After getting out of the car, Lu Yudong entered the villa with an umbrella.

Jiang Ci had just returned to Lu Yudong's bedroom from Grandpa's room.

"Haven't you brought your things back yet?" Lu Yudong asked her.

"Not yet. If you kick me out again, it's such a hassle to always carry a suitcase," Jiang Ci replied.

Besides, the suitcase had her diary, and it felt safer to leave it in the dormitory.

"Take your umbrella back. Sleep in the next room tonight," Lu Yudong handed the umbrella to Jiang Ci.

Jiang Ci looked a bit puzzled, but more than that, she felt wronged.

"Why don't you want it? I specifically asked my friend to buy it for you from abroad," Jiang Ci looked up at Lu Yudong and asked, "Getting drenched is so uncomfortable."

Thinking about her father's pneumonia made Jiang Ci feel sad.

Lu Yudong didn't say anything, but he placed the umbrella on the bed for Jiang Ci.

The implication was clear: he didn't want it.

Jiang Ci didn't know what Yin Xuemo and Lu Yudong had talked about earlier, but his attitude had suddenly changed.

"Fine, forget it!" Jiang Ci said, "Like a dog biting Lü Dongbin, you don't recognize a good heart! Go ahead and get soaked."

Thinking that Lu Yudong was influenced by Yin Xuemo's instigation, Jiang Ci's tone became harsher, and she spoke without thinking.

"Jiang—Ci!" Lu Yudong probably didn't expect Jiang Ci to curse him with such venomous words, and he growled.

Jiang Ci ignored him, picked up her quilt, and turned to the next room.

Sleeping separately was just as well, saving her from his "beastly behavior" every day, which left her unable to get up every morning.

That evening, Jiang Ci didn't go downstairs for dinner.

She lay in bed for a long time, wondering where Lu Yudong's anger came from. Although he had always been temperamental with her, it was because of the Shao Zheng incident, which Jiang Ci understood.

But today, returning the umbrella to her, where did this sudden anger come from?

Jiang Ci thought for a long time and wondered if Yin Xuemo was sowing discord, saying that the umbrella she bought was fake?

Thinking of this made Jiang Ci angry too. Why did he listen to everything Yin Xuemo said?

Were her words like an imperial decree?

The next day was the "New East Star" training session, and it was Jiang Ci's first time attending as one of the newly selected.

Coincidentally, it was Lu Yudong's class.

Generally speaking, his class was only once every one or two months, covering the company's development and vision, a more macro perspective, as the attendees were the future management team of his company.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

Jiang Ci sat in the front row.

Next to Han Lan.

Lu Yudong, dressed in a steel-gray suit, was serious and spoke with clarity and depth.

Perhaps because he was the President, all the young colleagues were meticulous, with hardly any noise.

Just two minutes into his lecture, Jiang Ci dramatically slumped onto the desk.

She fell asleep.

She fell asleep right in the front row, under Lu Yudong's nose...

She was doing it on purpose.

For treating her like that last night.

She wanted to embarrass him in front of his colleagues.

Even though there were only about twenty people present, selected from the newly promoted interns this year, it was like twenty loudspeakers, and soon the whole company would know...

Han Lan anxiously nudged Jiang Ci's arm, whispering, "Are you crazy to sleep in the President's class?"

No matter how much Han Lan nudged, she couldn't wake Jiang Ci, who was pretending to sleep.

Lu Yudong glared at Jiang Ci.

But he managed to keep his composure, continuing the lecture as planned.

Throughout the class, his gaze was mostly fixed on Jiang Ci.

He wanted to see how long she could keep up this act.

Jiang Ci slept through the entire class.

Or more accurately, pretended to sleep.

She didn't give him any face for the whole class.

Fine, very well.

She held grudges fiercely!

The colleagues behind watched the spectacle, whispering, "Mr. Lu can't control Jiang Ci anymore."

Lu Yudong's tone even changed as he tried to suppress his anger.

Sleeping in Lu Yudong's class...

In the six-year history of New East Group, Jiang Ci was the first and likely the last to do so!

Jiang Ci set a new record, one that probably wouldn't be broken.

She challenged Lu Yudong's authority.

After class, Lu Yudong knocked on Jiang Ci's desk, and she groggily opened her eyes.

"Come here." In front of the colleagues, Lu Yudong tried to maintain a good temper.

After Lu Yudong left, Han Lan said to Jiang Ci, "I told you, now you've provoked him."

Jiang Ci then followed Lu Yudong back to the office.

After finalizing the deal, Jiang Ci was very happy and excited. It was her first time handling a transaction over a hundred thousand yuan, and she felt a bit anxious. Worried about encountering scammers or criminals, she asked Han Lan to accompany her.

Han Lan, no longer needing to keep a low profile, was quite pleased and readily agreed to Jiang Ci's request.

"For something like this, it's best to have a guy with us. If Mr. Lu goes with you, who would dare to cheat him? They wouldn't dare even with ten times the courage," Han Lan said while munching on snacks.

"It's not that easy. We're having a bit of a spat. Besides, this matter involves my ex-boyfriend. Would I be out of my mind to ask him to come along?" Jiang Ci replied.

"Why are you making such a fuss? You can see how just a casual nod from him changes everything for us. People can't wait to flatter him, and here you are, picking a fight," Han Lan said, a bit exasperated.

"Don't mention it. I've been flattering him all along." To this day, Jiang Ci still didn't understand why Lu Yudong suddenly asked her to move out.

How could she cater to his whims without knowing the reason?

"Why not try to appease him? Mr. Lu is into that," Han Lan suggested.

"How do you know? Have you tried it before?" Jiang Ci asked, her tone slightly jealous.

"No, no, I haven't even met Mr. Lu," Han Lan said, trying to act coy. "But seriously, my sister is bringing me some food this afternoon."

"Your sister? Isn't she about to give birth? How can you let her bring you food with that big belly?"

"She's not coming herself; she's sending her brother-in-law. I heard he's quite a catch," Han Lan said dreamily.

"You haven't met him?"

Han Lan rolled her eyes at Jiang Ci. "No, he didn't attend my sister's wedding; he was out of town."

"I'll check him out for you this afternoon."

At six in the evening, the dormitory doorbell rang, and Jiang Ci went to answer it. As soon as she opened the door, she widened her eyes in surprise and said, "Deng Yue?"

"Jiang Ci?"

"Who are you looking for? Me?"

Deng Yue raised the food container in his hand. "I'm delivering food for my sister-in-law to her sister. I didn't expect you two to be roommates. What a small world."

When Han Lan came out and saw that Deng Yue was quite handsome, her eyes sparkled.

"How about I treat you two lovely ladies to dinner tonight?" Deng Yue offered.

"What about the food my sister sent?" Jiang Ci asked with a slight frown.

But Han Lan was already tempted. After all, who wouldn't want to dine with a handsome guy?

"We can put it in the fridge and eat it later. It won't spoil. Let's go, I'll treat you to hot pot," Deng Yue said enthusiastically.

Recently, Jiang Ci and Han Lan had been under a lot of pressure, so they were eager for some relaxation and quickly agreed. Besides, Jiang Ci loved spicy food—the spicier, the better.

During dinner, Deng Yue asked Jiang Ci, "Since we added each other on WeChat, we haven't chatted. I didn't know you worked at New East Group. That's promising."

"I'm just a low-level employee; there's no future in that. Han Lan has more potential; she's the New East Star, a future executive," Jiang Ci said, not forgetting to praise Han Lan.

Jiang Ci could tell that Han Lan had a good impression of Deng Yue. Han Lan and Deng Yue also exchanged WeChat contacts.

"Oh, by the way, Jiang Ci is going to the suburbs on Sunday to inspect a computer factory. We've never been there and are afraid of encountering scammers, so we want a guy to come with us. Why don't you join us?" Han Lan invited Deng Yue. "My sister told me her brother-in-law runs a gaming company, so you're perfect for evaluating computers."

"Visiting a computer factory? No problem. I'll drive you two ladies there. Planning to buy computers? Why not just go to the electronics market instead of the source?"

"Two hundred units. We're donating them to children in the mountains. It's the same school we visited together," Jiang Ci explained easily, as she and Deng Yue had visited the charity school together before.

"Two hundred units, impressive. You must have some money."

"Not really. I sold my dad's house in the countryside," Jiang Ci deflected, fearing Deng Yue would ask about the money's origin, putting her in an awkward position.

She hadn't even mentioned her contractual marriage with Lu Yudong to Han Lan, nor did Han Lan know the source of the money.

Her father's old house was in the countryside, and Jiang Ci had never been there. Besides, you can't sell a homestead.

Fortunately, Deng Yue didn't press further.

What could Jiang Ci say? That she sold herself for it?

Hi everyone, if you like this novel and want to read more in advance, please support me on PawRead.

Discord:https://discord.com/invite/ua2A852bws