“No, no, no, you misunderstood,” Su Qian said. “What I meant was, let’s exchange WeChat.”
Jiang Ji’s brow furrowed slightly. “Fine.”
After successfully adding Jiang Ji on WeChat, Su Qian couldn’t hide her smile.
Jiang Ji glanced at her. ”That makes you this happy?”
“Yep.”
Su Qian tilted her head up. “Just thinking about being able to say good morning to you tomorrow makes me happy. Of course, it’d be even better if I could say it to your face in person.”
Perhaps she’d never encountered such a thick-skinned pursuer before, because Jiang Ji looked a little uncomfortable.
Su Qian cradled her phone and flopped onto the sofa, eagerly opening Jiang Ji’s Moments feed.
Only to see two horizontal lines.
Jiang Ji’s Moments were hidden from her.
Su Qian wasn’t discouraged, though.
Chasing a handsome guy was just like snatching up a premium project.
If it could be won over that easily, Su Qian would never have risen to her current position.
Early the next morning, Su Qian sent Jiang Ji a message.
[Good morning, Ji Ji!]
[Did you sleep well last night? Did you dream of me~]
Jiang Ji didn’t reply.
Su Qian didn’t mind and headed off to work in high spirits.
In the R&D department, her supervisor couldn’t help teasing her when he saw her.
“Su Qian, you’re in such a good mood—looks like your workload isn’t full enough!”
Su Qian stopped grinning.
“President Zheng, I worked overtime until nine last night before leaving.”
Her supervisor waved a hand. “Just kidding. Actually, I was thinking of setting you up with someone. He’s from Hong Kong City, from a good family. Once you transfer over there, he can look out for you.”
With that, he pulled out a photo. “Look. Handsome, right?”
Su Qian took a closer look—he really was a handsome man.
The classic Hong Kong–style elite look: tan skin, sharp features, a defined jawline, and a pair of dark, bright eyes with a roguish charm.
“Thank you, boss!”
“But a guy this handsome is out of my league.”
Su Qian knew herself well and politely declined.
Besides, she already had a target now—her sister’s boyfriend.
The moment she thought of Jiang Ji, Su Qian’s eyes crinkled with a smile. Even her work-worn air faded, and she seemed years younger.
Zheng Dong asked, “You really won’t meet him? He’s so handsome!”
Su Qian smiled. “No, no. I think work is more important.”
Zheng Dong nodded with satisfaction.
After her supervisor left, Xia Jie leaned over and whispered, “Look at you, all lovestruck. Did you get lucky last night?”
“Nothing happened last night.”
“What? Didn’t you two kiss yesterday?”
“I kissed my own hand.”
“You… Ugh, I set up such a perfect opportunity for you, and you didn’t even use it?”
Xia Jie was exasperated. “Sweetie, how old are you, still playing the pure-love game? When you meet someone you like, just pin him down and sit on his face—”
Danger, danger!
Su Qian quickly made a time-out gesture.
She only wanted romance, not to do that.
Su Qian whispered, “He agreed to let me pursue him!”
“…Well, good luck then?”
If it were anyone else, Xia Jie might have worried—worried that she’d fail to win him over and lose her own heart in the process.
But Su Qian was absolutely not the type to get the short end of the stick.
Xia Jie had always been a good judge of character.
Sure, Su Qian was infatuated right now, looking as if she were head over heels in love.
But people like her were like glass kettles—they boiled fast and cooled even faster.
If she met someone on the same wavelength, fine.
But if she met someone slow to warm up and stubbornly set in their ways, that would be real trouble.
Su Qian would have long since gone cold, while the other person was still boiling.
Hopefully it wouldn’t turn out that way!
…
At lunch, Su Qian sent Jiang Ji another photo of her meal.
Su Qian: [A-Ji, have you eaten yet~]
[Your stomach isn’t well, you need to eat on time. Want me to order delivery for you?]
This time, Jiang Ji replied.
[Not hungry]
Just two words.
But Su Qian hugged her phone and grinned foolishly, reading the message over and over.
Xia Jie warned her, “Sweetie, don’t fall too fast. I’m worried you’ll fall out even faster.”
Su Qian shook her head. “No way. When I like someone, I like them for good. I’m very devoted.”
For example, she’d hit on Jiang Ji four times in a row.
That proved she was a devoted person.
Xia Jie sighed helplessly. “By that logic, the emperors in TV dramas were devoted too. Three thousand concubines, all stand-ins for one true love—how devoted!”
“That’s not the same thing. I mean, whatever style he’s in, I like him.”
“No, that just means you only like handsome guys.”
“……”
“Okay, let’s get serious.”
Su Qian put a piece of sweet-and-sour ribs in Xia Jie’s bowl and asked humbly for advice.
“Teacher Xia, teach me how to chase a man.”
“You’ve come to the right person. Flirting with men is easy.” Xia Jie lowered her voice. “Just drop some dirty jokes now and then. Like: ‘It’s raining so hard outside—big bro, is it big where it counts?'”
“……Ahem. Something more serious.”
Xia Jie clicked her tongue.
“You said his stomach is bad. He’s so young and already has stomach problems—what does that tell you? It means his family’s busy and no one has time to take care of him.”
“Men like that are the easiest to win over, because they’re starved of love. You just give him lots and lots of love. For instance, after work today, go bring him a home-cooked meal.”
“As they say, the warmth of everyday life soothes the ordinary heart best.”
Su Qian thought that made sense.
After work, she stopped by the market.
She made her best dishes: tomato beef brisket, lily bulbs with snow peas, and a heaping mound of steamed rice.
She packed everything carefully into boxes and knocked on the door of apartment 2602.
The door opened.
Jiang Ji’s brow furrowed. “What are you doing here?”
Su Qian beamed. “Aren’t you going to invite me in?”
“We’re not that close, are we?”
“But I just burned my hand cooking for you.”
As she spoke, Su Qian held out her slender, jade-white fingers for Jiang Ji to see.
She hadn’t actually burned herself at all—she was just fishing for sympathy.
Jiang Ji seemed to believe her. He said nothing, but stepped back and cleared the doorway.
Su Qian slipped right in.
Jiang Ji’s apartment had the same layout as hers, but it was far too bare. Not only were the tabletop and kitchen completely empty—there wasn’t even a sofa or coffee table.
She wrinkled her nose. “How much is the rent on this place? How come the landlord didn’t even furnish it with a sofa?”
“No idea.”
“Huh? Wasn’t it in the contract?”
“I bought this place my freshman year. It’s close to campus.”
Su Qian: “……”
Right, she’d forgotten. This was the young master of the Jiang family.
She smiled, eyes curving. “Looks like I’d better win you over fast—then I can save on rent.”
Jiang Ji said, “The apartment you live in belongs to our family too.”
Su Qian froze.
Then she lifted her eyes and teased, “So the person who signed the contract with me back then was your mom? Does that count as meeting the parents?”
“No, it was the family’s housekeeper.”
“……Oh.”
Jiang Ji’s coldness did nothing to dampen Su Qian’s enthusiasm.
She sat down and opened the lunch boxes one by one, smiling brightly. “I made all this just for you. Want a taste?”
“I have no appetite.” Jiang Ji’s expression was cold and weary.
Su Qian tugged at his sleeve. “Just one bite, one bite. Do it for my sake, okay?”
Jiang Ji eyed her. “What sake do you have?”
That stung a little.
But Su Qian was used to it—especially when she looked at Jiang Ji’s gorgeous face, she couldn’t muster any temper at all.
When pursuing someone, you have to be thick-skinned.
Otherwise, how would you ever win the beauty over?
Her eyes darted, and with a quick smack, she planted a kiss on him.