Someone dirtied your expensive clothes. Normally, a person's first reaction would be to pay for them or cover the cleaning costs.
But Jiang Jingyu did it on purpose, so why would he say such a thing?
After Xu Lei finished speaking generously, he neither thanked her nor apologized. He just shrugged and returned to his seat.
He shoveled a few more bites of his unfinished meal, then placed his tray in the cleaning area and turned to leave.
Xu Lei took the tissue someone handed her to wipe her clothes. When she looked up after wiping, she was so angry seeing Jiang Jingyu's demeanor that her nose was about to twist.
What nerve! Just because he's associated with that insignificant Lu Jiaying, he thinks he's so great? Look at him showing off!
Sooner or later, I'll make you and Lu Jiaying kneel and beg me!
Lu Jiaying, sitting at the table behind Xu Lei, had clearly witnessed the entire incident.
Although Jiang Jingyu's revenge was a bit excessive, she found it quite satisfying overall, so she didn't care.
She returned to her work. The afternoon passed uneventfully until it was time to leave.
She planned to work a little longer to avoid the evening rush hour, but her phone rang about five minutes after work.
It was Lu Kai.
They had agreed the night before to try dating with marriage as the goal. She hadn't thought about Lu Kai all day, and he hadn't contacted her either.
If it weren't for this call, she would have forgotten about him.
Jiang Jingyu was still hunched over his keyboard, showing no signs of leaving. Lu Jiaying glanced at him and answered the phone in a low voice.
"Hello."
Lu Kai's voice came through, tinged with a smile.
"You might not believe me, but I've been busy all day. I thought about messaging you several times, but I was interrupted and forgot. We haven't contacted each other all day; you're not angry with me, are you?"
Lu Jiaying thought: Our relationship isn't close enough for me to be entitled to be angry with you.
But she certainly couldn't tell him the truth.
"Of course not. I understand. During work hours, work should come first."
"I knew you'd understand. My sister-in-law says you're the most understanding. But no matter how busy you are, you can't let work dominate your life. You should enjoy yourself. Work is for a better life, after all. What's the point of earning money otherwise?"
"I heard you're a workaholic. You're not planning to work overtime again today, are you?"
His tone was relaxed, easily making others feel relaxed too. Lu Jiaying smiled and said.
"Not really. I plan to leave a little later."
"That's fine. It's the peak rush hour now, and leaving too early will just mean getting stuck in traffic. Wait at the company. I'll pick you up now, and we can have dinner together."
Since she had agreed to date him, starting with dinner was a normal step. Lu Jiaying couldn't refuse.
However, she wasn't used to people being so attentive to her. "No need. I can drive myself."
Lu Kai said, "Why use two cars? It's not good for the environment. Don't be so polite with me. It's settled. Wait for me; I'll call you when I arrive."
With that, he hung up the phone.
Even though Lu Jiaying had kept her voice very low, Jiang Jingyu could still tell she was discussing a date with someone.
Yesterday, his mother had told him that his aunt had introduced him to a potential date.
Could it be that she was going on a date with him?
Jiang Jingyu finished the last bit of work in his hands, closed his laptop, and stood up.
"Ms. Lu, aren't you leaving yet?"
Lu Jiaying didn't look up and continued to stare at her computer, her expression blank. "I still have some things to finish. You go ahead."
"What unfinished business is there? Do you need my help?"
"No. You go on your way."
Reason told Jiang Jingyu that he should indeed leave, but irrationality kept his feet rooted.
"The boss is working overtime here. How can I, a subordinate, leave early? I'll stay with you for a while longer."
After saying that, he pulled over a chair and shamelessly sat down in front of Lu Jiaying.
He had behaved relatively normally all day. Lu Jiaying had thought he could truly be as sensible as he claimed.
But now, it seemed he couldn't be that rational at all.
After thinking it over, she put down her mouse and looked at Jiang Jingyu.
"Do you have something you want to say to me?"
Jiang Jingyu did have something to say, and it was difficult to bring up. Since she had asked herself.
"Are you going on a date later?"
If her relationship with Lu Kai progressed smoothly, they would have many dates. Jiang Jingyu would find out eventually.
Lu Jiaying didn't hide it from him, and she even felt that the sooner he knew, the better.
"Yes," she said, feigning excitement about the date.
Jiang Jingyu felt uncomfortable, but he couldn't show it on his face.
"Can you tell me who the date is with?"
"Lu Kai. Your aunt introduced him to me."
Jiang Jingyu never expected his aunt to introduce him to Lu Kai.
Although they didn't have much interaction, he had heard about Lu Kai's reputation and some of his actions.
He wasn't suitable for Lu Jiaying.
It wasn't that Lu Kai was a bad person; his aunt wouldn't harm Lu Jiaying.
It was just that the more he interacted with Lu Jiaying, the more he realized how uninteresting and rigid her life actually was.
She needed a partner who was similar to her, with a clear plan for life, who enjoyed following a routine, and who both enjoyed that state of being.
Lu Kai was clearly not that person.
He was too sunny, lively, and social.
He was quite famous in the social circles of Nancheng. Someone like him trying to get close to the routine-loving Lu Jiaying – wouldn't that be a joke?
"My aunt is really something. How could she introduce you to him?"
Lu Jiaying could tell there was something in his words, and she raised an eyebrow. "Do you have a problem with Lu Kai?"
"No. I just don't think he's suitable for you."
Lu Jiaying thought to herself: Just because of that one incident, his possessiveness is kicking in.
Whether he's suitable for me or not isn't up to you to decide. Even if he's not suitable, he's more suitable than you are. It's none of your business.
"We'll know if we're suitable after we interact. Alright, you should go. I'll pack up and leave soon too."
Since the date was with Lu Kai, Jiang Jingyu was confident.
Unless Lu Jiaying had a completely pessimistic view of marriage and was willing to marry anyone, their relationship wouldn't last long.
He didn't consider Lu Kai a rival from the bottom of his heart, so he left with peace of mind.
Estimating that he had reached the underground parking lot, Lu Jiaying then packed her things and locked her office door before leaving.
She also went down to the underground parking lot, intending to get something from her car.
As soon as she unlocked her car, a clear female voice called out to her.
"Director Lu, just finished work?"
Lu Jiaying knew who it was without turning around.
Xu Lei.
She didn't know if it was a coincidence or if she was deliberately waiting for her. The more she didn't want to see her, the more she appeared. She was truly annoying.
Since the person had approached her, Lu Jiaying couldn't ignore her.
She turned around and saw Xu Lei, who had changed into a different dress, walking over with a strange smile and a casual gait.
"Why are you alone? Didn't you come with your little assistant today?"