Chapter 57

“Editor-in-Chief Li, this is the final draft for tomorrow’s printing.”

Huang Ying placed the folder on Li Cheng’s desk.

“Alright.”

Li Cheng didn’t look up and continued working.

Huang Ying didn’t leave. Instead, she stood there watching him, her gaze gradually softening.

After a moment, Li Cheng finally noticed. “Is there something else?”

Huang Ying’s cheeks flushed. “Cheng-ge, can I ask you a question?”

At work, she always called him “Editor-in-Chief Li,” but now, calling him “Cheng-ge” made it clear that her question was personal.

Li Cheng put down his pen, stretched his back, and relaxed his tone.

“Go ahead.”

Huang Ying hesitated, her eyes flickering with uncertainty before she finally spoke. “Cheng-ge, why didn’t you just call off the engagement? Why delay it for six months?”

Li Cheng straightened his posture. His expression remained unchanged, but the air around him became noticeably tense.

“It’s my family’s decision.”

“Cheng-ge, since when do you listen to your family so much?”

Huang Ying couldn’t understand. What kind of person was Li Cheng?

Decisive, efficient, and proud to the point of coldness—no one had ever been able to influence his decisions. Yet, when it came to marriage, he was letting his family dictate his future.

Childhood betrothals were already absurd enough, but she never expected him to actually let his family take charge.

She had assumed that delaying the wedding was his way of rejecting it, but now he was saying it was his family’s decision.

So, if his family hadn’t decided to postpone it, would he really have married that chubby girl in a few days?

“Huang Ying, this is my private matter.”

Li Cheng’s calm tone was a clear warning.

The countless words on the tip of Huang Ying’s tongue were forcibly swallowed.

She had grown up with him and knew him too well. That sentence meant he had no intention of continuing the discussion.

But if she just left like that, it would be too awkward.

A few seconds later, she forced a soft smile.

“Cheng-ge, will you be free tomorrow? My mom misses you and wants you to come over for dinner.”

“I have a lecture at Dongda University tomorrow. Maybe another time. I’ll visit Uncle and Auntie when I’m free.”

As the editor-in-chief of a newspaper and a guest lecturer at Dongda University, Li Cheng had a packed schedule.

Huang Ying was disappointed, but she hid it well.

She knew how outstanding he was. They were the same age and had grown up together, yet he had already reached a level they could only look up to.

Sometimes, she even wondered if his brain was different from normal people’s—how else could he be this exceptional?

“I’ll let them know. I’ll be going now, Editor-in-Chief Li.”

—-

“Ah, this feels great!”

After a workout, drenched in sweat, taking a shower, using shampoo, and applying face cream made Ye Yao feel completely refreshed.

Thinking back to the past…

Forget it. There’s no point in reminiscing about bittersweet memories now.

She had to keep working hard.

“Mom, what’s this?”

Ye Yao noticed a new bag in the yard and frowned in confusion.

She reached out to open it, but Zhang Qiufeng explained, “These are cleaning supplies. Auntie Wang just brought them over.”

Ye Yao was even more puzzled. “Why would she bring these?”

“She works as a cleaner at Dongda University. Her daughter-in-law is about to give birth in a few days, and she’s too busy, so she asked me to help with her job for a few days.

It’s not for free—she’ll pay me based on the number of days I work.”

Worried that Ye Yao might object, Zhang Qiufeng quickly added the part about getting paid.