After the matter with Chi Yingyu was temporarily settled, Jiang Lai returned to Xu Ruobing’s studio, ready to continue working.
But as soon as she walked in today, she could feel a somewhat oppressive, or rather tense, atmosphere in the studio. Even when she asked them about it, they all said nothing was wrong.
After she had sorted out a few things, the employee who had been mentoring her at the studio handed over a task. If there was nothing urgent in the near future, she was to go on a short business trip to where Xu Ruobing was currently filming. It wouldn’t take too long, just a few days.
Looking at this business trip requirement from the studio, Jiang Lai had no reason to refuse. Besides, this task was something she was supposed to do anyway.
So without any hesitation, she immediately agreed.
Since the departure time was tomorrow, after accounting for travel time back and forth, she would only be staying there for a little over a day. From that perspective, she could still come back and continue preparing for Shen Ruxue’s birthday. How could Jiang Lai possibly refuse?
Moreover, in her eyes, this was just a perfectly normal business trip. But after she agreed, she noticed that the entire studio’s atmosphere seemed to suddenly relax, no longer as tense as before.
However, she didn’t pay much attention to that part. She just thought that going on this trip would allow her to thank Ruobing for her help in person as soon as possible.
But she had no idea that this business trip was not arranged by Xu Ruobing at all. In fact, Xu Ruobing didn’t even know about it. It was purely a collective decision by the studio employees. That was precisely why they had been worried earlier that Jiang Lai might refuse or ask too many questions, which was why everyone collectively let out a sigh of relief.
Since the flight was set for tomorrow morning, Jiang Lai would have to pack her luggage properly after work today.
After work, Jiang Lai went home.
The moment she opened the door, Chi Yingyu pounced on her and wrapped her in a tight hug.
“Jiang Jiang, you’re home!”
“Why are you back so early? Didn’t you have much work at the firm today? I thought you’d still be busy for a while.”
In the past, after Jiang Lai got home, rested a bit, and prepared dinner, Chi Yingyu would only arrive home around that time. But why was she so early today?
“Because I finished my work really quickly! I missed you so much, so much.”
While at work today, Chi Yingyu had been thinking about Jiang Lai the whole time, occasionally touching the ring on her ring finger. This ring had also piqued the curiosity of the employees at the firm.
Normally, if an employee asked a question that had nothing to do with work, Chi Yingyu wouldn’t respond at all. But this ring on her ring finger was an exception. She had practically described vividly how Jiang Lai proposed to her, showing such excitement and joy for the first time in front of others.
But even this tiny glimpse she revealed was merely an overflow of the happiness she shared with Jiang Lai.
Chi Yingyu nuzzled against her neck, the faint scent of her body lingering in her nostrils.
“Why don’t you just quit your job, okay? Stay home with me, or come help me at the law firm. I really feel like I can’t be apart from you for even a second.”
“If I go, would you be able to focus on work?”
Jiang Lai closed the door behind her and glanced at their daughter sitting on the sofa playing on her phone. Seeing no sign of surprise on her daughter’s face, she breathed a sigh of relief.
She led Chi Yingyu to the sofa and gently pinched her soft cheek. Now, even with their daughter present, Chi Yingyu no longer hid her feelings. She did whatever she wanted, clinging as much as she liked.
“I want to have my own work too, you know. And I might have to go on a business trip for three days…”
Chi Yingyu’s smile instantly faded a little. Her fingers clutched at Jiang Lai’s clothes.
“A business trip… Did Xu Ruobing make you go? Isn’t she out there filming?”
“No, it’s just a normal work arrangement from the studio. So for these two days, you and our daughter will have to stay home by yourselves.”
In the past, she would have felt incredibly reluctant to go on a business trip, and her heart would ache thinking about Chi Yingyu being alone at home. But it was different now. With their daughter around, she wouldn’t be as lonely.
“I’ll be back soon, okay?”
Despite the reluctance written all over her face and the deep reluctance in her eyes, Chi Yingyu still put on a strong front, acting understanding and accepting why Jiang Lai had to go.
“When are you leaving…”
“Tomorrow morning. But it won’t be long—at most three days and I’ll be back.”
“Alright. You have to video call me every night when you’re there. I want to know if you’re eating properly every day. And… you have to tell me you miss me every day, okay?”
Jiang Lai watched her ramble on, her heart melting into a puddle of tenderness.
She pulled her into an embrace and rested her chin on top of her head.
“I know. I’ll be good.”
Jiang Lai and Chi Yingyu were just too sweet now. As long as there were no outsiders around, they were like malt syrup, inseparable. Their daughter, sitting on the side, had fully adapted to all of this in just two days.
The work trip was arranged to get Jiang Lai to Xu Ruobing as soon as possible. The flight was booked almost on the dot, but it was first class, so even if Jiang Lai didn’t get enough sleep at home, she could rest well on the plane.
The next morning, just as the sky was beginning to lighten, Jiang Lai was woken up by her alarm.
The moment she woke up, she immediately turned off the alarm, crawled out from under the covers, and looked at Chi Yingyu’s sleeping face. She didn’t dare move, gently brushing her fingertips over her soft hair, afraid to disturb this rare moment of peace.
The two of them had packed their luggage until very late the night before, and since it was still a while before Chi Yingyu had to go to work, she planned to get up as quietly as possible.
But just as she lifted the covers, she heard a faint rustling behind her.
Chi Yingyu rubbed her eyes and sat up, her voice still rough from sleep.
“Jiang Jiang… are you leaving so early?”
“Yeah, but you go back to sleep. It’s still early.”
Jiang Lai turned back and touched her cheek, her fingertips meeting a patch of warmth.
She wanted Chi Yingyu to sleep a bit more, but Chi Yingyu shook her head, pulled back the covers, and leaned over to hug her from behind, resting her chin on her back.
“I’ll get up with you. I’ll see you to the door.”
Warmth flooded Jiang Lai’s heart. She turned around and pulled her into an embrace.
The morning light was gradually brightening. Chi Yingyu was clearly exhausted, but she still forced herself to accompany her.
“Be good. Lie down for a little longer. I’ll come back and spend more time with you properly, okay?”
She planted a gentle kiss on Chi Yingyu’s forehead, her tone full of coaxing.
Chi Yingyu couldn’t argue with her. She obediently lay back down, but kept her eyes open, watching Jiang Lai’s retreating figure, and muttered softly:
“Remember to message me every day…”