Chapter 102: She cried, she was pretending.

Lu Fengzhou's words seemed to break through some barrier in his heart. When he repeated them, his tone was noticeably lighter. "Want to try again? Start over with me."

Qiao Jiu pressed her lips together and said nothing, only staring at him. As she watched, her eyes grew red.

Lu Fengzhou's expression froze. He lifted his hand, unsure whether he meant to touch her hair or her face.

Qiao Jiu quickly stepped back, barely avoiding him.

She sniffled. "You're drunk."

Lu Fengzhou's voice was low and deep. "I did drink, but I'm not that drunk that I can't tell what I'm saying."

There was some truth to it; the words would have been impossible to voice without alcohol clouding his judgment.

Yet they were also his true feelings, a knot he had tangled himself for days and could not untie, a hurdle he could not cross.

The moisture in Qiao Jiu's eyes remained, and her voice trembled slightly. "What else do you want? There's nothing left on me worth your attention. What more could you possibly want?"

"Not that." Lu Fengzhou spoke, his voice a little rough. "It has nothing to do with anything else. I simply... can't let you go."

Qiao Jiu laughed abruptly, the sound self-mocking. "Can't let me go? When we divorced, I begged you so desperately and you never softened. Now you say you can't let me go? You're toying with me for fun?"

"No." Lu Fengzhou frowned. He took a deep breath, apparently at a loss for what else to say, and after hesitation, he only repeated, "I wasn't toying with you."

Back then, when we divorced, I wasn't without softening...

Six months later, we reunited. I didn't intend to sever all ties.

Yet some things did not unfold as he had anticipated.

That day, when he saw Zhao Shuo humiliating her, it was the first time he had entertained the thought of murder.

Today, seeing Liang Xiucheng leave from her residence, his panic was genuine.

Lu Fengzhou knew the thoughts in his heart could no longer be contained.

He said, "This time there is no deception. It is the truth."

Qiao Jiu stared at him for a long while before she could not hold back any longer and tears fell. "You're drunk. I'll pretend you said nothing."

She wiped her face, turned away, and said, "That's enough. Lu Fengzhou, go back."

She took a deep breath and added, "I'm afraid."

Lu Fengzhou's body stiffened. He wanted to say more, but Qiao Jiu wiped her tears and hurried toward the unit door, then broke into a trot. Moments later, she disappeared into the stairwell.

Lu Fengzhou followed two steps involuntarily but finally stopped, his expression darkening.

Inside the stairwell, Qiao Jiu paused, glanced back at the unit door, and saw Lu Fengzhou had not pursued her. She relaxed.

She walked slowly to the elevator, pulling at her sleeve to wipe away the tears bit by bit.

She had cried.

She had been pretending.

The three questions Lu Fengzhou had asked, she could not answer right away. It was better to be vague and evasive like this.

This was the most enthralling approach, making him feel as she once had: wanting to let go yet unable to.

They rode the elevator up. Back in her apartment, she went to the window and looked down. It was unclear, but it seemed someone was still standing there.

Qiao Jiu pulled the curtain shut, turned, and returned to the sofa. She tucked her legs up and picked up her phone.

She scrolled through gossip news first, then her phone vibrated twice. It was a message from Liang Xiucheng saying he had reached home.

Qiao Jiu curved her lips, feeling in high spirits, and replied to wish him sweet dreams that night.

She did not know whether he had her, but she knew she did that night.

After a moment, she stretched and returned to her room.

The next day she woke refreshed, her mind clear and her whole being refreshed.

She rarely slept so soundly. Having experienced too much, her resentment weighed heavily. She either woke from nightmares or sat up with teeth gritted.

After breakfast outside, she went to the company and ran into Liang Xiucheng just getting out of his car.

Liang Xiucheng glanced at her. "What's gotten into you today? You seem in a good mood."

Qiao Jiu nodded. "It's good. I had a beautiful dream last night."

Liang Xiucheng asked casually, "What did you dream about?"

Qiao Jiu chuckled. "I dreamed that the person who owed me money finally paid me back."

Liang Xiucheng did not catch the hidden meaning and simply nodded along. "Yes, that's a good dream."

The two of them entered the company. As they reached the elevator, they ran into Liang Xiujin.

Liang Xiujin's appearance was far worse; he had a long face.

The private elevator and staff elevator were not downstairs, so they all waited nearby.

Perhaps because of his poor demeanor, the other employees stood apart from him.

Liang Xiucheng and Qiao Jiu walked over and stood beside Liang Xiujin. "It's early in the morning and you've got a face like that. Did you have a nightmare last night?"

Liang Xiujin frowned and turned to him. "Miss Cheng will be coming over tonight. Be ready."

Liang Xiucheng froze. The faint smile on his face vanished, and his tone rose. "Again?"

Liang Xiujin exhaled through his nose. "Mom arranged it."

The words had barely left his mouth when the private elevator opened at the bottom.

Liang Xiujin stepped in first, followed by Qiao Jiu and Liang Xiucheng.

The moment the elevator doors closed, Liang Xiujin suddenly said, "There will be a dinner tonight, with Lu Fengzhou."

Qiao Jiu's eyes flashed, but she said nothing.

Liang Xiucheng spoke up. "If you're going with him, then go. You're the one in charge of the project, so you'll be the one attending the dinner."

Liang Xiujin glanced at Qiao Jiu. "Qiao Jiu will go with me."

Liang Xiucheng immediately pulled a face. "You don't have an assistant? Take your own."

Liang Xiujin frowned at him, displeased. "Business matters, don't mix in personal feelings."

Qiao Jiu hesitated before speaking. "Manager Liang, I won't go to the meal with Mr. Lu. We met the other day and it didn't end well. It would affect the atmosphere if I go."

Liang Xiujin was stunned. "You met?"

Qiao Jiu said, "You know about my entanglement with him. Last time we parted on bad terms. I think he doesn't want to see me either."

Liang Xiujin hesitated. "All right. If he asks about you, I'll say you're not feeling well."

It seemed Lu Fengzhou had not specifically assigned her to attend. Liang Xiujin was simply being cautious himself.

When they reached the top floor and returned to his office, after a while Liang Xiucheng's assistant came to report there was a meeting.

Qiao Jiu quickly gathered her papers and pen, rose, and left the office.

Not far, the elevator ahead opened and someone emerged.

It was Ding Mei.

Ding Mei was voluptuous, and her tailored suit accentuated her figure.

As public relations manager, her hardware was definitely top-notch.

Ding Mei had come by herself and held a document in her hand.

The one picking her up was not Liang Xiujin but his assistant.

When their eyes met, Ding Mei showed no surprise and even smiled at her. "Miss Qiao."

Qiao Jiu ignored her and passed by, heading straight for the conference room.

Liang Xiucheng led the meeting, calling over several project heads to analyze the data.

It was not long at all. When the meeting ended, Qiao Jiu had just come out when she saw Ding Mei standing nearby, apparently waiting for her.