One Year After Her Sister-In-Law Was Widowed - Chapter 30.1

It was very nice to be able to watch Ji Zhuozhou eat from a distance.

Being able to eat with Ji Zhuozhou was, of course, even better.

Before deciding to transfer positions, Ji Zhuozhou’s words echoed in Xiao Shuangyu’s mind repeatedly, eventually transforming into her motivation.

Xiao Shuangyu followed Ji Zhuozhou closely, never leaving her side even after being teased by her.

The flow of people in the employee cafeteria began to thin out, and empty seats began to increase; she easily sat down with Ji Zhuozhou.

Or rather, except for her, no one would proactively approach Ji Zhuozhou.

Ji Zhuozhou took the chopsticks she handed over, “The fragrance group, huh? Maybe I’ll be working with Lianlian in the future.”

Not only in the same company and on the same floor as Ji Zhuozhou, but even working together with her?

Her dark eyes sank deep, and Xiao Shuangyu nodded in a daze.

Ji Zhuozhou had just asked her how she felt, so she told her about how she would be interfacing with the fragrance group in the future.

Hearing Ji Zhuozhou’s words now, expectation couldn’t help but sprout in the bottom of her heart.

But before that expectation, Xiao Shuangyu cautiously raised her eyes and kept her voice extremely low, “After work, can I treat Sister to dinner?”

Ji Zhuozhou looked at her cautiousness, “Why the sudden desire to treat me to dinner?”

Xiao Shuangyu looked down and scratched her head, her voice still very low, “I think I made Sister lose her bonus.”

Huarui encouraged internal referrals, and there were bonuses after a referral was hired.

Xiao Shuangyu knew this from the start, she just didn’t know how much the bonus was.

She only found out this morning when Yang Shan and the others mentioned it; even a regular employee’s share of the bonus was over a thousand.

When re-signing the labor contract, Manager Wei from HR asked if she had a referrer, hinting at the bonus matter, and she gave Wang Ran’s name.

It was good that this bonus could go to Wang Ran, but it was Ji Zhuozhou who had originally intended to recommend her, yet Ji Zhuozhou got nothing.

Thinking it over, she proposed dinner to Ji Zhuozhou.

From the day she started at Huarui and made her declaration until today, it had been almost two months, and she hadn’t properly treated Ji Zhuozhou to a slightly more expensive meal; it really shouldn’t be that way.

A smile rippled between Ji Zhuozhou’s brows, “I didn’t suggest Lianlian transfer because I needed those things.”

Xiao Shuangyu nodded, “I know, it’s just…”

Ji Zhuozhou caught her words, “However, Lianlian’s successful transfer is indeed worth celebrating. It was a pity we couldn’t go out for the past few days because of the bad weather. If the weather is good this weekend, let’s go out and play again.”

Xiao Shuangyu froze for a moment.

Saturday’s rain stopped when Ji Zhuozhou said it would, but everywhere was wet, so they didn’t go out together.

On Sunday it didn’t rain, and Ji Zhuozhou took her out for a walk by the river. The sky was gloomy and the river water was muddy, so Ji Zhuozhou didn’t stay and took her to the supermarket instead.

After a moment, she nodded.

She said, “When we go out, I’ll treat Sister to something delicious.”

She cautiously raised her eyes; after covering them slightly with foundation, her distinct sanpaku eyes made her pupils appear even blacker. Though they didn’t feel bright at all, when they landed on a person, they were burning.

Ji Zhuozhou gave a slight nod amidst those burning eyes, her own eyes appearing deep.

In the elevator back to the sixth floor, Xiao Shuangyu said “what a coincidence” many times in a row. She also, as if no one else were there—or rather, deliberately in the crowd—asked Ji Zhuozhou for her contact information and made an appointment to eat together in the future.

Following this deliberate act, Xiao Shuangyu pointed out her workstation to Ji Zhuozhou, which was seen by several people.

She cleared her throat silently and quietly increased her volume, “I didn’t expect it to be such a coincidence to interface with the fragrance group. It would be great to be friends with Teacher Ji outside of work.”

Ji Zhuozhou had already seen her performances several times and responded calmly, “Sure.”

The corners of her beautifully shaped lips were curved in a shallow smile, a smile that made Xiao Shuangyu’s ears turn red for no reason, making her unable to stop her gaze from wandering.

After all, when she was a security guard, she had little contact with Ji Zhuozhou; their schedules were almost always out of sync, and no one noticed when she crouched behind Ji Zhuozhou.

So even if people added a bit of speculation, the extent and range wouldn’t be too deep or wide.

Now it was different; after the transfer, her time was synchronized with Ji Zhuozhou’s. It would be better to discover and redefine their relationship.

That way, when they walked together in the future, others wouldn’t think of it from Xiao Mingyi’s perspective.

Maybe they would think she was just a newcomer who didn’t believe in the rumors and coveted Ji Zhuozhou’s beauty.

How wonderful.

As long as Xiao Mingyi wasn’t involved between her and Ji Zhuozhou, she felt it was good.

As for Xiao Shuangyu, she was “Lianlian” everywhere; she didn’t know Xiao Mingyi and had nothing to do with Xiao Mingyi—she wouldn’t admit to it.

Even if they looked very much alike, with their temperaments being worlds apart, even if someone still remembered Xiao Mingyi, no one should insist on making a connection.

Except for Wang Ran; the eyes of a veteran who was also the security captain were still sharper.

Ji Zhuozhou was not annoyed by her taking the initiative, cooperating with her every move. Only the gaze she looked with seemed to pierce through the basest part of her heart, making her not dare to look directly.

Those few people walked away with curious backward glances. Ji Zhuozhou lowered her voice and said, “Lianlian is very strange today.”

Xiao Shuangyu bowed her head.

She knew; she was just unwilling.

Unwilling that Xiao Mingyi had clearly died long ago yet still occupied the space next to Ji Zhuozhou’s name in various places.

Unwilling that she had done nothing, yet became the sister of Ji Zhuozhou’s late wife, with a Xiao Mingyi always standing between her and Ji Zhuozhou.

She raised her gaze and spoke in a small voice, “Is it not allowed?”

The excessively dark pupils didn’t even show the relaxation and naturalness she was trying to create; outside of that deliberateness, the bottom of her dark eyes only faintly carried tension and expectation.

It made it very hard for one to have the thought of refusing.

Looking at those eyes, Ji Zhuozhou stopped wanting to tease Xiao Shuangyu further and simply shook her head, “It’s not that it’s not allowed.”

She stepped forward slightly, leaning in close in front of Xiao Shuangyu, her breath almost falling on the side of Xiao Shuangyu’s neck.

She said, “I also want to be friends with Lianlian.”

Instantly, Xiao Shuangyu was at a loss and lowered her head, her cheeks flushing.

After sending Ji Zhuozhou back to her office, Xiao Shuangyu returned to her own.

The distance between the two offices seemed to be infinitely close and infinitely far; the pros and cons of being on the same floor were clearly shown to Xiao Shuangyu in just a few steps.

But she had already eaten lunch with Ji Zhuozhou at Huarui and could continue to see her after work. Rather than pitiful, she could continue to look forward to it.

Well, the two perhaps didn’t conflict; she clearly felt the pity of leaving Ji Zhuozhou’s side and the expectation of wanting to see Ji Zhuozhou again.

At the same time.

Xiao Shuangyu walked quietly to her workstation, her mood like a large dye vat.

Just as she sat down, Yang Shanhe, who had been playing on her phone, immediately moved over, “Lianlian knows Ji Zhuozhou?”

Xiao Shuangyu thought she must have been seen by Yang Shanhe when they were outside earlier, so she didn’t shy away and continued the setup, “Yeah, ran into her by chance. We might work together later, so we got to know each other.”

Yang Shanhe’s expression became a bit strange, then it was suppressed, “Haha, that’s also quite good.”

Since it was lunch break and the two opposite them were already lying down sleeping, Yang Shanhe moved back without saying more.

The lunch break after transferring was longer; Xiao Shuangyu also lay down, flipping back and forth through her phone.

Ji Zhuozhou hadn’t sent her any new messages, and there was no new content in her Moments.

Switching to Weibo, she suddenly saw that just now, the only person she followed had posted a Weibo.

Zhuo: Congratulations, friend

Xiao Shuangyu was stunned. She subconsciously stood up to look out the door, then forced herself back to her original spot, refreshing with her fingertips over and over.

But no matter how many times she refreshed, there was only this one new piece of content from just now.

Ji Zhuozhou said, congratulations friend.

Is… is it talking about her?

Did she appear on Ji Zhuozhou’s Weibo?

With the status of a friend?

Did Ji Zhuozhou say “congratulations” to her on her own Weibo?

Xiao Shuangyu carefully suppressed her breathing; she was afraid her excitement would make a sound and disturb the others nearby.

The excitement pressed in her throat would find its own way out; all afternoon, Xiao Shuangyu had energy while reading books, the thick tentacles around her body waving their claws and flailing with joy.

Only this joy seemed a bit eerie to the other three. The three of them peeked secretly for a long time, winking at each other for a long time, and the words at the tip of Yang Shanhe’s tongue were swallowed back again and again.

Finally, at a certain moment, Xiao Shuangyu, who seemed isolated from the world, suddenly returned to the world and turned her head to look at Yang Shanhe.

On her pale face, a pair of sanpaku eyes were black and white, and the excessively dark pupils landed straight on Yang Shanhe’s eyes, carrying a bit of doubt.

Whether Yang Shanhe could see that doubt was questionable; first, Yang Shanhe couldn’t help but shiver.

Xiao Shuangyu’s voice then followed, “Is something wrong with me?”

Yang Shanhe subconsciously shook her head, then felt something was off, “It’s just, I speak quite directly, is Lianlian unhappy somewhere?”

Xiao Shuangyu froze for a second, suddenly understanding where the problem was. She immediately revealed a smile, “No, I’m very happy.”

Her curved eyelashes pressed against her dark pupils, and the slowly rising smile carried a sinister meaning.

Yang Shanhe couldn’t help but reach out and rub the goosebumps on her arms, “Haha, so it’s happiness.”

Xiao Shuangyu nodded. She tapped the “Introduction to Flavors and Fragrances” in her hand, “I’ll continue reading.”

After saying that, seeing Yang Shanhe agree, Xiao Shuangyu turned back.

The three people who were doubtful about Xiao Shuangyu’s state believed it when they saw her looking nearly like she was about to fly after work with that same expression.

After all, who isn’t happy when getting off work?

Not to mention Xiao Shuangyu was clearly pinching the time and wanting to run out.

Their new colleague seemed to have something a bit strange about her.

The three didn’t distance themselves because of the slight oddity about her, still asking if she wanted to go together.

This time Xiao Shuangyu didn’t refuse to walk with them. Several people squeezed into the elevator that was packed at off-work time and went downstairs, then said goodbye at the door.

Xiao Shuangyu walked alone toward the underground parking lot.

She would wait for Ji Zhuozhou there.

A few minutes ago, Ji Zhuozhou sent her a message, without any foreword or afterword, saying: Wait for me in the parking lot

Xiao Shuangyu hadn’t intended to get into Ji Zhuozhou’s car and go home with her.

Getting off work was different from going to work; there would be more people pouring out of Huarui and into the parking lot at once than when going to work.

Even though Ji Zhuozhou was often not in the first batches to go downstairs, she couldn’t avoid being seen.

She was just a newcomer who had just wanted to become friends with Ji Zhuozhou; how could she get into Ji Zhuozhou’s car and leave with her after work?

But the message Ji Zhuozhou sent was not an inquiry; she chose to be obedient without almost any hesitation.

Rounding a corner, Xiao Shuangyu stopped to look at Huarui behind her.

Because she got off work at six along with most people, she could no longer count how many people had left and could not tell if Ji Zhuozhou was near or far.

She still turned her head and continued walking down into the parking lot.

If she kept her eye on the entrance, she could see Ji Zhuozhou immediately.

Before long, the click-clack of heels echoed in the empty parking lot, and the scent of rain mist spread.

Ji Zhuozhou fell into her sight.

Deep green eyes met hers.

Xiao Shuangyu originally thought that Ji Zhuozhou sending her such a message might mean she had something to tell her.

But from waiting at Huarui until arriving downstairs at the apartment complex, Ji Zhuozhou said nothing.

Xiao Shuangyu used her big eyes to secretly peek at Ji Zhuozhou in the car window and peripheral vision all the way, peeking so much that she didn’t even notice Ji Zhuozhou had already parked the car.

Ji Zhuozhou unfastened her seatbelt, only then noticing she was motionless. She immediately turned her head to look, the words slipping out, “Lianlian?”

Xiao Shuangyu was startled, hurriedly corrected her secret gaze and turned her head, “Yeah.”

Ji Zhuozhou’s beautiful eyes sank, and she suddenly reached out to help her unfasten her seatbelt.