Green Tea? She's Clearly a Hidden Gem!

The two of them sat in the living room, watching the projected starry sky for a while, before Shen Wanyu put the equipment away.

"Alright, it's late. You should get some rest."

Jiang Linyuan nodded, planning to head back to his room.

He didn't know if Shen Wanyu's starry sky show was premeditated or done on a whim.

But no matter what, he wouldn't let this girl—who was willing to leave her most precious treasure for him to see—cry.

Truly, the road ahead was long and arduous.

Just as they were about to leave, Shen Wanyu's phone suddenly rang.

"Zhao Qiulu?"

Shen Wanyu looked at the caller ID on her phone, then glanced at Jiang Linyuan.

"Looks like you won't be getting your rest."

She said, answering the call and putting it on speaker.

"Wanyu, I'm sorry for calling you so late..."

Zhao Qiulu's voice on the other end sounded dizzy and groggy, like she was drunk.

"What's wrong?"

Shen Wanyu asked calmly.

"Can I come stay at your place for the night? I... I had a fight with my family, and I wanted to hide out at your place."

Zhao Qiulu's voice was laced with sobs; it was unclear what had happened over there.

Shen Wanyu glanced at Jiang Linyuan standing to the side, didn't ask for details, and simply said:

"Alright."

"Thank you, Wanyu..."

They hung up quickly.

"Are you going to sleep?"

Shen Wanyu looked at Jiang Linyuan, asking lightly.

"No way. It's uncomfortable being watched all the time. She wants to play with me, so I'll just play along."

Chasing me to my doorstep to kill me? She picks a fight with her family and then comes to the Department Head's place to hide out?

Miss Zhao and the Department Head have only an average relationship; doesn't she have any other good friends?

If there's some other inconvenient reason, can't she just book a hotel?

I can be a fierce wolf, but Miss Zhao, you can't be a convincing sheep, can you?

Jiang Linyuan stretched, looked at Shen Wanyu:

"Department Head, you should get some rest. Don't catch a cold."

"Mm, as long as you know what you're doing."

Shen Wanyu nodded, turned, and went back to her room.

Jiang Linyuan was a bit sleepy, so he used [Refreshed and Renewed], and was brimming with energy!

Before long, there was a knock at the door.

Jiang Linyuan went to open it.

Zhao Qiulu stood at the door, her hair disheveled, blowing around in the wind. Her expression was full of grievance, sniffling, looking utterly miserable.

"It's you?"

Seeing that it was Jiang Linyuan who opened the door, she was a little surprised, sniffling her red nose.

"The Department Head was too tired and turned in early. She told me to let you in."

Jiang Linyuan looked at her, didn't ask any questions, and simply turned and walked into the house.

Zhao Qiulu followed him in. The two entered the living room and turned on the light.

"I'm sorry, when I left the house, I didn't bring my ID. It's hard to get a hotel room. I called a few good friends, but no one answered. Only Wanyu picked up, so..."

As soon as she sat down, she began to explain in a small voice.

Since she was already here, it didn't matter if her story was true or false; I'll just treat it all as false.

Jiang Linyuan glanced at her:

"I'll pour you some tea to warm yourself up."

With that, he handed her the tea he had just poured.

Zhao Qiulu stared at the steaming tea, a bit dazed.

"What's wrong? You don't like it?"

Jiang Linyuan sat down across from her and asked.

"No, it's just... a bit unexpected..."

Zhao Qiulu held the hot tea, took a small sip, and looked at him.

"Unexpected about what?"

"You seemed quite resistant to me before..."

"That's because everything before was about your love life. I'm an outsider, so it wasn't my place to comment."

And I thought you were going to keep playing dumb about everything.

That's what Jiang Linyuan thought, but he continued:

"As for now, I'm not going to pry into what happened to you. I just poured you a cup of hot water."

"Thank you."

Zhao Qiulu lowered her head, speaking softly.

"Mm, get some rest early. Your room is over there, take the corridor and turn left."

Jiang Linyuan pointed to the room's location, planning to leave.

"Wait, could you take me there? I... I'm afraid I won't find it."

Zhao Qiulu put down her teacup, a slightly awkward expression on her face.

This excuse sounds kind of stupid. You're an old Yanjing native too.

You should at least know the basic layout of a second-courtyard house, right? Which side has the guest rooms?

But on second thought, it was passable. Even if it wasn't a Department Head's Courtyard House but a normal large, flat apartment.

If an unfamiliar friend came to stay, the host would still take them to their room.

"Alright, I'll take you there in a bit."

You want to play with me? Sorry, but give up your secrets.

After drinking the tea and turning off the light, Jiang Linyuan led Zhao Qiulu towards the guest room.

In the darkness, Zhao Qiulu, who was following behind, suddenly started crying again, as eerie as a damn ghost.

"Thinking about something sad again?"

Jiang Linyuan's tone softened.

Crying for sympathy? Nothing shameful about it.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't help it..."

Zhao Qiulu wiped her eyes and continued on her own:

"When I went home today, my dad found out Li Wang and I had a fight. He tried to persuade me to break it off with him soon... said he had someone better to introduce to me. I didn't agree, we argued, and I slammed the door and ran out."

Who asked you?

You might have a crack in your heart, but that doesn't make it a vagina, nor is it a reason to demand someone worry about you.

Jiang Linyuan smiled faintly, but still offered comfort:

"Just trust your own judgment."

"But, but..."

Zhao Qiulu seemed to think of something and started crying again, tears streaming down:

"Li Wang used to be so good to me. I could tell my dad with confidence that we'd be happy in the future..."

"But today... I really don't have the confidence anymore..."

I can't see her expression clearly, so I don't know if it's real or fake. But given Miss Zhao's past performance, I'll assume it's all fake.

Let's test the waters.

"Then you can just call him and ask directly."

Jiang Linyuan said.

"No..."

Zhao Qiulu's voice was a bit stubborn:

"We just fought today. If I call him now, doesn't that mean I'm admitting I was wrong?"

So, that's your reason for coming to the Department Head's house in the dead of night and pouring your heart out to me?

Brother Li Wang, you have to believe me. I'm not a Homewrecker, but I can't stop your girlfriend from trying to put a hat on you.

I'm just here for the secrets, not for feelings.

"It's best to just call him. A lot of the time, feelings between two people get worn down bit by bit when neither side is willing to back down."

Jiang Linyuan tried to maintain their relationship, and this was his genuine opinion.

"I wish Li Wang understood that principle as well as you do."

Zhao Qiulu sighed in disappointment, immediately resorting to putting one down while praising another.

Sister, don't do this. Comparing your boyfriend to someone else, then badmouthing him... Li Wang is crying, you know.

I really don't get it. Is Miss Zhao truly in love with Li Wang?

Jiang Linyuan didn't say anything, just led Zhao Qiulu to the room she'd be sleeping in tonight.

"I think you're right. I should still call Li Wang."

When Jiang Linyuan was about to leave, Zhao Qiulu said this, biting her lip, looking hesitant:

"Could you stay by my side and watch? I'm afraid I won't be able to control my emotions, I might say the wrong thing and get carried away. I need you to help me keep my cool."

What the hell?

Late at night, alone together, and she wants to call her boyfriend?

Jiang Linyuan was stunned for a moment, then countered:

"Can't you call him at a different time?"

Zhao Qiulu stammered:

"I'm afraid that if I wake up tomorrow, I won't be willing to call him and sort things out."

Ha, hilarious.

You can't make things clear with your boyfriend, but you can make them clear with me?

Do you even deserve a boyfriend?

"Fine, go ahead and call."

Jiang Linyuan thought for a moment, then sent a message to the Department Head and Xiao Su respectively.

"Department Head, your Punishment is so annoying."

"Xiao Su, Miss Zhao came to the Department Head's house to tease this innocent married man!"

Let's see what other tricks you have up your sleeve.