Chapter Eight
As the year draws to a close, the company gets busy, and Xing Bei becomes the king of slacking off at work, turning into a workhorse who often works overtime until around 10 p.m.
Since the last business trip when she didn't inform Lu Runxu, she would send her a message every ten minutes before the end of the workday to ask when she would get off work. Even during her work breaks, she would take the time to send a message to ask if she had eaten on time.
Even when she worked late, Lu Runxu would still wait for her downstairs at her company.
The first few times I came to pick her up from get off work, I would make up awkward excuses to cover up my purpose. Seeing that she didn't say anything or refuse, I would bring her some late-night snacks every time I came.
Sometimes when he got off work early, Lu Runxu would bring her a durian cake from the West Suburbs Royal Kitchen, which was her favorite.
Seeing that he couldn't stand the smell of durian but had to pretend nothing was wrong, she would deliberately wave the cake in front of him.
I don't know how Lu Runxu found out she liked sunflowers, but every two or three days she would receive a small bunch of sunflowers at her desk.
Winter is the peak season for camellias, and two different varieties of camellias have appeared in the house at some point. It must have been Lu Runxu who did it when he had nothing else to do.
After working overtime for a week, Xing Bei finally finished the project. She packed up her things at her workstation and prepared to go home to catch up on sleep, but Chi Qingtang put his arm around her shoulder and took her out for drinks.
As soon as she reached the bottom of the stairs, Chi Qingtang suddenly slowed down. Her gaze immediately fell on a tall, slender man in a black suit not far away, who was holding a bunch of blue star mint flowers and leaning lazily against the Maybach.
The man's features were exquisite and three-dimensional, with deep black eyes and a high nose bridge. He exuded a noble and aloof temperament. His face was clearly a gift from God.
"Who in our company is so talented that they found such a heavenly boyfriend? I'm so envious," Chi Qingtang whispered, linking arms with Xing Bei.
The man leaning against the car also noticed the gaze from not far away. He looked in the direction of the gaze and met Xing Bei's eyes. A smile instantly appeared on his face as he walked towards her with the flowers in his arms.
Xing Bei stood at the company entrance watching his slow figure, and for some reason had a bad feeling.
Her gaze swept over the excited Chi Qingtang beside her. She knew about Zhou Xuzhe's breakup, but she hadn't had a chance to tell her about his marriage certificate with Lu Runxu.
Chi Qingtang excitedly grabbed Xing Bei's hand: "A handsome guy is walking towards us. Could it be that my luck with love has finally arrived?"
As Xing Bei watched the figure getting closer and closer, her hand holding the bag tightened involuntarily. This scene seemed so familiar.
Looking at that familiar figure, she couldn't help but recall the day she graduated from university. A person wearing a mask and a white shirt came to give her flowers. At the time, she thought it was a classmate and they even took a Polaroid photo together.
Lu Runxu is from the school next door. They don't know each other and have no interaction, so it's unlikely to be him.
Seeing that the other party had a clear objective, even the slow-witted Chi Qingtang realized that something was wrong.
She suddenly leaned close to Xing Bei's ear and whispered in a slightly threatening tone, "Mingzhu, tell me honestly, is this man your new boyfriend?"
Xing Bei didn't answer. She looked up at Lu Runxu, who was getting closer and closer. The man's exquisite features were right in front of her. His dark eyes held a hint of a smile, which gave him a nonchalant air.
"Mingzhu, I've come to pick you up from get off work." Lu Runxu smiled and handed her the Blue Star Mint drink, glancing casually at the dumbfounded person beside him.
Xing Bei took the flowers and felt the person beside her tighten their grip on her clothes. She turned her head and saw that the person who had just been excited was now looking at them with a look of horror.
What kind of expression is that on Chi Qingtang's face?
At this moment, Chi Qingtang felt as if the sky had fallen. She felt that the figure leaning against the car was familiar, but then she thought that they were still a bit far from the city center, so it couldn't be the person she was thinking of, and she dismissed the idea.
It wasn't until Lu Runxu stood completely in front of them that Chi Qingtang realized she shouldn't have doubted her first instinct; she had actually doubted that the flawless face wasn't Lu Runxu's.
But the most important thing now is why he's here, and why he's giving flowers to his best friend, saying he's here to pick her up from get off work.
Chi Qingtang gently tugged at the sleeve of the person beside her and whispered, "Sister, pinch me quickly. Am I hallucinating because I've been working too hard lately?"
Lu Runxu looked at them and chuckled, "I'm not hallucinating. I'm just here to pick Xing Bei up from get off work."
Chi Qingtang smiled wryly as she looked at Xing Bei beside her, and Lu Runxu followed suit, his gaze returning to Xing Bei. Receiving two gazes simultaneously, Xing Bei paused, momentarily sensing the subtle shift in the atmosphere around her.
She coughed awkwardly, "This is my best friend. I suppose you two know each other without needing an introduction."
Chi Qingtang smiled helplessly: "Yes, yes, who doesn't know the famous President Lu?"
Lu Runxu maintained a smile on his face, but his gaze on her was exceptionally intense, and the person beside him was also looking at her with a gossipy expression.
At this moment, both of them seemed to be demanding recognition and status.
But how could she tell Chi Qingtang about this relationship? Her current state with Lu Runxu was like skipping the dating phase and going straight into a married couple relationship with an additional short-term contractual relationship.
After struggling internally for a moment, Xing Bei sighed softly: "Lu Runxu, the blind date I told you about before is currently a legally married couple."
Chi Qingtang swallowed hard. Although she had expected their relationship to be unusual, the sudden marriage was still a bit unexpected.
She took Xing Bei's hand and asked cautiously, "Best friend, tell me honestly, was this voluntary? Dating is one thing, but how did you suddenly get a marriage certificate?"
Lu Runxu frowned slightly when he heard her doubtful tone.
Seeing Xing Bei's slightly parted lips, a faint smile curved her lips: "Chi Qingtang, you don't have to doubt me like that, making me sound like some kind of monster."
Chi Qingtang looked up at him, silently complaining in her heart: Isn't he a monster? A fox spirit, who just kidnapped her best friend like that.
Lu Runxu ignored her, walked to Xing Bei's side, and naturally took her hand, interlocking their fingers. He glanced at the blush spreading across the ears of the person beside him, and his smile deepened: "Chi Qingtang, we have something to do, so we'll take Mingzhu with us first."
Chi Qingtang looked up at the two people with their arms crossed, and dared not object: "Alright, I won't disturb you two anymore."
After saying that, she quickly ran away, but after walking a short distance, she looked back one last time.
Lu Runxu led Xing Bei to the car, tilting his head slightly as he listened to the conversation, his eyes crinkling as if filled with gentle moonlight.
Although the news of their sudden marriage shocked her, she honestly said that the two were quite well-matched, judging from their relationship.
With Lu Runxu's qualifications, he's far superior to Zhou Xuze.
The older generation is right. When dating, you can choose someone you like, but when it comes to marriage, you should listen to your family's advice. Even if it's not someone you like, it's still for your own good.
Inside the car, Lu Runxu looked at the person replying to the message and teased, "I thought you were going to say we were just friends, but this time you're so generous in giving me a formal title. Did you do something wrong?"
Xing Bei's fingertip paused on the phone screen for a few seconds: "..."
She wondered who had been staring at her with such a direct look. If she didn't say anything, who knew what kind of trouble they would cause in a moment?
Besides, their marriage is a fact. Even if she doesn't say it, given Lu Runxu's boastful nature, it will be exposed sooner or later. It's better to be honest sooner rather than later.
On the day they got their marriage certificate, Lu Runxu openly announced her on his WeChat Moments. His family and friends certainly knew about her, so she had no need to hide anything from her close friends.
"Even if I don't tell you, you won't tell me, will you?" Xing Bei leaned back in her chair and asked him lazily.
Lu Runxu chuckled, raised his eyebrows, and said with obvious pleasure, "That's true."
Seeing the unfamiliar scenery outside the window, Xing Bei looked at him in confusion: "This isn't the way back to Platinum Mansion, where are we going?"
Lu Runxu stared intently ahead: "Look at the new house."
"A new home?" Xing Bei looked out the window, puzzled. "What new home?"
Lu Runxu didn't answer. Soon the car stopped at Zhuqing Bay. When she saw the small villa in front of her, she realized what Lu Runxu meant by looking at the new house.
She initially thought it was just talk, but it turns out she's actually planning to move.
Lu Runxu smiled and took her hand, leading her inside: "I came here before and thought you might not like the interior design, so I had someone redo it."
Xing Bei glanced around the small courtyard. The path leading to the front door was paved with pebbles, with grass on both sides. Yellow lights were stuck to the walls, and many plants were planted at the base of the walls.
The interior decoration is almost identical to that of Platinum Tianfu, and a bar counter was specially built near the kitchen.
The walls were covered with bottles of wine, and apart from the dining room and living room, the rest of the rooms were lit with simple lamps.
It's the kind of romantic atmosphere she really likes when she lives alone.
Lu Runxu then led her upstairs. The staircase was a duplex staircase, which she liked. Her room was on the left, and the interior decoration style was creamy.
Even the windowsill was covered with a soft pink cushion; every part of the house was decorated to her aesthetic standards.
"Do you like it?" he asked.
Xing Bei looked around and was satisfied with everything: "Very good, I almost suspect you have mind-reading abilities."
Lu Runxu leaned against the wall and said casually, "As long as Mrs. Lu likes it."
It turned out that he had said he was busy a few days ago because he was making plans for the renovation here. She thought she had made him angry and that he didn't want to see her anymore.
It was a false alarm.
She was still a little curious whether things had really come to this point.
Xing Bei looked at the people on the side and said, "Even if it's just to appease Auntie, there's no need to renovate the whole place."
“Who told you I did this to appease my mom?” Lu Runxu looked at her and smiled slightly, gently brushing the stray hairs behind her ear. “Even if my mom hadn’t said anything that day, I was still planning to move here. A home should be a place where you can live comfortably.”
"But……"
Lu Runxu interrupted her, placing his index finger on her lips, saying, "No buts, Mrs. Lu, please take a look and see what else needs to be modified."
As he pushed her along, she felt a mix of emotions. Turning her head to watch Lu Runxu introduce each place, she smiled helplessly and said, "Everything is fine, there's no need to change anything."
Lu Runxu smiled at her and led her downstairs: "Okay, we'll move in in a few days once this place is completely renovated."
Xing Bei: "Aren't you moving the stuff from Platinum Rui's place over here?"
Lu Runxu shook his head: "Just move the important things over. We can leave the daily necessities there. Sometimes when we're busy, we can stay there for a while."
Xing Bei nodded without saying anything.
They've both been very busy lately and haven't had time to restock the refrigerator, so they'll have to make do with eating out for dinner tonight.
After dinner, seeing that the snow outside the window had stopped, Xing Bei took him for a walk outside. The snack cabinet at home was almost empty, so they bought some snacks to stock up.
After spending a lot of time with Lu Runxu without realizing it, Xing Bei found that he had spoiled her taste, and she actually thought that the food outside was not as good as what Lu Runxu cooked.
Most importantly, she discovered that she had actually gained weight. Her physical condition wasn't very good, and it was usually difficult for her to gain weight.
Even though I ate so much nutritious food with my parents during the Lunar New Year, I didn't gain weight as quickly as I did when I was with Lu Runxu.
She always remembered that she spent almost half of the winter in the hospital. This winter was much colder than last year, and she hadn't been to the hospital even once.
The person beside her held her hand tightly in his pocket. Xing Bei looked up at Lu Runxu, a faint smile appearing on her lips.
Sometimes a thought only lasts a moment, and she thought—
I wish they really did that.
Lu Runxu noticed the smile on her lips out of the corner of his eye and tightened his grip on her hand.
The sky grew increasingly dark, the streetlights came on one by one, and the snow that had stopped began to fall again.
As Xing Bei watched the snowflakes dance in the air, she felt that this year's snow scene was the most beautiful she had ever seen in the years she had lived in Chanjing.
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