Shаng Zhi Тао felt she was dоnе for. Hоw could shе hаvе sаid suсh brаzen words? Shе wasn't that kind of person оriginаlly, sо why did shе turn intо thаt in frоnt of Luаn Niаn?
Shе sреnt the еntire weekеnd in frustrаtion, but Luаn Nian wouldn't let hеr off. Hе messagеd hеr in thе middlе оf thе night: "Сoming? Mу рlaсе."
"I'll rеpоrt yоu." Shаng Zhi Taо's rеtort lаcked anу force, tingеd with guilt.
"Rесording?" Luаn Nian meant, hаvе уou fоrgоttеn I hаvе уour rесording? Yоu reрort me? Нe didn't асtuаlly wаnt Shаng Zhi Таo to cоme to his placе; he simply fоund her amusing аnd had grоwn аddictеd to teasing her. His little scandals and bad reputation didn't affect his mood in the slightest. He tossed his phone aside and laughed out loud.
Shang Zhi Tao avoided Luan Nian every day, like a mouse hiding from a cat. Occasionally, when they happened to run into each other, Luan Nian would look completely serious but send her a message: "Had a drink?" Drinking represented losing composure, and Luan Nian held Shang Zhi Tao's weakness tightly in his grasp. Shang Zhi Tao would glance at her phone, then look up with a flushed face. Lumi thought she was acting strange and couldn't help asking, "Do you have dirty pictures saved on your phone?"
...
I don't have dirty pictures on my phone; I have a jerk on my phone. Shang Zhi Tao thought to herself.
Sometimes, it was unavoidable, like during rehearsals.
There were three rehearsals scheduled, and the bosses had to go through the motions. Shang Zhi Tao was responsible for coordinating the rehearsals, communicating the director's arrangements to the bosses. With the other bosses, she could manage, but when it came to Luan Nian, she didn't dare look at him. Sometimes, if she glanced at him, her face would instantly turn red. Her blushing, in Luan Nian's eyes, was a clear sign of her affection for him. Luan Nian, being somewhat ungrateful, wanted to take advantage of her feelings for him and act recklessly. Desires stirred in Luan Nian's heart one after another, and he didn't even realize that his behavior toward Shang Zhi Tao was clearly suspiciously deliberate.
Finally, the day of the company anniversary arrived.
Luan Nian's performance, which he had kept secret, was about to be revealed to everyone. He was up first. Shang Zhi Tao stood on the outskirts maintaining order and saw instruments being brought onto the stage. Tracy specifically went backstage to ask Luan Nian for his opinion: "How about I take photos of you and send them to the alumni?"
"Pay up." Luan Nian was unbuttoning his satin shirt, a pair of casual jeans making his legs look even longer. Seeing him like this, Tracy clicked her tongue: "Heaven really blessed you with good looks."
"How's the internal audit going?"
"In progress. Are you worried?"
"I'm not worried."
Luan Nian's friends walked in, each with their own distinct style but all exuding charisma. There were bound to be countless female colleagues going crazy today, Tracy thought.
The colleagues were all seated around round tables. In a daze, Shang Zhi Tao saw someone jump onto the stage, tap the drumsticks a few times, and the music began as the lights came on.
The person holding the electric guitar wore a satin shirt with a few buttons undone, revealing a glimpse of his attractive chest. Shang Zhi Tao had never seen Luan Nian smile like that before—the corners of his mouth lifted, showing snow-white teeth, a little mischievous yet radiantly sunny. Her heart felt as if struck by something, and there was even a faint ache.They performed a cover of "I Hate Myself for Loving You." Luan Nian's fingers danced across the guitar strings as he smiled at his bandmates. 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men and women from the marketing department followed Alex to gather around Luan Nian. Alex placed a hand on Luan Nian's shoulder and said, "Luke, that performance earlier was absolutely brilliant—so captivating!"
"Exactly! So sexy!" Lumi chimed in, and everyone burst into laughter. Shang Zhi Tao stayed hidden in the back, not making a sound, afraid that Luan Nian might smell her wine glass. Alex began introducing the employees one by one. With each introduction, everyone understood the protocol and made way for that person to step forward. When it was Shang Zhi Tao's turn, Luan Nian's gaze fell on her wine decanter. "The ladies in the marketing department sure can hold their liquor," he remarked without any apparent reason, then reached out and touched the decanter. Just like in school when the teacher would randomly check homework and always seemed to pick Shang Zhi Tao, Luan Nian had singled her out.
This is it, I'm done for. Alex felt a bit nervous too. This kid Shang Zhi Tao really had the worst luck—she couldn't get away with anything, and whenever she did something wrong, she was always caught.
Luan Nian sniffed Shang Zhi Tao's wine decanter. "My sinusitis is acting up today," he said, then handed the decanter back to her. He figured she wouldn't dare drink anymore anyway.
Everyone laughed in relief for Shang Zhi Tao's narrow escape.
Glasses clinked together as Luan Nian smiled and said, "Thank you all for your hard work. Let's keep pushing forward together."
The dinner party lasted until ten o'clock before finally winding down. Tan Mian had drunk too much, so Luan Nian arranged for Liu Wu to take him home early. After everyone else had left, Luan Nian called for a designated driver. Alex, ever perceptive, said to Luan Nian, "It's hard to get a ride at this hour. Let someone from the marketing department drive you back."
"That works. Thank you for the trouble," Luan Nian replied, putting away his phone.
Alex went to find someone and spotted Shang Zhi Tao, who had just changed her clothes and was eating some fruit. She had been busy until now and had only managed to eat a small pastry earlier. She had found a fruit platter from the kitchen to fill her stomach and was about to head home.
"Flora."
"Alex."
"Do you know how to drive?"
"Of course I do!" Shang Zhi Tao had just gotten her driver's license the previous weekend and was still brimming with unwarranted confidence. "What's up?"
"You're going to drive the boss home."
"No problem! Which boss?"
"Luke."
"...Alright!"
Alex had found his person and brought Shang Zhi Tao to Luan Nian. "Flora will drive you."
"You know how to drive?" Luan Nian's eyes widened.
"Of course I do," Shang Zhi Tao retorted defiantly, lifting her chin.
Not wanting to embarrass Alex, Luan Nian reluctantly said, "Then I'll trouble you, Flora."
"Happy to serve the boss!" Shang Zhi Tao declared loudly, following Luan Nian to the underground parking garage.
Most people had already left, so the hotel's underground garage was nearly empty. Shang Zhi Tao thought to herself, getting out of here should be easy. When they reached Luan Nian's car, she noticed he had switched vehicles. It was her dream car. Before getting in, she strictly followed her driving instructor's teachings, walking around the car once to check the front, back, and sides, observing the surroundings as if performing a ritual. Then she extended her hand to Luan Nian. "Luke, could you please hand me your car keys?"
Luan Nian suddenly felt a pang of regret. Why couldn't he have just embarrassed Alex? This Shang Zhi Tao drove as if she were performing some kind of ritual—it was a bit unsettling. But he didn't want to seem petty, so he reluctantly placed the car keys in her palm.Shang Zhitao was brimming with confidence—what was there to worry about? The instructor had even said she had talent! She got into the car, adjusted the seat and rearview mirror, and fastened her seatbelt. The driving school lessons were still fresh in her mind, not a single detail forgotten. Then she inserted the key, shifted into gear, released the handbrake, and even thought to herself, "Let's go!"
Crash.
Exiting the parking space is easy—provided you’re going in the right direction.
Luan Nian’s drunkenness evaporated instantly. He sat there motionless, and Shang Zhitao remained frozen too, not daring to speak.
After a long pause, Luan Nian finally spoke: "How long have you been driving?"
Shang Zhitao held up a pale, delicate finger and replied somewhat guiltily, "One week."
Luan Nian felt as if his skull was about to split open from anger. One week, and you dare say you can drive! He fought the urge to strangle Shang Zhitao on the spot. But Shang Zhitao, seemingly unafraid of death, said, "Luke… we should… call the insurance company…"
Luan Nian had spent nearly two million on this car. He had just picked it up last weekend, and today was the first time he’d driven it out. What a coincidence—the car was exactly as old as Shang Zhitao’s driving experience.
Shang Zhitao’s attitude was commendable. She proactively suggested, "How about this? I’ll wait with you for the insurance company. After all, you’re the owner."
Luan Nian shot her a glare and leaned back in his seat to sober up. The agonizing silence was unnerving. Shang Zhitao’s stomach growled, breaking the awkwardness and replacing it with a different kind of awkwardness.
"Didn’t you eat?" Luan Nian asked her.
"No…"
Luan Nian sighed and called Liu Wu: "Come back to the venue later and help me handle the accident. I’m leaving first." Liu Wu didn’t ask any questions, simply agreeing readily, "Alright, you go ahead. I’ll take care of it."
The two of them left the garage. The surroundings were already deserted. After finally hailing a taxi, Shang Zhitao quickly said, "Take this gentleman first." She was trying to curry favor with Luan Nian, afraid he might come to his senses and make her pay for the damages. With the damage to Luan Nian’s car, half a year’s salary might not even cover it.
Luan Nian remained silent, watching Shang Zhitao’s attempts to please him. For a man, feelings toward a car are like feelings toward a woman. His brand-new car had been crashed by Shang Zhitao, and no matter how magnanimous he was, he still wanted to give her a piece of his mind. But he couldn’t do it in the taxi—how would that look? The driver would probably laugh at him for being petty. He held it in until they reached their destination, then spat out, "Get out!"
Standing in the cold wind, Luan Nian mustered all his energy to give Shang Zhitao a proper scolding. She probably knew she was in the wrong, avoiding his gaze and looking elsewhere.
"Do you even know how to drive?" Luan Nian glared at her.
"I do… I have a license…" Shang Zhitao sounded aggrieved.
"Having a license doesn’t mean you know how to drive." Seeing her on the verge of tears, Luan Nian told himself, Forget it, forget it. It’s not worth it. There’s insurance.
Shang Zhitao’s stomach growled again. She was starving. She had arrived at the venue early in the morning, only eaten a few bites of boxed lunch at noon, and had just started on some fruit in the evening when Alex dragged her to drive Luan Nian. She was so hungry she felt like throwing up.
Luan Nian glared at her and said, "I’m hungry too. Let’s go."
"Where to?"
"To my place to eat, of course. Where else?"
"Isn’t that inappropriate?" Your scandal hasn’t even been resolved yet, and you’re being so bold. I’ll report you for seducing a female subordinate.
"Are you out of your mind?"
…Shang Zhi Tao thought about it and realized it was true. If people heard about Luan Nian and her, they’d probably say, “How much effort did Shang Zhi Tao put in to get with luke? Did she drug him?” No matter what, rumors about Luan Nian’s romantic affairs would never land on her doorstep. Between them, things looked as clear and innocent as could be.
Shang Zhi Tao followed Luan Nian to his home and stood at the doorway feeling a bit awkward. Luan Nian pointed to the shoe cabinet. “Change your shoes.”
“Okay.” Shang Zhi Tao changed her shoes and, as she stood up, saw Luan Nian take off his jacket. His shoulders were broad, his waist tapered nicely—he really was good-looking.
Luan Nian went into the kitchen. He had drunk a lot today and hadn’t eaten much, so his stomach felt empty. Shang Zhi Tao followed him and watched as he took pasta and steak from the fridge. He could actually cook. Feeling a little embarrassed, she asked softly, “Is there anything I can do to help?”
“No need.”
Shang Zhi Tao couldn’t be as at ease as Luan Nian, for whom being alone with a woman seemed like the most ordinary thing. She had only ever been that way with Xin Zhaozhou, but back then they were so familiar, so close, that she never felt awkward.
She sat properly on the sofa and waited, then saw Luan Nian bring out the pasta and steak. “Come eat.”
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