Luo Qi was watching TV alone in the living room when Jian Hang finally arrived.

Seeing Jian Hang’s beautiful but aloof looks, Luo Qi finally understood why Qin Moling—who was already stood up once by Jian Hang—was still willing to go on a blind date a second time.

She and Jian Hang hit it off immediately, and they couldn’t stop talking.

Jian Hang worked at Lemon as President of one of its business units. Qin Moling was the big boss and major stockholder of Lemon Inc., a publicly-listed beverage company worth hundreds of billions.

The business unit that Jian Hang was responsible for focused solely on carbonated drinks.

Jian Hang asked Luo Qi, “Have you ever drank Lemon’s soda?”

Luo Qi nodded, “I’ve drank it before.”

“Wasn’t it not tasty?”

“…”

Jian Hang continued, “The bottle is ugly too.”

Luo Qi didn’t expect that Jian Hang would ruthlessly complain about her company’s products. The two discussed the taste and bottle designs of various soda drinks. By the end of it, they’ve already exchanged contact information.

It was almost seven o’clock, when Qin Moling and Jian Zhongjun arrived home at the same time.

The food was ready, so they washed their hands, and everyone sat down to eat.

Luo Qi sat next to Jian Hang, wanting to be farther away from the boss, but there was still space on her other side, so that’s where Jiang Shenghe sat down.

Jian Zhongjun served the leaf-wrapped pork roll. He hadn’t known that Luo Qi liked to eat this dish particularly, so he just casually placed it where there was space. It ended up as the dish placed farthest from Luo Qi, and it was not convenient for her to get some for herself.

Chen Yu was talking to Jian Hang, and Jian Zhongjun also looked at his daughter and chimed in from time to time.

Jiang Shenghe turned his head and asked Luo Qi in a low voice, “Do you want to eat the leaf-wrapped pork roll? I’ll get some for you.”

Luo Qi felt enveloped by his aura. She’d never seen him so attentive before, and Luo Qi was at a loss as to what to do. She tried to compose herself, “I can do it myself.”

There were no serving chopsticks on the table, and Jiang Shenghe didn’t want to use his chopsticks to serve her food. “Give me your chopsticks.” 

He took the chopsticks from her hand, their fingertips touching.

Luo Qi couldn’t help but shy her fingers away.

Jiang Shenghe picked up one of the rolls and put it in her bowl, then returned the chopsticks to her.

Luo Qi took a small bite of the leaf-wrapped pork roll. Her mind was so confused she couldn’t taste it.

It was easy to get muddled when receiving blatant favor from someone who wouldn’t usually do such things.

Just like that rainy night in Suzhou City.

And now this incident with today’s pork roll.

… …

Qin Moling saw Jiang Shenghe picking up the leaf-wrapped pork roll for Luo Qi, and he also picked up a piece for Jian Hang.

Jian Hang looked at him.

Qin Moling looked back at her, “What’s wrong?”

Jian Hang said with a smile, “Good students can really learn.”

Qin Moling didn’t understand. “Huh? What?”

Jian Hang said without changing her expression, “Thank you.” Then her foot moved under the table and she stepped on his instep.

Qin Moling was in a good mood and gave her another roll.

… …

During dinner, Qin Moling toasted Luo Qi, “You should come here more often. Your boss restrains himself a lot when you’re here. He doesn’t complain as much about me in front of you.”

Jian Zhongjun took over, “Yes, Xiao Luo must come often so I have someone to help me correct the test papers. You’re all a bunch of lazy people, but Xiao Luo is very diligent.”

While talking and laughing, the meal was finished.

Jiang Shenghe and Qin Moling were responsible for washing the dishes, while Luo Qi helped put the dishes away in the kitchen.

Jiang Shenghe put an apron on but didn’t tie it off, leaving the straps hanging at his sides.

Luo Qi reminded him, “Chief Jiang, your apron is untied.”

Jiang Shenghe was in the middle of putting plates in the dishwasher, and his hands couldn’t help but pause. She didn’t address him with the formal ‘you’, instead she used the more casual address.

He had oil on his hands, so he used this as an excuse to say to Luo Qi, “Help me tie it off.” 

Then he turned around as if nothing had happened and continued to talk to Qin Moling about the company.

Luo Qi looked at the apron strings and was stumped for a moment, not knowing where to begin.

Qin Moling was in the kitchen, so it seemed like it wasn’t a big deal to help him. She could just treat it as a job assigned to her by the boss, right?

She picked up the apron straps with her fingertips, careful to avoid touching his waist.

His shirt fit snug around the waist and abdomen, and the muscle lines were vaguely visible through the material.

She held her breath the entire time, carefully tying off a knot, then quickly left the kitchen to find Jian Hang. 

… … translated by Maela @ whitemoonlighttranslations.com

Jian Hang led her to the balcony to chat. She held half a bowl of cherries; she picked one, put it in her mouth, then handed the bowl to Luo Qi. 

Luo Qi was not polite and took a few.

“Is Jiang Shenghe an easy boss to talk to?” Jian Hang asked.

Luo Qi smiled and said, “Not easy.”

Jian Hang said, “The same with Qin Moling. I challenge his bottom line every day.”

They talked more. A cool breeze blew in from the balcony, and there were children laughing and playing in the small park downstairs. In this kind of atmosphere, Luo Qi’s thoughts that she shouldn’t be having were slowly washed away.

… …

Before nine o’clock, they took their leave.

Chen Yu sent them downstairs and asked Luo Qi when she would come again, saying that the house hadn’t been so lively in such a long time.

“I’ll cook you some fried lotus root next time.”

But no matter how tempting, Luo Qi didn’t know when or whether she would even come again. It’s all up to the boss to decide.

As the car drove out of the community, the boss suddenly mentioned her cucumbers and asked her, “Why did you think of growing cucumbers?”

Luo Qi replied seriously, “At that time, I was always distracted with thoughts of the break-up. Planting cucumbers healed me.”

Jiang Shenghe asked, “Was the cure effective?”

“It’s not bad.”

“I don’t know if this method will work for me.”

Luo Qi didn’t answer the question. She didn’t dare be responsible for her boss’ emotional problems. Maybe it would cure him; maybe it wouldn’t do anything at all.

There was silence in the car for a few seconds.

Jiang Shenghe said, “I will try your method. I will bother you to teach me how to plant it.”

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

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T/N: Leaf-wrapped pork rolls.

Fried Lotus Root

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A list of all advance chapters is HERE.
Chapter 34.1 — Chief Jiang, I Plan To Resign As Your Assistant
Chapter 34.2 — Chief Jiang, I Plan To Resign As Your Assistant
Chapter 34.3 — Chief Jiang, I Plan To Resign As Your Assistant