Chapter 77
"Mind if I sit here?"
Of course not.
After learning that Zhou Chengze in his past life chose to live a solitary life, Xiang Wan's feelings towards him remained complicated.
She remembered that the last time was also in a coffee shop, when Zhou Chengze apologized to her for his infidelity in his previous life.
Xiang Wan couldn't explain why, but she always felt that Zhou Chengze at this moment might already know about his choice to remain single in his previous life.
She looked into his eyes and chose to get straight to the point: "Zhou Xinyi seems to have also dreamed about her past life."
Upon hearing this, his eyelashes drooped: "Hmm, I think I guessed it."
She didn't say anything more, looking at the espresso in Zhou Chengze's hand across from her, somewhat surprised that his taste had changed.
The two remained silent for a long time, as if they had no more common topics to discuss when they were alone.
The waiter removed the coffee and tray from the table next to them, leaving only the two of them around again.
Xiang Wan lowered her head and stirred her coffee, then asked casually, "Why don't you tell me about how you were single in your past life?"
Zhou Chengze's smile was somewhat bitter, but he still spoke the truth: "I'm afraid that I will also let you down in this life."
"..."
When Xiang Wan heard this, her eyelashes trembled slightly.
Both of them lowered their eyes, not wanting the other to see their emotions. Zhou Chengze felt embarrassed, while Xiang Wan felt a sense of regret that things had changed and people were no longer the same.
After a while, Zhou Chengze looked at her and said somewhat abruptly, "Chen Yan is fine."
"I know."
"Be happy." His voice was unusually hoarse.
"I hope you are well too."
The atmosphere was initially somewhat somber, but Xiang Wan suddenly smiled when she saw the milk stains around Zhou Chengze's lips.
She had only ever seen Zhou Chengze, in both her lives, insist on ordering a glass of milk along with her coffee.
Seeing her laugh at him, he realized something, picked up a napkin from the side and wiped his face: "Is there any more?"
"there is none left."
Because of the brief interruption, the atmosphere suddenly became much lighter.
The two exchanged a smile, and Zhou Chengze looked at Xiang Wan and said, "Stop smiling."
"……good."
"Oh, right." He looked at her, as if he had suddenly remembered something, "There's a girl from the Economics and Management department next door who's pursuing Chen Yan."
Hearing that Chen Yan had suitors, Xiang Wan wasn't too surprised, and just smiled slightly: "Is that so?"
Until Zhou Chengze's next sentence came: "He just happens to be from our village."
Upon hearing that Chen Yan's suitor was from Lijiacun, Xiang Wan paused, her hand holding the coffee cup pausing for a moment: "What a coincidence, what's the girl's name?"
"You might not know her, her name is Li Xiaohua."
“Li Xiaohua…” Xiang Wan repeated the name unconsciously. Zhou Chengze did not realize that something was wrong with her. “Yes, she is the youngest daughter of our village chief.”
The name Li Xiaohua might not have been familiar to Xiang Wan before, but after witnessing Chen Ruilin's experiences in her previous life, the name left a deep impression on her.
She couldn't say she had any particular feelings for her, but when she learned that Li Xiaohua was pursuing Chen Yan, and that Chen Yan hadn't mentioned it to her, Xiang Wan was actually a little bothered.
But she hid it well on her face: "That's quite a coincidence."
"yes."
After finishing their coffee, the company's lunch break was almost over. Zhou Chengze returned to the publicity department, while Xiang Wan took the elevator to the president's office.
She was somewhat out of sorts for the rest of the day, but instead of asking Chen Yan about Li Xiaohua, she chose to pretend she didn't know...
*
On the other side, on the campus of Beiyi University.
Chen Yan was on his way back to the dormitory after class when Ni Zhen and Zhao Luyu were discussing with him where to have dinner that night.
"Chen Yan, the shark fin at Kaiyuan Restaurant is quite good."
Before Chen Yan could say anything, Ni Zhen was the first to object: "We've already been to that place, let's go eat Hainanese chicken rice on Friday instead."
"Ni Gou, do you want to go eat on Friday, or are you still thinking about that long-legged beauty you bumped into the other day?"
“Of course…” Ni Zhen gasped for breath midway, deliberately whetting Zhao Luyu’s appetite, “it’s for dinner.”
"Bullshit, I don't believe it anyway." Zhao Luyu then put his arm around Chen Yan's shoulder. "Chen Yan, do you believe it?"
Chen Yan glanced at the two of them indifferently: "I don't believe it."
“…” Ni Zhen clenched her fist and lightly punched his chest. “You’re really something, Chen.”
Chen Yan chuckled, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.
"Chen Yan—"
Upon hearing someone call Chen Yan's name, and recognizing the sweet female voice, Zhao Luyu and Ni Zhen exchanged a glance and looked at the owner of the voice with a mischievous grin.
Upon hearing the voice, Chen Yan simply turned around without moving forward, remaining standing and watching the other person.
Behind them, Zhao Luyu and Ni Zhen were gossiping about the two of them in hushed tones:
Who is this?
Aside from attending classes, Zhao Luyu has been mostly out doing business for the past two weeks, and he can't help but gossip when he sees unfamiliar faces.
Ni Zhen put her hand on his shoulder: "Li Xiaohua, a freshman in the School of Economics and Management, is quite famous, according to a guy from the School of Economics and Management. She should be considered the class beauty."
"Is she pursuing our aloof Brother Chen?"
"I've been pursuing her for about a month, and I confessed to her as soon as school started."
"I remember Chen Yan and Xiang Wan have already confirmed their relationship, right?"
"Yes, Chen Yan seems to have talked to this woman as well, but she insisted on being friends."
"Does Xiang Wan know about this?"
"Of course I don't know."
Zhao Luyu suddenly had a bad feeling: "I feel like something bad is going to happen."
Ni Zhen was somewhat skeptical: "How could that be?"
The two of them then fell silent, quietly observing their every move.
Under the sycamore tree, a man and a woman stood on a path covered with fallen leaves. The handsome man and beautiful woman were a sight to behold, enough to fill one with fantasies.
Of course, this is on the premise that the male lead doesn't show any hint of impatience.
"What's up?"
Even though she sensed the distance in Chen Yan's words, Li Xiaohua still smiled and said, "I was just wondering if you have time. We could have dinner together."
Chen Yan glanced to the side at his two childish roommates who were pushing each other around: "I've already made plans with my friends tonight."
"Can I join you, seniors?" Li Xiaohua turned to Zhao Luyu and Ni Zhen and asked with a smile.
Faced with the beautiful woman's invitation, Ni Zhen was about to say yes, but before he could even utter a word, Zhao Luyu pinched him from behind. He was in so much pain that he was cursing under his breath, but he pretended to be nonchalant.
Just as Ni Zhen was about to change his mind, Chen Yan preemptively refused, saying, "No."
After being rejected so many times, Li Xiaohua had become somewhat immune to his rejections: "Why?"
Chen Yan said this expressionlessly: "My girlfriend doesn't allow me to eat with other girls."
"..." Li Xiaohua was clearly somewhat embarrassed and left without saying a word.
As for the sycamore tree, Ni Zhen and Zhao Luyu couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Only after Li Xiaohua had been humiliated and walked away did the two of them hook their arms around his neck from behind and pull him forward.
"Wow, you're already henpecked before you're even married? That's impressive, Yan-ge." Zhao Luyu was the first to tease him.
Ni Zhen, in a high-pitched voice, repeated his words in a sarcastic tone: "My girlfriend... won't allow me to...
Zhao Luyu quickly joined his camp: "Other girls eating~~~~~hehehe—"
Chen Yan: "..."
After the two joked around, the three headed towards the dormitory, discussing which restaurant to go to next.
"Let's do as Ni Gou said and go eat Hainanese chicken rice on Friday."
Upon hearing this, Ni Zhen suddenly stopped and looked at the two of them, asking, "Is it alright?"
Chen Yan: "?"
After all, they had been roommates since high school, and Zhao Luyu quickly understood what Ni Zhen was up to. He said to Ni Zhen righteously, "No."
Ni Zhen pouted and asked, "Why?"
Zhao Luyu pouted at him and said, "My girlfriend doesn't allow me to eat with other girls!"
Chen Yan: "..."
Watching the two of them singing in harmony, he couldn't help but take two quick steps forward, afraid that passersby would think they were together.
Seeing him walk forward, the two people behind him quickly took a few steps to catch up with him, calling out, "Wait for us—Brother Chen Yan!"
Ni Zhen couldn't resist and started acting like a jerk again: "No."
Zhao Luyu suppressed a laugh and asked knowingly, "Why?"
"Because of my girlfriend! She won't allow me to wait for other girls!!"
"emmmmmmmm"
The two laughed so hard they were doubled over, still chasing after Chen Yan, until he suddenly started running, and then they started running after him again.
Three teenagers ran and laughed along the sycamore-lined avenue, as if they were having a race, none of them giving an inch...
*
Meanwhile, Xiang Wan sat in her office, reviewing documents alone.
Then there was a knock on the office door: "President Xiang, it's President Jiang from Shida Group."
Logically, when senior executives from two groups meet, they usually have their secretaries schedule the meeting to avoid one side having a full schedule.
If someone comes without an appointment, they are most likely someone you know personally and are visiting as a friend.
It just so happened that Secretary Huang wasn't there this afternoon, and the new secretary's assistant received them, so they were let in directly.
Upon hearing that Jiang Juncang had arrived, Xiang Wan also looked up from her documents and towards the door.
The office door was pushed open, and a man in a suit walked in, gesturing to her with the takeout food he was carrying.
Jiang Juncang was born with a cool and aloof appearance, and with the addition of a dark suit, his hormones were practically off the charts.
Xiang Wan was initially upset because of Chen Yan, but when she saw Jiang Juncang appear without her permission, she was a little confused, but she briefly forgot about her troubles.
She put down the documents in her hand and sat down opposite him: "What's this?"
Jiang Juncang took off his suit jacket and put it aside. He was only wearing a shirt and a suit vest indoors. It was early autumn, and he wasn't cold wearing just a shirt.
He rolled up his shirt sleeves, opened each box of food, and placed them in front of Xiang Wan. He introduced them to her one by one in order: "This is Zhai Ji's crab roe noodles, and also red bean sweet soup."
"This is saury with sauce, and also shrimp paste with steamed egg..."
After introducing the dishes, Jiang Juncang handed her the cutlery.
“My younger brother was taken care of by his aunt and uncle in Northern Europe. In addition, I heard from Zhuo Chun that you had survived many near-death experiences. I happened to be passing by your company, so I packed up and came to see you.”
Upon hearing the words "on the way," a knowing smile flashed in Xiang Wan's eyes.
Putting aside whether the Jiang family and the company were on the same route, Zhaiji and the company were in completely different directions. Saying it was on the same route was just an excuse; he came specifically for this purpose.
Moreover, it must have been his secretary who asked Secretary Huang about her schedule, and he just happened to come during her free time.
Although she had already rejected him, Xiang Wan didn't want to trample on Jiang Juncang's feelings, so she went along with him and said, "Then thank you for coming to see me."
She paused for a moment and then said, "Actually, the best dish at Zhai Ji is the red bean and lotus seed soup. It's not too sweet. You can try it next time."
Seeing that Xiang Wan didn't expose him, Jiang Juncang breathed a sigh of relief. Hearing her recommend desserts to him like a friend, he couldn't help but smile and say, "Okay."
In the office, the two ate their meal quietly, like old friends, and occasionally chatted about work.
After Jiang Juncang left, his secretary and assistant came in to tidy up the lunch boxes on the table, and then quickly left again.
Xiang Wan stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window in her office, looking down at the view of Bei Yi below. Feeling the vibration, she took out her phone from her pocket and glanced at it.
She received a notification that there was an unread message from Chen Yan, but she only glanced at it before locking her phone again.
Chen Yan: [Want to have dinner together tonight?]
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