Chapter 11: Then why don’t you let him try chasing me?

The next morning, on her way to work, Jiang Nanshu called Lu Youchuan to clarify what he meant last night.

“Are you sure you’re not asking me to move out? If you are, don’t feel embarrassed to say it.”

Because of this matter, Lu Youchuan had lost half a night’s sleep.

He felt a bit guilty toward Song Ye but also couldn’t blame Jiang Nanshu.

At this moment, he had just parked his car outside the company and sighed bitterly.

“That’s really not what I meant. You can stay as long as you want.”

He hesitated for a moment before adding, “It’s just… don’t bring anyone home.”

If Song Ye saw that, it would be too much for him.

“Hm? What do you mean by bringing someone home?”

Jiang Nanshu thought he might still be hungover.

Last night, he had even said she could throw a party at the place if she wanted.

She paused for a second but still went along with his words.

“I won’t bring anyone home.

But… can I bring a cat home?”

“You want to get a cat?” Lu Youchuan asked.

“Is that okay?”

Jiang Nanshu felt a little embarrassed.

“If not, I can foster it somewhere for a while.

It’s no big deal.”

“If you want to keep one, go ahead.”

Lu Youchuan quickly agreed, afraid she might misunderstand again and think he was trying to make her move out.

He just suddenly recalled what Lin Yao had said last night how Song Ye’s cat was originally meant to be Jiang Nanshu’s eighteenth birthday gift.

But in the end, he never gave it to her and ended up raising it himself for nearly ten years.

Jiang Nanshu chuckled.

“Thanks, bro.

I’m hanging up now.”

“Wait.”

Lu Youchuan felt complicated about it but still tested the waters.

“I actually think you and Song Ye might still have a chance.

Why don’t you try chasing him again?

He would definitely say yes this time.”

“……”

Why was this guy so fickle?

Jiang Nanshu felt a pang of frustration and scoffed, “Then why don’t you let him try chasing me instead?”

“……”

Lu Youchuan fell silent, unsure how to respond to that.

“It’s impossible, isn’t it?”

The car came to a stop by the roadside near the company entrance.

Jiang Nanshu opened the door and stepped out.

Standing by the curb, she said flatly, “You know, don’t you?

I chased him back in high school.

He rejected me, and he was very firm about it.

So there’s really no chance between us.”

Lu Youchuan was quiet for a moment before replying, “Got it.”

She hung up.

Letting out a long breath in the cold air, she quickly walked toward the company building.

In the elevator, she ran into Gao Xiaokun and Lu Xiaowei.

Gao Xiaokun was munching on a steamed bun.

When he saw her, he grinned.

“Morning, senior.”

“Morning.”

Jiang Nanshu smiled but cursed him in her heart.

Idiot.

Calling her “senior” in front of Lu Xiaowei was basically exposing her.

Lu Xiaowei was already suspicious that she had known Song Ye before.

She turned to Lu Xiaowei and greeted her formally, “Good morning, Team Lead.”

Lu Xiaowei glanced between them.

“You two knew each other before?”

Gao Xiaokun only then realized his slip-up and didn’t know how to respond.

Seeing his awkward expression, Jiang Nanshu decided there was no point in hiding it anymore.

“We went to the same high school.”

Back when Song Ye joined the company, he was recruited directly as a team leader rather than going through the usual hiring process.

His onboarding was different from regular employees.

On his first day, he had called for a meeting with the entire project team, so there had been no formal introduction email.

That’s why Lu Xiaowei only knew where he had studied in college and during his overseas exchange but had no idea about his high school background.

The research team was always swamped with work.

There was barely any time for personal conversations.

Her boyfriend frequently complained about Song Ye, ranting about how strict, arrogant, and sharp-tongued he was.

After hearing it so many times, Lu Xiaowei naturally developed a dislike for Song Ye.

That dislike extended to anyone who sided with him including Jiang Nanshu, who had taken his side on her very first day at work.

“No wonder,” Lu Xiaowei muttered.

The elevator reached the 16th floor.

Without saying more, Jiang Nanshu walked out.

At her desk, Zhou Jiale was once again sneaking in some game time.

Lu Xiaowei noticed and frowned.

“Stop slacking off and get back to work.

I don’t want to work overtime.”

Zhou Jiale awkwardly shrank back and minimized the game window.

A while later, Lu Xiaowei threw a task at Jiang Nanshu, asking her to write a promotional article.

Jiang Nanshu was in the middle of competitor research.

She paused.

“When do you need it?”

“By the morning after tomorrow,” Lu Xiaowei replied.

“It has to be published across all platforms by 10 AM on Friday.

It’s an important release, so do a good job.

I’ll review it once you’re done.”

Jiang Nanshu responded, “Got it.”

This task could have been given to anyone else.

Since she was new and knew the least about the project, assigning her the promotional article meant she would need to spend extra time on it.

Zhou Jiale gave her a sympathetic glance and sent a private message:

You’re working late again tonight.

Jiang Nanshu replied:

Shrug emoji.

Zhou Jiale:

Let me know if you need help.

It wasn’t until the afternoon that Jiang Nanshu finally had time to open the shared document and start working on the article.

Just then, she received a message from the veterinarian.

The doctor sent a few videos, letting her know that the cat’s surgery was done and that it was doing fine.

She opened the videos.

The little cat was eating.

Though it looked a bit weak, it was in much better shape than when she had found it last night.

A small smile formed on her lips.

She replied:

Thank you! Let me know if anything comes up.

The doctor:

Of course! No problem.

The doctor:

By the way, does the cat have a name yet?

Jiang Nanshu had lost the chance to name it “Rousong,” and she hadn’t thought of another name yet.

So she just replied:

Not yet. Let’s just use a placeholder for now.

The doctor:

Alright, then we’ll call it ‘Little Rousong’ for now.

Shu:

Shu:

Fine, whatever. I need to get back to work.

She closed the chat window and began working on the promotional article.

Around six o’clock, her colleagues started leaving for the day.

Jiang Nanshu got up to pour herself a glass of water before returning to her desk to continue working.

She didn’t pay attention to the time until the scent of food wafted through the air.

Looking up, she saw the same delivery worker from before.

A few minutes later, Gao Xiaokun brought her a meal and even a cup of juice.

Jiang Nanshu couldn’t help but ask, “Did your boss ask you to bring this again?”

“He ordered the meal,” Gao Xiaokun admitted, scratching his head with an embarrassed smile.

“The juice is from me.

I ordered it as a separate delivery.”

“…Thanks.”

Looking at his shy expression, Jiang Nanshu wondered was this junior planning to make a comeback?

Gao Xiaokun said, “Eat first, I’m heading back in.”

After he left, Jiang Nanshu opened the meal container and glanced inside.

It was still all her favorite dishes.

Even after so many years, Song Ye still remembered her taste preferences.

Was it just a good memory, or something more?

The conflicting emotions only lasted for about half a minute.

She quickly finished her meal, cleaned up, and resumed working on her draft.

She became so focused that she lost track of time again.

Until a shadow fell over her desk, and a deep male voice spoke from above,

“It’s time to go. Whatever’s left, finish it tomorrow.”

Jiang Nanshu snapped her head up and met Song Ye’s deep, dark eyes.

She was momentarily dazed before glancing at the bottom-right corner of her screen.

It was already 11:30 PM.

She looked back up.

“You guys are leaving too?”

Song Ye gave a soft “Mhm.”

Then, lowering his gaze at her, he said, “It’s too late.

You’re coming home with me.”

Jiang Nanshu blinked.

She wanted to refuse, but under his gaze his expression as indifferent as ever, even a little cold—the words wouldn’t come out.

He was staring at her so directly that turning him down suddenly felt difficult.

She pursed her lips and lowered her head.

“Give me two minutes.”

She quickly saved her file, shut down her computer, packed up her things, and grabbed her bag.

Song Ye gave her a glance, shoved his hands into his pockets, and turned to walk ahead.

“How long do they still have to work?”

Jiang Nanshu glanced toward the research department.

A few people were still at their desks, typing rapidly on their keyboards, completely absorbed in their work.

“Another half hour.”

“Oh…”

The two walked one after the other to the elevator.

Song Ye raised his hand and pressed the button.

Standing beside him, Jiang Nanshu felt a little out of place.

Weren’t they supposed to… only talk about work?

So how did she end up going home with him?

Just then, Song Ye’s phone chimed.

He glanced at the screen, his movements pausing briefly.

Then, suddenly, he turned to look at her.

At that moment, the elevator arrived.

Jiang Nanshu stepped in first.

Noticing the intensity of Song Ye’s gaze, she couldn’t help but look up.

Song Ye followed her into the elevator, still staring straight at her.

His eyes locked onto her so intently that her heartbeat quickened.

She asked in a small voice, “What’s wrong?”

The elevator doors slowly closed.

Song Ye shifted his gaze from her face, turned, and pressed the button for the basement level.

After a brief silence, he glanced down at her, his expression seemingly nonchalant, yet with a hint of amusement in his eyes.

“Your brother said… you told him to let me try chasing you?”

“……”