“The cash bouquet was just to tease you… but judging from how you looked just now, it seems you liked that one even more~”
“That’s not true!” Liang Rou hurriedly retorted, but the moment she saw the Birthday Ring, she sniffled.
Damn it, why did she think of that woman again?
No way!
Her current girlfriend was right in front of her… How could she be thinking of someone else? That wouldn’t be fair to An Luxi…!
Flustered, she grabbed the other Birthday Ring.
An Luxi, understanding as always, offered her left hand.
Watching Liang Rou finally slip the ring onto her finger with a look of relief, she couldn’t help but cup Liang Rou’s face with her ring-adorned hand.
“From now on, every Birthday has to be like this~” An Luxi nuzzled her nose affectionately, “I want to make sure Rou Rou can never leave me.”
Staring at the radiant smile before her, Liang Rou suddenly felt her throat tighten.
She lowered her head, raised their intertwined hands to her lips, and planted a reverent kiss on the ring.
Such a simple gesture made An Luxi’s face instantly flush, her earlier composure completely gone.
“Foul play…” she mumbled softly, but gripped their joined hands even tighter.
This was probably the happiest day Liang Rou had had all month—her girlfriend’s company, surprises, delicious food, gifts…
The only blemish was that she’d thought of that woman again—the one whose memory always brought her loneliness, heartache, and a touch of fear.
It’s fine.
From now on, she’d have nothing to do with that woman.
She’d stay with gentle An Luxi, and her work would get better and better, with Promotion and Salary Raise.
That night, An Luxi burrowed her fluffy head into Liang Rou’s arms, rubbing against her like a kitten, eager for the next step.
But as she rubbed, she suddenly realized something was off.
Damn, she’d pretended to be obedient for so long, she’d almost forgotten who she really was!
Just as Liang Rou was about to pull her into her embrace, An Luxi struck.
She grabbed Liang Rou’s wrist and, with a forceful motion, raised it above her head.
Only then did Liang Rou truly marvel at her girlfriend’s strength.
She was a bit stunned—how had she never noticed this little girl was so strong before?
“You…”
Liang Rou blinked in confusion at An Luxi, her lips slightly parted, looking incredibly alluring.
“Gulp~”
An Luxi swallowed, her head lowering slowly, inching closer to those adorable lips.
Just as their lips were about to meet, Liang Rou suddenly spoke: “Oh my god, Deer, how are you so strong? I never noticed before…”
With that, all the courage An Luxi had painstakingly gathered collapsed.
She couldn’t hold back her laughter and fell right into Liang Rou’s arms.
Liang Rou, already ticklish, couldn’t hold back either.
The two of them dissolved into giggles, tangled together.
“It’s so wonderful being with Rou Rou~ I wish I could live with her forever…”
After the laughter, a faint sadness lingered.
The thought of going alone to the Airport tomorrow made An Luxi feel down.
But she had to go back.
After all, she was a Master’s Student—taking even half a day off was hard enough, not to mention she still had to prepare for the Doctorate Entrance Exam.
Liang Rou hugged An Luxi’s shoulders, comforting her gently, “It’s okay, Rou Rou. Distance isn’t a problem. As long as you remember that I love you, that’s enough.”
She always knew how to say such sweet words, making An Luxi’s heart bloom with joy.
But what An Luxi didn’t know was that Liang Rou had learned all these lines from her Predecessor.
“The predecessor plants the tree, the successor enjoys the shade,” indeed~
An Luxi always thought she was Liang Rou’s First Love—after all, that’s what Liang Rou said.
She was quite happy about it, thinking they were each other’s First Love.
As the night grew deeper, Liang Rou listened to the even breathing beside her, but she simply couldn’t fall asleep.
She stared blankly at the ceiling, that woman’s figure appearing in her mind again and again…
That girl had left a vivid mark on Liang Rou’s life from sixteen to twenty-five, unforgettable, lingering in her thoughts whenever she remembered her.
She didn’t really understand, either—why did that girl suddenly change? Why did she become so different after Liang Rou made new friends? Why did she always want to keep Liang Rou by her side and block her from interacting with anyone else?
Liang Rou wanted her own career, her own circle, to live better and better with her girlfriend. But that girl wouldn’t allow it.
“As long as you have me by your side, that’s enough…”
She’d heard those words countless times. What began as salvation became despair.
She did love her.
In the end, though, that love turned to hate—no, it was both love and hate.
Yet, she still loved her. She couldn’t forget her…
Liang Rou turned her head, gazing deeply at the girlfriend sleeping beside her.
She sighed, leaned over, and pressed a gentle kiss to An Luxi’s forehead.
“I’m sorry, Deer.”
With guilt in her eyes, she ruffled An Luxi’s hair.
“I’ll definitely forget her in the future.”
It was a promise to herself, and to her girlfriend.
She couldn’t stay trapped in memories and that twisted love any longer.
The next morning.
Liang Rou got up early and sent An Luxi to the Airport, bidding her a quick farewell.
“Another day of barely making it to the Office on time…”
After parking her Electric Scooter in the Underground Garage, Liang Rou wiped the sweat from her forehead.
Wearing her sneakers, she hurried into the elevator.
“Whew, made it in the nick of time~”
Feeling triumphant, Liang Rou lazily sat down at her desk.
“Wuhu~”
She spun around in her Swivel Chair to celebrate.
Xia Rui had arrived early.
Seeing Liang Rou in such a good mood, she began her own internal strategy: Hmm, Senior seems to be in a great mood today. It must be because she’s expecting my gift, right? Wow~ Senior is so cute~
See, there was no need for Liang Rou to do anything.
“Senior~”
Xia Rui walked over to Liang Rou, holding a Gift Box.
Her cheeks were flushed, and she was uncharacteristically shy.
She tucked her stray hair behind her ear and handed over the Gift Box.
“Happy Birthday~ Senior, this is the Birthday gift I told you about yesterday… I bought it according to your preferences. I hope you’ll like it~”
“Huh?”
Liang Rou was momentarily stunned, only then recalling what Xia Rui had mentioned yesterday.
“Oh, oh, oh, thank you, thank you.”
She thanked her repeatedly, then stood up from her Swivel Chair and accepted the Gift Box with both hands, very politely.
But the moment she opened the Gift Box, Liang Rou’s mouth fell slightly open—she could no longer control her expression.