"He's also my good friend's boyfriend."
"I'll introduce you later."
Ai Tai'en: "..."
What?
Rong Jingshu has a girlfriend?
Du Ruoxin's words struck Ai Tai'en like a bolt from the blue, catching her completely off guard, instantly petrifying her.
So much so that she didn't hear a single word Du Ruoxin said afterward.
Her mind was filled with the words "Rong Jingshu has a girlfriend," which invaded her entire brain like a barrage of text.
Has a girlfriend, has a girlfriend...
So she couldn't like him!
This nascent affection, still in its bud but not yet bloomed, was brutally severed.
She hadn't even had the chance to properly savor what liking felt like before she heard the sound of a breaking heart.
"Ai Tai'en? Ai Tai'en?"
Seeing her staring blankly and unmoving, Du Ruoxin shook her.
"Ah?" Ai Tai'en snapped back to reality, but the sadness in her eyes was impossible to hide.
Du Ruoxin felt a pang of sympathy, but—
For Grace's happiness, she could only pretend not to see.
"After we're done wrapping the zongzi, I'll show you around my house. Tomorrow, we're also preparing for a dragon boat race."
Ai Tai'en held back tears and replied, "Mm."
Du Ruoxin: "Stay over tonight, don't leave, okay?"
Ai Tai'en: "Mm."
Du Ruoxin was about to say more when her phone rang; it was Rong Jingyang.
"Du Ruoxin, where have you been? The table is piled with zongzi."
If you don't come soon, I'm not wrapping them.
It's enough for our family anyway.
Du Ruoxin shivered at the man's impatient voice, "Coming, coming!"
Honestly!
How come she never noticed him being so dependent on her before?
Despite her inner grumbles, Du Ruoxin still looked at Ai Tai'en and asked, "My husband is rushing me. Do you want to come with me to wrap zongzi?"
How could Ai Tai'en have the nerve?
She felt like a joke just now!
In front of so many people... "flirting" with Rong Jingshu... She wished she could disappear into the ground!
"No," she shook her head. "I... need to go to the restroom."
Du Ruoxin knew Ai Tai'en was feeling down, so she gave her time to adjust, instructed a servant to stay with her, and then happily trotted over to the gentleman's side.
Perhaps this is what they call Zhou Yu fighting with Huang Gai – one willing to hit, the other willing to be hit?
Every woman has a different personality and different preferences in men.
For example, she liked men who were very domineering, exceptionally domineering, and domineering with a touch of tenderness.
They could drive her crazy!
—
Upon receiving Christhino's command to "wait," Ai Wei felt extremely uneasy.
She worked listlessly for several hours, her efficiency extremely low.
Unable to resist, she picked up her phone.
After thinking of an excuse, Ai Wei took a deep breath and dialed Rong Jingyang's number.
But the call kept ringing, and then, it was suddenly hung up!
What did that mean?
She felt the taut string in her heart being abruptly cut.
Impossible!
Rong Jingyang wouldn't not answer her call!
It must have been an accidental press!
Ai Wei dialed a second time, but the cold automated response extinguished her burning heart.
"Sorry, the number you have dialed is not in service. Please check and dial again."
How could it be a dead number?
Rong Jingyang had been using that phone number since primary school, for over twenty years...
As if realizing something, Ai Wei's face turned ashen.
Rong Jingyang had blocked her!
That's why she couldn't get through!
Why? Why? Didn't he see Du Ruoxin threatening to make her disappear? Shouldn't he have argued with Du Ruoxin?
And then come to her for comfort.
Things... didn't go as she had predicted...
Ai Wei panicked, her breathing becoming unsteady.
No! She had to stay calm!
At this critical juncture, she absolutely could not foolishly push Rong Jingyang further towards Du Ruoxin.
Ai Wei stared at her computer. In her email were the design drafts Rong Jingyang had sent her last night, modified by him.
See, he still cared about her, didn't he?