CHAPTER 20: CHAPTER 20: BAI YUEGUANG’S STAND-IN (20)

[Your little cutie says she’s about to be exhausted.]

In the photo, Jiang Lai looked as if she was about to cry, but her dark eyes still held a smile. Around her neck was the Valentine’s Day gift necklace Shen Liao had given her, with the brilliant diamonds looking beautiful against the woman’s fair and slender collarbone.

Shen Liao’s drowsiness vanished completely as he stared at the photo on his phone without looking away for a long time.

After sending the message, Jiang Lai fell asleep at once.

The next day, after visiting MISS SIXTY’s perfume brand company, the company’s design director, Amanda, invited Jiang Lai to a meal.

"I’ve been following your Weibo. I particularly liked one of your recent illustrations, you know... the Rose Planet. It feels like something only someone in love could create."

Jiang Lai smiled shyly.

"That piece was actually drawn casually. If you like it, you can use it."

"How could we, but since you said so, how about selling the rights to that illustration to our company? We’re just about to launch the Equinox co-branded perfume, and that illustration would be perfect."

Jiang Lai generously nodded in agreement.

"It’s enough for me that you appreciate my work. If there’s a need for collaboration in the future, feel free to reach out to me anytime."

"I like your style. By the way, our parent company is planning to launch a series of autumn-winter limited edition sets with a theme of companionship. I think you should give it a try."

MISS SIXTY’s parent company is a world-renowned cosmetics brand, and several of its luxury brands are highly sought after.

The perfume brand Amanda mentioned is one of those luxury brands.

If there’s an opportunity to work with these brands, it would be a tremendous boost to Jiang Lai’s career.

"Whether selected or not, it’s a rare opportunity, and you should believe in your abilities."

Amanda reminded Jiang Lai not to have too high hopes.

Jiang Lai nodded.

"Yes, I understand. Thank you. If you ever come to Jiang City, I’ll treat you to a meal."

——

"Aren’t you going back to Jiang City?"

Seeing that Jiang Lai had bought high-speed train tickets to her hometown, Little Buding was a bit confused about her intentions.

Shouldn’t you be striking while the iron is hot and winning over Shen Liao completely?

After all, her Heartbeat Value is already close to seventy. A simple calculation, and we know that a normal couple in love rarely reaches seventy percent Heartbeat Value for each other. Although this number doesn’t signify life-and-death commitment, it at least ensures growing old together.

Jiang Lai, wearing a baseball cap, calmly listened to music.

"I’m not going back."

She wanted to go home for a visit because she could feel that there was still one regret hidden in the heart of the original owner, which was her parents.

After the original owner’s suicide, her poor parents were heartbroken, their hair turning white overnight, eventually leading to their deaths from illness.

Since she’s using someone else’s body, Jiang Lai wanted to fulfill all her regrets from her previous life, unrelated to any task.

Seeing their daughter again, the couple was clearly both surprised and thrilled. It had been over a year since they last saw her, and they didn’t expect Jiang Lai to return so soon.

"Why bring work home with you when you’re back?"

Mrs. Jiang looked at the heavy digital drawing pad in Jiang Lai’s suitcase, feeling sorry for her daughter.

Jiang Lai lay on the sofa eating watermelon and petting the dog, feeling happy and leisurely.

"Came back to find some inspiration."

"Painting again?"

"Yes, I want to draw more, earn big money, and buy a big villa for you."

"Oh!"

Mrs. Jiang was coaxed into a smile. Even if she took it as a joke, she was still delighted.

It was enough that her daughter had the heart.

After spending two leisurely days in her hometown, Jiang Lai received a phone call from Shen Liao.

For the first time, the first time in her life, Shen Liao took the initiative to call her and even stayed on the line for thirty seconds without hanging up.

Jiang Lai slowly picked up the phone, her other hand still rapidly sketching on the draft.

"What’s up?"

The girl’s voice was sweet, with some background noise of street vendors, making it hard to judge her exact location.

"Why aren’t you coming back?"

Shen Liao’s voice was noticeably displeased.

Jiang Lai smiled, still speaking softly, and compared to the man’s suppressed dissatisfaction, she remained calm.

"I want to stay home for a few days. My dad’s fiftieth birthday is in a couple of days, and I want to celebrate it with him."

Upon hearing this, Shen Liao was silent for a long time.

Even though that’s the logical thing to do, he just wasn’t happy about it.

"Next time, let me know in advance."

"It’s not that important, and besides, when I’m not here, you can have some peace and quiet. Didn’t you always say I was annoying before?"

"Yes, it has indeed been more peaceful recently. I have a meeting to attend."

After hanging up, Jiang Lai was utterly unfazed by his mood and continued focusing on the sketches in front of her after tossing aside her phone.

At the other end of the line, on the top floor of a skyscraper, in front of wide and bright floor-to-ceiling windows, Shen Liao was gripping his phone tightly, staring at the photo on the screen.

It was a selfie Jiang Lai had posted not long ago.

Just this one.

She posted just this one photo in the past seven or eight days they’ve been apart.

Even though he was busy, whenever he had a quiet moment, his mind drifted back to Jiang Lai.

This period made him inexplicably feel that time passed very, very slowly.

Today was no different; it was already past 6:30. A few secretaries waiting in front of the boss’s office had just started packing up to leave when the phone rang. The next second, the boss’s cold voice echoed through the office.

"Meeting after work."

Everyone looked at each other and then, in unison, put down their packed-up bags, took off their headphones, and sat back down to continue working silently.

"Secretary Dong, why has the boss been working overtime all week?"

"Yeah, for some time, the boss would leave regularly at six or even early sometimes. Why has he gone back to his old schedule recently? I don’t see any particularly important matters at the company lately..."

As Shen Liao’s personal secretary, Secretary Dong knew more than others, but he dared not gossip about the boss. He could only sigh.

"Ah, just hold on for a few more days. We should be able to leave on time soon."

"Secretary Dong, do you know something?"

Seeing everyone in the secretarial office perk up their ears, Secretary Dong smiled and said.

"If you’re not busy, go redo the recent meeting minutes."

"Haha, busy, busy, we’re all busy."

——

The meeting ended nearly at nine.

Most company staff had already left, but the largest office on the top floor was still lit.

Secretary Dong pushed the door open and brought in a cup of coffee.

Inside the office, it was so quiet that he could even hear his own breathing.

"President, your coffee."

"Put it down. You can leave for the day."

"Okay, President."