Chapter 3: Comparing Him to Teddy
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
After being utterly exhausted the previous night, Xia Yangyang overslept. Despite setting an alarm on her phone, it unbelievably failed to go off. She suddenly sat up, startling the slumbering man beside her. Waking up grumpy, he grumbled, “What on earth are you doing so early in the morning?”
Panicked, Xia Yangyang said, “It’s already eight; I’m late for work.” Just as she was about to rush out of bed, Gu Qichen pulled her back. He held her tight and said, “Given you’re already late, why not stay in bed with me a little longer?”
Xia Yangyang was reluctant, but dared not refuse. Luckily, Gu Qichen seemed to fall back asleep, allowing her to gently sneak away. Just when she was almost free, he suddenly opened his eyes and warned, in a hoarse voice, “Xia Yangyang, haven’t you heard it’s dangerous to act like a caterpillar first thing in the morning?”
Before she could react, he pulled her back and pressed her down. By the time Xia Yangyang reached the office, it was already half-past nine. Xiao Man leaned over and asked, “Yangyang, why are you so late today?”
Images of that morning’s intimate scene flashed through Xia Yangyang’s mind, and her face turned bright red. Xiao Man commented, “Your face is so red; are you running a fever?”
Quickly inventing a cover story, Xia Yangyang said, “My pet dog at home is very clingy; I couldn’t leave.” Just as she finished speaking, Xiao Man nudged her arm. “The CEO is here.”
As expected, Gu Qichen walked past them, pausing slightly as if glancing in Xia Yangyang’s direction. Xia Yangyang held her breath, hoping he hadn’t overheard anything. Once Gu Qichen entered his office, Lu Xiaoman sighed, “When the CEO glared at you just now, I thought he would summon you to his office for a scolding again, Yangyang. You’re lucky today; you were both late.”
Of course, Gu Qichen was late; they had arrived together. Luckily, no one saw Xia Yangyang getting out of Gu Qichen’s car. Standing nearby, Lin Yuanyuan overheard Xia Yangyang and Lu Xiaoman’s conversation and asked, “Yangyang, you have a pet dog? What breed is it?”
Taken aback, Xia Yangyang blurted out, “Teddy.”
If Gu Qichen found out that Xia Yangyang had compared him to a teddy bear, he probably wouldn’t let her off easily. However, he probably didn’t have time to deal with her now, as he had to leave for a business trip that afternoon. Before boarding the plane, Gu Qichen texted Xia Yangyang: “(Going on a business trip to Tokyo, will be back in three days.)”
They had been secretly married for three months, and Gu Qichen spent half his time traveling for work. But regardless of where he went, he always texted Xia Yangyang before his flight. Xia Yangyang’s internship was ending in a week. She was hoping to pass it smoothly and return to school. Little did she know, a bewildering event would occur the next day.
As soon as Xia Yangyang arrived at the office the next day, she found many people gathered around her desk. Walking over, she saw a giant bouquet of roses. A colleague looked at Xia Yangyang enviously. “Yangyang, who sent these? They’re so extravagant! Ninety-nine multicolored roses—that’s worth three months of our salaries!”
Xia Yangyang was puzzled; there was a note attached. After reading the note, her face went pale instantly. She picked up the roses and tossed them in the nearby trash bin. Everyone was confused. A colleague whispered, “Yangyang, did your boyfriend send these? Have you two had a fight?” Another colleague said, “If my boyfriend used ninety-nine multicolored roses to coax me, I would forgive him immediately.”
Xia Yangyang didn’t explain. Seeing her demeanor, everyone decided not to ask further questions. Xia Yangyang remained on edge all day. It wasn’t until she left work and saw Lu Haotian’s car parked outside the company building that she finally relaxed.