In the quiet room, only two people sat, their heads leaning against each other.
Wan Ru was engrossed with Chen Jiancheng's hand, stroking each knuckle, occasionally pressing it against her own hand to compare.
Chen Jiancheng let her do as she pleased, just sitting silently, allowing her to lean against his chest.
"Why didn't you go to work on Monday?"
"I took the day off."
"Huh? When we first met, you said you were the chairman, but you still had to go to work every day?"
"But if everything needs the chairman, then what's the point of hiring capable employees?"
"Oh, right. But you still need to approve things, don't you?"
"If it's urgent, they'll bring it directly. If it's not urgent, they'll email it, and I'll approve it at my leisure in the evening."
"I'm planning to re-take the Business Administration exam. Can I apply to work at your company then?" She asked him excitedly.
"Aren't you going to be the boss's wife?" Chen Jiancheng looked at her with a doting smile.
Wan Ru chuckled. Chen Jiancheng watched her for a moment, then asked seriously.
"Wan Ru, aren't you afraid of the age gap between us?"
Wan Ru looked at him with gentle eyes and replied.
"Why would I be afraid? You're not married, and I'm not married. There's nothing taboo between us."
"I'm afraid the gap is too big, and the pressure you'd have to bear wouldn't be suitable for your age."
Chen Jiancheng raised his hand to caress her face. She just smiled gently at him.
"Then just pamper me. Don't treat me coldly as if I'm an old aunt your age, and that'll be fine."
"No matter how old you are, I'll still pamper you!" Chen Jiancheng pulled her closer, holding her in his arms.
"I don't care what others think; I only care what you think. I don't care how others treat me; I only care how you treat me. If anyone could influence me, I wouldn't be able to live happily until now, you know."
Wan Ru told him softly.
Chen Jiancheng—who was much older than the girl in his arms—had to use her words to untangle the knots in his heart. He touched her once and wanted to touch her forever. He kissed her once and wanted to keep kissing her. He didn't understand why he couldn't let her go. He caressed her body; her warm body temperature warmed his heart. She always used a gentle tone to calm his chaotic thoughts. The way she appeared in his life was too sudden, yet also very gentle.
Wan Ru lay in his warm embrace, enjoying it. In the real world, she had no parents, and living in an orphanage, no one had ever hugged and comforted her. She had no friends, and even her long-distance ex-boyfriend, whom she'd known for three weeks, didn't have the patience and broke up with her. It seemed she had never been held in such a loving embrace before. She didn't know if the original owner in this world had ever been hugged like this. Thinking about the original owner's family, she only felt cold in her heart. Now she had someone who belonged to her; this hug belonged to her, and this whole person belonged to her.
Wan Ru hugged him tighter. It seemed that this later became Wan Ru's habit; she always loved being held in his arms.
"Tomorrow, let's change your work hours to the morning. I'll pick you up in the afternoon. It's not safe at night." He instructed her.
"Okay!" She nodded obediently.
The two of them became a couple just like that.
Elsewhere, Mei Jin was sitting opposite Ming Jian. She seemed reluctant to speak. Seeing this, Ming Jian spoke first, breaking the silence.
"I'm sorry about Lan An, but things aren't that complicated. Lan An suffers from a mental illness, and currently, she and I have no connection whatsoever."
"But it's true that you two were together."
"But I didn't like her. Lan An pursued me, but her mental illness was terrible. If I rejected her, she would do things I couldn't imagine."
"Then why did you choose to leave her? So she could come here and curse at me for interfering in your relationship?"
"You didn't interfere; I pursued you. Lan An's family has ensured she receives treatment. I also made it clear to them that Lan An and I have nothing."
"Do you know, Ming Jian?" Mei Jin asked him softly. "It's true that I've liked you since childhood, and I still like you now. The fact that you and she knew each other while you were in Australia doesn't matter to me, because that's your life. I'm just disappointed in myself. I was waiting for something... I feel it's no longer worth it. Don't explain your relationship with her anymore; I'm just grieving for myself."
Mei Jin spoke emotionally in one long breath. She knew it was unreasonable to blame him for having a girlfriend during the time they were apart. They were nothing to each other during that period. He had the right to know anyone he wanted.
Ming Jian still insisted, "Lan An and I truly have nothing between us. The only person I've liked from childhood until now is you!"
Mei Jin's eyes reddened. She stood up, wanting to leave, not wanting to face this person anymore. "I'm going home first."
Ming Jian quickly grabbed her hand, his voice and face radiating genuine sincerity. "Please, don't stop liking me. Please!"
Mei Jin looked at him for a long time. She sighed, wanting to pull her hand away from his. "Let me calm down and think for a while."
Ming Jian held on tightly, unwilling to let go. He instructed, "Can you please not drink anymore?"
Mei Jin nodded. Only then did he release her hand. She left, leaving him standing alone there. Seeing her lonely figure, he understood that if he didn't overcome this time, he would lose Mei Jin forever. There would be no more seven-year gap between them.