After Breaking Up with the Stoic CEO - Chapter 15

When she woke up again, Li Jin was already gone.

Lu Wu sat up. The room had been tidied, clean and orderly; the traces of the chaotic, out-of-control night had been wiped away, as if nothing had ever happened.

She subconsciously turned her head toward the floor-to-ceiling window.

Sunlight poured in from outside, illuminating the flawless, transparent pane. Last night, she and Li Jin were right here…

Ding-a-ling—

The doorbell rang.

“Excuse me, would you like me to prepare lunch for you?” It was the service staff’s routine inquiry.

Lu Wu jolted back to reality from those breath-stealing images and patted her flushed face. “No, thank you!”

“President Li, the Hwa family has reached out. President Liu hopes to meet with you at three o’clock this afternoon.”

The matter involving Tu Wei had already been submitted to the legal department. If they were to trace the source, the Hwa family would be implicated too. It was expected that they would request a meeting to try and downplay the situation.

Li Jin usually had no interest in dealing with such matters, but… this “President Liu” was a bit special.

Du Lin reported the news while observing his boss’s reaction. Just as expected, the movement of Li Jin’s hand as she flipped through the documents paused at the mention of President Liu.

Without looking up, she said coldly, “You arrange it.”

Even though the sun was shining brightly, the temperature in the room seemed to drop a few degrees. Du Lin responded cautiously, not daring to ask further questions.

After Du Lin left, the office returned to silence. Li Jin looked at the documents before her, but her heart wouldn’t settle.

Until—creak.

The door opened again. There was no knock; Du Lin wouldn’t be so reckless.

Li Jin looked up. Standing in the doorway was none other than Li Xinrui, dressed in a cute plaid skirt. The young girl slammed the door shut, marched in, plopped onto the sofa, and began to recount her “grievances.”

“Li Jin! Where did you go last night? I was waiting for you in my room the whole time. You didn’t come back, and you didn’t even tell me!”

Li Jin set down her fountain pen, her expression unchanged. “I was at the Rongjiang estate.”

Rongjiang was Li Jin’s primary residence, closest to the office; it only took ten minutes by car.

Li Xinrui was skeptical. “Really?”

Li Jin nodded slightly. “Yes, I had a meeting this morning.”

Li Jin’s work was demanding, and the family’s ancestral home wasn’t in the city center, so Rongjiang was certainly more convenient. Li Xinrui believed her for the most part. “…Okay then.”

Li Jin checked her watch: 11:00 AM. “Have you had breakfast?”

A sudden, abrupt growling sound came from the young girl’s stomach. Li Xinrui couldn’t argue, so she stuck out her tongue. “No.”

Li Jin raised an eyebrow slightly. “Didn’t Grandmother say anything?”

Upon hearing those two words, Li Xinrui acted like a mouse seeing a cat; even her posture straightened. She whispered an explanation, “Grandmother went to visit an old friend early this morning. She hadn’t come back when I left.”

Li Jin glanced at her and called Du Lin. “Buy some breakfast.”

Du Lin didn’t ask why, simply replying, “Understood.”

After the call ended, Li Xinrui scrambled over and leaned against the desk, her tone wheedling. “Auntie… don’t tell Grandmother. If she finds out, she’ll definitely nag me for a long time.”

Even calling her “Auntie” showed just how terrified Li Xinrui was of Li Chunhua. Li Jin had long known the girl’s personality and didn’t plan on being overly critical about minor things. She replied casually, “Hmm.”

Li Xinrui’s eyes brightened, and she smiled, revealing two dimples. “I knew you were the best!”

Li Jin lowered her head, looking at files while advising, “If you don’t want to go home, you can stay here. You can go to the gym or the lounge, but I need to ensure your safety. Let me know before you leave this floor.”

Li Xinrui used her small hands to knead Li Jin’s shoulders. “I know~ I’m not a child anymore. My American friends my age have already started learning to host their own independent parties. Grandmother’s mindset is too old-fashioned; she’s always so tense, no one feels at ease.”

At this point, she hesitated, recalling the unpleasantness from last night. “Were Mom and Grandmother… last night…”

Young girls are sensitive; even if the friction between adults is subtle, she could capture the rich emotional shifts. Li Jin was certain that Li Chunhua and Li Yan hadn’t mentioned anything sensitive during their argument, but there was no need for the girl to be involved too much.

She said calmly, “It was nothing major, just discussing the company’s operations. They were just speaking a bit heatedly.”

Li Xinrui naturally knew it wasn’t that simple. She pouted and muttered, “I’ve long been used to them being like that. I was worried about you.”

Li Jin signed the document and set it aside, finding the energy to ask, “What did you say?”

Li Xinrui blinked. “I said Mom and Grandmother were only arguing temporarily and will make up soon. You don’t need to worry too much.”

Li Jin didn’t look up. “Hmm.”

Li Xinrui shrugged and didn’t pursue the topic. A while later, breakfast was delivered—her favorite handmade tiramisu and an Italian coffee. Li Xinrui’s mood lifted again. “Want some? It looks delicious.”

Li Jin didn’t look up. “Someone is coming to report work in a moment. I suggest you eat in the lounge next door.”

“Oh.” Li Xinrui responded obediently, walked a few steps, then turned back. “Remember to help me arrange a time to meet Lu-lu~ If possible, I hope to see her tomorrow. If that’s not convenient, the weekend is fine too!”

Li Jin’s hand slackened, and the tip of her pen left a slight trail on the paper. The strange sensations in her body were a constant reminder of how wild things were last night. But after all, it was just a moment of alcohol-induced indulgence; she hadn’t expected to hear that name again so soon.

Li Jin looked up, meeting the girl’s expectant gaze. She paused. “I remember.”

The pause was too abrupt. Li Xinrui sensed something was wrong. “You didn’t forget, did you?”

Li Jin didn’t have time to defend herself.

Li Xinrui widened her eyes. “How could you? You clearly promised me, and I’ve been looking forward to it every day…”

That word triggered certain trembling memories. Li Jin cut in immediately, “I’ll tell Du Lin to handle this when she comes in, but the specific time depends on the other party’s convenience.”

Li Xinrui was relentless. “Then ask Lu-lu right now.”

Li Jin frowned. “Rui-rui, don’t be unreasonable.”

Li Xinrui stood frozen, her eyes quickly reddening. “…I know.”

Realizing the tone of her reprimand was too heavy, Li Jin felt a dull ache in her temples. She softened her voice, “I didn’t mean to be harsh.”

Li Xinrui didn’t respond, her lips pursed tightly, a smudge of cream on the tip of her nose. She looked both pitiful and funny. Li Jin couldn’t do anything about her, so she compromised: “Fine… I promise.”

Li Xinrui turned and glared at her. “Promise what?”

Li Jin sighed softly. “I’ll contact her now.”

“Lu Wu, you’ve really outdone yourself. Such a big thing happened, and you’re only telling me now?”

The entrance of the police station was noisy and crowded, but even so, Tan Hangxue’s voice was loud enough to be arresting. All traces of the refined young teacher had vanished; she looked like a ruffled, angry mother hen.

Lu Wu tried to soothe her. “Didn’t I message you as soon as they caught him?”

Tan Hangxue laughed in anger. “And what if they hadn’t caught him? Would I only know what happened when I came to collect your body?”

They had reported it yesterday, and today the police had caught the perpetrator, who had been lurking suspiciously at the door, carrying a controlled weapon. Tan Hangxue had taken leave from school and rushed over the moment she received the news; it was only natural for her to be angry.

Lu Wu laughed sheepishly, not daring to make a sound.

Ji Youyan maintained her usual rationality, thinking for a moment. “Let’s go in, let’s understand the details of the case first.”