Chapter 68 is not single.

It's unclear what Old Master Li and Old Madam Li said to Qian Jing, but after that day, Qian Jing never went to the Li family again.

The staff in the secretariat breathed a sigh of relief.

Inside the tea room, a group of people were chatting quietly.

"I was terrified of her; she acted like the boss's wife was coming to inspect the place."

"You guys are alright, but we women are just a thorn in our side. 'Secretary,' 'Secretary,' it sounds like you have something going on with the boss. Do you think the boss would even look at us? It's ridiculous."

"We're alright, but Sister Lin is the one who's been hit the hardest."

Speak of the devil, and he appears; Lin Mi enters carrying a coffee cup.

A group of people surrounded her: "Sister Lin, will Miss Qian not come anymore?"

Lin Mi calmly washed the cup and made coffee: "It's the boss's private matter, so it's not appropriate to inquire."

"Sister Lin, don't be petty," someone said to her in a coquettish tone. "If she becomes our boss's wife, all the female colleagues in the secretarial office will be fired."

Lin Mi sneered, "Who do you think President Li is? Someone who can be easily interfered with by others?"

"...Too."

"Then the landlady... is different, isn't she?"

"Strange, the previous times, although the boss was indifferent, he at least maintained his manners. This time, I heard that he was extremely impolite."

"Sister Lin, please tell us, so we can learn from you."

Lin Mi left with her coffee: "There's nothing to learn. I didn't do anything. It was her own fault for offending someone she shouldn't have."

"who?"

“We’re just working to make money,” Lin Mi said sternly. “Don’t talk about the boss behind his back. Do you want to quit?”

The group of people suddenly fell silent.

Seeing that she was about to leave, someone mustered up the courage to ask, "It's the boss's birthday, shouldn't our secretarial office do something to celebrate?"

Lin Mi: "No need, the boss doesn't celebrate his birthday."

"OK."

Li Mushi doesn't celebrate his birthday, and even his grandparents can't persuade him otherwise.

On Christmas Eve, Jingge received her bonus from the company in advance and bought a strawberry pink car.

This was the first big reward she gave herself after she started earning money.

While passing by the mall, Jingge saw that there was a discount on shoes, so she picked out a pair for herself. The promotion was buy one get one free, and after looking around, she chose a men's pair for the free one.

It was for Prince Jing.

Xiao Zhang and Mei Ying were urging her in the group chat that it was Xiao Ai's birthday, and they were going out for a nice meal, splitting the bill, as a way to celebrate Xiao Ai's birthday.

Since the group finished work at different times, they agreed to meet at a restaurant.

Jingge arrived last and took a detour to the dessert shop to pick up the cake she had ordered in advance.

As a result, while carrying the cake to the parking lot, they bumped into Uncle Zhang and Li Mushi.

The three of them stared at each other, big eyes meeting small eyes.

It was a cold Christmas Eve, but the atmosphere was lively, with Christmas carols echoing through the streets and alleys.

Uncle Zhang rubbed his hands together: "By myself? Didn't I make plans with any friends?"

"We made plans," Jing Ge said shyly, "to meet at the restaurant, but I need to buy something, and also get a cake..."

Uncle Zhang exclaimed, "I'll still buy a cake; Third Master doesn't celebrate his birthday..."

At this point, Uncle Zhang looked at his boss, trying to plead for her: "Please accept the young lady's kind offer."

Jing Ge: "......"

We're doomed!!!

What a huge misunderstanding!!!

Li Mushi always wears a British-style outfit, a long cashmere coat paired with a three-piece suit. It's the same every time, yet he always looks stunning.

There's a saying that's true: fashion is simple, and aesthetics are priceless.

The parking lot streetlights were not bright enough, and the man's shadow loomed large, easily covering Jing Ge.

Li Mushi's voice was indifferent: "For me?"

Jing Ge: "......"

Hurry! You blockhead, come up with an excuse!!!

Clearly, she wasn't as quick-witted as Li Mushi. The man extended his hand to her: "Thank you."

Jing Ge: "".

It's not that she doesn't want to, it's just that Christmas Eve cakes are extremely difficult to order, and she had already informed the group in advance that she would order the cake herself.

Jingge looked up with a pitiful expression: "Uncle—"

Li Mushi looked down and locked his gaze on her.

Jing Ge paused for a moment, then said obsequiously, "Isn't your birthday tomorrow?"

“You’re mistaken,” Uncle Zhang corrected, “It’s today.”

"......"

You have such a good memory!

Jingge, on the verge of tears, said, "Ah, I really remembered it wrong."

"So," Li Mushi withdrew his hand, "it wasn't for me?"

Uncle Zhang: "?"

Jing Ge's face turned completely embarrassed: "Can I sing you a song?"

Li Mushi put one hand in his pocket and surprisingly didn't refuse: "Sing."

"..." Jingge's steps were gone. Standing in the cold wind of Christmas Eve, he racked his brains for a while before finally speaking, "Christmas Eve, we'll spend it together, we won't eat apples, okay..."

Uncle Zhang couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing.

Jing Ge's voice weakened and then stopped.

Spare her, oh, spare this poor child.

A cold wind whistled past.

After a few seconds of frozen silence, Li Mushi took out his hand and clapped three times expressionlessly: "Very nice."

"......"

Her phone kept ringing with message notifications; it was probably Mei Ying and the others urging her.

Jing Ge licked his lips: "Uncle, look, I bought a car, isn't it nice?"

Li Mushi glanced at it and said, "Hmm."

"Uncle, I'll be going now," Jing Ge said, changing the subject. "Happy birthday, may you have many more birthdays to come."

It's like a birthday celebration.

After placing the cake in the passenger seat, Jing Ge suddenly noticed the apples meant to be given as gifts and quickly looked up, saying, "Uncle, please wait a moment."

Among a pile of beautifully packaged apples, Jing Ge picked out four of the prettiest ones, gave one to Uncle Zhang, and gave the remaining three to Li Mushi.

"I wish you a peaceful Christmas Eve," she said earnestly, "and a happy 30th birthday."

Li Mushi glanced down at the three gift boxes in his hand, then returned one to her, saying, "Thank you—"

"But I'm 29."

Jing Ge: "".

When they arrived at the restaurant, Mei Ying and the others were already getting impatient.

Jingge said with lingering fear, "You have no idea what I went through!"

Xiao Ai asked curiously, "What?"

Jingge handed her the cake, saying, "I met someone who shares your birthday."

“...What’s so surprising about that?” Xiao Ai said speechlessly. “A considerable number of people are born and die every day.”

Mei Ying: "It's a birthday, what's with all this talk about dying?"

Xiao Zhang returned from the restroom with excited eyes: "Let me tell you, there's a handsome guy over there!"

Handsome men are a rare resource, and the other three all turned to look over.

Two tables apart, by the window, the elegant and dimly lit restaurant was bathed in the glow of neon lights outside, creating an atmosphere that was both mysterious and impressive.

Li Zhan and Zhuo Yueyue were sitting there.

Fan Mingjie and others were also present.

As if sensing the commotion, Li Zhan looked over with a lingering smile on his lips.

They just happened to be facing off like that.

Jingge had already looked away.

Li Zhan's smile froze.

"Holy crap, he's so handsome," Xiao Zhang muttered. "The only one who can outshine him is your uncle."

Xiao Ai's eyes lit up with excitement: "I want to get their contact information..."

Jing Ge interrupted her, "Don't go. He's not single. The one next to him is his girlfriend."

Mei Ying nodded: "That woman has a grudge against the princess."