Back Then, I Adored You

Director Li’s voice was rather loud, which attracted the attention of the people at the surrounding tables. Lu Bancheng turned around, as well. Just like how he was when Xu Wennuan had bumped into him in the restroom, there was a smile hanging on his lips. Under the illumination of the restaurant’s crystal lights, he looked warm and handsome.

Xu Wennuan lowered her gaze, feeling awkward. To make it worse, Director Li didn’t care about her dignity. He brushed past her, saying, “Miss Xu, I advise you to leave quickly.”

Xu Wennuan’s eyelashes fluttered and, avoiding all eye contact with everyone, she clutched her purse and walked quickly to the door. After exiting Jinyuan, she looked left and right before dashing across the street to a trash can underneath a tree. She curved her body and started throwing up again.

This time, it was far worse than it was back in the restroom. She vomited until her body felt weak like jelly before she could bring herself to stop. She managed to take two steps back as she leaned against the tree trunk and slowly squatted.

After some time, the sounds of footsteps drifted to Xu Wennuan’s ears. They were accompanied by a gentle, mellifluous voice. “Boss Lu, if you don’t mind, can you give me a ride?”

Xu Wennuan detected the familiar footsteps. She instinctively lifted her head from her hands and saw Lu Bancheng walking over with his entourage. The person walking on his left was a young secretary wearing a long red dress. She was attractive and most likely the woman who had just spoken.

Before Xu Wennuan could see Lu Bancheng, he had already caught sight of her. When she lifted her head, the words he wanted to say were temporarily muted. Then, he cocked his head and spoke to the secretary who had taken the initiative to talk to him all night. “Sure,” he said.

The secretary did not expect Lu Bancheng to agree. A glimmer of joy surfaced in her eyes, and a dazzling smile appeared on her face. Her voice was as sweet as honey. “Thank you, Boss Lu.”

“You’re welcome.” Lu Bancheng did not even glance at Xu Wennuan. Along with his well-dressed colleagues, they all walked right past her.

“Boss Lu, it’s still early. If it’s possible, I’d like to ask you out for some coffee. I don’t know if that’s too much to ask.” The secretary was full of confidence now, as Lu Bancheng had acquiesced to her first request.

Ten seconds of silence after she asked, Lu Bancheng responded, “Sure.”

“Boss Lu, where shall we go for coffee? Oh, it’s a little dark now. Most cafes might already be closed… Do you want to come to my place, or we can go to yours? Honestly speaking, I do want to see what Boss Lu’s house looks like…”

The group was some distance away now, and Xu Wennuan couldn’t hear what they were saying anymore. Apart from the night breeze and the occasional sounds of cars passing through the streets beside her, there was nothing else to be heard. The world had suddenly become much quieter in that moment.

Xu Wennuan leaned against the tree trunk and continued squatting there for a moment before she put effort into standing up. Her steps were slow and unsteady, but she made it to the side of the road.

As she waited for a taxi, Lu Bancheng’s car came cruising by slowly and passed by her. The windows were down, and she could clearly see the attractive woman sitting in the passenger seat. Her head was tilted toward him, and there was a smile on her face as she talked to him.