After Breaking Up with the Stoic CEO - Chapter 42
Chapter 42: Surprise
The images from that night were still vivid in her mind. Youth indeed brought a vigorous fire, so much so that it made one a bit overwhelmed.
Li Jin kept her gaze lowered, pretending not to see the half-open shirt before her.
“Aren’t you going to sleep?”
Lu Wu licked her lips, staring straight at her through the camera.
“I’m not sleepy.”
Li Jin reached out and snapped her laptop shut.
“I’m going to bed. I have a meeting at nine tomorrow morning.”
Lu Wu tried to bargain: “Isn’t it still early? Stay with me a bit longer.”
Li Jin tilted her neck slightly, refusing mercilessly.
“You are an adult. I don’t believe you need someone to keep you company.”
Lu Wu whispered, “We haven’t seen each other for three days, Li Jin…”
The words sounded sentimental, and before the trail of her voice even landed, she flopped onto the sofa like she was throwing a tantrum, disappearing from the screen.
Li Jin didn’t speak, waiting leisurely.
Sure enough, after a few seconds of silence, the camera turned and refocused on Lu Wu. Half of her face was buried in the sofa, her long lashes fluttering, her eyes shimmering with a moist light. Even more eye-catching was that her cheeks were slightly flushed, and even her ears were tinted with a shade of crimson.
It was unclear if it was out of shyness.
Li Jin changed her mind and decided to chat a few more minutes.
“Aren’t you more comfortable with me away?”
Lu Wu suddenly sat up.
“How could that be? This place is too big. Every night when I sleep alone, I feel very lonely…”
The word “lonely” held multiple layers of meaning, and combined with the context, the ambiguity grew heavier. She quickly changed her wording for emergency “public relations.”
“I mean, I feel like the decorations in the room are a bit cold. Buying some warm-toned decorations might make it look much livelier and cozier.”
From beginning to end, Li Jin merely looked straight at the screen. But Lu Wu wasn’t careful when she moved; her collar opened slightly, and the shy scenery vied to crowd into Li Jin’s line of sight.
The coolness that had just entered her throat vanished, replaced by a trace of inexplicable thirst.
She kept a normal expression and asked, “Are you very hot?”
Lu Wu felt a bit guilty and instinctively pulled the hem of her clothes together.
“Me? I’m okay.”
Li Jin’s gaze followed her hand, pointedly suggesting, “Then wear your clothes properly.”
Having her little scheme pointed out made Lu Wu a bit embarrassed. She stood up to tidy herself.
“When did the button come undone? I didn’t even notice…”
While she pretended to be busy, Li Jin spoke again.
“Then buy some.”
Without a clear antecedent, it took Lu Wu a long time to understand the meaning. Li Jin was answering what she had just said—“Buying some warm-toned decorations might make it look much livelier and cozier.”
She froze for a moment and asked tentatively, “You mean, I can buy things to put… in the house?”
Li Jin didn’t say it a second time. Her eyebrows arched slightly as she took small sips of water on the other end.
Lu Wu let out a cry of joy.
“Really? Then I want to buy a wind chime to hang on the terrace, and a bouquet of flowers would be perfect for the living room…”
She rambled on, unable to contain her excitement. Lu Wu hadn’t forgotten that she was merely a guest in this house. Now that Li Jin was allowing her things to appear in the rooms, it meant—
The other woman was gradually accepting her into her life.
Lu Wu smiled, her eyes crinkling into lines. “When do you have time? Can we go buy them together?”
Li Jin didn’t say much, only: “I’m very busy these next few days.”
Lu Wu thought about it and nodded decisively. “Then I’ll go buy them myself.”
A flash of surprise crossed Li Jin’s eyes; she hadn’t expected her to be so easy to talk to this time.
Lu Wu winked. “I said last time I would be sensible. See? I keep my word.”
Li Jin gave a light chuckle. “Not bad.”
Lu Wu was very pleased with the recognition and leaned closer to the camera.
“Then… the week after next, do you have time?”
It was a very obvious move of retreating to advance.
Li Jin looked thoughtful and asked, “What do you want?”
“September 19th is my birthday. I want you to spend it with me.”
Li Jin looked up, falling straight into Lu Wu’s burning gaze. She should have agreed to this not-too-excessive request.
But precisely on September 19th, the head of Yuanqing Technology would be leading the R&D team over from Hai City. Once they landed, there were many things she had to handle personally—product quality and cost testing, further production line investment estimations—
The expected answer didn’t come. Lu Wu sensed something and said tentatively:
“Is there no time that day? It’s okay. I’ll pick you up at the company in the evening, and we can just eat something at home.”
Lu Wu took a step back obediently, but her tone was still clearly lifted, her eyes full of expectation. For the first time, Li Jin felt a slight hesitation about refusing someone. She opened her mouth, hesitating.
“On September 19th, I might be busy until very late, so—”
Hearing this, Lu Wu froze in place. The joy in her heart vanished instantly, and the light in her eyes dimmed. She asked cautiously, “Even after ten o’clock, you might not be able to come home?”
Li Jin: “Mhm.”
The air was silent for a few seconds. The atmosphere seemed to hit a stalemate. Lu Wu calmed down and looked at the person opposite her again.
Li Jin’s beautiful brow was slightly furrowed, and her lips were pursed, showing a rare expression of being in a difficult position. Lu Wu belatedly realized she was being a bit willful. Li Jin was already busy, let alone on a workday. To be a mature lover, the right thing to do was to give enough care, not add more pressure.
Lu Wu spoke to comfort her.
“I was just saying. You don’t have to take it too much to heart.”
“We’re together every day anyway. It doesn’t matter which day we celebrate a birthday.”
Li Jin knew she couldn’t make a promise, so she could only compensate in another form.
“I will try to leave work early during that period.”
Hearing this, Lu Wu’s disappointment was diluted, and she soon grew hopeful again.
“Then can I pick you up from the company every day?”
Li Jin paused, her internal principles yielding.
“You can.”
“Great~”
“What time is your flight tomorrow?”
Li Jin emerged from the elevator, surrounded by a crowd, seemingly giving instructions. Today she wore a sleeveless linen shirt with khaki floor-length trousers, a leather belt loosely fastened at her waist. She looked tall, slender, and distantly cool.
It wasn’t the first time Lu Wu had seen Li Jin at work, but no matter how many times it was, she was still attracted by that calm and composed aura. She didn’t disturb her, only watching expectantly from the lounge, waiting for the person to go home with her.
After an unknown amount of time, most of the people behind Li Jin left. She opened the door and came in, with only one familiar figure remaining behind her.
Du Lin.
A week had passed since Li Jin returned from her business trip. During this time, Li Jin had truly done as she said, ending her work on time at six o’clock every day. Lu Wu also drove to the Li Group every day, turning picking her up from work into a habit.
However, every time she saw Du Lin, she would remember the awkward scene from the phone call that night. Facing each other now, it would be impolite not to say hello.
Du Lin smiled. “Miss Lu.”
Lu Wu could only respond, “Assistant Du.”
Fortunately, Du Lin acted very naturally, as if the events of that night had never happened. After communicating a few more words with Li Jin, she went back to work. After handling everything, Li Jin turned around. “Let’s go.”
No one spoke in the elevator. Lu Wu was complaining in her head and unconsciously spoke aloud.
“Office workers have it so rough… working overtime every day.”
Li Jin heard her and spoke flatly from the side.
“The company adopts a voluntary overtime system. Overtime pay is triple the salary, with free overtime meals and reimbursed taxi fares.”
Lu Wu’s eyes widened.
“Triple? Isn’t that the standard for statutory holidays?”
Li Jin glanced at her. “Weren’t you feeling sorry for them?”
The tone of this sentence was chilly, and Lu Wu immediately realized her mistake. Her “almost-girlfriend” worked harder and more desperately than anyone; she had been feeling sorry for the wrong person. Lu Wu moved closer to Li Jin and hooked her palm.
“How could that be?”
“Leaving early and returning late every day, handling work at home, and going on business trips on weekends.”
“The one I feel most sorry for is you.”
Li Jin gave a light laugh, looking down at the work messages on her screen.
“You say such pretty things.”
Lu Wu stared at her, thinking of the carefully prepared surprise, and hummed softly, “It’s more than just saying them.”
On the drive back, Li Jin closed her eyes in the passenger seat to rest. A call came in midway. Lu Wu had no intention of eavesdropping, but the words from Li Jin’s mouth caught her attention the next second.
“Mother, why did you call me so suddenly?”
Li Jin’s mom? To be with her properly—the preferences of this elder definitely needed to be understood. Lu Wu found an excuse for her intrusion. The red light turned on; she brought the car to a steady stop and pricked up her ears.
“The art exhibition should be ongoing lately.”
“Sister has always been very independent since childhood. She will be responsible for her own life. I think you should trust her.”
“Okay, if she contacts me, I will call you immediately.”
“The weekend…”
“Okay, I will be back on time.”
The call ended. Li Jin remained silent, the atmospheric pressure around her body a bit lower than before. Lu Wu keenly sensed the fluctuation in her emotions. Based on past traces, Li Jin’s relationship with her mother seemed quite good. Yet now she was clearly depressed because of that phone call.
Although she didn’t know the reason, Lu Wu still wanted to make her happy. The green light turned on; she started the car and said naturally: “Is there anything you want to eat? I’ll cook for you tonight.”
Li Jin looked quite uninterested.
“A vegetable salad is fine.”
Lu Wu paused, thinking of the things she had prepared in advance, and decided to change plans on the fly.
“I haven’t had a chance to say it, but I secretly prepared a surprise for you.”
Li Jin’s eyelids lifted slightly, finally showing some reaction.
“A surprise?”
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