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It was already half an hour later when He Jingxiu saw Bo Ying’s message.
The problem in Jiangcheng was not small. From morning till now, He Jingxiu hadn’t stopped receiving calls and had attended two meetings.
He raised his hand to rub his temples, opened Bo Ying’s message, and felt a rare moment of relaxation.
Bo Ying: [President He, the manager informed me that I will be going on a business trip to Jiangcheng tomorrow. Did you pull some strings for me?]
Bo Ying: [Covert observation.jpg]
He Jingxiu: [Is a business trip considered a good assignment?]
Bo Ying: […I just heard from my colleagues; it seems this time it isn’t.]
He Jingxiu: [Mm.]
Bo Ying: [What do you mean by ‘Mm’?]
He Jingxiu: [I’m reluctant to make things difficult for you. This business trip wasn’t arranged by me.]
He Jingxiu indeed had selfish intentions and wanted Bo Ying to come along, but this time the workload was heavy. Though he knew Bo Ying wanted to learn, he didn’t want her to be overwhelmed by work.
He had to let her adapt gradually.
Upon seeing He Jingxiu’s words ‘reluctant to make things difficult for you,’ Bo Ying inexplicably felt that the office temperature had risen a bit.
Feeling uncomfortable, she touched her cheek, sniffed, and lowered her head to reply: [I understand. It must be because I’ve performed well recently and caught the manager’s attention.]
He Jingxiu: […]
From his ellipsis, Bo Ying could feel his speechlessness.
She couldn’t help but laugh for a while before asking: [So, are you really going to Jiangcheng with everyone tomorrow?]
He Jingxiu: [I’m leaving shortly.]
Bo Ying: [So soon?]
He Jingxiu: [Mm, I’ll wait for you there.]
After chatting with He Jingxiu for a few sentences, knowing he still had matters to attend to, Bo Ying didn’t ask further questions.
She closed their chat dialogue, trying to focus on her work. However, at this moment, her office colleagues were also talking about the situation in Jiangcheng, making it impossible for her to concentrate.
“Have you heard? I heard they say this time the issue in Jiangcheng is quite troublesome, giving President He a headache.”
“What exactly is the situation?”
“It seems like a deputy manager sold one of the company’s project plans to another company, and now they’re preparing to sue.”
“So Bo Ying and the others will have their hands full this time.”
“Yes, there are still a lot of issues with the company in Jiangcheng, all quite troublesome.”
“…”
Listening to her colleagues’ discussions, Bo Ying felt somewhat irritated.
She rubbed her sore eyes, picked up her cup, and headed to the pantry. Whenever she felt restless, she would drink a lot of water.
In the pantry, Qiu Li happened to be there.
In the legal department, Qiu Li was a pretty good senior colleague who took good care of her.
Bo Ying greeted her proactively, “Sister Li.”
Qiu Li smiled, “Getting water?”
“I’ll make some coffee.” Bo Ying said sheepishly, “I’m a bit sleepy.”
Qiu Li nodded, “How have you been feeling recently? Tired?”
Bo Ying pretended to think deeply and answered sincerely, “A little bit, but I feel this way is more fulfilling.”
At least, it was better than when she first joined, aimlessly wandering around every day without knowing what to do.
Compared to slacking off daily, Bo Ying preferred to be busy and fulfilled as time passed quickly.
Qiu Li understood, taking on the posture of a veteran to encourage her, “That’s good. Work hard, and after finishing your tasks, you can seek advice from seniors. Staying here for a year or so, you’ll learn a lot of useful knowledge.”
“Okay.” Bo Ying curved her lips, “I know, thank you, Sister Li.”
Qiu Li chatted with her for a while and thought of the business trip.
She glanced at Bo Ying and thoughtfully said, “Going to Jiangcheng on a business trip isn’t a good assignment. Be smart and flexible.”
After a short pause, Bo Ying earnestly replied, “I will.”
Because of Qiu Li’s few words, Bo Ying relaxed a bit momentarily.
She brewed a cup of black coffee and returned to her seat. Just as she put it down, Bo Ying suddenly thought of something.
Holding her cup, she pondered for a few seconds and turned to Sun Hongbo: “Brother Sun, can I go buy a cup of coffee now?”
Their company wasn’t strict about such trivial matters. Employees occasionally going out to buy coffee or other things was fine.
The reason Bo Ying asked was mainly because she thought it was better to be cautious.
Sun Hongbo was taken aback, looked at the black coffee she had made, and jokingly asked, “Still not used to making your own?”
Bo Ying exclaimed “Ah,” feeling a bit guilty, “Yeah.”
Sun Hongbo understood, “Go ahead, and if it’s convenient, get me a cup too.”
“Sure.” Bo Ying thanked him and then went out.
It was still morning, and there weren’t many people in the coffee shop.
Relaxing music played, very pleasant to the ear.
After placing her order, Bo Ying waited nearby and sent a message to Qi Xuezhen to inquire about He Jingxiu’s situation.
She wasn’t sure if he had left the company yet.
Just as her message was sent, a familiar voice came from the side.
“Miss Bo.”
Bo Ying was surprised, turned her head, and saw Jian Yi, He Jingxiu’s assistant.
“Assistant Jian.” Bo Ying looked at her, “Are you also here to buy coffee?”
Jian Yi nodded, sighed, and said, “I didn’t sleep well last night, so I’m buying coffee to perk up.”
Bo Ying nodded, thought for a moment, and asked, “Has President He left for the airport?”
Jian Yi looked at her embarrassed expression, smiled gently, “Not yet, they will leave shortly.”
She said, “I will be going along. I heard you will also depart with Manager Lü tomorrow?”
“Mm.”
Bo Ying pursed her lips, “Is the situation really that troublesome?”
“It will be a bit.” Jian Yi didn’t want to put too much pressure on her, softly saying, “But President He can handle it. Don’t worry too much.”
While they were chatting, Bo Ying’s coffee was ready.
She asked the barista to separate the Americano into two cups and pushed one towards Jian Yi.
“Assistant Jian, can you pass this cup to President He for me?”
In front of Jian Yi and Qi Xuezhen, Bo Ying had long given up caring about appearances.
Her relationship with He Jingxiu hadn’t reached the ambiguous level they assumed, but her visits to the president’s office exceeded those of high-level managers, so whether it was that serious or not wasn’t that important anymore.
And Bo Ying didn’t care much about how others viewed her.
Jian Yi smiled brightly, accepted it, and said, “I guarantee to complete the mission.”
“Thank you.” Bo Ying said, “If I’m not busy in Jiangcheng, I’ll treat you to coffee again.”
Earlier, she tried to pay for Jian Yi’s coffee, but she declined.
Jian Yi raised her eyebrows and joked, “Then I’ll add a dessert.”
Bo Ying laughed, “No problem.”
Handing over the coffee to Jian Yi, Bo Ying felt even more relaxed.
Back in the office, she focused on her work and didn’t notice He Jingxiu’s messages.
On the other end, He Jingxiu had just gotten in the car when Jian Yi handed over the coffee.
He glanced at it, indifferently saying, “I don’t need it.”
Knowing his nature, Jian Yi didn’t beat around the bush and directly said, “President He, Miss Bo asked me to pass this to you.”
Who Miss Bo was, they all knew.
He Jingxiu paused, surprised, and looked at her, “Did she visit the office?”
“No.” Jian Yi explained, “I met her at the coffee shop.”
He Jingxiu nodded, took the coffee, and said, “Thank you.”
Jian Yi smiled gently, “You’re welcome.”
Everyone got in the car and departed for the airport.
He Jingxiu stared at the coffee Bo Ying bought for a long time and sent her a message.
She was probably busy and didn’t reply immediately, so He Jingxiu didn’t send another message. Sitting in the car, he finished the entire coffee.
After drinking it, He Jingxiu inexplicably felt more refreshed.
“Assistant Qi.”
He Jingxiu looked at the assistant in the front seat.
Qi Xuezhen turned his head, “Yes, President He.”
He Jingxiu extended his hand towards him, “Give me the pen in your hand.”
Qi Xuezhen: […]
He handed the pen to He Jingxiu, secretly noticing him writing something on the paper coffee cup, but he didn’t know what exactly it was, nor did he dare to look closely.
After writing, He Jingxiu even took out his phone to take a picture.
Seeing his actions, the two assistants in the car exchanged glances and tactfully shifted their gaze away.
They deeply felt that He Jingxiu was acting strange.
This strangeness started after Bo Ying came to their company. For a moment, the two assistants felt quite complicated.
Previously, they all thought He Jingxiu was a straight man.
As He Jingxiu’s assistant, Jian Yi had heard and seen quite a bit. Take Tan Rui for example; she was from the Tan family, which had business dealings with He Corporation, and she would occasionally visit the company.
Every time she came, the assistants could tell that she had feelings for He Jingxiu, but he remained oblivious and uninterested.
Whenever Tan Rui came to discuss work, she would suggest going out for a meal together.
He Jingxiu would generally refuse, only accepting a few times when other managers were present, as it would be awkward not to go.
Because of this, the group of assistants sometimes even made bets behind the boss’s back, wagering whether he would ever fall for a woman.
Jian Yi hadn’t expected their boss’s day to come so quickly.
Although many assistants thought he wasn’t fully smitten yet, Jian Yi believed otherwise. She felt that Bo Ying had the ability to change He Jingxiu, despite how many exceptions he had already made for her.
...
He Jingxiu didn’t know his two assistants were speculating about his private life. After drawing a simple sketch on the coffee cup and taking a photo, he sent it to Bo Ying.
After sending it, He Jingxiu didn’t expect her to reply quickly, so he set his phone aside and began reviewing documents.
At his level, there was too much to do, leaving no time to daydream or wait. Everything awaited his decisions and handling.
When they went to the cafeteria at noon, Bo Ying finally saw He Jingxiu’s messages.
One was thanking her for the coffee, another was the simple sketch on the coffee cup—a girl in a dress looking at a computer screen, undoubtedly meant to be her.
The latest message, sent an hour ago, said he was boarding the plane.
Bo Ying couldn’t help but smile upon seeing it.
Hearing her laugh, a colleague curiously asked, “Yingying, what are you laughing at?”
Bo Ying smiled faintly, softly saying, “Nothing.”
Zhu Xiaoxia glanced at her and straightened up, saying, “It must be a message from your boyfriend.”
Upon hearing this, everyone in the elevator turned to look at her.
Bo Ying smiled slightly, gently replying, “No.”
“No?” Zhu Xiaoxia widened her eyes, “Then why are you smiling so happily?”
Bo Ying looked at her and didn’t explain further. No matter what she said, those who didn’t believe wouldn’t believe anyway.
The day passed quickly, and by the time she finished work, Bo Ying still hadn’t fully come to her senses.
But deep down, she hoped the day would pass quickly so she could go home earlier to pack for the business trip.
This was her first business trip, and Bo Ying didn’t know what to bring.
She wanted to ask He Jingxiu but was worried he might be busy. After much deliberation, Bo Ying decided to ask Bo Yan.
Hearing she was going on a business trip, Bo Yan didn’t seem too surprised.
He gave her a few instructions and told her to call him if she had any problems over there.
Bo Ying thought Bo Yan was overthinking it. She was representing the company on the trip—what trouble could possibly arise? But since he had said so, she obediently agreed just in case.
By noon the next day, Bo Ying and Fang Boyu’s group arrived in Jiangcheng.
He Corporation had a branch here, and colleagues were arranged to pick them up at the airport.
After getting into the car, several managers started chatting casually.
Bo Ying sat in the back listening absentmindedly while sending a message to He Jingxiu. Since he arrived the previous night, they hadn’t contacted each other, and she didn’t dare to directly inquire about his situation, leaving her thoughts bottled up.
Unfortunately, He Jingxiu still hadn’t replied to her message.
Bo Ying sighed and put away her phone quietly.
“What’s worrying you?” Fang Boyu looked at her, “Are you nervous?”
Bo Ying shook her head, “No.”
She smiled and said, “Something else.”
Fang Boyu paused, unsure how to comfort her.
After a moment of silence, he chatted with her, “Have you been to Jiangcheng before?”
“Yes.”
Bo Ying nodded, “But it’s been a long time since I’ve been here. It’s changed a lot.”
Mentioning this, Bo Ying remembered a key point, “I vaguely remember you’re from Jiangcheng, right?”
Fang Boyu snapped his fingers, “Didn’t expect you to remember.”
Bo Ying shrugged, “Of course, my memory is great.”
The fact that Fang Boyu was from Jiangcheng had been mentioned a few times in the office. Colleagues had once asked him to bring back some local specialties when he returned home, and he readily agreed.
However, this time around, everyone seemed to have forgotten about it, not mentioning it at all.
Fang Boyu chuckled alone, “If we have time, I’ll take you to try authentic Jiangcheng cuisine.”
Bo Ying: “Alright, hopefully, there will be such an opportunity.”
The two chatted along the way and soon arrived at the hotel.
After checking in and completing the procedures, the group headed to the branch office for a meeting.
From the moment they entered the branch office, Bo Ying and the others became busy.
Throughout the day, she didn’t even have time to drink water or use the restroom. Meetings followed one after another, and as newcomers, Bo Ying and Fang Boyu had to take meeting notes, find materials, draft contracts, and brainstorm solutions.
By the time there was a brief pause, Bo Ying was utterly exhausted.
Honestly, she had anticipated being busy and facing difficulties, but never imagined it would be so complex and challenging.
Returning to the hotel from the company, Bo Ying didn’t even have the energy to eat.
She politely declined Fang Boyu’s invitation as the “local host” and retreated to her room.
She collapsed onto the bed like a corpse, unknowingly falling asleep.
The next time she regained consciousness, she was woken by her phone ringing.
Bo Ying squinted as she answered, her voice still hoarse, “Hello.”
Hearing her tone, He Jingxiu furrowed his brows, “Is your throat uncomfortable?”
“Yeah.” Bo Ying replied drowsily, mumbling, “What’s the matter?”
“…”
He Jingxiu pinched his brow, calling out, “Bo Ying.”
“Huh?” Bo Ying responded, suddenly waking up, “He Jingxiu.”
He Jingxiu raised an eyebrow, chuckling softly, “Awake now?”
Bo Ying sheepishly admitted, “Yeah, I just fell asleep.”
“Hungry?”
Bo Ying touched her stomach, honestly replying, “Yes, but I don’t have the energy to go out and eat.”
She didn’t want to move at all.
He Jingxiu understood, “What do you feel like eating? I’ll arrange for someone to deliver it.”
Bo Ying’s eyes lit up, “I want everything.”
“…” He Jingxiu sighed helplessly, curling his lips, “Alright, rest a bit more. I’ll arrange for someone to deliver the food.”
“Okay.”
After taking a shower in her room, Bo Ying sneaked into He Jingxiu’s room.
They were staying at the same hotel, just in different rooms. As the only female from the legal department, the company booked a single room for her, while He Jingxiu, as the boss, naturally stayed in the largest and best room.
On the top floor.
Stepping out of the elevator, Bo Ying unsurprisingly encountered Qi Xuezhen.
Having dealt with Qi Xuezhen countless times, her skin had thickened, and she no longer felt awkward.
“Assistant Qi.”
Qi Xuezhen nodded, “Miss Bo, please go in. President He is still in a meeting. He said you should eat first and not wait for him.”
Bo Ying: “Thank you.”
He Jingxiu’s room was indeed very large, complete with a dedicated bedroom, living room, study, kitchen, and even a wine cabinet wall.
The room was on the top floor, surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows offering a panoramic view of Jiangcheng.
After Bo Ying entered, Qi Xuezhen left.
She circled the living room and glanced at the dining table. Most of the dishes were her favorites.
Bo Ying’s gaze lingered for a moment before heading towards the study.
Just as she reached the door, she heard He Jingxiu’s voice.
Compared to a few years ago, He Jingxiu’s voice had subtle changes, but not significant. Still, as usual, his tone was clear and pleasant. When deliberately lowered, it became deep and seductive.
Listening to it, Bo Ying took a few steps forward.
Peeking inside, she immediately spotted the man sitting in the office chair.
Perhaps because he was still working, he was still wearing a shirt, though his tie was off, and two buttons were undone, revealing his rolling Adam’s apple and sexy neck, appearing both restrained and alluring.
Staring at him, Bo Ying recalled him in his high school basketball uniform.
Back then, He Jingxiu still carried a lot of youthful vigor, and his physique was slimmer than now. The one thing that hadn’t changed was his aloof and cool demeanor, a blend of boyishness and mature masculinity that made it impossible for Bo Ying to look away.
Lost in thought, she didn’t notice the man had ended his video conference and was approaching her.
He Jingxiu stopped in front of Bo Ying, waving his hand lightly in front of her eyes.
Looking down at her dazed expression, he suppressed a smile, bending down to meet her gaze closely.
Their pupils were distinctly black and white, reflecting each other’s image.
Suddenly startled, Bo Ying quickly stepped back, astonished, “What are you doing?”
He Jingxiu raised an eyebrow, seeing her deflective attitude, and asked, “What are you standing here for? Have you eaten?”
“…”
Bo Ying paused, unwilling to reveal that she had been waiting for him, muttering, “President He, did you invite me up here to eat alone?”
He Jingxiu paused, chuckling, “Sorry.”
Bo Ying didn’t like it when he apologized to her, turning her face away, “It’s fine, we can eat now.”
Saying that, she walked out, and He Jingxiu followed.
He Jingxiu didn’t keep her waiting long; the food on the dining table was still warm.
Both were hungry and didn’t have much to say.
Of course, mainly because Bo Ying didn’t speak, He Jingxiu was relatively quieter.
After filling their stomachs, Bo Ying finally had the chance to chat with him.
“Will you be this busy tomorrow?”
He Jingxiu nodded, “For a few days.”
He looked at Bo Ying, gently saying, “Tomorrow, if you don’t feel like going out to eat, let Jian Yi know, and she’ll arrange for someone to deliver food to your room.”
Upon hearing this, Bo Ying immediately replied, “That doesn’t seem appropriate.”
He Jingxiu’s gaze lingered on her for a moment, asking, “Why not?”
Bo Ying blinked, hesitating, “I’m just a small employee. Having your assistant order and deliver meals for me isn’t reasonable.”
He Jingxiu knew what she was worried about, gently assuring her, “No one will see.”
Even if they did, no one would dare to talk about it.
“No, no, no,” Bo Ying still refused, “It’s unnecessary.”
She looked at He Jingxiu earnestly, “If I get hungry, I’ll order takeout myself.”
“Sure?”
“Yeah.” Bo Ying nodded emphatically.
Seeing her persistence, He Jingxiu didn’t insist further.
They quietly finished their meal, and Bo Ying’s physical and mental strength were somewhat restored.
He Jingxiu asked her to sit and called someone to clean up.
Only then did Bo Ying realize she was alone in a room with a man late at night.
She felt slightly uneasy, glancing around before her gaze settled back on He Jingxiu.
“He Jingxiu.”
“Hmm?”
Bo Ying pursed her lips, feeling like a heartless person who eats and runs, stammering, “I’ll return to my room.”
Hearing this, He Jingxiu paused, glancing at her.
Seeing Bo Ying’s evasive eyes, he understood.
“Can you sleep?”
Bo Ying was silent for a moment, “Probably… maybe.”
He Jingxiu didn’t expose her, instead asking, “If you’re not that tired, would you accompany me for a walk downstairs?”
“…”
Bo Ying suspected He Jingxiu had installed surveillance cameras in her brain, otherwise how would he know she couldn’t sleep?
She “Oh”-ed, reluctantly agreeing, “Alright, just for a little while?”
He Jingxiu: “Just for a little while.”
However, Bo Ying overlooked her stamina. Her endurance was poor, especially after a flight, making her more easily fatigued than usual.
After walking downstairs with He Jingxiu, they naturally strolled outside.
Bo Ying loved Jiangcheng’s narrow streets and alleys. Each visit brought new insights.
After walking a distance from the hotel, Bo Ying couldn’t continue.
She persisted for a while but still lacked strength.
“He Jingxiu.” Bo Ying called to the person beside her, “Let’s go back.”
He Jingxiu stopped, “Can’t walk anymore?”
Bo Ying nodded.
He Jingxiu paused briefly, checking her previously searched location on his phone—the shop she had eagerly wanted to visit.
It was still a ten-minute walk.
“Do you still want to go to that shop?”
Bo Ying peeked at him, muttering, “Yeah, but I can’t walk anymore. Maybe next time.”
He Jingxiu sighed, softly asking, “Why are you so reluctant to ask for my help?”
Bo Ying froze, “I haven’t…”
He Jingxiu didn’t respond, instead kneeling halfway down in front of her.
At this moment, they had reached a moderately wide sidewalk.
But at this hour, there were few pedestrians, making it slightly empty.
Beside the sidewalk was a lane separated by lush greenery, very close, allowing the sound of car horns to be clearly heard.
The streetlights weren’t bright, casting overlapping shadows of the two.
Bo Ying stared blankly at He Jingxiu’s back, forgetting what to do.
He Jingxiu waited for a while but didn’t receive a response.
He slightly frowned, turning back to look at her, “Bo Ying.”
“Ah.” Bo Ying lowered her lashes to meet his gaze, “What are you planning to do?”
She had a guess but wasn’t entirely sure.
Upon hearing this, He Jingxiu seemed to hear something funny, raising his eyebrows and asking, “Don’t understand?”
Before Bo Ying could answer, He Jingxiu added, “Get on, I’ll carry you over.”
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