After work, Feng Feng packed up her things and went to meet Li Yue and Zhou Yao, but Zhou Yao was nowhere to be seen.
Just as she was about to ask, she heard Li Yue explain, "Zhou Yao had something at home and went back early."
Feng Feng didn't suspect anything and took Li Yue to dinner alone.
Feng Feng hadn't driven; she had planned to take a taxi. She hadn't expected Li Yue to drive to his internship, and a Land Rover at that.
It wasn't exactly a luxury car, but for someone who hadn't graduated yet, it was quite extravagant.
Li Yue noticed Feng Feng's surprise and explained, "I bought this car with the profits from my university's fund investments."
Feng Feng: "Then you're quite capable."
Li Yue smiled modestly, "I was just lucky."
Feng Feng: "Too modest."
Anyone who has played with funds knows that besides luck, it also depends on one's judgment and foresight. Many people who have been in the industry for years can't guarantee steady profits. Li Yue was able to earn hundreds of thousands while still in school, which was very impressive.
No wonder the leader was so eager to keep him; he was indeed a talent.
When they talked about funds and stocks, the two found common ground. Feng Feng and Li Yue chatted all the way, even during dinner that night.
After dinner that day, Li Yue successfully exchanged WeChat contacts with Feng Feng and drove her home.
Because of this dinner, the distance between Feng Feng and Li Yue narrowed considerably, but most of the time, it was Li Yue who initiated contact.
Feng Feng had no reservations about him. Whenever he contacted her, she would chat with him for a while. They also interacted frequently at the firm. When Feng Feng attended events, she would bring Li Yue along.
Because they were so close, rumors naturally started to spread.
Feng Feng was usually reserved and rarely got close to any colleagues. Suddenly bringing Li Yue around and being inseparable from him led some to speculate about their close relationship.
These rumors soon reached Ji Tong's ears.
One day, Ji Tong came to the firm to handle some work. When she went to Feng Feng's office, she happened to see Li Yue bringing afternoon tea to Feng Feng's office. It wasn't from the firm; he had bought it himself.
Li Yue had observed Feng Feng over this period and noted her preferences. When the firm provided afternoon tea, Feng Feng chose pastries the most, especially favoring flaky ones. Therefore, Li Yue specifically looked up the most popular egg tart shop in Nanjiang, hired a delivery service, and brought freshly baked egg tarts to Feng Feng.
Feng Feng was a bit surprised when she received them. "For me?" Li Yue smiled and said, "I noticed you seem to like egg tarts, and I heard this place is quite good."
Feng Feng recognized the shop. It wasn't just good; it was probably the egg tart that best suited her taste. She hadn't expected Li Yue to be so precise with his choice. "Thank you, you went to a lot of trouble."
Li Yue: "It's nothing, as long as you like it." Feng Feng saw sincerity in his smiling eyes. Although her colleagues treated her well, the kindness shown by Li Yue and Zhou Yao, the two interns, was truly beyond that of ordinary colleagues.
Feng Feng was infected by Li Yue's demeanor and smiled. For a moment, she suddenly understood why Shen Su treated Ji Tong so well. For people who had been in society for many years like them, encountering someone so sincere and earnest could only be moving.
Especially when life was not going well, it was equivalent to a dose of安慰剂.
When Ji Tong arrived, she happened to see Feng Feng and Li Yue smiling at each other. Her gaze was somewhat ambiguous, and she paused to ask, "Did I come at a bad time?"
Feng Feng: "No, what is it?"
She gave Li Yue a look, and Li Yue immediately understood and left. In Ji Tong's eyes, this was a demonstration of their tacit understanding.
Ji Tong had come to ask Feng Feng about work. After they finished discussing business, Ji Tong suddenly asked Feng Feng gossipily, "Manager Feng, are you dating?"
Feng Feng: "No."
Seeing Ji Tong's reaction, she assumed Ji Tong had heard the rumors about her and Li Yue outside. Feng Feng was aware of this but couldn't be bothered to explain to others. She had always been indifferent to what others thought of her.
Feng Feng's tone of reply was a bit stiff, and Ji Tong thought she was angry, so she apologized, "I'm sorry, I think I misunderstood."
Feng Feng: "It's okay, there are indeed such rumors going around."
Ji Tong: "I just saw him bringing you something, so I thought it was true."
Feng Feng didn't respond to this comment, but Ji Tong's words did remind her that Li Yue seemed to treat her a bit differently, perhaps not like an intern towards a mentor.
If it were gratitude for being given an opportunity, it would be more like Zhou Yao. But even Zhou Yao wasn't as attentive as Li Yue, who even remembered details like her preference for flaky egg tarts. It wasn't that Feng Feng was narcissistic, but this attitude was too special to ignore.
However, she herself had no romantic interest in Li Yue. But since Li Yue hadn't explicitly stated his feelings, she couldn't preemptively reject him. Ji Tong's words had indeed made Feng Feng seriously consider the matter.
On Friday, Feng Feng, Lan Lan, and Lin Mei arranged to have dinner together.
Recently, Lan Lan was also planning her wedding with Liang Yufeng. Among the three, only Feng Feng was still single, and both Lin Mei and Lan Lan were concerned about Feng Feng's romantic life.
If she didn't like anyone, then so be it. Marriage and love were just icing on the cake; without them, nothing would change. But she harbored feelings for Shen Su...
Most importantly, it was heard that Shen Su would be returning with Ji Tong to meet her parents during the Spring Festival. They had been together for over a year, and it seemed they were planning to get married.
Lin Mei and Lan Lan had already discussed this topic before Feng Feng arrived. After much thought, they felt it would be best for Feng Feng to find another man to distract her.
However, once they sat down to eat, they couldn't find an opportunity to bring up the subject.
It wasn't until midway through that Feng Feng received a call from Li Yue.
Li Yue asked, "Manager Feng, are you at home? I bought egg tarts from a shop in the east of the city, I'll bring them to you now."
Feng Feng: "I'm out."
Li Yue: "Then give me an address, and I'll be there right away."
Feng Feng hesitated for a moment. Hearing Li Yue's enthusiastic words, she found it difficult to refuse and gave him the restaurant's address.
Li Yue: "I'll be there in about twenty minutes."
Feng Feng: "Okay, no rush."
Lin Mei and Lan Lan exchanged glances, listening to Feng Feng finish the call.
As soon as she hung up, they eagerly asked her, "Whose call was that?"
Although they hadn't heard what the other person said, judging from Feng Feng's responses, it seemed someone was coming to bring her something.
Feng Feng hadn't mentioned Li Yue to Lin Mei and Lan Lan before. This was the first time she introduced him, "He's an intern assigned to me by the firm."
Lan Lan raised an eyebrow, "A guy?"
As old friends, Feng Feng could guess what Lan Lan was about to say from her expression. Looking at Lin Mei, she also had an ambiguous look.
Both of them became interested in Li Yue.
Lin Mei asked directly, "He's interested in you, isn't he?"