Chapter 84.1: “No more overtime, never again in our lifetime.”

After solving the case, Bai DuanDuan took a sigh of relief in her heart. Upon returning to City A, she planned to arrange all the previous dating plans properly. However, to her surprise, after this case, Ji Lin’s busy state did not change. His life seemed to revolve around work and overtime. Every time Bai DuanDuan invited him out, his answer was always, “I’m busy today, maybe next time.”

But as one day followed another, “next time” often turned into the next “next time.” Bai DuanDuan was not an impatient person, but after repeated waiting, the unhappiness she had felt before came back even more fiercely.

She had thought that Cai Ming’s case would bring her closer to Ji Lin emotionally and make their relationship sweeter. However, it seemed to be the opposite. The intimacy they had experienced in City D seemed like an illusion. Ji Lin practically lived in the law firm, busy from early morning to late at night. He was either on the phone or email, or on his way to client meetings.

As if to compensate for his rejections, Ji Lin would always give her a bag or other luxury items. He was generous when it came to spending money on her. If measured by material possessions, he probably loved her. However, as Bai DuanDuan looked at the increasing number of gift boxes piling up in her room, she felt an emptiness inside.

These past few days, Ji Lin had gone on a business trip again, and as usual, Bai DuanDuan received a notification about a delivery.

The new season’s Tiffany necklace that Ji Lin had bought for her had been shipped and delivered from the official website. The VCA special edition bracelet for the New Year had also arrived. There was another package, possibly a personal shopper order from overseas, but Bai DuanDuan had no idea what was inside.

Other girls would probably be happy to receive gifts, and opening them would bring a sense of anticipation, like opening a blind box. They wouldn’t know what their boyfriend would give them. But Bai DuanDuan didn’t even have that feeling. She had no interest, not even a slight curiosity about the contents of that mysterious package. Instead, she felt annoyed.

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Mbkp yddsuydnl alynble kvp rlyj yp pbl oldv esodpvykap vs rknj wr vbl elzkhlau yde shlablyae y nsdhlapyvksd yxsdt y qlo elzkhlauxld.

Ekvb vbl wrnsxkdt Ubkdlpl Llo Zlya yde vbl rlyj plypsd qsa elzkhlaklp, vbl elzkhlau xld qasx ekqqlaldv nsxrydklp nswzed’v blzr cwv nbyv obkzl wdzsyekdt rynjytlp qasx vblka hlbknzlp. Mblu olal kd vbl pyxl kdewpvau, lhld vbswtb vblu osajle qsa ekqqlaldv nsxrydklp cwv nshlale vbl pyxl plahknl yaly. Rv oyp nzlya vbyv vblpl elzkhlau xld jdlo lynb svbla, yde yqvla vyzjkdt ycswv vblka alnldv osajzsye, vblu xshle sd vs psxl nypwyz tsppkr.

Fkdnl kv oypd’v ulv osajkdt bswap, vblal olald’v xydu rlsrzl yv vbl ywvsxyvle ryanlz zsnjlap. Kk Nkd oldv sd cwpkdlpp vakrp yde osajle shlavkxl lhlau eyu, yde Jyk PwydPwyd bye ds dktbvzkql. Slnldvzu, pbl bye clld oyjkdt wr lyazu ewl vs bla ckszstknyz nzsnj yde elnkele vs nsxl vs vbl sqqknl lyazu ayvbla vbyd pvyukdt yzsdl yv bsxl. Mbyv’p bso pbl ldele wr byhkdt vbl srrsavwdkvu vs nszzlnv bla rynjytlp qasx vbl zsnjlap dlmv vs vblpl elzkhlau xld. Gv vbkp xsxldv, vblu olal ekpnwppkdt vbl xspv ldvbwpkypvkn sdzkdl pbsrrlap kd vbl sqqknl cwkzekdt.

“R nyznwzyvle kv, sd yhlaytl, R byhl vs elzkhla vld rynjytlp y ollj vs vbyv ‘Nkvvzl Vlynb’ sd vbl 14vb qzssa, yde xspv sq vblx yal qsse. Uyd usw clzklhl bso xwnb sq y qssekl vbkp tkaz kp?”

“Nlv xl vlzz usw, R yzps alxlxcla ‘Nkvvzl Vlynb.’ R byhl ycswv qkhl sa pkm rynjytlp tskdt qasx xu lde lhlau ollj. Psd’v cl qsszle cu bla qssekl pvyvwp; pbl’p ynvwyzzu y ralvvu pzkx tkaz…”

Mbl elzkhlau xld nbyvvle ldlatlvknyzzu obkzl osajkdt.

Jyk PwydPwyd eked’v ryu xwnb yvvldvksd. Fbl ldvlale vbl rknjwr nsel, nszzlnvle bla rynjytlp, yde fwpv yp pbl oyp ycswv vs vwad yde zlyhl, pbl blyae y vlypkdt nsdhlapyvksd qasx y qlo twup clbkde vbl aso sq zsnjlap:

“Jwv obld kv nsxlp vs prldekdt xsdlu kd vbkp sqqknl cwkzekdt, xu nzkldv, Jyk PwydPwyd, kp elqkdkvlzu vbl sdl okvb ellr rsnjlvp. Ohld vbswtb bla rynjytl hszwxl xyu dsv cl vbl bktblpv sd yhlaytl, lhlau pkdtzl sdl kp y ckt sdl, yzz kdpwale okvb bktb-hyzwl kvlxp. R clv vblu’al yzz zwmwau tssep okvb blqvu kdpwaydnl yxswdvp!”

“Yeah, yeah, I remember that client too. I practically receive a package for her every day. Judging by the insured value, I estimate that in just this past month, she has spent over a million. And it doesn’t stop there. Today, I delivered several more expensive items to her.”

“Where does she get all this money? Does she own a mine or something?”

“I don’t think so. I believe she’s associated with that law firm. Probably a lawyer.”

“Do lawyers make that much money?!”

“Come on, lawyers don’t make that much. My cousin is a lawyer, and she earns just over a hundred thousand a year, which is similar to an average white-collar worker. They say it’s a profession that values experience. The longer you work, the more valuable you become.”

“So maybe this Bai DuanDuan is a seasoned lawyer.”

“No, I’ve met this Bai DuanDuan. Once when I delivered a package, she insisted on personally signing for it. She’s really young, doesn’t look like she graduated long ago.” The delivery man lowered his voice as he spoke. “For someone her age to afford such extravagant purchases, it’s either because her family is exceptionally wealthy, or… let me tell you guys secretly, this Bai DuanDuan is extraordinarily beautiful, like a celebrity.”

“So what?”

“Are you clueless? So, listen, if she’s spending like this, it’s either because her father is rich, or she has a wealthy man in her life.”

“Thinking about it, being a woman is so much easier in this world. If you’re beautiful, you can marry a rich man. Unlike us men, we have to work day and night just to earn money for a house. Without a house, no woman would look at us.”

As the delivery men continued their conversation, they shifted into complaining about the heavy pressures on men these days. Somehow, the topic inexplicably circled back to Bai DuanDuan in the end.

“Oh, I just remembered. This Bai Duanduan’s pattern of receiving gifts reminds me of something I saw in another residential area. Do you guys know about the Ganjingyuan neighborhood in our city, A City?” The delivery man spoke in a mysterious tone. “The person in that neighborhood receives gifts in the exact same way as Bai DuanDuan does. Every day, they receive all sorts of expensive insured items like jewelry, bags, shoes, clothes, and even jewelry.”

“I know about it. It’s that famous mistress neighborhood, right? It’s filled with beautiful women being supported by wealthy men outside their marriages. The wealthy men probably have a legitimate wife at home and don’t have time to accompany these mistresses, so they have to spend money to balance the emotions of these mistresses.”

“Well, let me tell you, the gifts Bai DuanDuan receives, whether in terms of frequency, price, or quality, surpass those in Ganjingyuan by far.”

“Hahaha, well, she’s beautiful, after all…”

…

After that conversation, Bai DuanDuan didn’t listen anymore.

She could have confronted them directly or even filed a complaint with the delivery company about these rumors and gossip. However, today, Bai DuanDuan had no fighting spirit left. She leaned against the delivery locker, listening to others talk about her, feeling desolate and confused.

She knew that the delivery men were mostly indulging in gossip due to the stress they faced before the Chinese New Year. They didn’t have any specific ill intentions toward her. But as the person involved, she couldn’t help but feel disheartened.

What was Ji Lin’s attitude toward her? What was going on? In the eyes of others, her situation was no different from those kept mistresses.

Uncontrollably, Bai DuanDuan began to doubt and worry. Did Ji Lin truly love her? Did he think that as long as he bought her expensive gifts, he didn’t need to spend time with her anymore? This kind of relationship pattern was simply unhealthy. Now she appeared no different from those canaries raised by wealthy benefactors.

She didn’t know why, but recently Ji Lin had indeed been overly indifferent to her. As fellow lawyers, Bai DuanDuan understood the time and energy required for this profession. She didn’t need Ji Lin to prioritize her over his work, but she hoped that in Ji Lin’s eyes, she could at least hold an equal position with his job. However, now it seemed that Ji Lin only thought that giving her a lot of money would be enough, but what she needed was so much more than just money…

Bai DuanDuan took the delivery with a gloomy expression and returned to her office. She already had around ten packages piled up on her desk, either from Cartier or Tiffany, all gifts from Ji Lin. None of them were cheap, yet Bai Duan hadn’t even opened them. Shopping used to bring her the most joy, but recently, she had lost interest in it.

She just felt unhappy, and her heart was filled with unhappiness.

Bai DuanDuan contemplated that she must have a good conversation with Ji Lin today, even if it was just for ten minutes. She needed to tell him what she was thinking. However, her unhappiness intensified when she discovered that Ji Lin had gone on a sudden business trip to Lin City again.

“Why are you on another business trip?”

Bai Duanduan’s tone couldn’t help but be somewhat reproachful. Ji Lin was probably at the airport on the other end of the phone, surrounded by noise, but he didn’t ignore Bai Duanduan’s unhappiness.

“Aren’t you happy?”

It’s a good thing for a man to be career-oriented and have ambitions. It’s not very promising to be lovey-dovey with your girlfriend all day long. Bai DuanDuan held back and dryly said, “I’m not very unhappy.”

Not very unhappy meant she was unhappy.

Unfortunately, Ji Lin, being a straightforward man, couldn’t perceive the implicit meaning in Bai Duanduan’s words. He seemed relieved and said, “As long as you’re not unhappy. I just ordered the latest Chanel bag for you, and it should arrive when I come back. It’s a very nice bag, and I’m sure you’ll be happy when you receive it.”

“…”

Bai DuanDuan pressed her forehead and suppressed her urge to argue with Ji Lin over the phone. She had just wanted to explain that she didn’t need so many bags, but what she needed more was Ji Lin’s company. However, Ji Lin interrupted her train of thought, saying, “I don’t have time to talk now. I’m about to board the plane.”

“Wait!” Bai DuanDuan suddenly remembered something. “Will you return to A City on Thursday?”

Ji Lin paused for a moment, then succinctly replied, “Yes, I will.”

Bai Duanduan’s eyes brightened. “I have a gathering with my girlfriends. Come with me? I still…”

Duan Yun and Xue Wen had made plans to meet up a few times. Finally, after the busy period before the Lunar New Year, Bai DuanDuan arranged to meet them this Thursday. Duan Yun and Xue Wen knew that Bai DuanDuan was in a relationship and insisted that she bring her boyfriend along so they could meet and get to know each other. They were also curious to assess him.

Although Duan Yun and Xue Wen might find it difficult to digest the fact that Bai DuanDuan was in a relationship, they were her best friends. In reality, Bai DuanDuan had long wanted to openly introduce Ji Lin to them and hoped they would have more interactions with him to dispel any biases they might have. After all, Ji Lin was special to Bai DuanDuan, and she didn’t want her friends to hold unfair stereotypes about him.

Why postpone when you can seize the opportunity? Since Ji Lin was also in A City on Thursday, why not…

Unfortunately, Ji Lin quickly shattered Bai Duanduan’s perfect plan. The boarding announcement started playing in the background of his phone again, and Ji Lin seemed a bit rushed. “Although I came back on Thursday, I think I’ll still have other work to attend to. I won’t be able to join your gathering. Well, Duan Duan, I have to board now. Goodbye.” He paused and then, in a voice that people around him wouldn’t hear, softly added, “I’ll miss you.”

After saying that, this man seemed to believe he had fulfilled his obligation of being extremely romantic and promptly hung up on Bai Duanduan.

“…”

Bai DuanDuan glanced at the call duration in the call log—5 and a half minutes… This garbage straight man couldn’t even spare ten minutes for a conversation…

And he says he’ll miss me? Who are you missing when you only talk for five and a half minutes?

_________