The night rain had just ceased.
The next morning, when Qu He entered the company, many eyes lingered on her.
The polished elevator mirror doors reflected her outfit for the day. Looking at herself in the mirror, Qu He felt a sense of unfamiliarity.
This was the first time in five years she hadn’t worn that somber black professional suit.
“Ding.”
The elevator doors opened.
The crisp sound of high heels crossed the office area and arrived at the secretarial department.
Qu He paused slightly in her steps.
Qiao Mian was surrounded by several colleagues, her meticulously made-up face carrying an undisguisable air of coquettish pride, holding a large bouquet of cappuccino roses in her hands.
The pinkish-coffee petals still glistened with dew, clearly delivered fresh that morning.
Familiar packaging. Familiar bouquet.
Qian Zhaoye, do you love her that much? So much that even while you’re at the police station, you don’t forget to send flowers to your mistress?
“Qiao Mian, your boyfriend is way too good to you—he sends you flowers every other day!”
“Yeah, yeah, compared to him, my boyfriend’s taste in flowers is so ugly.”
Qiao Mian basked in the flattery of those around her, showing off the bouquet with delight.
“Oh, actually, the first time my boyfriend sent flowers, they weren’t my favorite either. Later I told him I liked cappuccino roses, and that’s when he learned.”
Her voice was sickly sweet, but to Qu He’s ears, it was like honeyed poison.
So he could tell them apart after all.
So his memory wasn’t that bad after all.
In the face of the truth, every excuse was so pale and hollow.
In Qian Zhaoye’s heart, he had never cared about her thoughts; her preferences had never been worth taking seriously.
The faint scent of roses at that moment seemed to transform into acrid poison. Qu He gripped the back of the sofa to steady herself.
“Qiao Mian, your boyfriend is so good to you! That necklace on your neck is the new A-family design, right?” One of the colleagues leaned in with an exclamation, spreading her palm wide. “At least fifty thousand! And you have to order three months in advance!”
Qiao Mian covered her mouth with a smile, gently toying with the rose-gold heart-shaped necklace at her throat. “It’s not that big a deal. He just gave it to me the day before yesterday, saying it looks good on me!”
The necklace turned between her fingers, the diamonds set into it catching the light with a dazzling gleam that stabbed painfully at Qu He’s eyes.
Her gaze seemed nailed to the necklace.
This necklace…
Three months ago, when her birthday was approaching, she had been browsing images on the A-family official website when Qian Zhaoye saw her. He had wrapped his arms around her from behind, his chin resting on her shoulder. “Like this one? Want it for your birthday?”
At the time, she had only said she was just looking, that he shouldn’t waste money, but deep down she had still held hope for his thoughtfulness.
But how could a man’s casual promise be taken seriously?
On her birthday, he had frowned and said, “That necklace requires a pre-order, and they’re all sold out. Besides, as a secretary, wearing such a flashy necklace wouldn’t be appropriate.”
What he had finally pressed into her hands was a striped silk scarf, along with the words, “A He, this scarf suits you better.”
And because of those words, she had treasured that scarf like a precious gem in her wardrobe.
Looking back now, she had been utterly foolish, blinded to the truth.
That brightly colored silk scarf was probably just a matching accessory for the necklace.
Ha.
Recalling the luxury items that appeared on Qiao Mian from time to time, and then thinking about what she had given and received over the past five years—
Qu He’s eyes were filled with coldness, the blood in her body running icy.
A notification sound came from her phone.
It was a message from the housekeeping service: [Dear member Ms. Qu, your booked 360-degree no-blind-spot comprehensive home cleaning is currently in progress. You may click the live stream link below to watch in real time.]
The sudden notification broke the atmosphere.
Xiao Lin, the administrative assistant, was the first to notice Qu He standing not far away, her voice slightly distorted with surprise. “Qu… Sister Qu He!”
The other colleagues turned around one after another, and upon seeing Qu He, they couldn’t help but gasp.
Is that… Qu He?
No… Is this really the Secretary Qu who usually dresses in such stiff, outdated attire?
The colleagues often gossiped privately about how Secretary Qu seemed to have her work uniform welded to her body all 365 days a year, because since they had joined the company, none of them had ever seen Qu He in casual clothes.
So she was this beautiful all along!
Her hair, usually pinned up so meticulously, was today, for once, curled into loose waves. The misty blue fitted dress cinched her waist, making it look impossibly slender. Beneath the V-neckline, her collarbones were subtly revealed. The silver high heels on her feet made her look tall, elegant, and cool.
She should have dressed like this all along!
Who doesn’t love a beautiful woman!
Qu He stepped forward, feeling the gazes coming from all directions, as well as Qiao Mian’s gradually darkening face.
“Sister Qu, you’re so gorgeous today!”
“That dress makes you look so fair!”
“Sister Qu He, you look way better in a dress than in your work uniform! Gorgeous! Love to see it! Wear them more!”
Xiao Lin, the administrative assistant, bounced over with a grin. “Sister Qu He, that dress of yours is the new early-spring design from the Xiang family, isn’t it? Not cheap, huh~”
Qu He smiled faintly, her gaze flickering to the crumpled rose-patterned wrapping paper in Qiao Mian’s hand as she swayed her skirt slightly. “Good taste.”
“Wow! This isn’t from your fiancé, is it?”
Qu He’s heart jolted, but she didn’t answer.
In truth, it was a birthday gift she had bought for herself three months ago.
It had been hidden away in the deepest corner of her wardrobe, known to no one but her.
Over time, she had nearly forgotten the dress even existed.
And nearly forgotten what she herself used to be like.
Yes! How could a man’s promises ever be trusted?
If you wanted something, you simply bought it yourself.
Her silence was taken by others as tacit confirmation, and the round of flattery resumed.
Watching Qiao Mian’s smile gradually twist, Qu He didn’t deny it either.
“Sister Qu He, you’re dressed so beautifully today—are you going on a date with your fiancé?” Xiao Lin, the administrative assistant, winked with curiosity.
The moment the question was asked, the air fell silent for a beat.
The whole company knew Qu He had a boyfriend of many years, engaged just last year, yet no one had ever seen the man’s face. Recently, rumors had even circulated that her fiancé was a nouveau riche balding man over fifty.
Qu He had heard these baseless rumors around the office.
No woman could take such slander lightly. She had once brought up going public with Qian Zhaoye, but every time, she was met with his impatience.
“A He, why bother with what others think? Going public with our relationship right now isn’t a good idea. Wait a little longer.”
“A He, you know I love you deeply, but if others found out we’re together, there would be gossip, and it would affect the company’s development. Can you think of me and wait a little longer?”
She believed him.
And she waited.
Five years she waited.
From initial anticipation to a heart as still as water.
She had thought that with time, everything would be fine—as long as she was with Qian Zhaoye, she could ignore everything else. But it turned out, it was all a lie!
For five whole years, she had been like an invisible presence, enduring rumors while playing the role of “perfect secretary” by Qian Zhaoye’s side, while he flirted with other women behind her back.
Seven years of dating, five years of a secret relationship.
If her engagement ring hadn’t been spotted by a colleague recently, no one would have known she was about to get married.
Yes!
They were supposed to be getting married soon.
But why, in the end, was she still someone who couldn’t see the light of day?
Qu He’s silence made the atmosphere somewhat awkward.
Qiao Mian resumed her haughty demeanor, looking innocent as she said, “Sister Qu He, you’re not broken up, are you? I noticed you’re not wearing your engagement ring today.”
Everyone’s gaze fell in unison on Qu He’s hand. She instinctively touched the faint mark on her left ring finger.
The corner of her mouth curved slightly, her tone light and airy: “I’m planning to get a bigger engagement ring soon.”
Qiao Mian refused to back down. “Is that so? Then when are you going to bring your fiancé around for us to meet, Sister Qu He?”