Chapter 2: Meeting Keke Again, I Want You to Love Me.
Yuwu slept very restlessly that night.
In her bizarre dream, memories flashed by frame by frame—shy, happy, sad, devastating—and finally, the image of being nailed to the pillar of shame, a memory she never wanted to recall.
Yu Wu crouched on the ground, unable to breathe as if her neck were being strangled. Ke Yanchen's friends threw stones at her, and the deafening laughter from all around drowned her out.
"Her? How could she possibly be worthy of liking Ke Yanchen?"
"A toad trying to eat swan meat!"
"Do you know that Ke Yanchen called you a slut?!"
"She's so desperate for a man, she's seduced this slut!"
"Bean eyes, you little turtle! Hahahaha!"
The overwhelming sense of shame completely shattered her, leaving her unable to even maintain the most superficial semblance of pride.
Tears streamed down her face, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't straighten her spine.
In the blurry light, she saw Ke Yanchen standing arrogantly to the side, looking at her with a cold gaze that pierced her heart.
It's like looking at a stranger.
My heart clenched and I paused, then I woke up from my dream, feeling the dampness on my pillow.
She sniffed, tears welling in her eyes, and slowly sat up, hugging her knees.
The dark room was silent and still.
Mingming, it's been so long since I've dreamed about those things.
He brought her overwhelming pain, yet she completely forgot about it.
*
Yuwu couldn't fall asleep again.
I sat leaning against the headboard, slowly watching the sky outside the window gradually turn white, and the distant sun slowly rising.
Yu Wu made plans to have dinner with her friend Zan Ya today.
She tidied herself up and went to the restaurant ahead of time.
The restaurant had a tranquil atmosphere, with sunlight gently caressing a corner of the table and the quiet sound of a piano playing. Yu Wu sat by the window, her fingertips lightly rubbing the rim of her glass, gazing absently at the clear blue sky outside.
I don't know if returning to Nanhai City was the right decision.
"Hey, you're Yuwu, right?"
Yu Wu looked up and saw a man in a flamboyant floral shirt with a sly smile on his lips. He continued to introduce himself: "I'm Ye Ren, a good brother of Ke Yanchen. Ke Yanchen, the one you went on a blind date with yesterday."
Yu Wu recognized Ye Ren, but he didn't recognize her.
Yu Wu politely asked, "Hello, is there something you need?"
Ye Ren pointed to a table not far away, where two brightly dressed women were sitting. "My friend Yuan Yin said that she and you were high school classmates and invited you to come and sit down."
Yu Wu followed the gaze and saw Yuan Yin and Song Man staring at her with haughty postures and unfriendly looks.
She smiled politely and said, "No, I have an appointment."
Ye Ren showed no embarrassment at being rejected. He winked ambiguously and said, "Sorry to bother you."
Ye Ren returned to his seat, while Yu Wu lowered her head and took a sip of water, but her mind was far from at peace. She got up and headed towards the restroom.
...
Just as Yuwu was about to open the toilet stall door, she heard two untimely voices.
"How did she end up getting involved with Ke Yanchen again?"
"They said they met through a blind date. How come her family is so rich now?"
"So what if she's rich? Does she think she can step on our heads? It's ridiculous. After all these years, she still likes to seduce men."
Do you think she remembers those things from high school?
The sound stopped abruptly the moment Yu Wu opened the stall door. She glanced at the two of them, then walked to the sink and squeezed out some hand soap as if no one else was there.
Song Man rolled her eyes, lowered her head to play with her pretty nails, and nudged her little follower Yuan Yin with her elbow.
Yuan Yin cleared her throat and said warmly, "Hey Yu Wu, aren't you being a bit rude? We're old classmates, how come you don't even say hello when you see each other?"
Yu Wu paused in washing her hands, then turned her head to gaze intently at her: "Are we that close?"
Yuan Yin's eyes widened, but she pursed her lips tightly to suppress her anger, then said sourly, "That's true, now that your family is rich, you look down on us old classmates. I heard you went on a blind date with Ke Yanchen yesterday?"
Yu Wu calmly replied, "What's it to you?"
"You!" Yuan Yin's eyes blazed with fury, completely abandoning all pretense of civility: "I see you've truly forgotten the pain of your past wounds! You've forgotten the days when you were shamefully humiliated at school! I'm warning you, don't covet what doesn't belong to you!"
Yu Wu stood there, her eyes indifferent.
Song Man finally slowly raised her eyes, a mocking smile on her lips: "I'm also warning you, if you dare to covet Ke Yanchen, I'll make you fall a thousand times, ten thousand times worse than last time."
Yu Wu didn't reply, and Song Man and Yuan Yin took her silence as weakness. They gave a smug snort and walked out, but the moment they pushed open the door, they heard a clear, cold laugh behind them.
The two sisters turned to look at Yuwu, who was wiping water droplets with a paper towel. She raised her eyelashes, her eyes flashing coldly as she stared directly at the two sisters in the doorway, then suddenly smiled: "Then let's give it a try."
The atmosphere was tense.
The two sisters exchanged a glance, both looking astonished. Yuwu used to be so easy to bully; she was nothing like this prickly woman she was now.
Yu Wu finally finished wiping her hands and walked over to the stunned Yuan Yin and Song Man as if no one else was there, brushing past Yuan Yin's shoulder as she passed by.
"May I pass by?"
Yuan Yin reacted quickly, yelling at Yu Wu's retreating figure, "Damn it! Yu Wu, what the hell are you so arrogant about?"
Yu Wu ignored him.
*
When I got back to my spot, Zan Ya had already arrived.
Zan Ya noticed that Yu Wu's expression was not good and asked what was wrong.
Yu Wu gave a brief explanation and said softly, "It's alright, let's eat first."
As the two began their meal, Yu Wu constantly felt a burning gaze upon her from behind.
She turned her head to look, and sure enough, Yuan Yin and Song Man were glaring at her.
She knew that some things were unavoidable.
......
Yu Wu and Zan Ya went shopping again in the afternoon.
When they parted, Zan Ya hugged Yu Wu and whispered, "I will always be with you, don't be afraid."
Yu Wu gave a bitter smile and nodded.
It was already eight o'clock when I got home.
She was just about to take a shower when her mother, Ye Hongmian, called.
“Sigh, Ke Yanchen is such a good kid. Why did you refuse? You just returned to Nanhai City, so you may not understand. Apart from the three great families in the north of the city, his family is the most powerful enterprise in Nanhai City, with assets of tens of billions! To be honest, we are even a bit above our station.”
“You know how tough it is to be poor. If you marry into a wealthy family, you’ll never have to worry about food or clothing for the rest of your life.”
"Besides, I've inquired about his family; his mother is gentle and easy to get along with. I still want to find you a good husband so your life will be easier..."
"Mom, I've changed my mind."
"What?"
“I also think that Ke Yanchen is a very good choice.”
"Hey!" Ye Hongmian's laughter came through the phone. "Okay, okay! As long as you like it, anything is fine!"
Yu Wu chatted with Ye Hongmian for a while before hanging up the phone. After tidying everything up, she lay in bed, feeling empty inside.
Yu Wu forced herself not to think about those things, as she was going to report to the company tomorrow.
*
I was awakened by the chirping of birds outside the window in the early morning; Yuwu got up early.
Today is Yuwu's first day at work.
Her parents used to work for a listed company in another city and had accumulated enough connections over the years. So when she was in her senior year of high school, they returned to Nanhai City to start their own company. Over the years, the Yu Group has gradually grown and is preparing to go public within the next five years.
After graduating from university, Yu Wu worked for a foreign company in Dongning City. Because her parents had worked too hard for many years, they both fell ill this year. Yu Wu resigned from her job to return home and take care of them.
After a serious illness, the parents handed over the company to Ling Xiao, a senior executive of a listed company and their college classmate, and stepped down from the front line.
Perhaps due to her age and the leisure time she had after retiring from the spotlight, Ye Hongmian focused more on Yu Wu's marriage, which annoyed Yu Wu to no end.
...
Yu Wu arrived at the company very early and waited outside Sister Ling's office.
A moment later, a short-haired woman in a business suit walked over. She had simple features, rarely smiled, and wore light makeup, giving her a capable and reliable appearance.
Yu Wu quickly stepped forward to greet him.
Sister Ling raised an eyebrow and nodded. "Come in with me."
Once in the office, Sister Ling put down her bag and, while tidying up the files on her desk, said, "Your mother has already told me about your resume and qualifications. She intends to groom you as the heir to the Yu family business. So, are you confident?"
Yu Wu smiled and said, "I have confidence, but I still need to hone it."
Sister Ling nodded: "That's good. I plan to arrange for you to rotate through different positions first, so you can get more familiar with the company's business. Start with Marketing Department 1. Any objections?"
"No."
"Take these documents with you. Secretary Zhang will take you to your workstation when you leave."
“Okay.” Yu Wu took the documents and turned around.
"Yu Zi," Sister Ling called softly.
The gloomy mist turned back.
"Keep up the good work." She gave her an encouraging smile.
Yu Wu smiled and said, "Okay."
*
Secretary Zhang led Yu Wu to her seat, briefly introduced the staff, exchanged a few words with the marketing manager, and then left.
The marketing manager was a slightly overweight man in his early thirties surnamed Liu. He walked up to Yu Wu with his hands behind his back, a contemptuous smile on his lips, and snorted coldly, "Do a good job." After saying that, he turned and left without a word.
Yu Wu's identity wasn't widely publicized; no one knew she was Ye Hongmian's daughter. Furthermore, she joined the company without an interview, suggesting the marketing manager likely saw her as a pretty face with connections.
Yu Wu didn't pay much attention and sat down to study the documents in her hands.
After a busy morning, it was lunchtime. Yu Wu glanced around and saw that her hardworking colleagues had all left. She went to the cafeteria on the first floor for a quick meal. She didn't take a lunch break and continued studying client information.
Around 5 p.m., someone approached Yu Wu and said that someone was looking for her in the conference room.
Yu Wu went to the conference room and saw that familiar figure, her breath caught in her throat.
Ke Yanchen, dressed in a sharp, well-tailored suit, sat there with his back relaxed. Just sitting there, his imposing aura was like a sharp blade. Hearing the sound at the door, he slowly raised his head, his narrow eyes glancing at him with a slight upturn, his thin lips curving into a slight smile.
"Miss Yu, we meet again."
His voice was deep and pleasant, with a rising tone at the end, languidly blending together.
Yu Wu slowly sat down, her heart heaving slightly, and looked down as she flipped through the documents. "Hello, is there something you need?"
"I'll introduce you to some business."
He chuckled softly, a roguish smile playing on his lips: "Is it okay?"
Yu Wu was all too familiar with that roguish smile. She slowly raised her eyelashes to look at him, pursing her lips: "Okay."
Ke Yanchen slid the documents from the desktop to Yu Wu's side, "They're perfect for your company."
Yu Wu took the documents; it was an advertising request from a snack company. The requirements were relatively simple, and the profits were quite considerable. She closed the documents, looked at him, and said, "Thank you, I'll remember your kindness."
Ke Yanchen chuckled lightly, tapped the table, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes. "So, can you accept my friend request now?"
Yu Wu took out her phone and approved his application.
Would you have the pleasure of having dinner with me tonight?
Yu Wu panicked for a moment, but he remained unreserved, staring directly at her with eyes that said four words: "I am determined to win."
Yuwu finally agreed.
Ke Yanchen waited for her downstairs. Yu Wu went back to pack her things and submit the application according to the procedure. By the time she finished, it was already time to leave work.
After going downstairs and getting into his black Bentley, Yuwu still felt a sense of unreality.
The car interior was cramped, yet his scent permeated every nook and cranny; it was a dry, citrusy men's fragrance.
It overlaps with the citrus scent that haunts my dreams.
Yu Wu's heart was pounding erratically, but she tried her best to control herself, keeping her lips pressed together as she looked out the window.
Ke Yanchen drove intently, occasionally glancing at her with a faint smile. The smile held a perfunctory politeness that didn't reach her eyes.
Yu Wu knew him too well; she understood that his contact with her at this time was more for his own benefit.
*
Upon arriving at the quiet restaurant, Ke Yanchen was extremely courteous. He opened the door and let the ladies in first, and when they were seated and ordering, he let Yu Wu start first. During the meal, he took special care of Yu Wu's feelings, using serving chopsticks to select dishes and explaining the restaurant's specialties, etc.
The two talked about very little, in a casual and disjointed manner, mostly about their high school days.
Ke Yanchen, his thin inner folds slightly curved, chuckled lazily: "Before the division into arts and sciences classes, I spent some time in Class 7. I heard you used to be in Class 6, but later you got into Class 1 through the grade-level class division exam. Speaking of which, we were in neighboring classes back then."
Yu Wu wiped the corner of her mouth, lowered her brows, and gave a soft "hmm".
"Thinking back now, high school feels like such a long time ago." Ke Yanchen shook his head, picked up his cup, and took a small sip.
"Have you finished eating? Let me take you home."
Yu Wu nodded, stood up, and followed him outside.
After dropping Yu Wu off at the gate of the residential area, Yu Wu got out of the car, and Ke Yanchen also got out.
"Let's go, I'll watch you go in."
Yu Wu stared at him silently for a few seconds without blinking, then suddenly called out softly, "Ke Ke."
"What?" Ke Yanchen was briefly taken aback. Ke Ke was his nickname, known only to his closest relatives. How could Yu Wu, whom he had only known for a few days, know it?
Traffic flowed like a river, and a cacophony of sounds could be heard from afar. In the distance, neon lights stretched into blurry dots.
They stood there, as if in a secluded area.
Yu Wu looked at Ke Yanchen. He had a strikingly handsome face that could captivate anyone, with clear black and white pupils in his long, narrow eyes. His lazy smile was both roguish and mischievous. He could feign politeness and gentleness to deceive you, but in reality, he was proud and cold-hearted.
Her dark eyes welled up with tears, and she asked hesitantly, "May I hug you?"
"Of course." Ke Yanchen stepped forward and gently embraced Yu Wu's slender body.
Even his hugs were extremely restrained, gentle, and polite, just a half-hearted embrace.
Exactly the same as before.
Yuwu suddenly felt a strong urge to cry.
After a while, a deep, mellow male voice emanated from above Yu Wu's head.
Is it okay now?
His body was warm, his heart was strong, and his breath smelled wonderfully of citrus; it all felt so real. A lump formed in her throat, but she swallowed it back down with a sigh.
"Keke, I want you to love me." Her voice was soft, drifting in the air. As they parted, her warm breath brushed against his neck.
Before Ke Yanchen could react, Yu Wu silently gazed at him and smiled, looking particularly well-behaved.
The next thing she couldn't say was: I'd rather you hate me.
I just want to give you back all the pain and despair you brought me.
At this moment, Ke Yanchen did not understand that Yu Wu was declaring war on him.
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