Tenant’s Secret Love

Chapter 88: False alarm

After finishing the phone call with CC, I lost my mind on the sofa for a while before remembering that I had to take Daphne shopping for engagement jewelry this afternoon. I quickly picked up the phone again and dialed Daphne's number. After the two of us had agreed on a meeting place, I hurriedly left home and drove to the destination in my father's car.

Twenty minutes later, Daphne and I met at the south entrance of Times Department Store. Daphne was holding a cup of hot milk tea and seemed to have been waiting for a while.

I came up to her and said apologetically, “Daphne, you've been waiting for a while, haven't you?”

“Not long... Want some milk tea? I just bought it, it's still hot!” Daphne handed me the milk tea she was drinking.

I took a sip and smiled, praising, “What flavour is it? It's quite tasty.”

“Taro. I'll go buy you one then.”

“No need, let's get the main thing done first. After we buy the jewellery, we can go get something to drink together.”

Daphne obediently nodded and then took my arm and walked towards Times Department Store.

The two of them looked at several brands of jewelry, and in the end, at Daphne's request, they only asked for a diamond ring at the IDo counter, and did not ask for the traditional three golds of earrings and necklaces. In the end, I did not use up all the 30,000 yuan that my mother had prepared for me.

I gave the diamond ring to Daphne. She was very happy and looked at it for a long time before putting it in her bag. She said she looked forward to the day I put the ring on her finger myself.

As we were about to leave, we unexpectedly bumped into Lin, the manager of the planning department at Times Department Store. He nodded to me from afar and warmly invited Daphne and me to go for tea.

Daphne and I couldn't refuse such a kind invitation, so the three of us went to a small private room in a teahouse opposite Times Department Store.

After a while of small talk, Manager Lin said to me seriously, “Lucas, the advertising you and Orson have placed for our Times Department Store recently has been very effective. The senior management at our Times Department Store is very satisfied. I never thought that there would be such a high level of advertising planning in a city like Xuzhou.”

Before I could say anything, Daphne, who was standing next to me, smiled and took over the conversation, saying, “Manager Lin, Lucas has really put in a lot of effort regarding the advertising plan for your Times Department Store. Everyone in our company can see it.”

Manager Lin nodded in recognition of Daphne's words.

I laughed and said, ”Striving to create value for our customers is our job, and it's only right that we do it.”

Manager Lin also smiled and said, “It's rare for someone your age to be so calm in the face of success and failure. We at Times Department Store are also looking forward to our next collaboration... By the way, I plan to entrust Orson Advertising with the planning, advertising, and implementation of Times Department Store's Christmas sales promotion. I wonder if you are confident that you can do a good job. If so, we will conduct in-depth cooperation in the future according to this model.”

Daphne looked at me with anticipation. After a moment's consideration, I said, “No problem. We can discuss the details of the cooperation at an exchange meeting.”

While I was talking, my phone suddenly rang. I took it out and saw that it was CC calling. I felt a sudden tightening in my heart. I hurriedly said ‘Sorry’ to Manager Lin and immediately answered the phone before walking out of the room.

CC hadn't even opened his mouth when I asked nervously, ”What's the situation, CC? Is she home?”

CC said to me with regret, “I rang the doorbell for a long time but no one answered. I waited downstairs for nearly an hour but no one came. She's probably not home.”

My nervousness increased. I hurriedly asked, ‘Have you seen her car?”

“I don't think so.”

“Go and have a look across the road in the open space. Maybe she's parked there.”

CC said, ’Okay,” and after a short while said to me, “No, there's no sign of her car either.”

My heart was in a panic, and suddenly there was silence...

CC reassured me, “Lucas, don't worry. I'll come back tonight and take another look. Nothing should have happened.”

I responded in a low voice, ”Then thank you.”

“What are you talking about, thank you? I'm worried about her too. Anyway, I'll let you know as soon as I hear anything.”

“Okay.”

...

After hanging up the phone and preparing to go back to the private room, Daphne had already walked out with Manager Lin. After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Manager Lin left first.

I was in a daze, but Daphne didn't notice. She said to me in a very happy tone, “Lucas, I really didn't expect that Times Department Store would entrust our company with all of their marketing. You have done the company another great service. Compared to more than a month ago, you have given me a big surprise.”

I smiled and said, “This proves that Auntie Zhang, who introduced us, is still very reliable.” Then, I subconsciously took my phone out of my pocket to check it, afraid of missing any messages.

Daphne finally noticed that something was wrong with me and asked, “Lucas, why do you feel so absent-minded?”

“Really?” I casually brushed it off and then said, “Let's go get something to eat.”

“We just had dim sum at the teahouse,”

I looked at Daphne, not knowing how to respond to her words. She smiled and said, “Maybe you've been under too much pressure at work recently. You should go home early and rest today, don't get too tired!”

I looked at Daphne apologetically. She said with a tone of concern, ”Go on, drive slowly on the way. Tomorrow I'll make you some carrot and bone soup, it can help refresh you.”

“Well, thank you Daphne.”

“Let's not say thank you between us... Okay, hurry back, we'll talk on the phone if there's anything.”

I said goodbye to Daphne with an inexplicable feeling, and then drove back home.

Sitting on the sofa watching TV, I was still unsettled. Driven by my worries, I even wanted to drive to Suzhou overnight to find out what had happened.

...

It was already 10 o'clock at night, and CC still hadn't called. I could no longer contain my worries. I picked up the car keys from the table, packed a few clothes, and prepared to rush to Suzhou overnight. I also forgot to think about what I could do if I went to Suzhou myself...

I walked downstairs without thinking, and the phone, which had been silent, finally rang. I reflexively took the phone out of my pocket and was ecstatic. It was CC calling, and she must have news about Renee.

I immediately answered the phone and said in an almost ecstatic tone, “CC, did you find Renee?”

CC took a deep breath and then said to me with a sense of relief, ”Well...she's back, and she's eating at my restaurant right now.”

“Where did she go?”

“She's right next to me. I'll pass the phone to her, you can ask her yourself.”

“Well, hurry up and give it to her,” I urged anxiously.

But CC said with a half-smile, ”She's already back, why are you still so nervous?”

I froze for a moment, unable to respond to CC's words, because I also realized that I seemed to have really overreacted!