Chapter 14
Don’t Be Afraid With Me Around
Pei Zhi smiled. “Yes, I’ve indeed thought about it.” His gaze became gentler. “But with your ability, you don’t need my help.”
Sheng Heng Corp had a high threshold.
She was a graduate student without much work experience. The fact that she could successfully pass the interview was enough to explain everything.
“Stop praising me. I haven’t even yet familiarized myself with all the projects Sheng Heng Corp is involved in.”
“That can wait. You still have a lot of time.”
“That’s true.” Lin Jiao took the water from him and took a sip. “I’ll start making proposals next week.”
“Are you nervous?”
“A little. I’m afraid I won’t be able to do it well.”
“You have to believe in yourself.” Pei Zhi wanted to rub the top of her head, but he was afraid that she might find it too abrupt, so he thought better of it.
He said gently, “No matter what the outcome is, what you learn in the process is the most important.”
His voice seemed to give people strength, making Lin Jiao feel less stressed out.
She smiled faintly, “President Pei, you are right.”
Seeing that the worry in her eyes had disappeared, Pei Zhi was slightly relieved. He looked at the stack of documents and asked, “What is this?”
“I don’t know either.” Lin Jiao hadn’t looked at it yet. “Manager Wu asked me to send it up.”
“For me?”
“He asked me to give it to Brother Qu, but Brother Qu said he has a video conference to attend.”
Pei Zhi understood what was going on.
He flipped through it and brought the conversation back to their previous conversation on WeChat. “Qu Shao has booked the restaurant. You can treat me to a meal another day.”
“That works.”
“Then I’ll come and find you after work.”
“Wait for me in the parking lot.” Lin Jiao did not want to attract too much attention, especially since she had just joined the company.
Pei Zhi understood her worry. “Alright.” He looked at the time on the screen. “I’ll send you a message at six.”
Lin Jiao nodded.
She stood up and said in a clear voice, “President Pei, if there’s nothing else, I’ll go back first.”
He suppressed the emotions in his eyes and nodded slightly.
When the figure disappeared from his sight, he closed his eyes and leaned against the chair, letting the joy that had been suppressed for a long time overwhelm him.
*
In the evening, the sky was glowing.
The afterglow of the setting sun shone through the French windows and onto the desks in the planning department.
Lin Jiao looked out of the window. Her long eyelashes fluttered slightly, casting a layer of shadow on her lower eyelids.
Feng Yunjie, who turned to talk to her, was stunned for a moment by her beauty.
“Lin Jiao, aren’t you leaving?”
“I’ll wait a while.”
“Are you waiting for someone to pick you up?”
In order to avoid becoming the topic of gossip, Lin Jiao quickly explained, “He’s not my boyfriend.”
“Oh, I understand. No boyfriend as of today.”
Lin Jiao was speechless. She shouldn’t have explained.
Feng Yunjie touched up her lipstick and hurriedly said, “I’ll leave first. See you tomorrow.”
“Okay.” Lin Jiao put away the things.
After receiving Pei Zhi’s message, she looked around and took the elevator to the underground parking lot.
There were many cars parked in Sheng Heng’s underground parking lot.
Lin Jiao searched for a long time, but she could not find the A3 sign.
Seeing that she was wandering around like a lost deer, Pei Zhi chuckled and shook his head helplessly.
He got out of the car. “Lin Jiao, over here.”
Hearing his voice, Lin Jiao turned around and realized that he was pretty much right in front of her.
She immediately walked over. “The signs here are so small. I’m dazzled.”
“I’ll get someone to change it tomorrow.”
Pei Zhi opened the passenger door for her gentlemanly.
He checked her seat belt before stepping on the gas. “It’s a little congested around here. Rest for a while.”
“Okay.” Lin Jiao happened to be a little sleepy.
She adjusted the seat and lay on her side with her back facing the sun. Under the silence and peace of mind, she quickly fell asleep.
The A-line dress she was wearing was pulled up a little because of this posture. Her fair legs were especially eye-catching under the sun.
While waiting for the traffic light, Pei Zhi took a blanket from the backseat and covered her body.
Firstly, he was afraid that she would catch a cold in the air conditioned car. Secondly, he didn’t want to be distracted by this pair of white and slender legs.
He drove very slowly. The journey that should have taken fifteen minutes was delayed to half an hour so that she could sleep soundly.
When Lin Jiao was woken up, there was only a little bit of lingering sunlight on the horizon.
She asked in a sleepy tone, “Uncle, what are we eating?”
“French cuisine.”
When she looked over, he said matter-of-factly, “This restaurant was rated three Michelin stars last year. It’s not bad.”
Lin Jiao unbuckled her seat belt. “Do you come here often?”
“Sometimes.”
Pei Zhi got out of the car and went to the other side.
He glanced at her high heels and slowed down his pace. “Chu Yuzhou knows the chef here. I’ve been here with him twice.”
Lin Jiao nodded understandingly. “Did they take long to serve?”
“Not long.”
“That’s good.”
She didn’t like waiting.
No matter how much she liked something, if she had to wait for a long time, she would be put off.
“Lin Jiao, don’t be distracted while walking.” Just as she was about to hit the doorpost, Pei Zhi stopped her.
Lin Jiao blushed in embarrassment as her thoughts were pulled back.
She followed Pei Zhi into the restaurant and stopped when she passed by a glass floor that was almost five meters tall.
Below the glass floor was a small artificial stream.
The water in the stream was clear and filled with colorful kois.
This may strike others as pleasing to the eyes.
However, when it came to Lin Jiao, there was only fear.
She didn’t dare to look down at the stream. “Uncle…”
“What happened?”
“I can’t bring myself to cross it.”
Pei Zhi remembered that she had acrophobia.
“Don’t worry. The glass is strong here. You won’t fall into the stream.”
“What if it collapses?” Lin Jiao pursed her lips, fixing her eyes on him.
Pei Zhi sensed her uneasiness and fear.
He leaned down, keeping his eyes level with hers, and asked in a coaxing tone, “I’ll hold you and cross it with you together, okay?”
Lin Jiao frowned, looking conflicted.
“I’m here. Don’t be afraid.” He held out a hand and waited patiently for her to make a decision.