Wen Ruxu said, "25. You look about my age, how much older can you be? Besides, age-gap relationships are so popular now. I don't mind even if you're a bit older. Why think so much?"
"If I don't think, it's no good. Sister, you're already married. I'd like to give it a try with you, but my husband isn't willing."
Wen Ruxu sent a shocked emoji.
"You're married so young? It's my fault for showing up too late. But can't a married person have a meal with other men? Your husband shouldn't be so petty."
"We're just having a simple meal, can't we just be like siblings?"
Xu Lei was persuaded by his few words. She changed into another outfit, touched up her makeup, and went out again for the appointment.
All evening, Wen Ruxu used his smooth talk to make Xu Lei smile so much that her crow's feet reappeared.
When she returned home, Wen Ruxu continued to send her messages.
In the past, when her husband was not home, she always felt empty and lonely during the long nights, filled with complaints.
This was the first time she felt the convenience of her husband not being home.
The two seemed to have endless topics to discuss, until 12 o'clock. Only when Wen Ruxu asked if she should go to sleep did she reluctantly put down her phone.
Her husband hadn't returned all night, and Xu Lei, for the first time, didn't message him to ask about it.
The first thing she did when she woke up the next morning was to grab her phone to check if Wen Ruxu had messaged her.
He hadn't.
She felt a hidden sense of disappointment.
But seeing that it was still early, and he was so young, he probably wasn't awake yet. Xu Lei went to wash her face and brush her teeth.
When she returned, applied makeup, and grabbed her phone again to check.
Wen Ruxu had sent a message.
Although it was just a simple "Good morning," her heart leaped with joy.
The saying "withered wood meets spring" should describe her current state.
Lying in bed, Wen Ruxu's few words elevated Xu Lei's mood to the heavens.
When she arrived at the company, everyone was surprised to see Xu Lei, who was beaming and exceptionally gentle.
"What's going on with Director Xu today? She seems to be in such a good mood. Is there any good news to announce?"
"She's been married for so many years and hasn't had children with her husband, claiming to be DINK. But who knows the truth? Could she be pregnant?"
Xu Lei didn't have the mood to pay attention to everyone's gossip, because Wen Ruxu was going to give her a gift.
It was a bracelet she had mentioned during yesterday's conversation, one she had coveted for a long time, worth tens of thousands.
Wen Ruxu said he wanted to have lunch with her today and give her the gift in person.
Although she said it wasn't too expensive, a young and handsome man proactively giving her such a valuable gift was moving enough in itself.
All morning, Xu Lei went to the restroom to reapply her makeup several times.
She even unconsciously fantasized about future encounters, and the more she looked in the mirror, the less confident she felt.
She wondered if her face was starting to sag, if she needed cosmetic injections.
Had her figure started to change, if she should take yoga classes seriously?
In short, Wen Ruxu had injected an unspeakable, mysterious power into her monotonous and lonely private life, successfully stirring her heart.
At noon, someone invited her out for lunch, but Xu Lei politely declined, saying she had some matters to attend to.
She specifically chose a restaurant a bit further from the company to meet Wen Ruxu.
Wen Ruxu's gift was fake.
Of course, the box and the tag were real.
As he pushed it towards Xu Lei, her emotion and excitement were fully revealed on her face.
Moreover, her attitude during lunch today was completely different from yesterday.
She displayed the demeanor and mindset of a woman just falling in love.
Wen Ruxu observed this clearly, preparing to press his advantage, win her over completely, and asked her out for dinner again.
Xu Lei seemed a bit embarrassed and said, "Isn't it a bit too much for us to eat together so often?"
Wen Ruxu said, "You said it's impossible with me, and I don't want to disrupt your family. For now, I just see you as an older sister. Can't an older sister and brother have a meal together?"
"I'll be going abroad in a while, and it will be rare for us to meet again. Please don't refuse me. It's rare to find someone I click with so well."
Xu Lei's eyes showed undisguised disappointment. "You're going abroad?"
"Yes, my father's business in an overseas branch needs someone to manage it. He wants me to go there for a while. It just so happens that there's nothing much tying me down in China. I've decided to accept his offer."
Xu Lei's heart, which had just begun to fall in love, had some ice added to it.
However, she was indeed a married woman, and she kept her identity in mind, not wanting to appear too obvious.
"Your father is right. Young people should focus on their careers. Go and do well."
"Will you still be willing to keep in touch with me in the future? Can I confide in you when I'm unhappy?"
"Of course. I'm willing to be your confidante, a good friend with whom you can talk about anything."
"Then, will you have dinner with me tonight? There's something I haven't told you, sister. Actually, you look remarkably like a deceased relative of mine. The moment I saw you, I felt a sense of closeness."
As he spoke, Wen Ruxu reached out and covered her hand.
"Sister, seeing you smile at me is like she's come back to life. I really love seeing you smile, and I really want to hug you."
Outside the restaurant, in the car, Jiang Jingyu was taking pictures of this scene with rapid clicks.
After all, Xu Lei couldn't resist his sweet talk and agreed to the dinner engagement that evening.
Perhaps it was the hints in his words during lunch and their hand-holding that foreshadowed something, but Xu Lei dressed more revealingly to meet him tonight than yesterday.
It was clear she had put in a lot of effort to dress up.
A black, deep-V slip dress, long crystal earrings, and bright red nails.
Perhaps she thought she looked mature and alluring, but in Wen Ruxu's eyes, she was just tacky, a cucumber painted green.
Her desire for him was written all over her face, truly making him lose his appetite.
However, he was still a rather accomplished actor.
He showered Xu Lei with praise, then moved closer, his hands subtly exploring her back and shoulders.
By the end, as Xu Lei giggled coyly, she was already leaning into his embrace.
The ambiguous atmosphere between them rose sharply. When they finished, at the restaurant entrance, Wen Ruxu looked deeply into her eyes and took off his jacket to drape over her.
Xu Lei even felt as if he was about to kiss her.
That feeling of reliving a first love was truly intoxicating.
However, Wen Ruxu wouldn't do anything; it was all for the sake of a good photo.
He very gentlemanly drove her home. After they parted, they continued their sweet talk on their phones.
After coaxing Xu Lei to sleep, at half past midnight, Wen Ruxu called Jiang Jingyu.
"Alright, alright, that's enough. Send her the photos to her husband, it's disgusting."
"If this continues, she'll throw herself at me even without me doing anything. I'm scared. That's it, prepare to reel her in."
Jiang Jingyu also felt it was about time. He immediately arranged for a same-city express delivery and sent the organized photos to her husband.
He also included a hotel room number and time.