Chapter 6: 006

Su Xiaomi didn’t even know when Jiang Yi had left.

By the time she fully snapped back to reality, the seat he had been occupying was already empty.

The young distribution staff sitting across from her suppressed a laugh, his face full of guilt as he apologized, “Sorry, Xiaomi. President Jiang was sitting right across from me, and I couldn’t exactly remind you too obviously…”

(T/N: sooooooorry… Jiang Yi is actually the president of Yihang, not its director. I mistakenly translated it as director in the previous chapters… huhu..maybe I’m not drinking enough coffee when I do the chapters..huhu.……)

Su Xiaomi dejectedly shook her head.

“It’s fine.”

After all, she had already committed the “outrageous” act of forcibly kissing Jiang Yi.

Discussing “yellow mangas” in front of him now was really nothing… No, no, it still felt a little embarrassing.

Her shining image was ruined!!!!!!

Because of the “incident” at the cafeteria that noon, Su Xiaomi was absent-minded throughout her entire lunch break.

Only when the office bell rang, signaling the end of the break, was she able to force herself back into work mode and temporarily push Jiang Yi out of her thoughts.

Right before the end of the workday, Su Xiaomi finally finished editing her manuscript and sent it to Putao’s email.

Just as she was about to get up to pour herself a glass of water and take a break, she saw Putao supporting Ruan Tian as they walked in. Ruan Tian’s right ankle was noticeably more swollen than her left—clearly a sprain, and it seemed quite serious.

Su Xiaomi immediately set her cup down and walked over.

Others in the office noticed as well, abandoning their workstations to gather around Ruan Tian’s desk, expressing their concern.

Ruan Tian was slightly touched but mostly embarrassed and frustrated.

She had hoped to perform well on her first field assignment, but instead, she had ended up injured.

Although Putao had been comforting her on the way back, Ruan Tian was still quietly annoyed with herself.

If only she hadn’t worn those heeled boots in the morning just for the sake of looking good…

Seeing Ruan Tian’s flushed face, Putao assumed she was shy from all the attention and quickly said with a comforting smile, “It’s nothing serious. She twisted her ankle while chasing a story. A few days of rest will do the trick. Xiaomi, I heard you two share a dorm. Please help take care of her for the next few days.”

Su Xiaomi nodded confidently. “Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of her.”

The two had taken the subway to work in the morning, but with Ruan Tian’s injury, squeezing into the crowded subway during rush hour was out of the question.

So, Su Xiaomi had Ruan Tian wait on the couch in the Yihang Media lobby while she went outside to call a ride via an app.

It was difficult to get a ride during rush hour, and it took nearly twenty minutes before a car finally arrived.

The ride back was plagued by traffic jams, so despite taking a taxi, they ended up spending more time on the road than they had on the morning subway commute.

As they entered the dorm, Ruan Tian sighed instinctively, “If I had known it’d be like this, we might as well have just taken the subway!”

Su Xiaomi chuckled without replying.

She helped Ruan Tian settle onto her bed before asking, “What do you want for dinner? I’ll bring it back for you.”

Ruan Tian casually mentioned the signature clay pot dish from a nearby restaurant.

Su Xiaomi nodded, grabbed her phone and dorm card, and headed out again.

It was dinner time, and the clay pot restaurant was packed.

As Su Xiaomi waited with her number in hand, she absentmindedly glanced across the street—and saw Jiang Yi running on a treadmill in the gym opposite the restaurant.

Unlike his polished appearance at the company cafeteria earlier, Jiang Yi had swapped his crisp shirt for a casual sleeveless black tank top and loose black athletic shorts.

If he’d been wearing flip-flops, he’d have looked exactly like an old man taking a stroll in the park.

But even in such casual attire, his strikingly handsome face and the firm, toned muscles visible on his arms and shoulders still attracted the lingering gazes of passing girls outside the gym.

Although the distance made it hard to make out Jiang Yi’s expression, Su Xiaomi could almost imagine his aloof and mildly annoyed face.

Back in high school, Jiang Yi used to have the same expression when girls from other classes would crowd the edge of the basketball court to watch him play—a look that said, “I’m so annoyed; please leave me alone.”

The thought made Su Xiaomi chuckle.

But to her surprise, Jiang Yi seemed to glance in her direction.

It must have been my imagination! she thought.

After all, there was an entire street between them.

When Su Xiaomi left the restaurant with the packed clay pot dish, Jiang Yi was no longer in sight at the gym.

She thought to herself, So Jiang Yi comes to this gym around dinner time. I’d better avoid this place in the future, or things might get awkward.

That evening, Jiang Yi had plans with someone, so he only managed to squeeze in a quick half-hour run before hitting the showers.

By the time he arrived at the agreed meeting spot, Lu Tu was already there, casually flipping through the menu.

When he spotted Jiang Yi, he raised a hand in greeting.

Judging by his attire, Lu Tu must have come straight from his shift without stopping home, as he was still wearing his uniform.

With his sharp features and dignified presence, he looked every bit like one of those righteous police officers straight out of a Hong Kong crime drama.

The moment Jiang Yi sat down, he couldn’t help but complain, “Next time we meet up, could you please change out of your uniform first? People who know us will say we’re just friends catching up. People who don’t will think I’m being interrogated by the police!”

Lu Tu chuckled, and even the waiter standing nearby with the menu couldn’t help but smile.

After the waiter left with their order, Lu Tu straightened his face and playfully said, “Alright, tell me—what crime did you commit that you’re so afraid of being questioned by the police?”

I haven’t committed any crimes.

Jiang Yi thought to himself.

But I do know someone who almost did. Although I doubt the traffic police division handles cases involving the distribution of indecent publications…

Jiang Yi’s mind flashed with these thoughts before he casually sipped his tea and said with a smirk, “Get lost. I’m a model citizen.”

The reason Lu Tu proactively arranged to meet Jiang Yi today was actually because his wife had asked him to play matchmaker.

Simply put, Mrs. Lu had a close friend who was currently single and ready to marry.

Being happily married herself, Mrs. Lu was passionate about matchmaking.

Feeling overwhelmed by her insistence, Lu Tu naturally thought of his good buddy Jiang Yi.

To his surprise, Jiang Yi flatly refused the moment he heard Lu Tu’s explanation.

“A blind date? Not interested!”

Lu Tu was exasperated.

“Why not? Listen, I’ve met that girl a few times—she’s gentle, quiet, and refined. Plus, according to my wife, she’s very good at taking care of people. In short, she’s perfect wife material. You don’t have anyone you like anyway, so just meet her!”

Jiang Yi picked up a bite of stir-fried garlic shoots with pork and said curtly, “Not interested. And with my good looks, do I even need a blind date?”

Lu Tu sized him up and down and said, “You sure about that?”

Jiang Yi: “…”

The meal nearly gave Jiang Yi indigestion, and before they left, Lu Tu shoved a business card into his hand.

Jiang Yi wasn’t the type to rudely throw away a girl’s business card immediately, and knowing Lu Tu’s persistence, refusing it would only lead to more nagging.

So he accepted the card and casually tossed it into the car’s glove compartment.

Just as he was about to start the engine and leave, the passenger door suddenly opened, and Lu Tu ducked inside.

Annoyed, Jiang Yi asked, “What are you doing?”

Lu Tu replied confidently, “I had a drink, so I’m hitching a ride.”

Jiang Yi sighed and started the car, muttering, “If you knew you were driving, why did you drink? Are you stupid or what?”

Lu Tu let out a dramatic sigh. “I wanted to drink my beloved iced cola, but my wife wouldn’t let me! She said cola reduces fertility… Ah, this kind of suffering, being under a wife’s control, is something you single dogs will never understand.”

Jiang Yi: “…”

The car pulled out of the underground garage and merged into the bustling traffic.

The smooth, high-end car was impressively quiet even at high speeds, which only made Lu Tu’s chatter more prominent.

Jiang Yi had never met a man as talkative as Lu Tu, who spent the entire ride pestering him about when he planned to contact the girl and lecturing him with his limited experience in courting women.

Jiang Yi endured it until they were almost at Lu Tu’s apartment.

Finally, he snapped, “Shut up! Do I need your advice?”

Lu Tu shot back, “Of course you do! Have you ever chased a girl before?”

Jiang Yi calmly nodded. “No, I haven’t.”

Before Lu Tu could respond, Jiang Yi added nonchalantly, “They all chase me.”

Lu Tu: “…”

Lu Tu said, “Chasing a girl and being chased by one are two entirely different things, and there’s a lot to learn in this field. A single dog like you, who hasn’t even had his first kiss, won’t know what to do even if you’ve been chased by countless girls. When it comes to pursuing someone you actually like, you’ll be completely clueless.”

Jiang Yi smoothly parked the car in front of Lu Tu’s apartment building and glanced at him casually.

“Who told you my first kiss is still intact?”

Wait… it’s… not intact anymore?? Lu Tu was utterly shocked.

“What the heck?! When did that happen? No, wait—I remember you’ve never been in a relationship! And how come I’ve never heard you mention this before?”

It’s precisely because his first love is still intact, but his first kiss isn’t, that he’s kept quiet about it!

What kind of man would go around bragging about something so embarrassing—like having his first kiss stolen by some girl? He’s not brain-dead.

Lu Tu pressed on, “Come on, tell me, who was it? Do I know her?”

Jiang Yi silently replied in his head: Yeah, you know her. She’s the one who blocked you for a week and almost scared you limp.