Chapter 296: Chapter 296

After hanging out with Lin Ling outside and catching up on some old gossip, Le Tong finally pushed open Ji Rui’s office door.

"Mr. Ji, I’m heading back first."

Having been out for most of the day, Le Tong was really a bit worried about Baobao. Thinking about the days to come when she would start her regular work and how she would cope with Baobao made her anxious.

Ji Rui heard her say that, closed his files, and stood up.

"Wait, I’ll go back with you."

Last night, since Ji Rui helped her with a big favor, Le Tong felt too awkward to ask him to leave. Hence, Ji Rui stayed at her place until Baobao fell asleep and left around nine.

"You’re not going home again?"

Le Tong deliberately emphasized the word "again."

Unexpectedly, Ji Rui didn’t understand what Le Tong truly meant, or maybe he did understand but pretended not to.

"Well, since Baobao is with you, of course, I wouldn’t go home."

It looked like he was determined to realize the idea of ’being old and reliant on the young’ in action.

Le Tong secretly sighed in her heart but couldn’t openly refuse his visit after accepting his big favor.

"I need to go to the supermarket to buy something. You go back first and keep Baobao company."

As Le Tong spoke, she turned to leave.

With this man, she tried to avoid being alone with him.

Earlier, he asked her if she hated him, and indeed she didn’t. She just didn’t like him.

She didn’t like talking to him because the words he said were either thorny, probing, or misleading.

She didn’t like being alone with him because he always exuded a certain dangerous aura, an aura that made Le Tong couldn’t help wanting to escape.

Ji Rui already quickly tidied up and took a quick step to catch up, walking alongside her.

"Perfect timing, I also have to buy some things. I’ll accompany you."

Le Tong glanced at him but thought it was better not to say anything, though she felt regretful inside. So, once they entered the elevator and Ji Rui pressed the basement level, Le Tong reached out to press the first floor, "I’ve been out for so long, Baobao must be worried. I think I’d better go back and be with him first."

The elevator stopped at the first floor, the door opened, and just as Le Tong was about to step out, her arm was grabbed by a big and strong hand, while the man’s other hand pressed the close door button, shutting the door swiftly in front of her.

"Le Tong, are you so afraid of staying with me?" Ji Rui looked down at Le Tong, asking directly.

Le Tong thought there was nothing to hide now that she’d been found out.

"You know but still ask?"

Seeing the change in Ji Rui’s expression, Le Tong didn’t hold back and added another jab, "Actually, it’s not fear, it’s dislike!"

Though she had promised him to return to work, she would no longer swallow her pride like before.

After all, this man’s understanding of her true nature was clearer than anyone else; there was no need for pretense.

Ji Rui gritted his teeth in frustration but maintained a blank expression on the surface, "Do you have to say it this directly?"

Le Tong glared at him again, "Since you asked, you surely want a truthful answer, right? I answered, and now you’re unhappy again! Mr. Ji, has anyone ever told you that you are incredibly hard to please?"

Ji Rui silently looked at her and then walked out of the elevator side by side with her, only then saying, "Yes!"

Le Tong got curious, who dared to provoke President Ji ? "Who? Baobao?"

Ji Rui looked at her as if she were a monster, "You!" Then he strode towards the car parked not far away.

Le Tong, having been found out, no longer felt uncomfortable and followed along boldly.

Le Tong opened the car door and bent down to speak to the man already seated in the back, "Mr. Ji, you should sit in the front passenger seat."

Ji Rui lifted his eyelids, "Why?" Thɪs chapter is updated by noⅴelfire.net

"Didn’t I just give the reason? Do you need me to repeat it?" Le Tong pulled a bright smile for the man in the car.

This mischievous grin after some slyness was not unfamiliar to Ji Rui.

Baobao often laughed after a successful trick. Previously, he had wondered how he had such a son with ideas so different from his own, full of whimsical thoughts.

Now, he finally understood, Baobao inherited all these quirky traits from the woman before him.

"I don’t like sitting in the passenger seat, besides, it’s you who feels uncomfortable, not me."

Ji Rui stayed motionless, casually opened his computer, and moved his gaze onto the screen.

Le Tong glared at him earnestly, unable to do anything but crouch and get into the back seat. Like Ji Rui, she didn’t like the passenger seat either.

"President Ji, where to?"

Ji Rui threw the question to Le Tong, clearly indifferent to the destination. Whether Le Tong went home, he would follow her home. If Le Tong went shopping at the supermarket, he’d go along too.

"Brother Li, please head to the supermarket."

Le Tong knew she couldn’t shake off this clinger today, so she didn’t bother to argue further.

As the car drove out of the parking lot, Ji Rui, who had been checking emails, suddenly turned and looked at her, "Is your speech always this sharp? Or is it just with me?"

Ji Rui was no stranger to Le Tong’s sharpness.

But he always thought it was just Le Tong being forced to the edge, thus speaking that way.

Previously, he had more than once felt that her nature shouldn’t be as obedient as it appeared.

Yet during the month of Baobao’s hospitalization, he was clearer than anyone on how gentle and considerate she was.

In so doing, he assumed Le Tong’s sharpness was just her forced response when pushed to protect herself.

But her recent words and actions were hard to reconcile with her gentleness and consideration.

Le Tong didn’t evade, meeting his eyes, she said.

"My nature is , but normally I wouldn’t offend others unless provoked, so Mr. Ji, when complaining that I target you, please reflect on whether your actions or words might have been displeasing."

Although Le Tong decided to stay, it didn’t mean she would continue being a puppet who endured insults.

Ji Rui was slightly surprised but after pondering for a bit, gave Le Tong an unexpected answer.

This time it was Le Tong’s turn to be surprised, raising an eyebrow at Ji Rui, puzzled. Although she had spoken her heart’s words freely, she didn’t expect to receive such a straightforward response from this sometimes formal and occasionally stubborn man.

Ji Rui didn’t wait for Le Tong’s reaction, adding, "Considering your plan to visit the supermarket, I genuinely need to purchase some household supplies; it wasn’t my intention to make you uncomfortable."

This time, Le Tong was truly astonished, her jaw almost dropping. The man who naturally imposed various charges on her was apologizing to her? And explaining his intentions to her?

[Writer’s block hit—only one update for today. With the previous missed update, a total of three pending updates remain... Will catch up... Will catch up... Zhu Zi murmurs as they flee under a lid!]