"We're having a bit of a spat these past two days. I wanted to keep it a surprise for her, so I didn't try to appease her. She's just sulking with me."
"How about you two chat? I'll take her back first. We can talk things over privately."
Lu Mingzhe, feigning affection, helped Chen Jiaojiao down the stairs, her arm linked through his.
Upon reaching the restaurant entrance, he released her, stepped back a couple of paces to create distance, and sneered.
"Alright, there's no one else around. No need to keep up the act, Miss Chen."
Chen Jiaojiao's dazed gaze instantly cleared. She reverted to her usual doe-eyed look and met his eyes.
"Since you know I'm acting, why are you still doing this if you don't want to be with me?"
Since there was no one else, there was no point in hiding anything.
Lu Mingzhe stated directly, "You already know the answer. Why ask a redundant question?"
Chen Jiaojiao shook her head.
"I don't know, Lu Mingzhe. You're a young, promising, and respectable talent."
"Your self-esteem should be quite high. How can you tolerate a woman who's been with someone else as your wife?"
Lu Mingzhe shrugged, exuding an air of indifference.
"Perhaps I found you interesting and suitable before, hence the desire to marry. But now, well, you understand."
His self-assured and determined expression, as if it were a foregone conclusion, disgusted Chen Jiaojiao.
"Lu Mingzhe, I think you're quite seriously ill."
"Don't be so high and mighty, Chen Jiaojiao. You and I are actually quite similar."
"If Hu Jiasheng had betrayed you, I doubt you could remain so unfazed."
Her words left Chen Jiaojiao speechless.
Indeed, getting involved with Hu Jiasheng before officially ending things with him was her mistake.
Lu Mingzhe's desire for revenge wasn't necessarily a sign of illness.
After some reflection, Chen Jiaojiao could only apologize.
"Fine, I'm sorry. Tell me, what do you want to let me go?"
Lu Mingzhe seemed to have his answer ready.
"Break up with him and promise never to be with him again."
Hah!
Chen Jiaojiao reacted almost instinctively, without a second thought: "Impossible."
"Then wait for me to marry you."
"You think too highly of yourself, do you? Whatever you say goes? Are you the Emperor? Will my entire clan be executed if I refuse to marry you?"
"No, but you certainly won't have an easy time of it."
Lu Mingzhe stated calmly.
"As long as you continue to be with him, my sole pleasure in life will be to cause trouble for you both."
"You... are you threatening me? Let's see!"
The two parted ways on bad terms.
Chen Jiaojiao immediately hailed a taxi outside the restaurant and returned to her apartment.
Feeling extremely unsettled, she threw herself onto the sofa. She took out her phone and initiated a video call with Hu Jiasheng.
The call connected quickly, but Hu Jiasheng promptly hung up.
Checking the time, it was only a little past nine in the evening.
What was he so busy with?
He didn't even have time for a video call with her?
Chen Jiaojiao stubbornly found his phone number and dialed again.
After a long ring, Hu Jiasheng finally picked up.
"What's up, sweetheart?"
Chen Jiaojiao sat up straighter on the sofa and questioned him fiercely.
"Why didn't you answer my video call? Was there a woman around, making it inconvenient? What are you guilty about?"
Hu Jiasheng couldn't help but chuckle on the other end.
"It's not as glamorous as you imagine. I'm at a club. There are a bunch of guys with me, and the project hasn't been finalized yet."
"Hah! Just like my dad, you're using these lame excuses to fool me. Do you think I'd believe that?"
"Then hang up, and we'll video call."
Soon, Hu Jiasheng sent her a video call.
Upon answering, Chen Jiaojiao noticed he seemed to be in the restroom.
Faint sounds of chatter and music could be heard in the background, suggesting he was indeed at a club.
"As a CEO, why are you so busy every single day? What's that like?"
Hu Jiasheng's tone was casual.
"Can't be helped. I'm a CEO whose position isn't exactly legitimate. If I don't achieve something quickly, it's hard to silence the wagging tongues."
He had not hidden his background from Chen Jiaojiao. She knew his situation was awkward and understood him.
However, she really needed comfort today.
"I miss you, Asheng. Can you come and see me?"
Hu Jiasheng put a cigarette in his mouth, lit it, and blew a cloud of smoke at the screen.
"Have you been drinking? Didn't I tell you not to drink when you're alone?"
"Stop changing the subject. I said, I want to see you."
"I'm not changing the subject. Haven't we just seen each other?"
Chen Jiaojiao irritably lay back down.
"I know, but I miss you again. I miss you every moment, I wish I could be with you every day."
Her heartfelt words, coupled with her extreme beauty, couldn't help but move Hu Jiasheng.
He gazed tenderly at the screen.
"Once I'm done with this busy period, I'll take a vacation, okay?"
"Then I'll spend every day with you. We can go wherever you want, do whatever you want."
His words sounded nice, but Chen Jiaojiao couldn't wait any longer.
She had never longed for anyone so desperately before.
"Asheng, once you're done with this busy period, can we get married?"
Hu Jiasheng visibly paused on the other end of the call.
He took a couple more puffs of his cigarette, his gaze deepening as he looked at her.
"What's gotten into you? Did you see someone else being affectionate? Why are you acting so out of character today?"
Chen Jiaojiao didn't answer, continuing her plea.
"Can you put aside your work and make time to see me tomorrow? I can't wait. I need to see you tomorrow."
Only then did he become convinced that she wasn't just being pampered but genuinely needed something.
"Did something happen?"
It was so late, and he was still out discussing business? He also had to deal with a love rival, and Chen Jiaojiao couldn't bear to add to his troubles.
She sighed, "No."
Hu Jiasheng felt powerless. Even though he knew she was lying, he could only pretend not to.
"Be good. Wait until I'm done with this busy period."
They chatted idly for a few more minutes, and Chen Jiaojiao let him go back to his work.
Lying on the sofa, she grew increasingly unable to sleep and more unsettled.
She decided to call her driver and have him pick her up.
Soon, Chen Jiaojiao arrived back at the Chen residence.
Her father hadn't returned yet, so she went straight to his bedroom.
Her stepmother was in the room, applying a face mask and watching a drama. Surprised by someone pushing the door open, she assumed it was her husband and hurried to greet them.
To her surprise, it was Chen Jiaojiao.
"Why are you here so late?"
"I came to get something. Where's the household registration book? Do you know where my dad keeps it?"
"What do you need the household registration book for at this hour?"
"My dad asked me to get it. He said I should go and register tomorrow."
The stepmother excitedly ripped off her face mask.
"It's settled so quickly? Your dad said the Lu family is quite good. You really have good taste and luck."
"It's not too late to get it tomorrow after registering. Making you come all this way so late..."
"Alright, enough chatter. Just give it to me quickly."
A moment later, Chen Jiaojiao left the Chen house.
As the car drove towards the highway entrance, Lu Mingzhe instructed the taxi driver to follow the car in front.