Between the midday hours, the parking lot of most commercial buildings in the area can see a minor bustling of employees from numerous companies flitting about on their much-needed break.
Da Mei found her way back to her respective company under the pampering of Young Master Qin. The love-struck boss made it his duty to see her during his lunch break before getting back to the office.
Su Lian couldn't stop her teasing. After all, the first one in their group to get a serious boyfriend after her was the sensible and mature young lady who kept them all in line.
Young Master Qin worked hard to gain her attention.
"One down~ Two more to go~" Su Lian sighed with an auntie smile on her face. Her two co-workers pursed their lips in amusement as they too watched on as Da Mei was whisked away.
"Your friend group is like a treasure house. You say THE Young Master Qin is good friends with your hubby," one asked with mild surprise.
The two became friends with Su Lian a few days after she joined the company, standing by her side when the jealous bimbos started their crap and when seniors tried to take advantage of her.
She's a good chica at heart and saw nothing else but a calm friendship with her.
Wang Ling and Dong Huang are lowkey employees in the company with good reputation so Su Lian didn't mind starting a friendship with them and even inviting them into her girl friend circle. It would take her a while for her to introduce them to the entire friend group.
With Chen Kai's new status, there will be more precautions to be made.
"Yeah, has been for a while," Su Lian answered carelessly, leading them back to her car.
The talk about the young masters ended right there.
"This weekend, my girls and I are going to a lakeside retreat. You're invited. We'll be leaving Friday night. Tell me by Thursday, okay?"
The ladies accepted the invite readily. It's been a long time since they planned to do a weekend trip outside of the city.
They chatted excitedly all the way back to the company, with Su Lian introducing them to Tianxin Pavillion vividly, bringing the girls' longing to the peak.
The three made it back in time, still immersed in their plans for the weekend that they were oblivious to the heated gazes from their male counterparts as they walked by.
Three beauties walking together was a bright part in their work-dreary lives. It was even better that these three were their department flowers.
A few pulled some courage to pursue them but were denied seconds before they could finish their sentence. Others in the department decided to admire from afar, but there are always the rogues.
The vigorous males who have high self-esteem, thinking they can tame any woman they set their eyes on. The theory in their minds – 'they are God's gift to the female population.'
There are a lot of them in society, and one happens to be a new hire placed in Su Lian's department.
"Miss Su! You're back from lunch. I wanted to invite you out for a quick bite at a new restaurant, but I missed you by a hair when coming to meet you." Chen Amin jogged forward toward the trio, leaving his colleagues behind. His friends were from different departments but knew of Su Lian.
"Hello, Mr. Chen. Plans were made so they couldn't be broken," Su Lian answered with a polite smile. 'This guy again. I swear he's three steps away from being served a restraining order.'
Her friends behind her were already laughing at this awkward meetup. How can they not know Su Lian has been avoiding this admirer like the plague? Since the first day he set eyes on her, he became a useless tail even after she rejected him countless times.
Guys like that annoyed the heck out of Su Lian.
"I understand. I brought back a few snacks for you. We still have the evening session, and it would help to get an extra boost of energy," he continued, and even got closer to her. Offering the colorful grocery bag with a bright smile, the saying, 'never slap a smiling face,' came to mind for the girls.
"Thanks for the gesture, but there's no need to buy this. You can share it with everyone else." Su Lian politely rejected him and made her way to an empty elevator.
She didn't want anyone to misinterpret the intimate scene Chen Amin wanted to play out. He has been doing these stupid tricks, leading to quiet rumors.
"Miss Su is generous as always. Since lunch didn't work out, how about a bit of leisure time this weekend? What do you think? We can invite a few colleagues. It's just a small gathering. I know a great place. Tianxin Pavilion." He still had that charming smile on his face even after rejection. His brain moved quickly to bring up another hammer.
The ladies shared a few communicative glances. It was clear that he overheard their conversation.
This can't be a coincidence, right? He was lingering nearby before he came up to play.
"Mr. Chen is the one who's generous. I'm sure our colleagues would be delighted to know that you are sponsoring such a weekend trip and so lavish – Tianxin Pavilion. They would have a grand time," Su Lian gushed with forced enthusiasm. Thıs content belongs to novᴇlfire.net
The smile on Chen Amin's face faltered. Su Lian wasn't going along with the script.
Wasn't she supposed to be surprised and say she, too, was planning a trip there and ask about his connections?
What's with the compliments? Is she playing dumb?
He didn't know what to say.
Su Lian saw this and gave Dong Huang a quick glance, who understood clearly.
The pressing of the elevator doors to close when they entered was done seamlessly so Chen Amin and his colleagues didn't see anything wrong.
The doors closed on his face, leaving him in the lobby under the 'Told you so' look from his friends.
"Aren't you too old for being a dog licker?" One of his friends commented with a ridiculing laugh.
"What do you know? Persistence will wear her down." He lost face yet again in front of these jerks.
They heard these arrogant words and silently cursed him for being an arrogant dog licker.
"She already has a partner…" One began.
"Where? That's what she said. It can be a farce to put me at a distance. How long have I been working here, and I haven't seen such a partner come to pick her up?" Chen Amin sneered. He never believed that Su Lian had a lover she was loyal to. She was just stringing him along.
Which man hasn't heard that excuse before? Tsk. If she wants to play, then he will play along too.
"Some seniors who still talk about her confirmed this. They said the guy is a second-generation heir and really handsome," The other replied seriously.
"Then, where has this so-called young master been? Alright, come off it! Get some of your women to start the rumor about Tianxin, I bet once everyone is clamoring to go, she will step up and ask me to help her at Tianxin. Who won't like to experience a bit of luxury?" Chen Amin was confident in his analysis of Su Lian. He was better off than most financially and could pass as a wealthy family's son, and that's where most of his confidence came from.
If he can't win the lady by words, he can subdue her with money.
He was sure that Su Lian will come floating in his arms before the weekend.
Seven floors up, Su Lian stepped out of the elevator with a slightly annoyed look. She quickly dragged her other friends into a new chat group and announced their weekend trip. Wang Ling ad Dong Huang was introduced and with Da Mei's quick confirmation of them, they quickly lost the title of strangers and jumped right to friends.
When she saw that everyone agreed to the weekend, all eight of them, she got a bit lazy in preparing everything.
Ah, there's him. It's been a while since she contacted him. Chen Kai repeatedly told her that little things like planning getaways, parties, appointments and such are all for the hired assistants.
Poor Assistant Xiao have been in limbo since Chen Kai left the country.
Su Lian quickly greeted Assistant Xiao and sent in her request.
Xiao: Completed, madam. I've sent the file with the relevant information. MadamLi'sWeekendItenairy.docx
"How professional," she murmured. Sitting back at her desk, she sent her last message in the group and refocused on her assignments.
At the end of the work day, Su Lian gathered her things quickly, wanting to leave the building as soon as possible. The heels of her Louis Vuitton pumps clicked in rhythm as she walked down the corridor. She tried to make her steps seem less hurried but failed to do so.
Those who knew the reason for her actions tried to clamp down their smiles.
Some green-eyed girl curled her lip in disdain, watching Su Lian's back disappear. "Why put on a show? It's clear that you're stringing Brother Amin along. The gifts he even bought for her are still around the break room. What is she trying to play?" She came in the same batch as Chen Amin and took a quick liking to such a capable and good-looking college graduate. He would be a perfect boyfriend for her.
She just hated Su Lian for being in the picture.
The co-worker who was next to her gave her a look of 'what sort of shit you're thinking?'
The said colleague gave her a sympathetic smile. "You may not know or experience it, but it's called giving unseen respect and loyalty. Miss Su doesn't give your Brother Amin a second glance, and what does a few grocery store items mean to her? Sometimes one should look before they talk, you may get a slap in the face in the end."
"Then she's looking down on Brother Amin's heartfelt gifts. Su Lian is despicable. How can she treat Brother Amin ?! That shameless bitch!" The girl spoke with right indignation, earning a few strange looks from passing co-workers.
The colleague who gave her two cents swiftly turned her head and walked away. She heard nothing and saw nothing. HR needs to do psychological checks on their new hires.
While new rumors from that latest debacle began to spark, Su Lian was cursing her speed at that moment.
Everyone wants to go home, and the elevators are everyone's destination. You get there when you get there. Su Lian's luck is down to zero.
All four elevators are full. No space.
Su Lian sighed at her shit luck and tuning out the buzzing fly next to her. She moved a few steps away from the guy and stood like a statue, watching the green LED numbers of the elevator go down.
"…. What do you think, Miss Su?"
Su Lian sighed again.
"Mr. Chen, thank you for your feelings, but I can't return them to you. I am not interested in you as a future partner or friend. I am already in a relationship that is a few steps away from the marriage bed. Please stop approaching me."
Silence reigned in the atrium. Those who were watching her jokes and betting on Chen Amin to break down her defenses were dumbfounded.
When she spoke was at a normal voice level, but it came out loud to everyone who heard it. They all held a look of embarrassment for their unscrupulous thoughts and also for the man in question's blunt rejection.
Chen Amin has never been rejected so outwardly. The humiliation was thick. His face was red and had an ugly expression on it. He kept his eyes on Su Lian, who was clearly ignoring him.
Not only was his self-esteem crushed, but his pride as a man. How can he stand it? Chen Amin was pissed off and wanted to tear down the stage she built to humiliate him . He can use this to pay back this embarrassment.
"In a relationship? Who would believe such a lie? You were stringing me along. I did so much for you, and now you want to reject me ," He shouted his grievance at her, thinking this would let her back down.
Public opinion is everyone's weakness. The people around them aren't from their department only passersby.
Chen Amin stared at Su Lian with all the heartbreak he could muster in his eyes.
Su Lian, on the other hand, looked at him like a clown jumping around idiotically. Arms folded calmly at her waist, she stood there calmly showing how unbothered she was by his play.
"Who are you?" she asked with a playful smirk on her lips. Her hair shifted with the slight movement of her head, leaving a few coquettish strands on her cheek. The image of a tempting beauty was right before their eyes. Every move and gesture she made emphasized her natural beauty.
A man can be tempted.
"Who are you to question if I'm in a relationship? Is your brain waterlogged? Did those four years in college crush your self-awareness? I doubt if you even had it. I don't need an excuse to reject you. And you say all that you have done for me? My guy, what did you buy for me? What have I taken from you? If you want the store-bought drinks and snacks that are under 20 Yuan, you can get them in the breakroom. Maybe someone ate them already. Gain some self-awareness, I was never interested in you, and I do have a partner. Don't think I didn't see your fake white lotus behavior and now your moral kidnapping. Tch! Use your ploy on someone else. Its old and weak."
Su Lian gave him no room to interject. Each word debunked his recent frivolous statement and was highly stained with contempt.
Enough of this farce. She turned on her heel towards the elevator that just arrived. 'Hmm, the elevators were inline with my beautiful comeback,'she commented inwardly. Su Lian laughed in her heart and walked grandly into the elevator.
Those who were watching the show came back to God and nabbed a space. A little off-work drama is nice for a few minutes, but we still have to face the evening traffic.
Chen Amin didn't want to go with them. He stepped back, glancing at his friends, thinking they would stay with him and plan his next attack on Su Lian, but those three hurriedly left with some vague excuse.
"Talk about brotherhood," he sneered, cursing them in his heart.
In the elevator going down, it was in a state of uncomfortable silence. Glances were thrown in Su Lian's way, but she ignored it all.
She was about to relay her great victory in the group chat, but a call intercepted her.
A slow smile bloomed on her face. Her entire being seems to feel brighter under everyone's eyes. When she answered the phone, they all could place the soft, sultry voice as a girl in love.
Coming through the speakers, a warm, throaty laugh was heard; the man on the other end heard the teasing in her words. Tit for Tat.
"Young Madam Li." His words were slow and deep. He spoke in British English to give his words more effect. It is also an accent Su Lian likes.
'This guy…' She couldn't respond in time. She used her hair to hide her blushing face, not wanting anyone to see her in that state.
"Fine. I'll be home in two weeks or less. Depending on the situation in the two families. Are you still with me?"
Chen Kai has been preparing her for the best and the worst since that Shanghai lawyer showed up. Even though he kept her in the loop of things, he was worried that she would be reluctant to go back to the life of a Young Miss.
Su Lian understood the intricacies of the upper class and had been mentally preparing herself to step back into that kind of socialism. Her status is now higher and in a circle that is looked up to by most elites in the country. She was at the forefront of it now.
She can handle it. She can be by his side, that's all that matters. Her Kai was with her.
"Yes. I'm still here."