Shu Rui wanted to persuade her some more, but Luo Qi took the headphones and put them on; he wisely said nothing more. 

It was unclear who Luo Qi’s new boyfriend was, but his strength and qualifications were definitely incomparable to Xu Xiangyi’s.

Unable to persuade Luo Qi, he later tried to persuade Cui Peng, but each one became more stubborn than the other, and no one took the other seriously.

… …

Cui Peng had other projects to be busy with. She hasn’t gone to Ruipu for quite a few days now. Whenever she had something to do with the company, she always just contacted Shu Rui’s secretary.

But one night, Cui Peng called Shu Rui in the middle of the night, saying that she had drank too much at a party and was having an unbearable stomachache. She asked him if it was convenient for him to take her to the hospital.

He called 120 for her. Of course, in the end, he couldn’t bear it, and he also went to the hospital to see how she was doing.

It was already past midnight when he arrived at the hospital, and the strong smell of alcohol still lingered on her body.

He stayed with her until dawn and bought her porridge.

She cried while eating.

He didn’t ask why she was crying; he simply pretended that it was because she was feeling sick in her stomach.

Another woman’s face flashed in Shu Rui’s mind. What would he do if it was that woman who had drank too much?

Would he also just call 120 or drive her to the hospital himself?

He felt ridiculous at that moment.

… … translated by Maela @ whitemoonlighttranslations.com

Cui Peng didn’t need to be hospitalized. After the IV drip was done, she went home and rested for a long time before going to work.

A high-level executive meeting for Ruipu was approaching and Shu Rui’s birthday was also coming.

On his birthday, he received a message from Cui Peng at midnight; she had sent him a document.

It didn’t matter what the file was—what mattered was that the time stamp was exactly midnight.

The next morning Shu Ru replied: [Received. Thanks for your hard work.]

His birthday was simply celebrated at the company. He ran into Luo Qi in the cafeteria at noon. She heard that it was his birthday, so she swiped her meal card and gave him two extra dishes.

“Mr. Shu, don’t forget to notify someone from Lingjia to attend tomorrow’s meeting on time.

“Eat slowly.” Luo Qi took her meal card and left the cafeteria.

Shu Rui watched Luo Qi walk away, wondering what this woman was planning to do tomorrow.

… …

Back in the office, Luo Qi made a cup of coffee and pulled up Yu Bo’s WeChat account. 

[Mr. Yu, I’m inviting you and Lingjia’s core staff to attend our Ruipu’s year-end high-level executives meeting. As this will involve matters regarding the future of Ruipu, I feel it is necessary to inform you.]

This was the first time Luo Qi had taken the initiative to find him after adding each other on WeChat.

Yu Bo thought about it carefully. [Since it is important, why not inform me in advance? I have other plans tomorrow.]

[Because I was still planning things, I couldn’t possibly tell you in advance that I’m going to deal with you, right? Whether you participate or not does not affect my decision.]

Yu Bo has been in the financial circle for so many years and has never been led by anyone.

But Luo Qi never played her cards according to common sense, and no matter how he evaluated her, she always went her own way.

She wasn’t polite at all, and if she hadn’t told him that she was going to deal with them, he really wouldn’t have any interest in participating in this meeting.

[What time is it?]

[It will start at half past nine. If Mr. Yu is determined to attend, I will ask Xiaochi to contact your secretary to arrange a video conference for tomorrow.]

[Will attend.]

… …

Shu Rui learned that Luo Qi intended to have a video conference with Lingjia, and he couldn’t guess what kind of medicine she was selling in her gourd¹.

… …

On the day of the meeting, Cui Peng came over early.

There was a discussion going on in Lingjia’s work groupchat. There was speculation that Luo Qi may announce personnel changes today. Cui Peng has been working with Ruipu for three months now and has a good understanding of Ruipu’s team.

[It’s the end of the year. If there is no movement, she wouldn’t be able to explain it to Yuanwei’s board of directors.]

[I have never seen Luo Qi in person. I heard that once you see her, you wouldn’t be able to take your eyes away.]

[Is it that exaggerated?]

[Who knows, you have to ask Cui Peng. @CuiPeng]

Ah?

So what if she was beautiful?

Cui Peng pretended not to see it.

Shu Rui was in his office, but she didn’t go there directly. She deliberately went to the reception area next door. 

It was true she drank too much at the party that night, but she didn’t actually need to go to the hospital. However, it was such a good opportunity that she couldn’t possibly waste it, so she called him.

She was naturally aware that he would not bring her to the hospital in person, and sure enough, Shu Rui called 120 for her, but in the end, he still couldn’t help it and went to the hospital to see her.

That was enough.

That was how Pei Shixiao fell for her, one step at a time.

[Have you arrived at Ruipu?] 

It was Yu Bo who sent her the message.

Cui Peng immediately came to her senses and replied, [Mr. Yu, I am already here.]

[What’s going on with Luo Qi?]

[With Ms. Luo, I’m not sure.]

Cui Peng’s intuition has always been strong. In addition to announcing personnel changes today, Luo Qi may also publicly propose for Lingjia Capital transfer her away.

What she told Shu Rui about her ‘grievances’ with Luo Qi, she also repeated to Yu Bo using the same exact words.

Being misunderstood as a mistress because two people often worked overtime together for purely work reasons was nothing new. Yu Bo’s reaction was the same as Shu Rui’s—he didn’t take it seriously at all.

Both Yu Bo and Shu Rui knew that she and Luo Qi had nothing to do with each other. No matter what reason Luo Qi gave at this meeting to send her away, Cui Peng didn’t have to worry.

If Luo Qi wanted to transfer her away, she could do whatever she wanted—but would Yu Bo give her face?

As long as Yu Bo disagreed, Luo Qi would only be fetching water with a bamboo basket². Everything she did would be in vain.

… …

Cui Peng went to the conference room a few minutes early and met Shu Rui at the door.

She smiled and said, “Mr. Shu, long time no see.”

Shu Rui frowned, confused for a moment, and suddenly became unsure, “Didn’t you come to Ruipu the day before yesterday?”

Cui Peng said, “Wasn’t there a day in between? I feel like it’s been a long time.”

Shu Rui: “…”

He nodded slightly and took a half step back to let her enter the conference room first.

Cui Peng put down the meeting materials and laptop. Luo Qi hasn’t come yet; Cui Peng went out to pour a glass of water for herself.

If one was to go to the conference room, one would need to pass by the tea room. Cui Peng stood by the tea room door and waited.

It was almost time for the meeting. Sure enough, Luo Qi came over with a cup of coffee in one hand and a portfolio in the other. Chi Xin followed behind her, helping her carry the laptop.

They met on a narrow road³.

Chi Xin took a big step forward and tried to block the door of the tea room with her body to prevent Luo Qi from seeing this troubling person.

Luo Qi smiled, “What can your small body block?”

Chi Xin: “…”

“It’s okay, I’m in a good mood today.” Luo Qi asked Chi Xin to go to the conference room first and connect her laptop to the projector.

Cui Peng was finally able to express her feelings, “Jiang Shenghe has gone to take wedding photos and only gave you a few worthless potted plants. Do you really think he loves you? He’s just using you to solve Ruipu’s problems.

“Treating a potted plant as a treasure—Luo Qi, don’t you think you are so very pitiful?”

Luo Qi looked at her watch, “You can only pity me for another eleven minutes at most.”

To engage in verbal disputes with such a person was to belittle oneself.

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

---

T/N: Let the face-slapping commence!

I don’t know who’s the woman that Shu Rui was thinking about. It’s likely a set up for a separate novel for him. Or idk, maybe it’s Luo Qi?

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 55.2 — He Worried About Her, So He Came Over
Chapter 55.3 — He Worried About Her, So He Came Over
Chapter 55.4 — He Worried About Her, So He Came Over

1. This refers to wandering medicine men who peddled ‘cure-alls’ contained in gourds. Since the container was opaque and no one knew what the ‘medicine’ was or how it was concocted, it was all very mysterious and quite dubious. ↩︎
2. Fetching water with a bamboo basket. Idiom. Refers to a useless endeavor since the water would just drip out of the holes in the basket ↩︎
3. It’s a reference to the idiom ‘two enemies meet on a narrow road’. Two opposing parties meet each other and only one can survive. ↩︎