"Probably?"
"I don't think so. If they knew, they'd treat him like royalty, not rent him a dump like that."
Tao Xinrou's fingers tightened slightly on her chopsticks. She lowered her head and poked at her food, her heart inexplicably lifting.
"Hey, Xinrou, you live around there too, right? Have you ever run into President Ying?" someone asked.
Tao Xinrou had just put a piece of sashimi in her mouth. She froze mid-chew and quickly shook her head. "No. I've never seen him."
"See? Xinrou hasn't even met him. I think you're drunk and dreaming." Someone teased.
"Yeah, I think so too. I don't believe President Ying lives there."
"I'm not lying! I swear!"
...
The conversation shifted, and Tao Xinrou relaxed. She decided she really needed to set some ground rules with Ying Jingsheng. She didn't want anyone else finding out.
*
The meal lasted over two hours. Everyone was full and satisfied. Someone suggested, "Let's head to KTV for round two!"
"Let's go!"
The crowd poured out. But when they reached the ground floor, they all stopped in their tracks.
A black car was parked at the entrance. Everyone recognized the license plate—it was President Ying's car.
The group that had been loudly heading to KTV fell silent.
Was President Ying here to pay the bill or...
The window rolled down, revealing Ying Jingsheng's somewhat serious face. He only said one word to the group: "Get in."
Who was he talking to?
They exchanged glances. Someone guessed he meant Zhao Sili.
Zhao Sili immediately stepped forward. "Cousin, are you picking me up?"
Ying Jingsheng glanced at her. "If not?" he said, then his gaze shifted elsewhere.
Zhao Sili followed his line of sight and saw it was aimed at Tao Xinrou. She understood instantly. She deliberately waved at the group. "I'll head off first! See you tomorrow!"
Everyone waved goodbye and dispersed.
But Zhao Sili didn't get in the car. Instead, she called out to Tao Xinrou, "Xinrou, come here a moment."
Tao Xinrou walked over, puzzled. "What is it, Sili?"
Zhao Sili whispered in her ear, "He's not here for me. He's waiting for you."
Then she opened the door, pushed Tao Xinrou inside, quickly shut it, and waved. "Cousin, I'm entrusting Xinrou to you! I'm going to the second round with them. Bye!"
With that, she ran off.
Only Tao Xinrou and Ying Jingsheng remained in the car, along with a brief moment of frozen air.
Tao Xinrou turned to look at Ying Jingsheng, not knowing what to say. She forced a smile. "Um... Zhao Sili is just kidding. I can take a cab home."
She fumbled for the door handle, but Ying Jingsheng had already started driving smoothly. "We're on the road now. It's not safe to get off."
Ah?
Ying Jingsheng started the engine, his tone flat. "Put on your seatbelt."
This... was this okay?
"Do you need my help?" Ying Jingsheng turned to look at her.
Tao Xinrou snapped back and fastened the seatbelt. "No, thanks."
The car drove off. Tao Xinrou peered out the window and saw Zhao Sili standing not far away, waving frantically at her. She silently withdrew her gaze, mentally making a note to get back at Zhao Sili.
Zhao Sili, just you wait!
But who had Ying Jingsheng really come to pick up? Could it really be her?
Tao Xinrou turned to look at his profile as he drove intently. Under the flickering streetlights, his brows and eyes were slightly proud and cold. He stared ahead with knitted brows, thin lips pressed together. His well-defined fingers rested on the steering wheel, impossible to look away from.
"Is there something on my face?" As if sensing her gaze, Ying Jingsheng quickly turned his head to glance at her.
"Ah, no." Tao Xinrou lowered her head in panic. "I was just thinking... you probably came to pick up Sili tonight, right?"
"I came to pick you up," Ying Jingsheng said.
Tao Xinrou was stunned. Came to pick her up?
"Why..."
"Tomorrow..."
They spoke at the same time. Tao Xinrou gave way. "You go first."
"Tomorrow when we get there, don't say anything. Just follow my lead."
"Okay," Tao Xinrou replied.
"What were you going to say?" Ying Jingsheng asked.
"Oh, nothing. Just... thank you."
Ying Jingsheng glanced at her. "For what?"
"For getting me reinstated. I know you must have done something."
"I didn't do anything. You weren't wrong. Don't worry about it. Besides, we're in a cooperative relationship now. Protecting you is also protecting myself."
Tao Xinrou was slightly taken aback.
Cooperative relationship... so he still remembered that clearly.
But something inexplicable began to sour in her heart. Maybe it was too much vinegar and lemon in the Japanese food earlier. Her stomach felt unsettled.
A wave of indescribable disappointment surged inside her.
"Yes, a cooperative relationship," she echoed, withdrawing her gaze to stare out the window.
Sure enough, she shouldn't expect anything from Ying Jingsheng.
The car fell into silence again. Fortunately, the night roads weren't congested, and they soon entered the residential complex.
"I'll drop you off at your building. I'll park the car back at the hotel. It's inconvenient to leave it here. Go ahead."
"Okay." Tao Xinrou unbuckled her seatbelt, opened the door, and watched Ying Jingsheng drive away.
She stood there, staring at the direction his car had disappeared, for a long time.
So in his eyes, they were just this kind of relationship.
She gave a bitter smile, turned, and walked home.
--------------------
Author's note: I'll probably do daily updates this week because of the vitality event, but I don't have any vitality T—T (pain). If I can get into the paid chapter system, I'll have vitality! Hope to get in soon! (Praying) Random red envelopes for comments in this chapter!