Jiang Jingyu thought: Why not just tell her directly? Anyway, she's only a few years older than him, and they don't have much of a generation gap. If they teamed up to fool their parents, she should be cooperative.
With this thought, Jiang Jingyu walked over with a plastered smile, sat in her seat, put his finger on the mouse, and said sweetly.
"I remember we're not much different in age. May I ask how old CEO Lu is this year?"
His smile didn't reach his eyes. Despite his handsome features, it couldn't hide the fact that it was a cunning smile.
Lu Jiaying, who could see right through him, was sure he was up to something.
"Don't discuss personal matters during work hours. If you're that curious, check the company's official website after work. And focus on what you're writing."
This woman was so rigid.
He supposed there really was a generation gap every three years, and with eight years between them, the gap was quite significant. She couldn't even take a joke.
Jiang Jingyu's mind raced, trying to figure out a more suitable way to broach the subject since she was being so uncooperative.
Lu Jiaying stood beside him, the fabric of their clothes brushing against each other.
She leaned over slightly, her head peeking from over his shoulder to look at the screen. Her young, pleasant voice floated into his ears, carrying a faint fragrance.
"Why don't you have any notes on the production department? Were you spacing out when they were talking? For a formally hired intern, your performance wouldn't pass. But who are you but the young CEO? I've decided to cut you some slack."
She pointed at the computer screen with her finger, and Jiang Jingyu thought she was actually going to guide him.
However, two seconds later, he felt a burning sensation on his leg.
He looked down and saw that Lu Jiaying, engrossed in looking at the computer screen, had tilted her coffee cup.
The coffee was flowing onto his leg like a small, continuous stream.
Jiang Jingyu slid his chair back with a "whoosh" and stood up, looking at her unhappily.
"CEO Lu, your coffee spilled on my pants!"
Lu Jiaying seemed to realize what had happened and quickly put down her cup and rushed to his side.
"I'm so sorry, I wasn't paying attention. Are you alright? Did it scald you?"
If she hadn't said it with a smile, her sincere tone would have made anyone believe she was genuinely remorseful.
But Jiang Jingyu saw her expression clearly. Her smile was sly and unmasked, clearly a retaliation for his actions that morning.
"You're smiling so happily, are you sure it wasn't intentional?"
Lu Jiaying stopped smiling, took a step back, and resumed her professional demeanor, crossing her arms as she looked at him.
"Alright, since you've seen through me, I won't pretend anymore. It was indeed intentional. But you spilled it on me first. Tit for tat, right? I didn't go too far, did I?"
The coffee was scalding hot, and she truly didn't hold back.
Jiang Jingyu's leg stung from the heat. Fortunately, he was wearing black pants, so the wetness wouldn't show, otherwise, how could he face anyone?
"You didn't go too far? I wasn't trying to do that just now..."
"Young CEO, I'll answer your question now. I'm 26 years old, eight years older than you. Do you think I can't tell if you're lying?"
Lu Jiaying said calmly, "You deliberately splashed me with hot coffee first, and now I've returned the favor. It's only fair. I'm not even angry, and you want to be?"
Her reasoning was so sound that Jiang Jingyu was momentarily speechless.
This was good. Since she had seen through him, he might as well stop pretending.
Jiang Jingyu stopped worrying about his pants.
"Fine. Since you think you can see right through me, I won't play along anymore. Truthfully, I didn't want to come here."
"It's not that I have a problem with you, or with this job. It's just that I have other plans."
Lu Jiaying could tell he was being sincere.
"Your plans aren't approved by your parents, so they sent you here?"
"Yes."
"Can you tell me what your plans are?"
"It's fine to tell you. But you have to promise to be on my side. Time is running out, I have to leave tomorrow, and whether I can go this time depends entirely on you. You..."
Hearing him say that, Lu Jiaying quickly raised her hand to interrupt.
"Don't put such a heavy burden on me. Since you know your actions come at such a great cost and carry severe consequences, I'd rather not listen."
However, whether Jiang Jingyu could go this time really depended on her, so she had to listen.
He took a step forward and grabbed her shoulders, like he would an older sister.
"CEO Lu, please listen to me. I just want to go out and have some fun for a few days. Climbing Mount Everest isn't dangerous at all; that team is professional..."
Lu Jiaying couldn't align her stance with his, so she resolutely refused to be persuaded.
Besides, they were at work, and their current posture wasn't exactly dignified.
She pushed him away, walked to the window, leaned against the wall, and looked back at him.
"No matter what you want to do, or how dangerous it is, it's not the point I care about."
"I'm just an employee. The key point is, I can't agree to something that President Zhan and Mr. Jiang disapprove of. Firstly, I don't have that much authority, and secondly, I can't bear the severe consequences. So, young CEO, please don't make things difficult for me."
"How is this making things difficult? I already made a mistake today and didn't perform well. If you just report to my father that I'm not suitable for this job..."
Lu Jiaying felt that although he was tall and had a sharp mind when doing homework, psychologically, he was still a child.
His way of thinking was so naive.
"There are thousands upon thousands of positions at Zhan Group. If this one isn't suitable for you, he can arrange another one for you..."
Jiang Jingyu was becoming impatient. "I'm not going! There's no time! Can't you think of a way to make me seem incompetent, so I can't stay in the company?"
Lu Jiaying remained uncooperative. "What if something happens to you while you're away? Will I be held responsible? Even if not, my conscience will bother me. So, this is impossible."
"Excuse me, young CEO. If you don't want to come to the company, you can simply not come. There's no need to make things difficult for me. Let's stop discussing this topic."
Her refusal to help annoyed Jiang Jingyu a bit.
But something she said in her refusal sparked an idea.
If you don't want to come, then don't.
Exactly!
If he didn't want to do it, he could just leave now!
"You said it, didn't you? If I don't want to come, I don't have to. I'm leaving now."
With that, he turned to leave. Lu Jiaying watched him calmly from where she stood.
"Since your parents don't intend to let you go, do you think they'll give you the funds to travel? Before you leave the company and completely anger your father, I suggest you check your bank account."
Her words were a wake-up call.
How could he have forgotten that?
Since his parents didn't want him to go, the first thing they would do was freeze his bank card.
He took out his phone and quickly checked it.
Sure enough, Lu Jiaying was right. There was no money in his account.