Jiang Shenghe didn’t show much on his face, but Luo Qi could feel that he was surprised.

“Okay. Whatever you want to eat, I’ll make a reservation first.” Jiang Shenghe had already picked up his phone.

“No, I’m treating you.” Luo Qi repeated, “Today, I’m treating you.”

Jiang Shenghe pulled down his rolled-up shirt sleeves and smoothed them out. “What time do you plan to leave?” He picked up the cufflinks next to the computer and put them on.

Luo Qi thought about it. “Six o’clock?”

“Okay.”

Luo Qi walked to the door with the project plan and she couldn’t help but glance at the blessing he wrote on it.

When she reached the door, she turned back and said, “There is one more thing.”

Jiang Shenghe was putting on the other cufflink and motioned to her to continue.

“Professor Liang came to me today and asked me to help recommend an interior designer. She said she wanted to redecorate the house you bought in Suzhou City’s old town.”

It should be a garden-style villa by the water. Professor Liang said that it would have a garden.

“The designer she wanted was my mother.”

If she had come to see Luo Qi the day before, she would still be worried about whether Jiang Shenghe’s mother would make things difficult for her—but there was no need to worry about it now.

“My mother wants to renovate that villa?”

So it really was a villa.

“Yes. Professor Liang said that she was retired now and would live there when she has time.”

Jiang Shenghe has never heard his mother talk about renovating the house before, but he was certain that his mother would have no time to stay there even after retirement. She retired from the professional circuit but has been hired by the university and had classes to teach every week, and she was even more busy with various activities during the winter and summer vacations.

He said lightly, “My mother knew who you were when we were in Suzhou City last year. She probably wants to use this opportunity to walk around with Aunt Jiang and get to know you better. It’s the elders’ business, just let them handle it.”

The words that left his lips made it seem like it was an ordinary matter, but Luo Qi knew that it was not easy to get Professor Liang to show her this kindness.

The words ‘thank you’ had no weight, so she said nothing and kept it in her heart.

“Chief Jiang, I will go home on November 1, and I won’t be with you during the Mid-Autumn Festival.”

“…you’re using ’you’ again.”

“…” 

It was too awkward to say the casual ‘you’.

… … advance chapters available @ whitemoonlighttranslations.com

When Luo Qi went out, Jiang Shenghe called his mother and asked what was going on.

Liang Zhen was casual, “Don’t I have a house in Suzhou, but I haven’t been there in several years. Luo Qi’s mother must know all her favorite things, so just let her design it according to what Luo Qi likes. Prepare it first, then I’ll give it to you and Luo Qi when you get engaged. It will be your home then.”

If he and Luo Qi end up having no relationship after all, it was still renovated and they could sell it.

“Mom, thank you.”

“No need to thank me. Didn’t you say that we should work hard on our own?” Liang Zhen didn’t say, ‘Be nice to your dad, he worries the most about you’—she didn’t need to.

“Mom, when are you going to Suzhou City?”

“I’ll go after the Mid-Autumn Festival, during the National Day holiday.”

Jiang Shenghe was silent for a few seconds, “I will go home for Mid-Autumn Festival dinner, then I will go to Suzhou with you.”

When it was time to see the villa and discuss the design plan, he would accompany his mother, and Luo Qi would accompany Aunt Jiang. This could also be considered as a meeting between each other’s parents.

… …

Luo Qi cut off the portion of the page from the project plan with the hand-written blessing on it, folded it, and stuffed it in her wallet.

In the past, she didn’t open her wallet even once in half a year. Since she became Jiang Shenghe’s assistant, she has opened her wallet every day. In the past, she only had cards in her wallet, but now she has many other things—including notes, invoices, and cards from flower bouquets.

… …

At half past five, her younger cousin sent her a message asking: [Older sister, when will you get home? I’ll go to your place.]

Luo Yu came back from her trip to their company’s headquarters in Shanghai after having delivered her progress report but she completely missed her cousin’s birthday. She planned to make up for it tonight and cook some dishes for her.

She had placed an order for the ingredients online and would be picking it up on her way over.

Luo Qi had no choice but to make something up: [I have a dinner party tonight, you can come over tomorrow night.]

Luo Yu had just arrived in the elevator, and before she could see her cousin’s reply, a dark shadow appeared in her peripheral vision.

Maybe she should check her horoscope the next time she goes out, otherwise she would be blocked by this guy every time. It seemed like he deliberately appeared on this floor at this time just to find trouble with her.

“Mr. He, what a coincidence.”

“No coincidence, I’m here to look for you.”

“… this matter isn’t over, is it?”

“Nope.”

“But what do you want? You’re not happy for me to be your girlfriend.”

“I’m happy now.”

“…”

He Xu put his hands in his pockets and continued to look at her. If she had had a correct attitude from the beginning and apologized to him sincerely, this would have been finished a long time ago—but she didn’t.

Luo Yu was like a little spring. When it hit the ground, it would bounce back twice as fast. The last time He Xu tried to kiss her, her courage was almost exhausted, but now she wasn’t afraid anymore.

She would be the one to give him a scare today.

Luo Yu moved closer to him and pretended to kiss him.

He Xu knew that she only had a tough mouth, and she wouldn’t actually dare to go through with it, even if he lent her the courage.

“Did you think you could hide from me if you go back to Shanghai?”

“Who was hiding? I went back to attend a meeting, okay?”

Their lips got closer and closer.

He Xu murmured, “Put up or shut up, do you dare?”

“If I dare, then this matter is settled. Do you dare to agree?”

He Xu snorted coldly.

In the next heartbeat, she pressed her lips against his.

Luo Yu’s mind had gone blank. After, she pretended to be calm, “This matter is settled, so don’t come to me anymore in the future.”

She didn’t dare to look at He Xu’s face, which was probably blue or black.

When the elevator came, she strode in and randomly pressed floor numbers.

By the time she got downstairs, Luo Yu’s wandering soul hasn’t returned yet.

A message from her cousin came in again: [Yubao? Busy?]

Luo Yu: [Sister, the boss just came to see me. It’s okay, I’ll just go tomorrow night.]

Her soul wasn’t here tonight; she couldn’t go even if she wanted to.

Luo Qi: [I’m going to buy groceries tomorrow, you don’t have to prepare them.]

Her cousin didn’t reply; maybe her boss was looking for her again.

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

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Chapter 38.2 — The Gift He Wants (2/4)
Chapter 38.3 — The Gift He Wants (2/9)

Chapter 39.1 — Capture Her Fingertips (2/10)
Chapter 39.2 — Capture Her Fingertips (2/11)
Chapter 39.3 — Capture Her Fingertips (2/16)

Chapter 40.1 — Hugged Her For A Long Time (2/17)
Chapter 40.2 — Hugged Her For A Long Time (2/18)