After I Was Gone, Mr. Song Said He Loved Me

Ever since that night when I rejected Song Yu and made my feelings clear, Song Yu hasn’t reached out to me. Previously, when I sent him WeChat messages to report my whereabouts, he would at least reply with a word or two. Now, he doesn’t even bother with that.

Yet, I continue to report my location to him daily, not for any particular reason other than wanting Song Yu to know that I’m consistently working hard, without any slack.

The distance between Song Yu and me has inadvertently brought Chi Jin closer. Although I don’t wish to have too much interaction with him, our public confession during Christmas has made us appear as a couple in the eyes of others.

Chi Jin plays his role in this fake relationship flawlessly, while I often slip up, earning myself a lecture from him every now and then.

However, compared to Song Yu’s role as a personal public relations expert, Chi Jin’s position as my current boyfriend has allowed me to hold my head high in front of those who secretly disparage me.

Thinking back, I realize how foolish I was, clinging to unrealistic fantasies and foolishly liking Song Yu without considering the stark realities. No wonder people looked down on me.

Sometimes, I feel greedy, wanting money when I don’t have it, and wanting more when I do. It’s like the insatiable human heart. But then again, my money didn’t just fall from the sky; every penny was earned through my hard work.

The municipal project with Wang Li’an cost me half my life, but it brought Song Yu nearly tens of billions in profits.

Huanya’s investment in Boyang Electronic Technology, Zhang Jishu’s wife agreed to transfer 25% of the shares to Huanya. This 25% stake can bring Huanya profits multiplied by several times, amounting to hundreds of billions, along with equity shares.

There are also smaller business projects, adding up to several billion.

Although this isn’t solely my achievement, it’s an indispensable contribution.

I can calculate these figures, and so can Song Yu, which is why he’s always been generous with money.

But even this isn’t enough to satisfy Song Yu’s appetite, which is why I’ve been painstakingly trying to get involved with the electric company project.

I didn’t understand why Song Yu would be interested in a conventional state-owned enterprise until I learned that these national enterprises, when undertaking international projects, have tax rates nearly a hundred points lower than private enterprises.

Simply put, for the same project, a private enterprise would need to pay a million in taxes, while a state-owned enterprise only pays ten thousand, plus various policy subsidies.

Most importantly, the three major state-owned enterprises-electric, water, and communications-can enjoy unsecured credit loans from the five major banks in the country, often amounting to hundreds of billions of RMB.

For a world-class enterprise like Huanya, once it aligns with any of the three major domestic enterprises, it can almost dominate any corresponding investment project both domestically and internationally.

The future profits are immeasurable.

If I can truly integrate Huanya into the national electric company, I’ll have ample leverage to negotiate with Song Yu about Lu’s criminal record.

I hold a ballpoint pen, marking days on the calendar, counting down to the traditional Chinese Little New Year¹. It’s been a month and a half since Lu returned to Guiyang.

I wonder if he’s doing well now, if he’s calmed down and forgiven me.

At that moment, my calendar was suddenly snatched away, catching me off guard. Just as I was about to look up and vent my anger, I realized it was Chi Jin.

He was grinning at me, “Daydreaming during work hours? Want Lisa to dock your pay?”

I glanced at the digital clock on the desk, which read 10:32.

“Aren’t you also wandering around departments during work hours, daydreaming?” I retorted, reaching to grab the calendar back from Chi Jin.

But he held the calendar high, dodging my attempt. “Let me see, what are you scribbling in here?”

“Give it back!” I stood up, my face tense, trying to snatch the calendar.

Chi Jin seemed unfazed by my growing irritation and began reading aloud the random notes I had jotted in the calendar.

“Lu’s first day away, second day, third day…”

“Lu, are you doing well now? Are you still mad at me?”

“New Year’s is coming soon. Bai Yu’s New Year wish list: Hope my stomach stops hurting, taking medicine is such a hassle. Leave Hai City, take my parents and sister on a flight to Dali², see the Cangshan Mountains and Erhai Lake…”

“Most importantly, I hope my good friend Fan Lu can forgive me. I really, really miss him…”

“…”

Initially, Chi Jin was teasing me, but as he continued reading, his tone grew more serious.

“Who is Fan Lu?” he asked.

I snatched the calendar from his hand, annoyed, and said coldly, “None of your business.”

“Your friend?”

I didn’t answer his question but instead asked, “What are you doing here?”

Chi Jin smirked and deliberately raised his voice, “Of course, I’m here to ask my boyfriend out for lunch.”

His loud declaration drew the attention of nearby colleagues, who seemed indifferent but were all secretly listening intently.

My face turned red instantly, and I whispered angrily, “Chi Jin!”

He laughed heartily, unconcerned, “What’s the big deal? It’s almost time to clock out. Who can say anything if I have lunch with my boyfriend?”

As Chi Jin said this, his sharp gaze swept across the Public Relations Department like a blade.

In an instant, those who had been eavesdropping quickly focused back on their work.

I hadn’t planned on going out for lunch with Chi Jin, but now, thanks to his antics, I had no choice but to go.

I tidied up my desk, grabbed my coat from the chair, and said to him, “Aren’t we going for lunch? Let’s go.”

Chi Jin gave a mischievous smile, draped his arm over my shoulder, and swaggered out of the Public Relations Department.

Once outside, I shrugged off Chi Jin’s arm and headed towards the elevator. He chuckled behind me and followed.

While waiting for the elevator, Chi Jin stood beside me and clicked his tongue, “Being my boyfriend makes you that uncomfortable?”

I glanced at him but didn’t respond.

Chi Jin shook his head with a smile, elongating his voice with a sigh, “Sometimes, I really admire Song Yu. He secretly manipulates everything, yet he has a way of keeping himself above it all, making others work tirelessly for him.”

“I must admit, his tactics are truly impressive.”

I knew Chi Jin had always been resentful about me continuing to do public relations for Song Yu, but I had my own reasons.

Faced with his sarcastic remarks, I could only choose to remain silent.

As the elevator arrived, the doors opened, and Song Yu’s tall figure suddenly appeared in my line of sight.

This was the first time I had seen Song Yu since our unpleasant parting that night.

Even though we worked in the same building, our offices were separated by five floors. Someone at my level wouldn’t have the chance to attend company meetings, and since he always used the president’s elevator, there was even less opportunity to meet him.

I never expected to encounter him in the employee elevator today!

Chi Jin saw Song Yu and let out a teasing “Oh,” before jokingly saying, “President Song, what brings you to the employee elevator today? Checking in on the common folk, are we?”

Song Yu ignored Chi Jin’s sarcastic tone and simply held the door open, asking, “Are you coming in?”

Chi Jin gave me a suggestive glance and then said to Song Yu, “No, we’re not coming in. Bai Yu and I have some private matters to discuss that aren’t meant for a third party.”

Song Yu glanced at me with an expressionless face, and the moment our eyes met, it felt like I had been burned, causing me to quickly look away.

He said nothing more, and I turned my head, watching the elevator doors slowly close with my peripheral vision.

I thought that during this time of estrangement from Song Yu, I had long forgotten about him. Yet, just that brief encounter stirred up waves in my heart that I had painstakingly calmed.

It turns out I still can’t achieve a state of complete indifference.

Maybe if I give myself more time, everything will eventually return to normal.

It must be like that.

Chi Jin noticed my daze and nudged my shoulder, sounding displeased, “Thinking about another man in front of your official boyfriend? That’s too much.”

I snapped back to reality and glared at him, “There’s no one else here, are you addicted to acting?”

Chi Jin scoffed, mocking, “You have the nerve to talk about me. As soon as you see Song Yu, your whole face says ‘I like you, but you don’t like me. What can I do to make you like me?'”

His barrage of “like you, like me” left me bewildered, and I frowned, “What are you talking about?”

“I’m saying your face spells ‘nervous’.” Chi Jin reached out and playfully flicked my forehead like teasing a child.

Song Yu used to like ruffling my hair as if I were a child, but he was at least ten years older than me, so it was understandable.

Chi Jin is only four years older than me, we’re practically kids ourselves, so why does he act all grown-up?

Unconvinced, I raised my hand to flick him back, but he dodged just in time.

“You!” I huffed with a stern face.

At that moment, another elevator arrived, and Chi Jin smiled, grabbing my hand, “Alright, let’s go.”

I instinctively wanted to pull my wrist away, but noticed a few colleagues had already gathered around us.

Chi Jin had clearly warned me not to embarrass him in front of others. While I could tease him or make sarcastic remarks in private, I maintained decorum in public.

These wealthy people can change moods in an instant, especially someone like Chi Jin, who’s a domineering and untamed “little wolf.”

Chi Jin and I headed to the employee cafeteria on the tenth floor. Huanya’s meal standards rival those of a five-star restaurant, offering both Western and Asian cuisine, along with various pastries and snacks.

Though I knew there were many delicacies here, my visits were rare.

Every time I appeared in a crowd, I became the center of discussion, so I eventually opted to bring my own bread and milk or eat out.

Since Chi Jin and I became “a couple,” he loved flaunting our relationship in front of colleagues, eager to show the world how sweet we were.

I couldn’t understand why he did this. I offered no help in his work, and emotionally, I couldn’t provoke Song Yu.

I completely failed to grasp the point of him trying to win me over.

Footnote:

Little New Year(小年):A traditional Chinese festival celebrated a few days before the Lunar New Year (Spring Festival). It marks the beginning of the New Year’s preparations, often involving cleaning the house and offering sacrifices to the Kitchen God.
Dali(大理):A city in Yunnan Province, Southwest China, famous for its scenic beauty, including the Cangshan Mountains and Erhai Lake.