Chapter 2

She naturally knew that he had more than just her as a woman. Several times, when he was with her, that group of flirtatious women kept calling, and on a few occasions, he answered the phone and left. She also understood that she did not possess the ability to make Jiang Shao give up such a vast and beautiful forest for her. It is important to note that in television shows or novels, those charming young men would end their flirtatious lives for the women they loved, becoming devoted from then on. In reality, this is mostly a deception aimed at young girls. It cannot be said that there are none at all, but they are extremely rare. If someone truly encounters such a person, it would be more difficult than winning the grand prize in the lottery, and one would need to immediately sacrifice cattle and sheep to appease the gods. Therefore, wherever he and she go, that is where they belong.

Dining with them is certainly much more relaxed than dining with guests, and besides, she is merely going along with the occasion. That day, it was Yao Shao who treated. In fact, she did not know their specific names; firstly, she had never paid attention to remember, and secondly, this group of people did not use their full names. While seated, Yao Shao sat beside her, quite attentive, frequently serving her dishes. He was sitting directly opposite her. It seems that he spent more time facing her. While seated, Yao Shao sat beside her, quite attentive, frequently serving her dishes. He was sitting directly opposite her. It seems that he spent more time facing her. The person beside her, the beauty of the nation, had been replaced, now with a graceful figure. From a distance, it was hard to see clearly, but it was reasonable to assume that she must also be a beauty.

Together with him, if one can even say that this counts as being together, it has always been under his control. Sometimes she finds it hard to understand herself, how she has come to this point. Yet, it also feels quite natural, as if it has happened so effortlessly. She is not someone who has just graduated from school; having seen much of the romantic encounters between men and women, how many of them do not come and go in a hurry? In modern society, those who are compatible come together, while those who are not part ways, and there is no need to be overly attached. She has always thought she would not be so fashionable, yet unexpectedly, she has caught up with the current trend.

His spending was extravagant, and she had never really noticed it until that day when she tidied up the room and discovered that he had bought her quite a few things. There were jewelry pieces, as well as bags and clothes. He would just bring them home and toss them aside. It usually took her several days to notice them. Wealthy people are fortunate; a single piece of clothing or a piece of jewelry could equal her salary for a month or half a month. Not to mention those designer bags. She had limited experience, but even if she had never seen a pig, she had at least eaten pork. Wealthy people are fortunate; a single piece of clothing or a piece of jewelry could equal her salary for a month or half a month. Not to mention those designer bags. She had limited experience, but even if she had never seen a pig, she had at least eaten pork. That limited edition LV bag is not something just anyone can afford. Let alone someone like her, who is neither here nor there in her job. Although she loves money, she is certainly not greedy. She knows she does not have the means to own such things, so there is no need to bring them out for others to criticize. After all, public opinion can be daunting; without a big head, there is no need to wear a big hat. She knows she does not have the means to own such things, so there is no need to bring them out for others to criticize. After all, public opinion can be daunting; without a big head, there is no need to wear a big hat.

In my hometown's small town, rivers are abundant, and water cradles the homes. Fish is naturally the most common dish on the dining table. My father is best at cooking fish, and the most delicious dish is the ham, mushroom, crucian carp, and tofu soup. The fish is first pan-fried in hot oil, then ginger slices and yellow wine (a local specialty from the Jiangnan region, also known as cooking wine) are added to the pot, mixed with hot water to clean it. The chopped ham and mushrooms are then simmered over low heat until the broth turns a milky color, after which tofu is added. Once served, chopped scallions are sprinkled on top, with red, white, and green colors, making it visually appealing and mouthwatering. Every time my father cooked this dish, she could eat two large bowls of rice. As a child, I loved standing at the kitchen door, watching my father cook. I didn't intentionally learn, but I just picked it up. The aroma of stir-frying and the rising blue smoke are always so beautiful in my memories. Looking back now, it seems that these are the flavors of my childhood. The aroma of stir-frying and the rising blue smoke are always so beautiful in my memories. Looking back now, it seems that these are the flavors of my childhood.

She took a breath and said, "Would you like some water?" Since the visitor was a guest and had already entered, it would be inappropriate to send him away. He remained silent, merely gazing at her. It was unclear whether it was the night’s tranquil ambiance or the insufficient intensity of the lighting, but it felt as if the interior was an expansive ocean, seemingly capable of engulfing her. She felt a sense of panic, instinctively wanting to flee to the kitchen. Just as she took a few steps, he embraced her from behind and kissed her passionately.

Pingting did not care whether she was being listened to: "Speaking of the books, Jiang Shao, you should be able to see it. Which of these people does not flatter him? Do not be misled by their upper status; in fact, there are class distinctions even among the upper echelons. There are some matters I cannot elaborate on." She had never intended to get entangled with these people, but she was still quite grateful for Pingting's reminder

At noon, someone delivered a bouquet of tulips flown in from the Netherlands. Shen Xiaojia looked at the flowers from left to right, exclaiming in wonder, "They are indeed expensive, but who would pursue a girl by giving her tulips?" Yet, her heart stirred slightly. In her childhood, there were few good ways to understand the world, as information was too scarce in all aspects. Fortunately, there was a television at that time; whenever the variety show aired, she would move a small stool and watch with great interest. The most vivid impression was of the Netherlands, with its beautiful tulips, romantic windmills, blue skies, endless seas, and thick cheese. It felt as if it belonged only in a dream. That scenery carried the memories of childhood, firmly rooted in her mind.

Yet she found herself unable to sleep no matter how she turned and tossed. She got up and went to the kitchen to pour a glass of water. Touching the textured surface of the cup, she felt an inexplicable sense of comfort. It was as if she were still the precious child cradled in her parents' hands. Only then did she realize that so many years had already passed

After much effort, she managed to win over the foreign client from Germany, securing a significant order. Holding the bonus slip, she felt a warm glow in her heart. She called her mother and listened to her chatter for quite a while, which slightly eased her feelings of longing. She thought about returning home early to buy some groceries to treat herself. Unlike many urban girls today, she still knows how to cook. The northern cuisine tends to be heavier than that of the south, which is why she doesn't particularly enjoy eating out. Every day, she works overtime and often settles for fast food and instant meals. Today, feeling good, she thought about how to prepare a few hometown dishes, and just thinking about it made her mouth water.

In the hazy twilight, she faintly heard the doorbell ring, feeling it was strange. At such a late hour, who would still come to visit in the neighborhood? After ringing for a while, she finally realized it was her own doorbell. It was actually him, standing there at the door, alive and real. She stood frozen at the entrance, unsure of what to do for a long time. He looked at her, gently pushed the door open, and walked in.

Perhaps it was the desire for something lighter that made the dishes seem unappetizing. Listening to them tell one joke after another, some were slightly absurd, while others were utterly cold. She merely smiled faintly, pushing the greasy food around on her plate. When she looked up, she found him gazing at her with a thoughtful expression.

Before she could finish her workday, the phone call from Tingting came in: "Are you off work yet? Let's go out for dinner together." With one hand holding the phone, she was gesturing to Shen Xiaojia about the contents of the fax: "Dinner? No, I want to go home and eat today." "Go home? Is someone waiting for you there?" Tingting asked with a smile, though her tone carried a hint of something different. In her fluster, she didn't catch it: "Who is waiting for me? You know me, just sighing in Lingdingyang! I just don't want to eat out today. I want to cook for myself!" "Cook for yourself? Really? I've never heard you mention that before!" She laughed out loud: "You didn't know, did you?" Tingting also laughed, playfully pleading: "Alright. Don't go home today, let's go out to eat together. It will be lively and fun."

When they returned, only the two of them were left, and she realized that the graceful figure had long since disappeared. He glanced at her and said, "I will take you home." She smiled in response. Once in the car, there was no conversation. The heater was on, and combined with the unique scent of leather in the car, it created a somewhat hazy atmosphere. They soon arrived at her doorstep, and she thanked him before getting out of the car. Once inside, she took off her boots and felt utterly lazy, not wanting to move at all. She collapsed onto the bed, the soft cotton quilt enveloping her, and she felt a wave of drowsiness wash over her.

For several consecutive days, bouquets kept arriving. However, there were no phone calls, and she did not reach out either. After a few more days, he finally called: "I will come to your place tonight." She had already finished work quite late and returned home very late. As soon as she entered the door, he arrived, looking displeased. She paid no attention to it and went straight to take a shower. When she finished and came out, he was already asleep, lying on his side with his back to her. She turned off the light and gently lay down beside him. Still unaccustomed to it, she only leaned against the edge of the bed, keeping her distance from him. In the darkness, she felt him turn over and pull her into his arms, his warm breath enveloping her.

On the other end, there was silence for quite a while, and she felt too embarrassed to hang up. After a long time, his voice finally broke the stillness, conveying an indescribable feeling, as if there was a hint of intimacy between lovers: "That day— that day I didn't take precautions!" Her face flushed instantly, fortunately, he could not see it. Having never encountered such a situation, should she respond that it was no big deal? She stammered for a long time, unsure of what to say. Suddenly, a thought struck her, and her heart felt a slight chill, as she finally realized, responding lightly: "There is still the option of emergency contraception in this world, why should Mr. Jiang be worried?" He remained silent on the other end, and she hung up the phone.

In a daze, she heard the phone ringing, but she just curled up and didn't want to move. However, thinking about the big order from Germany these past few days and the warm bonus that awaited her, she decided to get up, reasoning that it was better to face it than to procrastinate. Reluctantly, she crawled out from under the covers and answered the phone. After mumbling a few greetings in a foggy state, there was unexpectedly no response for a long time, which made her feel a surge of anger: "Which bastard is disturbing my sweet dreams?" With that, she hung up with a snap. Looking at the phone, it was clear it wasn't an international long-distance call. After a while, the phone rang again with a clatter. Still in a daze, she answered a few times, but again there was no response for a long time, igniting her irritation: "Which bastard is disturbing my sweet dreams?" She hung up again with a snap. After a moment, the phone rang once more. She picked it up and saw it was still that unfamiliar number. Pressing the answer button, she was surprised to hear his voice softly come through: "It's me!" She was momentarily stunned before she finally reacted and responded with a soft "Hmm."

He still held her tightly, showing no intention of letting go. After a long while, he whispered in her ear with a hint of resentment, "You troublesome little thing, just wait and see how I deal with you!" The words were spoken through gritted teeth, yet they carried an indescribable tenderness, evoking a sense of lingering affection. The breath tickled her ear, leaving her feeling completely weak and soft all over, while her heart fluttered like a gentle breeze in March brushing over the surface of a lake, soft and boundless, yet stirring up ripples.

Pingtian stared at her for a while and said softly, "I am just reminding you. Among this group of people, how many are sincere? Like me with Sun Pinghua now, do you really think it can lead to something? I just like him, so I will hold on for as long as I can. As for him? His parents have not yet found someone they like, so we just go on like this." She knew that Pingtian was speaking from the heart, but she felt embarrassed to mention her own situation with him. Upon reflection, she became even more alarmed. His parents have not yet found someone they like, so we just go on like this. She knew that Pingtian was speaking from the heart, but she felt embarrassed to mention her own situation with him. Upon reflection, she became even more alarmed.

After dinner, it was the same old leisure time, and they went to a private club. Yingting, due to her busy work schedule, dragged her along to enjoy a spa. She casually or perhaps unconsciously asked, "What happened between you and Young Master Jiang?" Her heart skipped a beat, but she remained calm and replied, "What do you mean? I'm not familiar with him at all!" Yingting looked at her with a half-smile, "Don't play dumb with me. I noticed that throughout the meal today, you must have glanced over at him countless times." She, however, did not realize that she was not familiar with him at all! Yingting looked at her with a half-smile, "Don't play dumb with me. I noticed that throughout the meal today, you must have glanced over at him countless times." She was momentarily taken aback and said, "You must have seen it wrong. There's nothing on my face."

It was indeed late for work in the morning. Shen Xiaojia had completed half of her work when she leaned over and said, "Zimo, is it going to rain red today? Even you, who are usually punctual, are late for the company standard time." Her face turned red, betraying her. It was rare for Shen Xiaojia to see her like this, so she wouldn't let it go easily: "Tell me the truth. Was it a night of romance and spring breezes last night?" She pretended to be angry and said, "Go away, go handle the client's email, and stop meddling here." Shen Xiaojia laughed and said, "Being embarrassed and angry means I hit the nail on the head!"

The sensation was both tingling and numbing; she felt her body go weak, lacking even the strength to push him away. He held her tighter, the faint scent of tobacco on him, and his burning body heat felt strangely familiar. She began to feel anxious, the sensation making her afraid, an indescribable panic rising within her. In the entanglement of their lips and teeth, she lightly bit his tongue. He winced slightly in pain, becoming somewhat more alert, merely leaning against her shoulder, breathing heavily. She felt anxious again, the sensation making her afraid, an indescribable panic rising within her. In the entanglement of their lips and teeth, she lightly bit his tongue. He winced slightly in pain, becoming somewhat more alert, merely leaning against her shoulder, breathing heavily.