Volume One, Chapter 91: Uncle Aye’s Girlfriend

A long and rambling message.

And a string of exclamation points besides.

Lou Ye did not catch it clearly; he only made out the line about grabbing one first, whether a fierce little wolfdog or a soft little lapdog, and having some fun.

He glanced at the sleepy little pup curled in Sang Wan’s arms, its breathing warm and even, and frowned. “You want to keep a dog?”

“...”

Sang Wan shook her head. “N-no.”

Lou Ye eyed her skeptically. “Let me make this clear in advance: if you want to keep a dog, then give me back 2S!”

“???”

Give him back?

2S had always been hers, all right?

Besides, that kind of dog was not that kind of dog.

Sang Wan answered vaguely, “I definitely won’t be keeping a dog!”

Whether it was a young wolfdog or a sweet little lapdog, she had no intention of considering one any time soon.

Her work was going smoothly.

Her life was going well.

She was very satisfied with the way things were.

To add another man beside her, only for those fleeting moments of pleasure, was not worth it.

Looking at the time, it was two in the afternoon.

Sang Wan asked Lou Ye, “You’re... not going back?”

Lou Ye was sprawled in the beanbag by the window, playing a game.

Amid the clamor of clashing blades and flashing light, he drawled, “Isn’t it dinner time in a while? Too much trouble to run back and forth.”

Sang Wan: ...

Upstairs and downstairs, out the door and back in again, it would not even take a minute.

She really wanted to ask Lou Ye just how badly he had misunderstood the word trouble.

But then she thought that since she was not uncomfortable with him being here, she might as well let him be.

She chatted gossip with Xu Yiyi about that persistent admirer who clung like glue.

Then she talked with Lin Qiyue and Xiaobai about which new restaurants had good food and which nail artist did beautiful nail extensions.

Sang Wan did not even know when she fell asleep.

When she woke again, dusk was close.

A thin blanket from the sofa had been draped over her, and the phone in her hand had been set on the coffee table.

Turning her head, she saw Lou Ye asleep there in the beanbag.

The setting sun melted into gold; great swathes of evening glow painted Lou Ye and the little ball of 2S in his arms in shades of orange-red.

The young, handsome man was striking even in profile.

The cold hauteur he wore at the company was gone.

The sharp defiance and playboy swagger he showed before others were gone.

At a glance, he looked docile beyond measure.

Just like the little lapdog Lin Qiyue had described.

Only then did Sang Wan realize she had unconsciously cast Lou Ye in the image of Lin Qiyue’s teasing.

At that moment her phone chimed.

Sang Wan snatched it up, only to discover it was not hers.

Lou Ye on the beanbag had woken as well.

Seeing the phone, he turned to Sang Wan and said, “Sister, let’s not cook tonight. Let’s go out to eat.”

He lifted the phone slightly. “Brother Chuan asked us to come to his place for dinner.”

“Mr. Qin?”

Sang Wan instinctively refused. “I’m not going.”

Last time, the gathering at the hillside villa could still be explained as work-related.

But this time they were going to Qin Baichuan’s home; it was far more private.

For Lou Ye to go was only natural.

It would not be appropriate for her to go.

“Brother Chuan’s wife studied architecture too, and he’s invited a few friends from the industry as well. He said they want to... talk about that project in Sir City. Are you sure you don’t want to go?”

With that one sentence, Lou Ye wavered her.

She lowered her head and sent Qin Baichuan a message, saying that he would bring Sang Wan along.

Lou Ye stood up and coaxed her, “Sister, come on... just take it as me asking you to be my designated driver, all right?”

Since it was among acquaintances, there would surely be drinking if they went.

If she hired a driver, she would still have to wait.

She and Lou Ye lived in the same neighborhood. If she went, she could make friends in the same field and conveniently bring Lou Ye back too.

Clearly, the first option was much more appealing.

Sang Wan hesitated for a long while, then nodded. “All right.”

She returned to the bedroom to change, and even made a special trip to the study.

When she came back out, she was carrying a long, narrow case.

Lou Ye looked at it appraisingly. “A gift?”

“Well... yes, I suppose.”

Sang Wan smiled. “It’s my first time visiting, so I can’t go empty-handed.”

Even so, when the car was headed to Qin Baichuan’s home and they passed a flower shop and a fruit store, Sang Wan still told Lou Ye to pull over.

She got out, went in to choose a bouquet of tulips, and bought a box of strawberries and cherries.

Lou Ye sat in the driver’s seat, watching how proper and considerate she was, the smile in his eyes deepening and deepening.

The Maybach stopped in front of the Qin family villa. The moment the car was switched off, the door opened.

Qin Baichuan came out holding a little girl in his arms to open the door.

Behind him, Mrs. Qin followed with a warm smile and gentle radiance. “Lou Ye, Xiao Wan...”

“Sister-in-law, long time no see! ... Little Star, did you miss me?”

Lou Ye greeted them and took the fruit gift box from the trunk.

He half-casually guided Sang Wan inside with one hand.

As he went, he introduced her, “This is Mr. Qin, whom you met at home last time. And this is Sister-in-law...”

He could not call her Sister, in case she was younger than him and that sounded too old.

He could not call her by name, either, because he did not even know her name.

Calling her Mrs. Qin would make them sound too distant.

Sang Wan looked to Lou Ye for help, only to see him teasing the little dumpling in Qin Baichuan’s arms.

Without delay, she handed the flowers to Mrs. Qin. “Sister-in-law...”

“Thank you! Tulips are my favorite... Xiao Wan, thank you!”

Though it was their first meeting, she seemed immediately easy to get along with.

Sang Wan breathed a sigh of relief.

Dinner was a family affair, with only Qin Baichuan’s family of three and the two of them.

Not long after dinner, the doorbell and phone rang in succession, and several more people arrived.

Some were from the earlier gathering at the hillside villa.

Others she had never met, but whose names were thunderous in the industry.

In the living room, some sat and some stood; a few even sat directly on the rug, chatting while helping Little Star build blocks and play house.

Hosts and guests all were in high spirits.

Among the crowd, Little Star liked Sang Wan the most. She clung to Sang Wan’s neck and whispered into her ear, “Pretty Auntie, are you Uncle Ah Ye’s girlfriend?”

“No...”

Sang Wan shook her head and quickly glanced at Lou Ye, Qin Baichuan, and Mrs. Qin.

Seeing that no one was paying attention to them, she lowered her voice. “Uncle Ah Ye and I are coworkers, and neighbors too.”

The little girl looked confused. “But Daddy told Mommy that you’re Uncle Ah Ye’s girlfriend!”

How was she supposed to explain to a five-year-old that female friend and girlfriend meant two different things?

Sang Wan thought about it for a moment, then handed her the little paper frog in her hand. “Let’s have a frog-jump race, okay?”

Sure enough, Little Star’s attention was successfully diverted.

The gathering did not end until ten at night.

After saying goodbye to the Qin couple, Sang Wan walked to the car and naturally opened the passenger-side door.

Lou Ye looked at her, amused.

After the car pulled away, he said leisurely, “Sister, didn’t you notice I only drank juice tonight?”

“Uh...”

Sang Wan paused. “Then... should I pull over?”

Lou Ye smiled without answering, as though delighted that she still remembered his words.

Meanwhile, he lowered his head and sent Qin Baichuan a message.

[Brother, help me come up with an excuse, a perfectly legitimate excuse for me to give her a gift!]

[...Hurry up and win her over, then give her whatever you want.]

[Way to bring up the sorest spot! What use are you as my big brother?!]

[...What do you want to give her?]

[A car, a house, bags, jewelry... and my heart!]

[Stop. I feel sick.]

After saying he felt sick, Qin Baichuan even sent over a vomiting emoji.

The next instant, a video call rang.

What was that supposed to mean?

Was he planning to puke right in front of him?

Lou Ye answered the call.

Qin Baichuan’s startled cry burst from the other end. “Sang Wan, this... you gave this to me?”