Chapter Ninety-Nine: Is This What Love Is?

Wang Dongliang had already prepared to hold a press conference the next day. He’d made all the arrangements before leaving work, but now he found himself unable to step down from the stage. Wang Jintong, calmer than the others, advised Wang Dongliang to release another piece of news: that the Eternal Fund from abroad was entering China and would join forces with Seabreeze to create the largest securities company, Henghai Securities.

After so many years of battling in the business world, Wang Jintong knew he’d finally met his match. Remembering the young man he’d seen last time—plain in appearance, not particularly outstanding, carrying a hint of roguishness—he silently swore to himself to reclaim everything he’d lost.

Chu Dong, meanwhile, was enjoying a rare sense of freedom. The journalists’ attention had gradually shifted to other events, and those who had been following him lost interest when they could no longer find any fresh news. Tan Xue and little Yu’er had moved back home, now cared for by a housekeeper. Life was better than the previous days, when even meals were difficult. Yet, for reasons she couldn’t quite understand, Tan Xue suddenly felt as if something was missing in her life.

After work that day, she called Chu Dong and told him to return to the office immediately.

“Missed me?” The moment Chu Dong arrived at the company, he dashed to Tan Xue’s office, perched on her desk, and took a bite out of her breakfast apple.

“You…” Tan Xue tried to snatch it back, but he’d already taken a huge bite, leaving her fuming and exasperated. “Who’d miss you? Get down!”

“Mm, got it. Words mean nothing; your heart’s what counts. You obviously want to see me, just too stubborn to admit it.” Chu Dong, as always, was full of self-assurance.

“Stop fooling around. Don’t slack off on the work you’ve taken on yourself. There’s a pile of documents waiting for your signature. Don’t expect me to do everything for you. There’s no such thing as getting paid for nothing at Yinlong.” Tan Xue had been exhausted during Chu Dong’s absence. The company had a mountain of affairs to handle, and without the president’s signature, many processes were stalled. Fortunately, she’d managed the urgent matters herself, but even more had accumulated.

“Signing’s no problem. But actually, I have a favor to ask.” Chu Dong finished the apple in a few moments, stretched lazily, and continued, “My mom called last night. She said she misses you and wants a photo of us—specifically a wedding photo. So, would you mind coming with me for this?”

“What? A wedding photo? I’m not going!” Tan Xue immediately refused. If she really took wedding photos with him, there’d be no chance to back out later. Chu Dong seemed more agreeable than before, but the thought of actually marrying him still made her uncomfortable.

“Fine, that’s your answer. I’ll tell my mom just that, so she won’t keep nagging me. Saves me the headache.” Chu Dong acted as if the matter didn’t concern him, more relaxed than ever.

“You…” Tan Xue was annoyed that Chu Dong had shifted all responsibility onto her, but she couldn’t find the words to retort.

She felt troubled whenever she thought of her godmother. Yet, to take wedding photos merely to appease the old lady felt deceitful. Not taking them would only disappoint her more.

“Actually, whether you go or not, I have a way. I can just Photoshop your picture onto mine. I just didn’t want to do it behind your back. Let me know what you decide later.” Chu Dong finished speaking and walked out, leaving Tan Xue torn between options.

Watching Chu Dong’s figure disappear, Tan Xue felt as if something precious had slipped away. Over time, she’d grown accustomed to having him around. Even their quarrels, even the moments when he made her angry, felt like a long-lost habit. The mischievous little boy from her childhood and the roguish Chu Dong of today gradually merged into one in her mind.

Not long after Chu Dong left, Tan Xue’s secretary, Xie Yaomei, knocked and entered, bringing her two steaming soup buns and a hot bowl of glutinous rice porridge.

She was indeed a bit hungry, and soon finished the breakfast, feeling full. Leaning back in her chair, she closed her eyes, and memories flooded back as if a film had started playing.

Once the gates of the past opened, memories surged in like a tide, overwhelming her…

A handsome little boy cornered her against the wall, cupped her cheeks, and said, “Xue’er, you’re my wife, did you know?”

His big, dark eyes blinked, and she shook her head, not understanding what he meant.

“It means when you grow up, you’ll sleep with me, like mom and dad. I can kiss you, and you can only kiss me, got it?” The boy explained impatiently.

She knew what a kiss was—her mother always kissed her, so did her godmother.

“Remember, you can only let me kiss you; no one else is allowed. If you do that, I’ll let you play with this little bell.” The boy began tempting her.

“Will you take it back later?” The bell was so beautiful, she couldn’t help but want it.

“Of course not. A real man keeps his word.” The little man patted his thin chest with a loud thump.

“Then… alright, I promise not to let anyone else kiss me…” She wondered how she could have been so gullible back then.

Because of her greed for the bell, she fell for the boy’s trick. When she returned home, she refused to let her mother kiss her, and even escaped her godmother’s embrace. Her mother scolded her, but she stood her ground, “I promised Brother Dong not to let anyone else kiss me. He said I’m his wife, so only he can kiss me.”

Her childish voice stunned the whole family. After a moment, everyone burst out laughing. She remembered her godmother laughing until tears flowed, hugging her and unable to speak.

Even as a child, she knew they were laughing at her. From then on, Tan Xue began avoiding Chu Dong, refusing to see the little rascal who made her the butt of jokes. Even after they parted ways for school, she rejected all news about him. When her parents mentioned him, she would either change the subject or cover her ears. That’s why they hadn’t been in contact for so many years.

Meeting Chu Dong again, she felt he was even more troublesome than before. His eyes always sparkled mischievously, his words and actions never proper, as if afraid people wouldn’t know he was a playboy. Even when he went on blind dates, he wore a flashy shirt. Clearly, this man was hopeless.

But ever since their wager, Chu Dong’s series of lightning-fast actions had dazzled her. First, he transformed a perfectly good three-star hotel into a coach inn, somehow turning the struggling business profitable. Then, as a one-man planning company, he took on projects, turning the Fragrant Villa into Moon-view Pavilion, which became a big hit. The land others begged him to buy, he sold for a high price. Not to mention winning Seabreeze Group shares worth billions with just two games of billiards. When Yinlong faced a crisis, he remained calm, quickly setting up several computers to stabilize the volatile stock market…

Tan Xue didn’t care how much money he made; to the heiress of the Tan family, those numbers were meaningless. She never felt money was important in her life. What she admired was Chu Dong’s ability to solve problems as they arose.

What girl doesn’t hope her husband will be capable and stand out in the world? If she were to marry someone who’d hurt her as a child and grown up to be lazy and aimless, she’d rather become a nun and devote herself to the temple.

Chu Dong was not refined or stylish, but he was genuine. He wasn’t skilled—or perhaps simply disdained—at pretending to be someone he wasn’t. He lived comfortably and freely, without affectation.

Lost in these thoughts, Tan Xue suddenly spat at herself, wondering why Chu Dong seemed less annoying the more she thought about him.

Picking up the phone, she dialed the internal line. As soon as it connected, she hung up, then paced her office several times before finally stepping out.

“Is that guy still there?” she whispered to Xie Yaomei at her door.

“Yes, he’s been inside and hasn’t come out,” Xie Yaomei replied softly, glancing toward Chu Dong’s office.

“Oh, got it. Go have lunch, I need to talk to him.” Tan Xue sent Xie Yaomei away, cleared her throat quietly, and pushed open Chu Dong’s office door.

Chu Dong was immersed in the mountain of documents, quickly reading and signing each one. His focused demeanor was nothing like the rogue he appeared to be around her.

They say a man is most charming when he’s serious. Tan Xue stood there quietly, watching Chu Dong in a daze.

“Xiao Xie, bring me a glass of water,” Chu Dong said, not raising his head, his expression calm as he worked through each file. He assumed it was Xie Yaomei; Tan Xue was never this quiet when entering, only Xie Yaomei was so discreet.

Tan Xue was about to get angry—how dare he order her around? But seeing how busy he was, she held back. She spotted a cup on the coffee table, filled it at the water dispenser, and brought it over.

“Did the young lady eat the food I bought? Didn’t tell her it was from me, right? Those buns are from Xinggong Street, and the glutinous rice porridge is a specialty from Three Treasures Porridge Shop. If I’m ever late, get them for her. She seems to love them. She’s never liked breakfast since she was little, still the same now.” Chu Dong continued speaking to himself. When he finally sensed something was amiss, he looked up. “Xiao Xue? When did you get here?”

“Oh, I… I just came in,” Tan Xue stammered, suddenly flustered. “I… I didn’t have anything important, just wanted to ask when we’re taking the photo? You’re busy, I’ll go now.”

“Tomorrow. Let’s go tomorrow,” Chu Dong called after her retreating figure. When he heard her office door slam shut, he nearly jumped for joy, a charming smile curling his lips.

Back in her own office, Tan Xue was still clutching her sleeve. After a moment, she felt her face grow warm and touched it—sure enough, it was hot. She hurried to her desk, picked up a small mirror, and saw her cheeks were flushed nearly purple.

Staring at the empty porridge bowl and paper box that had held the buns, Tan Xue felt bewildered, a sweet sensation rising in her heart. She asked herself quietly, “Could this be love?”