Compared to before, Ji Rui treated Le Tong exceptionally well, even with a touch of cautiousness.
The contrast between past and present was too stark, making Le Tong, as the person involved, feel quite uncomfortable.
But Ji Rui didn’t care whether Le Tong was accustod to it or not. All he thought about was how terrible he had been to her before. Now that she was willing to give him a chance to make up, he wanted to compensate for all the harshness and hurt he had caused her in the past.
However, whether it was about pampering soone, or how to do so, it was a completely unfamiliar subject for Ji Rui.
In his thirty-one years of life, the only person he had ever pampered was Baobao, so he could only treat Le Tong the sa way he pampered Baobao.
Baobao was much smarter than the average child, but he was ultimately still a child, naturally possessing the innocence and nature unique to five or six-year-olds. Spoiling and depending on adults was instinctive, so when parents and elders treated him well, he enjoyed it a lot.
But Le Tong was different; she was twenty-five. For the past few years, she had been supporting a family all by herself, having seen enough of deceit and manipulation between people. Thus, for sudden flattery and pampering, her subconscious would approach it with caution and vigilance.
It’s like a puppy that’s always been whipped by its owner, and when one day the owner reaches out to pet it, it would instinctively jump away. Because, whether it’s the whip or the hand, the one delivering them is the sa person.
Of course, Le Tong herself didn’t fully realize this, but subconsciously, she did respond to Ji Rui’s attention and affection with such a mindset.
Moreover, Le Tong had been independent since childhood. This sense of reliance on others had nearly vanished from her after her mother fell ill.
It’s not that she didn’t want to, but she couldn’t!
Over ti, she beca accustod to handling everything alone, no matter how bitter or tired, never expecting help from others, because there simply was no such person.
Ji Rui’s goodwill was once again rejected by Le Tong. Both emotionally and in terms of pride, it didn’t feel great.
"I’m busy, but so are you, aren’t you?"
Ji Rui looked at her steadily, reaching out to place his hand on the docunt.
In the past, whenever he did sothing similar, Le Tong would resist intensely, just like now. He thought it was because she hadn’t yet accepted his feelings, so she refused to let him help with the heavy tasks.
Now, they were officially lovers. Isn’t it right for lovers to share burdens with each other? Moreover, deep down, Ji Rui was quite the chauvinist. He believed that no matter how strong and capable a woman was, she was inherently fragile and couldn’t bear heavy burdens. He loved Le Tong, so he should pamper her, providing a vast sky for her to live happily under.
Le Tong stubbornly pressed her hand on the docunt, not budging an inch, even though Ji Rui’s eyes bore his usual aggressive dominance. She still dared to look back at him unflinchingly.
"Mr. Ji, have you forgotten that you’re the CEO, and I’m the secretary, currently also serving as your temporary assistant? Our personal relationship shouldn’t affect my role and responsibilities in the company. I hope you respect my identity as an employee of the Ji Family, and I equally hope you’ll affirm my work capabilities."
Le Tong’s words couldn’t have been clearer. Yes, they’re lovers, but here at the company, they were just superior and subordinate.
Ji Rui’s heart sank like a stone thrown into the deep sea, plumting straight down.
"But..."
Ji Rui wanted to say sothing, but seeing Le Tong’s face go abruptly cold from its prior warmth, he wisely refrained from continuing and knowingly withdrew his hand from the docunt.
Le Tong’s expression slowly ward up again. She stared at his slightly pale face and rembered that he was still injured.
"You don’t look well. Does your wound still hurt?"
A mont ago, Le Tong had sternly clarified that she and he were only superior and subordinate at work. Now, she couldn’t hide her concern as his lover.
Ji Rui paused, his gaze sweeping over her face. He knew he couldn’t hide this minor matter from her keen eyes, so he nodded honestly, "I just pulled a book from the shelf, might have accidentally tugged at the wound."
Le Tong’s face showed worry, and with a flick of her feet, she slid her chair quickly over to Ji Rui, not caring that they were in the office. She reached out to lift his clothing to check.
"Let see!"
Ji Rui obediently moved his hand aside, allowing her to lean down and lift his shirt.
Ji Rui’s wound had started to heal, so as of today, he didn’t need to wrap it with bandages. As soon as the clothing was lifted, his toned abs were on full display in front of Le Tong.
Yet at this mont, Le Tong was in no mood to admire the perfect six-pack, only fixating on the centipede-like scar beneath his ribs.
The scar was prominently raised and red, slightly swollen, with tiny beads of blood seeping from several stitches.
"It’s bleeding!" Le Tong’s fingertips gently brushed the skin around the stitches, but she couldn’t bring herself to voice her reproach. Instead, she lifted her eyes to look at Ji Rui worriedly, asking with heartache.
"Does it hurt?"
Ji Rui shuddered slightly, suppressing the various feelings stirring in his heart, and shook his head, "No! Just a little.", for a man like him, this little bit of pain wasn’t an issue.
Le Tong didn’t buy it, carefully pulling his clothes down and turning away.
Sitting in the reception area, Baobao rushed over to Ji Rui as soon as the door closed, looking up at him with a little face.
"Daddy, you’re using the self-harm trick!" The crisp voice hit the mark, piercing through Ji Rui’s sche.
Ji Rui glanced down at him and pinched his cheek, "I’m not! It’s really hurt!"
Baobao snorted, "Daddy, stop pretending!" As he said this, he walked over to the bookshelf, reached out to the side, and gently pressed it, making the bookshelf steadily descend.
Ji Rui glanced at Baobao indifferently, "I forgot this function of the bookshelf!"
Baobao snorted again, "Pretend, keep pretending!"
Ji Rui couldn’t be bothered with this jealous little guy anymore and turned back to his work.
Soon, Le Tong ca back with a dicine box in her hands, seeing Baobao sitting properly in her chair, with docunts spread out in front of him.
Le Tong amusedly glanced at him, "Baobao, what are you doing? Helping mommy with work?"
Baobao giggled and shook his head, "Of course not, Baobao is helping mommy keep an eye on daddy."
Le Tong looked thoughtfully at Ji Rui, "What mischief did you get up to?"
Ji Rui placed an arm around her waist, gently pulling her closer, "Absolutely nothing, don’t listen to Baobao’s nonsense."
As he said this, he secretly glared at Baobao, who stuck out his tongue and made a funny face.
Ji Rui sighed internally, realizing his strongest rival wasn’t anyone else, but this little brat with a face seventy percent similar to his own.
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