The Awakened Red Rose [7]

The words may be spoken this way, but the three-day deadline has passed. Since Zhou Jinheng didn’t answer the phone, and Qiao An didn’t know how to bring it up, the payment was ultimately not made. Due to the substantial amount involved, the bank sent representatives to collect the debt, and in the awkward gaze of Qiao An, professionals were dispatched to assess the assets.

A pile of luxury items bought at high prices were all sold second-hand to fill the massive hole left by the credit card. The days of asset assessment were, for Qiao An, nothing short of a cruel torment. Half of the beloved things he had bought over the years were sold off, and even his bad reputation for not being able to pay the credit card bills spread.

In the United States, this kind of reputation may not be a big deal. There are plenty of people who can’t pay credit cards, commit credit card fraud, or shamelessly claim unemployment benefits. However, in the Chinese community, the reputation is not so good. When it comes to financial savings, Chinese people are inherently more traditional and conservative. So when Qiao An’s situation became known, everyone was surprised. The seemingly prosperous and refined Qiao An turned out to be someone who, behind the scenes, was robbing Peter to pay Paul to maintain appearances.

Now that the bill is still unpaid, and Qiao An has been blacklisted by the Bank of America, his credit has been lowered.

“Have you heard? Qiao An is really unreliable. At such a young age, he doesn’t have any savings. It’s like he’s been corroded by the terrible spending habits of Americans.”

“Will he still be able to apply for a green card in the future? I think it’s quite doubtful.” The Chinese girls who initially had a favorable impression of Qiao An suddenly kept their distance. Since they came abroad for further studies, they naturally had plans for future immigration. If Qiao An cannot successfully immigrate, and if they invest genuine feelings, they might eventually be forced to separate and possibly be left in a lurch.

“I don’t think his salary is that high. How did he spend so extravagantly before? Could it be that he was supported by the Zhou family?” Qiao An’s previous lavish spending was no secret, but the source of his funds had always been a mystery. Smart individuals, with a little bit of thought, could connect the dots between the wealthy young master of the Zhou family who was attentive to him when he first arrived in a foreign country and the recent news of the young master of the Zhou family cohabiting with someone in China. Naturally, they could discern the truth of the matter and keep it tacit.

It turns out that Qiao An has been relying on a sugar daddy while abroad. However, the sugar daddy found a new love interest back in China and stopped funding him. Consequently, the seemingly well-groomed and talented young man Qiao An suddenly fell apart, exposing the true face hidden beneath his luxurious facade, which was infested with fleas.

His once excellent reputation in the Chinese community now had a stain. Forced to live frugally due to a lack of savings, and with various pressures piling up, Qiao An was on the verge of going crazy. His hatred for Yin Minglu deepened even more.

He originally had no intention of seducing Zhou Jinheng because as long as Zhou Jinheng’s heart belonged to him from start to finish, he would have more than enough freedom to live a carefree life. However, Yin Minglu’s sudden appearance touched upon his interests, squeezed his living space, and ignited an unyielding spirit within Qiao An.

He still needed a year to obtain certification as an outstanding designer abroad, but he couldn’t wait any longer. With a Pacific Ocean and a time difference of fourteen hours between them, if someone deliberately avoids you, refuses to answer your calls, you might not be able to have a conversation with them for six months. Moreover, that young man in his early twenties was quite capable. Waiting for a year until he returned to China would mean missing out on many opportunities.

Additionally, the cost of living in the United States is high. He needs to maintain his villa and car, spend weekends playing golf with his friends, or he’ll risk being kicked out of the circle of wealthy second-generation individuals. His suits, leather shoes, and other items need regular care and maintenance, and his wardrobe requires periodic updates. His current salary is not sufficient to sustain the luxurious lifestyle he has become accustomed to, so it’s impossible for him to live a frugal life for a year.

Qiao An didn’t want to sit idly by, nor did he want to stay abroad and continue enduring ridicule and mockery. After careful consideration, he decided that once the current matters were settled, he would immediately pack up and return to China. After all, his golden performance in recent years was enough to deceive people, and finding a job in China wouldn’t be difficult. Plus, he believed in his charm. As long as he beckoned a little, if Zhou Jinheng still loved him, he would definitely return to his side and continue to devote himself to him.

Yin Minglu, aware of this snake-like pretty boy with ill intentions, sneered when he learned of Qiao An’s plans. Zhou Jinheng’s friends always said that the original owner was after Zhou Jinheng’s money, unaware of who was truly motivated by wealth.

He would make sure that those people opened their eyes sooner or later.

***

Lunch break, at the company.

Yin Minglu half-lay on the rocking chair, a blanket draped over his legs, peacefully napping with closed eyes. This was the lounge, a place where numerous people came and went, brewing a cup of coffee or taking a rest. However, everyone tacitly avoided disturbing each other, allowing the young man to sleep soundly.

Through the glass window, Lou Wang’s gaze swept over him, coldly retracting his line of sight and continuing to examine a set of documents. He had no desire to look at that person again. He was diligently working, but because of his natural demeanor and the outstanding features of his brows, eyes, and lips, female employees passing by couldn’t help but linger. They wanted to chat a bit whenever they had the chance to visit the boss’s office.

Lou Wang was accustomed to this, as an outsider with a shallow foundation. He hadn’t fully adapted to not being able to easily express his anger. Thus, he could only maintain his mild and distant attitude.

He worked for half an hour, and the young man slept for half an hour. At one point, he even turned over slightly, curling up like a cat, exuding a leisurely and lazy vibe.

Lou Wang witnessed the blanket slipping off the young man’s legs, and with the cold breeze from the air conditioning still blowing, a slight impulse rose within him to help pick it up. However, his two long legs remained firmly seated on the sofa, without a single step taken.

He could only watch as another flamboyantly dressed, alluring young man passed by. Kindly, the young man picked up the fallen blanket and neatly covered the sleeping youth, wrapping him up tightly so that not a sliver of air could pass through. Only the fair face of the young man was exposed. Throughout this process, there were numerous affectionate gestures, such as pinching the young man’s cheek, touching his nose, and even the slender fingers intentionally or unintentionally brushing against the young man’s rosy lips.

The seemingly awakened young man only gave a small yawn upon encountering the intruder. After grumbling a few discontented words, he clutched the blanket and curled up into a ball, continuing his sleep.

It was evident that the two had a very close relationship, but Lou Wang was still displeased. If he had known, he should have stepped forward to pick up the blanket himself, not giving others the chance to show kindness. He could ensure that his behavior was absolutely gentlemanly, and he felt that the young man was just too carefree. Despite others taking advantage of him so much, he seemed to sleep blissfully without a care in the world, waking up without anger and continuing to sleep. It was as if he had no worries, and his carefree attitude was almost shocking.

Moreover, the young man already had a boyfriend. Shouldn’t he maintain some distance from other males and eliminate such flirtatious intimate behavior? Lou Wang felt an indescribable jealousy in his heart, unsure if he was angry at the young man’s lack of caution or jealous of the casual behavior of the boy who had just flirted with him.

After a while, he laughed at himself, realizing that he had no right to inquire.

He took out his phone, skillfully unlocked it, and tapped on the icon with the young man’s photo. Since the incident with the business card had been left unresolved, the young man’s attitude towards him had been normal. He casually called him “President Lou” as usual, and Lou Wang acted nonchalant, pretending as if the business card incident never happened.

Despite adding the WeChat accounts of his core team members, Lou Wang deliberately omitted the young man, making his secretary find it somewhat odd. It was only through this project collaboration that he finally added the young man’s contact.

However, their communication was confined to discussing collaboration. Once the communication was over, silence prevailed.

Lou Wang still remembered being played by this young man. Every time his finger hovered over the buttons to delete the friend or block, he hesitated for a long time, ultimately unable to bring himself to do it.

He went through this psychological struggle almost every day, especially when the young man casually roamed around in his line of sight. When Lou Wang’s gaze instinctively followed him, the desire to delete him became even more pronounced. He contemplated removing the young man from his contacts a thousand times a day.

As the lunch break ended, the young man woke up, stretched lazily, and began the afternoon with full energy, diving into his work.

Lou Wang caught a glimpse of the young man casually tossing the blanket into the cabinet without folding it properly. In that casual act, there was a hint of cuteness that caused the corners of Lou Wang’s mouth to subtly curve.

He also wanted to know how someone so absent-minded took care of others. Yes, ever since he added the young man’s contact, he had “accidentally” entered the young man’s moments a few times after he posted updates. The young man’s moments were open, very generous; even posts from centuries ago could be viewed.

Lou Wang could see a clear distinction in the young man’s moments. Before getting into a relationship, there were two or three posts a month, sometimes even less. After entering a relationship, the focus almost entirely revolved around the boyfriend, showcasing their love fervently, full of vitality throughout the day.

Although such people weren’t very popular on moments, and Lou Wang’s gaze turned cold when seeing those overly affectionate photos, he couldn’t deny that, because the young man looked good and expressed sincere love for his boyfriend, it somewhat mitigated Lou Wang’s aversion.

Through the young man’s moments, Lou Wang learned that not only did the young man have outstanding professional skills, but he was also a homely and affectionate person. He was skilled at taking care of plants, excelled in daily life, and could cook and handle household chores—adorable and perfect. Lou Wang couldn’t deny that the man named Zhou Jinheng must be extremely fortunate to have such a warm and sunny lover. Lou Wang sneered, refusing to admit that jealousy was at play in his heart. It was quite brazen to inspect his employee’s moments, and although the desire to delete his employee grew stronger after each inspection, Lou Wang carried on undeterred.

“Look at this Pomeranian on the street, so cute! Unfortunately, JinHeng is allergic to cats and dogs, so we can’t have a dog [Sad][Sad][Sad]”

Under this moments post, Lou Wang saw countless familiar colleagues comforting the young man, indicating that he was well-liked among his peers. Lou Wang almost commented, “You can break up with him and find someone who allows you to have a dog, like me.” He typed halfway through before he snapped back to reality, immediately deleting those words.

His lips remained quietly pressed together, his eyes akin to a cold abyss. In reality, he had never entertained the thought of intervening in someone else’s relationship as a third party. It was just like being momentarily possessed by a ghost when, for the eight hundredth time, the impulse to delete this person surged within him.

The young man hadn’t done anything wrong. The mistake lay in allowing Lou Wang to misunderstand during their first meeting.

Lou Wang’s slender fingers hesitated over the “delete contact” option. The next second, a mix of distant and near footsteps echoed from outside the office. It wasn’t the clear sound of high heels, nor the hurried pace, but a set of footsteps that balanced between vitality and composure.

Lou Wang felt something, and sure enough, shortly afterward, the young man’s smiling face appeared in his line of sight. Holding a proposal in his hand, with large, round eyes and a slight upward curve at the corners of his mouth, the affability in his expression made one instinctively want to smile as well.

His gaze flickered slightly, and his finger retreated from the delete button. He thought, “Forget it, let this innocent little employee off today. I’ll delete him tomorrow.”

---

Author’s Note:
Yan Minglu: ????

Continuing to update.

Thanks to the little angels who voted for me or irrigated nutrient solution for me~

 

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