Li Mai had expected her boss to ask. She had already prepared an excuse.
“There’s nothing special going on. I worked at Rongzheng Group’s Su City branch for a while. At that time, President Zhou happened to be there too, so we worked together for some time.”
“But back then, I didn’t know he was the Zhou family’s elite heir.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“Then why do I think your son looks so much like him?”
Li Mai was startled. Her almond-shaped eyes widened.
“President Ji, don’t say things like that. How does he look like him at all? Not even a bit! If the elite heir hears this, he’ll think I’m trying to scam him.”
When they were in Su City, Ji Wangyu had seen Chengcheng—just last year.
That day, Chengcheng was sick and didn’t go to kindergarten. There was no one at home to take care of him, and Li Mai was extremely busy, so she brought her son to the office. Ji Wangyu happened to see him.
Ji Wangyu already knew she had a son.
It was written in her personnel file.
At the time, he had even held Chengcheng and played with him for a while.
In fact, Chengcheng didn’t really look like Zhou Songyan. He resembled Li Mai more.
Ji Wangyu’s peach-shaped eyes fixed on Li Mai without blinking, as if trying to see through her.
“Who is your son’s father?”
He knew Li Mai wasn’t married and had given birth out of wedlock.
Li Mai replied, “President Ji, this is my private matter. I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Alright, I won’t ask for his name. Is the child’s father dead or alive?”
Li Mai: “……”
After hesitating for a long time, she answered, “Dead.”
Anyway, it was no different from being dead.
She didn’t plan to let her son acknowledge Zhou Songyan.
Zhou Songyan would get married someday and have his own children.
Chengcheng belonged to her alone.
Ji Wangyu was silent for a moment, then waved his hand. “You may go.”
…
Beijing had been gloomy and rainy lately.
Just before getting off work, it started raining again.
Li Mai hadn’t brought an umbrella.
Whenever it rained, it was hard to get a taxi.
She checked the ride-hailing app several times, but no driver accepted her request.
Glancing at the rain, she gritted her teeth and ran toward the bus stop.
By the time she got there, her suit jacket was soaked through.
She took it off and draped it over her arm.
She was left wearing only the white shirt underneath.
On rainy days, buses were slow too.
Li Mai sat on the bench at the stop and waited.
Suddenly, a black Maybach stopped in front of her.
The car window rolled down, revealing Ji Wangyu’s handsome face.
“Get in.”
Li Mai waved her hand. “President Ji, no need. I’ll take the bus.”
“It’s pouring, and it’s rush hour. The bus will take a long time to arrive.”
Li Mai thought about having to go to her senior’s place to pick up her son.
So she didn’t refuse again.
She picked up her bag, walked over, opened the door, and got in.
She wouldn’t dare let her boss be her driver—so she sat in the front passenger seat.
As soon as she sat down, a series of sharp horn blasts sounded from behind.
Ji Wangyu turned his head to look.
It was a limited-edition Bentley.
In Beijing, people who drove cars like that usually had extraordinary backgrounds.
So impatient—probably some rich second-generation kid sneaking out in his dad’s car.
Ji Wangyu originally wanted to get out and lecture him, but thought better of it.
It was raining. If they argued, it would block the road.
Li Mai fastened her seatbelt. “President Ji, please drop me off at Guanlan Residential Area.”
Ji Wangyu started the car.
He asked casually, “You live there?”
“No. My friend lives there. I left my son with her to help take care of him. I’m going to pick him up.”
Ji Wangyu knew Li Mai was raising a child on her own while working.
It wasn’t easy.
He drove carefully, but the Bentley suddenly changed lanes and cut in front of him, giving him a scare.
He frowned. “What’s wrong with this guy? Does he even know how to drive?”
Li Mai looked ahead. It was the Bentley.
She couldn’t help but think how many rich people there were in Beijing.
As soon as the light turned green, the Bentley sped off, splashing up a huge wave of water.
…
Zhou Songyan felt like he was going crazy.
It had been five years.
He thought his resentment toward Li Mai was long gone.
But seeing her again threw his carefully restored calm into chaos.
Something was wrong with him—he had driven to wait outside Ji Group for two days in a row.
Yesterday, he didn’t see Li Mai.
Today, he finally did.
But he saw her get into Ji Wangyu’s car.
What is her relationship with Ji Wangyu?
Zhou Songyan was extremely irritated.
In a moment of losing control, he pressed the horn several times.
He even sped up, changed lanes, and cut in front of Ji Wangyu’s car.
This was not like him at all.
Li Mai was a woman who chased vanity—so why was he losing control because of her?
Zhou Songyan pulled over to the side of the road, lit a cigarette, and started smoking.
Outside, rain poured down heavily.
Inside the car, smoke filled the air.
…
The car was almost at Guanlan Residential Area.
Li Mai said, “President Ji, you can just drop me off at the entrance.”
Ji Wangyu replied, “The rain is too heavy. Tell me which building—you live in, and I’ll drive you in.”
“No need to trouble yourself.”
“I’ve already driven you back. What’s a few more steps?”
So Li Mai stopped insisting and told him the building number.
After reporting to the security guard, Ji Wangyu drove into the compound.
“President Ji, it’s this building.”
Ji Wangyu parked the car.
Li Mai unfastened her seatbelt, turned, and thanked him. “President Ji, thank you so much today!”
Ji Wangyu said, “I only gave you a ride because the rain was too heavy.”
Li Mai paused, then smiled. “Yes. I’m very grateful, President Ji. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be home yet.”
“President Ji, drive safely.”
Ji Wangyu waved his hand. “Go on. I’m in a hurry to get home.”
Li Mai quickly got out of the car and ran toward the building.
…
Seeing that her clothes were soaked, You Huan took her bag and jacket, hung up the bag, and tossed the clothes into the washing machine.
“Go take a shower quickly, or you’ll catch a cold.”
Li Mai didn’t stand on ceremony and headed for the bathroom.
“Senior, thank you for helping take care of Chengcheng today. The rain is so heavy—Chengcheng and I can’t leave tonight. We’ll have to impose on you.”
You Huan said, “I’d love that. If you hadn’t insisted on moving out, I really wanted you to live with me.”
Living with Li Mai was great.
She rushed to do the cleaning.
And she cooked delicious food.
Much more reliable than finding a man.
“Wait here. I’ll get you some clothes.”
Li Mai had already moved her own clothes out.
So You Huan found a set of her own pajamas for her.
After showering, Li Mai read a picture book to Chengcheng for a while.
As he listened, the little boy gradually fell asleep.
Li Mai put down the book and looked at her son’s sleeping face, her heart filled with tenderness.
She had promised Chengcheng that she would find his father.
Now, she would have to break that promise.