

Orm leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. "Definitely. Fancy coffee, a killer view, and my favorite CEO? What's not to love?"

Lingling's cheeks reddened slightly. "So... it might make sense if you—" She cleared her throat, looking anywhere but at Orm. "—if you stayed. Officially."

Orm blinked, her lips twitching into a grin. "Are you asking me to move in, Lingling?"

"I'm suggesting it," Lingling corrected, her tone firm but her face betraying her nerves. "It's practical."

"Practical," Orm repeated, trying not to laugh. "Not because you'd miss me if I wasn't here?"

Lingling's eyes narrowed. "Don't push it."

News of Lingling's "practical" proposition spread quickly, thanks to Orm's big mouth and Becky's inability to keep anything to herself.

"So," Becky began during a coffee shop hangout, a devilish grin on her face. "Ling, I hear you're taking the next step in your relationship."

Lingling sipped her coffee calmly. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Move-in plans, Ling!" Freen chimed in, leaning her elbows on the table. "You're domesticated now. Officially."

Lingling glared at them both. "It's not like that."

"Oh, sure it's not," Becky said, nudging Orm with her elbow. "What's next? Matching pajamas? Weekend trips to IKEA?"

Orm laughed, leaning back in her chair. "Don't tempt her. I saw her browsing furniture catalogs last week."

Freen gasped, clutching her chest dramatically. "You? Shopping for furniture? Who are you, and what have you done with the Ice Queen?"

Lingling rolled her eyes but couldn't entirely hide her embarrassment. "You're all insufferable."

Orm reached over, taking Lingling's hand under the table. "Don't worry, Ling. I think it's cute that you're all shy about it."

"Who said I was shy?" Lingling snapped, though the faint blush on her cheeks gave her away.

A week later, Orm officially moved her things into Lingling's penthouse. Lingling had arranged for movers to bring everything over, sparing Orm the hassle. Orm, however, insisted on carrying her smaller belongings herself.

"You're really going to carry all those bags when we have movers?" Lingling asked, watching Orm struggle with two duffel bags.

Orm grinned. "Of course. It's symbolic. Like marking my territory."

Lingling raised an eyebrow. "Marking territory is my thing."

Orm laughed, dropping the bags and pulling Lingling into a hug. "Don't worry. Your penthouse, your rules."

As they began unpacking, Orm noticed Lingling carefully rearranging her things to fit Orm's items seamlessly. It was a subtle gesture, but one that made Orm's heart swell.

"You know," Orm said, watching Lingling rearrange a shelf. "You're really good at this whole 'sharing a space' thing."

Lingling glanced over her shoulder. "It's efficient."

Orm smirked. "Sure. Efficient. Not because you're secretly excited I'm staying?"

Lingling turned back to the shelf, her voice soft but firm. "Maybe."

That evening, the two of them sat on the couch, surrounded by half-unpacked boxes. Orm leaned her head on Lingling's shoulder, her voice laced with affection. "Thanks for letting me invade your space."

Lingling smirked, placing a gentle kiss on Orm's temple. "It's not invading if I want you here."

Orm tilted her head to look at Lingling, her eyes sparkling. "You know, you could've just said you'd miss me."

"I don't have to say it," Lingling replied, her voice warm. "You already know."

Orm grinned, leaning up to kiss Lingling softly. "Yeah, I do."

In that moment, amidst the scattered belongings and playful banter, Lingling realized that the penthouse didn't just feel like her space anymore. It felt like theirs.