Chapter 55

Lu Jiu rubbed her arm where it had been slapped, then picked up the marshmallow of fluff sleeping next to her pillow and handed it to her obviously irritated mother. She pleaded, “I was just joking, but we really don’t need a bodyguard. If anyone should get one, it should be my sister.” 

Fang Wenyi rolled her eyes, quite ungracefully. “You think I haven’t tried with Junjun? I just called her. I’m trying to handle this one step at a time.” 

So, it seems she hadn’t convinced Lu Jun yet. 

“Then why don’t you convince my sister first, and I’ll go back to sleep,” Lu Jiu said, pulling the blanket over herself and adopting a clear stance of refusal to continue the conversation. 

Fang Wenyi… 

— 

The following week, Lu Jiu and her Officer Wei only exchanged a few messages. 

Each one was brief, clearly showing how busy he was. 

As for what he was busy with, Lu Jiu didn’t ask, but she had a pretty good idea. 

After all, this time the city bureau’s actions were significant, and naturally, there was much discussion among the citizens. 

Actually, when she first started liking Officer Wei, Lu Jiu had already considered the nature of his work. 

So, not seeing him didn’t make her feel particularly aggrieved. 

Besides, she was quite busy herself. 

March and April are the best times for transplanting peony seedlings. 

She had long planned to go to the peony flower haven, Shendu, to introduce some new varieties. 

Lately, she had been busy selecting sellers through phone calls and video chats. 

She was also going back and forth between her uncle’s peony garden and the flower nursery in the suburbs. 

She was so busy that she was no longer a qualified wealthy idle person. 

Even her retired mother, Mrs. Fang Wenyi, who spends her days playing cards and getting beauty treatments, called the whole family workaholics. 

One day, when Lu Jiu finally had some free time, she went to the flower shop “One Flower, One World.” 

After chatting with the staff and customers for a bit, she started balancing the books. 

She soon noticed that Xiao Yuanzi had been hesitating to say something several times within just half an hour. 

The flower shop had a small rest area, just three or four square meters, located right behind the cash register. 

Lu Jiu took the initiative to invite her in for a more private conversation. 

“So, you’re saying you want to quit?” 

Xiao Yuanzi felt embarrassed. “I’m sorry, boss, I didn’t expect to be getting married so soon.” 

Lu Jiu was puzzled. “You can still work after getting married.” She was quite satisfied with Xiao Yuanzi, who was lively, efficient, and, most importantly, loved flowers. 

Xiao Yuanzi also felt a bit regretful. “My arranged marriage partner has a better job than I do, working for a state-owned enterprise in another city. Both families won’t agree to him resigning to accommodate me, so I’ll have to move to his city.” 

“Is it the person you met on that blind date before the New Year?” 

“Yes.” 

“Is he a good person?” 

This time, Xiao Yuanzi didn’t answer immediately. After thinking it over, she said, “He’s not particularly good or bad, just an ordinary person like me. But his family’s situation is decent, and his parents are reasonable.” 

After saying this, she looked at her boss, who was so beautiful she seemed almost unreal, and asked with a smile, “Does it seem a bit pragmatic and not romantic at all?” 

Lu Jiu shook her head. “As long as it’s not hurting anyone.” Though she seemed a bit otherworldly, it didn’t mean she was clueless about human relationships. 

Admiring her boss’s likable nature, Xiao Yuanzi added, somewhat resignedly, “I’m 26 now, but I feel like I’m still young. Yet, people around me are already starting to talk. There’s nothing I can do about it; that’s just how society is. And since I’m going to get married eventually, why not settle down with someone suitable?” 

This left Lu Jiu unsure of how to respond. Among her kind, finding a partner was rare unless they were perfectly matched in every aspect. 

So, deep down, her views on marriage were more like those of her kind—somewhat naive and not entirely realistic. 

For instance, if she and Officer Wei made it to the end, it would only be because of love. 

Of course, that was just Lu Jiu’s personal view. “Alright then, I wish you a happy marriage. When do you plan to leave?” 

Xiao Yuanzi quickly replied, “I can stay for another month. I want to see things through to the end.” 

Lu Jiu nodded. “Alright, I’ll make arrangements as soon as possible.” 

— 

Finding someone wasn’t difficult. 

After all, Lu Jiu offered a decent salary. 

But finding someone who met all her criteria wasn’t so easy. 

Since putting up a hiring notice at the shop, Lu Jiu had already interviewed more than twenty people. 

But she always felt something was off, either on one side or the other. 

So, another week passed, and she still hadn’t found the right candidate. 

Just as Lu Jiu was sulking in the shop, feeling a bit down, Officer Wei, whom she hadn’t seen in half a month, suddenly appeared. 

His arrival was sudden and without warning. 

Lu Jiu was momentarily stunned before she happily stood up. “Are you done with work?” 

Seeing his girlfriend not angry about his half-month disappearance but instead beaming with joy, Wei Shian, who was already full of guilt, felt his heart soften even more. 

He lowered his gaze, letting his eyes trace from the girl’s brows to her beautiful smile. 

After a while, having slightly eased his longing, he softly responded, “Yes,” and added, “There’s still some wrapping up to do, but I can take some time off now.” 

Lu Jiu’s face turned red under his intense gaze, but she still carefully scrutinized him in return, worried. 

After not seeing him for half a month, Officer Wei had noticeably lost weight and had dark circles under his eyes. 

However, there were no bloodshot eyes, which meant he had caught some sleep before coming to see her, though clearly not enough. 

Understanding this, Lu Jiu frowned, disapproving. “Why didn’t you sleep a bit more?” 

Of course, it was because he was afraid she might not want him anymore… 

Because of his job, Wei Shian knew very well that in their relationship, the decision always lay with her. 

That’s why he restrained his feelings, teasing only with words and not getting too close. 

He was afraid that a girl who grew up in a sheltered environment might suddenly regret it. 

But he liked her so much that after just three hours of sleep, he hurried over to make his presence known. 

However, these thoughts and this pressure were not something.

Wei Shian planned to share with his girlfriend. Instead, he simply and honestly said, “I missed you.”