Chapter 58

At 4:30 PM, Shengling Group employees were enjoying their free time at various tourist spots in Lake City. Suddenly, a photo was posted in the Shengling Group gossip group, capturing everyone’s attention.

The photo, taken from a distance and slightly blurry even after magnifying, showed a tall, model-like man kissing a slim, tall woman by the car.

The man was holding the car door with one hand and had his other arm wrapped around the woman’s slender waist. The woman had long, chestnut-colored waves cascading down to her waist. From the angle of the photo, it was clear that the man was taking the initiative. Although the woman’s face wasn’t visible, her beautiful figure, fair skin, and stylish outfit were apparent, leaving no doubt that she was an absolute beauty!

However, while the woman’s face was obscured by the man, his face was clearly visible for nearly three-quarters of the shot.

His exquisitely flawless features.

His extremely handsome appearance!

It was none other than the President of the Shengling Group, Zhou Jingyu!

Nobody expected their usually aloof President to have such a wild side. In public, in the parking lot, he was actually embracing and passionately kissing a woman!!!

Without this photo, it would have been unimaginable. Zhou Jingyu’s high and mighty image had been deeply ingrained in people’s minds, and even imagining him in a romantic relationship seemed like a violation of that image!

And now, someone had directly presented the photo to everyone.

……

……

……

After nearly a minute of stunned silence, the group chat exploded—

【??????】

【What am I seeing??????】

【Can someone tell me this isn’t real? Is there something wrong with my eyes? Do I need to see an eye doctor immediately???】

【Ahhhhhhh!】

【I can’t believe I’m heartbroken. I wasn’t even in a relationship, but why does my heart feel so sore!!!】

……

The messages flooded in quickly.

Then, after a brief period of silence, the girl who posted the photo, having enjoyed the sight of everyone’s shocked reactions, finally felt relieved that she wasn’t the only one enduring this. She was still feeling a bit heartbroken herself!

She waded through the rapidly scrolling messages and began to explain—

【Ladies, listen up, the photo was accidentally taken by me. I wasn’t feeling well today and didn’t go out, so I went back to my room to nap. After waking up feeling better and full of energy, I contacted my department colleagues to find out where they were because I was planning to join them. But that’s not the main point! The main point is coming, sisters!!】

【I was staying on the sixth floor, and to get downstairs, I needed to take the elevator. In the elevator, I was chatting on my phone with colleagues and missed getting off at the first floor. When I realized it, I found that there were two more people in the elevator, and it had already stopped at the basement level. I had no idea when they had entered!!!】

【Yes, the two people in front of me were none other than our President and his girlfriend!】

【I’m sure it’s his girlfriend because the President held her hand the entire time, and he escorted her to the car. They even stood by the car door chatting for a while, and when she was about to get in, he couldn’t bear to let her go and ended up pulling her back and kissing her! Oh my god, how much does our President not want his girlfriend to leave?! I was completely stunned, do you know that feeling? It’s like witnessing a deity descend to earth! Yes, that’s right! It turns out that even our President is just like us mere mortals when it comes to dating—he can’t bear to part with his girlfriend and holds her back and kisses her!】

【Unfortunately, I only saw the girl’s back, and I didn’t see her face, so I don’t know what she looks like! Later, as they were standing by the car, President Zhou blocked my view, so I couldn’t see her. But I think, since she can make President Zhou like her so much, she must be more than just having a good figure. After all, with our President’s striking appearance, his girlfriend shouldn’t be too different!】

【Lastly, sisters, I risked my life to post this photo. Maybe tomorrow, you won’t see me at Shengling Group anymore. Boohoo.】

……

It’s easy to imagine the shockwaves this photo caused within the Shengling Group.

The video from the cafeteria had already stirred speculation, but this photo provided concrete proof!

People were simultaneously heartbroken and curious about their President’s girlfriend.

When did they start dating?

Where is his girlfriend from? Why is she in Lake City?

The President only brought Young Master Lu, and no one else!

From yesterday afternoon to this morning, everyone was involved in team-building activities, and the President stayed with everyone. When did he have time to meet his girlfriend at the hotel?

Last night?

This afternoon?

And why did she leave right after arriving? It’s only the afternoon!

With such an exceptional boyfriend as Zhou Jingyu, shouldn’t he do everything possible to spend more time with her? Just look at how reluctant he was to part with her!

……

One person with the same questions was Lu Yi.

Lu Yi, who easily gets along with everyone, had become well-acquainted with many people on the way to Lake City. Although Zhou Jingyu preferred to stay at the hotel, Lu Yi wanted to go out!

So, Young Master Lu went out with new friends he had just met on the car ride yesterday. The photos were shared in the group, and naturally, Lu Yi saw them.

Holding his phone and seeing the photo, Lu Yi fell into deep thought.

He knew more than others.

Lu Yi found staying at the hotel boring, so he participated in the activities with everyone yesterday afternoon and this morning. At lunch, he went to find Zhou Jingyu to join him, but Zhou Jingyu said he wanted to return to the hotel and asked Lu Yi to eat alone.

He didn’t think much of it at the time.

If he had to eat alone, so be it! With so many people from Shengling around, did Lu Yi really need Zhou Jingyu to keep him company?

So Lu Yi carefree went to find new companions for a meal.

At the time, he didn’t find anything unusual, but now, seeing the photo again, it all made sense.

What about going back to the hotel? It was clear he was going to spend time with his girlfriend!

From this, Lu Yi inferred that his girlfriend must not have arrived only at noon.

So, his guess about her coming the previous night was correct, but had he left too early? Had he waited in vain?

Realizing this, Lu Yi could no longer stay calm.

He had seen people pretending before, but Zhou Jingyu was on a whole other level of deception—he’d been completely outwitted! He genuinely thought his girlfriend wouldn’t come that night!

Losing interest in sightseeing, Lu Yi immediately headed back to the hotel, intending to confront Zhou Jingyu.

However, when Lu Yi got back to the hotel, he found no one there. He knocked on the door for a long time, but there was no answer, and calls to Zhou Jingyu went unanswered.

At that moment, Zhou Jingyu, whom Lu Yi was frantically searching for, was in a well-known temple in Lake City. Before coming to Lake City, he had heard that this temple was quite spiritual. Zhou Jingyu hadn’t visited, but she specifically asked for a safety blessing for her grandfather from this temple.

After obtaining the blessing, Zhou Jingyu moved to another corner of the temple.

This was the place for seeking romantic fortune.

It was said that the romantic fortune here was also quite effective.

There was incense smoke and a hundred-year-old tree on a platform, so large that five or six adult men would be needed to embrace it fully, with red ribbons hanging all over it.

Zhou Jingyu also bought a red ribbon from a young monk and hung it up sincerely.

Zhou Jingyu returned to the hotel around eight or nine in the evening. Not long after he returned, Lu Yi came knocking on his door.

Zhou Jingyu had just finished taking a shower.

Lu Yi was fed up with waiting for Zhou Jingyu.

When he saw Zhou Jingyu, he immediately asked, “Did your girlfriend come last night?”

Zhou Jingyu raised his eyebrows and looked at Lu Yi. “How did you know?”

Lu Yi scoffed and said, “I not only know that your girlfriend came last night, but I also know she left this afternoon at four.”

Having mingled with Shengling employees for two days, Lu Yi had fully integrated into Shengling’s internal gossip group.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Jingyu showed no particular reaction. He walked to the fridge, opened it, took out two bottles of mineral water, handed one to Lu Yi, and opened the other to drink.

Holding the bottle, Lu Yi, seeing Zhou Jingyu’s disregard, was unwilling to be ignored and said, “Did you go to the Long Dragon Temple this afternoon? Not only that, but you also went to hang a red ribbon on the famous romantic tree there? Wow, I really didn’t expect that from you after knowing you for over twenty years!”

This was also shared in the group. With the temple being so famous, many people planned to visit while in Lake City. Zhou Jingyu’s high profile naturally drew attention.

Lu Yi circled around Zhou Jingyu, examining him as if trying to get to know him anew.

He couldn’t understand.

“You’re usually so aloof, but in love, you’re even more conventional than ordinary people? You’re into superstitions now?”

This time, Zhou Jingyu finally responded.

He looked up at Lu Yi and asked, “Where did you get all this information?”

Lu Yi couldn’t betray his source, which was the gossip group where he kept track of Zhou Jingyu’s romantic activities!

Standing tall, Lu Yi refused to cooperate, “You don’t need to know. It’s from a reliable source.”

Then, he couldn’t help but mock Zhou Jingyu, “I see everyone else goes in pairs, but you’re all alone.”

Zhou Jingyu ignored the mockery.

In fact, Zhou Jingyu already knew it was probably just someone who had seen him and passed the information along.

He only cared about one thing.

With a serious expression, he asked, “So now you know who my girlfriend is?”

Not bringing this up would have been better.

Lu Yi felt frustrated, finally admitting, “……I don’t know.”

Oh.

If Lu Yi didn’t know, then others probably didn’t either.

Lu Yi’s big mouth couldn’t keep secrets. If he knew, he would definitely spill the beans.

Zhou Jingyu nodded.

Then, he looked at Lu Yi and gave a slow, light smile.

Lu Yi: “……”

He miraculously understood what Zhou Jingyu was smiling about.

…And felt even more frustrated.

Lu Yi swore that Zhou Jingyu was definitely laughing at him! After all that talk, he still didn’t know who Zhou Jingyu’s girlfriend was?

Who could stand that?

He couldn’t tolerate it!

So Lu Yi plopped down on the sofa, arms crossed, with a provocative look and tone: “I’m staying here tonight. I’m not leaving!”

He stared with his big, expressive eyes, as if daring Zhou Jingyu to do something about it.

Zhou Jingyu, who had never intended to keep it a secret forever, didn’t mind at all: “Suit yourself.”