Time flies, and it was already winter unknowingly. Luo Bei, who was sensitive to the cold, had already put on her long johns without being reminded by Grandma Luo several times. The weather was already cold enough, but it was also drizzling, making it chilling to the bone.
Today, Luo Bei was going to attend the annual meeting and not only that, she also assumed the role of the emcee.
“I really don’t want to be an emcee.” Luo Bei lay on Zhao Pianpian’s bed with a look of despair. “I have stage fright, really. And don’t you think it’s awkward?”
Zhao Pianpian was rummaging through her things and didn’t even turn her head when she heard this. “Then you can tell your boss that you don’t want to do it.”
“There aren’t many women in our company. If I don’t become the emcee, I’ll have to perform. After thinking about it, I’d rather be the emcee. At least I don’t have to dance in front of so many people.”
“Don’t waste money buying a gown.” After searching for a long time, Zhao Pianpian finally found two gowns that she had bought when she was with Lei Yuhao. “Some people care about it, as for female celebrities and socialites, gowns are only worn once. If you don’t mind, you can try them on. My body type was similar to yours before I got pregnant, so they should fit you.”
Luo Bei certainly didn’t mind. She wasn’t a female celebrity or a socialite, and Zhao Pianpian’s two gowns were very beautiful.
One was a light purple strapless floor-length dress, and the other was a white fishtail floor-length dress with intricate and exquisite design.
Luo Bei tried both dresses and ended up choosing the light purple one for the sake of convenience. Her fair skin was complemented by the color, making her look elegant and graceful.
As Zhao Pianpian had a good amount of savings and was the secretary and assistant of Lei Yuhao, her salary was not low. Although the dress she bought couldn’t compare to the exorbitantly priced dresses of the wealthy ladies, it was still not cheap.
“At first, I thought it was a pity to wear it only once, so I’ll just give it to you.”
Luo Bei glanced at her and thought of how soon baby Chen would be six months old, and the day when she would reunite with Lei Yuhao was getting closer and closer. With that in mind, she smiled and said, “How do you know that you won’t have a chance to wear it again, no, there should be no chance for you to wear it again.”
When she became Mrs. Lei, she wouldn’t wear this dress again. At that time, she would have a dedicated team to design dresses for her. Whether it’s success and wealth, or her lover’s true heart, she would have them all.
“Maybe in the future, you will have many, many dresses that you can’t even wear them all,” joked Luo Bei mysteriously, “I think you will definitely be very happy and very rich in the future.”
Zhao Pianpian laughed at her teasing and pinched her face, “Okay, I’ll borrow your good wishes then.”
Obviously, when Luo Bei said “happy and rich”, Zhao Pianpian had different understanding.
For Zhao Pianpian, her greatest happiness now is having her baby. Although she is tired every day, it is all worth it when she sees her baby’s smile.
As a boss’s assistant, Luo Bei sometimes needs to accompany the boss to social events, so she has learned how to do makeup. She knows that if she were to do her makeup outside, the foundation and concealer would be applied too heavily, making her look okay from afar but terrifying up close. Removing the makeup would also be a hassle. Instead of letting the company hire a temporary makeup artist for her, she hides in a corner and applies the makeup herself.
Actually, even without makeup, Luo Bei’s appearance can completely live up to the title of a beauty. However, in such occasions and with such evening dresses, not wearing makeup or wearing light makeup would make her look dull.
This time the boss was particularly generous. The company’s annual meeting was held at the best hotel in the city. It was said that there would be a lucky draw tonight, and in addition to shopping vouchers, the biggest winner would also get to stay in the hotel’s suite for one night.
Luo Bei had checked the price of the suite on a certain app, and it was half a month’s salary for her…
As someone who has never won a “get another bottle” prize when buying drinks, she didn’t expect to win any big prizes this time either. Just participating was good enough.
The annual meeting started around seven o’clock and ended around nine o’clock. It was still before seven o’clock now. This was Luo Bei’s first time as a host, and it was impossible for her not to be nervous. She wore a formal dress and light makeup. As she came out of the rest area, she met a few people who struck up a conversation. She was looking for the male emcee and hoping to go over their lines together.
However, as soon as she stepped out of the elevator and was looking for the male emcee’s resting room, someone suddenly grabbed her arm with great force.
Luo Bei felt pain and turned her head instinctively, meeting the gaze of Lei Yuhao.
Zhao Pianpian’s dress suited Luo Bei well. Before Zhao Pianpian became pregnant, she and Luo Bei had a similar body shape, and their skin was similarly fair. From behind, they looked somewhat alike.
Lei Yuhao came to attend a dinner party. His business partner was staying at this hotel, and as he walked out of his room, he saw a woman in the hallway.
In an instant, his heart rose to his throat.
Zhao Pianpian preferred light purple, most of her dresses were in this color. Although Lei Yuhao didn’t remember every outfit of hers, he did have some impression of this dress.
Rationally, he knew that Zhao Pianpian would not be here, but the body was more honest than consciousness. He even did such a ridiculous thing, grabbing a stranger but thinking it was her.
Luo Bei looked surprised. She didn’t expect to see Lei Yuhao here, let alone be grabbed by him.
But she quickly understood. Was it because of this dress?
Zhao Pianpian had been his secretary for several years and had attended many dinners. This dress she wore only once, did he, as the CEO, still remember it?
Then how could Luo Bei explain?
The plot hasn’t reached the point where the two reunite yet, so she couldn’t reveal anything. If Lei Yuhao sensed something was wrong and followed her lead to investigate, it would only be a matter of minutes before he found Zhao Pianpian.
Just as Luo Bei was struggling with her thoughts, Lei Yuhao had already let go of her and sincerely apologized, “I’m sorry, Miss, I mistook you for someone else.”
After saying that, he didn’t even look at Luo Bei and turned around to leave.
Luo Bei breathed a sigh of relief. After all, Zhao Pianpian’s dress was not custom-made, and it was normal for others to have the same one. Lei Yuhao wouldn’t suspect such a small detail.
She was actually conflicted. Lei Yuhao was baby Chen’s father, as well as Zhao Pianpian’s lover and future husband. Now that Zhao Pianpian was her good friend, sometimes when she saw how hard Zhao Pianpian was working alone to raise her child, she would think, if Lei Yuhao had found Zhao Pianpian earlier, she wouldn’t be so exhausted now. When baby Chen was sick last time, Zhao Pianpian was so worried that she didn’t sleep all night. Zhao Pianpian shouldn’t have to work so hard like this.
However, after the annual meeting, as soon as Luo Bei stepped out of the hotel, the cold wind blew and she immediately woke up.
Even if she knew someone else’s future, she couldn’t easily change it, could she?
Why should she stand in God’s position, think that she knows what’s best for others, and arbitrarily change someone else’s life?
After changing out of her evening gown and putting on her own clothes, Luo Bei was approached by a male colleague who offered to escort her home due to the late hour and cold weather. However, she politely declined.
As expected, she didn’t win any big prizes at the event, only receiving a 300 yuan shopping voucher.
By the time she took a taxi back to her apartment in the urban village, it was already 10 PM.
Luo Bei was exhausted and felt great admiration for emcees who had to perform for so long. As she walked up to her apartment on the third floor, she was startled.
The hallway was dimly lit, and a little boy was sitting against the door.
It felt like something out of a horror movie…
When Luo Bei made a sound, the boy looked up at her, appearing confused.
She approached him and squatted down, speaking gently, “Xiao Jingzhou, why are you alone outside? It’s winter now, and you could catch a cold.”
The little boy doesn’t follow Chen Lan’s surname, but is called Fang Jingzhou. He would turn five after his birthday in spring.
He hesitated and said, “I went out to throw away the garbage, but the door was closed.”
“Why didn’t you knock on the door?”
“She’s not at home.”
Now understanding the situation, Luo Bei reached out and touched the little boy’s hand. It was very cold. She wanted to hold his hand, but he instinctively avoided it.
“I’ll call your mom. It’s very cold out here. Why don’t you come to my house and sit for a while? If you get sick, you’ll have to get an injection.”
Fang Jingzhou hesitated for a moment and didn’t take Luo Bei’s hand. Instead, he stood up on his own.
Luo Bei led him into the house. At this hour, Grandma Luo had already gone to bed. While Luo Bei called Chen Lan on the phone, she searched the house for a blanket to wrap around Fang Jingzhou.
After a while, someone finally answered the phone. Luo Bei couldn’t hear Chen Lan clearly because there was a lot of noise on the other end of the line.
“Chen Lan, your son didn’t close the door when he went out to throw away the garbage. Now he’s at my house. You need to come back quickly!” Luo Bei walked to the door and almost yelled out, not sure if Chen Lan could hear her.
Luo Bei heard Chen Lan curse, saying that Fang Jingzhou was troublesome and always caused her problems.
“It’s not safe for a child to be alone at home, especially at night. You should come back home.”
Just as Luo Bei finished speaking, she heard a man’s voice on the other end of the phone saying, “Come to my place tonight. My wife is away on a business trip…”
Chen Lan responded, “Okay!”
Luo Bei: “….”
After a while, Chen Lan spoke again. This time, she was talking to Luo Bei. “Luo Bei, don’t you have a spare key? Just open the door for him.”
“If you’re not coming back tonight, Jingzhou will be alone at home…” It’s not safe.
It’s not that the public security is poor here, but normal people wouldn’t let a four or five-year-old child stay at home alone, right?
Chen Lan impatiently said, “If you don’t mind, let him stay at your place for one night. Don’t call me. I have important things to do.”
After speaking, she hung up the phone, leaving Luo Bei listening to the busy tone on the other end, once again at a loss for words.
Ah yeah, she’s a side chick.
If Jingzhou was the ML of his own story, it might be the classic “the love child is more brilliant and suitable heir compared to the incompetent and envious legitimate children.” But, the way Chen Yan treats FJZ is not filling the bill in such classic story. 🥲😑🥲🥲