Sitting in Zhu Jingru’s car, Huang Chen understood, and even had a premonition that he had boarded a pirate ship from which he might never disembark!
Because his girlfriend had been completely led astray by his boss. The date was supposed to be about them, but now all they talked about was the man his boss had a crush on.
…
“It’s normal that he didn’t accept. The Shop Manager barely uses WeChat. He only registered recently, and I haven’t added him either.”
Zhu Jingru asked unhurriedly, appearing completely casual, “Then how do you usually contact him?”
“We don’t. We see each other every day at the shop, so we just deal with things face-to-face. Besides making phone calls, he barely uses his phone. But he does watch TV a lot. Never misses the news broadcast and always subscribes to the newspaper, like an old man.”
“Not old, that’s good.” Zhu Jingru rubbed the steering wheel. “He doesn’t sound like a Nanhai local when he speaks.”
“The Shop Manager is from Suzhou. I overheard him speaking in his dialect once. His tone was so gentle, and his icy expression seemed to thaw a bit.”
Zhu Jingru couldn’t help but recall Bai Qinglin’s expression when he smoked, asking meaningfully, “Can he be swayed?”
Tong Yin: “It’s a long shot.”
“How long of a shot?” Zhu Jingru turned to look at the young couple in the back seat while waiting for the red light, his eyes flirtatious, looking at everyone affectionately.
Tong Yin was a little embarrassed, “You wouldn’t be thinking of setting the Shop Manager up with someone, would you?”
Zhu Jingru continued to look ahead, neither confirming nor denying, “Guess.”
Tong Yin slapped her fidgeting boyfriend hard, quite forthright, “Huang Chen said you love to set up your friends when you have nothing better to do. I bet you are!”
After dropping them off, Zhu Jingru found a place to park.
Huang Chen was just about to muster the courage to hold her hand when, unexpectedly, his girlfriend was exceptionally polite and ran off to thank his boss.
“I’m not sure what type the Shop Manager likes, but you definitely have to take it slow. He doesn’t have any other hobbies, he just loves fishing. I also heard from the finance lady that the Shop Manager came all the way from Suzhou to Nanhai because he didn’t want his family to arrange his marriage. He’s very independent, always alone.”
“Thank you, I understand.” Zhu Jingru listened attentively.
Tong Yin winked at Huang Chen, who was standing there foolishly waiting, signaling him to be patient. “Persistence pays off. Someone with a sincere heart doesn’t need to be taught. Did I guess right?”
“Half and half.” Zhu Jingru reached out and gently touched Tong Yin’s ear. In an instant, a thornless white rose appeared between his fingers, which he then gently handed to her. “I happened to pass by a flower shop while parking. That guy giving you carnations, how clumsy. You should teach him better.”
Tong Yin’s eyes widened. What, magic?!
“The flower is beautiful, it suits you both.”
After saying this, Zhu Jingru turned and walked away leisurely, his back tall and slender, the scent of autumn earth in the air.
“Attention to detail is truly terrifying. He can get anyone he wants.” Tong Yin murmured to Huang Chen, “I wonder which of his friends likes the Shop Manager? Brother Tang?”
“Is there a possibility,” Huang Chen said dryly, “that it’s him?”
Tong Yin gasped. She hadn’t thought of that, mainly because Zhu Jingru’s appearance was so deceptive. It seemed more likely that he would be a heartbreaker.
Speak of the devil, her phone lit up. Zhu Jingru sent a WeChat message: [No need to queue for the Ferris wheel, I bought a membership, just give them my phone number.]
Tong Yin held the rose, looked at the Ferris wheel, then at her goofy boyfriend. The favors owed were piling up.
A feeling of admiration welled up inside her. Every step carefully calculated, truly a master.
The next day, before sunrise, as the sky began to lighten, Zhu Jingru sat by the riverbank, wearing a black windbreaker and a baseball cap, looking full of energy. He stretched in his portable folding chair, his fishing rod already set up.
His watch showed exactly 6:00 am.
Hearing a noise, Zhu Jingru turned around leisurely, feigning surprise, “What a coincidence, Shop Manager Bai is also here to fish?”
