parting again

After dealing with this matter, Lin Tingyue breathed a slight sigh of relief.

During the lunch break, Chi Zhuo sent me a message.

"Is it all taken care of?"

Lin Tingyue thought for a moment but didn't give a definite answer.

"Pretty much, but it should be fine."

Chi Zhuo: "Shall we eat out for dinner?"

Lin Tingyue was somewhat surprised: "Huh? Why?"

Chi Zhuo: "Let's improve the food."

Lin Tingyue looked at the address on her phone screen and couldn't help but laugh.

She had just replied with an "okay," a smile still lingering on her lips, when her assistant came in to deliver some documents.

Seeing her expression, I couldn't help but tease her: "Sister Yue, are you chatting with President Chi? You're smiling so sweetly."

She coughed lightly, then took the documents with feigned seriousness. "How are the preparations for the afternoon meeting going?"

"Everything is arranged. It starts at 3 PM and is expected to end at 5:30 PM." The assistant winked. "I guarantee it won't interfere with your date with President Chi."

Lin Tingyue shook her head helplessly, but a sweet feeling welled up in her heart.

-

Although it wasn't a major holiday, Lin Tingyue felt both nervous and excited, and couldn't wait to rush to the restaurant.

She stood in the company wardrobe for a long time, but couldn't find a suitable one. In the end, she decided to wear the one she was wearing.

She was about to touch up her makeup when her phone rang. It was Chi Zhuo.

"I'm downstairs."

She walked to the window and, sure enough, saw his black car parked across the street.

"I'm coming down right now."

Chi Zhuo didn't bring a driver today.

Lin Tingyue was a little surprised to see that the driver's seat was empty.

"Is it just the two of us today?"

Chi Zhuo took out a bouquet of pink roses from behind his back and handed it to her. "It's a date today, so let's not bring any third wheels."

Lin Tingyue sat in the passenger seat with the bouquet of pink roses in her arms, the faint fragrance of the flowers lingering in the air.

"It's so beautiful."

Chi Zhuo turned the steering wheel with one hand and drove into the traffic, a slight smile playing on his lips. "If you like it, that's good."

"However, I still don't understand why we suddenly decided to eat out?"

Chi Zhuo asked softly, "Does it have to be a reason?"

"It's not that... it's just that it doesn't seem like you," Lin Tingyue said honestly.

She and Chi Zhuo had spent so much time together, and they had almost always eaten a meal alone in silence. It felt strange that they were suddenly invited to dinner today.

The car slowly came to a stop at the red light at the intersection.

Chi Zhuo turned to look at her, his eyes deep. "If I had to give a reason, it would be that I want to see you."

Lin Tingyue was stunned and didn't know how to answer the question for a moment.

So she immediately fell silent.

But Chi Zhuo didn't give her a chance to remain silent, and continued to press, "What, you don't want to see me?"

Lin Tingyue's heart skipped a beat at his question, and her fingers unconsciously tightened.

“…How can you ask like that?” She turned her head to look out the window, her ears slightly burning.

Chi Zhuo chuckled softly and smoothly started the car when the light turned green. "So how should I ask?" His gaze remained focused on the road ahead, but his tone carried a hint of teasing. "How about you teach me?"

"Isn't President Chi the best negotiator?" She deliberately put on a stern face. "Does he need someone to teach him this kind of thing?"

“The negotiating tactics don’t apply here.” Chi Zhuo turned the steering wheel and swerved onto the side road. “To you, I only want to hear the most honest answer.”

Lin Tingyue lowered her head again. "What if I say I don't want to see you?"

Chi Zhuo tapped his fingers lightly twice on the steering wheel. "Then I'll turn around and take you back."

She turned to look at him in surprise.

He kept his eyes fixed ahead, his profile particularly clear in the twilight. "I never force anyone to do anything against their will."

Lin Tingyue felt a void in her heart, and as if in a fit of pique, she said, "Then... take me back."

"OK."

Without the slightest hesitation, Chi Zhuo made a U-turn at the next intersection.

When Lin Tingyue saw the car actually turn around and go back, her expression changed immediately. Chi Zhuo hadn't changed after all.

She dared not say another word, only turned her head away, feeling increasingly uncomfortable.

The car suddenly stopped, and Lin Tingyue asked in surprise, "Are we home?"

Chi Zhuo unbuckled his seatbelt, leaned in close, and stared intently at her.

"Lin Tingyue, I've brought you back."

Lin Tingyue glanced around at the surroundings, which were not very familiar to her; it was neither the company nor the apartment.

"Where...where is this?"

Chi Zhuo said in a serious tone, "I said I'd take you back, but I didn't say where. So naturally, I'll take you to wherever you said you wanted to come back."

The next second, Lin Tingyue realized something was wrong, and she was both angry and annoyed. "Chi Zhuo, you tricked me!" Her cheeks flushed slightly with anger, and she reached for her seatbelt. "I want to get out of the car!"

Chi Zhuo pressed her hand down first, a faint smile playing on his lips, "If you're sure you want to get off here, I'll kiss you."

"You dare!" she glared at him.

Chi Zhuo asked arrogantly, "Do you think I dare?"

Lin Tingyue believed that he really dared to do it.

“You were the one who said you didn’t want to see him first.” Chi Zhuo let go of his hand and fastened his seatbelt again. “I was just respecting your opinion. But that opinion is a bit off from reality, so I have to fix it.”

Lin Tingyue was speechless for a moment. It was true that she had said something against her will first, but now that he had outmaneuvered her, she felt even worse.

"snort."

She could only pretend to be angry, but she was actually happy inside, at least Chi Zhuo really didn't want to send her back.

"Alright, can we go eat now?"

Lin Tingyue turned her face away, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up slightly. "Who wants to eat with you?"

Chi Zhuo restarted the car, his tone relaxed: "Then you can just watch me eat."

“You…” She turned her head and met his smiling eyes, swallowing back the rebuttal that was on the tip of her tongue.

In the end, the car was driven back to the underground parking lot of the restaurant where it was originally booked.

This time, Chi Zhuo got out of the car first, walked around to her side to open the door for her, and his actions were more gentlemanly than before.

Lin Tingyue got out of the car carrying the bouquet of roses, deliberately avoiding looking at him, but quietly slowing her pace to wait for him to catch up.

The restaurant manager clearly recognized Chi Zhuo and led them directly to the reserved window seats.

This location offers an excellent view, overlooking the city's nightscape.

After ordering, Lin Tingyue finally couldn't help but ask, "Where is this place? It looks a bit out of the way."

Chi Zhuo paused slightly as he poured water. "Near where I lived when I was a child."

This answer surprised her. She had always thought that Chi Zhuo had grown up in a wealthy family.

“You never mentioned it.”

"There's nothing to mention." He said calmly, pushing the water glass in front of her. "It's all in the past anyway."

"Sorry, I don't know..."

“It’s alright.” Chi Zhuo interrupted her, his gaze falling on the night view outside the window. “It’s all in the past, and besides, I never care about these things.”

Lin Tingyue had always thought that Chi Zhuo was a perfect person from childhood to adulthood, but when she suddenly heard these words today, she was still shocked. It turned out that he also had a side that no one knew about.

The dishes were served one after another, all of them her favorite flavors. Lin Tingyue then realized that, without her noticing, Chi Zhuo had already figured out her dietary preferences.

But she still seemed to have a prejudice against him.

Chi Zhuo suddenly spoke, interrupting his thoughts, "Recently, I selected a few outfits for the changing season and have already arranged for them to be delivered to your apartment. You can try them on when you get back. If you like any of them, keep them; if not, I'll have them exchange them."

Lin Tingyue put down her fork and looked at him seriously: "Chi Zhuo, why did you suddenly..."

"Suddenly what?" He looked up at her, his gaze deep.

“Doing all this all of a sudden,” she said softly. “Dates, flowers, and… clothes…”

Chi Zhuo was silent for a moment, then suddenly chuckled softly: "Why do you think that is?"

Here we go again. He always does this, throwing the problem back at her.

Just as Lin Tingyue was about to speak, the restaurant lights suddenly dimmed.

A spotlight shone on the small stage in the center, and a violinist began to play a melodious tune.

It's that song, "Por Una Cabeza" (One Step Away).

As the music played, Chi Zhuo suddenly extended his hand to her: "Want to dance?"

Lin Tingyue looked at his hand, and her heart began to beat faster involuntarily.

"Here?"

“Right here.” His gaze was gentle yet firm.

She hesitated for a moment, but finally placed her hand in his palm.

His hands were warm and strong as he gently embraced her waist.

"Lin Tingyue," he suddenly whispered her name.

"Um?"

"If you want to see me in the future, you can just say so." His voice was tinged with laughter. "However, I may not be able to see you right away, but I can promise that I will get to your side as quickly as possible."

Lin Tingyue looked up and met his deep eyes. At that moment, she suddenly understood something.

"Chi Zhuo, you're not pursuing me, are you?"

He smiled slightly and pulled her closer: "What do you think?"

Lin Tingyue smiled slightly and remained silent.

After the song ended, the two sat down to eat again, and Chi Zhuo then told them about what had happened that day.

"Actually, my original plan was to take you to a place where I used to live, but something happened while I was waiting for you, so I'm afraid I'll have to go abroad for the next few days and won't be able to accompany you."

Lin Tingyue frowned. "Going abroad? So soon? Where are you going?"

"Yunhe. But don't worry, I expect to be back in two or three days. Just stay home and be good these few days. If there's anything you can't handle, leave it for me to take care of when I get back."

"Does it really have to be you?" She put down her knife and fork, her voice carrying a worry she herself didn't realize.

Yunhe is a country that frequently makes the news; not only is the political situation turbulent, but even security is not always guaranteed.

"Can't you just not go?"

“An important partner changed the negotiation location at the last minute.” Chi Zhuo’s tone was calm, as if he were just going to a neighboring city on a business trip. “Don’t worry, I’ve arranged everything.”

"I'm worried." Lin Tingyue gripped the cup tightly. "That's a place where a fight could break out at any moment. What if..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but her eyes were full of grievance.

On the way back to the apartment, Lin Tingyue wanted to tell him not to go several times, but in the end she didn't say it.

She knew Chi Zhuo; once he made a decision, he would never change it for anyone.

The car stopped downstairs at the apartment building, and Chi Zhuo walked around to the passenger side to open the door for her.

“I won’t go up.” He stood by the car door, his expression unreadable in the darkness. “My flight is at dawn, I have to go to the company first.”

Lin Tingyue grabbed his sleeve tightly. "So rushed? You've already packed your things?"

"I've asked Tingyuan to prepare."

Lin Tingyue stood there, clutching the bouquet of pink roses, almost in tears.

"Lin Tingyue," he called her, his voice a few decibels lower than usual.

The next second, Lin Tingyue was gently pulled into Chi Zhuo's arms, and a delicate kiss landed on her forehead, restrained and precious.

"Wait for me to come back."

You must come back.

"I'm waiting for you."