There was a red light at the intersection ahead.

While waiting for the signal light to turn green, Luo Qi turned on her phone, read the group chat messages, and privately sent a message to her father: [I will pay back the money owed to the eldest uncle’s family. Getting married is impossible.]

In recent years, because of the decline of her family, people always felt that she had no confidence and would just accept everything they dished out. But in fact, Luo Qi was very rebellious in her bones. She quit and deleted the family group chat and blocked the WeChat accounts of all relatives who accused her of being selfish these past couple of days.

The world was finally quiet.

Even up to when her car had driven to the gates of Jiang Yueru’s villa, Luo Qi’s chest was still on fire with grievances. The pain of breaking up was half overtaken by her anger at her parents and relatives back home.

Jiang Yueru liked to have dinner in the yard—the light was dim, the surroundings were quiet, and she ate alone with no distractions. She enjoyed this kind of solitude.

The housekeeping auntie prepared the hot pot ingredients and placed it on the table in the yard that had been set up ahead of time

Jiang Yueru no longer drank strong alcohol after the operation, and tonight she took out the cherry wine brewed by the housekeeping auntie.

Luo Qi put away her wine glass, “I’m not drinking, I have to work overtime.” She also pointed to the car parked some distance away. It was not convenient to find a taxi here in the villa area, so she had to drive herself back.

Jiang Yueru didn’t force Luo Qi and just poured herself half a glass. She didn’t mention Luo Qi’s breakup at  all. “Where do you plan to go during the National Day holiday?”

Luo Qi didn’t make any plans, “Just go around the suburbs.”

It cost money to go out and relax, so she would just find a place nearby to play around; she could easily go back and forth in a day without needing to travel outside. The money owed to the uncle’s family was like a mountain, weighing on her head.

“Where do you live now?”

“In a hotel.”

Jiang Yueru took a sip of cherry wine, “It’s not convenient to stay in a hotel. Until you find a suitable place, stay at my house. Five or six rooms are empty.”

Luo Qi declined, “I’ve already found a house, I’ll move in on Saturday.”

Jiang Yueru asked, concerned, “Is the rented house far from the company?”

“It’s not too far away.” Luo Qi told her the approximate location; there were old neighborhoods there.

Jiang Yueru estimated the distance, and the commuting time was at least fifty minutes one way. She knew that the apartment Luo Qi lived in before, even if she walked to the company, it would take no more than twenty minutes. But it was not economically feasible for her to rent an apartment so near  the business district now.

Jiang Yueru only smiled, “Our commuting time is about the same.”

Luo Qi also laughed; purely speaking about the distance, Jiang Yueru’s villa community was about the same distance as her own small rental apartment to the company.

The bottom of the hot pot began boiling, and the auntie brought over a dozen dishes in total. They were placed on exquisite plates, and the portions were not large. They were all her favorite things.

Jiang Yueru suddenly remembered that they could watch a movie while eating, “What movie do you want to watch?”

“I’m good with anything, there is basically no movie that I don’t watch.”

“Then let’s watch a healing movie.” It was a movie recommended by Jiang Shenghe to her. During the months of recuperating at home, she watched it whenever she had nothing to do and felt a bit better every time.

Luo Qi thought they would be watching it on the laptop and was about to take out hers to set it up.

“You sit, you don’t need a computer,” Jiang Yueru told her. “There is a screen, it’s very convenient. We’ll watch it there.”

It took about ten minutes to set it up. The helpers at home out up the screen, turned off all the lights in the yard, and even the lights by the entranceway.

Luo Qi and Jiang Yueru faced the screen and sat side by side.

When the opening credits appeared, Jiang Yueru asked, “Have you seen this before?”

Not only has Luo Qi seen it—today would be the fifth time.

Luo Qi smiled and said, “I have four movies in my Favorites, and this is one of them. I never get tired of watching it.”

“What a coincidence!” Jiang Yueru marveled at the wonder of fate.

In a secluded yard, eating hot pot and watching her favorite movie—Luo spent the most comfortable two hours she’s had since the breakup.

For the entire time that the movie was playing, they were also eating hot pot.

After watching and eating, the auntie brought out some fruits.

Jiang Yueru handed Luo Qi a slice of watermelon, “Don’t work overtime tonight. Don’t worry, the world won’t collapse tomorrow if you don’t work overtime.”

Luo Qi decided not to resist, “I will listen to Director Jiang’s words, and there will definietly be a way to make money.”

The two laughed and chatted while eating.

In the midst of this serene atmosphere, Luo Qi found that every time she ate fruit in Jiang Yueru’s presence, she would somehow conjure up Jiang Shenghe. 

After eating half of a slice of watermelon, Jiang Shenghe arrived.

She hurriedly stood up, “Chief Jiang.”

Before she could stay standing, Jiang Yueru pulled her back onto the chair, “Why are you standing up? There are not so many rules during off-duty hours—just say hello.”

Jiang Shenghe didn’t expect Luo Qi to be here. He ran in the evenings for exercise and often ended up in his aunt’s house to spend time with her at the same time.

“You two continue chatting,” he said, then went upstairs to take a shower.

After taking a shower, leaving his hair only half-dried, he put on a new set of clean sportswear. Jiang Shenghe went downstairs to the yard and found that Luo Qi was still there.

Jiang Yueru looked at the time: it was half past nine. She asked Jiang Shenghe, “Everything okay?”

Jiang Shenghe poured a glass of warm water to drink, “Fine. I just came here to run.”

Since it was fine, Jiang Yue promptly issued the eviction order, “Then you guys go back, you have to go to work tomorrow. I’m tired too.”

Luo Qi secretly breathed a sigh of relief; she had eaten a bit too much hot pot tonight, but with Jiang Shenghe here, her nerves had instinctively tensed up. It was not a situation conducive to digestion.

Jiang Shenghe put down his water glass and left first.

“Director Jiang, go to bed early,” Luo Qi said goodbye.

“Drive slowly.”

Jiang Yueru sent her to where her car was parked and watched her drive the car out of the yard.

Luo Qi had just driven a few hundred meters when a familiar, slender figure walking ahead came into view.

The boss knew her license plate, and it was impossible not to pull over to be polite.

She eased on the brakes and slowed the car down.

Seventh Year of My Secret Love for You translated by Maela @ whitemoonlighttranslations.com

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T/N: Isn’t it interesting that Jiang Shenghe visits his mother once a month like punching time cards, but has a room in his aunt’s house and regularly runs there in the evenings just to spend time with her. At this point, Jiang Yueru basically has two sons (three, if you add Qin Moling).

Luo Qi: Boss is not conducive to digestion
Jiang Shenghe: …

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