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The company group chat was buzzing until closing time.
Colleagues were speculating about the relationship between He Jingxiu and Tan Rui. Some, acting like insiders, were convinced they were together but couldn’t go public for some reason.
Of course, others countered, thinking they were a perfect match, and if they were truly together, there would be no reason to hide it.
Bo Ying watched for a while, then suddenly heard a colleague suggest, “Shall we all go out for dinner tonight?”
This group usually ate lunch and dinner together every day, but it was always at the cafeteria or takeout. They never had time for a fancy meal out.
As soon as the suggestion was made, someone agreed, “Yes, please!”
“What about you all?”
“Sure.”
When it was Bo Ying’s turn, she thought about He Jingxiu and unhesitatingly agreed, “I have no problem.”
The gathering was set.
Just as it was decided, He Jingxiu’s message came in.
He Jingxiu: [Working overtime tonight?]
Bo Ying had told him earlier that she wasn’t sure about overtime, so she hadn’t agreed to his date.
She rested her chin on her hand, looking at the message from the man, and typed with a little hum: [No, going on a date.]
He Jingxiu: [?]
Bo Ying: [Dating another man~]
He Jingxiu: [?]
Bo Ying: [What are you doing? Can you only send question marks?]
The next second, He Jingxiu sent her the little girl emoji with eyes covered that she often sent him.
Bo Ying couldn’t help but be amused, and her mood improved just a tiny bit.
She curled her lips, and the man sent another message: [I’ll call you after work. I’m at the hospital now. Tan Rui and her father had an accident.]
He Jingxiu had been called by Ms. Chen. The Tan and He families had always had close ties, both in business and personal matters.
Originally, this matter wouldn’t have required He Jingxiu’s presence, but He Jingxiu’s father was abroad for business. There was no other way, so it was up to He Jingxiu to go and see if anything was needed.
Bo Ying replied with an OK emoji.
Both officially and privately, He Jingxiu definitely had to go to the hospital. Bo Ying wouldn’t get angry because of this, but she would certainly harbor a little bit of a temper.
Thinking of this, she poked the man’s avatar hard, humming lightly to herself that she would settle the score with him slowly over the weekend.
At 6:30 PM, everyone finished their work and prepared to leave.
They walked out, chatting and laughing. On the twenty-something floor, they ran into colleagues from the legal department, Du Nan and Zhu Xiaxia.
After the last incident, these two had been quiet for a few days and hadn’t bothered Bo Ying.
Of course, that was also because she had moved to work upstairs.
This was their first formal encounter since then.
Once they entered, the elevator fell silent for a moment.
Suddenly, Zhu Xiaxia said, “Sister Nan, quick, tell me, is CEO He really with Miss Tan?”
Du Nan, using the reflection in the elevator, looked at Bo Ying with a hint of sarcasm. “What do you think?”
Zhu Xiaxia: “I don’t know.”
She said, “I guess they must be together, otherwise CEO He wouldn’t be so anxious when she got into a car accident.”
Du Nan smiled, implying, “I think so too. CEO He denied they were together in the private room last time probably out of consideration for some people’s feelings. After all, he was afraid that if he admitted it directly, someone would cause trouble at the gathering.”
“That’s right,” Zhu Xiaxia agreed. “CEO He is always a gentleman; he’s very considerate of everyone’s feelings in what he says and does.”
“...”
Perhaps it was a woman’s intuition, but Du Nan always felt that Bo Ying liked He Jingxiu. Because of this, she deliberately said these words in front of Bo Ying to provoke her.
She hadn’t bothered with the humiliation she suffered last time, and she couldn’t. But even with so many powerful brothers, what good was it if she still couldn’t get He Jingxiu?
She always thought she was hiding it well, but if one looked closely, every woman was an expert.
Du Nan had long noticed the tell-tale signs: Bo Ying always became quiet in front of He Jingxiu, and occasionally blushed.
Thinking of this, she sneered, How shameless.
Bo Ying didn’t know Du Nan’s thoughts, but from her eyes, she could see her contempt and disgust.
However, everyone in this world had people they disliked and liked. Du Nan disliked her, and she disliked Du Nan, which was quite fair.
She was just wondering if these two would remember this conversation in the elevator today when they found out she was with He Jingxiu.
Thinking, Bo Ying curved her lips and looked at Du Nan: “Sister Nan, you’re speaking so confidently. Do you have some inside information?”
Du Nan smiled slightly: “Of course.”
“Oh~” Bo Ying nodded, looking as if she understood. “Then we have an annual meeting at the end of the year. How about I ask CEO He to confirm it then?”
The end of the year wasn’t far off.
Du Nan was full of confidence, “Sure.”
Bo Ying nodded, muttering to herself, “Okay, then remember what you said today.”
As she spoke, she looked at Fang Boyu: “Fang Boyu, you have a good memory; you won’t forget then, will you?”
Fang Boyu: “...No.”
Actually, as a man, he shouldn’t get involved in women’s disputes, but there was no other way. He had revolutionary camaraderie with Pei Yunmeng and Bo Ying. Whatever these two wanted to do, he could only help.
After the elevator incident, many new colleagues were curious about He Jingxiu’s romantic life when they went out.
“Bo Ying, who is Tan Rui?”
Bo Ying: “...The eldest daughter of the Tan Group.”
Yu Mengjia “ah-ed,” “Is she really dating your boss?”
Bo Ying glanced at her, shaking her head and saying, “No.”
She whispered, “If you say that again, I’ll get angry.”
Yu Mengjia was startled and quickly took her arm, saying, “Okay, okay, I won’t say it anymore. I’m sorry.”
She looked at Bo Ying and asked in a voice only they could hear, “Yingying, do you like your boss?”
“...”
Bo Ying blinked and met her gaze for a few seconds. “Are you asking about now or before?”
Yu Mengjia looked confused, “Is there a difference?”
“Yes, there is,” Bo Ying said confidently. “I don’t like him now.”
“Why?”
Bo Ying thought for a moment and said haughtily, “A woman’s likes and dislikes have no reason.”
She was currently secretly keeping a tally for him and didn’t have time to like him.
Yu Mengjia nodded, seeming to understand. “Alright.”
Bo Ying saw her confused expression, smiled, and changed the subject, “Let’s not talk about that depressing stuff. First, let’s talk about food.”
“Okay.”
After some discussion, everyone unanimously decided to eat hot pot.
When there are many people, hot pot is the best way to cater to different tastes. Everyone can order their favorite dishes, and there’s no need to worry too much about not finishing the food.
At the hot pot restaurant, Bo Ying remembered to send a message to He Jingxiu, telling him she was off work.
As soon as she sent the message, the man’s call came in.
She told her colleagues and went outside the restaurant to answer.
“Hello,” Bo Ying drew out the last syllable, humming, “CEO He, it’s after work hours. Is there something you need to call an employee about?”
He Jingxiu heard her strange tone and couldn’t help but chuckle: “I’m looking for my girlfriend during off-hours.”
He said, “Give my girlfriend back to me.”
Bo Ying: “Hmph.”
He Jingxiu was speechless, “Are you off work?”
Bo Ying “hmm-ed,” pouting as she looked at the customers waiting outside the pickled fish restaurant across the street. “I’m at a hot pot restaurant, having dinner with colleagues.”
He Jingxiu understood, “Don’t drink too much. Did you drive there?”
Bo Ying: “Yeah, I’ll call a designated driver if I drink later.”
He Jingxiu: “Or should I ask Luo Xiao to pick you up?”
Bo Ying pondered for a moment, “No need. I’ll see how it goes while I eat. Maybe I won’t drink.”
He Jingxiu: “Okay. Tell me when you’re done eating and ready to go back.”
Bo Ying agreed, then after a moment of silence, asked, “What about you?”
She was curious: “When will you be done there? Are Tan Rui and her father seriously injured?”
“Tan Rui is fine,” He Jingxiu paused, then said in a low voice, “Her father’s condition is a bit more serious; he’s undergoing surgery.”
Because of this, he couldn’t leave right now.
Hearing this, Bo Ying sighed, “Then you take good care of things at the hospital. I’ll call you if anything comes up.”
He Jingxiu: “Okay.”
Before hanging up, Bo Ying asked, “Have you eaten?”
He Jingxiu: “Not hungry yet. I’ll see the situation later before eating.”
“Then remember to eat.”
He Jingxiu agreed.
After hanging up, Bo Ying returned to the hot pot restaurant.
He Jingxiu was right; colleagues’ gatherings rarely involved no drinking, especially when both men and women were present.
Although they were all young, they were in their twenties, and a little alcohol seemed to make conversation flow better.
The few of them gathered, chatting about everything under the sun.
They talked about ideals, the future, their ambitions, and the clients they had encountered, so much.
For some reason, Bo Ying felt a sense of emotion as she listened.
Even though she was past the age of being easily moved, she was still touched.
It was as if they were forever young, forever holding expectations and aspirations for the future.
In their minds, there were blueprints they had drawn for themselves, for society, and for the world. They were working hard to realize these blueprints and dreams.
After hot pot, the group went to a separate entertainment floor upstairs for a while.
Some played games, some tried their hand at claw machines, and some danced on the dance machine. It was a lot of fun.
When it was time to leave, everyone was still reluctant to part, clamoring to meet again next week.
But they wondered if they would have so much free time to hang out next week.
Bo Ying had been drinking, so she called a designated driver directly.
Fang Boyu looked at her uncertainly, “Do you want me to give you a ride back? They’re taking Yu Mengjia.”
“No need.”
Bo Ying shook her phone. “I’ll go back by myself.”
Fang Boyu pondered for a moment, then asked in a low voice, “Isn’t CEO He picking you up?”
“He’s still at the hospital.” Saying this, Bo Ying just remembered that she forgot to ask him if he had eaten yet.
She pondered for a moment and sent a message to Qi Xuezhen.
When the designated driver arrived, Bo Ying changed the address.
On the other side, after secretly messaging Bo Ying, Qi Xuezhen felt a little guilty.
He thought for a long time, then still called out to He Jingxiu.
“CEO He.”
Tan Rui was talking to He Jingxiu and turned to look when she heard the voice.
He Jingxiu looked up, “What is it?”
Qi Xuezhen hesitated.
He Jingxiu raised an eyebrow, greeted Tan Rui, and walked over.
Qi Xuezhen glanced at Tan Rui not far away and whispered, “Miss Bo is here.”
He Jingxiu was startled, subconsciously checking his phone. “She told you?”
“Yes,” Qi Xuezhen said, “She asked me if you had eaten.”
He Jingxiu was slightly stunned and nodded: “Got it. Tell me if she messages you again later.”
He thought for a moment and asked, “Has CEO Tan’s assistant returned yet?”
In this car accident, only Tan Rui and her father were in the car. Her father’s assistant happened to be on a business trip and couldn’t make it back in time.
However, upon receiving the news, he was already on his way to the hospital.
Qi Xuezhen knew what he meant. When CEO Tan’s assistant returned, He Jingxiu could leave.
The reason he hadn’t left yet was that there wasn’t a reliable man here. And Tan Rui currently had a slight hand injury, so she couldn’t fully take care of things.
“Soon,” Qi Xuezhen reported, “I asked ten minutes ago, and he’s already landed.”
He Jingxiu nodded, “Okay, you tell the doctor. We’ll leave when he gets here.”
Seeing Qi Xuezhen walk away, Tan Rui pursed her lips and walked closer, saying, “Is there something going on with the company?”
She looked at He Jingxiu, her affection clearly visible in her eyes.
He Jingxiu: “No.”
He didn’t hide it and said directly, “My girlfriend is here.”
Tan Rui was stunned, “Huh?”
He Jingxiu continued, “You’ve met her, Bo Ying.”
“...”
The hospital corridor was silent. He Jingxiu’s words were neither light nor heavy, but they echoed in Tan Rui’s ears as if wrapped in an echo.
She could vaguely understand why he would tell her so directly, but she didn’t want to believe it.
She opened her mouth, and after a long while, finally managed to say, “Congratulations.”
He Jingxiu smiled and accepted it frankly.
Looking at him openly, she pursed her lips and asked, “Why so sudden?”
“Sudden?” He Jingxiu said faintly, “Not sudden at all.”
Tan Rui was shocked, “What?”
Suddenly, a sound came from the end of the corridor. He Jingxiu looked over and, as expected, saw the person appearing with things in hand.
He slightly curved his lips and told Tan Rui, “She’s from Seventh Middle School.”
So, this relationship was not sudden at all.
Suddenly, Tan Rui lost her ability to speak.
She wanted to say something several times but couldn’t.
Seventh Middle School.
She remembered.
She was the same age as He Jingxiu, but started school a year earlier than him, becoming classmates with Pei Yan and a few others.
When she was a freshman, He Jingxiu was a senior in high school. At that time, she was studying out of town and had heard from Luo Xiao a few times that there was a girl aggressively pursuing He Jingxiu, chasing him.
At the time, Tan Rui didn’t take it seriously.
It wasn’t until she went home for Chinese New Year that year and visited the He family with her parents that she saw He Jingxiu sitting in the living room playing on his phone.
She saw him smile inexplicably several times and secretly asked his mother what he was smiling about.
Ms. Chen told her, “He’s chatting with a little girl, teasing her.”
Tan Rui was confused at the time.
She tentatively asked He Jingxiu who he was chatting with.
How did He Jingxiu answer?
She thought for a moment. He said, in a very doting and indulgent tone, “A junior from Seventh Middle School, a troublemaker.”
After lunch, he left the house.
Tan Rui heard him report to Ms. Chen that a friend had invited him out for dessert.
Outside, snow was falling heavily. He was clearly not someone who liked going out in the snow, nor did he like eating dessert, yet he still went.
At that time, Ms. Chen even jokingly asked, “Are you planning to bring me a daughter-in-law back later?”
He Jingxiu seemed to have said, “She’s not an adult yet.”
“...”
But later, she heard that the girl who was pursuing He Jingxiu had gone abroad.
She didn’t know that person was Bo Ying.
Thinking of this, Tan Rui looked at He Jingxiu, her lips moving up and down. She said uncertainly, “So all these years you...”
He Jingxiu knew what she wanted to say. He glanced at her, his voice gentle yet extremely impactful, “I was waiting for her.”
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