"We've been having a bit of a spat for the last two days. I wanted to keep it a surprise for her, so I didn't try to appease her. She's just sulking with me."
"Why don't you two talk it out? I'll take her back. We can have a good talk privately."
Lu Mingzhe, feigning affection, helped Chen Jiaojiao downstairs, linking arms.
Upon reaching the restaurant entrance, he released her, stepped back a couple of paces, creating distance, and let out a sarcastic laugh.
"Alright, there's no one else around now. You don't have to put on an act anymore, Miss Chen."
Chen Jiaojiao's dazed eyes instantly cleared. She met his gaze with her usual timid, rabbit-like eyes.
"Since you know I'm acting, why are you still doing this if you don't want to be with me?"
Since there was no one else around, there was no point in hiding anything.
Lu Mingzhe stated directly, "You know the answer in your heart. Why ask a question that's a waste of breath?"
Chen Jiaojiao shook her head.
"I don't know, Lu Mingzhe. You're a young, promising, and reputable talent."
"You must have a strong sense of pride. How can you tolerate having a woman who has been with someone else as your wife?"
Lu Mingzhe shrugged, adopting an air of nonchalance.
"Perhaps I thought you were interesting and suitable for me before, and that's why I wanted to marry you. But now, you understand."
His self-assured and determined expression made Chen Jiaojiao feel very disgusted.
"Lu Mingzhe, I realize you're quite unwell."
"Don't be so high and mighty, Chen Jiaojiao. You and I are actually the same kind of person."
"If Hu Jiasheng betrayed you, I don't believe you could remain unfazed."
His words left Chen Jiaojiao speechless.
Indeed, she was in the wrong for getting involved with Hu Jiasheng before drawing a clear line with him.
Lu Mingzhe's desire for revenge wasn't an illness.
After some reflection, Chen Jiaojiao could only apologize to him.
"Fine, I wronged you, alright? Tell me, what will it take for you to let me go?"
Lu Mingzhe seemed to have his answer ready.
"Break up with him and promise to never be with him again."
Hah!
Chen Jiaojiao reacted almost instinctively, without thinking, "Impossible."
"Then wait for me to marry you."
"You think too highly of yourself, dictating terms? Are you the Emperor? Will I be executed if I refuse to marry you?"
"No, but you certainly won't have an easy time of it."
Lu Mingzhe said calmly.
"As long as you continue to be with him, my lifelong pleasure will be to deliberately cause trouble for you two."
"You... Are you afraid of me? Let's give it a try!"
The two parted on bad terms.
Chen Jiaojiao immediately hailed a taxi outside the restaurant and returned to her apartment.
Feeling extremely unsettled, she threw herself onto the sofa. She took out her phone and initiated a video call with Hu Jiasheng.
The call connected quickly, but Hu Jiasheng hung up.
Checking the time, it was only a little past nine in the evening.
What was he busy with?
He didn't even have time for a video call with her?
Chen Jiaojiao stubbornly found his phone number and dialed again.
After a long ring, Hu Jiasheng finally answered.
"What's wrong, darling?"
Chen Jiaojiao sat up straight on the sofa and questioned him fiercely.
"Why didn't you answer my video call? Was it inconvenient because there was a woman around? What are you guilty about?"
Hu Jiasheng couldn't help but chuckle on the other end.
"It's not as carefree as you think. I'm at a club. There's a bunch of guys around, and the project hasn't been finalized yet."
"Hah! Just like my dad, you always use these lame excuses to fool people. Do you think I'll believe you?"
"Then hang up, and we'll video call."
Soon, Hu Jiasheng sent her a video call request.
Upon answering, Chen Jiaojiao noticed he seemed to be in a restroom.
Faint background noise could be heard, accompanied by music, suggesting he was indeed at a club.
"You're a CEO, what kind of image are you projecting by being so busy every day?"
Hu Jiasheng's tone was calm.
"I can't help it. Who told this CEO to have an illegitimate start? If I don't make some achievements quickly, it's hard to silence the public gossip."
He had never hidden his background from Chen Jiaojiao. She knew his situation was awkward and understood him.
However, she desperately needed comfort today.
"I miss you, Asheng. Can you come and see me?"
Hu Jiasheng put a cigarette in his mouth, lit it, and blew a puff of smoke towards the screen.
"Have you been drinking? Didn't I tell you not to drink when you're alone?"
"Stop changing the subject. I said, I want to see you."
"I'm not changing the subject. Haven't we just seen each other?"
Chen Jiaojiao irritably lay back down.
"I know, but I miss you again. I think about you every moment, I wish I could be with you every day."
Her words were touching, and she was incredibly beautiful. Hu Jiasheng couldn't help but be affected by her emotions.
He gazed tenderly at the screen.
"Once I'm done with this busy period, I'll definitely take a vacation, okay?"
"I'll spend every day with you then. We can go wherever you want, do whatever you want."
His words were sweet, but Chen Jiaojiao couldn't wait any longer.
She had never yearned for someone so intensely.
"Asheng, after you finish this busy period, will you marry me?"
On the other end of the phone, Hu Jiasheng visibly paused.
He took a couple more puffs of his cigarette, his eyes fixed on her with a deep gaze.
"What's gotten into you? Did you see someone else flaunting their affection again? Why are you so out of character today?"
Chen Jiaojiao didn't answer, continuing to press him.
"Can you put your work aside and make time to see me tomorrow? I can't wait any longer. I must see you tomorrow."
Only then did he become convinced she wasn't just being playful but genuinely had something on her mind.
"Did something happen?"
It was so late, and he was still out discussing business? He also had to divert his attention to deal with a rival. Chen Jiaojiao couldn't bear to add to his troubles.
She sighed, "No."
Hu Jiasheng was bound by his circumstances. Even though he knew she was lying, he could only pretend not to know.
"Be good, wait until I'm done with this busy period."
They chatted idly for a few more minutes, and Chen Jiaojiao let him go back to his work.
Lying on the sofa, she found herself increasingly unable to sleep, her discomfort growing.
She decided to call her driver and have him pick her up.
Soon, Chen Jiaojiao returned to the Chen residence.
Her father hadn't returned yet, so she went straight to his bedroom.
Her stepmother, alone and wearing a face mask, was watching a drama in the room. Startled by someone pushing the door open, she assumed it was her husband and hurried over.
To her surprise, it was Chen Jiaojiao.
"Why are you here so late?"
"I'm here to get something. Where's the household registration book? Do you know where my father keeps it?"
"Why are you looking for the household registration book so late at night?"
"My father asked me to get it. He said I should go and get the marriage certificate tomorrow."
The stepmother excitedly ripped the mask off her face.
"It's settled so quickly? Your father said the Lu family is quite good. You really have good taste and good fortune."
"It's not too late to get it tomorrow. Making you come all this way so late..."
"Alright, stop with the nonsense. Hurry and give it to me."
A moment later, Chen Jiaojiao left the Chen residence.
As the car drove towards the highway entrance, Lu Mingzhe instructed the taxi driver to follow the car in front.