“Lingling, I know I was wrong. Can we start over? I promise to cut off all contact with other women!” He didn’t believe she had no feelings for him.
“I’m sorry, sir, but we never formally dated. How can we ‘start over’?” Luo Yaling pulled Shen Yixuan, wanting to leave, but Wang Nie grabbed her clothing corner.
“Lingling, don’t be like this. I know you’re pretending to be with another man to get back at me, right? That means you still love me,” Wang Nie insisted, holding onto her more tightly.
“Sir, please don’t make yourself sound noble. I never loved you. We’re impossible. Give up! Don’t touch my clothes with your dirty hands,” Luo Yaling said to Wang Nie.
“Lingling…”
“Slap!” Luo Yaling ignored him, pulling Shen Yixuan inside and closing the door.
Wang Nie, looking at the closed door, felt his expression darken. He had planned so long, but now he had to give up? No! That’s impossible. Shen Yixuan, don’t blame me. You snatched my things. You must have ulterior motives! Hmph! I’ll pay you back with interest. Wang Nie glared fiercely before leaving.
Chapter Seventy-Three: Discovery
“Hey! Why are you back so early?” Luo Yaling pulled Shen Yixuan inside and sat on the sofa, looking at Shen Yixuan nearby.
“Don’t want me back early?” Shen Yixuan asked.
“No… not that,” Luo Yaling stammered, secretly happy.
“Oh? If I hadn’t come back, would you have gone on a date with him?” Shen Yixuan asked expressionlessly, though his eyes changed.
Hehe…” Luo Yaling giggled and patted her head, waiting for Shen Yixuan’s response.
“Are you hungry?” Shen Yixuan softened his gaze and asked.
“Mm.”
Luo Yaling lowered her head like a child who had done something wrong.
“Silly, you should have told me earlier if you were hungry. Did you eat lunch?” Shen Yixuan asked, feeling troubled.
“Huh?” Luo Yaling looked up in surprise. How could she tell him when he was so fierce? Moreover, he had been acting strangely lately.
“Looking at you like this, you definitely haven’t eaten. Let’s go out to eat later,” Shen Yixuan said, patting her head.
“No, I want you to cook for me right now,” she quickly replied, pointing to the kitchen.
“Huh???” Shen Yixuan couldn’t believe her quick reaction. Since she didn’t want to go out, he decided to cook. He was also a bit hungry, and it was almost dinnertime anyway.
“I’m going to sleep,” Luo Yaling said, pouting, and started to walk away when Shen Yixuan didn’t respond.
“Did I say I’m not going?” he asked, finding her cute. Couldn’t she wait for him to finish speaking? He wasn’t going to let her starve.
“So… you’re going to cook for me! Hurry up, hurry up…” Luo Yaling turned around energetically, pushing him into the kitchen.
Is she too excited? Does she need to stare at him like this? Shen Yixuan thought while washing vegetables and glancing at her.
Luo Yaling clasped her hands, eyes sparkling, watching Shen Yixuan.
Who knew he had this side? A kitchen guy? It felt a bit strange, since he was usually so cold. As long as there’s food to eat, she didn’t mind. Would he cook something she liked? Probably! She wasn’t picky, except for carrots and garlic. Wow! She was almost drooling. Her stomach growled, and Luo Yaling grew impatient, eventually falling asleep on the sofa.
“Girl, wake up, food’s ready,” Shen Yixuan gently shook Luo Yaling.
“Mmm… it’s done?” she replied groggily.
“Yes, come eat,” he said, helping her up.
“Wow!” she exclaimed at the rich spread of dishes, quickly running to the table.
Shen Yixuan watched her wolfing down food and shook his head helplessly as he joined the meal.
No, I’m just curious about their relationship. They seem so intimate. What is his relationship with her after living together for so many days? And what about Zhuo Ning? She certainly hadn’t forgotten that name. The mention of Zhuo Ling in the newspaper reminded her.
“Really?
I see your expression is so bad; could it be that you’ve fallen for President Shen?” Wang Qing said with exaggerated surprise.
Luo Yaling ignored Wang Qing, her thoughts consumed by Zhuo Ling and their relationship. Initially, he told her he treated her like a sister, but now the newspapers claimed Zhuo Ling was his fiancée. What was she to him?
“Looking at your appearance, it’s like your beloved man has been snatched away, but aren’t you already with a boyfriend?” Wang Qing continued when she didn’t respond.
Snatched away? Was she? She should say she was the third party from the beginning. Why was he living with her? Why was he so good to her? Did she find it funny? Luo Yaling stood dazed, not even noticing Chen Lei enter, whispering to Wang Qing and signaling her to leave.
“Little Ling!”
“Ah? General Manager!” Luo Yaling was pulled back from her thoughts. Had she been seeing him a lot lately? She increasingly felt like she was his target, always appearing before her, making her suspect.
“Don’t be nervous, sit down and listen to me slowly.” Chen Lei smiled gently and gestured for her to sit.
“Oh!” Where did she look nervous? What was he going to tell her?
“Little Ling, are you free tonight?”
“What’s up?” Luo Yaling felt frustrated. Why did he care if she was free? Just say it!
“I need a favor—can you have dinner with me?”
“No, I don’t want to go.” She refused immediately.
“Can you at least join me to meet some friends? Please?” Chen Lei nearly begged.
“But…” Luo Yaling checked her phone. What friends did he want her to meet? She was annoyed by the sudden change from dinner to meeting friends.
“I promise to send you home by ten.” Chen Lei persisted.
“General Manager, I have people waiting for me at home. Please find someone else!” If it weren’t for maintaining face for him, she would have outright refused again.
“Little Ling, what have I done wrong? Why do you always reject me?” Chen Lei asked sadly.
She didn’t want to see him. As long as she hadn’t decided to resign, she would maintain the necessary politeness.
“General Manager, I really have something to do.” It was odd; he hadn’t been this persistent before, but lately, she kept running into him at the company.
“Last time, as long as you accompany me tonight, I’ll never force you again,” Chen Lei promised.
This statement was tempting; she decided to go with him just this once.
“Let’s go!”
After almost an hour of driving, Luo Yaling could no longer hold back. “General Manager, how much further?”
“Almost there,” Chen Lei replied with a smile, offering her a bottle of water. “Are you thirsty? Have some.”
“No, thank you. Huh? Isn’t this the road to… Is the General Manager’s friend meeting at that coffee shop?” she asked, recalling the place she had been taken to before.
Chen Lei nodded slightly.
“So you know it too!” It was past seven; Shen Yixuan should be back soon. Regretfully, she wished they would arrive faster.
Chen Lei maintained his smile, but did not answer. Preferring not to press, she closed her mouth and gazed out the window.
Time passed slowly until she finally saw the cafe, but the car drove past, making her heart tighten with confusion and unease.
“General Manager, we’ve passed it. Why are we still driving?”
“We’ll arrive shortly.”
The car continued deeper into the mountains, where fewer people were around. It stopped only when there was no one in sight.
“General Manager, where are your friends?” Luo Yaling immediately asked after Chen Lei parked the car. She felt tricked; there was no one here. She needed to stay calm, despite her expression betraying her.
“Little Ling, I’m sorry. If I didn’t do this, you wouldn’t have come out with me. Now we can finally be alone together, without anyone disturbing us,” Chen Lei said, boldly taking her hand and kissing it.
“You…” she thought in frustration. How stupid; she should never have come with him.
