Chapter 510 - 509: Obvious Intentions

The moment Sheng Hao sent the message organizing a get-together, it was like a drop of water hitting a placid, mirror-like lake, sending ripples spreading across its surface.

—Fu Ze the Responsible: Well, this is rare. Mr. Sheng is actually taking the initiative to organize something. I’m free anytime!

—First Young Master of the Capital: Seconded.

—L: You’re organizing it in this chat. Does that mean we can bring our partners?

—Sheng: ...

—Fu Ze the Responsible: No PDA!

—First Young Master of the Capital: No PDA +1

—Sheng: Miss Yun is my guest of honor. The rest of you are just extras.

Sheng Hao was telling the truth in the group chat.

This get-together was for Yun Zijin from the start. He only invited the others so she wouldn’t feel too awkward.

—Qingqing Zijing: I’m free anytime +1

—L: @Qingqing Zijing Babe, you’re actually active in the group chat but you haven’t messaged me all day `[Pouting.jpg]`

—First Young Master of the Capital: `[Gag]` Old Lu, can you please act normal?

—Sheng: Tomorrow, 7 p.m. Private room on the top floor of the Ginza Clubhouse.

—Qingqing Zijing: Thanks for boosting my sales, Mr. Sheng.

—Qingqing Zijing: @L You didn’t message me today either.

...

With Li Yuexing in the chat, the messages scrolled by at lightning speed. Yun Zijin even wondered how he could possibly type so many words in such a short time.

In any case, Yun Zijin added the 7 p.m. get-together at Ginza to her schedule for the next evening.

Once that was done, Yun Zijin started scrolling through the new arrivals that sales associates from various brands had sent to her phone.

New Year’s Day was next week. Besides shopping for herself, Yun Zijin also planned to buy New Year’s gifts for the staff and children at the orphanage.

Because the orphanage had been struggling financially, there was a rule: anyone who didn’t get into high school had to leave and could no longer receive support from the orphanage once they turned eighteen.

Yun Zijin had gotten into one of the city’s top high schools with excellent grades. However, she had started school early and still wasn’t of legal age when she graduated.

So she never had to experience what it was like to be kicked out of the orphanage at eighteen, forced to find a job and pay her own rent.

But now, thanks to Yun Zijin’s monthly financial support, the orphanage was in much better shape. The current director, Liao Zhuxiu, had abolished the rule that forced kids who didn’t get into high school to leave at eighteen.

After all, the rule had only been established because of the orphanage’s limited resources. The previous director had implemented it with a heavy heart simply to cover the orphanage’s basic operating expenses.

Yun Zijin scrolled through the messages from her sales associates while also keeping an eye on the orphanage’s main group chat. The staff and children were posting about the small gifts they’d received from various kind donors, along with videos of the kids playing happily.

Many of the children had arrived after her last visit, so she hadn’t formally met them yet. If she wanted to get them gifts, she had to rely on these videos to get a sense of their personalities, hoping to pick something that every child—and adult—would truly love.

Yun Zijin was so absorbed in picking out gifts that before she knew it, the sky outside had grown dark.

It wasn’t until a maid came to get her that Yun Zijin snapped back to reality.

"Miss, Mr. Lu is here."

Lu Yunque was Yun Zijin’s boyfriend. After his very first visit, Yun Zijin had informed the guards and maids at Jade Lake.

They were to let Lu Yunque in whenever he arrived, no need to ask for her permission.

Lu Yunque was thrilled that Yun Zijin had given him this special privilege, though he always made sure to message her before he came over.

But since Yun Zijin had been completely focused on picking out New Year’s gifts for the orphanage, she hadn’t noticed Lu Yunque’s message.

Seeing Lu Yunque walk through the door, Yun Zijin felt a little guilty. "New Year’s is next week, and I was just picking out gifts for the staff and children at the orphanage. I didn’t see your message."

"You coming over at this hour... Don’t tell me you’re here to bum a meal off me again?"

"There’s no Villa 2 for you to buy here. All the houses and land in this entire development belong to me."

Yun Zijin said in a teasing tone.

"That’s right. A certain someone didn’t message me all day. Now that I’m finally off work, of course I had to come see what that certain someone was so busy with."

"And it would be even better if... you let me stay the night."

After all, Zero One and his team lived on the floor below Yun Zijin, and the maids lived on the floor below them.

In Yun Zijin’s residence, besides the room that was permanently reserved for Qin Sitong, there were plenty of other guest rooms.

"Hmph. Your intentions are painfully obvious."

"I’ve never tried to hide my intentions toward you."

Ever since he’d become sure of his feelings for Yun Zijin, Lu Yunque wanted nothing more than to show off for her constantly, like a peacock fanning its tail.

"I heard you say you were preparing New Year’s gifts for the orphanage. Do you want to go back for the holiday? I’ll go with you."

The last time she’d gone back, they weren’t yet a couple. This time, for Lu Yunque, it would be the equivalent of meeting her family.

That was right. In Lu Yunque’s eyes, the people at the orphanage were more her family than anyone else.

As for her biological parents, Xia Zhengguang and Situ Yunliang, their connection was merely one of blood.

Since Yun Zijin didn’t acknowledge them, as far as Lu Yunque was concerned, they couldn’t be considered her family.

"I just looked at the calendar. The New Year’s holiday is only three days. The round trip alone would take two days, leaving us only one day there before we have to deal with the return trip. It’s too rushed."

"Let’s wait until the winter break for the Lunar New Year."

She was still planning on spending the Lunar New Year at the orphanage.

She would likely have an even lighter course load next semester.

Yun Zijin had no plans to go to grad school. She just needed to complete her credits and finish her thesis, and then she could sit back and wait for her diploma without a care in the world.

With no need to worry about finding a job, Yun Zijin was living a very relaxed life.

"Deal. When you go back to G City for winter break, I’m going with you."

Lu Yunque was determined to meet her family.

Once he earned the approval of everyone at the orphanage, he could put his marriage proposal on the agenda.

Yun Zijin shot Lu Yunque several suspicious glances. She had a feeling he was plotting something; otherwise, why would he be so insistent on going back to G City with her?

However, Lu Yunque simply wore a smile the entire time. After studying him for a long while and finding no clues, Yun Zijin had to give up.

"Miss, dinner is ready."

A maid came out from the kitchen. Seeing Yun Zijin and Lu Yunque still sitting in the living room, she trotted over to let them know.

"We know. We’ll be right there."

With that, Yun Zijin stood up from the sofa. "Well, aren’t you coming? I thought you were here to bum a meal."

Lu Yunque obediently stood up, unable to keep the smile from his lips.

Yun Zijin might not have realized it herself, but she was gradually letting her guard down around Lu Yunque.

Back at Xingyu Mansion, she could still send Lu Yunque packing to Villa 2, but here at Jade Lake, it wasn’t as if she could just have someone prepare an entire separate apartment for him.