Lan Lan: "So you're not going to say anything?"
Feng Feng: "What's missed is missed. There's no medicine for regret in this world."
Lan Lan: "Alright, as long as you've made up your mind, I won't try to persuade you."
This is how friendship between adults works. Even when close, they respect each other's major decisions. Since Feng Feng no longer wished to bother Shen Su and Ji Tong, Lan Lan didn't urge her to continue. However, if she changed her mind in the future, Lan Lan would still support her unconditionally.
Later, the two women chatted about other topics. Feng Feng changed her clothes and went shopping with Lan Lan for a few hours. After dinner, they returned home.
After the holiday, Feng Feng went back to work at the firm. She had been away for over a week. Although some of her work had been delegated, a considerable amount still required her personal attention. After the morning meeting, she plunged into a day of busyness.
The next week or so was like this every day.
Moreover, in the following days, Ji Tong also frequently visited the firm. Feng Feng had a lot of work interaction with her, and since Feng Feng had previously "guided" Ji Tong, Ji Tong sought her out more often.
That afternoon, Feng Feng and Ji Tong were working together in a small conference room at the firm.
After this period of experience, Ji Tong's abilities and thinking had improved significantly. She was very intelligent and had high comprehension, far better than the recent graduates Feng Feng had personally mentored.
The two women worked until seven o'clock. After finishing their tasks, they chatted and walked out of the conference room together, only to encounter Shen Su midway.
Upon seeing Shen Su, Feng Feng tightened her grip on the files in her hands, her knuckles protruding.
Ji Tong, however, did not notice Feng Feng's reaction. Seeing Shen Su approach, she was overjoyed and went towards him without hesitation. "Why are you here?"
Shen Su habitually ruffled her hair, his voice very gentle. "Are you done with work?"
Ji Tong: "Yes, thanks to President Feng today. Working with her is incredibly efficient."
Shen Su glanced towards Feng Feng. Their eyes met. Shen Su was calm, as if nothing had happened between them. "Thank you for your hard work."
It was a purely professional attitude from a superior to a subordinate, or a work partner – polite yet distant. And he was speaking from the position of Ji Tong's boyfriend.
It wasn't the first time she had felt this clear demarcation. However, Feng Feng had always had good psychological resilience. She smiled and replied, "It's my duty."
Then, she added, "I'll head back to my office now."
Shen Su: "Okay."
Ji Tong: "Bye, President Feng. See you tomorrow."
Her lively and cheerful tone easily lifted one's spirits, making people happy along with her.
After Feng Feng left, Shen Su put his arm around Ji Tong and went to the elevator. As they went downstairs, he asked her, "What do you want to eat tonight?"
Ji Tong thought for a moment. "Can we have barbecue?"
Shen Su: "Whatever you like."
Ji Tong, excited, grabbed his arm. "You're so good!"
Shen Su raised an eyebrow, amused by her somewhat childish action. "No thank you?"
He leaned in, bringing his face closer to her, a hint of mischief in his smile.
They had been together for a few months, and Ji Tong naturally understood what Shen Su's gesture meant. Her cheeks flushed, and she whispered, "There's a camera in the elevator."
"We'll talk about it outside then," Shen Su didn't force Ji Tong.
This was also one of the things that attracted Ji Tong to him.
He was different from most men in his position. Although their statuses were different, in this relationship, Shen Su always respected her thoughts. As soon as she showed any reluctance, he would stop, never forcing her to do anything she didn't want to do.
Although Ji Tong was naive, she didn't like the "take by force" scenarios. Gentle men were the most attractive to her. Shen Su perfectly matched her ideal image of a boyfriend.
There were also cameras near the elevator. Shen Su led Ji Tong to a blind spot and brought his face close to her again.
Ji Tong, lacking experience, kissed him on the cheek. Her cheeks immediately turned red, like ripe apples.
"Why are you still so easily embarrassed?" Shen Su touched her face. "You're burning up."
Ji Tong: "...Give me some time, and I'll definitely improve."
Shen Su chuckled again. "No need to improve, this is quite cute too."
With that, he put his arm around Ji Tong and walked towards the parking lot.
After walking a few steps, they encountered Feng Feng again.
Feng Feng didn't say a word. She gave them a slight nod, got into her car, and drove away.
After Shen Su put Ji Tong in the car, she hadn't fully recovered from the previous incident. She covered her face. "President Feng must have seen that."
Shen Su: "It's okay, she won't say anything."
Ji Tong: "It's so embarrassing, I can't face anyone."
Although intimate actions were normal in a relationship, being seen by a work colleague was still something Ji Tong needed time to accept.
Shen Su: "She won't laugh at you."
On her drive home, Feng Feng's mind was filled with the scene she had just witnessed in the parking garage.
The way Shen Su and Ji Tong interacted was clearly different from how he interacted with other women.
They were already in a romantic relationship, and Shen Su, being experienced, would certainly not be just casually dating. Feng Feng had already guessed their intimate relationship.
If she had seen Shen Su and Ji Tong doing something more intimate today, her feelings might not have been as impacted as they were now. But what had she seen?
Shen Su lowered his head, allowing Ji Tong to kiss his cheek.
Not even his lips, but his cheek.
Ji Tong shyly stood on tiptoe and kissed him once. He then smiled contentedly, his eyes full of doting as he ruffled Ji Tong's hair.
Anyone unaware would think they were in a chaste romance.
For a man who had been in the dating scene for years to willingly set aside the so-called game rules and accommodate the other's "innocence," it was evident from this alone how serious his feelings were for Ji Tong.
Feng Feng let out a self-mocking laugh. For the first time, she felt what was called an unfulfilled longing, yet she knew that neither Shen Su nor Ji Tong was to blame.
Shen Su had wanted to be serious with her back then, but she had overthought things and rejected him. He was an adult, and the greatest characteristic of adults was their adaptability. Given how resolute she had been in her rejection, it was perfectly normal for Shen Su to give up on her.
Lost in these chaotic thoughts, Feng Feng started to drive distractedly. Driving without full attention resulted in her running a red light and colliding head-on with an SUV from the opposite direction.
Feng Feng's body hit the steering wheel. Her ribs ached with a piercing pain, and her legs were immobile.
The driver of the other car got out to contact the traffic police and an ambulance.
Feng Feng was taken to the hospital by ambulance, while the accident scene was handled by the traffic police.