Chapter 8: I’ll Take You Home

After drinking the ginger tea, Lin Ran felt a warm sensation spreading through her body. She lay on her desk idly, first scrolling through the project group chat. Today, it was unusually quiet—nothing seemed to be happening. Then, she flipped through her social media feed, where her old classmates’ graduation dinner photos dominated the screen.

As she scrolled through one photo after another, she paused for a few seconds on a picture of her and Fu Xingjian clinking glasses.

She had no idea who took the photo, but it perfectly captured Fu Xingjian’s striking features, showcasing him at his best.

During university, he was a campus heartthrob—tall, with strong brows, refined eyes, high cheekbones, and a prominent nose. His sharp features were utterly captivating.

However, he had a cold demeanor, rarely smiled, and his silence could be intimidating.

And yet, for someone with such looks and presence, he also had an enviable family background.

Back in school, everyone often wondered aloud, “What door did God possibly close for him?”

What door, indeed?

Others might not know, but Lin Ran did.

Even someone as aristocratic and privileged as Fu Xingjian had his moments of unrequited love.

Shaking off her thoughts, she continued scrolling through her feed, filled with captions about serene and happy lives. In comparison, Lin Ran, five years post-graduation, hadn’t achieved much, leaving her feeling a bit disheartened.

Closing her phone, she rested her head on the desk. Before long, she fell asleep.

When she woke up, the sky outside was pitch dark.

Panicked, Lin Ran scrambled to her feet and rushed to the door.

This was bad. She’d fallen asleep in a client’s office. If word got out, her reputation in the industry would be ruined.

She hurriedly reached the elevator and pressed the button. Watching the numbers slowly ascend, her heart finally began to calm.

“Ding.” The elevator arrived. She stepped in, and the doors began to close.

Suddenly, a pair of slender, jade-like hands stopped the doors from closing.

“Wait a moment.”

Fu Xingjian’s cold, sharp eyes swept over her briefly before he silently entered the elevator.

His polished fingers pressed the button for “1.”

Perhaps due to the cold weather, he wore a black cashmere coat over his black suit. The high-quality fabric was evident, even under the dim elevator lights.

But the layering of black on black made him look like a spectral aristocrat.

“Leaving now?” he asked.

Lin Ran nodded. “Yes, I fell asleep accidentally, so I’m heading back late.”

Rather than wait for criticism, she chose to admit her mistake first. Honesty was always a winning tactic. Lin Ran, with her years of dealing with clients, had a keen understanding of customer psychology.

Fu Xingjian chuckled lightly. “The meeting room must be quite comfortable, then.”

Lin Ran smiled politely and nodded in agreement.

When the elevator reached the ground floor, she prepared to leave and had even rehearsed her goodbye. But to her surprise, Fu Xingjian closed the elevator doors again and turned to her.

“It’s raining outside. I’ll drive you home.”

Lin Ran: …

The elevator quickly descended to B1, the parking lot of YuTou Group.

Seeing her hesitating at the elevator door, Fu Xingjian spoke, “What’s wrong?”

Lin Ran didn’t want him to drive her, but just then, a few employees passed by, bowing respectfully to him and saying, “President Fu,” while sneaking curious glances at her.

Feeling cornered, Lin Ran stepped aside and followed Fu Xingjian out, as if fleeing.

Sure enough, it was raining outside, though not heavily, and the storm had passed.

Lin Ran pointed ahead and said, “You can drop me off at the subway entrance.”

Fu Xingjian didn’t respond, and Lin Ran could only watch as the car drove right past the subway entrance.

“Tell me your address.”

Lin Ran bit her lip and stayed silent.

Fu Xingjian glanced sideways at her. “Not saying? Then I’ll take you to my place. It’s spacious.”

Startled, Lin Ran widened her eyes in disbelief. After a few seconds of hesitation, she finally muttered, “East of the city, Jinxiuyuan.”