Volume One, Chapter Ninety-Three: Yes, Exactly As You Suspected!

Monday, the next day.

As soon as Sang Wan stepped into her department, the receptionist called out to her, “Sister Sang, your flowers!”

A huge bouquet of lilies filled the air with their rich fragrance.

At the center of the bouquet was a small card, the handwriting bold and elegant—Lu Jinnian had written: [Wanwan, I hope this bouquet starts off a wonderful week for you!] Signed: Jinnian.

“Sister Sang, your husband’s quite the romantic,” the receptionist teased, openly curious.

Sang Wan opened her mouth, the words “I’m already divorced” hovering at her lips, but she swallowed them back down. Compared to a bouquet delivered on Monday, the news of her divorce would be far more sensational. Better to ignore it. Soon enough, some other piece of gossip would make the rounds in the department, and Lu Jinnian’s bouquet—and perhaps even Lu Jinnian himself—would end up as trash on the cleaning lady’s cart.

But if she explained that she was already divorced, within half an hour there would be endless speculation: when did she get divorced, why did she get divorced, who was this “Jinnian” on the card…

Better to avoid unnecessary trouble.

“When the cleaning lady comes, please ask her to take care of it.” Thanking the receptionist, Sang Wan took the card from the bouquet, tore it into pieces, and tossed them into the trash under her desk.

Lou Ye arrived on the sixtieth floor to see Cheng Jingran. He’d barely reached the reception when he sneezed hard.

Looking up, he spotted the huge bouquet of lilies on the reception desk.

“Good morning, President Lou!”

“Morning…” He rubbed his nose, casting a disdainful glance at the flowers. “You’re much prettier than these, why keep them here?”

The receptionist beamed. “Sister Sang’s husband sent them!”

Lou Ye, already a few steps away, stopped. “Who?”

“Sister Sang from Design Department One—Sang Wan,” she replied.

Lou Ye gave the flowers a long, thoughtful look, sneezed again, and waved his hand. “Get rid of them, quickly! These flowers are bad luck!”

Whether or not they brought bad luck was unclear.

But making the boss who’d just complimented her on her looks sneeze twice in a row—that was sin enough!

Without waiting for the cleaning lady, the receptionist hustled the flowers straight into the supply room.

In the director’s office, Lou Ye asked Cheng Jingran, “Your department’s planning a team-building event this weekend?”

“Yes…” Cheng Jingran nodded. “Didn’t you already approve it? Is there a problem?”

Well…

When he’d approved it, all he knew was that the department wanted a team event and the company would foot the bill. He hadn’t even glanced at the details, just waved it through.

If Yang Yan hadn’t just asked if he wanted to join, Lou Ye wouldn’t even have realized it was the project design department—Sang Wan’s department.

“No problem,” Lou Ye coughed lightly. “It’s just, you’ve all worked hard these past months. Feel free to increase the budget for your team event. Write up a request, and I’ll approve it!”

???

In a flash, Cheng Jingran asked carefully, “President Lou, would you like to join us?”

“We’ll see,” Lou Ye replied noncommittally. “If I have time, I’ll come.”

When he left, the overpowering bouquet was gone from reception. Pleased, Lou Ye took a few steps, turned back, and told the receptionist, “Morning tea—make sure it arrives in half an hour.”

“Thank you, President Lou!” Her cheerful reply trailed after him as the elevator doors closed.

Lou Ye took out his phone and sent a message at a leisurely pace.

Half an hour later, everyone in the design department received a thoughtful treat from the big boss: coffee, cake, and a small, exquisite bouquet.

Some chose carnations. Some picked pompom chrysanthemums. Sang Wan received a bouquet of red roses.

Looking around, she saw that everyone’s flowers were different, but her red roses stood out—both striking and ordinary amid the organized chaos of the office.

She couldn’t help thinking of the bouquet Lou Ye had given her on the day of their divorce, and the one on the dinner table over the weekend.

All red roses.

She told herself it was just a coincidence.

When she looked up, she met Yang Yan’s gaze, which seemed to say: Yes, it’s exactly what you think.

Sang Wan: …

“Now I finally understand why, during campus recruitment, everyone was desperate to join Lou Group. Is there another company with an atmosphere like this?”

“Never mind the atmosphere; what other boss treats employees to morning and afternoon tea every few days? Ah, I love this company—I want to shine and burn for it!”

“Doesn’t anyone think the boss’s treats these past months have been a bit excessive?”

…

With the holidays approaching, the company gave out holiday bonuses and shopping cards, and there were random surprise gifts from the boss. Every department was basking in happiness and high spirits.

Lu Jinnian, on the other hand, was not in a good mood.

“The delivery driver said Lou Group has a new policy: all deliveries must be dropped off at the first-floor lobby, and recipients are to be notified to collect them. They can’t be sent directly to departments like on Monday,” his assistant reported cautiously. “President Lu, should we continue sending gifts?”

Lu Jinnian’s face darkened.

What was Sang Wan up to? First the birthday noodles, then she’d followed him when meeting Lin Chaochao’s parents—acting as if she cared so much. Yet she still kept him blocked on both phone and WeChat. The flowers and gifts he sent didn’t even make it to her hands—completely ignored.

Who would have thought, after their divorce, she’d become so adept at the art of romance?

“No need,” Lu Jinnian said coldly, waving his hand.

After the assistant left, Lu Jinnian called Lin Chaochao. “You don’t need to pick up Xiao Mu this afternoon. I’ll finish early and get him myself.”

At five o’clock, he arrived at the kindergarten gate. Out came Lu Xiao Mu, no longer the lively boy he once was, quietly holding the teacher’s hand. Lu Jinnian patted his head, “Let’s go see Mommy, okay?”

The boy’s calm eyes instantly brightened.

Lu Xiao Mu nodded. “Okay.”

The Mercedes turned toward Lou Group.

“Wanwan…” Lu Jinnian called out just as Sang Wan, Lin Qiyue, Xiao Bai, and a few colleagues were leaving through the front doors.

Before she could say “See you tomorrow,” she heard the familiar call.

Turning, she saw Lu Jinnian a few steps away, holding Lu Xiao Mu’s hand.

Lu Jinnian was dressed in a black suit, tall and smiling. Lu Xiao Mu wore a little British blazer, his big eyes blinking innocently.

One handsome man. One perfectly miniature version.

And with that “Wanwan,” everyone exchanged glances, immediately understanding who they were.

“Oh my god, Sister Sang, I knew you were married, but I didn’t know your husband and son were so handsome! All the good genes in your family—so jealous!”

“Not just handsome, but thoughtful too. Coming all the way to pick you up after work! Ah, another day, another tear shed for someone else’s romance!”

…

Sang Wan turned and met Lin Qiyue’s exasperated, helpless glance. She shook her head, signaling she was fine, then walked straight up to Lu Jinnian. “Lu Jinnian, do you find this amusing?”

“Wanwan, our son missed you,” Lu Jinnian said, gently patting Lu Xiao Mu’s head and nudging him toward Sang Wan. “You said if he wanted to see you, he could come find you, didn’t you?”

In his ears, the words his father had said echoed: If you’re not good, there won’t be a next time.

In his nose, the familiar, comforting scent of his mother.

Lu Xiao Mu looked up at Sang Wan, his eyes red. “Mommy…”

Looking at the little boy, Sang Wan sighed softly in her heart.

“Let’s go eat,” she said, turning toward a café in the distance.

Lu Jinnian, holding Lu Xiao Mu, followed after her.

As the Maybach pulled out of the parking lot, it caught the golden glow of the setting sun—one small family, hand in hand, their figures harmonious against the fading light.

Lou Ye narrowed his eyes, his expression unreadable.