Today was her second day in Ruipu, and Luo Qi still turned off the lights in her office and got off work on time at exactly five o’clock.

Jian Hang had been out working in the field this afternoon. After a walk through the market, she went to pick up Luo Qi directly, driving a white coupe. The numbers of the license plate was more impressive than the car.

This sports car was Qin Moling’s Valentine’s Day gift for her.

Jian Hang smiled at Luo Qi and said, “You’re out on time.”

“I get off work at the right time, and I won’t stay a minute longer.”

“When I first went to work at Qin Moling’s company, I also got off work at 4:30. Everyday, I was the first to leave the company.”

Luo Qi pulled on the seat belt and fastened it. She said with a smile, “I am just like you, no one leaves earlier than me.”

… …

Shu Rui had just come back from the R&D center and watched from a distance as Luo Qi got into the sports car. He didn’t know who the owner of that license plate number was, but he was definitely either wealthy or noble.

Not even just ordinary rich.

Luo Qi had shown no intention at all of competing with him for management rights. It seemed that her thoughts really were on love.

The sports car passed by his car and flew off in a cloud of dust.

… …

Jian Hang never liked beating around the bush. 

“Jiang Shenghe is also going to dinner today. Do you really not like Jiang Shenghe? If you don’t have any feelings for him at all, I will only invite you alone to our house in the future. My parents like you very much.”

Jian Hang was one of her very few friends, and Luo Qi could not lie, so she asked her to pull over first.

“What’s wrong?”

However, Jian Hang still did as she was told and slowly stopped the car by the roadside.

Luo Qi admitted frankly, “I am with him. He proposed to me on the night of my birthday, and we received the marriage certificate three days later. To be honest, until now, I still feel that everything’s unreal, like it’s all a dream.”

“…”

Jian Hang was stunned.

“We got the marriage certificate without telling anyone, even the driver didn’t know.”

Jian Hang was shocked but also moved, “Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone, not even Qin Moling. Let Jiang Shenghe tell him himself.”

In fact, Jian Hang also felt the same way about her flash marriage. She and Qin Moling decided to get the marriage certificate right after their first meeting. She and Qin Moling had no relationship foundation at all. Even though this was new to Luo Qi, at least Jiang Shenghe had liked her for more than seven years.

After Jian Hang and Qin Moling received the certificate, she also felt that it was unreal, and she often forgot that they were married.

Luo Qi said, “My family still owes money, and Jiang Shenghe’s father has high expectations for his marriage. The gap between him and me right now is too big, so I want to hide it for now.”

Jian Hang completely understood Luo Qi in this matter. Her marriage to Qin Moling was also a social and financial mismatch, which could easily make her feel inferior no matter how inadvertently.

She comforted Luo Qi, “Don’t be too stressed, you will get over this hurdle. I also have debts. When I first joined Lemon Beverage, I had a cold war with Qin Moling because I would rather mortgage my own property to get a bank loan than use his money. Up to now, I don’t know how the new products of our division will be received by the public after they are launched.”

The new products would be launched in December. With two months left, Jian Hang was under unprecedented pressure.

Jian Hang stepped on the accelerator lightly and pulled into traffic, “I don’t want to worry about those troubles anymore. Let’s go home and eat.”

Luo Qi smiled and said, “We are in the same boat. Now I am worried about the market for Ruipu.”

The two of them chatted about their troubles all the way to Jian Hang’s house.

… …

Jiang Shenghe and Qin Moling arrived first. They sat on the sofa and chatted while Jian Zhongjun corrected test papers on the coffee table.

When the two entered the door, Jian Zhongjun greeted Luo Qi with enthusiasm, “Xiao Luo, I have papers to correct, and I have prepared all these red pens for you.”

Luo Qi smiled and walked over, only throwing Jiang Shenghe a brief look.

Jiang Shenghe took the initiative to offer to help, “I’ll correct papers too, it would go faster if there are more people.” 

He stood up and sat next to Luo Qi, “I’ll correct, you calculate the scores.”

“Okay.”

Qin Moling, who was sitting across from them, rubbed his forehead. Jiang Shenghe was so worrying that his temples ached. He finally created a chance for him—but not only did this guy not pay any attention, but he even acted like a partner at work, cooperating to correct the test papers.

Jian Hang sat next to Qin Moling and stared at him. She strongly suspected that he has bad eyesight. The atmosphere between Luo Qi and Jiang Shenghe was obviously different tonight, but he couldn’t tell at all.

Qin Moling looked at her, “What are you looking at?”

Jian Hang replied, “Oh, so you can you see me looking at you?”

Qin Moling: “…”

He was sure he hasn’t offended her, but she started taunting him for no reason.

Jian Hang drew nearer and asked in a voice that only the two of them could hear, “You think he hasn’t caught up with Luo Qi yet?”

Qin Moling said, “Not yet.”

Jian Hang smiled, “Little plastic friends.”¹

Qin Moling leaned over and whispered in her ear, “What plastic friends?”

Jian Hang pointed at him, then at Jiang Shenghe, and told him with a smirk, “You two.”

She looked so proud, and Qin Moling didn’t know why.

While they were whispering, the two people across from them were busy concentrating on correcting the test papers and combining scores, not paying them any attention.

Jiang Shenghe and Luo Qi cooperated tacitly: one person corrected, the other person calculated.

By the time the meal was ready, all the test papers have been corrected.

… …

During the meal, the topic of puppy love was brought up. Jian Zhongjun said that the exam scores of two of his students dropped sharply. He heard that these two students were in love.

He was both a math teacher and a class advisor this year, and he was worried about how to talk to these two children.

Everyone came up with ideas one after another, but their views were basically the same: don’t force them to break up just yet, because even if you force them to break up, they would not stop.

At around nine o’clock, they left Jian Hang’s house.

Jiang Shenghe didn’t ask the driver to come over anymore. He drove the car himself and Luo Qi rode with him.

There had been no opportunity to do so while at Teacher Jian’s house; Luo Qi only now told Jiang Shenghe that Jian Hang already knew that the two of them had received their marriage certificate.

Luo Qi was willing to take the initiative to tell her friends about her relationship with him—Jiang Shenghe was very happy. He turned his head to look at her profile and said, “Thank you.”

“Do you still want to thank me for this little thing?”

Yes, he really wanted to.

“When do you plan to tell Qin Moling?”

Jiang Shenghe thought for a while, “I’ll wait until the wedding photos are taken.”

When the time came, he’ll show their wedding photos directly to Qin Moling.

Talk about Cao Cao and Cao Cao appears.

Qin Moling sent a message, but Jiang Shenghe couldn’t read it as he was driving, so he asked Luo Qi to read it for him.

[The topic of puppy love was discussed at the dinner table earlier. You and Luo Qi continue the discussion. Talk about how many people chased you back when we were in school. Then segue into telling her about your secret love. It’s not that difficult. That second blind date between me and Jian Hang was much more difficult in comparison. Didn’t I still go after all?]

Qin Moling really tried his best to help.

Luo Qi exited the chat box and asked Jiang Shenghe with a smile, “How many people have chased you before?”

“A lot.” Too many to remember.

“So did you have a puppy love when you were a student?”

“No.” Jiang Shenghe said, “My first love is you.”

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

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T/N:  Talk about Cao Cao and Cao Cao appears. This is akin to the phrase ‘speak of the Devil’ in English. Cao Cao is a historical figure who was featured as an antagonist in the classic novel, Romance of the Three Kingdoms. When the emperor was under attack, someone advised to send a message to Cao Cao for relief. Unbeknownst to them, Cao Cao was already on his way with troops. He arrived just as they were discussing him, and he successfully routed the attackers. 

If you’re enjoying my translations, do consider buying me ko-fi. Thanks for your support! ❤️

A list of all advance chapters is HERE.
Chapter 48.1 — Trying on Wedding Dresses
Chapter 48.2 — Trying on Wedding Dresses
Chapter 48.3 — Trying on Wedding Dresses
Chapter 48.4 — Trying on Wedding Dresses

FOOTNOTE:

1. Plastic friends are those who only have a cheerful, cordial relationship on the surface, just for public display. Jian Hang means this in a teasing way, not derogatory ↩︎