Little Sweetheart

Lu Jiaye laughed. “Anyway, I have a lot of rumored girlfriends, so it doesn't matter. You're not in the entertainment industry, so it matters even less. Why care what others think? As long as Zhu Chen believes it, that's all that matters.”

"…" Zheng Peipei was unexpectedly speechless. He makes it sound so reasonable?

“We'll see…” Zheng Peipei said casually.

Lu Jiaye: “Making my presence known is a must.”

So, Lu Jiaye proceeded to put his plan into action. From time to time, he would appear while Zheng Peipei was working, looking at her with an especially ambiguous gaze. In full view of everyone, he would show concern for her well-being and take her out to eat.

Before long, rumors spread through the company that the boss was pursuing Sister Peipei. People kept subtly asking Zheng Peipei about it, and she would respond with a polite smile, neither confirming nor denying.

Rumors that aren't denied by the parties involved often become true.

Zheng Peipei initially felt awkward, but she couldn't deny that this method was very effective on Zhu Chen.

He was clearly avoiding her. In work situations where they had to interact, he was very formal.

He was constantly restraining himself and withdrawing, which she noticed. Although they were once comrades-in-arms fighting side by side, they now seemed somewhat distant. However, this was the best outcome.

Meanwhile, Lu Jiaye played the role of a boyfriend to the fullest.

After the rumors became tacitly accepted as truth, they somehow spread outside the company.

Nosy paparazzi staked out the two of them and captured photos of them entering the same residential complex…

After the photos were released, they caused a huge stir.

"The new generation Lu boyfriend is the company's gold medal agent, Zheng Peipei!"

"Lu's taste has changed this time; it's no longer internet celebrities, models, or stars."

"I inexplicably think Lu's choice is good this time? Much better temperament than the previous ones."

"They were middle school classmates and have known each other for many years. Has Lu finally decided to date someone close to home?"

"Zheng Peipei's family background is not simple… She's not just a simple agent. New Emperor Entertainment relies on her to open up many resource relationships."

"Some even say she's Lu Jiaye's think tank. Every accurate investment is thanks to her guidance."

"As expected, rich and handsome men eventually marry rich and beautiful women, a powerful alliance, becoming even stronger together."

Even Gu Siyi, who didn't usually pay attention to gossip, heard about this big news and called Zheng Peipei.

Gu Siyi: "I actually found out through the news that you and Lu Jiaye are together! I'm very offended! My Peipei is not the same Peipei anymore!"

"Oh my god, Siyi, spare me. Do you know what my current situation is like? I have a huge headache!"

"If you're together, you're together. How long did you plan to hide it?" Speaking of this, Gu Siyi suddenly thought of another possibility and asked, "Are you afraid of Su Han finding out, afraid of the awkwardness?"

"How could it be because of him!"

"Right, you two broke up so long ago. Who you're with is your freedom. I believe he would also bless you."

"Bless my foot! That idiot and I are putting on an act!"

"Huh? An act? What's going on?"

"Zhu Chen confessed to me. He's my top artist now, I can't neglect him, but I can't encourage him either. So I could only use this method to make him give up…"

"…So that's how it is." Gu Siyi's tone was slightly disappointed.

"That's how it is! Who knew that idiot would take it so seriously, causing the whole company to gossip about us, and then it reached the paparazzi's ears, and we were photographed!"

"Oh…"

"It's so annoying! Fortunately, I'm not in the entertainment industry. After a while, Lu Jiaye will show up with another rumored girlfriend, and my popularity will die down." Being familiar with the entertainment industry, she knew that the current attention and buzz were fleeting. As long as Lu Jiaye showed off another person, the public would immediately forget.

"What a pity…" Gu Siyi sighed.

"What are you pitying?!" Zheng Peipei was a little frantic.

"I thought you and Lu Jiaye were really together."

"How could I possibly be with him? Impossible! The two of us are impossible!"

"Why not? Lu Jiaye is good. It would be great if you two were together. It's called keeping it in the family."

"…What the heck!" The more Zheng Peipei spoke, the more embarrassed she became. For some reason, she felt a sense of guilt, and a kind of excitement she hadn't even noticed herself. She quickly changed the subject, "For Zhu Chen, I've worked so hard. It's not easy managing artists these days, all because of my irresistible charm."

"Yeah, Sister Peipei's charm is boundless. So, charming Sister Peipei, hurry up and find yourself a good partner. I've already prepared a big red envelope, just give me a chance to give it to you."

"I'm still young, still young…"

Helpless, Zheng Peipei changed the subject again. "Tell me about you, when are you and Mr. Perfect Xia planning to have children?"

"…" Gu Siyi fell silent.

"What's wrong? You've been married for several years and still haven't had children?" Zheng Peipei now adopted her lecturing tone. "Let me tell you, you should hurry up and have a child. I'm waiting to be a godmother. I love children so much. It's just that I haven't found someone to have children with. Your husband is perfect, why not have children?"

After listening to Zheng Peipei's rambling, Gu Siyi couldn't help but say, "I'm already pregnant."

"Oh… Ah?! You're pregnant?!" This time it was Zheng Peipei's turn to be excited. "You didn't even tell me! You're only telling me now! I'm very offended! My Siyi is not the same Siyi anymore!"

"I just found out. It's still not stable. His mother said not to announce it in the first three months, wait until the fetus is stable."

"Oh…" Zheng Peipei processed the information quickly and immediately became happy again. "Congratulations! I finally have something to look forward to as a godmother! I'll find time to visit you in the next few days!"

"Okay," Gu Siyi said with a smile.

After they hung up, Zheng Peipei was so happy, as if she herself was having a child. She was so delighted that she immediately called Lu Jiaye.

Lu Jiaye: "What's up, babe?"

Having become accustomed to their fake relationship, he addressed her as "babe" without thinking.

Zheng Peipei had protested before, but he said it was to cultivate the atmosphere of a couple, otherwise it would feel fake. He also advised her to bear with it for a while, and it would be fine. So she endured.

Who knew she would actually get used to it? Hearing him call her "babe" no longer felt uncomfortable.

Zheng Peipei: "I have good news!"

Lu Jiaye: "What?"

Zheng Peipei: "Siyi…"

Just as she was about to speak, she remembered Gu Siyi's instructions not to tell anyone, and swallowed the second half of the sentence.

Lu Jiaye asked: "Little Dimples? What's wrong?"

"…She's doing well recently. I plan to find time to visit her and ask the big boss for a leave of absence."

"Sure, let's go together. It's been a while since I had a drink with A-Jun."

Their careers and lives were centered in different cities, and everyone was usually busy. Although they would still get together for annual reunions and holidays, it wasn't like their student days when they had so much time to spend together, chatting and laughing from morning till night. Those times were unique to their student years, and once they were gone, they were gone. They were older now, stepping into society, each with their own responsibilities and missions, running non-stop on their own paths.

The four of them agreed on a time, and Zheng Peipei and Lu Jiaye went to visit them.

Xia Zhijun and Gu Siyi entertained them at home.

Xia Zhijun personally cooked, while Gu Siyi brought fruit into the kitchen.

Just as she was about to wash the fruit, Xia Zhijun grabbed her hand. "Cold water, don't."

"It's fine."

"It's not." He insisted.

"Then I'll wash them with hot water."

"Leave it, I'll do it. Go out and chat with them." Xia Zhijun put his arm around her shoulders and led her out of the kitchen without further discussion.

"…" Gu Siyi had no choice.

Gu Siyi sat down on the sofa and said helplessly to Zheng Peipei and Lu Jiaye, "He's already treating me like a disabled person."

Zheng Peipei said: "He should! It's a special period, he should be extra careful!"

"What special period?" Lu Jiaye asked, then quickly reacted. "Are you starting your baby-making plan?"

Zheng Peipei: "Are you stupid? If they're trying for a baby, it's the nighttime activities that matter, why would they need to be so careful during the day?"

Gu Siyi just wanted to cover her face: … Peipei, it's better if you don't say anything.

Lu Jiaye understood instantly. "So, you've already succeeded in making a baby?"

"…" Zheng Peipei quickly looked at Gu Siyi. "I didn't say anything! I didn't tell him!"

Gu Siyi rested her chin on her hand. "You two, are you really pretending? Why do I feel like you two are a match made in heaven?"

"Who's a match with him! My fresh and refined self is not the same kind of person as that idiot."

Lu Jiaye wasn't happy about it. "I'm such a handsome, elegant, and unrestrained CEO, who besides you would dare call me an idiot?"

"Tsk…" Gu Siyi smiled meaningfully, looking at Zheng Peipei. "Isn't it obvious, the CEO's exclusive pampering for you?"

Zheng Peipei gave Lu Jiaye a disgusted look, shivering. "Siyi, do you think you're watching a soap opera?"

Lu Jiaye sat for a while, then stood up and said, "You two rest, I'll go help A-Jun."

Lu Jiaye entered the kitchen, and Xia Zhijun unceremoniously directed him to assist.

In the spacious and bright apartment, Zheng Peipei and Gu Siyi sat on the sofa, and with a turn of their heads, they could see the two men busy in the open kitchen.

Zheng Peipei sighed: "Why is it that Mr. Perfect Xia, after so many years of marriage and becoming a father-to-be, still exudes that aloof and noble aura? Not only has his appearance not declined, but his figure hasn't changed either."

"What are you thinking? How could a genius become a bald, pot-bellied, greasy man!" Gu Siyi retorted.

"Don't they say men gain weight after marriage…" Zheng Peipei blinked innocently.

"He's still very young! Not even thirty!" Gu Siyi emphasized, then felt something was wrong and added, "Even after another ten years, he won't become a greasy uncle!"

"Okay, okay, Mr. Perfect Xia is the most handsome." Zheng Peipei smiled sweetly.

Gu Siyi looked at Lu Jiaye's busy figure in the kitchen and said to Zheng Peipei, "It seems that Lu is a good cook?"

Zheng Peipei immediately nodded: "Absolutely! He cooks very well! Mr. Perfect might not even be able to compare to him."

"That's not possible, our Mr. Perfect is also amazing. He cooks much better than restaurants outside."

"Lu the idiot is too, comparable to a Michelin chef!" As if feeling that this wasn't convincing enough, Zheng Peipei added, "Don't believe me? PK? Each of them makes a dish, let's compare?"

"Sure." Gu Siyi readily agreed.

Thus, the two men who were harmoniously busy in the kitchen suddenly received instructions from the two women.

Each of them was to independently complete a signature dish.

Zheng Peipei said: "Lao Lu, you can do it! Go for it! Show your true skills!"

Lu Jiaye felt inexplicably encouraged and, just as inexplicably, treated this as an important mission, pondering what to make based on the available ingredients.

Xia Zhijun remained unfazed and continued cooking his dish.

The kitchen was large enough that the two of them could work without getting in each other's way.

Gu Siyi leaned close to Zheng Peipei's ear and whispered, "Lu is such a good, domesticated man, are you really not considering him? Haven't you eaten his cooking during this time?"

"…" Zheng Peipei felt a little embarrassed. "That was just friendly roommate meals."

"You've eaten his food, but you won't be his wife, be careful he doesn't come to collect his debt!" Gu Siyi teased.

"Don't say that, we're good buddies."

"Then, in the future, when your good buddy has a girlfriend, there will be no one to accompany you, no one to make you heartwarming roommate meals, and bring you hot water and hot food."

"…"

"I think you two get along very well, clearly a good match."

"I really haven't thought about it! It's just too awkward…" Zheng Peipei whispered repeatedly. "It's like agreeing to be buddies, and then one of you wants to sleep with the other, just as awkward… Okay, let's not talk about this, it'll be even more awkward if they hear us."

If that idiot heard it and thought she was pretending to be his girlfriend but actually developing feelings for him, she would really want to crawl into a hole.

With the joint efforts of Xia Zhijun and Lu Jiaye, delicious dishes were soon served.

Zheng Peipei opened a bottle of her specially brought vintage red wine.

Just as she was about to pour Gu Siyi a glass, Xia Zhijun stopped her. "She can't drink."

Zheng Peipei was stunned. "Not even a little red wine?"

"No." Xia Zhijun said firmly.

Gu Siyi gave Zheng Peipei a helpless look; she had no autonomy over anything now.

So, the three of them drank red wine, while Gu Siyi drank freshly squeezed juice, and everyone toasted together.

Zheng Peipei said: "It's still nice to get together at home. Very cozy."

Gu Siyi smiled: "Come and visit often in the future."

Zheng Peipei: "Definitely, I have to be a good godmother, starting from the fetal stage."

"Then I'm the godfather, right?" Lu Jiaye said jokingly.

Zheng Peipei: "What's it to you? Go away, don't join in the fun."

"The baby isn't yours, so your words don't count!" Lu Jiaye snorted, then turned to Gu Siyi. "Little Dimples, I want to be the baby's godfather, I'm signing up in advance."

Gu Siyi smiled: "Okay."

"Oh, you're so annoying, why do you always follow my lead? I'm the godmother, so you want to be the godfather?"

"Why not? Are you the only one allowed to like children, and I can't?" Lu Jiaye retorted.

Xia Zhijun's expression remained calm: "Since you both like children so much, why don't you have one yourselves?"

Gu Siyi smiled sweetly: "That's right, why don't you two have one? They can play with our baby."

Lu Jiaye turned to look at Zheng Peipei. "I actually think that's a good suggestion."

Zheng Peipei: "…"

Lu Jiaye: "A daughter as beautiful as you, a son as smart and handsome as me, that would be perfect!"

"…What nonsense are you talking about!" Zheng Peipei turned her face away and took a sip of wine, pretending to be calm.

That smiling, bright face, talking about having children, why did her heart inexplicably race?

What was going on?!

Lu Jiaye stopped after a few sentences and quickly changed the subject. "Weren't we talking about a cooking competition just now? Two judges, please try and see whose cooking is better, mine or A-Jun's."

Gu Siyi said: "Lu's dish is very good, refreshing and delicious. However, I think Mr. Perfect's is even better, the flavor is more layered."

Lu Jiaye: "Biased!"

Xia Zhijun: "My wife has good taste."

After tasting, Zheng Peipei said: "I think Mr. Perfect's is very good, indeed layered. But Lu's is even better, making you want to keep eating, unable to stop."

Lu Jiaye beamed and gave a thumbs up: "Finally, someone who understands. Peipei is truly my soulmate!"

Both men were satisfied; after all, it was enough to be recognized by their own people.

URGENT: Our Google Ads account was blocked due to violations. We'd deeply appreciate your support through donations to help us continue our work. Or we won't be able to continue the translations.

ʕ•́ᴥ•̀ʔっ

Love what you read?