The next day, Jiang Jingyu asked Lu Jiaying for leave, saying he had something to do that morning and couldn't go to the company. Lu Jiaying, thinking he genuinely had an appointment, agreed.
In reality, he and Wen Ruxu had tricked Xu Lei into going to a hotel.
Waking up early, Wen Ruxu messaged Xu Lei, saying he hadn't slept well and had thought of her all night.
"Last night you were too beautiful. You were like a fairy, and I couldn't get enough of looking at you. If I hadn't been afraid of upsetting you, I really wanted to..."
"Sister, I can't pretend anymore. I don't want to be your younger brother. I can't suppress my feelings and longing for you; this feeling is killing me. I like you so much, I... can you feel it?"
Xu Lei didn't know how to respond.
Although she felt the same way, she was married.
She could only feign a calm demeanor and advise Wen Ruxu to be rational.
Wen Ruxu replied, "I want to be rational too, but you don't know how charming you are."
"I've had girlfriends before, but this is the first time I've met someone who makes me lose all reason. I'm going crazy. Tell me what to do? I really can't take it anymore."
Faced with such fervent confession, Xu Lei's heart pounded.
However, given their short acquaintance, she couldn't be direct. She stared at the screen, carefully choosing her words.
As she was thinking, Wen Ruxu sent her a hotel room card.
"If this continues, I'll surely go mad, so we can't go on like this. Sister, please go to trouble and come find me, just one last farewell. Can we talk things through properly?"
"If you don't like me, don't plan to divorce for me, and don't want to be with me forever, I'll accept it. It's my fault for appearing too late."
"But I really want to hug you openly. Just consider it my plea. Please come."
"I know you're looking at your phone, and I'll give you time to think. I'll wait for half an hour. If you don't reply within half an hour, I won't bother you again."
"We'll delete each other's contacts and pretend this encounter was a mistake. You don't need to worry about me..."
Xu Lei sat stunned on the edge of her bed, watching the minutes tick by.
Wen Ruxu indeed stopped sending messages. Five minutes, ten minutes, fifteen minutes, twenty...
It became the longest, most agonizing time of her life.
Intense joy, impulse, and suppression, accompanied by excitement, flooded her mind.
Finally, after re-reading Wen Ruxu's photos on her moments a few times, she made a decision.
She didn't ask for a future together, but for a past to cherish.
This young man was so sensible, knew when to advance and retreat, and cared for and understood her. He was going abroad soon anyway, so having an experience with him wouldn't be a waste of her years!
At the 25-minute mark, she tentatively sent Wen Ruxu two words.
"Little brother?"
Wen Ruxu replied instantly: "I'm here, I've been waiting for you, Sister. You've decided to come, haven't you? Please, don't disappoint me, you will come, won't you?"
Xu Lei's fingers trembled as she sent a "yes."
Wen Ruxu was overjoyed: "I knew Sister loved me. When will you come? Will an hour be okay? Sister, I can't wait to see you."
Xu Lei sent him an "okay" and said, "I'll message you when I arrive."
Wen Ruxu said "good," then immediately took a screenshot and showed it to Jiang Jingyu.
"She's taken the bait. How are things on your end?"
"The person is already waiting in the lobby."
"Damn, will I get beaten or photographed? Don't embarrass me!"
"Don't worry, I've prepared everything. It won't happen."