The next day, Ke Teng was going to take Jian Fei to work.
Fearing that yesterday's events would repeat themselves and she would become a complete oddity among her colleagues, she firmly refused.
Ke Teng conceded a step.
"Alright then. If you don't want me to go, I won't. But I have a condition."
This big man, how could he demand more than her, a woman, all day long?
Jian Fei asked him what condition.
"No matter when I message you, you must reply immediately and truthfully."
"I hate it when people lie to me. If you hide anything from me, I guarantee I'll rush to your side instantly."
Jian Fei imagined that scene and got goosebumps all over.
"Got it. I'm running late, I have to go."
Upon entering the office, as expected, her colleagues all flocked towards her.
"Who was that person yesterday? What's your relationship exactly?"
"He picked you up from work and had his arm around your shoulder. Is he some kind of relative?"
They had already come to the conclusion that Jian Fei, being who she was, couldn't possibly have a rich boyfriend, and Jian Fei didn't want to incur their resentment.
"A client. A client the director just secured investment for the research building a couple of days ago."
"We met briefly in Shangcheng before. He just sees me as a friend, and he happened to see me when he came here. Putting his arm around my shoulder was just a joke."
Everyone was more willing to believe this version.
"You're so lucky to have made friends with someone like that."
Jian Fei's status in the office immediately improved significantly.
Even the welcome drinks, which she didn't receive when she was a true newcomer, were put on the agenda today.
When the director came to work, everyone started advising him.
"Jian Fei has been in our department for over a month and is familiar with everyone. Shouldn't we arrange a welcome drink for her?"
"It'll deepen our understanding and make work more harmonious in the future."
The director now also tacitly acknowledged Jian Fei as his key protégé, so he immediately agreed to everyone's request.
Before Jian Fei could refuse, everyone happily made their decision.
Working until nine o'clock, Ke Teng sent her a WeChat message.
"What are you doing?"
"What can I be doing? Working."
"Are your colleagues gossiping about you, asking about our relationship?"
Jian Fei answered truthfully: "Yes."
"Then what did you say?" Ke Teng sent a "watching melon" emoji.
"What else could I say? I said we were friends, that we knew each other in Shangcheng before, and had some acquaintance."
Ke Teng paused for a moment, seemingly accepting her statement.
"Tired?"
Jian Fei thought he was referring to work: "It's just ordinary clerical work, nothing technical. How tiring can it be?"
"I wasn't talking about that, I was talking about last night."
"..." Startled, Jian Fei quickly glanced around.
Luckily, no one was paying attention to her. "It's broad daylight, can you say something else?"
Ke Teng deliberately teased her: "You wouldn't say it at night, and you won't say it during the day. So when do you want to say it?"
"Say it quickly. If you don't answer, I'll keep asking."
Jian Fei had no choice but to reply: "Tired."
"Then I won't come over tonight."
Thank goodness he wouldn't be coming.
It just so happened that there was a welcome party tonight, and she didn't have time to accompany him.
Jian Fei felt a surge of joy, but before she could even type "Okay," he mischievously added another message.
"Come over to my place."
"..."
"I have trauma from your bed; I couldn't perform properly yesterday... Move to my place, the environment will be better, won't it?"
She was truly exasperated with him.
Jian Fei asked him, "Don't you have work? Are you that free? Where do you get so much energy? Don't you get tired?"
"Men can say they're tired anytime, but not at a time like this. Alright, consider it agreed. I'll have someone pick you up after work."
Jian Fei quickly asked him for leave.
"No, the director is arranging a welcome drink for me. I'll be back late today."
"You've been working for over a month. What are you welcoming? I think your director is deliberately ruining my good deeds. I'll call him."
Jian Fei was almost scared to death.
Making a call for something like this, would she still have any dignity left?
"Don't! Ke Teng, don't be crazy!"
Ke Teng sent a series of "hahaha."
"I was joking. I'm not that unreasonable. Look how scared you are."
"I have something to do today too, so I'll be back late as well. See you later then."
"Send me the party location, and I'll have someone pick you up when it's over."
He was too forceful, and Jian Fei knew she couldn't win against him, so she sent him the address.
The group politely had a somewhat perfunctory dinner.
Since it was a group of women, and most of them were married with children, they couldn't stay out too late. They dispersed around nine o'clock.
Jian Fei messaged Ke Teng in advance. Ke Teng replied with a laughing-crying emoji.
"What kind of meal did you have? You dispersed at nine, and I haven't even started yet."
"Then eat slowly. I won't be going over tonight."
"Dream on. I'm not eating anymore, I'm going back now. It's good enough that I showed my face and sat with them for so long."
Jian Fei persuaded him: "Don't. It's not good for your health not to eat!"
"Then I'll eat back at the hotel."
Jian Fei was helpless and had to agree.
Unexpectedly, when she got out of the restaurant, it wasn't his assistant waiting, but him personally picking her up.
He rolled down the car window and waved to everyone standing by the roadside. Their eyes lit up.
"He's here to pick you up? Jian Fei, your friend is really good to you."
Jian Fei gave an awkward smile and waved goodbye to everyone.
Getting into the car, Ke Teng smelled the faint scent of alcohol on her, but her face showed no sign of excitement.
"Did you not enjoy the meal?"
"Mmm. If it weren't for you, they wouldn't have specifically invited me to dinner, thinking I might have some leverage."
Jian Fei unconsciously relaxed.
"We barely spoke a few words normally. It was so awkward."
"Then are you full? Honestly."
Jian Fei said no.
"I didn't eat more than ten mouthfuls the whole time."
"Poor thing." Ke Teng reached out and pinched her cheek.
"Then let's eat together back at the room. What do you want to eat?"
She always felt like he liked to put on airs of being older in front of her, as if he were older than Jian Fei.
In fact, they were of similar age.
Jian Fei slapped his hand away and asked him.
"How old are you this year? You call me a poor thing, maybe I'm your elder sister."
"Sorry, I'm just two days older than you."
Ke Teng winked at her smugly.
"The first time I saw you, I knew you were younger than me, which is why I wasn't convinced."
Back in the room, Ke Teng ordered some food Jian Fei hadn't tried.
While waiting for the meal, he asked Jian Fei to go to the bathroom and fill the bathtub for him.
Jian Fei went, but unexpectedly, he followed her in.
As soon as the bathroom door was locked, his eyes revealed a dangerous glint.
Jian Fei felt like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.
"What are you doing?"
"What do you think?"
"Aren't you hungry?"
"That doesn't conflict with this."
"How could it not conflict..."
"Then if you feel sorry for me, you can exert yourself."