Chapter 163: Extra Chapter Nine: I Want to See You
Cheng Sangluo lay sprawled out in the soft down comforter, fast asleep until nearly noon when she finally twitched her brow.
She smacked her lips with hazy eyes, comfortably turned over, and instinctively reached out to hug her lover beside her, only to find her arms wrapped around empty air, leaving the spot next to her feeling empty and cold.
Unable to hug the person she wanted to hug, Cheng Sangluo's awakening came exceptionally quickly. In that instant, she opened her eyes wide to look for her wife, but there was nothing in sight, leaving her all alone and completely confused.
She lifted her eyelids slightly and found that something was blocking her view. When she reached up to grab it, she found a sticky note stuck to her forehead.
She unfolded the crumpled note with a puzzled look. It contained a handwritten message from Lin Jin: "There's an important meeting at the company. Remember to drink a glass of warm water when you wake up, remember to eat breakfast, and remember to think of me. Love you~ (red lip print)."
Seeing his wife's lip print on the note, Cheng Sangluo quickly brought it to his lips and kissed it earnestly, as his usual good morning kiss for the day.
She was furious, thinking about how Lin Jin had quietly gone to work without waking her up. But then memories of her drunken night flooded her mind, those ugly moments were so disgusting that any random scene would make her want to scratch her toes.
"Ah—" she let out a short scream, collapsing into the covers in utter shame. "Damn it!"
The memories, however unstoppable, are like a cruel torture, buzzing and tormenting in my mind.
When Cheng Sangluo thought about how he had been asking his wife for hugs and kisses all night, sometimes acting like a fragile little crybaby and sometimes like a spoiled little whiny monster, he wished he could just slap himself and kill himself.
She grabbed the blanket and covered her head, rolling around on the bed wildly, wailing and crying, "This is so embarrassing... How am I supposed to live like this... It's so shameful..."
I don't know what got into this person all of a sudden, but they suddenly sprang from the bed to the floor and rushed into the bathroom to wash up.
Cheng Sangluo thought he needed to quickly get himself ready so he could leave early to go to Senyao Group to find his wife.
She was extremely anxious, feeling that if she was even a second late in seeing her lover, her world would feel desolate and abandoned, filled with a mix of emotions and unease.
Although this feeling is absurd, it's not surprising. After all, they are in the honeymoon phase, and the puppy just wants to be his wife's little shadow every day. He even tries to manipulate her while brushing his teeth. There's nothing wrong with being a clingy person, right?
So the puppy, now with a lovestruck mind, finished washing up in the blink of an eye with military-style speed, and then ran into the dressing room like a madman.
Cheng Sangluo originally planned to just throw on a cotton coat and go out, but then she thought of how exquisitely Lin Jin usually dressed up, and she couldn't always be a sloppy little dog, so she slowed down her dressing process.
She stood in front of the wardrobe, picking and choosing for a while, before she belatedly realized that Lin Jin's thoughtful and meticulous care had been subtly incorporated into her life all along.
Take her clothes for example. Although she usually wears the same few things, Lin Jin had already filled her wardrobe with everything she needed, including colors and styles to match different occasions.
Cheng Sangluo initially picked out a dark gray cashmere coat, the texture of which was obviously expensive, but she felt it was too formal, so she reluctantly hung it back up.
After searching for a while, she finally found a coat that suited her style. A soft, fluffy suede motorcycle jacket with a wool collar was perfect. It was thick and warm, yet stylish and cool. Most importantly, it was practical and wouldn't restrict her arms if she were to get into a fight.
Wait, why are they fighting all of a sudden? Cheng Sangluo tilted her head, finding it quite amusing. After all, the ups and downs of the past were no longer relevant, and her skills were no longer of any use.
The person started to struggle because with more clothes came more choices, and in the end, the selection became a complete mess, returning them to square one.
She took out the elegant cashmere coat again, thinking it would be nice to change her style occasionally. After all, her wife loved her good figure, and dressing appropriately and beautifully would please her husband's eye, which was her greatest honor.
......
The midday sun was at its strongest.
Cheng Sangluo drove all the way to Senyao Group, but deliberately took a detour several times along the way.
To be a good partner, you must start with the little things that make you romantic, such as sending a bouquet of flowers for the season, a dessert to make your wife happy, or preparing sweet words to please her, and so on...
After wandering around for a long time, she finally found a flower shop. As soon as she pushed open the door, she eagerly asked the owner for recommendations, "Hello, I want to buy a bouquet of roses, can you help me choose one?"
The florist, a middle-aged woman dressed in an artistic style, saw Cheng Sangluo in a hurry and jokingly said with a smile, "You can't rush when sending flowers to your sweetheart. We have quite a few varieties of roses in the shop. See if there's one you like."
After all these years of being rough and unrefined, Cheng Sangluo, standing amidst the blooming, lush flowers, had the strange feeling of a fierce tiger gently sniffing a rose.
She bent down and carefully looked at the various kinds of roses, but for a moment she couldn't choose the one that satisfied her the most.
Seeing her unfamiliarity with the selection, the shopkeeper simply squatted down beside her, fiddling with the potted plants at her feet while explaining, "Flowers are the embodiment of emotional bonds. Are you pursuing someone, trying to win them over, or perhaps seeking reconciliation?"
"It's for my wife." Cheng Sangluo was carefully selecting items when she heard the shopkeeper's words and immediately replied, her tone incredibly proud.
The shopkeeper smiled without saying a word, and pointed to the pale pink roses that were not far from her. "Pink Snow Mountain, I guess. The light pink is not gaudy, the flowers are full enough, and it complements the romance of winter. Its flower language is sweetness and warmth."
"Pink Snow Mountain? That's it. I'll take nine. Could you please wrap them up for me? Thank you." Cheng Sangluo was in a hurry and made the decision without hesitation. Feeling something was missing, she asked, "Do you have daisies?"
"Yes, we do, but daisies don't bloom much in winter. If you know how to care for them, they can bloom again in spring," the shopkeeper explained simply, then helped me pick out a pot. "Would you like it?"
"Yes." Cheng Sangluo took the potted plant with one hand and quickly took out her phone to scan the code to pay.
The shop owner picked out the roses and busied himself arranging the bouquets, occasionally chatting: "People who understand romance enjoy love; your wife must be very happy."
Cheng Sangluo, clutching a small daisy, wandered around the shop admiring the flowers. Following the sound, she looked at the owner and grinned, "Thanks to her, I feel I'm happier than her."
The shop owner, a seasoned veteran who'd seen all sorts of customers, had never heard such an answer before. He couldn't help but sigh, "It's good to be able to feel happiness...that's truly wonderful..."
Cheng Sangluo waited for a short while until the shop owner handed her beautifully packaged roses. After politely thanking him, she hurriedly left.
She rushed to the Senyao Group building and ran into an employee returning from lunch in the underground elevator. She had no choice but to awkwardly hide in a corner.
However, she was tall and strong, and with a little effort in dressing up, her clean and handsome appearance was perfectly highlighted. At this moment, she was holding roses in one hand and daisies in the other. People coming and going couldn't help but take a second look, especially the young female employees in front of her, who would turn around and stare at her from time to time, while making whimpering noises.
Cheng Sangluo pursed her lips, her nerves taut, and naturally avoided looking at the roses in her arms.
Fortunately, Lin Jin was the boss of the group, and the floor where his office was located had a lonely feeling of being on a high floor. When Cheng Sangluo arrived, she was all alone in the elevator.
She hurriedly stepped out of the elevator, finally letting out a sigh of relief. It seemed that bringing flowers to her wife was too high-profile; it would be best not to use it next time.
She walked down the narrow corridor to Lin Jin's office door, but before she could knock, the door to the secretary's office next door was opened.
Zhou Ran stared at Cheng Sangluo's retreating figure, not recognizing her for a moment, and said routinely, "President Lin is still in a meeting. Do you have an appointment?"
Cheng Sangluo turned around at the sound of the voice, somewhat displeased, and said, "What kind of meeting is going on for so long? It's past lunchtime and it's still not over. Does that mean she hasn't eaten?!"
"Miss Cheng? What brings you here?" Zhou Ran looked Cheng Sangluo up and down, her gaze finally settling on the blooming roses. She gave an awkward but polite smile. "It's almost the end of the year, and there are many things at the company that President Lin needs to arrange. In addition, she had to deal with personal matters that delayed her schedule, so she has to take the time to catch up now. Why don't you go to the meeting room to rest and wait? I'll let her know you've arrived as soon as the meeting is over. Would you like something to drink?"
"Alright, just a glass of water will do." Cheng Sangluo walked into the reception room with ease, put down the prepared flowers and touched them affectionately, but he felt restless because he couldn't see his wife for a while.
A short while later, Secretary Zhou walked in with a water glass and greeted him warmly, "It's been a while since I've seen you. How have you been lately?"
"It's fine." Cheng Sangluo chuckled and took the cup. Seeing that the other party was about to leave, she hurriedly called out, "Miss Zhou, wait a moment."
Secretary Zhou asked in confusion, "Is there anything else you need me to do?"
Cheng Sangluo rubbed her hands together awkwardly, stammering for a while before finally asking, "I... well... how should I put it..."
Secretary Zhou was uneasy. Although he had met Cheng Sangluo many times, their relationship was only superficial. He had no idea what this person wanted to do after being suddenly stopped.
Fortunately, she had served Lin Jin for many years and had a strong ability to withstand pressure. She was also very perceptive and could see through the other party's little thoughts at a glance. "Are you asking about President Lin? If it's a work-related matter, I can't answer it."
"No, no, no, it has nothing to do with work." Cheng Sangluo waved her hands repeatedly, her face flushed. "I just want to learn about her preferences from you. I think you're the only one in the world who understands her best, so I wanted to take a shortcut."
"Shouldn't you, the person beside me, know President Lin best?" Secretary Zhou asked with a smile, then sat down next to Cheng Sangluo and said something philosophical: "Asking others for information is like asking for it. Observing and recording things yourself shows more care. The former and the latter will yield very different results. Of course, I'm happy to answer your question."
Cheng Sangluo stared blankly at Zhou Ran, falling silent after these words of advice.
"Miss Cheng?" Secretary Zhou broke the silence at the right moment, asking with a smile, "What kind of preferences would you like to know about President Lin, such as his food, clothing, travel, or dietary restrictions?"
"Uh..." Cheng Sangluo was speechless for a moment, then honestly shook her head and agreed, "You're right, I should have tried to find out for myself. The results from asking around are indeed weak. I have no more questions, you can go and do your work."
“Okay, you can contact me anytime if you need anything.” Zhou Ran patted her leg and stood up. After taking a few steps, she turned back and smiled at Cheng Sangluo, pointing to the flowers on the table and praising, “President Lin never accepts flowers from others, but she will definitely like the ones you gave her.”
Cheng Sangluo smiled, a hint of pride shining in her eyes, her heart already pounding with joy: Of course, that's something I prepared carefully, my wife will definitely love it!
With Secretary Zhou gone, the empty room became cold and deserted again. Cheng Sangluo felt that it would be too boring to just wait like this, so she sneaked out of the reception room.
Her impression of Senyao Group was still from a long time ago, when she was a cleaner working at heights. Later, Lin Jin forced her to stay in the office for a while, so she was quite familiar with the building's floors.
She fumbled and searched her way up and down the building, finally finding the meeting room reserved for senior management. The floor-to-ceiling windows, as large as the walls, offered a clear view, and the layout was somewhat similar to that of the old Zhongyao Technology.
Cheng Sangluo cautiously peeked out halfway and immediately spotted Lin Jin sitting in the main seat. His eyes lit up with excitement.
She suddenly realized that her dependence on her lover was almost pathological. Although it was just an ordinary meeting, there was always a sense of hardship involved. Fortunately, this glance could dispel the loneliness after waking up.
At this moment, Lin Jin's expression was aloof and distant. Just sitting calmly in the leather chair without saying a word, he naturally exuded an aura of authority without anger.
She rested her hand on the table, occasionally fiddling with her pen, her eyes half-closed as she flipped through the open documents, attentively listening to a work report from a department director.
When dissatisfied with the report results, she would slam her pen on the table with a little force, raise her eyes and stare coldly at the other person, saying something concisely. However, the glass in the conference room was very soundproof, and Cheng Sangluo could not hear the sounds inside.
She tilted her head and silently admired her lover's serious work, and couldn't help but sigh that the conference room just a wall away was like a battlefield, and even she, an outsider, could feel the chillingly somber atmosphere.
Perhaps she was too engrossed in watching, Cheng Sangluo's smile grew increasingly infatuated until she met the eyes of her lover, whom she had been gazing at for a long time, which gave her goosebumps.
No one present noticed anything unusual about the boss, because Lin Jin's face showed no extra emotion, and even his tone when summarizing the meeting remained indifferent and calm.
Only Cheng Sangluo, standing outside, could see the subtle change in her eyes. The underlying color in her eyes was originally dull, but after that glance across the distance, a smile appeared. If one were to compare it to any color, it would be just like the pink snow mountain roses she had prepared, a light pinkish-white.
Before long, people in the conference room gradually walked out of the office, carrying a gloomy, almost deathly feeling, as if they had just experienced a brush with death.
Of course, they had no idea that Cheng Sangluo, who was foolishly waiting outside the door, was their savior. If it weren't for her appearance, they didn't know when this long meeting would have ended.
After a brief period of noise, the hallway gradually returned to calm.
Lin Jin remained seated in the main seat, seemingly waiting for the eager little dog outside the door to come in and find him.
Cheng Sangluo initially leaned against the door frame, peeking halfway into the house with his thief's head. When he saw his wife lazily leaning against the wall and beckoning to him, he scurried over.
Lin Jin had been focused on the meeting and hadn't noticed anything amiss until she saw Cheng Sangluo's attire. She couldn't help but tap her chin lightly with one hand.
She looked at her dog carefully for a while and found that her dog was a natural clothes hanger. Its broad shoulders, slim waist and upright figure made the coat look good, and the narrow-leg trousers and leather boots made its long legs look even longer. Most importantly, its usually haphazardly tied ponytail was now neatly combed into a slicked-back hairstyle.
She slightly curved her eyes, thinking that the more she looked at her, the more beautiful she became, but her face quickly fell because she was increasingly annoyed.
"Why are you suddenly dressing up like a respectable person? Which woman are you trying to seduce?" Her sarcastic tone was full of possessiveness, and her eyes revealed great dissatisfaction.
Cheng Sangluo was already feeling intimidated by the stare, and unable to understand this inexplicable sour feeling, she could only widen her eyes in confusion: "What?!"
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