Lin's mother was named Xiao Yue. As soon as the phone was connected, Chen Qi sweetly called out, "Teacher Xiao." Lin Mei's parents had been teachers their whole lives, and people around them always called them that. Chen Qi knew the couple's habits and always managed to make them feel comfortable.
Xiao Yue was very satisfied with Chen Qi, her prospective son-in-law. Hearing his voice, she beamed, "Why do you have time to call home today?"
Chen Qi smiled, "It's like this, Hua Mei's birthday is on Friday. I want to book plane tickets for you and Teacher Lin to fly over and give her a surprise."
Parents all wished for their daughters to be cherished. Hearing Chen Qi's thoughtfulness, Xiao Yue couldn't help but praise him, "You're so considerate. Hua Mei is truly fortunate to have met you."
Chen Qi replied with a smile, "Not at all. It's my fortune to have met her. So many people envy me for having such a beautiful and capable girlfriend!"
Chen Qi was a man of sweet words, good at coaxing people, and especially adept at handling relationships. He had consciously tried to please the elders over the years, and they had no suspicion of him whatsoever. After a few brief conversations, they agreed to let him book the tickets and sent him their ID information.
Chen Qi booked tickets for the elders for Wednesday and also a hotel, planning to temporarily accommodate them there. Based on his understanding of Lin Mei, she was unlikely to break up with him on a workday. The most probable day was Friday.
That day happened to be her birthday, and according to their usual practice, they would celebrate it alone.
Zong Zong watched Chen Qi effortlessly arrange everything and asked him, "Is it going to work?"
Having worked with Lin Mei for some time, Zong Zong had come to understand her temperament to some extent. Lin Mei appeared compliant and non-confrontational, but deep down, she was an extremely proud person. She was also very firm in her decisions and difficult to persuade.
Zong Zong couldn't help but remind Chen Qi a few times, "Lin Mei doesn't seem like someone who would listen to her parents."
"Her father has a heart condition and cannot tolerate shock." Because of her father's heart condition, Lin Mei had visited countless hospitals and consulted numerous specialists. Her biggest worry was her father's heart acting up. "As long as her father stands by me, it won't matter if she wants to break up."
Zong Zong nodded and then said to Chen Qi, "You need to be resolute this time. Force her into marriage directly to resolve this once and for all. Otherwise, with her being so unruly, who knows what trouble she'll cause you later."
Chen Qi's thoughts coincided with Zong Zong's. He had indeed been planning to tie Lin Mei down with marriage, especially after learning of Ming Zhou's feelings for Lin Mei. Ming Zhou had already stolen too much of his thunder during their student days. If he were to snatch his woman now, wouldn't that be a laughable situation?
Lin Mei was completely unaware of Chen Qi's plan. As the week began, she was swamped with work. She ate a quick lunch in the cafeteria and rushed back to work.
After the lunch break, Chen Qi suddenly appeared in Lin Mei's office. Lin Mei glanced at him but didn't stop working, "Are you looking for me?"
Chen Qi walked closer and asked, "Are you very busy? Little Li said you didn't even rest during your lunch break."
"Oh, I have some data to review. Is there something you need?"
Chen Qi replied, "Nothing much. I wanted to tell you that I've booked a restaurant for Friday evening to celebrate your birthday."
Lin Mei also intended to end things with Chen Qi this week. Since she was busy on weekdays and Chen Qi had already booked a restaurant, she wouldn't make other arrangements. "Okay, I understand."
Chen Qi's lips curved into a smile. He said to her gently and considerately, "Then you carry on with your work. I won't disturb you."
Lin Mei's attention had already returned to the computer screen. She hadn't noticed Chen Qi's insidious and cunning gaze at all.
—
On Friday, Lin Mei happened to be going to Shuang Mu to conduct data reconciliation with their finance department. Lin Mei had filled out the out-of-office request form the day before and drove to Shuang Mu early Friday morning.
The data this time was not as complex as the previous time. After lunch, she simply wrapped things up, and it was considered finished. It was only three o'clock in the afternoon.
Lin Mei had intended to go to the coffee shop downstairs for a cup of coffee to pass the time until it got dark, when she would meet Chen Qi for their date and break up with him.
However, just as Lin Mei was about to leave Shuang Mu's finance department, someone came to inform her that their General Manager Xing had requested her presence in his office for an important matter.
When Lin Mei heard the name Xing Zheng in a public setting, she couldn't help but feel a little guilty. She felt as though people's gazes towards her had become ambiguous, whether it was a hallucination from a guilty conscience or if others had indeed misunderstood something.
But if she didn't go up, it might seem even more like she was trying to hide something. Perhaps Xing Zheng was genuinely looking for her regarding work matters.
Lin Mei followed the assistant-like person upstairs. The assistant escorted Lin Mei to the door of Xing Zheng's office and then withdrew. Lin Mei gently knocked on the door and heard the man's sexy, deep voice say, "Please come in."
Lin Mei gently pushed the door open and walked in. This was her first time entering Xing Zheng's office. His office, like his villa, followed a black, white, and gray, postmodern style.
The office was very large, but sparsely furnished, giving it a somewhat empty feel.
Lin Mei maintained a professional attitude, stopping in front of the desk as she would in a superior's office, and asked, "What instructions do you have for me, General Manager Xing?"
The man opposite her chuckled, not answering, but merely gazing at her with a smile, his eyes particularly ambiguous.
Lin Mei also looked at him. After a few days apart, the bandage on his forehead had been removed, and it had scabbed over. However, the size of the wound indicated that it was not a minor injury.
He was wearing a black suit as usual, without a single wrinkle. The scar on his forehead gave him a more brooding and dangerous aura.
Seeing the wound, Lin Mei couldn't help but recall the sleep-talking he had done that night.
"Does it look good?" Xing Zheng teased her playfully. "You stare at me intently every time you see me. Do you want to do something to me? Hmm?"
Lin Mei suddenly came to her senses and scoffed, judging, "General Manager Xing does look good when he's not speaking."
"General Manager Xing, what work do you actually want to discuss? Hurry up and say it, and I'll leave once we're done." Lin Mei was slightly impatient with his teasing.
Xing Zheng opened a drawer beside him, took out a box, stood up, and walked in front of Lin Mei. He handed her the box and said with a smile, "Happy birthday. This is a gift."
Lin Mei was incredulous, "How did you know it was my birthday?"
Xing Zheng replied, "As a qualified bed partner, of course, I have to find every way to make you happy, so you don't get angry and refuse to sleep with me next time."
Lin Mei's expression was indescribable.
Seeing that she was about to get angry, Xing Zheng turned serious. "Just kidding. Thank you for taking care of me that night. Like you, I don't like owing favors. Open it and take a look."
Lin Mei could accept this reason. She took the box and opened it, but upon seeing what was inside, Lin Mei almost threw the box away!
"Don't you find it familiar?" Xing Zheng glanced at the gift inside the box. "I hired the most professional company to make it. Do you like it?"