With a trace of helpless indulgence, “You’re more clear-headed than I thought.”
A genuine trace of warmth, “Jiang Lai choosing you, perhaps that really is the best choice.”
Xu Ruobing let out a low laugh, the tapping of her fingertip on the sofa armrest slowing down as well. She raised her eyes to look at Chi Yingyu, the aloofness under her eyes fading a little, replaced by a bit of genuine warmth.
“After all, I don’t have your magnanimity.”
“Magnanimity?”
Chi Yingyu thought of her own sister’s presence. As long as Jiang Lai could be happy, what did it matter if she was a little more magnanimous?
She really had let go of so much now.
But before this, it had all been in her head.
Now that someone had said it directly, it was rather embarrassing.
Her fingers unconsciously curled around the wedding ring, her voice soft yet clear: “I just don’t want to make trouble for myself.”
She lifted her gaze to Xu Ruobing, a hint of expectation in her eyes, “Then… would you be willing to help me think about the wedding? It doesn’t need to be too complicated, I just want to know, what kind of scene do you think Jiang Jiang would like? And your aesthetic sense, your experience is definitely broader than mine. I want to give Jiang Jiang a perfect wedding.”
Of course.
When it came to experience, Chi Yingyu couldn’t even compare to a fraction of Xu Ruobing’s.
You see, Chi Yingyu’s life had always been monotonous.
Having lived in this city for nearly thirty years, the number of times she had traveled could be counted on one hand.
Even when she had gone to other cities, most of it was for work, with no time at all to play, to see scenery she had never seen before.
“What Jiang Lai likes?”
Xu Ruobing pressed her fingertip against her chin, earnestly recalling, “I do know some of Jiang Lai’s definite preferences, but those are all work-related choices. I don’t want to make decisions for you two, after all, this is your wedding, not mine. At most, I can help you both with some references. As for the specifics, you’ll have to ask her yourself. I don’t want to make decisions for you.”
When Xu Ruobing said “this is your wedding,” the jealousy in her mouth was almost overflowing, impossible to hide.
Chi Yingyu watched Xu Ruobing’s petty demeanor, the smile at the corners of her mouth deepening, “I know, I just want to have a direction first.”
“If you want a direction first, how about I go ask her for you?”
Xu Ruobing looked at Chi Yingyu’s thinking, laboring, troublesome appearance, and suddenly realized something very important, which was that whenever Chi Yingyu thought about things related to Jiang Lai, her head always became not-so-clever, with a sense of neglecting the end for the beginning.
If they wanted to hold a secret wedding, she really couldn’t tell Jiang Lai about these things, it had to be kept confidential.
But if she herself was involved, it would be completely different.
“Miss Chi, leave this matter to me!”
Xu Ruobing voluntarily took on everything that followed, because she really didn’t want to see Chi Yingyu looking so foolish.
“Did you think of a good method?”
“More or less. You know, I’m Jiang Lai’s superior now. Finding out about these things is a piece of cake, I have tons of methods.”
Xu Ruobing said, tapping her fingertip lightly on the table, a smugness she couldn’t hide rising at the tips of her brows and the corners of her eyes, like a cat that had just found a shortcut.
“Once I get back, finding an excuse to chat with her about preferences will be simple. Like using work as a cover, casually asking whether she prefers a lawn or a banquet hall, warm lighting or cool tones. She definitely won’t get suspicious.”
She leaned back slightly, arms crossed over her chest, her tone carrying a bit of deliberate “showing off.”
“Think about it. If you ask her yourself, you’ll either give it away or get nervous. If I ask, it’ll be flawless. Then I’ll write down her preferences one by one for you, and you prepare accordingly. I guarantee you’ll give her a surprise. But… I can’t help for free. You’ll owe me a favor, and you’ll have to repay it.”
Xu Ruobing shifted her tone, a bit of slyness appearing in her eyes, “This favor can’t be free. Just for helping you pull off the wedding, as your ‘friend,’ I should get some perks too, right?”
She looked at Chi Yingyu’s slightly stunned expression, unable to help but curl the corners of her mouth.
“It’s not some excessive request, is it?”
“Relax, I won’t steal your person, and I definitely won’t do something like crashing a wedding. It’s just that for helping you pull off the wedding, as your ‘friend,’ I should get some perks too, right?”
As for what those perks would ultimately be, aside from those two things, Xu Ruobing would go as far as she could.
Thinking that she could even do something improper in front of Chi Yingyu then, she was really looking forward to it…
“Then I’ll head back to the studio first. If I go back now, I can still make it in time to have lunch with Jiang Lai.”
Xu Ruobing said as she stood up and straightened the hem of her light gray suit jacket, her fingertip lightly brushing over a nonexistent wrinkle on the lapel, her movements carrying a touch of deliberate composure, though a trace of barely contained urgency was hidden under her eyes.
She did want to go back early, to both share lunch with Jiang Lai and start planning the “gathering preferences” scheme as soon as possible.
Chi Yingyu stood up as well, her gaze falling on Xu Ruobing’s turning back.
“Then be careful on the way.”
Chi Yingyu said softly, her voice carrying a bit of sincere concern.
Xu Ruobing paused her steps, didn’t turn back, just raised her hand and waved, her voice carrying a smile as it drifted over: “Relax, just wait for my messages. But remember, I’ve noted down this favor first.”
With that, she pushed the door open and left, letting the office fall silent again.
She had said they’d eat together at noon, and as for what they ate, of course it was the lunch Jiang Lai brought.
Before Xu Ruobing had even returned, she had sent a message to Jiang Lai.
Jiang Lai looked at the message Xu Ruobing sent on the phone screen, her fingertip lightly tapping the corner of the screen, the corners of her mouth unconsciously curving up.
She also lifted her eyes to glance at the clock on the office wall.
There were still ten minutes until lunch break, so she got up and took the thermal lunchbox from the drawer, inside was the tomato beef brisket she had specially woken up early to make.
As long as Xu Ruobing wasn’t out filming or shooting commercials, whenever Jiang Lai came to work, she always brought a bit more of her own lunch, because Xu Ruobing would eat it too.
She carried the thermal lunchbox toward the pantry, the buzzing sound of the microwave running was especially clear in the quiet corridor.
Her fingertip touched the outer wall of the thermal lunchbox, she remembered how every time Xu Ruobing ate the food she made, her eyes would become sparkling, and she would even say “it’s even better than restaurant food.”
But how could it be that exaggerated?
Jiang Lai’s ears could not help but grow slightly warm.
When the microwave let out a “ding,” Jiang Lai had just opened the microwave, about to take out the thermal lunchbox, when she heard familiar footsteps behind her.
Before she could even turn around, a fragrant body hugged her tightly from behind.
Jiang Lai’s body instantly stiffened, her fingertip still resting on the warm microwave door handle, even her breath quieted a little.
The presence of the person behind her was too familiar, she almost immediately guessed who it was.
Xu Ruobing’s usual perfume, mixed with the slightly cool wind from outside, gently wrapped around her.
Warm arms encircled her waist, the pressure not heavy, yet carrying an intimacy that could not be broken free from, her chin also lightly rubbed against the crown of her head, like a clinging cat.
“So good, you even specially heated food for me?”
Xu Ruobing’s voice was against her ear, carrying a bit of light panting from just having run, the hot steam brushing against her auricle, making Jiang Lai’s ear tips instantly flush red.
“To see you earlier, I ran up, I’m a little tired.”
She wanted to turn around, but her waist was gently held down.
Xu Ruobing pressed closer against her back, her voice hiding a smile: “Don’t move, let me hold you for a bit.”