No wonder Xiang Ming introduced Ling Shuangjiang to him and even specifically told him that Ling Shuangjiang already had someone she loved. Given Xiang Ming's relationship with Xie Wang, this matter makes sense.
When he watched the dating reality show, he had his doubts about the relationship between the two. But his friend said that dating reality shows are all scripted, and Xie Wang's rejection of Ling Shuangjiang in the end only confirmed his suspicions.
But looking at it this way, it seems that Ling Shuangjiang actually does like Xie Wang.
But Xie Wang keeps claiming to be a straight man, doesn't he?
Ran Chen, feeling playful, wanted to tease Xie Wang.
"Never mind, Shuangjiang, if you don't want to talk about it, then don't." Ran Chen solicitously served Ling Shuangjiang some food. "I saw you liked this dish earlier, would you like to order some more?"
Ling Shuangjiang shook her head: "Thank you, but I'm full."
Xie Wang, who was standing next to them, only ordered a cup of cooling lemon green tea and quietly watched the two of them.
If the restaurant manager hadn't known him, he might have thought he was just there to freeload off the air conditioning.
Ran Chen smiled and considerately handed over a tissue: "There are grains of rice on the corner of your mouth, do you need me to wipe them for you?"
Ling Shuangjiang said thank you and gently wiped herself with a napkin: "It's gone, isn't it?"
Ran Chen shook his head: "Also, you couldn't reach it yourself."
Ling Shuangjiang's lips were clean; if Xie Wang wasn't blind, there shouldn't have been a single grain of rice on them.
He narrowed his eyes slightly, seeing through Ran Chen's methods.
A cunning gay man.
Just as Xie Wang was fidgeting and struggling with how to expose Ran Chen, Ling Shuangjiang turned around and took out her phone to take a look.
His peripheral vision suddenly froze as he looked up and saw Xie Wang standing before him.
Xie Wang, trying to hide his guilt, said, "What a coincidence."
Ling Shuangjiang was so surprised that she couldn't speak for a long time.
Xie Wang did not follow him when he left.
How did Xie Wang know he was coming?
Ran Chen greeted Xie Wang: "Hello, Mr. Xie, are you coming over for dinner this weekend? Would you like to share a table?"
Xie Wang leaned back in his chair, his eyes haughty, exuding an aura of not backing down even when he lost: "Sharing a table? Sure."
Soon, Xie Wang sat down next to Ling Shuangjiang, staring at Ran Chen with a deathly gaze.
Ran Chen rested his chin on his right hand: "What have you been busy with lately, Mr. Xie? My cousin said you often work overtime."
Xie Wang said casually, "I've been working on a landscaping project recently."
Ran Chen: "Oh? A landscaping project? Hengtai Group is starting to get interested in ecology?"
Xie Wang: "Yes, the main theme is green ocean."
Ling Shuangjiang stood quietly to the side. He hesitated, wondering how to explain his blind date to Xie Wang later.
Perhaps no explanation is necessary.
I reckon the other party will cause trouble again.
Ran Chen and Xie Wang knew each other; they had participated in a wilderness survival training camp together years ago and shared similar interests. Because they were similar in height and skin color, they were often mistaken for each other.
Ran Chen asked, "President Xie, you and Shuangjiang participated in the dating reality show together, didn't you develop any feelings for each other?"
This was a very bold question, and Ling Shuangjiang's fingertips curled slightly as she suppressed her inner tension.
Xie Wang said frankly, "Of course we've trained each other. Our relationship is the best in the world."
Ran Chen laughed out loud, giving the impression of elementary school students bickering.
"Mr. Xie, you haven't eaten yet, have you? Order some dishes so you don't go hungry."
Xie Wang: "No need, I'm full."
Ran Chen: "You're full before you've even eaten? It seems Mr. Xie doesn't have much of an appetite."
Xie Wang: "It's okay. I made too much breakfast, and the kids at home didn't finish it, so I ate it all."
Ran Chen frowned: "You have a child at home? You raise kids?"
Xie Wang didn't speak, but gave Ling Shuangjiang a deep look: "Hmm, there's a little kid who knows how to lie to me."
Ling Shuang lowered her head and drank her juice, remaining silent throughout.
For some reason, Xie Wang particularly liked this atmosphere where only the two of us knew about it.
Ran Chen found it incredibly cheesy and was thankful that she wasn't actually there for a blind date, otherwise she would have been driven crazy by the sarcastic remarks.
After finishing the meal, Ran Chen said goodbye to the two of them.
After Ran Chen left, Assistant Jin drove Ling Shuangjiang home.
During the journey, Ling Shuangjiang glanced at Xie Wang several times and found that he seemed to have calmly accepted the matter and was focused on flipping through the magazine.
"You've looked at me three times now," Xie Wang said, turning his head. "Is it because you feel uneasy?"
Ling Shuangjiang: "No, it's just that I'm wondering how you found me."
"That's not the point." Xie Wang seemed to have caught Ling Shuangjiang red-handed, and accused her methodically: "You don't trust me, you don't treat me like one of your own! If you had openly told me that you were going on a blind date, would I have refused?"
Ling Shuangjiang didn't argue for herself. Instead, she looked at him very obediently and said, "I promise I won't lie again next time, okay, brother?"
Xie Wang looked at Ling Shuangjiang's wet eyes and his heart softened: "Okay, don't cry."
Ling Shuangjiang pursed her lips, her eyes lowered: "I'm sorry."
The sight before him broke Xie Wang's heart. He hurriedly pulled out a tissue and bent down to wipe Ling Shuangjiang's eyes.
Ling Shuangjiang's tearful appearance only made her more endearing.
"I don't blame you. I'm just afraid you'll meet unreliable people and get scammed." Xie Wang's tone softened as he spoke. "Don't cry anymore. If you cry again, I'll cry with you."
Assistant Kim shuddered, wondering if he had misread it.
Where did they cry?
I just choked up a little.
Not a single tear fell.
My boss is hopeless.
He probably got sold out by Ling Shuangjiang, and he's still foolishly helping her count the money, while comforting her not to blame herself, saying that he was willingly sold out by her.
Soon, Ling Shuangjiang was appeased and finally smiled as she looked at Xie Wang.
Actually, he felt really guilty.
Especially after the lie was exposed, she even worried that Xie Wangzhen would be angry with her.
Back home, Xie Wang stayed by his side, asking, "Are you leaving tomorrow?"
Ling Shuangjiang: "Yes, the luggage is packed."
Xie Wang: "I'll take you tomorrow."
Ling Shuangjiang: "Tomorrow is Monday, don't you need to go to the company for an administrative meeting?"
Xie Wang: "No need, I still have that much time."
Having stayed here for nearly ten days, Ling Shuangjiang had gradually gotten used to it, and naturally, she was reluctant to leave. Especially seeing Xie Wang's longing and reluctant eyes, she felt a pang of sadness.
"Do you like hot pot? You can come to my place in winter, and I'll cook hot pot for you." Ling Shuangjiang leaned over, took Xie Wang's arm, and said to him with a smile.
He thought Xie Wang was really good; he was cute, thoughtful, and never held grudges.
Xie Wang: "I like it."
Ling Shuangjiang: "Okay, I'll invite you sometime."
Xie Wang's eyes lit up, and he casually picked up a calendar and a pen, pointing to the date on it: "Let's make an appointment to have hot pot at your house."
“Every Friday, we’ll go to a riverside restaurant for dinner; every Tuesday, we’ll have hot pot at your place; and every weekend, we’ll come to my place for dinner. Aside from your work hours, if circumstances allow, we can go see a movie or go for a drive every now and then. What do you think?”
Looking at the calendar filled with black circles, Ling Shuangjiang said, "I think... it should be okay."
Xie Wang looked pleased: "Then it's decided."
—
The next day, Xie Wang took Ling Shuangjiang to move.
Although it was called a move, Ling Shuangjiang only had three suitcases and not much stuff.
At the entrance of his new home, Xie Wang saw an uninvited guest.
Lin Jiayi, carrying a backpack, waved excitedly: "Baby, did you miss me?"
Xie Wang's head was throbbing with a buzzing pain.
How could he forget about this troublesome person?
Ling Shuangjiang jogged over: "How long did it take you to get here?"
Lin Jiayi pouted: "I've been waiting for you for so long."
Ling Shuangjiang took his arm: "Come on, let's go upstairs. Xie Wang, you should go to the company. Jia Yi and I will take it up."
Because Xie Wang received a phone call in the car and needed to go to the company immediately, he planned to help Ling Shuangjiang take her luggage upstairs and then leave immediately.
Although he really wanted to go up, Ling Shuangjiang didn't seem to be inviting him.
"Hmm, can you carry it?" Xie Wang asked.
“I can carry it; I can move it by myself.” Lin Jiayi readily took the suitcase and said to Xie Wang, “Thank you for taking care of Shuangjiang these past few days.”
Xie Wang frowned; there was something awkward about what he was saying.
After Xie Wang left, the two went upstairs.
Lin Jiayi looked around at Ling Shuangjiang's new house and said with a smile, "Honey, this house must have been expensive, right? I think the landscaping in the park is excellent, and there are even ducks in the artificial lake!"
“Those are mandarin ducks.” Ling Shuangjiang suppressed a laugh.
Lin Jiayi pouted: "How much did it cost?"
Ling Shuangjiang: "24 million".