Little Sweetheart

Zheng Peipei shot Lu Jiaye an annoyed look and lowered her head to concentrate on her porridge. With food in front of her, arguing with a goofball would be an insult to herself.

The warm porridge flowed down, soothing her stomach. As her stomach felt better, so did her entire body, and her mood lifted.

Zheng Peipei asked him, "Is your business deal done?"

Lu Jiaye said, "Almost. Both sides have agreed on the cooperation intent, only the details remain." He glanced up at her flushed cheeks and casually remarked, "You were catching up with Su Han, why did you drink so much? Drowning your sorrows?"

Zheng Peipei swallowed the porridge in her mouth and said lightly, "We went specifically to drink. There was nothing old to catch up on."

"No old times to reminisce about with your first love?"

"Dude, we broke up over three years ago. If I still have endless old times to talk about, do you want me to be stuck in that rut forever?"

"That's not what I meant…" Lu Jiaye touched his nose.

"But I think Su Han still wants to pursue you. What do you think?" He finally couldn't resist asking.

"I don't think anything of it. We're impossible. There's no going back."

"Then maybe you're not a good horse?"

Zheng Peipei glared at him.

Lu Jiaye chuckled and said, "You're the noble, aloof, and awesome Sister Peipei. How could you be a mere horse? If I had to choose an analogy, you'd be a graceful and charming little leopard."

Zheng Peipei's expression softened visibly. The corners of her lips curved into a slight smile, and she hummed softly, lowering her head to continue eating her porridge.

Seeing her trying to suppress her smile, Lu Jiaye said, "Don't hold back, laugh if you want to. It wasn't easy for me to come up with such an on-point compliment. A little reaction would be encouraging."

Zheng Peipei couldn't hold back any longer and laughed. "Well, I'm truly flattered. The big boss even condescends to flatter me!"

"What's a big boss? In front of Sister Peipei, I'm just a bag carrier."

Zheng Peipei snorted. "Okay, control your hypocrisy. Too much flattery sounds fake."

"Alright, Xiao Zheng." Lu Jiaye put on a serious expression. "I'm going upstairs. Remember to clear the dishes after you finish."

Zheng Peipei watched him get up and go upstairs. He hadn't even taken off his impeccable suit, yet she somehow sensed a domineering CEO aura about him.

He's grown up, the goofball has grown up, he's different now.

After clearing the dishes, Zheng Peipei returned to her room to rest, planning to look over the script before bed.

Thanks to her extensive reading during her "unfocused" middle school years, she had a good grasp of content and a keen market sense. She could always pick out the most suitable and potentially successful dramas for her artists from a pile of scripts.

Of course, whenever she found a production she believed would be a hit, she would try to get Lu Jiaye to invest. In the past few years, Lu Jiaye had invested in several profitable movies and TV series, basically making a killing in the film and television industry. The entertainment company he bought, which was on the verge of decline, was now thriving and completely revitalized. Add to that his successes in other industries, not to mention his investment in Si Jun Aerospace Technology, which solidified his image as a capable and insightful young elite. The industry's evaluation of him no longer included any mention of his father.

Seeing him make money made Zheng Peipei happy too.

Having never had to worry about food or clothing, she wasn't particularly driven by money, but rather by the confidence and sense of accomplishment that came with career success.

Gu Siyi had once asked her how it was working with Lu Jiaye.

Zheng Peipei had replied with a beaming smile: Working together is super enjoyable! Just imagine, two bottom-of-the-class slackers from back then, now joining forces to build an entertainment empire! How cool is that!

Curled up on the sofa like a cat, Zheng Peipei couldn't resist pouring herself another glass of red wine.

Savoring the intoxicating aroma, she flipped through the script.

As she read, her stomach suddenly cramped… With almost no time to react, the cramps quickly intensified into severe pain.

The pain brought her out in a cold sweat…

She picked up her phone and called Lu Jiaye.

Lu Jiaye: "Looking for your confidant for a late-night heart-to-heart?"

"Pain…" Her voice trembled. "Stomach pain…"

Soon, there came the sound of thudding footsteps. Lu Jiaye, still in his sleeping clothes, rushed into Zheng Peipei's room.

She was weakly leaning against the sofa, her whole body shaking. Lu Jiaye helped her up and saw her pale face and the tears at the corners of her eyes.

Lu Jiaye frowned, his heart aching as if pricked by needles.

Without a word, he scooped Zheng Peipei up in his arms and carried her out.

Out the door, into the elevator, down to the garage, he drove her to the hospital.

Lu Jiaye drove as smoothly as possible while maintaining speed, avoiding any sudden turns or stops.

He called his assistant on the way to arrange things at the hospital, then told Zheng Peipei, "We're almost there, almost there." His voice was low and hoarse.

Zheng Peipei had acute gastroenteritis. While she was receiving IV fluids in the hospital room, Lu Jiaye stayed by her side.

Lu Jiaye said, "Let's play a game to distract you?"

Zheng Peipei immediately agreed, "Okay!"

The two of them swept through the game, though Zheng Peipei's weakened state made her performance a little weaker, relying mainly on Lu Jiaye to carry her.

Time passed unnoticed. Amidst the playful banter of the game, the smell of disinfectant in the hospital faded.

Zheng Peipei looked up and saw Lu Jiaye's handsome profile, as if they were in the living room at home, casually playing a game.

Zheng Peipei had been hospitalized before, but her best friends weren't around, her roommates were busy, and her boyfriend…

Forget it, best not to mention the boyfriend. She had always faced any difficulties alone. Her boyfriend was a god to be worshipped, an idol, a distant existence…

Zheng Peipei yawned. Lu Jiaye noticed her sleepiness and said, "Go to sleep, stop playing."

Zheng Peipei: "I still have the IV drip."

Lu Jiaye: "I'll watch over you and call the nurse when it's almost done."

"Then you won't be able to sleep. It's okay, you can go home and rest. I'm feeling much better now."

"You want me to abandon my capable general, Sister Peipei, in her weakened state, and go home to sleep soundly? That's simply heartless!" Lu Jiaye flicked her forehead lightly. "Go to sleep. I'm a strong, robust man, what's a little all-nighter?"

Zheng Peipei looked at him, displaying a rare childlike gentleness. She softly said, "Thank you."

Lu Jiaye widened his eyes and looked at her with an exaggerated expression. He gasped, "The little leopard has turned into a little bunny? I'm not used to this, not used to this."

Zheng Peipei glared at him, leaned back against the pillow, and closed her eyes to sleep.

Lu Jiaye turned off the game and quietly browsed the news on his phone.

Soon, Zheng Peipei's breathing became even. He put down his phone, leaned closer, and pulled the thin blanket up for her.

Lu Jiaye waited until the IV bag was almost empty, then called a nurse to change it.

He continued to sit by her side, yawning and reading the news.

When it was all done, he lay down on the sofa beside her and fell into a peaceful sleep.

The next morning, Zheng Peipei woke up early and saw Lu Jiaye on the sofa, his hair a mess.

She was feeling much better now, so she grabbed a pillow and threw it at him.

Lu Jiaye quickly sat up, walked to the bedside, and looked at her anxiously. "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

He was a light sleeper. Zheng Peipei saw the dark circles under his eyes and remembered that he had stayed with her all night…

Her heart felt warm and touched, with a hint of guilt, but she didn't know how to express it.

Zheng Peipei: "No, I'm fine now. Could you step out for a moment? I need to change."

"Okay, I'll wait for you outside." Lu Jiaye left the room. It was a good opportunity to brush his teeth and wash his face. A domineering CEO couldn't be sloppy.

They had breakfast outside the hospital, and Lu Jiaye took Zheng Peipei home, giving her the day off.

Zheng Peipei looked at him gratefully, almost teary-eyed. "You didn't even scold me for drinking and even gave me a day off. Boss, you truly have a conscience."

"Would scolding you be useful? Would it stop you from drinking? Might as well do something practical."

"…??"

"Next time you get sick from drinking, your salary will be docked!"

"…!!" Why did she have to set herself up like this?

"Make yourself something to eat for lunch. No ordering takeout. Your stomach is delicate, don't aggravate it."

After Lu Jiaye left, Zheng Peipei nestled at home, leisurely continuing to read the script.

After a night at the hospital, she was back to life.

Approaching noon, she opened the food delivery app and placed an order for lunch.

Just after ordering, Lu Jiaye's call came.

Lu Jiaye: "Have you eaten?"

Zheng Peipei: "Not yet…"

"What are you planning to eat? Don't tell me it's takeout again?" The last question was heavy with a veiled threat.

"…" Zheng Peipei gulped and said guiltily, "No, I was just planning to make something myself."

"Really?"

"Really!"

"Then let me know when you're done, I'll come back to eat too."

"Don't bother, it's too much trouble to come back just for lunch."

"It's not a bother. I happen to be discussing business nearby."

"…" Zheng Peipei had a sudden inspiration. "I think I'm still not feeling well, I won't be making anything for now. You eat out."

"Then when will you make something?"

"I'll make something in the evening."

"Oh."

"So, you go ahead with your work, I'm busy too, still choosing scripts."

Zheng Peipei hung up the phone and let out a long sigh of relief.

…So…why isn't the delivery here yet…

Just as her eyes were glued to the door, the doorbell rang.

Zheng Peipei went to open the door joyfully. The delighted smile on her face, like seeing her own mother, froze the moment she opened the door.

Lu Jiaye was holding a bag containing several takeout containers.

And the key point was, the bag had the logo of the takeout restaurant printed on it…

Lu Jiaye smiled: "I happened to run into your delivery guy downstairs."

"Oh… what a coincidence…" Zheng Peipei gave a dry laugh. Slap, slap, slap, her face stung.

But looking at the bag in his hand, her mouth watered. She really wanted to eat.

Lu Jiaye didn't enter. Instead, he took a few steps back, and right in front of her, he threw the bag with the food containers into the trash can.

"…!!!" Zheng Peipei heard the sound of her heart shattering into a million pieces.

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