Melody introduced Lu Jiaying to a boy from her Uncle Lu Qingxu's family. He was the youngest cousin, also 26 years old.
His family owned several pharmaceutical companies, making them quite wealthy.
Although he could be a bit goofy and liked to have fun, his personality and character were very good.
Melody had met him a few times at family gatherings and liked him.
Since he was close in age to Lu Jiaying, she thought he might be a good match.
Lu Kai was the youngest in the Lu family. All his older cousins were married with children, and he was the only one still single. Being pressured by elders to marry at various events had become a daily occurrence.
He used to dismiss it, but as his friends gradually got married and it became harder to find people to hang out with spontaneously, he started to feel the desire to settle down.
However, he hadn't met anyone he truly wanted to marry.
Upon meeting Lu Jiaying that day, perhaps due to the influence of Lu Qingxu and Melody, he felt a spark of love at first sight.
To be honest, Lu Jiaying wasn't the most beautiful, the best-figured, the most charming, the most adept at social graces, or the one with the most outstanding family background among all the girls he had met.
But she possessed a natural, unique aura.
Whether she was talking or not, she exuded a captivating radiance that was uniquely hers.
Lu Kai hadn't felt this impulsive in a long time; he was completely smitten.
After dinner, Melody asked him to drive Lu Jiaying home, but he was reluctant to part with her.
"Why don't we go somewhere else to continue our chat? What do you like to drink? If you don't drink alcohol, I'll treat you to tea."
Lu Jiaying said she had work to do and needed to adhere to a strict sleep schedule, rarely going out at night. Lu Kai had no choice but to drive her home.
At the same time, seeing her self-discipline only deepened his affection for her.
Upon returning home, he messaged Lu Jiaying, stating directly that he felt their energies were very compatible and that he was genuinely looking for someone to marry. He asked if she would be willing to consider a relationship with marriage as the prerequisite.
It was too fast.
Lu Jiaying had just gone through a major event and hadn't fully calmed down yet, and now she was facing a second one. She couldn't make up her mind.
Moreover, she had only known Lu Kai for a few hours.
Besides knowing his name and that he was the vice president of his family's pharmaceutical company, she knew nothing else about him.
As Lu Jiaying was composing a message to politely reject him, Jiang Jingyu called.
He said he would be back at work on time tomorrow. What did that mean?
Was he trying to tell her that he didn't intend to let that absurd incident pass without consequence?
Lu Jiaying didn't know what he was planning, but she had a bad feeling.
Boys his age were often rash and impulsive. What if he did something unbelievable…
No. Lu Jiaying couldn't afford to lose face.
Nor could she let down so many people who had shown her kindness.
She had to nip his impulsiveness in the bud.
Therefore, after hanging up Jiang Jingyu's call, she changed her mind and replied to Lu Kai's message.
"I'm sorry, I just took a call. I think it's possible."
Lu Kai was overjoyed.
Throughout his life, given his looks, personality, charm, wealth, and status, he had never failed to pursue a girl he desired.
He had never been dumped; it was always he who, after a period of time and losing interest, would break up with others.
He also had an impressive track record.
His ex-girlfriends typically agreed to become intimate with him within a week of dating.
It seemed that what he wanted would soon be within his grasp again.
The next day, Lu Jiaying was concerned about work. Having slept excessively the past few days, she wasn't sleepy and went to the company early.
Jiang Jingyu was in a similar situation. Hearing that she had started dating, he would only be more anxious.
He also woke up earlier than usual, eager to leave.
Jiang Nan Fang asked, "Why so early today?"
"I had some unfinished business during the weekend break. I'm doing it quickly before the boss arrives to avoid getting scolded."
Jiang Nan Fang was pleased with her son's explanation and handed him a car key.
"Yesterday, your father and I discussed it. Since you plan to be at the company for the next few months, it would be more convenient to get you a car."
"Given your current status, none of the family cars are suitable. He arranged for someone to get you a Volkswagen for now. Once these few months pass perfectly, your father and I will have a big reward for you."
Jiang Jingyu was ecstatic. He kissed her on the cheek and dashed off.
He arrived at the company more than forty minutes early. To his surprise, Lu Jiaying was already there in the marketing department.
It was good that she came early too; with just the two of them, it would be convenient to talk.
Jiang Jingyu pushed the door open and saw her familiar face, her hair neatly tied back, diligently working at her computer.
After only three days apart, he felt a sense of long-lost comfort.
He forgot the tossing and turning and longing of the previous night. At that moment, his heart was filled with overwhelming joy.
He suppressed his excitement and knocked on the door.
"Good morning, Ms. Lu. Why are you here so early?"
His tone and demeanor were very natural, and one could even detect a hint of happiness.
Lu Jiaying couldn't help but mock herself inwardly.
He was a man. As people said, men, regardless of age, were fundamentally the same.
Perhaps this incident meant nothing significant to him, just a different experience.
Furthermore, with his background and looks, he was never short of female admirers. He knew his future clearly and wouldn't take such matters seriously.
She had truly been overthinking it.
With this thought, Lu Jiaying relaxed considerably and returned his gaze as she always did.
"There's a lot of work piled up these past few days. I came early to get a head start to avoid delaying progress. Why are you here so early too?"
Jiang Jingyu couldn't say he came for her, so he paused.
"My mother gave me a car. I was excited and wanted to take it for a spin, so I left early. I haven't had breakfast yet, have you?"
Lu Jiaying hadn't eaten either, but she wouldn't admit it.
"I've eaten. It's still early. It's fine, you go eat breakfast first."
"Oh." Jiang Jingyu paused again, looking at her face.
"The sushi you bought last time was quite delicious. Where did you get it? I want to try it again."
Lu Jiaying certainly couldn't tell him where she bought it, as it wasn't on sale. If she did, wouldn't it expose that she had lied before?
"It's downstairs in my residential complex. It's too far, you should eat something else."
"Alright. Then, Ms. Lu, is there anything you like to eat? I can bring some for you."
"No need. I just ate. I'm not hungry."
Jiang Jingyu walked over to get her teacup. "Then I'll go make you a cup of coffee."
Lu Jiaying instinctively didn't want him to get close and quickly pushed the cup away.
"No need. As I said, I'm full and not hungry right now. You go ahead."
Her expression was normal, and she answered his questions without refusing to communicate.
Jiang Jingyu thought the situation wasn't as bad as he had imagined.
Taking advantage of the fact that no one else had arrived yet, he quickly went to a well-regarded bakery near the company and bought two items.