Chapter 23: Ruan Jiu Jiu’s unhappiness was written all over her face.
She stomped forward, fuming. Cheng Jun was left in the dust. Not too long later came from behind the sound of Cheng Jun trying to ease the mood.
“I took another picture for you.”
Ruan Jiu Jiu halted in her steps, skeptical. “Are you sure you didn’t make me look like an idiot?”
Cheng Jun offered the camera. “Definitely not.”
Ruan Jiu Jiu took the camera from his hands and cautiously took a look. She immediately sank into silence.
She really shouldn’t have had any expectations for Cheng Jun.
… This bastard somehow had the ability to make her look like a 1.2 meter tall munchkin. What skills.
In the frame, a jacket rested on Ruan Jiu Jiu’s shoulders, and she looked like a 1 meter dwarf. She even looked huffy, scowling with daggers in her eyes. She really didn’t mean to roast herself, but she couldn’t help but admit that she looked like a grumpy little pheasant with its feathers popped out in anger.
Ruan Jiu Jiu: “…”
So, is that what she looked like in Cheng Jun’s eyes?
She wanted to cry.
At this time, Cheng Jun just had to chime in without any tact. “I’m so hungry.”
That night, under the subtle gaze of Ruan Jiu Jiu, Cheng Jun calmly polished off a mound of seafood. Ruan Jiu Jiu stared him down and stabbed her fork into her fried fish, as if it was Cheng Jun on her plate right now.
She was full of regret. She thought that if she brought along a friend, she’d be able to take a whole roll of beautiful photos. But now, he was practically a warlord who had purposefully come to anger her to death.
After she returned to their room and brushed her teeth, Ruan Jiu Jiu slammed the door in a huff and went to bed.
She lay in a large, unfamiliar bed. After turning off the lights, the room became pitch black. The thick curtains were tightly drawn shut, the pillow was stuffed with something that had a fragrant smell, and the blankets were soft. As expected of a high-end resort. Every aspect was wonderful. Only, Ruan Jiu Jiu tossed and turned, not feeling sleepy at all.
She opened her eyes, stared at the ceiling, and noticed that it reflected an indistinct black lump. It nearly scared the wits out of Ruan Jiu Jiu.
She screamed and sprang up. Only after a long pause did she realize that she had been scared for nothing.
“…”
What an annoying resort. Why did they stick a mirror on the ceiling? This wasn’t some horror movie set.
A knock came from the door, and Cheng Jun slowly asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing…” Ruan Jiu Jiu turned on the bedside lamp in a cold sweat. She weakly said, “I was shocked by how good I look.” She definitely wouldn’t admit that she had been scared by her own reflection. That was too shameful!
Cheng Jun: “…”
Ruan Jiu Jiu didn’t hear the sound of his footsteps departing. She was still unsettled. She turned over again but still couldn’t sleep. She opened her eyes a crack and softly called out. “Cheng Jun, are you asleep?”
A few seconds later, he replied.
“No.” He was probably in the living room. His voice didn’t sound too far off.
For some reason, Ruan Jiu Jiu let out a sigh of relief and relaxed.
“Good night,” she mumbled. Her voice was almost a whisper, as if she were speaking to herself.
All the lights were off and the living room was pitch black. The curtains were drawn, but by peering through a crack you could vaguely make out the tranquil seashore under the quiet night sky. It was a breathtaking sight. A slender figure leaned against the wall next to Ruan Jiu Jiu’s door. His mouth moved yet no sound came out.
But his lips read, “Good night.”
There were only pleasant dreams that night.
The next day, Ruan Jiu Jiu got ready in high spirits. She changed into an ocean-blue maxi dress. Today, she could lounge on the beach chairs and take a good nap. The sun’s rays were particularly harsh today. Even Shiseido’s highly rated ANESSA sunscreen wouldn’t be of much help. Ruan Jiu Jiu only wanted to peacefully lie on the beach chair and daydream.
Cheng Jun and her reached a perfect consensus when it came to that idea.
Compared to the two’s relaxing excursion, the other group of people weren’t as happy. Though they were said to be on vacation, there was still work to be done. The three men had their heads buried in their laptops as they scrambled. They relied on beer to fuel them as they worked the entire night.
Tu Nan sat on the carpet and sank into silence. “And why did I want to send the boss here? … It was because I wanted to have my vacation.”
So what the hell were they doing here!
Fu Zi Cheng had tears streaming down his face. “Fuck. My blind date fell through because I couldn’t make the time. I hate you guys.”
An Rou changed into the bikini she had prepared. Every inch of skin it was possible for her to expose, she exposed. It was a complete 180 from the innocent image she usually portrayed. Even Jiao Fan was a little stunned. She cheerily curved her lips and said, “Let’s go. It’s perfect weather for swimming.”
……
Under a beach umbrella, two people squinted their eyes as they ate fruit and took in the scenery. There wasn’t a single soul on the beach. It was calm and leisurely. Ruan Jiu Jiu gave a lazy stretch. “Ah, this is so nice. I hope I can come here again.”
The sun, the sand, the waves, and… the sound of someone munching on watermelon right next to her.
Ruan Jiu Jiu’s face darkened as she added, “Alone.”
At this time, a few people walked over. Ruan Jiu Jiu was wearing sunglasses and couldn’t see clearly. She squinted slightly. Beside her, Cheng Jun calmly wiped his hands. He wore a loose t-shirt and shorts. His exposed arms and legs unexpectedly weren’t that flabby. One look and you could tell that he frequently exercised.
Ruan Jiu Jiu had strong suspicions that behind her back, Cheng Jun worked out every day, while in front of her he pretended to be a fat shut-in.
The group slowly walked closer and waved slightly in embarrassment.
As they drew closer, Ruan Jiu Jiu recognized their faces and was shocked. Woah, did Jiacheng’s boss also come here on vacation? This was such a coincidence.
Tu Nan and the others saw Ruan Jiu Jiu lazing on the beach chair from afar. Her snow white skin was dazzling to the eye. Her slender legs were languidly crossed, and she had red polish on her toenails. She nearly took one’s breath away.
She was like a sleepy cat, but she was also like a bewitching siren. The vulgar cavemen all gave a dry cough and turned their heads, not daring to look any longer.
Realizing that she currently looked a bit indecent, Ruan Jiu Jiu quickly sat up. Ladylike, she pulled the edge of her dress and covered up her slender, white legs.
Cheng Jun seemed to have long known that they would come. He continued to calmly munch on his fruit.
Ruan Jiu Jiu quietly said to him, “Hey, Jiacheng’s boss is here. As an employee, aren’t you even going to say hi?”
The real CEO of Jiacheng calmly took a sip of coconut water and mumbled, “Mhm.”
He definitely wasn’t the one who should be nervous.
Upon seeing Cheng Jun, the group of people were so nervous that they nearly called out “Boss” before they choked it back down their throats. Cheng Jun only instructed them not to call him “Boss” in front of Ruan Jiu Jiu, and not to call her “Sister-in-law,” and didn’t say much else. They couldn’t figure out why but they also didn’t dare to ask further.
“What a coincidence.” As the only one who wasn’t in the know, Ruan Jiu Jiu warmly greeted the group.
“Indeed, indeed.”
Ruan Jiu Jiu asked, “Are you guys here on vacation?”
“Yup yup.” The group strained under the pressure. It was such a hot, sunny day but cold sweat somehow managed to form on their skin.
Ruan Jiu Jiu: “…”
Did she have the wrong impression? Why did it seem like they were really nervous?
Just as she was deep in her thoughts, a charming figure sashayed to the front. Her figure was very good. Having learned ballet for a few years as a child, her posture was excellent. She looked as elegant as a swan. She walked up to Ruan Jiu Jiu unprompted and smiled, saying, “Hello, my name is An Rou. I’m an animation lead at Jiacheng.”
An Rou had originally planned to establish her dominance. She stood while Ruan Jiu Jiu sat, cutting Ruan Jiu Jiu’s grandeur in half. In An Rou’s mind, Ruan Jiu Jiu probably had a nasty look on her face and was guessing at the relationship between her and Cheng Jun.
Unexpectedly, when Ruan Jiu Jiu heard that she was an animator, she immediately clasped her hand and shook it vigorously.
It was like an impoverished mountain-dwelling hobo meeting the head of a charity. Her eyes lit and a dazzling smile bloomed on her face. “Nice to meet you! My name is Ruan Jiu Jiu. Please don’t forget my name!”
Everyone: “…”
An Rou: “…”
She panicked and quickly pulled her hand out of Ruan Jiu Jiu’s grasp. For a moment she was at a bit of a loss and said, “Okay.”
Ruan Jiu Jiu didn’t expect to be able to have the opportunity to meet their animation lead. Once she thought of the possibility of working alongside An Rou, she became even more enthusiastic. She noisily patted a beach chair next to her, indicating that An Rou could sit next to her to chat.
An Rou was frightened out of a few brain cells and stumbled back. “No no no!”
If she didn’t know Ruan Jiu Jiu any better, she would have mistaken her for a lesbian.
Tu Nan and the group: “…” They originally thought An Rou would stir things up but now looking at things, they probably over thought it.
With a dark look on her face An Rou said, “I’m going for a swim.” After a pause, she smiled warmly again and asked, “Do you want to come with me?”
Ruan Jiu Jiu shook her head. She didn’t want to get tanned.
Seeing her decline, An Rou didn’t push further. She turned and went for a swim in the sea. Jiao Fan also went to join in the fun. The remaining two people went to take a seat on some chairs a distance away. Ruan Jiu Jiu muttered under her breath that Jiacheng’s boss was just friendly on the surface. In reality, he was another unapproachable bigshot.
She didn’t insist, in case her overenthusiasm made them feel uncomfortable.
Thus.
Ruan Jiu Jiu continued to lounge on her chair. She silently watched An Rou bob up and down, diving in and out of the ocean. With her lithe body, she looked like a mermaid. She just so happened to be swimming in the spot right in front of Ruan Jiu Jiu and Cheng Jun. Even an obtuse bonehead like Cheng Jun would probably feel some urges, looking at that breathtaking sight.
With that thought passing through her mind, Ruan Jiu Jiu turned her head.
“…”
Cheng Jun was actually asleep.
She looked back at the horizon, where An Rou was swimming back and forth with all her might. She couldn’t help but feel, ah, what a waste.
An Rou had a good physique and was able to swim for a while. Ruan Jiu Jiu was the only one watching An Rou’s beautiful swimming figure and cheering her on. Ruan Jiu Jiu was only a step away from outright clapping for her. Ruan Jiu Jiu wasn’t an idiot. The girl was swimming too and fro, occasionally looking in their direction, and she clearly wasn’t looking at her.
She had probably fallen for Cheng Jun.
Ruan Jiu Jiu obviously wasn’t worried. As long as she didn’t get dragged into the mess, the two women could still happily be bosom friends.
She had a contract marriage with Cheng Jun, and they were actually both single. If someone wanted to pursue him, then go ahead. She didn’t mind at all. Ruan Jiu Jiu already thought it through. If An Rou wed Cheng Jun, she’d already settled on the appropriate amount of cash to give them as a wedding gift from her position as a coworker.
If An Rou knew Ruan Jiu Jiu was this chill about the matter, she’d probably secretly be angered to death.
Finally, An Rou became tired.
She came ashore and gave a show of her beautiful body. Her swimsuit was soaked and clung tightly to her skin. In an alluring move, she sexily tossed her long wet, black hair behind her back.
Ruan Jiu Jiu had a blank expression. “Ah…”
An Rou thought, given how bewitching she looked right now, even a woman would have to admit to her charms.
Only
Ruan Jiu Jiu continued. “You didn’t apply sunscreen today?”
“…”
“…”
An Rou raised her arm and found that it had indeed gotten a shade darker. It contrasted starkly against the white skin peeking out from the edges of her bikini. The tan was absolutely horrid. She didn’t dare imagine how gloriously tan her face had become.
After a moment of dead silence.
An Rou truly couldn’t hold herself back and wholeheartedly began sobbing.
Ruan Jiu Jiu truly couldn’t hold herself back and wholeheartedly snickered.
Sorry, but you couldn’t blame her for this!