Chapter 7

After the shirt was washed clean, she walked up the stairs from the second floor

Jiang Luting's eardrum buzzed with a ringing sound, and she quickly pulled her phone a little further away, chuckling, "Oh dear, Mr. Shen is dashing and wealthy, even if he is pressured by his family to marry, he wouldn't be so desperate as to take a liking to someone like me."

As Jiang Luting checked the numbers, his gaze aimlessly wandered to the southeast corner of the Huo residence's rooftop, and he was momentarily taken aback

If it had not been for that accident in Meishan, perhaps she would never have had the courage to pursue Fu Mingcong

Huo Tongtong nodded cautiously: "I have taught it."

Huo Yiting was actually sitting under that shade of trees

Her first reaction was: he, like herself, had already been sitting in a daze for two hours.

He must hate her very much. She took the initiative to provoke him, only to abandon him after catching up with him

Huo Tongtong said: "The clothes inside are the most beautiful, with little dolphins all over them."

Jiang Luting opened his mouth: "... ..."

Jiang Luting felt a shiver run through him at the thought of the scene he witnessed at noon. Mr. Huo, who stood high above others, being splashed with coffee was nothing short of a great humiliation, and he had seen it with his own eyes. If this were in a feudal society, she would probably have been silenced by now

He enjoys taking a stroll in the garden after meals, but he certainly would not go to the dark rooftop. To ensure there was no doubt, Jiang Luting mustered his courage and tentatively suggested, "Mr. Huo, I just found the rooftop quite comfortable, you might want to go up there and sit for a while in the evening."

Jiang Luting continued to walk forward, pretending to search everywhere.

Jiang Luting quickly mediated the situation: "Mr. Huo, this is all my fault. After the lesson in the morning, I did not review in the afternoon"

Huo Yiting said coldly: "Lean against the wall and stand for half an hour."

A circle of flowers and plants is planted against the walls, supporting a solid wood swing. In the shade of the sycamore tree at the eastern corner, there is a solid wood round table and several rattan chairs. On the southern side, there are several tall and long drying racks. Huo Yiting has a cleanliness obsession, and the bed sheets and duvet covers in the house are changed very frequently, so almost every day, bed sheets, duvet covers, and clothes are hanging on them

Huo Tongtong ran to the garden to find a place to hide

Every word spoken by Gu Miao felt like a hammer, striking Jiang Luting's heart with a subtle pain. After years of unrequited love, they finally achieved their desired outcome, only for it to dissipate like fleeting clouds in an instant. The reasons behind this, she did not disclose to anyone, including Gu Miao

Aunt Liu led Huo Tongtong upstairs, gave him a bath, and changed his clothes. After playing for several hours, Huo Tongtong became somewhat tired and unexpectedly fell asleep

As soon as this thought crossed her mind, she immediately dismissed it with a slap. ... How could that be possible? What a joke! Mr. Huo is extremely busy with his work and has no reason to come to the rooftop at night to look at the stars, to gaze at the moon, to look at ...? ... Her?

She lowered her head and touched her chest, and it seemed that even without wearing a bra, it didn't matter... Ha

Mr. Huo, I have washed your shirt clean and hung it on the rooftop

Jiang Luting shook his head and answered decisively: "No."

At a distance that was neither too far nor too close, Jiang Luting clearly saw that he had no book, no magazine, no documents, and not even a cup of water in his hands

Because Jiang Luting usually does not pay attention to her clothing and appearance, when she comes to the Huo family on weekends, she always wears clothes that cost fifty yuan with free shipping from Taobao. This is both comfortable and convenient, and it is inevitable that she will get dirty when bringing her child along. Suddenly transforming into the appearance of a white-collar beauty, with a slim waist and high chest, and having applied light makeup, she seems like a different person, stunningly beautiful.

Jiang Luting had actually already seen him hiding behind a piece of Taihu stone with his butt sticking out. However, pretending not to see, as he walked past him, he muttered to himself: "Ah, where on earth is my little friend Tongtong hiding?"

Jiang Luting speculated that he was afraid of catching a cold and infecting Tong Tong. Therefore, he obediently got off the car and sat in the front row

Recently, the weather has started to warm up. After taking a shower, she put on a sleeveless nightgown and sat indoors typing. To feel cool and comfortable, she did not wear a bra underneath.

Huo Yiting's gaze shifted from Tong Tong to Jiang Luting's face, asking if it was cold, yet it made people feel tense. A bizarre thought surged in Jiang Luting's mind; he couldn't possibly be planning to make her stand in punishment as well

What Jiang Luting originally wanted to say was completely blocked by the two words "fool"

Jiang Luting hurriedly said: "I will not catch a cold; I am in good health"

Having been classmates for four years and friends for several years, Gu Miao could never believe that she was such a scoundrel. However, Jiang Luting refused to say anything, leaving her helpless. In the end, she gritted her teeth and hung up the phone

This location is directly opposite her room. If the light is on in her room and the curtains are not drawn, then from here, her room can be seen quite clearly.

Just as I was about to start typing on the computer, Gu Miao's call came in, and without any preamble, he asked how Shen Zhuo was doing

Playing hide and seek with friends, the time taken to find them should be just right, neither too short nor too long. If it is too short, they will not feel a sense of achievement; if it is too long, the little ones will lose their patience

Aunt Liu's eyes sparkled as she exclaimed: "Oh, Teacher Jiang, you should dress like this every day, it's so beautiful! This outfit is really nice! Did Mr. Huo buy it for you?"

Jiang Luting's heart trembled with pain, is frugality a traditional virtue?

After speaking, she raised her eyes and met the meaningful gaze of Huo Yiting, only then realizing that he was hinting that she was dressed too lightly, and her face instantly turned crimson with embarrassment

The sunlight filtered through the branches and leaves, casting a half-light, half-shadow upon him. The cool-toned azure shirt made his figure appear slender and solitary, as if no matter how scorching the sunlight, it could not warm a statue.

By the time she realized that she was once again letting her imagination run wild, she had already checked the numbers up to seventy-six and hurriedly turned around to find Huo Tongtong

Jiang Luting's face instantly flushed red, and she felt wronged in her heart. Spring was already halfway through, and she had taken a car all the way here for a blind date indoors. Even though she was dressed like this, it wasn't cold at all. Yet, by such a coincidence, as soon as she got into his car, she sneezed.

Huo Yiting said again: "It has been washed and hung on the rooftop."

Before Jiang Luting could respond, she continued, "With such good conditions, he doesn't need to go on blind dates at all. It's only because his family is urging him to get married that he asked me to introduce a girlfriend to him. A man who sincerely wants to find a partner for marriage like this, if you don't seize the opportunity, you're just a fool"

Indeed, after dinner, he wore a stern expression, adopting the demeanor of an emperor inspecting the prince's studies in the imperial study, and asked Huo Tongtong: "Did the teacher teach the Disciples' Regulations today?"

You tell me, what exactly is going on between you and Fu Mingcong? You have had a crush on him for so many years, and after finally being together, why did you break up

As I descended the stairs, I happened to encounter Huo Yiting walking over from the back garden

Memories surge like an uncontrollable torrent, leaving one's mind in utter chaos. Jiang Luting, devoid of any focus, sat before the computer for a full two hours, unable to type out even a single complete sentence. In frustration, she shut down the computer and collapsed onto the bed to rest

Gu Miao, feeling frustrated, exclaimed: "The most suitable person is Fu Mingcong, isn't it?"

Upon suddenly hearing this name, Jiang Luting felt as if someone had tugged at her heart, a tremulous dull pain instantly coursing through her veins to her entire body, leaving her mind momentarily blank

She sat in the rattan chair, her gaze unconsciously drifting around, and when it fell upon the small garage building where she lived, she suddenly froze in surprise

Huo Tongtong is sobbing and wants to cry

Huo Yiting turned around to open the car door. While driving, he remained silent, not uttering a single word, clearly in a very bad mood

After putting on her shirt, Jiang Luting casually strolled around the rooftop. The swing was quite large, accommodating three people without any issue. She swayed on it for a few moments before walking over to the shade of the sycamore tree by the east wall

This was her only secret crush, her only pursuit, yet it unexpectedly ended with her "starting chaos and abandoning in the end." In fact, the most sorrowful part is not the inability to obtain, but rather obtaining and then losing it. After countless twists and turns, it ultimately amounts to nothing but a regret.

Jiang Luting was rendered speechless, and this statement was certainly heard clearly by Huo Yiting

Gu Miao snorted, "Are you trying to fool me? Did you break up with him because of Lan Zhou?"

Huo Tongtong felt refreshed after a nap and wanted to play hide and seek with Jiang Luting. The backyard is a great place for hide and seek, with flowers, trees, and Taihu stones.

Jiang Luting sat on the sofa, remaining motionless for a long time.

Recite it for me to hear

It turns out that the one who spilled the coffee was his ex-wife

Huo Yiting noticed the faint blush spreading across her cheeks, and only then did he turn his gaze away, his expression unchanged as he said, "The person just now was He Yu, do not let her get close to Tong Tong." Perhaps fearing that Huo Tong Tong in the car would hear, Huo Yiting's voice was kept very low, sounding particularly authoritative and domineering

Huo Yiting had his hands in his pockets, his steps unceasing, and with a grunt, he walked past her.

Upon this reflection, I suddenly feel much comforted

Jiang Luting stood under the begonia tree, with her back to the garden. According to their agreement, she would go to find him after she had counted to fifty.

Jiang Luting felt a tumultuous storm within, yet spoke with a smile, saying: "Unrequited love is indeed blind; only when truly together do we realize the incompatibility."

Jiang Luting almost jumped up from the wicker chair, his mind buzzing as if a fly had flown in.

The outcome was beyond her expectations; he said nothing and got up to go upstairs. After a short while, he came down with the white shirt that had coffee splattered on the collar and handed it to Jiang Luting

Huo Yiting has always been blunt in his speech, and today he is in a particularly bad mood, making him even harder to deal with. Jiang Luting obediently opened the door and got out of the car, went to a pharmacy on the street to buy some cold medicine, and then returned to the car. In front of Huo Yiting, she took a pill with some mineral water to reassure him

Recalling the past, Jiang Luting seemed to have swallowed a bowl of hot and sour noodles, with her heart and soul twisting in sadness, yet she continued to laugh and joke: "At that time, I walked a circle around the gates of hell and was stimulated, which is why I impulsively chased after him. Later, I realized we were not compatible, so we broke up."

Who said that I am exceptionally talented and possess inner beauty

As I fastened my seatbelt, I happened to meet Huo Yiting's gaze, which clearly conveyed a message: "Dressing like this for a blind date is quite a commitment."

Huo Yiting's expression appeared even more indifferent and silent than usual. Originally cheerful, Huo Tongtong suddenly became tense.

Upon returning to the Huo family, Aunt Liu displayed an expression of astonishment as if she had seen a celestial being upon seeing Jiang Luting

Gu Miao's voice immediately rose in pitch, angrily saying: "What is inappropriate about him? Is it his nose, eyes, or mouth? How do you know it's inappropriate if you haven't tried? Are you a fortune teller?"

Jiang Luting found it strange: the suit was many times more expensive than the shirt, and in a fit of anger, he threw it away without a second thought. Why was he so reluctant to throw away this white shirt?

Huo Yiting stared at her and snorted through his nose, "Did you not see anything at all?"

Gu Miao huffed, "Fine, you are both stupid and ugly, so no one would like you anyway"

The difference is that she is reminiscing about her ex-boyfriend, while he may be recalling his ex-wife. The similarity lies in the fact that her ex-boyfriend hates her, and his ex-wife seems to hate him as well

Jiang Luting, puzzled, quickly picked up his phone to check, and then reported: "Nineteen degrees"

Gu Miao said angrily: "Why didn't you tell me the truth? Are you afraid that I will tell Fu Mingcong?"

Then why do you belittle yourself for no reason

After Jiang Luting settled him in, she returned to her own room. After taking a shower and changing out of the golden pink dress, she felt that the clothes she bought from Taobao for fifty yuan with free shipping were much more comfortable, as they did not require her to hold in her stomach or puff out her chest, allowing her to maintain a relaxed posture at all times

The main residence consists of only two stories, with flowers and plants growing on the top floor, where a pinewood swing is placed. The sycamore trees on the first floor grow along the wall, and their branches and leaves perfectly cover the southeastern area of the roof, creating a shaded space.

A faint muffled laugh escaped from behind the Taihu stone.

Huo Yiting sat here this afternoon, lost in thought for two hours

There is no such thing as truth or illusion; it is merely that once something is obtained, it is perceived as nothing special, and thus separation occurs

She could only chuckle a few times, first offering her high praise to Shen Zhuo, and finally having to express that it was precisely because he was too outstanding that she felt it was somewhat inappropriate. In short, she did not immediately admit that she was a fool

Jiang Luting secretly thought it was not good, as Tong Tong had played all day long, and the lessons from the morning were likely forgotten by now. As expected, Huo Tong Tong stammered and could not recite it.

The game of hide and seek continued until just before dinner, after which Huo Tongtong returned to her room to take a shower and change her clothes, and then she came to the dining room with Jiang Luting

Huo Yiting glanced down at her and said: "Hey, mosquito?"

Does Teacher Jiang have a way to remove coffee stains? Then I would appreciate your help

The car speed suddenly decreased, and Huo Yiting pulled over to the side of the road, turning his head to glance at Jiang Luting: "Sit in the front."

Jiang Luting, recovering from her astonishment, hurriedly said: "Ah, I am so sorry, Mr. Huo, I didn't see anything just now, nor did I catch a glimpse of her appearance"

She really wanted to walk up to him and advise him: "Boss Huo, don't be sad. It's not a big deal to experience heartbreak, loss of virtue, or divorce. There are plenty of beautiful grasses everywhere in the world. If you truly cannot find suitable grass, there are still many great trees available."

There are no lights on the rooftop, it is quiet, and with the help of the light from the back garden, the furnishings above can be seen faintly.

In any case, the gap between him and me is too great, it is truly unsuitable

Jiang Luting's heart condition began to flare up, and inexplicably, she felt a twinge of sympathy for him as if they shared the same affliction

After a moment of daze, she firmly denied, "No."

She kindly said, "Mr. Huo, I know how to wash coffee stains"

It was not apparent at all while skipping rope

Jiang Luting quickly declared that it was not the case, expressing confusion over how Aunt Liu's imagination could be so wild. Although she had returned with him, the clothes had nothing to do with him at all

When people are in a bad mood, they always seek a way to vent their feelings. All afternoon, Huo Yiting remained motionless on the rooftop, and without releasing his negative emotions, he could only accumulate more.

The afternoon sunlight has lost the intensity of the midday heat, and under the shade of the trees, a gentle breeze flows.

Huo Yiting restarted the car, drove for about 500 meters, and then pulled over again. He said to Jiang Luting: "Go buy some medicine to prevent a cold."

Will Huo Yiting come to the top floor at night and have he seen her appearance?

Huo Yiting heard the exclamation "ah," his gaze turned cold, and then he raised his hand to throw the suit from his arm into the trash bin by the roadside, his actions clearly filled with anger

The low air pressure inside the car and the cold atmosphere need not be mentioned; Jiang Luting once again felt as if she had entered a four-door refrigerator, and suddenly sneezed

Washing his shirts is certainly not within her job responsibilities, but Ho Yiting has always had a strong presence and is her boss. She added that she could handle it well, so she had no choice but to obediently take the shirts.

Nonsense. Two years ago, when you were hospitalized, I went to see you. I remember it clearly; you said that life is short, and one day, misfortune might strike, leading to an untimely death. Therefore, one should be a bit braver, eat when one should eat, pursue what one should pursue, and not leave any regrets in life. At that time, your head was wrapped in white bandages, and your eyes were swollen to a slit, yet you couldn't wait to call Fu Mingcong to confess your feelings.

As she passed by the patch of open space in the lawn, she couldn't help but glance at it a few more times, wondering what it was actually used for

The night breeze gently blows through the hair, like a tender hand