Chapter 16, the Sixteenth Chapter: The Eight Trigrams

I don't have time to worry about my first love anymore, even though I don't know how long it will last.

Because even more trouble is yet to come.

Work.

Just mentioning those two words gave Luo Xincheng a headache.

But there was no way around it; even though she was incredibly wealthy, her family would never allow her to live off them.

So after confirming that her leg injury had completely healed, and that she could run, jump, and even run a half marathon on the spot, her mother completed the onboarding procedures for her.

She's about to join the toy company founded by her mother, officially named Yanjing Lecheng Children's Fun Culture Co., Ltd. It's an enterprise with building blocks as its core business and a layout of the children's technology ecosystem industrial chain. While it has cooperation with many well-known IPs from various countries, it is also creating its own IP products. In recent years, with the advancement of technology, it is trying to organically combine AI technology and GPT technology with toys, and is committed to creating exclusive GPT network version IP smart products.

Luo Xincheng held the newly received employee badge and looked at the information on it with great emotion.

I still remember when she first learned to read, she thought her mother's company name was based on her own name, and she proudly showed it off everywhere.

She later learned that the company was founded three years before she was born, and the company name had absolutely nothing to do with her. In fact, her own name was used in the company's name. If it weren't for a fortune teller saying that her birth chart lacked water, her ID card would probably have read "Luo Xincheng".

Ms. Luo Anjiu is very career-oriented. She is only in her forties now, which is the best age for her to work hard. Assuming she is in good health, she has no plans to retire in the next ten years. She has plenty of time to teach Luo Xincheng how to run the company well.

However, she was extremely busy and didn't have time to personally guide Luo Xincheng through the work of various departments. After sending her to the product department, she became a hands-off manager.

“I’m going to Jinhai City to see your grandmother the day after tomorrow, and then I’m flying to Tokyo.” She looked at her packed schedule and sighed. “Just go to work as usual for now. If you have any problems, ask your Aunt Lan.”

The "Aunt Lan" she mentioned was the secretary who had been by her side the longest. It is said that Luo Xincheng was even held by her when he was a child.

Luo Xincheng: "...Oh."

Then she was left to fend for herself.

Because her surname was unusual enough, even though she kept a low profile on her first day at the company, none of her colleagues were fools. They all knew exactly what her relationship with the boss was like. Except for when she went to the break room to chat with crickets, her job went very smoothly.

But going to work is going to work, even if it's your own family business. As long as you put in the effort, it's tiring.

It was extremely tiring.

Luo Xincheng felt completely exhausted after working for a few days, and only managed to stay afloat during the upcoming National Day holiday.

As the holiday approached, a quiet five-person group suddenly became active again.

Wang Jiayan (owes me 75,000): [Want to go drinking together tonight? @All]

Luo Xincheng immediately replied: [What time? Where?]

The next second, he sent a location in the group chat.

Jiang Wei: [After nine o'clock, I haven't finished my thesis yet.]

Xu Peiyi: [Then you still dare to go out drinking???]

Jiang Wei: [It's just a matter of finishing up. It can be done in two hours, no problem.]

Luo Xincheng: [...Sometimes I really think Jiang Wei is terrifying...Where are you, @Jiang Xu?]

Jiang Xu: [After 9 PM is fine. I'm working overtime for two hours, so going there for an hour will be just enough time.]

Xu Peiyi: [Now I finally understand why people always misunderstand that you and Jiang Wei are related.]

Jiang Wei: [???]

Jiang Xu: [???]

After clocking out on time, Luo Xincheng left the company and first went to the shopping mall next door to vent her shopping desires. When she saw that it was almost time, she set off for the bar that Wang Jiayan had booked.

The bar must have opened recently; the decor looks very new.

After finding Wang Jiayan's booth, he told me that it was a newly opened bar by one of his buddies, and he was there to support it.

"Your buddy's bars must be so big they could stretch across two streets."

"Not that little."

"..."

The bar was bustling with people, and the air was filled with the mixed smells of alcohol and juice.

Amidst the sweltering heat, Luo Xincheng took off her suit jacket before sitting down.

She was wearing a beige turtleneck shirt underneath, with a beautiful drape, the hem of which was tucked into her trousers. Xu Peiyi, who arrived at the bar a little later, praised her for looking very capable.

"Those who have started working are different."

After ordering the drinks, Xu Peiyi glanced with interest at Luo Xincheng and Jiang Xu, who had arrived late.

“They are all dressed so elitely.”

Jiang Xu took off his coat as soon as he sat down.

He always had a stern face and was meticulous when facing his subordinates at the company, but he didn't pretend at all in front of his cronies. After taking off his coat, he would unbutton a few of the top buttons of his shirt and roll up the sleeves.

Luo Xincheng kept laughing, "Image! What about your image?!"

Jiang Xu shrugged indifferently, "I only maintain an image in front of others; you're not human."

After saying that, she unscrewed a bottle of sparkling water used for mixing drinks in front of her, took a few sips, and then pointed at Jiang Wei, who was wearing gold-rimmed glasses, a striped shirt, and a black vest, and said, "And she's clearly the most well-dressed, isn't she?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Wei took off his glasses and unzipped his vest, saying, "I think I look more like a bartender."

Upon hearing this, everyone looked outside and saw that the waiters were indeed all wearing white shirts and black vests.

“That’s still not quite the same.” Xu Peiyi was just spouting the truth. “Others dress in a way that’s both abstinent and sexy, while you dress in a way that’s particularly good for your stomach.”

Jiang Wei: "..."

"After all, you just finished working on your thesis." Luo Xincheng smiled and asked her what she wanted to drink. "I'll make you something."

Jiang Wei, barely able to speak, said, "Oolong tea, please, thank you."

Luo Xincheng: "?"

"Stop messing around, this is a bar, where would we get oolong tea for you?"

She thought for a moment, then found an empty glass, poured in half vodka and half whiskey, swirled it, and handed it to her, saying, "Here, your oolong tea."

Jiang Wei looked at the golden liquid in the wine glass and smiled speechlessly.

Wang Jiayan handed over a lighter at the opportune moment, saying, "I think you need this."

Jiang Wei pushed the two mischievous cousins ​​away, saying, "You two should stop messing around. Just give me a normal drink, okay?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Xu Peiyi, who was sitting right next to her, thoughtfully pushed a glass of orange juice towards her, saying, "Little Pa Cai, just drink your juice obediently~"

Jiang Wei was too lazy to argue with her about who was the real culprit, so she took the orange juice and slowly drank it.

Halfway through the drink, Xu Peiyi solemnly cleared her throat.

"Cough cough cough!"

The people present immediately stopped what they were doing and looked at her.

"I'm going to start going on blind dates!"

Luo Xincheng was taken aback by his words, "Don't you have a boyfriend? Why are you suddenly going on a blind date?"

Xu Peiyi glared at her, annoyed. "We broke up ages ago! Have you ever really cared about me?!"

Jiang Xu continued, "But you're still so young, there's no need to go on blind dates so early, is there?"

Xu Peiyi scoffed and shrugged, "After getting married, I can make more money in the family trust. Besides, I haven't worked since graduation and I don't plan to work. My parents are planning to arrange a marriage for me so that I can at least contribute my remaining energy."

Jiang Xu immediately scoffed and predicted, "After a few blind dates, you'll obediently go to work at your family's company."

"No way!" Xu Peiyi denied categorically. "I don't want to go to work!"

She crossed her arms and frowned in distress. "But to be honest, I actually prefer to date freely, but I haven't been able to find a suitable partner lately... It's strange, it's understandable that you guys can't find a partner, but why can't I?"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was immediately unhappy.

"What do you mean?" Wang Jiayan was the first to slam his fist on the table and shout angrily, "What do you mean it's okay that we can't find partners? We just don't want to find one, okay? If we wanted to, we could find one in a minute!"

"that is."

"Don't assume we're all as incompetent as you, okay?"

Xu Pei saw that they were unwilling to accept reality, and their competitive spirit immediately flared up.

"Stop fooling yourselves. Under normal circumstances, you simply can't find a suitable partner, okay?"

After saying that, she first turned her attention to Wang Jiayan, who was the most dissatisfied.

"You! You have an absolutely bizarre unrequited love! You only like girls who don't like you back, and the moment a girl you're pursuing shows even the slightest bit of interest, you immediately shut your heart off! How can you possibly find a girlfriend like that?!"

Wang Jiayan instinctively wanted to deny it, but everything she said about herself was true, and he couldn't refute it.

So he rubbed his nose dejectedly, "I didn't want to either... Is there no one in this world who I like but who doesn't like me, yet is willing to be with me against my will?"

Xu Peiyi: "...Are you crazy?"

Then he pointed to Luo Xincheng, who was mixing drinks.

“You!” Her expression was inscrutable, but her tone was sincere. “...I feel like you’ve found a slave, not a boyfriend, but there are no slaves in the new China, my dear.”

Luo Xincheng's eyelids twitched, and for some reason, the image of Fu Zhiheng suddenly flashed through her mind.

She smirked, "What are you mumbling about? Push that plate of fruit over here."

Xu Peiyi reluctantly did as she was told, and then excitedly pointed at Jiang Xu.

"You!" She grinned wickedly, finally finding a legitimate reason to cricket at him.

"Ultimate narcissist! Changes clothes at least three times a day, and looks in the mirror eight hundred times a day! He probably does more skincare and haircare than I do!"

Jiang Xu lifted his eyelids to glance at her, "I just pay more attention to my appearance, it's not like I can't find a girlfriend, okay?"

"Then may I ask who has taken a liking to you?"

"...There are plenty!"

Xu Peiyi clasped her hands together and said confidently, "See, that's how you break through their defenses."

Jiang Xu: "..."

Finally, Xu Peiyi's trial turned its attention to Jiang Wei.

But when she looked at the latter's tired eyes that revealed a faint sense of death, she couldn't help but feel a little sorry for him and couldn't bring herself to say anything harsh.

"You..." She hesitated, then sighed, "Sigh, I really can't imagine what you'd be like in a relationship. A wise person doesn't fall in love. You've been pursuing a master's and doctorate all your life. Although you don't plan to do a doctorate, you should focus on your studies first!"

"..." Jiang Wei clicked his tongue and said listlessly, "Thank you."

Xu Peiyi chuckled without realizing it, looked around, and realized that she was indeed the only normal one among these people.

Luo Xincheng was speechless. "How can you be normal when you're hanging out with us all day?"

As she spoke, she lowered her head and took a bite of the wasabi octopus that the bar had given her. After only two bites, she saw Jiang Xu next to her eating braised beef in large mouthfuls, finishing a plate in no time.

She stared wide-eyed in disbelief at Jiang Xu, who was enjoying his meal, then at the empty plate, momentarily thinking she had drunk too much.

"Why are you suddenly eating so much?"

Jiang Xu is busy with work and doesn't have much time to exercise, so he is very strict about his daily diet in order to maintain his figure. He usually just drinks alcohol and doesn't eat any vegetables.

Jiang Xu's chopsticks, which were reaching for the cold-served king oyster mushrooms, froze in mid-air.

Luo Xincheng: "You...didn't eat lunch?"

I didn't ask about dinner, because Jiang Xu doesn't eat dinner anyway.

He shook his head stiffly, hesitated for a moment, and then continued to reach for the cold king oyster mushroom with his chopsticks.

"I've been under a lot of stress lately, so I have a strong appetite and I'm eating a lot."

"No way, is the work pressure this high?"

Luo Xincheng asked with concern, "Why don't you ask your brother for a long leave to adjust your mindset?"

Jiang Xu vaguely replied, "It's not work-related pressure."

"What else could it be?" She paused, then suddenly realized something and perked up. "Emotional pressure? You're going to be in a relationship? Someone actually likes you?"

Jiang Xu: "..."

He looked like he wanted to roll his eyes, but before that, he seemed to remember something more interesting, turned to look at her, and his eyes were full of amused smiles.

"I don't know who likes me, but I know who likes you."

"...?"

Luo Xincheng instinctively sensed something was wrong and immediately turned her head to change the subject, "Um, this wasabi octopus is quite delicious, or else you..."

Jiang Xu seemed not to hear, and asked with a teasing smile, "Did Fu Zhiheng come looking for you after Ning Er's birthday banquet?"

What you fear most is what happens, so Luo Xincheng skillfully feigned ignorance, "Who is that?"

"Don't pretend with me!"

That being said, Jiang Xu still explained, "It's that guy with glasses, whose smile is particularly fake, who's so tall he can look down on you, and who you shook off when you tried to shake hands with him, Fu Zhiheng."

There's no need to go into such detail.

Luo Xincheng's eye twitched slightly. "I left a long time ago. Wasn't he chatting with you? How would I know where he went afterward?"

Jiang Xu's narrow eyes narrowed into slender crescent moons as he smiled, his gossip-loving nature overflowing, and he even added fuel to the fire.

"When they were talking to me, their eyes were always looking in my direction. After you left, they kept staring at your back. Then they made up some excuse to end our pretense and quickly walked in the direction you left."

He sighed heavily at this point, looking quite regretful.

"I originally wanted to go and see what was going on, but I got held up by someone."

Luo Xincheng: "..."

Although she didn't know who had tripped him up, she was sincerely grateful to that kind person.

Otherwise, the gossip about her and Fu Zhiheng would probably have spread throughout Yanjing by the next day.

Author's Note: The male protagonist lives in the dialogue...

She'll appear in the next chapter! [cat paw emoji]