Before Jian Hang could reply, Qin Moling sent another message: [I forgot to get you some soup. Just get some yourself. Soup is good for your stomach; you have to drink it even if you don’t like it.]

Qin Moling: [I’m at the door. Go and get soup now.]

It was peak dining time, and people were coming and going in a constant stream. Through the throng, she caught sight of that tall and handsome figure through the gaps in the crowd.

Qin Moling didn’t go back to the cafeteria to get her soup; to outsiders, that would seem too deliberate. He didn’t want his concern for her to appear as performative to others.

The soup in the cafeteria didn’t suit Jian Hang’s taste, but she still got a bowl. Qin Moling had been paying close attention to her diet these days, and even though she didn’t like the soup, she drank a few sips for the sake of her health.

After finishing her drink, she returned to Qin Moling: [“Honey, I drank half a bowl. Go eat.”]

She asked him: [“Which cafeteria are we eating at tomorrow? The First Cafeteria, or the one you usually go to?”]

Qin Moling replied as he walked, [We can go wherever you want.]

Jian Hang put down her phone and started eating, her gaze lingering on her watch longer than on her food.

The girls at the next table were whispering among themselves, but she was so engrossed in admiring her watch that she paid no attention to anyone else.

… … translated by Maela @ whitemoonlighttranslations.com

Back in her office, Jian Hang logged onto the watch’s official website and saw the price—it was more expensive than the diamond ring on her hand. She had guessed the watch set would be pricey, but she hadn’t expected it to be this expensive.

She closed the page; she wasn’t going to play games today, and instead ordered coffee online.

… …

Lin Xiao had been waiting for Little Olive to come online every day for the past few days, which was the only bit of fun in his gloomy life. Today, however, he waited and waited but she never came.

Lin Xiao quit the game and, after thinking it over, decided he should tell Jian Hang in advance that he was ‘forced’ to apply for the job at Lemeng, and not to think that he couldn’t live without her.

He sent Jian Hang a screenshot of the message from his parents where they had frozen all his bank cards: [Boss, I resigned from Yinlin today. I’ve already sent the resignation letter to Tan Feng, and I’m just waiting for his approval.]

Jian Hang: [Don’t rush to call me boss. Whether you can even get a PR job at Lemeng is uncertain.]

Lin Xiao was almost bursting with anger. [A public relations position, if even I can’t get it, I…] Then they really judged him by his appearance, looking down on him.

Jiang Hang: [I have no shortage of public relations personnel.]

Lin Xiao was confused. Wasn’t he supposed to apply for a public relations position? [What do you mean?]

Jian Hang: [The marketing department is short of a planning supervisor. If you think you’re capable, give it a try. If you don’t, then stay at Yinlin. You bring projects to Yinlin, so Tan Feng won’t make things difficult for you.]

Lin Xiao didn’t want to talk about Tan Feng. In Tan Feng’s eyes, he was a good-for-nothing who was just wasting his life.

However… the position of planning supervisor made him hesitate.

His highest title throughout his life was being a class monitor for two weeks in first grade, responsible for collecting and distributing homework. Later, he got so caught up in playing that he forgot to collect the homework, and he was removed from his position as class monitor.

He really wasn’t confident about being a planning supervisor now.

He’s used to being managed by others, so he didn’t know how to manage people.

But he really didn’t want to stay in Yinlin anymore; being ignored was a fucking awful feeling.

Lin Xiao tossed his phone aside, sat up straight, and turned on his computer to work on his resume.

Jian Hang waited for a few minutes but didn’t hear Lin Xiao complain.

She glanced at her watch again. A phone call came in; her coffee was here.

Jian Hang: “Deliver it to the 46th floor, Mr. Qin.”

Five minutes later, Qin Moling received a cup of iced coffee.

Jian Hang: [I disturbed your lunch break.]

Qin Moling wanted to see her, but he said, [You didn’t disturb anything.]

Jian Hang suddenly wanted to see him too. [Didn’t you say you’d often come and keep me company during lunch break?]

Qin Moling explained: [If I go, it will disturb your game.]

Jian Hang replied with the same words he had just used: [You won’t disturb anything.] She added, [I’m not playing games at noon today.]

Qin Moling: [I’m coming over now.]

He took his coffee cup, closed the office door, and left.

Jian Hang put down her phone, took her makeup bag to the restroom to touch up her makeup, and also tidied her clothes and hair.

After touching up her makeup, there was a knock on the door.

“Ms. Jian.” It was Qin Moling’s voice.

Jian Hang strode out and said, “Come in.”

Qin Moling came in, but the door was closed today.

The two did not sit down; Qin Moling leaned against her desk, and she leaned against him.

Jian Hang put her hands on his shoulders and asked, “Aren’t you going to be sleepy if you don’t take a nap?”

Qin Moling raised his coffee cup. “I have this.” He then took a sip.

Jian Hang had forgotten when she last drank coffee, and had almost forgotten what it tasted like. “Let me have a sip.”

Qin Moling looked at her and said, “Drink it after your stomach feels better.”

“It’s been fine for a long time.”

“You need to give it a rest for a while longer.” Qin Moling wouldn’t let her drink it. “This is iced coffee.” But then he indulged her, saying, “I’ll make it for you when we get home.”

Jian Hang stared at him for a few seconds, then leaned forward and kissed his Adam’s apple.

Qin Moling held his breath, and after a long while, his breathing resumed its steadiness.

He took a sip of coffee, bent down, and fed it to her.

Their lips met, and the coffee reached her mouth.

For a moment, Jian Hang’s heart skipped a beat.

They had used the same cup, sipped from the same rim, and kissed countless times, but feeding each other coffee lip-to-lip was completely different.

The aroma of coffee, the rose petals on the bed in Oia, and the cherry blossom essential oil scent on the vanity in the master bathroom all contribute to a delightful atmosphere.

Jian Hang didn’t taste the coffee at all but still said, “Not bad.”

Qin Moling chimed in, “Order me a cup every week from now on. Next time you order, deliver it to me yourself.” He then asked, “Did you like the watch? If not, we can get it customized.”

“No need for customization, I already think this is too expensive.” Jian Hang joked, “Where did you get your secret stash of money?”

Qin Moling replied seriously, “I have five cards. I gave you four before, and I kept one for myself.” He said, “My secret stash is also being spent on you.”

Jian Hang tilted her head slightly and kissed him.

The two hugged tightly.

This was the office, Qin Moling restrained himself.

Before leaving, he reminded her, “Go home early after getting off work.”

Jian Hang’s period ended last night, but he still endured it for another night.

… …

At five o’clock, Jian Hang left work on time.

Throughout Lemeng, she was the first person to leave work.

On the way, she received a voice message from Liao Yongmei: [“I have carefully sorted out the files of all the personnel in the Fourth Division. The Marketing Department has the most problems. When Zhou Yi was parachuted in as the Marketing Director of the Fourth Division, no one was convinced.”]

[“Well, if he had applied for the position, he could have been hired as a qualified Marketing Director. But because of his family connections, he was parachuted in. So he wasn’t able to establish his authority. It gave people the impression that he’s incompetent and that he’s just relying on his family connections.”]

Liao Yongmei objectively commented: [“Actually, he is quite capable.”]

[“Perhaps because he was parachuted in through connections, he lacked confidence when managing the marketing team, which led to a lack of discipline in the marketing department.”] 

[“Unlike Zheng Yanshu, who has an imposing presence even when he’s  not angry. His sales staff are all quite afraid of him.”]

After listening to these voice messages, Jian Hang replied in a voice message: [“You decide how to arrange the Marketing Department staff and how to reassign their positions. Once you’ve made the adjustments, I’ll have Zhou Yi execute it.”]

Liao Yongmei: [“Let me discuss this with you first. If you think it’s okay, then I’ll come up with a specific plan after you make a decision.”]

Jian Hang: [“You don’t need to discuss it with me. You make the decisions, and I’ll have people execute them. I’ll definitely make the decisions for the core management team myself, but you’re more professional than me when it comes to personnel for other departments.”]

Liao Yongmei stopped belittling herself and simply said: [“Okay. I’ll give you a proposal by next week at the latest.”] 

She suddenly rediscovered that sense of presence she once had in the workplace.

Marriage First, Love Later translated by Maela @ whitemoonlighttranslations.com

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Chapter 58.2 — Misunderstanding
Chapter 58.3 — Misunderstanding
Chapter 59.1 — Dispute
Chapter 59.2 — Dispute
Chapter 59.3 — Dispute
Chapter 60.1 — Moving Back to Her Own Apartment
Chapter 60.2 — Moving Back to Her Own Apartment
Chapter 60.3 — Moving Back to Her Own Apartment