After Breaking Up with the Stoic CEO - Chapter 38

Chapter 38: What Tonight?

Li Xinrui’s little brain whirred for a moment before she finally connected “Mom” with Li Jin.

“Are you talking about Xiao Jin?”

Lu Wu observed the girl’s reaction. “…Mhm.”

Li Xinrui said as a matter of course, “I wouldn’t.”

“If Xiao Jin could like someone, I’d be supporting her as fast as I could. Why would I feel repulsed?”

“Support?”

Lu Wu hadn’t expected this turn of events. The mental script she had prepared was now completely useless. Beside her, the little girl propped up her chin and sighed with a feigned air of worldly wisdom.

“But Xiao Jin doesn’t seem to think much about dating. Other aunties are already married with careers by thirty, but Xiao Jin has been alone all these years.”

Lu Wu caught the keyword and asked, “Li Jin has always been alone?”

Li Xinrui nodded. “Of course. Before, she put her whole heart into her studies, and now she’s focused on managing the company. Grandmother is worried to death.”

If she wasn’t married, then where did the child come from?

Lu Wu asked dryly, “Isn’t she your mother?”

Li Xinrui blinked. “Is that what she told you?”

Lu Wu nodded hesitantly. “She always told me… you were her daughter.”

Li Xinrui grinned, a small dimple appearing at the corner of her mouth. “Actually, she’s not. My mom is Li Yan. Auntie Lu, you should have met her.”

Lu Wu asked persistently, “Then Li Jin is…?”

“She’s more like my aunt.”

Lu Wu froze in place.

Aunt…

So she had been seriously considering the obstacles between them, worrying about whether Rui Rui could accept their relationship. In reality, the obstacle didn’t exist at all; Li Jin didn’t have a daughter.

The embarrassment of being teased mixed with the annoyance of being deceived. Lu Wu’s emotions surged, and her ears turned crimson from the rush of blood. Li Xinrui, completely unaware, added another detail: “Even though she’s my aunt, Xiao Jin is very good to me. She’s no different from a mother, and I like her very much.”

Lu Wu didn’t want to affect the girl’s mood, so she managed a forced smile. “…So that’s how it is.”

Silence lingered for a few seconds. A slightly youthful voice came from her side once more.

“But Xiao Yan isn’t actually my biological mother either.”

Before the previous information could be digested, another bombshell dropped. Lu Wu turned her head in utter shock.

“Ever since I was very little, Xiao Yan told me my biological mother’s name was An Jingyi. Even though she left this place for a very far away land, she has always loved me.”

Li Xinrui’s tone was natural, even carrying a hint of faint longing. Lu Wu had never imagined that such a lively and cheerful girl was an adopted child. She opened her mouth, for a moment not knowing what to say.

Li Xinrui’s mood wasn’t affected. She swung her legs and whispered, “It’s just that… I haven’t seen her photo yet. I don’t know what she looks like.”

Lu Wu’s heart softened. She comforted her warmly, “Since you’re this cute, she must be very beautiful too.”

Li Xinrui stuck out her tongue. “I think so too.”

The two didn’t continue the topic. The girl’s attention was quickly drawn to new arrivals at the entrance.

“Eh, more people are coming. Is it starting?”

The drop tower was even more thrilling than the roller coaster. At the moment of descent, one’s body felt suspended in mid-air, and goosebumps erupted instantly. Over several rises and falls, the sound of breathing drowned out the wind, and her heart felt like it would leap out of her chest.

Lu Wu had things on her mind. After all the tossing around, her complexion looked even worse than before. Following the crowd out, she saw Li Jin waiting at the exit. Her footsteps faltered; she lowered her head, intending to act as if she hadn’t seen her.

To her surprise, as she walked past, the other woman immediately spoke with concern.

“Uncomfortable? Do you want me to support you?”

Li Jin’s voice was gentle and her tone considerate. Normally, Lu Wu would have felt her heart flutter. But she had a stomach full of questions she couldn’t ask, and she was at her most vulnerable—both physically and mentally. At this moment, the more she was cared for, the easier it was to overthink and feel wronged.

Lu Wu tried her best to steady her breathing and answered dully, “I’m fine, no need.”

Li Jin merely attributed her abnormality to a stress response and suggested seriously, “If you’re uncomfortable, speak up in time. Don’t force yourself.”

Lu Wu remained stubbornly silent. Li Jin frowned slightly. “Why aren’t you speaking?”

The tone was a bit heavy. Her stomach was still churning. Lu Wu couldn’t control her emotions; her nose twitched, and her eyes grew hot.

“I’m going to the restroom.”

Without waiting for an answer, she turned and left. Li Jin was stunned, catching the instability in Lu Wu’s voice.

Was she… crying?

Before she could find an answer, Li Xinrui emerged with the crowd.

“Xiao Jin!”

“Huh? Where’s Auntie Lu?”

Li Jin snapped out of her thoughts and explained softly, “She’s unwell and went to the restroom.”

Li Xinrui let out an “ah” of surprise. Li Jin stroked her head. “Lu Wu can’t quite handle these intense rides. You’ll have to play by yourself after this, okay?”

Li Xinrui obediently agreed, “I understand.”

There was no sign of her coming out of the restroom yet. After a moment of thought, Li Jin said, “Rui Rui, wait for Auntie Lu here. I’m going to buy her a bottle of water.”

Li Xinrui nodded but muttered worriedly, “Is Auntie Lu okay? We chatted for a bit before it started, and I thought she wasn’t so scared this time…”

Li Jin’s footsteps paused. “What did you chat about?”

Lu Wu splashed some cold water on her face and touched up her makeup. The person in the mirror finally looked a bit better. Actually, learning that Rui Rui was adopted allowed her to somewhat understand Li Jin’s actions. But being deceived and having that lie used as an excuse several times left her feeling uncomfortable nonetheless.

She took a deep breath, confirmed she had gathered her emotions, and turned to walk out. As soon as she stepped out, Li Jin was waiting on the path with a bottle of mineral water.

Seeing her appear, the other woman walked over and asked considerately, “Do you want some water?”

The day was still long; she couldn’t just stop talking to Li Jin forever. Lu Wu hesitated for a moment but took the water offered.

“Thank you.”

Li Jin’s gaze lingered on Lu Wu’s slightly swollen eyes, then moved to her reddened nose. She paused. “Feeling better?”

Meeting the other’s eyes—the most direct inquiry—Lu Wu spoke duplicitously: “It was just my stomach. I’m fine now that I’ve thrown up.”

Li Jin nodded thoughtfully, though it was unclear how much she believed. Lu Wu walked past her toward the exit. “Rui Rui is waiting for us. Let’s head back.”

This was the first time Li Jin had handled such “small emotions,” and she wasn’t sure of the boundaries. She stood in place, watching the distance grow between them, before finally speaking.

“Regarding the matter with Rui Rui… I indeed hid it from you. I’m sorry.”

Lu Wu stopped in her tracks. “You… what did you say?”

That someone as high and mighty as Li Jin would lower her head to admit a mistake made the resentment and annoyance in her heart waver easily. Li Jin continued, her voice very light, “Weekends are rare. Rui Rui has been looking forward to this, and she hopes you can be happy too.”

Lu Wu turned back. Caught off guard, the mineral water she hadn’t tightened spilled out, drenching a patch on her shoulder. Li Jin very naturally took out a tissue and gently dabbed the water from the surface of her clothes.

“So she asked me to come and ask…” “What do I need to do so that you won’t be so angry?”

Li Jin’s eyes were gentler than usual, her movements earnest. Her cool, quiet voice had taken on a warmth due to the change in emotion. Being gazed at like this, Lu Wu’s chest held no other emotion but successive thumps and flutters.

There is a saying online that attraction is divided into physiological liking and psychological liking. From love at first sight to falling deeper time and again, Lu Wu couldn’t actually distinguish whether her feelings for Li Jin were physiological or psychological. But with Li Jin just looking at her so tenderly, she was already on the verge of dissolving, unable to utter a single word of refusal.

She followed her heart and stated her demand: “Then if I say, tonight…”

Li Jin’s gaze lowered slightly. Knowing full well what Lu Wu wanted, she only asked, “Tonight what?”

Lu Wu bit her lip, not daring to say anything too explicit in broad daylight.

“Just the things we didn’t finish last night.”

Li Jin let out a soft laugh. She didn’t say yes or no, but simply raised her hand and brushed her thumb over Lu Wu’s lips. Lu Wu swallowed, her teeth loosening as she instinctively wanted to take that finger into her mouth.

However, a familiar voice approached from a distance.

“Xiao Jin! Auntie Lu! Are you here?”

The fingertip at her lips withdrew, replaced by an ambiguous whisper.

“Okay.”

It was only a brief promise, yet Lu Wu’s chest felt hot, and an uncontrollable smile hung on her lips. Li Xinrui walked over, looking suspicious. “Xiao Jin, why were you gone so long?”

Li Jin explained with her usual expression, “Lu Wu spilled some water on herself. We were taking care of it.”

Li Xinrui looked and saw it was indeed the case, so she added with concern, “Auntie Lu, are you feeling better?”

“I’m much better now… don’t worry.” Lu Wu wasn’t as calm as Li Jin and awkwardly shifted the topic. “Eh, look, people are already lining up over there. Let’s go check it out.”

After leaving the park and getting into the car, the girl was still full of energy.

“Where are we going next? I heard there’s a good handicraft workshop nearby.”

Li Jin sat in the back, resting with her eyes closed. “It’s six o’clock. I’ll send you back after dinner.”

Li Xinrui still hadn’t had enough and intentionally dragged out her voice, “Ah…”

Li Jin knew how to handle her. She said with moderate weight, “Any later and Grandmother will likely call to inquire personally. Do you want to talk to her yourself?”

Li Xinrui immediately sat up straight and shook her head vigorously. Lu Wu offered some comfort.

“It is getting late. Grandmother will be worried.”

“It’s okay. We can arrange to come out together again next time!”

Playing with an idol was never enough no matter how long it lasted. Li Xinrui was tempted by the suggestion and looked at Li Jin expectantly.

“Xiao Jin, can we?”

Lu Wu also looked over, her eyes helping with the request. Li Jin finally nodded. Li Xinrui clung to her and asked, “When is next time? Can we do tomorrow?”

Li Jin vetoed it nonchalantly. “I’m on a business trip tomorrow. We’ll talk about it later.”

“Okay.”

Since it involved work, the girl didn’t pester her further. However, the smile on Lu Wu’s face gradually faded.

Li Jin was going on a business trip tomorrow? Why hadn’t she heard her mention it?

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