Romantic Collaboration

Part 10 [End]

21

When I was holding the large bouquet of white roses and stepped into the elevator, it was right during rush hour.
As I walked into the lobby on the first floor, all the eyes of the people leaving work were on me.

I was startled by the unusual attention and silently reflected for a moment. Apart from the striking bouquet of white roses, there wasn't anything particularly special about me.

Occasionally, I made eye contact with some employees and even received friendly smiles from them.

This mystery was finally solved when I arrived at Ji Ming Chen's office floor.
"The official website made an announcement," Ji Ming Chen's secretary smiled at me. "On the day of the engagement, the company even gave everyone red envelopes."

I asked her, "How much did you get?"

The young lady gestured with her hand, "Thanks to you."

I laughed, "When we get married, I'll give you another one—this time, personally from me."

"Thank you in advance, then!" she responded graciously, bringing me a cup of coffee. "There was an unexpected issue at the branch, otherwise, we'd all be off work by now. I'm sorry to trouble you, but please wait a little longer."

I waited for half an hour before Ji Ming Chen finally appeared. He looked visibly tired, and when he saw me, he seemed even more apologetic. "Sorry for making you wait so long."

"That's how work is, isn't it?" I sat on the couch and opened my arms to him. "Come here, give me a hug."

Ji Ming Chen relaxed completely, leaning his entire body against me, even burying his head into the crook of my neck.

With some effort, I lifted the bouquet of white roses from the side of the couch with one hand and said with a smile, "Here, flowers for you. Cheer up, baby."
No exaggeration—Ji Ming Chen's eyes lit up instantly.

His eyelashes were thick and long, fluttering lightly as he smiled at me with dimples, saying how much he liked them.

Oh my gosh! Dating Ji Ming Chen is like experiencing the charm of both a mature man and a sweet puppy all at once!

22

Just like that, I easily won Ji Ming Chen over with a simple bouquet of flowers.

He was usually very calm, but during dinner, I could sense a subtle restlessness, which peaked when I mentioned that Lin Yao had come to see me.

I truthfully recounted our conversation, and after a long silence, Ji Ming Chen said, "Tuan Tuan, I'm not that good."

Looking into his eyes, I replied, "Ji Ming Chen is exactly that good."

That night, on the way back, Ji Ming Chen drove faster than usual for the first time. As we approached the apartment, I asked him to stop at a nearby convenience store.

Ji Ming Chen gripped the steering wheel nervously, as if realizing something.

I smiled and asked, "Are you sure you don't want to buy it?"

In the dim light inside the car, I noticed his ears turning red in an instant.
He pressed his fist against his mouth, turning his head slightly, and whispered, "I've been preparing since we got engaged."

Faced with my smiling gaze, Ji Ming Chen lowered his eyes and said, "What I prepared... it's a bit better in every aspect."

I held back a laugh and nodded. "Of course, it was carefully selected by President Ji, after all."

We held hands as we went upstairs, and Ji Ming Chen's palm was warm—just like mine.

Fingerprint unlock, door open, door close.

In the next second, I was pressed against the wall, and Ji Ming Chen's overwhelming kisses poured down on me.

Passionate, tender, embracing, full of love.

Every way that Ji Ming Chen loved me was expressed in those kisses.

We stumbled toward the bedroom, like two love-struck teenagers spinning through the world.

But a small accident still happened.

Ji Ming Chen revealed a clumsiness that didn't match his age.

Ji Ming Chen, it turned out, was actually a virgin.

I couldn't help but laugh quietly. Ji Ming Chen, both embarrassed and angry, bit my lower lip, looking up at me from below with a hint of grievance, saying, "Teach me."

I personally guided him.

And for the first time, I understood what it truly meant when they say, "Teaching the apprentice starves the master." [1]

23

The next day, Jiang Jia invited me for tea and casually asked how my night had gone.

Her sharp eyes missed nothing, and I had no intention of hiding anything from her. Of course, there was no need to keep secrets from her anyway.

I thought for a moment and said, "He was wilder than any man I've ever been with."

Jiang Jia clicked her tongue, "You two really are a match in terms of stamina."

I laughed and accepted the compliment.

Normally, after an engagement, the wedding would follow soon, but I had entered a new phase in my career, and the company sent me to the North American headquarters for a year of training.

It was a rare opportunity, and most importantly, after the training, my career would advance even further. I had long been prepared for the position in the China division.

In this regard, two mature people would not have any disagreements. Without even discussing it, both Ji Ming Chen and I tacitly agreed to postpone the wedding date.

Time passed like this, between our kisses and embraces.

As the year-end approached, Ji Ming Chen's company held its annual meeting, and President Ji personally wrote an invitation letter, inviting me to attend.

The core department had a close relationship with Ji Ming Chen, and almost everyone knew me. As soon as I made an appearance, I was greeted with an unusually warm welcome.

After all, I was quite generous. Ji Ming Chen's secretary told me that within their internal group chats, they jokingly referred to me as the "Shancai Tongzi." [2]

At the end of the event, Ji Ming Chen took the stage amid applause to give a speech.

He spoke about the achievements of the past year and new prospects for the future. Ji Ming Chen rarely used empty platitudes; his pace was steady, his voice gentle, making his words sincere and inspiring.

After finishing the business talk, Ji Ming Chen, still surrounded by applause, shifted his tone, "In the past year, I got engaged to the one I love, marking a new chapter in my life."

I was momentarily stunned, and the audience below began to stir.

"At every major turning point in my life, I have always been grateful to myself—grateful for my persistence and for never giving up."

Ji Ming Chen smiled and continued, "But from now on, I will only thank the most important person who has entered my life.

Wen Dong, Miss Wen, the Chief Master of Yunshang."

The crowd roared, and everyone's gaze turned toward me.

"My world was once covered in ice, barren and desolate," Ji Ming Chen looked at me with deep focus, "but with your arrival, the glaciers melted, and flowers bloomed."

All the noise around me faded away, and all I could see were Ji Ming Chen's gentle eyes. He smiled as he called my name, paused for a moment, and then in a low voice, said, "Ich liebe dich (I love you)."

(The End)

________
Footnote:

[1] "Teaching the apprentice starves the master" (教会徒弟饿死师傅) is a Chinese saying that describes the idea that once a master teaches their skills to an apprentice, the apprentice may eventually become a competitor and take away the master's livelihood.

[2] "Shancai Tongzi" (善财童子) is a figure in Chinese Buddhism known as the child acolyte of Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin). This name is also used to describe someone who is generous in giving away money to others.