repeatedly tested
The exquisite paper bag with the luxurious logo felt hotter than a red-hot iron in Lin Tingyue's hands.
The probing, envious, and even slightly jealous gazes around her felt like fine needles, making her extremely uncomfortable.
"Yueyue! Tell the truth!"
Her colleague, linking arms with hers, exclaimed excitedly, her voice trembling, "How did you become Chi Zhuo's employee? And with these kinds of 'perks'? Oh my god! What's in here? Open it and see!"
Lin Tingyue suddenly snapped out of her daze, as if startled awake, and almost reflexively hugged the paper bag tightly to her chest, blocking out all curious gazes.
"N-nothing...it's just...something..."
She stammered, her cheeks burning, "Let's go back quickly, we have to go to work this afternoon!"
She practically dragged her still-excited colleague away from that suffocating place of trouble.
Throughout the journey, she didn't hear a word of her colleagues' questions and exclamations. Her mind was filled with Chi Zhuo's unyielding demeanor and his casual remark about "employee benefits."
Back at the company, she immediately stuffed the hot potato into the bottom drawer of her desk, as if it were some kind of contraband.
Even though it's invisible, its presence is surprisingly strong, constantly reminding us of that absurd scene from just now.
Lin Tingyue's work efficiency was zero for the entire afternoon.
The lines on the sketch were a mess, and her mind kept replaying every scene of Chi Zhuo walking out of the jewelry store, walking towards her, and forcibly stuffing the bag into her hand.
Why did he do that?
Humiliate her? Remind her of the vast difference between them in such an expensive way?
Or...is it really, as Xia Xiaoran said, a clumsy... gesture of goodwill?
The moment that thought popped into her head, she ruthlessly extinguished it.
Impossible! Absolutely impossible!
As soon as she got off work, she grabbed the paper bag and sneaked out of the company like a thief, heading straight for Xia Xiaoran's house.
"Quickly! Open the door!" she knocked on the door urgently.
As soon as Xia Xiaoran opened the door, she saw that the woman looked absent-minded and guilty, clutching a familiar luxury bag tightly in her arms.
"What's going on? Did Chi Zhuo summon you again?"
Xia Xiaoran let her in and closed the door.
Lin Tingyue threw the paper bag onto the sofa as if she had dropped a bomb, let out a long sigh of relief, and then immediately pointed at it, her voice excited: "Look! Look what he's done!"
Xia Xiaoran picked up the bag with a puzzled look, opened it, and instantly gasped.
Inside was a deep blue velvet jewelry box. The moment she opened it, even under the indoor lights, its dazzling brilliance almost blinded her.
It was an exquisitely crafted diamond bracelet. The main diamond was not large, but its clarity and cut were impeccable. It was surrounded by a densely set circle of small diamonds, which flowed with a clear and cool brilliance under the light. The design was simple yet extremely luxurious.
"Oh My God……"
Xia Xiaoran's hands trembled as she held the box, her voice trembling, "This...this is from Chi Zhuo?! 'Employee benefit'?! What company gives top-grade high-end jewelry as employee benefits?! He's kidding me!"
Lin Tingyue slumped onto the sofa, covering her eyes with her arm, utterly exhausted.
"Right downstairs in the company building, in full view of everyone, they practically forced it on me... I couldn't refuse... They even said they just happened to be passing by and thought it suited me..."
"Just passing by? Thinks it suits you?"
Xia Xiaoran repeated these words, her expression gradually shifting from shock to excitement and certainty. "It's confirmed! Yueyue! This is absolutely confirmed! This isn't revenge at all! This is blatant pursuit! Although the method is domineering and old-fashioned, it's definitely it!"
"Pursue?"
Lin Tingyue sat up abruptly, her voice rising, "Using this kind of forced buying and giving? He doesn't even know what I like! This is clearly the condescension of a rich person and a whim!"
"Would you go to the trouble of picking out jewelry for me on a whim? Or would you choose something that's obviously expensive, custom-made, or at least carefully selected?"
Xia Xiaoran pointed at the bracelet, "This is not something you can buy just by passing by! He must have ordered it a long time ago! He's just making an excuse to give it to you today!"
This analysis sent a chill down Lin Tingyue's spine.
Had it been ordered a long time ago? Had he planned to give her something all along?
"Moreover," Xia Xiaoran leaned closer to her, her eyes shining brightly, "considering his earlier question to you, 'Have you considered other possibilities?' Yueyue, this is practically a blatant indication! He's telling you in his own way that he's interested in you! That three thousand yuan debt has probably already become a thing of the past!"
Lin Tingyue's heart raced again. Xia Xiaoran's analysis was like a key, trying to force open the door she had always kept tightly closed, the door called "other possibilities."
"But...why?"
She still felt incredulous and bewildered, "Someone like him has everything he could want, why me?"
Just because of that night? Or do you think I'm more...funny?
She couldn't help but place herself in a humble and scrutinized position.
"If you could explain why love is something, then it wouldn't be love!"
Xia Xiaoran, with the air of a relationship guru, said, "Maybe it was your 'three thousand yuan' move that night that was so unique and hit him right on the head? Maybe he already knew you and had a crush on you?"
"Unrequited love?" Lin Tingyue shook her head with a wry smile, as if she had heard a fantasy. "Ranran, your imagination is really too rich."
How could she possibly have any interaction with someone like Chi Zhuo other than that night?
"No matter what!"
Xia Xiaoran pressed down on her shoulder, her tone becoming serious, "Yueyue, the situation is quite clear now. Chi Zhuo has most likely become interested in you. This isn't a bad thing, but it's definitely something that needs to be handled with extreme caution."
"Men of this caliber, their affections can be sweet, but they can also be poisonous. You can't afford to play that game."
Xia Xiaoran was unusually serious. "You need to figure out right now what your feelings for him really are?"
Lin Tingyue fell silent.
What are her feelings for Chi Zhuo?
Are you scared? Yes.
His powerful aura and unpredictable thoughts made her instinctively want to escape.
Dislike? It doesn't seem like it. Although he was domineering, he didn't seem to have really hurt her, and even... had subtly protected her.
Is your heart fluttering?
Her heart skipped a beat when she heard the word.
Is there?
When he announced "she is mine" at the banquet that night?
When he handed her the ointment?
When you see his figure galloping across the horse track and his profile in the twilight?
Or was it during his forceful "gift" just now?
It seems... there is a little bit.
That instinct to be attracted to a strong member of the opposite sex was mixed with curiosity and a touch of flustered surprise.
But this slight stirring of the heart seems so insignificant and dangerous in the face of enormous unease and a vast disparity.
"I have no idea……"
Lin Tingyue hugged her knees, buried her face in them, and said in a muffled voice, "I'm so confused... Ranran, I'm scared. I'm afraid that all of this is just a game he's playing, and that I'll lose badly in the end."
She can't afford to gamble.
Her family and her life were too fragile in front of Chi Zhuo.
Seeing her like this, Xia Xiaoran sighed and put her arm around her shoulder: "I understand. So, we need to find a way to take the initiative."
"The initiative?" Lin Tingyue looked up, her eyes a little red. "How can I take control? He's so domineering..."
“First of all, this thing,” Xia Xiaoran pointed to the bracelet, “can’t be accepted. At least not so ambiguously. You have to return it to him, be firm in your attitude, but be tactful in your approach, so as not to offend him.”
Lin Tingyue nodded; having this thing in her hands did indeed make her restless and unable to eat or sleep.
"Secondly, the next time he contacts you, whether it's for 'work needs' or 'needs a companion,' you can't always be the one to passively respond."
You have to probe, ask questions, and find a way to figure out his true intentions.
For example, if he asks, "Have you considered other possibilities?" you could counter with, "Mr. Chi, which possibility do you think I should consider?"
Lin Tingyue seemed to be deep in thought.
"Last and most importantly," Xia Xiaoran looked at her, "guard your heart. Before he makes a clear statement and gives you enough security and respect, absolutely, absolutely do not fall for him! Otherwise, you will really become a fish on his chopping block."
Her best friend's words acted like a wake-up call, clearing Lin Tingyue's chaotic thoughts a little.
Yes, she couldn't continue to be passively led by the nose by him, immersed in fear and wild speculation.
She needs to muster the courage to face it, to test it, even if it's just to get some clarity.
The diamond bracelet shimmered with a cold yet alluring light under the lamp.
Lin Tingyue took a deep breath, picked up her phone, and found that familiar number.
This time, she didn't wait for the other party's "notification," but instead proactively edited a text message.
Mr. Chi, your bracelet is far too valuable; it's hardly an "employee benefit" for me. When would be a convenient time for me to return it to you?
She checked it several times to make sure her tone was respectful yet distant, then steeled herself and pressed the send button.
The message has been delivered.
Every second spent waiting for a reply felt incredibly long.
How will he respond? Will he be angry? Or will he think she's ungrateful?
A few minutes later, the phone screen lit up.
Chi Zhuo's reply was still infuriatingly brief.
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