Yao Jingjing felt that the farthest distance in the world wasn’t between life and death, nor between the South and North Poles, but when she and Lu Ze were competing in their game of “toying with each other,” and suddenly an annoying woman with the title of “ex-girlfriend” interfered.
Looking at the haughty young lady in front of her, who was not bad-looking (just average), with nostrils slightly higher than normal and eyes full of challenge and disdain scanning her, Yao Jingjing felt a buzzing pain in her head.
This girl called Fang Lulu (Fang 66, corresponding to ○number, you know what I mean) presented herself to everyone in a way that made people think she was Lu Ze’s “girlfriend.”
The first time Yao Jingjing saw Fang Lulu appear in this manner, she almost cursed Lu Ze as a “scumbag” in her heart.
— Having a girlfriend and still toying with her, what a beast!
However, later, a senior subordinate of Lu Ze who had come from Beijing suddenly developed an interest in gossip. On the third day of Fang Lulu’s appearance, he awkwardly initiated a gossip session with Yao Jingjing. After chatting about the weather, lunch, and how extraordinary their outfits were today, this colleague finally, rather abruptly, transitioned to the next topic: “Assistant Yao, did you know that Fang Lulu isn’t Mr. Lu’s girlfriend?”
After saying this, his face showed an expression of relief, as if thinking, “Damn, I finally said it.”
Yao Jingjing looked at him, feeling a bit choked by his awkward turn, “Ah? Oh, is that so!”
The senior subordinate nodded vigorously.
Yao Jingjing asked, “Then what’s her relationship with Mr. Lu?”
The senior subordinate said with a serious face, “Just an ex-girlfriend relationship!”
Yao Jingjing felt even more choked.
At least an ex-girlfriend still had the word “girlfriend” in it, but she hadn’t even gotten close to those three words T_T.
When the senior subordinate returned to report to Lu Ze, Lu Ze asked him, “Did you make everything clear?”
The senior subordinate, wiping imaginary sweat from his forehead, said, “I made it clear.” After catching his breath, he bravely added, “Mr. Lu, if there are any more tasks like this in the future, please just send me to Africa to develop the market! I really can’t handle this gossip-spreading work, it’s killing me!”
Lu Ze ignored him and only asked, “What exactly did you say to Assistant Yao?”
The senior subordinate said, “I told her that Miss Fang is not your girlfriend, she’s just your ex-girlfriend!”
After a moment of silence, Lu Ze said with a stern face, “I’ve decided to grant your wish. Starting next month, I’ll send you to develop the African market.”
The senior subordinate, after a moment of shock, cried with tears streaming down his face, “Mr. Lu, please don’t! I promise I’ll work hard to improve my gossip skills in the future. Please don’t abandon me. I heard the broadband there is thinner than a phone line. I can’t live a life with less than 10Mbps bandwidth!”
Lu Ze raised an eyebrow, “I’ll give you one last chance. Tomorrow, continue to chat with Assistant Yao, and during the conversation, clearly express the following view: Although Fang Lulu is Mr. Lu’s ex-girlfriend, they have no relationship at all now. If you fail again, pack your bags for Africa the day after tomorrow.”
As it turned out, before the poor colleague who was not good at gossip could go find Yao Jingjing to continue his awkward gossip mission, Yao Jingjing herself stormed into Lu Ze’s office.
She got straight to the point and asked Lu Ze, “I heard that Fang Lulu is your ex-girlfriend?”
Lu Ze’s face remained expressionless, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly before he nodded.
Yao Jingjing stared directly into his eyes and asked, “So can you two rekindle your relationship?”
Lu Ze’s eye twitched slightly, “What if we can? What if we can’t?”
Yao Jingjing continued to stare at him, “If you two can get back together, tell me in advance. I won’t interfere anymore, I’ll go back to Beijing and find someone else to play with!”
Lu Ze’s gaze deepened, “Interfere? Play?” After a pause, he said, “We won’t get back together. But if you want to return to Beijing to play with someone else, feel free to go.”
Yao Jingjing burst into laughter, laughing like a tough piece of meat, “If you’re not planning to rekindle your relationship, why should I go back to Beijing? It’s so much fun sticking around here and pestering you!”
Lu Ze looked at her, and as he kept looking, he suddenly smiled too. He had no way to deal with this tough piece of meat.
And Yao Jingjing was suddenly stunned.
This was the first time she had seen Lu Ze smile at her like this, both corners of his mouth turned up, his eyes clear and bright, his face no longer expressionless. His smile was like the first clear sky after heavy snow, dazzling her and making her feel a bit unsettled.
Her heart was pounding. As she listened to her heartbeat, she thought with some trepidation: Oh no, I think I’ve fallen for this guy…
On Christmas Day, Lu Ze called Yao Jingjing’s office and told her not to make any other plans for the evening as they would have dinner together.
Yao Jingjing asked, “Should I dress up nicely?”
She was just joking, but to her surprise, Lu Ze seriously replied, “Yes, dress up nicely. The dress you wore last month when I took you to the ribbon-cutting ceremony for our partner company would be perfect.”
After hanging up the phone, Yao Jingjing marveled at Lu Ze’s excellent memory, remembering what she had worn a month ago when she had to think for quite a while to recall what that dress looked like — it was a V-neck long dress.
But in this season, wouldn’t she freeze to death in a V-neck long dress?
As she was staring blankly at the long dress at home, the doorbell rang.
She got up to open the door and found someone from a brand boutique at a department store delivering a coat to her.
After signing for it, her phone rang.
The rich guy asked on the phone, “Does the coat fit well?”
As she put on the coat and looked in the mirror, she said, “This counts as a company-funded outfit, right? Don’t make me pay for this coat myself. I saw the price tag, and if I have to pay out of pocket, I’d rather freeze with my shoulders exposed!”
The rich guy’s voice sounded a bit hoarsely pleased through the speaker, “It’s not company-funded, but I won’t ask you to pay for it either.” He paused, then said in a low, deep voice, “Consider it a gift from me, out of my pocket.”
Yao Jingjing laughed, “A gift from you? Is this the No.1 most expensive item in the mall? If not, I might have to ask for an exchange!”
There seemed to be a hint of restrained laughter in the rich guy’s voice, “It is the most expensive. No need to exchange.”
Yao Jingjing smiled brightly at herself in the mirror.
Yao Jingjing’s happy mood didn’t last long. For some reason, the rich guy Lu Ze was late.
She waited in the restaurant for a full two hours, and Lu Ze still hadn’t shown up.
She called him, but his phone was always turned off.
At first, she was angry that she couldn’t reach him. Later, she gradually became worried.
Had something happened to him? Why was his phone off? Had something happened to him while he was driving? Had he lost his phone?…
As she worried and imagined all sorts of scenarios, her initial anger at wanting to leave was completely swept away by concern.
She was so worried that she was almost about to call 110 (emergency services) when he finally appeared.
At that moment, seeing him safe and sound, her grievance and anger rushed to her head, and she wanted to get up and leave.
But he sat down across from her, apologizing while casually saying, “You look beautiful today.”
And just like that, her legs went weak, and she could no longer get up.
Yao Jingjing glared at Lu Ze, trying her best to make her gaze fierce despite her hunger: “You’re late, your phone is off, and you come in firing sugar-coated bullets. Please give a reasonable explanation for all this!”
Lu Ze apologized again, then said, “I only realized my phone was off when I was on my way here. You’ve waited for so long, you must be hungry?”
Yao Jingjing continued to glare, trying to maintain her aura. But when she heard the word “hungry,” all her momentum vanished in an instant. She said pitifully, “Of course, I’m almost at death’s door from hunger!”
Looking at her like this, Lu Ze couldn’t help but smile, affectionately (forcefully) reaching out to pat her head, “Order whatever you want, I’ll make sure you’re fully satisfied.” He then called over the waiter.
As he ordered, he didn’t notice that Yao Jingjing was sitting beside him with her mouth half-open, in a state of deep shock.
— The rich guy touched her head! Although it felt more like a pat! But the rich guy did such a cheesy action to her! Why, why!
After the waiter left, Yao Jingjing looked at Lu Ze and asked softly, “Why did you pat my head?”
Lu Ze looked at her directly, neither avoiding nor dodging, and answered straightforwardly, “Because I think you’re very cute.”
Yao Jingjing felt a wave of heat rush straight to her head.
She picked up her water glass and gulped down a full glass, then put it down and asked angrily, “What are you trying to do, suddenly acting all flirty!”
She saw Lu Ze produce a small box from somewhere. He opened the box, took out a necklace, stood up, walked behind her, and put the necklace around her neck.
The pendant of the necklace was two interlocking circles, shyly hanging just above her subtly visible cleavage.
Yao Jingjing looked down at the necklace pendant, stunned.
What stunned her even more was feeling something moist and soft touch the back of her neck.
It took her a moment to realize that it was Lu Ze, bending down to kiss the back of her neck.
After his lips left her, his hands immediately pressed on her shoulders, and then he whispered infinitely close to her ear, “I thought this dress would look beautiful with this necklace, and now I see, it does!”
Yao Jingjing instantly froze, completely unable to move.
After Christmas, Yao Jingjing felt that the way Lu Ze looked at her seemed to have changed somewhat.
His gaze now seemed closer to the way a man looks at his girlfriend.
She thought happily that she might be about to level up in their relationship.
But two days before New Year’s Eve, Fang Lulu sent her a picture message.
The message contained a photo, dated Christmas night, showing Lu Ze and Fang Lulu having dinner together.
Below the photo was a line of text: “See, we’re the real couple. Yao Jingjing, stop being the third wheel!”
After seeing this message, Yao Jingjing felt a tumultuous sadness in her heart.
After the afternoon meeting, she couldn’t help but ask Lu Ze, “Why were you late on Christmas Day?”
Lu Ze looked at her and raised an eyebrow, “After so many days, you’re just now bringing up this small grievance? That’s not a good habit.”
Yao Jingjing smiled, “Alright, forget I asked.”
That night, she tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep.
He said he didn’t like her bringing up small grievances. Fine, as he wished, she wouldn’t bring up any grievances with him in the future.
Early the next morning, she arrived at the office early. She wrote a resignation letter and left it on the desk. She took off the necklace and placed it on top of the resignation letter. She booked a flight ticket and flew back to Beijing alone, without taking any luggage.
Since she had decided to leave, she might as well leave everything in Dalian. Because no matter what she took with her, it would all be attachments.
Yao Jingjing returned to Beijing and stayed at her best friend Qian Fei’s place.
Feeling frustrated, she had some beer with Qian Fei during dinner and, in her tipsy state, insisted on dragging Qian Fei to Candy KTV to sing.
Qian Fei couldn’t refuse her and had to take her there.
As a result, while they were singing in a confused state, they encountered some troublemakers.
When Qian Fei was trying to lead her out, she was already quite disoriented, seeing everyone in multiple blurry images. In her hazy state, she only remembered someone coming to grab her, forcibly trying to take her somewhere.
However, for some reason, the person grabbing her suddenly let go and fell face-first onto the ground.
After that, things became a bit of a blur for her. She vaguely remembered crying while hugging Qian Fei by the roadside. She asked Qian Fei, “Feifei, what should I do? I keep seeing Lu Ze’s shadow in front of me! Do you think I just can’t forget him?”
Then she seemed to vaguely see Qian Fei rolling her eyes at her.
When she finally became somewhat clear-headed later, she found herself passionately hugging the toilet in Qian Fei’s bathroom, refusing to let go.
Qian Fei was pleading with her from the side, “Sis, can you please let go? After you’re done vomiting and rinsing your mouth, can you please go to the room? Can you let me flush the toilet? If we wait any longer, that stuff you vomited will solidify and clog my toilet!”
So she graciously got up, rinsed her mouth, and went to the room.
After Qian Fei finished cleaning the bathroom and came into the room, she told her, “Lu Ze is here.”
Qian Fei relayed to Yao Jingjing what Lu Ze had said.
After listening, Yao Jingjing remained silent for a while, then said to Qian Fei, “Feifei, can you ask him to come in? I want to talk to him.”
Qian Fei, with an expression of being about to cry from exhaustion, went out and brought Lu Ze into the room.
After closing the door, Yao Jingjing and Lu Ze stared at each other, staring and staring.
His face was still expressionless, but as they continued to stare, his gaze became increasingly gentle. Yao Jingjing, both alarmed and weakened in resolve, quickly lost the staring contest.
She looked away and asked stiffly, “What are you doing here?”
Lu Ze took out the item she had left in Dalian from his pocket, moved close to her, and said softly, “I’ve come to return your necklace.”
Yao Jingjing turned her head away, “What am I to you? Why should I accept your necklace? Besides, it’s not even pretty. I don’t want it!”
Lu Ze sat down beside her and turned her shoulders to make her look at him. Then he slowly began to loosen his tie and unbutton his shirt collar.
Yao Jingjing screamed, “What are you doing? I’m telling you, using your good looks won’t work on me! Even if you have a great body and perfect skin, it won’t work! Even if you have abs, it won’t work!” While she was shouting chaotically, she kept her gaze firmly fixed on his gradually loosening collar.
Oh wow, what a great neckline…
Oh wow, such a sexy skin tone…
Oh wow, his Adam’s apple is moving so attractively…
Oh wow, what’s that on his neck? A necklace? Damn, it is a necklace! Oh my, the necklace is so ugly, it looks exactly like hers!
Wait a minute! The same?
Could it be… a couple’s necklace?!
Yao Jingjing was so shocked that her mouth once again formed the shape of a tea egg.
Lu Ze pulled out the necklace hidden in his collar, looked at Yao Jingjing, slightly raised the corners of his mouth, and said with a complex expression, “Can you imagine me doing something so cheesy? Wearing matching necklaces with a girl. I can hardly believe it myself.”
Seeing his usually expressionless face now showing a twisted expression of obvious embarrassment trying to appear calm, Yao Jingjing could no longer maintain her angry state and burst out laughing.
She really couldn’t imagine it.
Lu Ze patted her head, “Don’t laugh!” Then he stood up and put her necklace back on her from behind.
“The next time you want to ask what you are to me, just look down at the necklace on your neck,” he said gently, kissing the back of her neck. “I’m different from other men. I won’t say too many mushy words, I’ll just turn those words into actions.”
Yao Jingjing felt a tingling sensation all over, her heart trembling. She turned around, looked directly into Lu Ze’s eyes, and asked, “Tell me straight now, do you like me or not?”
Lu Ze looked back at her, “It’s not like.”
Yao Jingjing frowned, “What do you mean it’s not like?”
Lu Ze’s mouth corners turned up, showing that smile that always made Yao Jingjing freeze, “It’s not like, it’s love.”
Sure enough, under the double stimulation of his smile and words, Yao Jingjing completely froze.
Yao Jingjing stared blankly at Lu Ze, staring and staring and staring…
Then her eyes started to hurt.
She couldn’t bear it anymore: “Bro, didn’t you say you’re a man of action?! Shouldn’t you be lowering your head to kiss me at a time like this?! Do you think you’re treating my cervical spine by making me keep my head tilted up to stare at you cross-eyed?!!! Mmph…”
Her noisy complaints were drowned out by Lu Ze’s sudden kiss.
They kissed desperately, like star-crossed lovers who had been thirsting for each other for centuries.
They kissed so intensely and were so engrossed that their limbs became entangled like a messy ball of yarn. In their carelessness, they knocked over a stack of books on the table.
With a “bang,” the books fell to the floor.
They couldn’t be bothered to care, moving to another area to continue their passionate embrace.
Another “bang” was heard as Qian Fei burst through the door.
She was shouting, “Hey, if you have something to say, say it nicely, don’t fight!” Then, seeing that they weren’t fighting but were instead passionately kissing each other, she quietly and tactfully retreated…
Lu Ze, showing his strong potential for shamelessness, quickly locked the door from the inside as soon as Qian Fei left the room and then returned to continue their passionate endeavor.
As Yao Jingjing was being kissed within an inch of her life, she realized that all the buttons on her clothes had somehow been undone by Lu Ze.
And his large hands were kneading her breasts in various ways.
She suddenly came to her senses.
“No! I can’t do such a dirty thing with you on Feifei’s bed sheets! It’s too much of a sin during the New Year!” She pushed away his big paws and buttoned up her clothes.
Lu Ze, breathing heavily, asked, “If we’re not doing that, then what are we doing?”
Yao Jingjing thought seriously for a moment and said, “We can only French kiss!”
Lu Ze nodded, pulled her close, and they once again passionately kissed each other…
And so, they kissed for most of the night…
The next morning, when Yao Jingjing came out of the room, she saw Qian Fei staring at her in shock.
She couldn’t help but ask, “Feifei, what’s with that expression?”
Qian Fei said, “This is the expression of someone who’s seen two fat sausages!”
After breakfast, Lu Ze prepared to take Yao Jingjing back to Dalian.
Qian Fei saw them off at the airport.
Before boarding, Lu Ze told Yao Jingjing that Li Yifei looked very similar to the chairman of the Qiansheng Group.
Unfortunately, this silly girl didn’t understand what he meant at all.
He thought that this silly girl and her friend Qian Fei were the most clueless people he had ever met.
But perhaps there was one more person who wasn’t much better than them.
Li Yifei was probably already in love with his female landlord. For such a proud young master to lower himself to protect a woman, what else could it be but love? It’s just that he stubbornly refused to define everything he did as “love,” isn’t that foolish?
Lu Ze was certain that in his future love life, the Li family’s high and mighty young master would have a tough time.
In this world, there’s always something to humble everyone, like Yao Jingjing for him, and Qian Fei for that arrogant young master Li.
A year after Yao Jingjing returned to Dalian with Lu Ze, the branch company’s business was fully on track. Lu Ze took her back to Beijing.
After returning to Beijing, they got their marriage certificate.
Yao Jingjing had originally agreed with Qian Fei that they would have their weddings together. But she had to break her promise – while Qian Fei was traveling abroad after helping Qiansheng complete its restructuring project, Yao Jingjing found out she was pregnant.
So Lu Ze said they couldn’t wait, their wedding had to be held earlier.
When the wedding preparations were almost complete, Qian Fei returned.
Yao Jingjing told Qian Fei that she was pregnant and invited her to be her bridesmaid.
At the wedding, Yao Jingjing noticed that Li Yifei was constantly hovering around Qian Fei, always in a state of high tension.
She couldn’t help but tease Qian Fei during a free moment: “The best man isn’t as handsome as your boyfriend, why is your boyfriend so nervous like he’s about to take the college entrance exam?”
Qian Fei smiled and whispered to her, “He’s afraid I’ll fall, because… I’m pregnant too!”
Yao Jingjing looked at her closest friend, first stunned, then extremely happy, and they laughed together arm in arm.
They didn’t know that the sight of them laughing happily arm in arm had captivated their lovers’ eyes.
They really, truly looked beautiful like that.
Little Bun’s Theater Sprout:
As soon as four-year-old Little Lu Yao returned home from kindergarten, he tugged at Yao Jingjing and asked in his childish voice, “Mommy, Mommy, when can I inherit Daddy’s property?”
Yao Jingjing wanted to say “Not until your dad dies,” but thinking that discussing life and death with a four-year-old might be a bit cruel, she said, “That’s up to your dad to decide. But son, why are you asking about this?”
Little Lu Yao, with an innocent and enthusiastic face, said, “Li Yiyi said that if I want to marry Li Xinxin as my wife, I need to give a dowry to their family!” He tugged at Yao Jingjing’s arm, shaking it, “Mommy, Mommy, ask Daddy to give me money to marry a wife! I want to keep Li Xinxin at our house so she can play with me every day!”
Yao Jingjing looked at her son’s delicate little face, full of “Hurry up and give me money, hurry, hurry, I want to exchange it for a wife” expression and felt like she might burst into tears.
Son, you’re so young and already making your mom feel like she’s raised a money-losing commodity, you’re too amazing T_T
Oh, Qian Feifei, how did someone as silly as you give birth to the little monsters Li Yiyi and Li Xinxin, who are full of schemes?!!! They’re going to ruin my son!!!