So that 'first love' of his... he still pined for her, didn't he? No wonder Fang Xinyi had said that.
Before she could sigh, Ning Ci suddenly crossed his arms on the table, leaning half his body toward her, exuding an aggressive aura. "Cheng Xiaoman, what do you think? Isn't it infuriating?"
His gaze was deep and meaningful, as if hinting at something.
"I..." She sensed something was off.
Ning Ci continued, "Oh, right, I forgot to mention. That person's nickname is Koukou. She was in third grade at Lanwan International."
He paused briefly. "And she has an older brother at home."
"Well? Are you remembering now?"
A bang, as if struck by something. Cheng Buxi's mind went blank, numb and tingly, completely unable to think.
Ning Ci didn't stop. He continued slowly and deliberately, "The first time we met, when we were nine years old, in the bare little woods at the northeast corner of the elementary school playground, you stepped on my limited-edition white sneakers with one foot and turned them into a landscape ink painting."
"So, was it close or not?"
"..."
Indeed, it was close.
-
In the Chairman's Office.
After returning from the meeting, Lu Tingzhou was clearly distracted. He sat in his office chair, his gaze frequently drifting to the sofa.
When Wan Yi entered, she saw this scene: the eldest brother had picked up the shirt that his sister had briefly worn during the day, holding it as if facing some great dilemma. His expression was a mix of strangeness and indescribable emotion. His tall and imposing body stood like a sturdy pine in front of the coffee table, weighing his options for a long time. Finally, gritting his teeth, he hardened his resolve and stuffed the shirt into his briefcase.
Then he returned to his seat, acting as if nothing had happened, but still appeared unsettled.
Wan Yi lightly knocked twice on the door and entered after receiving permission.
She held a tablet in her hand, her expression as respectful as usual, but there was a hint of deliberation in her eyes.
"Speak." Lu Tingzhou didn't look up.
"The young miss has been safely delivered, but..."
"But what?"
"But the young miss seemed... seemed not very happy."
Lu Tingzhou's hand, which was flipping through documents, paused. He looked up at his subordinate.
"Not happy?" He raised an eyebrow, his gaze devoid of warmth but enough to make her continue. "Reason."
"I tried to ask, but the young miss denied it, and..."
Wan Yi weighed the matter and finally said it out loud, "I saw the young miss leaving the school gate together with an unfamiliar young man."
The eldest brother's wrist stopped abruptly, and his gaze sharpened.
He suddenly remembered that evening when he had taken her back to school and had also encountered her laughing and talking with an unfamiliar young man at the school gate.
That young man had a third-rate demeanor, ridiculous and laughable.
Could it be...