Lu Qingze’s anger dissipated with a soft poof the moment he met the girl’s eyes, which were brimming with tears and looked utterly pitiful.
Having cried, her eyes were moist.
Like a fawn drinking from a forest stream, she lifted her head warily, her eyes clear and alert, sharp and perceptive.
But now, the fawn’s eyes were filled with regret after the initial shock.
“I’m… I’m sorry…”
An Ning hurriedly reached to open the car door. As soon as she stepped out, a flash of white appeared before her.
The man handed her two tissues. “Wipe your tears…”
“Thank you! I’m sorry! I’m really sorry!”
Bowing repeatedly, tears flew from the girl’s eyes again.
She almost snatched the tissues from his hand, then closed the car door and dashed into the black Volkswagen ahead.
“Miss…”
Ji Cheng hastily opened the car door, but before he could even shout “Your suitcase!”, the black Volkswagen sped away like an arrow.
Ji Cheng: …
“Drive.”
A cold, low voice came from the back seat. Suppressing the bitterness in his heart, Ji Cheng started the car and drove forward.
He couldn’t help but mutter to himself: This car is probably a goner!
Who in Didu didn’t know that Young Master Lu was cold, ruthless, and unapproachable?
The phrase “showing tenderness to women” simply didn’t apply to him, let alone when it came to women as a species.
Last time, the eldest daughter of the Yu family used the excuse of catching a ride to get into the Boss’s car. Before she could even utter a word of small talk, this lord gave an order. Not only was Miss Yu escorted out of the car by bodyguards, but he himself also got out.
With a single “Dispose of it,” the brand-new car, which had only been used twice, turned into a pile of scrap metal.
This time…
Over ten minutes later, the car stopped in the underground parking lot of Dijing Group.
Ji Cheng got out and opened the car door. Lu Qingze stepped out.
Just as Ji Cheng was about to follow, he saw Lu Qingze hadn’t moved. “Check the police stations near where she got into the car and deliver the suitcase there.”
Ji Cheng couldn’t help but glance up at his Boss.
Apart from the two elders in his family, probably no one in all of Didu could earn a kind look from him.
Who would have thought that the crying young lady would become the exception.
A thought stirred in Ji Cheng’s heart. “Yes!”
…
An Ning only realized something was wrong when she arrived at the company to clock in.
As she turned to rush out, her face paled the moment she moved her feet.
Her suitcase was in the car she had mistakenly entered.
But in the vast Sicheng, black Volkswagens were everywhere on the streets. Where could she find that particular car?
Then, thinking about her ID card, bank cards, graduation certificate, degree certificate—all her belongings were in that suitcase—An Ning felt as if she had been struck by lightning.
Outside the window, the sun was shining brightly, but over her head, dark clouds gathered with flashes of thunder.
Before tears could fall again, she rushed to the restroom, cried her heart out, then composed herself and went to the HR department.
Reissuing her work card cost 20 yuan. Normally, An Ning would have been so heartbroken she wouldn’t have been able to eat lunch.
But thinking that once she got paid this month, she wouldn’t give them another cent, and from then on, she could save an extra 3,000 yuan every month, An Ning suddenly felt that 20 yuan wasn’t such a big deal.
She posted a lost-and-found notice on a local forum and called the police station near her home to ask if any kind soul had turned in a suitcase.
Taking a deep breath, An Ning began her daily routine work.
At exactly six o’clock, just as she finished handling the tasks at hand, her phone began chiming incessantly.
With just one glance, An Ning’s recently calmed mood plummeted to its worst.
On the other end of the line, An Mother’s loud, shrill voice was so piercing that even colleagues in the distance looked up at An Ning.
“You’ve got some nerve, haven’t you? Not coming home is fine! Not handing over your salary is also fine! But you better obediently go on that blind date for me, An Ning. I’m not discussing this with you—I’m telling you!”
“If you don’t go, I’ll come to your company and find you. I’ll make sure everyone in your company knows that you were adopted by our An family from an orphanage, and that I raised a thankless wretch who dares to yell at her adoptive parents and even slam doors! I’ll also let your boss know what kind of person their subordinate is at home!”
An Ning’s head throbbed from the noise.
Knowing full well that her adoptive mother was absolutely capable of doing exactly that, An Ning’s shoulders slumped in defeat. “Fine, I’ll go.”
On the other end, An Mother sounded triumphant before hanging up with a loud click.
Immediately afterward, a WeChat message arrived: 6:30 p.m., Blues Café downstairs from your office, Table 1.
Got it.
An Ning tossed her phone aside, her shoulders sagging helplessly.
If possible, she really wanted to get married as soon as possible.
Even if it meant marrying today and divorcing tomorrow.
As long as she could legitimately obtain her household registration booklet and transfer it out of the An family, she could leave Sicheng and start a brand-new life in an unfamiliar city.
Then, no one could force her anymore.
And no one could make her suffer again.
Before her tears could fall, she tilted her head back, staring wide-eyed at the ceiling above: An Ning, don’t cry! Just hold on a little longer—it’ll get better, everything will get better!
Huff…
After calming herself, An Ning rummaged through her drawer for a compact and headed to the restroom.
When she returned, she grabbed her bag and went downstairs.
To be safe, An Ning also called Aunt Fen.
The phone was answered after just one ring, the woman on the other end speaking urgently and rapidly, “Ningning, I’m not exaggerating! This young man’s conditions are genuinely good this time!”
The woman chattered on excitedly.
On her end, An Ning had already formed a rough idea of the blind date candidate.
Thirty-five years old, IT engineer, honest and dependable, introverted.
“Aunt Fen has checked him out for you. Apart from being a bit soft-spoken, the young man has no other flaws. I’ve seen him myself—he has regular features and is quite handsome! Ningning, opportunities like this don’t come often. You’re already 25—if you delay any longer, you’ll be considered an old maid!”
Based on An Ning’s understanding of Aunt Fen, this blind date candidate was likely old, unattractive, and incompetent, which was why he was described as a 35-year-old who was dull and inarticulate.
It was just a matter of phrasing—one version was the blunt, low-EQ truth, while the other was the polished, high-EQ version.
If it weren’t for her eloquence and persuasive skills, Aunt Fen’s status as the top matchmaker in the circle wouldn’t be so unshakable.
“I understand, thank you, Aunt Fen!”
After hanging up, An Ning realized belatedly that she had forgotten the most important thing.
She hadn’t even asked for his name.
Oh well, she could ask in person later.
Checking the time—exactly 6:30—An Ning pushed open the door to Blues Café.
…
Imperial View Tower was the most upscale office building in downtown Sicheng.
In a window-side booth at the café on the first floor, Lu Qingze glanced at his wristwatch.
Then, he made a call, “Five minutes! If you’re not here within five minutes, don’t bother coming!”
“Bro, I’m sorry, I…”
After hanging up, Lu Qingze looked up, his gaze momentarily frozen.
Is Sicheng really this small?
The girl who pushed the door open was still wearing the same clothes from earlier in the day. Even with a thick layer of powder, the slight swelling on her face was still visible.
After glancing around, she walked straight toward him.
As he lifted his coffee cup, Lu Qingze paused, about to speak.
Then he saw the girl sit down across from him.