Seven Years of You

Chapter 13

Jiang Shenghe's cigarette glowed in his villa courtyard as he dialed his Shanghai connection:"Contact Luo Qi's aunt. I'll demonstrate real threats."

Earlier in the car:Luo Qi rejected her uncle's plea to apologize. Jiang Shenghe observed coldly: "Compromise isn't an option."

The elder counseled caution: "Her cousin Luo Yuli controls their family firm. Tread carefully."Jiang Shenghe exhaled smoke. "I only target the aunt. Let her taste her own medicine."

Over dinner, Jiang Shenghe orchestrated Luo Qi's fake relationship announcement using the rain-soaked umbrella painting. Social media erupted as she posted:"Suzhou Rain Night - New Chapter."

Luo Qi's fingertips lingered on the painting's digital replica. This marked her first extravagance since financial ruin - ￥5,000 for artistic subterfuge masking deeper yearnings.

Jiang Shenghe's late-night directive unfolded:

Expose the aunt's loan-sharking through shell companies

Preserve Luo Yuli's business interests

Install discreet surveillance at Luo Qi's apartment

The game commenced.

Jiang Shenghe slid the cucumber salad toward Luo Qi. "Your aunt will call at noon. Let her squirm."

At 12:03 PM:Aunt's trembling voice echoed through the executive dining room: "Qiqi, Auntie's been unreasonable..."Luo Qi cut her off coldly: "Save the act." Jiang Shenghe's approving nod fueled her resolve.

Earlier negotiations revealed:Bai Group terminated contracts with Luo's family firm after Jiang's intervention. "Preserve Luo Yuli's interests," Jiang instructed Bai. "Only humble the aunt."

Over cucumber salad, Jiang Shenghe casually proposed: "Accompany me to Qin Molin's in-laws next Friday. His marriage needs...atmospheric support."Luo Qi's chopsticks hesitated. "As your assistant?""As someone who makes awkward family dinners tolerable."

The balcony cucumber vines now yielded daily harvests. Luo Qi's WeChat updates documented their growth - a metaphor Jiang Shenghe cherished.

Memories surfaced: Jiang's arm around her waist during the Suzhou rainstorm, his cedar scent overwhelming. Luo Qi blinked hard, refocusing on spreadsheets.

Luo Qi's fingers trembled as she tied Jiang Shenghe's apron strings in the Qins' kitchen. The faint cedar scent of his cologne mingled with dish soap as he continued conversing with Qin Molin, his posture deceptively relaxed.

Later under starlight, Luo Qi confessed to Jian Hang: "I planted cucumbers to stay grounded."Jiang Shenghe's voice carried from the doorway: "Maybe I'll try gardening too. Teach me?" His shadow stretched across her retreating figure.

Earlier during dinner preparation:Professor Jian Zhongjun's calculus papers became Luo Qi's unexpected icebreaker. "I used to grade these for extra credit," she reminisced, smoothing a perfect-scoring test. Jiang Shenghe watched her deft pen strokes with concealed pride.

Qin Molin observed Jiang's calculated moves - the apron string ploy, the cucumber metaphor. Over clattering dishes, he muttered: "You're playing dangerous games."Jiang stacked plates methodically. "Seven years of restraint buys me this gamble."

The bean curd rolls Luo Qi hesitantly nibbled carried Jiang Shenghe's fingerprints. His gaze lingered as she swallowed, the kitchen's fluorescent lights etching the moment into memory.

Luo Qi submitted her resignation letter to Jiang Shenghe's inbox at 11:37 PM. The subject line read: "Application for Transfer to Ruipu Medical Leadership Position."

During the executive meeting:Jiang Shenghe's gaze lingered on Luo Qi's lowered eyelashes as he announced: "Dongbo Medical's acquisition proceeds at last year's valuation."Li Rui's pen froze mid-note. The rival firm's stock had tripled since their initial offer.

At the Qins' dinner table:Jiang Shenghe peeled a mandarin with surgical precision, segmenting it before Luo Qi. Qin Molin observed his friend's uncharacteristic tenderness, recalling their teenage years when Jiang would rather eat glass than display affection.

Parked outside her apartment, Jiang Shenghe's question hung heavy: "Why Ruipu?"Luo Qi's fingers whitened around the door handle. "I need the salary. And...3D printing was our dream once."His response sliced through summer's humidity: "You think I forgot your proposal?"

The rooftop cucumber vines now yielded sixty fruits weekly. Jiang Shenghe's gardening logs documented each millimeter of growth:"Day 47: Cotyledons resemble her stubborn brows. Resist urge to compare."

Flashback to loan sharks' calls:Luo Yu's recorded threat leaked through thin walls: "Two months or we seize the apartment!" Jiang Shenghe's offshore transfers began that night - $150k monthly routed through Cayman shell companies.

Jiang Shenghe's umbrella tilted over Luo Qi's trembling shoulders as rain sluiced through Beijing's alleyway. "Marry me," his Suzhou dialect carried decades of restraint. "The man you want might not be me, but the woman I've always wanted is you."

Earlier boardroom notes revealed:Jiang canceled three acquisition deals to protect Luo Qi's position. His desktop screensaver - security footage of her practicing piano at 3 AM.

The rain-smeared oil painting leaned against mildew-stained walls. Jiang's voice cracked: "Keep it or burn it - this contains seven years of stolen glances from New York to Suzhou."

Luo Qi's key shook at the rusted lock. Jiang's confession echoed through walk-up stairwells:"Every beachside movie night, every board meeting delay - they were all for you."

Flashback to Jiang's encrypted server:

1,842 photos of Luo Qi's workday profiles

37 voice memos deleted before sending

5:32 AM gardening logs documenting cucumber growth metrics

Raindrops crystallized on Luo Qi's lashes as Jiang's lips brushed her temple. The umbrella clattered to wet concrete when she gripped his soaked collar.