Chapter 37 [37]
composure
The high-speed train sped along the tracks, its booming sound disturbing the night.
The carriage was unusually quiet until a deep male voice rang out: "Five minutes after departure, you've been grinning like an idiot at me for five minutes, and your back doesn't ache or your neck doesn't hurt?"
The egg-shaped seats were spacious, and the entire business class cabin contained only her and Lu Mingxiao.
Luo Qingyue turned to the side, resting her elbow on the armrest and cupping her face in her hands. She shook her head at Lu Mingxiao and said, "Such an outstanding person is now my boyfriend. I need to make this more real. You can do whatever you want and don't need to worry about me."
Business class seats offer complimentary snacks.
Lu Mingxiao picked up a bottle of yogurt, inserted a straw, and held it to Luo Qingyue's lips.
"You not only underestimate your own charm, but you also overestimate my self-control."
Overjoyed, Luo Qingyue smiled brightly and finished her yogurt in one gulp.
Suddenly remembering something, she asked Lu Mingxiao, "Are my eyes still swollen?"
Upon hearing Lu Mingxiao's confession, Luo Qingyue hugged him and burst into tears.
Of course she cried tears of joy, because she had waited for this moment for so long that she simply couldn't hold back her emotions.
Lu Mingxiao wiped away her tears with a tissue, and she patted his shoulder and replied, "Now you're mine. Don't worry, I'll definitely take responsibility for you to the end." Then, she was rewarded with a pair of swollen eyes.
In response to Luo Qingyue's question, Lu Mingxiao replied, "It's much better than when I first left the hotel."
He then added, "You still need to avoid overusing your eyes. Take a nap. I'll wake you up when we're almost there."
"I'm not sleepy."
Luo Qingyue took Lu Mingxiao's arm and rested her head on it. "However, I can close my eyes as you wish, but you have to answer one question for me."
Lu Mingxiao's cheek brushed against Luo Qingyue's hair: "When did I start liking you?"
Luo Qingyue suddenly opened her eyes: "You can read minds? You could even guess that."
Lu Mingxiao: "I've thought about this issue myself."
So, what's the answer? Luo Qingyue listened attentively.
"You have a fun and lovely soul. Every time I'm with you, I feel happy and comfortable. You help me forget some of my work troubles, and my life is subtly influenced by you."
"So, actually, it wasn't at a specific point in time; it just happened naturally that I developed feelings for you. Thanks to Li Heng, otherwise I wouldn't have realized that this feeling was love."
Lu Mingxiao's words were earnest and sincere.
As Luo Qingyue listened, it was as if a ceramic jar had been overturned, and honey was flowing into her heart, creating a pool of sweetness.
She opened a package of salted egg yolk fish skin, fed a piece to Lu Mingxiao, and teased him with a smile.
"Isn't the process of realizing this quite agonizing—I clearly only saw her as a younger sister, how did I fall in love with her? I'm so awful, I'm so guilty, but I can't live without her, what should I do, someone please save me!"
"You're better suited to be a screenwriter than an actor."
Lu Mingxiao chuckled, then changed the subject, "My biggest struggle is actually my age."
Luo Qingyue exclaimed "Ah!" and immediately sat up straight, staring at him with wide eyes: "You like relationships between older women and younger men?"
"no."
Lu Mingxiao was both amused and exasperated. "We're seven years apart, don't you mind at all?"
So that's what it meant.
Luo Qingyue leaned back in her chair and rolled her eyes in disdain: "You look like you were just dug out of a pile of antiques."
The next second, she said casually, "You're only seven years old. Do you think you can break the Guinness World Record? Let me tell you, there are plenty of people who are twenty or thirty years older than you. Compared to them, you're just a little brother."
Lu Mingxiao: "You haven't thought about this question."
Luo Qingyue answered affirmatively: "Not at all. I like you only because you are Lu Mingxiao."
After finishing the salted egg yolk fish skin, she took the wet wipe that Lu Mingxiao handed her: "From the first moment I saw you, I knew that I would win this person over sooner or later."
They first met more than three months ago.
Lu Mingxiao was somewhat surprised: "You've had feelings for me so early on."
"Otherwise, why would I ask you for your WeChat?"
Luo Qingyue answered matter-of-factly, "If you weren't the president of Mingyue, I wouldn't have come after the interview. I would have made a scene, cried, and even threatened suicide. What could my brother do about it? I just wanted to be closer to you."
Her affection for him far exceeded his expectations.
Lu Mingxiao put his arm around Luo Qingyue's shoulder: "So you asked me to fire you just to get my attention?"
Such domineering remarks from a CEO.
Luo Qingyue turned her head to look at him: "I really wanted to leave. How could I give up the whole forest for one tree?"
Lu Mingxiao smiled slightly: "Unfortunately, my personal charm is too great, and I managed to persuade you to come back."
"Don't flatter yourself."
Luo Qingyue glared at him, "I was just thinking about my colleagues who I spend every day with. I'm leaving, and I wonder how heartbroken they will be."
...
There are two more stations, namely Dongchuan Station.
Lu Mingxiao had originally asked Cheng Wang to come and pick him up, but he received a message from him instead.
"Cheng Wang said that when he was about to go out, he tripped over Nuomi, fell to the ground, and scraped his knee."
Lu Mingxiao handed his phone to Luo Qingyue. Cheng Wang said he couldn't come and told Lu Mingxiao to call a car himself.
Luo Qingyue first instructed Lu Mingxiao to show concern and inquire about Cheng Wang's injuries, and then suddenly had a brilliant idea: "Let's take the subway. The subway station is only one intersection away from Guanjiangyue, it's very close."
"But the subway is crowded, and you might not even get a seat."
Lu Mingxiao remembered that Luo Qingyue never liked such occasions, and she had been standing at the auto show all day.
"Today is different. We're just having a good time and sincerely invite people from all walks of life to witness our love."
Luo Qingyue took out an unopened mask from her bag and handed it to Lu Mingxiao, saying, "I trust you will protect me."
Their suitcases and sneakers were placed in the RV for Xiao Xie to take back, so they didn't have much luggage to carry on the subway.
Emerging from the high-speed rail station, one walks through the underground passage to the subway entrance, traversing a long corridor. Luo Qingyue holds Lu Mingxiao's hand, their clear silhouettes reflected on the polished floor tiles, their steps light and quick.
Putting aside their identities, fame, and status, they were just an ordinary young couple.
They blended into the crowd, and no one knew who they were. Now, they were having their first date since confirming their relationship.
After scanning the QR code to pass through the subway entrance gate, Lu Mingxiao put his arm around Luo Qingyue's shoulder and took the escalator to the platform.
It's 10 p.m., close to the time when the subway stops running. There are far fewer people than Lu Mingxiao expected, and it's relatively quiet.
Lu Mingxiao led Luo Qingyue to the middle of the platform and stopped in front of an empty safety door.
Lu Mingxiao glanced at the LED display screen; there were still three minutes until the next subway train arrived.
Some people, even when wearing a mask, cannot stop others from noticing them.
That's right, we're talking about Lu Mingxiao. After all, at 188cm tall, he's one of the best men.
Luo Qingyue didn't pay much attention at first, until two girls dressed in Lolita dresses stopped next to Lu Mingxiao.
"Take off your mask."
One of the girls dressed in black said, "We made a bet on whether you're a handsome guy or an ugly duckling."
It wasn't a discussion, it was an order.
Luo Qingyue suddenly realized that perhaps she had been out of touch with society for too long, and people nowadays were so impolite.
She had intended to say something to defend Lu Mingxiao, but unexpectedly, Lu Mingxiao intertwined his fingers with hers and held them up to show them.
Lu Mingxiao: "How did you know I just got a girlfriend?"
Another girl in pink yelled, "Who asked you!"
Lu Mingxiao: "Please remember, today is the first day my girlfriend and I have been together, a very special day."
Girl in black: "So what if you have a boyfriend? You think you're so great?"
Lu Mingxiao: "Yeah, I don't want to talk to single people."
The girls' faces were contorted with rage, and they cursed "crazy!" before leaving without hesitation.
The subway came to a stop at the platform. Lu Mingxiao took Luo Qingyue's hand and walked in. There were no empty seats, so Luo Qingyue grabbed the standing railing, looked into Lu Mingxiao's innocent eyes, and burst out laughing.
That scene just now reminded Luo Qingyue of those spirited boys from her student days, full of youthful energy, who would experience pure joy from receiving a response from a girl they liked, and couldn't wait to announce it to the world.
Who would have thought that behind the mask is the powerful and influential president of Mingyue? The contrast is just too strong.
In the following days, Luo Qingyue witnessed Lu Mingxiao announcing their relationship to people from all walks of life on the subway.
There was an elderly couple who gave up their seats to him, wishing them a long and happy life together, their eyes full of love; there was a cute five-year-old girl who threw a ball at him out of ignorance, and Lu Mingxiao said that as long as she said "I wish my older brother and sister eternal happiness", he would not tell her kindergarten teacher about it; he even remembered to send a message to Li Heng, and then Li Heng blocked him.
The subway station near Guanjiangyue is called "Guanjiangli," named after the street.
After scanning the QR code to pass through the exit gate, Luo Qingyue, with her sharp eyes, spotted a 24-hour self-service flower cabinet and quickly pulled Lu Mingxiao over.
It's getting late, and there are only five bouquets left to choose from.
Luo Qingyue's photo features a bunch of purple roses wrapped in black pearlescent paper, exuding a sense of luxury.
Lu Mingxiao took out his phone, just about to scan the QR code to pay, when suddenly Luo Qingyue snatched his phone away and paid with her own.
After paying, the cabinet door opened, and Luo Qingyue took out the bouquet of flowers and handed it to Lu Mingxiao along with her phone.
"When I was officially hired, you gave me a bouquet of sunflowers. In return, I bought you this bouquet today."
"Happy to be single, Xiao, the best in the world."
Being cared for, being cherished, my heart is filled with tenderness.
His eyes were a little sore, but Lu Mingxiao accepted the bouquet without hesitation: "Then I won't be polite."
Luo Qingyue smiled and replied, "If you're going to be so polite with me, then you're being too formal."
After exiting the subway station, I walked towards Guanjiangyue. There were hardly any people on the road, with only a few cars passing by occasionally.
Upon reaching the North Gate, the guardhouse was still lit up. Luo Qingyue swiped her access card and passed through the entrance gate. Lu Mingxiao then escorted her to the 20th building.
After taking off their masks and breathing in the fresh air, Luo Qingyue hugged Lu Mingxiao, and neither of them spoke first.
The night wind carried a chill.
Because it had just rained, the air was filled with the scent of grass, mixed with the fragrance of osmanthus.
Reluctantly, Luo Qingyue said, "Is this all you're taking me? Won't you come upstairs with me for a while?"
It's almost eleven o'clock.
Lu Mingxiao gently stroked Luo Qingyue's hair, "Your most important task right now is not to chat with me, but to go back, take a hot shower, and go to sleep."
Luo Qingyue emphasized, "I've asked for leave tomorrow, and Director Lin has approved it."
Lu Mingxiao held the flowers in one hand and put his arm around Luo Qingyue's waist with the other: "Then let's hug for another ten minutes."
As soon as he finished speaking, Luo Qingyue let go of his hand.
"You stingy little thing, go back to your Starlight Pavilion. I'm leaving, bye-bye."
Luo Qingyue didn't linger for a second, ran into the building, and quickly disappeared.
If she doesn't rest, Lu Mingxiao needs to rest too. That workaholic works from dawn till dusk, really.
Lu Mingxiao didn't leave immediately. He looked towards the location of Luo Qingyue's house until the lights came on.
He turned back towards the north gate, holding the bouquet in both hands. He brought it close to his nose, and the fragrance was so refreshing and delightful.
His girlfriend gave it to him, but who should he share it with? Lu Mingxiao looked at the security guard and put his mask back on.
The security guard was watching videos of the Yuanjiang Auto Show, where Lu Mingxiao was introducing the XS600. He was feeling sleepy, but that didn't stop him from listening with great interest.
The guardhouse window was open, and a figure landed down. The uncle looked up and instantly became alert.
"Is this bouquet pretty?" Lu Mingxiao asked from the window.
The security guard stood up and replied in agreement, "It's beautiful, exceptionally beautiful."
Lu Mingxiao hurriedly told him, "My girlfriend gave it to me."
The security guard complimented, "Your girlfriend is prettier than these flowers."
"You're such a smooth talker," Lu Mingxiao said, opening up: "We just started talking tonight at 6:57."
This was the exact time Luo Qingyue agreed to take responsibility for him; he remembered it very precisely.
The security guard congratulated him repeatedly, and Lu Mingxiao asked, "Are you hungry? I'll treat you to a late-night snack."
His idea was simple: if people were willing to spend time listening to him share, then he should give them something in return.
The security guard waved his hand and said, "I just ate a bowl of instant noodles, no need for you to spend money."
"Then next time."
Lu Mingxiao said, "My girlfriend lives in your neighborhood."
"Okay."
The security guard replied, "Please be careful on your way back."
Lu Mingxiao hummed in agreement and patted his shoulder: "Try to balance work and rest, don't overwork yourself."
Lu Mingxiao had only walked three or four meters forward when the security guard shouted at his back, "Mr. Lu, come here often in the future!"
Lu Mingxiao, who had thought he had disguised himself well but had been discovered, suddenly stopped in his tracks: "...?"
[Author's Note]
Moon: I told you not to show off so much, now people have found out!!! [Evil laugh][Evil laugh][Evil laugh]
Xiao: What exactly went wrong? [crying][crying][crying]
Li Heng: Even at a time like this, you still don't forget to annoy me! Block me! Block me!!! [Angry][Angry][Angry]
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