Chapter 25

Hmm?

Why is he pretending not to know me!

Could it be that he wants to pull off some big surprise?

He’s really good at keeping secrets, huh?

He successfully lost weight, such a big accomplishment, and he actually kept it from me for so long!

Shang Lao Da is still working hard to secure his position, trying to join me next time.

Du Hongting is even more persistent: “Let her come find me alone.”

Shang Lao Da: “This…”

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Tkp rbsdl aydt.

Tl zssjle, kv’p vbl ckt cspp.

Tl eyale dsv dsv ydpola.

Mbld bl zssjle yv Pw Tsdtvkdt, y ckt nzkldv.

Tl eyale dsv dltzlnv.

Pw Tsdtvkdt kp hlau rszkvl: “Yydytla Fbydt, rzlypl.”

Fbydt Nys Py iwknjzu pyke vbydj usw yde oldv swv vs ydpola vbl rbsdl.

Lso, vbl sqqknl kp zlqv okvb fwpv Pw Tsdtvkdt yde xl.

I look at him.

He looks at me.

At that moment, I feel like every reunion novel I’ve ever read is complete bullshit!

Seeing him pretending not to know me like he’s playing the male lead, I get annoyed!

I angrily take a step forward and slap him: “Why the hell are you pretending not to know me?”

The strength of the slap is not light.

In the past, the fat on his arms felt soft and didn’t hurt much when hit. Now, his muscles are too firm. My palm is a bit hot and painful.

Du Hongting smiles lightly, and the dimples on his cheeks become very prominent: “What, you finally recognize who I am?”

“Even if you turn into ashes, I’d still recognize you!”

When he laughs, he unexpectedly has a bit of the innocence of a big boy, making my voice sound a bit shaky.

Pathetic!

Stay calm!

“Is that so?” Du Hongting leans down, getting closer, making me a bit flustered: “How come you didn’t recognize me during the feast?”

Um…

I say, “Sorry, I was sitting too far away and not wearing glasses.”

Du Hongting squints, staring at me.

I change my tune, “Okay, the crab was just too delicious.”

Du Hongting: “Hmm, more than a year of effort all in vain. In your eyes, I can’t even compare to a crab.”

Disappointment!

Why hasn’t the tsundere nature disappeared along with the excess fat?

I want to tease him a bit.

But I feel embarrassed to speak up.

But facing such a pretty face, I find it a bit difficult to muster the courage to tease him!

A brief awkward silence for a few seconds.

The atmosphere is subtly uncomfortable.

After a long-distance relationship of over a year, I unexpectedly feel a bit shy upon meeting again!

Actually, there are too many things I want to say.

Why suddenly decide to lose weight?

Since when did he start losing weight?

How hard was it, and how did he manage to stay committed?

Did he adopt some extreme methods?

Losing weight so quickly in a short period, does it harm the body…

But when I open my mouth, all that comes out is an awkward laughter: “Hehe, it’s so amazing! 

How did you manage to achieve such a great figure? And your butt is so perky…”

I even dare to pat it.

“Meng! Qi! Qi!”

Suddenly, a roar comes from behind.

Terrified, I quickly withdrew my hand, and Du Hongting also turned to look at the newcomer. Manager Shang, with a stern face, pulled me away, keeping a distance from Du Hongting, and then apologized, “I’m sorry, Manager Du! She’s still young and ignorant, and offended you…”

“No problem, no problem.” Du Hongting surprisingly showed no intention of acknowledging me, “The employees of your company are quite enthusiastic, very good, very good.”

Manager Shang, after repeatedly apologizing to Du Hongting, took me away.

Reluctantly, I left with a very unwilling attitude, which greatly angered the leader. On the way to the parking lot, he scolded me all the way.

Finally, we reached his Volvo. I had sat in the front passenger seat on the way here, but now he ordered me to sit in the back.

I asked him, “Why?”

He cautiously replied, “Worried that your wild instincts will lead you to plot against me, after all, I look so handsome.” 

Me: “…”

Terrifying.

Leader, are you serious? Leader…

On the way back, Manager Shang continued to lecture me. He said that young girls should not take crooked paths just because there are shortcuts available. Perhaps, that is a detour or even a dead end. It’s better to live a proper life at a young age.

He praised my talent and mentioned that if I performed well, there would be great opportunities for advancement, like being assigned to the core team after completing the case with Manager Du.

I originally wanted to tell him about Du Hongting, but considering Manager Shang’s clear separation of personal and professional matters and his dislike for relying on connections, I refrained.

So, I decided to think it over before deciding whether to tell him or not.

After returning, there was still overtime to be done, and it was already half past ten by the time I finished. Suddenly, Du Hongting called, saying there was an issue with our software and asked me to come over to help him maintain it.

He mentioned that he was at a hotel and sent me the address, instructing me to take a taxi directly there.

Upon arrival, I realized it was the Hilton. Their company is really well-off, unlike ours, where we usually stay at budget hotels during business trips.

Following the room number provided by Du Hongting, I asked the hotel staff for assistance and was directed to the relevant floor.

The smiling service staff said, “Just keep going, and the last room is the presidential suite. Wishing you a wonderful night.”

Presidential suite? Oh no…

Please don’t let it be that one!

Walking along the carpet, I reached the last room, and to my dismay, the door was unlocked. Upon pushing it open, I discovered the entire room was filled with pink roses, adorned with heart-shaped balloons, candles, and champagne – a scene bursting with girlish charm.

It was completely his style.

I admit I’m a bit slow in these matters, truly. So, it was only at this moment that I realized I should be angry.

Yes.

For over a year, no matter how much I pleaded, the fatty wouldn’t let me see him. He made me feel guilty for so long, and every day was filled with self-reproach.

Turns out, he was secretly losing weight! I feel incredibly foolish…

Even more foolish is what he has arranged now. Did he think I would find it too romantic and burst into tears of joy? How dumb does he think I am?

And also, I’m a bit of a free spirit, enjoying a sense of liberation.

If the first night were to happen in a place like this —

I’m afraid that after this, I’ll have performance anxiety for the rest of my life.

I quickly retreated and called him. Du Hongting answered, “What’s wrong?”

Me: “I think I walked into the wrong room!”

Du Hongting: “What do you mean?”

Me: “Some extravagant fool decorated the room with flowers and balloons, wasting money!”

There was silence on the other end for a few seconds.

Du Hongting: “Hmm. You entered the wrong room.”

Me: “Where are you?”

Du Hongting: “You went to the wrong hotel; it’s the Sheraton.”

Me: “Wasn’t it supposed to be the Hilton?”

Du Hongting: “Sorry, my mistake.”

Me: “It’s late, and I have things to do tomorrow morning. I won’t come over; I’ll go back to the dorm and sleep.”

Du Hongting said he would come over.

I didn’t let him.

I’m afraid he will find out that I’m currently living with a man.

My roommate, Zuo Zuo.

A very lovely uke.

But I feel like he looks particularly domineering.

We’ve been renting this house together for a little over a month, thanks to an introduction from a colleague.

Because I am easy to get along with, our relationship is very harmonious.

Turns out, he is a psychological counselor.

Very wealthy family.

But he recently had a fight with his boyfriend and didn’t want to be found, so he moved in here.

After returning home, I went to the bathroom to take a shower.

Midway, I heard some noise.

After finishing the shower, Zuo Zuo said, “A guy was looking for you just now. I told him you were showering and asked him to wait a bit.”

“Where is he?”

“I explained to him, told him not to misunderstand, but he still left.”

Uh-oh.

I quickly called Du Hongting.

Me: “I’m sorry.”

Du Hongting: “Do you know where you went wrong?”

Me: “Shouldn’t have lived with an uke…”

Du Hongting: “No, you went wrong by not telling me in advance.”

Me: “Yes, I was wrong.”

Du Hongting: “Do you know how hurt I was the moment I opened the door?”

Me: “I know, I know. Don’t be angry, okay?”

Du Hongting: “No! I need some more time to be mad!”

Me: “Alright, take your time. Three minutes enough?”

Du Hongting: “Three minutes to cool down? Isn’t that too cheap?”

Me: “Then how long?”

Du Hongting: “At least three days.”

Again?

Haven’t seen you in over a year, and your idea of comforting our long-distance relationship is to ignore me for three days?

Do you think being handsome means I won’t dare to hit you?

“Why are you so annoying!”

Du Hongting: “Say that again, who’s annoying?”

Me: “You!”

Du Hongting: “I’ll give you another chance.”

I don’t need your chances!

I just hung up the phone!

Getting more and more temperamental after successfully losing weight, huh?

You’ve been too spoiled!

After a busy morning of coding, causing dizziness and eye strain, as soon as lunch break arrived, I hurried to the cafeteria to queue up for a boxed meal.

Our company has a lot of employees, and during peak hours, the line often extends into a long queue. Finally, I got my turn.

The lady serving food looked at me and said, “Aren’t you Meng Qiqi?”

I was startled, “Is my meal card out of money?”

“Someone has prepared a special meal for you.”

There were still a few people behind me in the queue, and the lady looked impatient, “Please give me the secret code.”

“What? Secret code?”

The lady asked me, “Who is the most adorable person?”

Huh?

I puzzled, “Wei Wei?”

The lady said, “If you can’t match it again, you’ll miss the chance!”

Then she shouted to the person behind me, “Next in line, step forward! What dish do you want?”

Feeling anxious, it suddenly dawned on me, “Du Hongting!”

The lady stuffed the lunch box into my arms, “Congratulations, you got it right.”