Jiang Ci returned to the hospital room and started discussing patient care with Aunt Zhou Qi.

Just then, Grandpa sent Jiang Ci a WeChat message asking about her mother's condition.

Jiang Ci was deeply moved; Grandpa was a highly cultured intellectual.

She replied to him with a voice message: "Grandpa, my mom is doing well, don't worry."

"Jiang Ci, who are you talking to?" Jiang Yi asked again.

"None of your business."

Jiang Yi guessed it must be Lu Yudong's grandpa.

It seemed that Jiang Ci had a good relationship with her grandpa.

His eyes darted around as he hatched a mischievous plan.

"Jiang Yi, is Aunt okay?" Chu Shuo called out to Jiang Yi from the doorway.

"She's fine, are you leaving?"

"Yes."

Jiang Yi gave Jiang Ci one last look. From the way Chu Shuo spoke earlier, Jiang Yi knew their conversation had fallen apart.

Jiang Yi gritted his teeth and left. Jiang Ci was truly stubborn; he needed to resort to some underhanded tactics.

Jiang Ci glanced at her watch; it was almost four o'clock. After giving Zhou Qi a few more instructions, she also left.

Yin Xuemo's scenes hadn't finished filming; she was still working.

Jiang Ci didn't pay much attention to it.

In fact, what Jiang Ci didn't know was that Yin Xuemo had seen her and Chu Shuo talking in the hallway earlier.

Downstairs, Jiang Ci sent a WeChat message to Lu Yudong. His call came through shortly after, with a brief "Wait for me five minutes," before he hung up.

Once in the car, Lu Yudong was on the phone the whole time, discussing work matters—how to bid for the land in the southern district, its valuation, how many houses to build, and he also wanted to build a high-end shopping mall.

Jiang Ci, feeling bored, started scrolling through her phone. As she did, she felt sleepy and dozed off in the car.

It wasn't until they were almost home that Lu Yudong finished his call.

"Fell asleep?" he asked.

Jiang Ci woke up groggily, her eyes still sleepy, and mumbled, "Spring fatigue, autumn lethargy, summer naps."

"What did you do last night to be this tired?" Lu Yudong teased Jiang Ci.

Jiang Ci ignored him, turned her body, and continued to sleep.

During dinner, Grandpa kept asking about her mother's illness—what it was, how the treatment was going, if there were any complications, showing great concern.

Jiang Ci felt Grandpa was truly kind. Despite having lung cancer himself, he was still so concerned about others. She felt deeply moved and warm inside, but thinking about how Grandpa might not have much time left, she felt like crying.

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After dinner, Lu Yudong went upstairs.

A moment later, Jiang Ci, hugging her quilt, came from her bedroom to his.

Since Lu Yudong had been sleeping alone on this double bed, he always slept in the middle.

Seeing Jiang Ci, Lu Yudong put down the book in his hands, clasped his hands together, and looked at Jiang Ci with interest. "What's the meaning of this?"

He was really something, not caring at all that Jiang Ci was standing there with her quilt.

"Want to sleep here?" Jiang Ci drooped her eyelids, looking like a lost puppy.

"Oh?" Lu Yudong started to laugh, seemingly quite amused. "Did I hear wrong? Wasn't someone used to sleeping alone?"

"Still... not quite used to it. A bit scared. Can you move over a bit?" Jiang Ci said meekly.

After all, Jiang Ci was just a young girl, and she had explained the umbrella incident to Lu Yudong.

Although Lu Yudong was still hung up on her donating the computer, it was all in the past. The ex was gone, and even if he was still upset, there was nothing he could do.

He moved over a bit, making space for Jiang Ci.

Jiang Ci spread out her quilt, accidentally touching his warm arm. His body was so hot.

The air conditioning in Lu Yudong's room was set quite low, making it a bit chilly.

Jiang Ci mustered all her courage and slipped under his air-conditioned blanket.

Lu Yudong was restless because of her.

But he was Lu Yudong, after all, and had some self-control, although, in Jiang Ci's eyes, it seemed like he had no reaction.

"Thank you," Jiang Ci said, lying in his bed. He leaned against the headboard, and Jiang Ci looked up, her eyes twinkling as she spoke to him.

"Thank you for what?"

"Thank you for finding the best caregiver for my mom. I only found out today."

"So, is that why you came to sleep in my bed?"

"Of course not."

Lu Yudong couldn't hold back any longer. He slid down and pressed against Jiang Ci, turning off the bedside lamp in the process.

Jiang Ci's hands pressed against his chest. "Wait a moment."

"What now?" Lu Yudong asked, a bit impatiently.

"Be gentle..."

"Was I rough before?" Lu Yudong understood what Jiang Ci meant and teased her on purpose.

"Yes, you're really heavy," Jiang Ci said innocently, always making her feel so much pain.

"Alright, I'll lose some weight in the future."

Jiang Ci: ...

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?

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