Chapter 144: Calling It Tiring Without Doing Anything

In the golden autumn of October, the city’s plane trees turned crimson, blanketing the streets in a layer of gold.

Ever since she had been caught by Cheng Xingye while secretly buying a small nightgown—and subsequently disciplined in bed—Lu Qingyue had not dared to provoke him again. As luck would have it, their computer science class had a group project, so she used this as an excuse to move back into the dormitory, claiming it would be more convenient to discuss the work with Fang Yang and the others.

Cheng Xingye didn't mind. He had been incredibly busy lately, often working until seven or eight in the evening without even finding time to eat, so picking her up would have been quite late anyway. Thus, Lu Qingyue stayed at school from Monday through Friday. It wasn't until the end of the week that she realized it had been a long time since she had visited him.

They had chatted on WeChat several times over the past few days, and Lu Qingyue knew he generally didn't leave the office until after eight. Thinking that she would only be alone and bored at the dorm anyway, she decided to head to his company to find him, grab a meal, and then go home together.

Dingli Tower was a famous landmark in Jiangcheng. Lu Qingyue took a bus from the school gate and, after four or five stops, arrived in the heart of the CBD. Skyscrapers were the hallmark of a prosperous metropolis; standing beneath the brilliant evening lights, one felt small and insignificant. This was her first time coming here to find him. Initially, she was afraid she wouldn't find her way, but as soon as she stepped off the bus and looked up, she saw the towering, cloud-piercing landmark. Standing on the concrete, peering through the golden leaves at the super-tall building, she was stunned to realize that the gap between her and Cheng Xingye was perhaps more vast than the distance from Earth to outer space.

Watching the massive glass doors swing open and shut, with well-dressed white-collar professionals flowing in and out, she felt a sudden wave of trepidation. She glanced left and right until she spotted a guest lounge area to the right of the reception desk. She hurried over, sat on the plush leather sofa, and pulled out her phone to send Cheng Xingye a message.

【Lu Diandian】: You have a little cutie waiting in the lounge area on the first floor of Dingli Group. Please use pick-up code 0808 to claim your package as soon as possible.

...

On the 35th floor of Dingli Tower, a high-level meeting had just concluded.

This meeting had once again exposed several subordinates in the procurement department who had colluded with partners, accepted bribes, engaged in backroom deals, and signed contracts with suppliers that failed to meet quality standards. The Xu family was among the partners exposed for fraud and bribing executives.

With this investigation into the senior management, most of the "rats" within the group had been cleared out. The executives dispersed, crowding around the elder Mr. Cheng and young Mr. Cheng as they exited the conference room. Cheng Li had a few things to discuss with his assistant, so he returned to his office, while the others headed toward the elevators.

They chatted as they walked. Cheng Xingye stood among the suited crowd, showing no signs of intimidation; instead, he remained composed and at ease as he discussed the upcoming arrangements following the internal restructuring. When the elevator doors opened, the group of elites filed in. By the time they descended to the first floor, they spilled out again.

Someone held the elevator door, gesturing for Cheng Xingye to go first. Cheng Xingye nodded in polite gratitude. As he stepped out, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. The screen lit up as he unlocked it, jumping to the WeChat interface he hadn't yet closed. A small red dot sat on his pinned conversation, indicating a message sent nearly half an hour ago.

After reading what Lu Qingyue had sent, he paused for a brief moment, then instinctively looked up, following the cue in the message toward the lounge area.

The lobby was luxurious and spacious. Crystal chandeliers cast a soft, shimmering light from above, as if gilding the world in a lustrous glow. Beside a lush, verdant plant, he spotted the petite, slender figure of his little troublemaker.

The girl was wearing a pale pink fuzzy sweater and high-waisted jeans. The cinched design of the waist highlighted her slender frame, and her straight legs were long and delicate, stirring the imagination. Perhaps bored from waiting, her round eyes wandered curiously, and her toes tapped rhythmically against the marble floor. Her slender calves swayed, causing the light reflected on the marble to dance like rippling water.

Cheng Xingye’s lips curled into an involuntary smile. He bid farewell to the person next to him and strode toward her.

The marble floors, the priceless crystal chandeliers, the soft lounge sofas, the fresh flowers on the table—everything was new and curious to Lu Qingyue. She was staring intently at a vase of blooming roses on the table when a shadow suddenly blocked the light.

Lu Qingyue looked up, dazed, and then jumped up in pleasant surprise.

"Cheng Xingye!"

Cheng Xingye had circled around the side of the sofa. As she sprang up, he leaned in, instinctively pulling her into his arms. He brushed a kiss against her forehead, his tone filled with surprise.

"Why are you here?"

They had been dating for nearly three months, yet this was her first time visiting him at the office. Seeing several people behind him casting curious glances their way, Lu Qingyue felt a bit uncomfortable. She tucked herself into his chest and muttered softly, "Can't I come see you? Or have you been keeping a mistress hidden away somewhere?"

Cheng Xingye held her, unbothered by the onlookers, though he turned slightly to shield her from their gaze. He looked down with amusement, nuzzling the tip of her nose, and said with a mix of helplessness and playfulness, "Keeping you is exhausting enough as it is."

Pressed firmly into his embrace, Lu Qingyue had to tilt her head back, huffing with mock indignation, "How can you call it exhausting when you haven't done anything?!"

That was a bit of a "having your cake and eating it too" statement.

Cheng Xingye found it secretly amusing. This girl truly had a personality where, if you gave her an inch, she’d take a mile; if you gave her a ladder, she’d climb to the heavens. If he didn't keep her in check, she’d be getting too big for her boots.

He quirked his lips, used one hand to tilt her chin up, and leaned down close to her ear, whispering in a voice only the two of them could hear:

"Who says I haven't done anything? Doesn't using my hands count?"

Lu Qingyue: "???"

Lu Qingyue: "..."