“And we’re treating you to a meal to thank you. If you bring gifts, won’t we owe you an unpayable debt forever?”
“If it’s unpayable, then it’s unpayable. I never said you had to repay me. If not for you, I’ll buy something for your mom. Come with me, let’s see what your mom likes to eat.”
Tong An’an remained seated, looking at him with pleading eyes.
“Can you do this for me? Please? Don’t be like this, I really feel so much pressure.”
Since it was the first time she had opened up to Jiang Jingyu, he decided to ask her.
“What kind of pressure? How so?”
“I don’t know. I just feel like you’re my boss, and you shouldn’t be this good to me. I have no way to repay you. I don’t know how to face you.”
“So, that’s why you’ve been refusing to ride in my car and not wanting to commute with me recently?”
It could be considered as such.
Since the topic had come up, Tong An’an decided to admit it.
Jiang Jingyu gazed out the window for a moment, then suddenly made up his mind and turned to look at her.
“Tong An’an, do you have some kind of issue with me?”
“Huh? An issue with you? How could that be!”
“You think I’m using my boss status to deliberately get close to a female employee with ulterior motives. You think I’m promiscuous, don’t you?”
Tong An’an quickly explained, “No. Everyone at the company says you’re aloof and never initiate conversations with female employees. They describe you as a block of ice.”
“In all the time I’ve known you, it seems I’m the only one who has received so much favor from you. How could I possibly think you’re promiscuous?”
“You also know that in all this time, I’ve only ever done this for you? You’re not too stupid, then.”
Jiang Jingyu looked at her with intense eyes.
“Have you ever considered why I’ve only ever acted this way towards you?”
Tong An’an had indeed thought about it before.
But she felt it couldn’t be true.
Now that he had brought it up and was looking at her like this, she had to trust her intuition.
Her face flushed crimson, and her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would leap out of her throat.
Her eyes darted around in panic, avoiding Jiang Jingyu’s gaze, wishing she could crawl under the car seat.
“Mr. Jiang, I, I, I don’t know what you mean.”
“You do know. Tong An’an, you’re not stupid. When someone deliberately approaches you, creates many opportunities to be alone with you, and wants to wholeheartedly be good to you, how can you not sense it?”
Jiang Jingyu pressed on, looking at her.
“Or is it that you have someone else in your heart, and you think my actions are harassment and bothering you, so you’re rejecting me indirectly?”
What did he mean by harassment and bothering her?
Tong An’an had never thought that way and quickly waved her hands.
“No, no, I never thought you were harassing me.”
“Then what are you thinking? Do you think I’m doing this for pure friendship, wanting to be friends with you, and that’s why I’m spending my time and energy on you?”
“…”
“Regardless of what you thought before, it was my fault for not expressing it clearly. It’s my problem, you don’t need to feel awkward.”
Jiang Jingyu said, “I know, we haven’t known each other for very long, and you might think what I’m saying is out of the blue. But I promise you, I’m serious.”
“Tong An’an, your cold attitude towards me these past two days has made me feel very uncomfortable. I prefer the way we interacted a while ago.”
“I don’t want to hide my feelings anymore, so I’m confessing to you now.”
“I like you. I was drawn to you the first time I saw you at your family’s restaurant. I want to pursue you. Can you give me a chance?”
Jiang Jingyu confessed his feelings to Tong An’an, saying he fell for her at first sight and wanted to pursue her, asking for a chance?
Although Tong An’an had fantasized about this possibility in her heart, it was only a fantasy.
When it actually happened, she was still quite shocked.
She was of average looks, average education, and from a poor family.
How could a wealthy, handsome, and socially prominent diamond bachelor like him be interested in her?
But looking at Jiang Jingyu, he didn’t seem to be joking. She really didn’t know how to answer him.
Jiang Jingyu kept staring into her eyes, making Tong An’an feel trapped.
After a long while, she finally stammered,
“But… why me? I mean… I’m not that outstanding, how could you fall for me at first sight?”
Jiang Jingyu looked at her tenderly.
“Who says you’re not outstanding? You need to believe in destiny, believe in feelings. I think you’re wonderful, and I’m definitely not joking.”
Tong An’an dared not look at him, her head bowed, picking at her fingers. After a long time, she said,
“It’s too sudden. I never thought about these things, and I didn’t dare to. Mr. Jiang, can you give me some time to think about it properly?”
“Of course. I’m not forcing you. I just want to honestly express my feelings. If you don’t like me, or even dislike me for acting this way, you can also tell me honestly. I won’t make things difficult for you at work just because I’m your boss.”
Tong An’an knew he wasn’t that kind of person, and she didn’t dislike Jiang Jingyu.
In fact, she felt comfortable when she was with him, often losing herself in the moment.
She had never been in a relationship before, and she didn’t know if this was what it felt like to have a crush.
While she was still in a daze, Jiang Jingyu closed the car door, went into the supermarket to buy two boxes of good wine and two packs of good cigarettes, and they continued driving.
As the familiar scenery grew closer, Tong An’an’s heart began to race again.
“Mr. Jiang, can you not tell my mom about us for now?”
Jiang Jingyu found her wary demeanor amusing.
“You haven’t agreed to anything yet. What is there between us?”
Tong An’an realized what she had said and blushed.
“Just don’t tell my mom you’re pursuing me. She can’t keep a secret. Before anything even happens, the whole extended family will know.”
“What? Are you afraid I won’t be firm with you, will break up with you midway, and make you lose face in front of your relatives?”
“That’s not what I meant, I just think…”
We’re not even together yet, and now we’re talking about breaking up?
Realizing she had fallen into his linguistic trap again, Tong An’an pouted and turned to look out the window.
Jiang Jingyu was in a great mood, and when he parked in front of her house, he felt refreshed, like a son-in-law visiting for the first time.
Hearing the sound of a car parking outside, her mother, wearing an apron, rushed out with a spatula in her hand.
Seeing them get out of the car, one on each side, her eyes crinkled into a smile.
“Mr. Jiang is here! Come in, come in quickly! The tea is ready, and the food will be ready soon. Come in and sit!”
Jiang Jingyu greeted her mother with a smile and went to the trunk to get the gifts.
Seeing that he had brought gifts, Tong’s mother smiled even brighter.
“Look at you, we said we were treating you to a meal, why did you bring gifts? An’an should have stopped you.”
“Old Tong, come quickly! Mr. Jiang is here!”