As a normal person, if contact with the opposite sex is an experience one must go through sooner or later, then Jiang Jingyu, whether in terms of looks, physique, character, or any other aspect, is top-tier excellent. What's so difficult about going through it with him?
On the contrary, he was born a favored child of heaven, and it was he who was at a disadvantage by inexplicably following her.
She hoped she hadn't left him with any psychological trauma.
However, Lu Jiaying would not ask Jiang Jingyu.
Having interned with her for over a month, Jiang Jingyu performed very well. She decided to find time to chat with Jiang Nan Fang and ask her to give Jiang Jingyu leave so he could go out and play with peers.
As long as he left, he would soon forget about it, and it would be better for everyone. Wasn't it?
The day they returned was a weekend. Lu Jiaying hadn't seen Mailedi for a long time. On the way home from the airport, she called her to ask if she was free to get together.
Mailedi warmly invited her to her home for lunch.
"It's been a long time since I've seen you. I heard Jingyu is interning with you recently. How about I also invite my sister-in-law over, and we can all chat?"
Lu Jiaying couldn't have asked for more. She went home first, put down her luggage, put on some light makeup, and then drove to Mailedi's house.
Jiang Nan Fang had already arrived, bringing her younger son Zhan Jing Chen and younger daughter Zhan Jing Ci. They were playing with Mailedi's child, Lu Jun. The few women sat in the garden chatting.
First, they shared their recent updates, and then asked Lu Jiaying how her work was going recently.
Lu Jiaying said it was going very smoothly, and that she had just signed the big order from Germany. The two women greatly admired her work performance.
After encouraging her, they also reminded her not to work too hard and to pay attention to balancing work and rest and taking care of her body.
After a casual chat, Jiang Nan Fang finally shifted the conversation to Jingyu.
"How has Jingyu been performing recently?"
Lu Jiaying quickly replied, "Very well. With your and President Zhan's genes, how could he be bad? He learns very quickly and is very sharp-minded. He also contributed a considerable part to signing this order."
There is no mother in the world who doesn't like hearing others praise her child. Jiang Nan Fang smiled and said.
"Really? Compared to Rui Rui, he's quite rebellious. As children grow up, they don't tell us their thoughts. I always worry that his performance isn't good enough and that he's causing you trouble. Hearing you say this puts me at ease."
Lu Jiaying also smiled, "Actually, you don't need to worry too much. It's normal for children in adolescence to be a little rebellious; they'll be fine after this phase."
"However, keeping him with people much older than him isn't a solution. Sometimes you need to listen to his opinions more, make him feel comfortable, and feel like he's your friend so he can open up."
Jiang Nan Fang agreed.
"That's right. Ah Jue and I are also discussing this. After his internship is over two months, we'll let him rest. While there's still some time, we'll take him and his younger siblings on a trip abroad. We should reward him when it's time."
He had to wait until the end of two months to leave? That's still more than 20 days away.
Lu Jiaying was a little anxious.
"I feel that Jingyu isn't very happy staying with us. Since he's performed well, and work is about cultivating individual ability and willpower, there's no point in repeating it day after day. It's better to set him free sooner."
"Oh?" Jiang Nan Fang seemed a little surprised.
"I see him looking quite happy every day when he goes home, and he seems very relaxed... Does he often put on a long face when he works with you?"
Lu Jiaying quickly made up an excuse, fearing she might startle her.
"Not exactly a long face. But think about it, everyone is older than him, and the workplace isn't simple. What common ground can they have?"
"He's suffering internally, with no one to confide in. He's afraid of you worrying, so he has to force a smile when he gets home. It's not easy for him."
Mailedi agreed with Lu Jiaying's statement.
"Exactly. Brother, you two are too hasty. Why did you send him to intern at the company at such a young age? It wouldn't be too late even in two years."
"Making him spend his days with a bunch of old hands in the workplace, how can he not feel stifled? And your brother is so fierce, always suppressing him. The child doesn't dare to speak his mind!"
Persuaded by the two women, and feeling a bit guilty about not letting him climb Mount Everest last time, Jiang Nan Fang softened and agreed.
"Alright then. I'll go back and discuss it with Ah Jue. We'll arrange the itinerary for a time soon. We should take him out to relax."
After talking about Jiang Jingyu, Mailedi changed the subject and grabbed Lu Jiaying's hand.
"Someone is about to celebrate her 26th birthday. Do you have any birthday gifts you want?"
Although she didn't have family in these years, Mailedi had always treated her like a younger sister. Every year her birthday was celebrated more grandly than anything else, and Lu Jiaying was extremely grateful.
Having accepted Mailedi's good intentions for so many years, she shouldn't have refused this year, but she was really not in the mood lately.
"Thank you, sister, for remembering my birthday, but I don't want a big celebration this year."
"Firstly, the order from Germany has a deadline, and work is quite busy. Secondly, I'm getting older, and I feel a bit panicked. I really can't be happy, and I even want to escape."
Mailedi smiled.
"You know you're not young anymore? By the way, are you telling me the truth? How can a normal girl at this age not want to date a boyfriend? Could it be that you don't like men?"
"It's okay, it's okay if you like girls. We are very open-minded. And I know many beautiful girls, I can introduce some to you."
Lu Jiaying quickly waved her hands.
"No, that's not it. While I'm not sure if I like men, I'm sure I definitely don't like women. I appreciate the kind offer, but you really don't need to."
"Perhaps it's just because I've seen too many people crying their eyes out over relationships and losing themselves. I find it uninteresting, so I don't want to try. For now, I just want to do my work well."
Mailedi raised her beautiful eyebrows.
"You're already doing your work very well. When do you want to start thinking about it? When you retire at fifty or sixty?"
"Although this is very old-fashioned, I'm genuinely a little worried for you and want to introduce you to someone."
"I'm not saying you have to get married, but at least you should try dating. The feeling of being in love is quite nice, you can't just waste such good youth."
Mailedi introducing someone to her was already hard to refuse. Moreover, having just had that interaction with Jiang Jingyu, Lu Jiaying thought it would be good to accept, to draw a clear line with him and state her position.
After lunch, Mailedi arranged for the men to be called over for Lu Jiaying to meet and invited her to stay for dinner.
Jiang Nan Fang watched the fun and didn't return until past nine o'clock that night.
It was the weekend, and everyone was around.
Some were playing on their phones, some were reading, and all of them were lying around on the living room sofas.
Seeing her return with the two little ones, their gazes all turned towards them.
Zhan Bei Jue patted the seat next to him, inviting his wife to sit. The couple leaned into each other, oblivious to the world.
Zhan Bei Jue gently complained, "Why were you gone so long? The whole day, and you didn't send me a single message. You care more about your friends than your husband."