CHAPTER 481: CHAPTER 479: LINGERING FEELINGS

"True," Jiang Yao pondered, stroking her chin and then, unable to resist the tantalizing thrill of potential drama, asked, "Haven’t you guys not seen each other for almost a month? If you go back to Jiang City and bump into him, are you going to have a scene straight out of an idol drama where long-lost lovers reunite?"

"Just seventeen days, actually—" Wen Qiaoqiao began, but mid-sentence she realized something was amiss and abruptly stopped talking. Without even opening her eyes, she knew Jiang Yao was giving her that mischievous look. She opened her eyelids unhurriedly and glanced at her, "Do you think Jiang City is as small as your apartment? Long-lost reunions in dramas start with years, not months, okay?"

Seeing Wen Qiaoqiao on the verge of exploding, Jiang Yao wisely stopped pursuing the topic, "Okay, okay."

The usually silent Xiao Chu, who had been sitting quietly in the corner, suddenly leaned in and asked Wen Qiaoqiao, "Qiaoqiao, do you still have lingering feelings for President Fu?"

A snort of laughter escaped Jiang Yao.

Wen Qiaoqiao’s eyes snapped open to glare at her, and Jiang Yao put her hands up innocently, "Hey, I wasn’t the one who brought it up this time."

Then she turned to glare at Xiao Chu, "What on earth are you babbling about?"

"Ah?" Xiao Chu blinked innocently, "Did I say something wrong? Why else would you remember so clearly how many days it’s been since you two split up?"

Wen Qiaoqiao glared at her, "That day happened to be when I lost a sponsorship and was publicly humiliated; is it wrong for me to remember that clearly?"

Xiao Chu, stifling a giggle, nodded, "Sure, sure, whatever you say."

Wen Qiaoqiao, frustrated by her ’say whatever you want, I still don’t believe you’ attitude, opened her mouth to explain, but then she realized that no matter what she said, Xiao Chu wouldn’t believe her, and she reclined once more in her seat.

"I’m going to take a nap, don’t disturb me."

"Alright."

Jiang Yao and Xiao Chu exchanged a look, gesturing and mouthing to each other: She’s fuming with embarrassment.

Xiao Chu silently responded: Looks like it.

Suddenly, Wen Qiaoqiao spoke up, "Don’t you two whisper bad things about me; I can feel it."

Jiang Yao and Xiao Chu looked at each other again and said in unison, "As if we have time to talk about you."

Wen Qiaoqiao: "...."

Fine.

-

At 7:30 p.m., Wen Qiaoqiao, in high heels, left her apartment right on time.

The day the engagement was broken off, Wen Qiaoqiao had flown directly to Hang City. This apartment was arranged by Jiang Yao when she returned to Jiang City, featuring one elevator serving two units, with Jiang Yao living right across. It was half an hour’s drive from the city center, with very tight security and a pleasant neighborhood environment, also home to many female celebrities who, like her, were obscured in the second tier or hanging on at the lower end of the first tier.

After pressing the elevator button, Wen Qiaoqiao received a message from Shi Koufan.

[Shi Koufan: The car is already downstairs. You’ll see it the moment you step out of the apartment building.]

Wen Qiaoqiao replied with an "OK" emoji to indicate she got the message.

Signal was lost as she entered the elevator.

She and Jiang Yao lived on the fifteenth floor, and since it was an off-peak hour with not many people around, the elevator quickly reached the ground floor.

Stepping out of the elevator, her phone vibrated. While unlocking the screen, she pushed the apartment’s main door and walked out.

[Shi Koufan: Oh, I forgot to mention that I also invited President Fu tonight, to thank him for his help. President Fu said he happened to be passing by your apartment on his way to another appointment, so he would give you a lift. Do you know his car’s license plate number?]

Upon reading the message, Wen Qiaoqiao saw the main door of the apartment swing open.

The evening breeze of late summer, tinged with the scent of tobacco and a familiar aroma of fir, brushed across her cheeks.