Ch 57: Did You Block Me?

For the past month, Zhuang Lingyun remained elusive and busy, but he would unexpectedly appear before her, bringing her surprises.

They had eaten meals and watched movies together, but neither had taken the initiative to break through that barrier. There was no excessive intimacy, only this ambiguous anticipation of each meeting.

The colleagues in the shop were all sharp-eyed; none directly asked about her relationship with Zhuang Lingyun, yet everyone seemed to know.

Until one time, the shop’s sales achieved ten consecutive wins, the sales champion for ten consecutive months. Wang Xinru was commended by the head office and received a 10,000 yuan red envelope as a reward.

That day, Wang Xinru invited all the girls in the shop out for fun in the evening. First, they had dinner, then went to karaoke. Everyone drank and became somewhat drunk.

Xiao Yao rarely drank, but her alcohol tolerance was excellent—perhaps her metabolism was fast. Even if she felt slightly intoxicated a moment ago, she would soon regain her clarity.

Wang Xinru, having drunk, talked a lot, inadvertently revealing Zhuang Lingyun’s initial plan for her. Xiao Yao then learned that he had been scheming against her all along.

This job was recommended to her by Wang Xinru at his behest. His gallant intervention in the rainstorm that day was undoubtedly also part of his plan.

I wonder if that taxi driver was also arranged by him? If so, this man is incredibly manipulative.

Thinking of the black umbrella she treasured in her wardrobe, she suddenly felt uncomfortable.

From then on, Xiao Yao didn’t want to deal with him anymore, deliberately distancing herself. Even when he picked her up from work, Xiao Yao would use other excuses to refuse or simply avoid seeing him.

Once or twice, he naturally sensed her attitude, and the number of times he appeared decreased. He probably gave up. After all, a man like him has many women around him; what kind of woman couldn’t he get? There’s no need to waste his thoughts on a woman who doesn’t appreciate him.

Xiao Yao’s job was part-time, only for two months during the summer vacation. School would start at the beginning of September. She received her salary on the last day of August and said goodbye to her colleagues.

Before leaving, Wang Xinru pulled Xiao Yao to a corner to talk. She was hesitant, and Xiao Yao knew what she wanted to say, waiting quietly for her to speak.

“Xiao Yao, is there really no possibility between you and Manager Zhuang?” After much hesitation, Wang Xinru finally asked.

Xiao Yao lowered her head, picking at her fingernails, “Did he ask you to ask?”

“No, I just think it’s a pity. Actually, Manager Zhuang is really good. Don’t look at the many women around him—he works in women’s clothing, so it’s inevitable. But he’s a very self-disciplined and measured person; he never flirts with others. We can all see his affection for you. Besides, doesn’t liking someone mean using any means necessary to keep them by your side? That’s not wrong; it just means he likes you too much.”

Xiao Yao glanced at Wang Xinru, “Do you also think I’m overreacting? I don’t actually dislike him, I just think this man is too calculating, I’m afraid…”

“Yaoyao, you haven’t even left school yet, you’re naive; naturally, you think everything is simpler and better. But when you truly have to survive in this dog-eat-dog society, how can you manage without some means? As long as he genuinely cares for you, isn’t that enough? Manager Zhuang is a good choice. Besides, it’s just dating, not immediate marriage; there’s no need to think so far ahead, is there?”

Xiao Yao fell silent; she also felt she was overreacting.

At first, it was just a matter of pique, not wanting to see him, waiting only for an explanation, or for him to coax her, to give her a way out, and she would naturally give in.

But he didn’t do that. There was no explanation, and he even retreated, intending to give up. If she were to actively pursue him now, wouldn’t it make her seem cheap?

That night, back home, Xiao Yao held her phone, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. She took out the large black umbrella from the wardrobe again and sighed.

What’s wrong with this person? Since he used so many methods to pursue her, why did he back down so easily now? Doesn’t he have any backbone?

Forget it, never mind. Xiao Yao pulled the covers over her head, forcing herself to sleep.

The next day was September 1st; today was the day to register for school.

Xiao Yao packed a simple bag, ate the breakfast carefully prepared by her mother, and strolled to the subway station with her small suitcase.

She hadn’t slept well last night; she felt listless today.

Arriving at school, seeing the Navigator SUV parked at the school gate, she thought she was seeing things. She checked the license plate number again; it was him.

Why did he come?

Her heartbeat suddenly accelerated. Suppressing the excitement in her heart, she quickly walked to the window, glanced inside, and the slightly raised corners of her lips suddenly stiffened.

A girl was sitting in the passenger seat, wearing a small tank top and a very short skirt. She was quite pretty, probably a student from some department.

He didn’t come for her? Did he hook up with another girl?

Realizing this, the situation became awkward.

Xiao Yao concealed her astonishment and the downturned corners of her lips, turned, and tried to walk past nonchalantly. Zhuang Lingyun suddenly opened the car door, chased after her, and grabbed her wrist, holding it firmly in his palm.

Xiao Yao struggled to break free but failed. She angrily turned her head and glared at him, “What are you doing?”

“Why didn’t you answer my calls?”

“When did you call me?!” She had waited for several nights! She hadn’t received anything, and now he dared to question her?

He reached out to her, “Give me your phone.”

“Why should I?”

Seeing her temper, Zhuang Lingyun looked helpless. Knowing that she habitually kept her phone in her right pocket, he immediately reached out and took it out.

Xiao Yao’s right hand was being held; she couldn’t stop him.

She glanced at the girl in the tank top who had gotten out of the car and was standing in front of the car, watching them. She was tall and had a curvaceous figure—amazing!

Then she looked at her own flat and thin figure. She was leagues behind. Her eyes suddenly welled up. She struggled with her wrist again, “Zhuang Lingyun, let go! Aren’t you afraid your girlfriend will misunderstand?”

He didn’t answer her question. He frowned and held her phone in front of her, “You blocked me?”

When did that happen? It’s impossible! Was it a misoperation?

“You want to get rid of me?”

“You’re dreaming!” He glared coldly at her, pulled her wrist into his chest, embraced her completely, turned to look at the girl in the tank top, and spoke coldly.

“Su Ya, this is my girlfriend. You’ve seen her; go back.”

The girl in the tank top’s expression was quite dramatic; she looked sad but forced a smile, looking at him reluctantly, “Zhuang Lingyun, I’ll go then. Take care.”

“Be safe.” After saying this, he forcefully hugged the stunned Xiao Yao, picked up her suitcase with one hand, and walked towards the school gate.

After walking for about twenty seconds, Xiao Yao couldn’t help but turn her head to look outside the school gate. The girl in the tank top was still standing there, alone, looking a little pitiful.

“Who was that?” she couldn’t help but ask.

Zhuang Lingyun looked sideways at her in his arms, “Do you care?”

I swear, I accidentally added her to my blacklist. No wonder I didn’t receive his calls these past two days; it was a misunderstanding.

And the words he said to the girl in the tank top… when did she agree to be his girlfriend?

“She’s the daughter of the Su family. The Su and Zhuang families have business dealings.”

“So? Does she like you?”

“That’s her business.”

Xiao Yao was speechless again. How come this man, after a few days of not seeing him, suddenly became so domineering?

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