Chapter 1
Can You Be More Understanding?
Rain continued to fall in Lin City in July.
Silver lightning flashed across the dark clouds, and with a thunderclap, bean-sized raindrops hit the car parked at the roadside.
Lin Jiao wiped her shoulder that was wet from the rain and listened quietly to Gu Quan having a phone call in the driver’s seat.
From what he said over the phone, she knew that their date today would be canceled.
“Jiaojiao, I’m sorry.”
As expected…
Gu Quan hung up the phone and rubbed his eyebrows. “There’s something urgent at the company. I have to go over.”
“Ok.” Lin Jiao restrained from showing her emotions.
She had been in love with Gu Quan for two years.
Ever since he entered the Gu Corp, he spent less and less time with her. Even if they lived under the same roof, the chances of them meeting were rare.
She understood that he was busy, but understanding did not mean that she would not be disappointed and sad.
“Are you angry?” Gu Quan rubbed the top of her head, his handsome face filled with gentleness.
“No.”
“Do you want me to drive you home?”
Lin Jiao shook her head. “No need.” She looked at the mall not far away and opened WeChat. “Yilan is available. I’ll get her to keep me company.”
“Alright.” Gu Quan did not stop her and stuffed a card into her hand. “Buy anything you like. I’ll pick you up at eight.”
“I have money.” Lin Jiao held the cold bank card and felt even sadder.
Gu Quan thought she was angry with him. He said, “Jiaojiao, can you be more understanding?”
The atmosphere suddenly became tense. Lin Jiao was about to retort when she saw the exhausted look on his face and she swallowed back down her words.
She reached out to touch his cheek and leaned forward to hug him.
“Be a good girl.” Her obedience melted Gu Quan’s heart. He couldn’t help but promise again, “I’ll take you to the exhibition this weekend.”
“Really?”
“Yes, the project I’m working on is almost over.”
Lin Jiao was looking forward to the weekend.
She moved away from his arms and smiled. “Then go. Don’t forget to eat no matter how busy you are.”
Gu Quan replied softly, “Take the card.”
He was too stubborn, so Lin Jiao could only accept it.
She opened her umbrella and walked towards the mall. As she walked, the mud that splashed up left stains at the corner of her dress.
Lin Jiao had always been a clean freak. She stopped in front of the glass door and wiped the stains off her dress gently with a tissue. Just as she was about to get up, she was enveloped by a shadow.
“Jiaojiao!” A familiar voice sounded. Lin Jiao was taken aback and looked up to see a smiling face.
Pei Yilan held her forearm and pinched her left cheek with her other hand. “It’s rare to see you shopping. What do you want to buy?”
“A pair of business suits, I think.”
“You found a job?”
“I just received two offers yesterday.” Lin Jiao threw the dirty tissue into the trash can. “I haven’t thought of which I should accept.”
“Which two? I’ll help you figure it out.”
“Sheng Heng and Tian Hua.”
“Sheng Heng?” Pei Yilan’s eyes lit up with excitement. “That’s my uncle’s company. I’m going over next Monday too.”
“Pei Zhi?” Lin Jiao did not expect such a coincidence.
“That’s right.” Pei Yilan blinked. “Choose Sheng Heng. I won’t feel so bored working there with you around.”
Lin Jiao was silent for a moment before replying, “Okay.” She stepped onto the escalator and chatted with her along the way.
Perhaps because of the rain, there were not many customers in the women’s section. Even the high-end luxury brands that always had a long queue in the past only had a shopping guide standing at the door. This allowed them to shop in peace.
Pei Yilan wanted to take Lin Jiao to buy suits first, but as she walked, her attention was attracted by the evening gown in the window.
She told the shop assistant to bring over the evening gown. While waiting, Pei Yilan said to Lin Jiao, “Jiaojiao, that evening gown suits you!”
Lin Jiao was a dropping-dead-gorgeous.
However, in order to meet Gu Quan’s taste, she always dressed extremely plainly.
“Me?” Lin Jiao looked at the evening gown brought over by the shop assistant and said calmly, “I already have three gowns like this.”
“It’s different. Go and try it first.”
“I don’t usually attend banquets. It’ll just be a waste of money. Forget it.”
“Jiaojiao…”
“I want this one.” A delicate-looking woman walked over arrogantly and pointed at the gown in their hands.
“I’m sorry, these two ladies are still shopping. Please wait at the side.”
He Jia was immediately pissed off, but she could not snatch the gown from them.
She secretly sized up the two girls who were dressed simply. On instinct, she felt that they could not afford it.
Therefore, she suggested, “I like this gown very much. Why don’t you choose another one and I’ll pay for it?”
“No, thank you.”
“You can choose one and sell it afterwards to earn as much as 50,000 to 60,000 yuan. Are you sure you don’t want it?”
Lin Jiao caught the disdain in her eyes and did not intend to argue with her. She turned to ask the shop assistant, “Is there a limited edition?”
“Yes.” The shop assistant took out two gowns and placed them on the table with an extremely good attitude. “These two gowns are both made by hand. After measuring your body, the headquarters will send someone over to tailor it. It will be ready for pick-up in about 15 days.”
These two limited-edition gowns had a cute style and suited Pei Yilan. Lin Jiao picked up the champagne-colored fishtail gown and said, “Yilan, do you like it?”
“I like it.” She lifted the hem of her dress and glanced at He Jia in disdain. “You have good taste.”
“Then go to measure your body.”
Seeing her leave with the shop assistant, He Jia could only swallow her anger. She looked at Lin Jiao and said, “Aren’t you going to ask about the price of that gown?”
“Does it matter?”
“I’m afraid you won’t be able to afford it.”
Lin Jiao chuckled. “Whether I can afford it or not is my business.” As she spoke, she walked straight to the cashier to pay.
He Jia still did not want to believe that her judgment about Lin Jiao was wrong.
She went to the cashier and reminded Lin Jiao ‘kindly’, “Don’t force yourself. Credit card is an endless hole.”
“Really?” Lin Jiao opened her wallet and brushed her fingertips across the card slot. She took out a platinum savings card. “I haven’t used this one yet.”
He Jia was speechless.
She watched as Lin Jiao swiped 170,000 without even batting an eye. She felt like her face had been slapped by someone. It was painful and embarrassing.
When it was her turn to pay, she was too embarrassed to touch the credit card.
“Jiaojiao, I’m done measuring my body.” Pei Yilan jogged over from the fitting room and glanced at He Jia. “How much is that gown?”
Lin Jiao raised an eyebrow. “Eighty thousand, perhaps?”
“No wonder you don’t like it. It’s too cheap.”
He Jia was gritting her teeth with anger.