The Overbearing CEO Turned Into a Sweet Puppy

Chapter 8: Amazed by the Sight at Reunion

Lin Lai gently set her camera down, nodding subtly in response to Yuan Ziqi’s question. Upon hearing the response from her “muse,” Yuan Ziqi’s heart raced with excitement, the rhythm of his pulse quickening as if in a frenzy. For over twenty years, he had awaited the chance to meet a girl who would stir such emotions within him, and at last, here she was.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Jiang Yuan observed the scene with an air of indifference as Yuan Ziqi remained engrossed in conversation with Lin Lai. Not yet having returned, Yuan Ziqi was clearly reveling in the moment. The two shared a common interest in art, particularly in painting, and their conversation was filled with mutual understanding and enthusiasm.

The trio—Jiang Yuan, Meng Fan, and Zhong Yu—finished packing their things and set off to search for their wayward companion. When they arrived at the scene, they were met with the sight of Yuan Ziqi, beaming in delight, his face radiating the unmistakable expression of someone lost in the joy of conversation.

“Yuan Ziqi, looks like you’re enjoying yourself,” Zhong Yu remarked with a hint of mockery, his eyes narrowing as he considered how best to reprimand his friend for prioritizing love over friendship.

“Is this your friend?” Lin Lai asked, glancing toward the trio who had arrived behind Yuan Ziqi.

Yuan Ziqi nodded eagerly in response, his heart still fluttering from the interaction with Lin Lai.

With her photo session concluded, Lin Lai began gathering her things. Noticing that Yuan Ziqi’s friends had arrived, she was ready to take her leave.

As Jiang Yuan took a closer look at Lin Lai, he felt a sudden wave of surprise. He had never seen her like this before. While she was still made up, her appearance was more natural, more comfortable to look at than it had been during their earlier interactions. The makeup, though more pronounced than usual, enhanced her features rather than overwhelming them. In fact, this version of Lin Lai was remarkably pleasing to his eyes, a sharp contrast to the artificiality of their previous encounters. During their time together for the agreement, Lin Lai had often worn heavy makeup and clothing designed to attract attention, but the effect had been somewhat off-putting. Now, however, she seemed more approachable, even alluring in a way he hadn’t expected.

This unsettling realization began to stir something within Jiang Yuan, but before he could give it any more thought, Meng Fan, his observant friend, noticed his discomfort but refrained from commenting in front of the crowd.

As Lin Lai prepared to leave, Yuan Ziqi’s face fell. “You’re leaving already?” he asked, his voice tinged with surprise and a hint of desperation. He hadn’t even exchanged contact information yet!

“Your friends are here to meet you, and I’ve wrapped up. I’ll be on my way,” Lin Lai said, her words polite but firm, as she slung her backpack over her shoulder, her spray cans neatly packed away.

Seeing the disappointment in his friend’s expression, Zhong Yu—who always prided himself on being the "good older brother"—spoke up with a warm smile, “You two seem to be having such a good time. Why not join us for a meal? There’s a restaurant nearby, and it’d be convenient.”

Upon hearing Zhong Yu’s suggestion, Yuan Ziqi’s eyes lit up with hope, but that hopeful gleam quickly faded as Lin Lai shook her head, declining.

“No, I have something to do,” she replied curtly, turning to leave, eager to avoid further entanglements.

As Lin Lai passed by Jiang Yuan, she gave him a quick glance, but something about him seemed familiar. She pondered the feeling for a moment, trying to place him, but ultimately shrugged it off. If she couldn’t remember, he couldn’t have been that important.

With a final glance at her, Yuan Ziqi watched Lin Lai walk away, her figure growing smaller in the distance. His heart grew heavier with each step she took, and he couldn’t shake the feeling of sadness that crept in, settling deep within him.

Zhong Yu, ever the supportive friend, placed a reassuring hand on Yuan Ziqi’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, bro. You’ll get another chance,” he said, though his own voice betrayed a hint of sympathy.

As the group made their way to a nearby restaurant to grab a meal, Lin Lai discarded the remnants of her graffiti supplies and mounted her bike, eager to explore the area and find a place to eat.

The timing, as fate would have it, was uncanny. Just as Jiang Yuan and his companions settled into their seats and ordered food, Lin Lai walked into the very same restaurant. Her presence immediately drew the attention of both Jiang Yuan and Yuan Ziqi, their eyes following her as she perused the menu.

After placing her order, Lin Lai sipped her water, content to relax and reflect on the creative process that had occupied her earlier that day. The other two, Meng Fan and Zhong Yu, observed their friends with a mixture of amusement and mild frustration. Yuan Ziqi’s gaze was fixated on Lin Lai, while Jiang Yuan seemed almost as mesmerized, though for reasons that were less clear.

A few moments later, Meng Fan couldn’t take the awkward silence anymore and, with a dramatic cough, broke in. “Are you two done staring yet?” he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

“Yeah, you’re practically glued to her now,” Zhong Yu teased, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.

Meng Fan, ever the perceptive one, added, “Well, Yuan Ziqi is admiring his muse, but Jiang Yuan, what’s your excuse? What’s so interesting about her that you can’t take your eyes off her?”

Yuan Ziqi’s eyes widened in realization. Could it be that his “muse” had caught the attention of his brother? His stomach churned with unease.

“Say, could it be... that she’s your ex?” Meng Fan’s words dropped like a bombshell, and suddenly, the air in the room became thick with tension.

“What?” Yuan Ziqi’s voice quivered with disbelief. “She’s your ex-girlfriend?!”

“How could someone like her have been just an agreement for you?” Zhong Yu added, his disbelief echoing the others. “Is this some sort of joke?”

Jiang Yuan, now thoroughly embarrassed, quickly tried to explain, his voice low and sheepish. “It’s not like that... I didn’t... I wasn’t...”

His attempts at explanation did little to quell the rising tide of astonishment from his friends.

“No way! Your ex was her?” Meng Fan exclaimed in shock. “You let someone like that go? What were you thinking?”

As the conversation turned into an awkward series of revelations, Yuan Ziqi found himself filled with a mixture of concern and amusement, his mind racing at the thought that his brother’s ex-girlfriend was the very woman he had been admiring from afar.

Despite the tension surrounding Jiang Yuan’s past with Lin Lai, the group did manage to enjoy the meal—albeit with a sense of unease. While Lin Lai, in contrast, savored her meal with gusto, oblivious to the unfolding drama just a few tables away.

Once her meal was finished, Lin Lai excused herself to the restroom, momentarily stepping away from the table. Watching her leave, Jiang Yuan let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. As he stood up, ready to follow her, Meng Fan—who had been watching his every move—intercepted him with a teasing, “Where are you off to now?”

“Restroom,” Jiang Yuan muttered, walking away quickly, hoping to clear his thoughts.

Meng Fan, still slightly amused by the whole situation, simply shook his head. “Big brother, you really don’t make it easy for me.”