Stay away from Chu Ge [2]

Wen Xiaorou was highly efficient when she concentrated on her work, and she quickly finished copying the documents Jing Nuo had requested and brought them upstairs.

When delivering the documents, seeing that Jing Nuo was intently reviewing some materials, Wen Xiaorou gently placed the papers on the side of the office desk and said in a soft voice, "Mr. Jing, the documents have all been copied and categorized."

Jing Nuo glanced at the documents without raising his head to look at her properly, and said slowly, "Mhm. Lunch is on the dining table."

Jing Nuo's gesture left Wen Xiaorou at a loss. She had never expected him to prepare lunch for her, and a wave of flattered astonishment welled up in her heart.

This belated care left her unsure of how to graciously accept it. Although they had only parted ways briefly, they had grown increasingly distant, practically becoming strangers. Now he was the boss and she was an employee, making the disparity in their status even greater—how could she possibly let it go completely?

After pondering for a moment, Wen Xiaorou decided it was best to politely refuse. She said, "Thank you, Mr. Jing, but Director Chu's materials are not finished yet. I need to head back down."

The papers Jing Nuo was turning abruptly stopped in his hands. He slammed the materials heavily onto the desk and slowly rose from his chair. His expression was so grim that Wen Xiaorou began to grow nervous, forced to reflect on where she might have offended him this time.

Jing Nuo's steps brought him closer and closer to her, making Wen Xiaorou's breathing increasingly shallow. She thought to herself that she wouldn't be able to escape disaster today; perhaps she would be packing her bags and leaving shortly, and maybe Jing Nuo asking for her help had been a trap all along.

Wen Xiaorou took a deep breath and held it in. She was already prepared for Jing Nuo to find fault with her, mock her, or sneer at her. Staying at Shangjing meant she had to be ready for this day to arrive at any moment. Who told her to return to the Jing family like a stray dog, leaving herself vulnerable to his criticism?

Watching Wen Xiaorou bite her lip, afraid to breathe, with her hands clenched into little fists as if she were ready to pick a fight with him, Jing Nuo's mood inevitably worsened. When he ran into her in the elevator earlier, she certainly hadn't had that attitude toward Chu Cuan. In Jing Nuo's eyes, Wen Xiaorou's cold smiles and Chu Cuan's tender care could be described by no other phrase than flirting.

Jing Nuo did not stop until he was a single step away from Wen Xiaorou. With Wen Xiaorou still keeping her head down, Jing Nuo grew exasperated and impatient. He lifted her chin and demanded, "Are you afraid to look at me, or unwilling to look at me?"

Wen Xiaorou was stunned by Jing Nuo's action. Her eyes widened as she stared at him, too terrified to move. This was his office—what on earth was Jing Nuo trying to do? Could it be that she hadn't been around to bicker with him these past few days, leaving him feeling empty inside?

Back when Wen Xiaorou was living in the Jing family residence, backed by Elder Jing, she would occasionally talk back to him. But now that she had left the Jing family and fallen victim to Jing Nuo's mocking words, she had even less confidence than before and didn't dare talk back. She could only stare blankly at him.

Seeing that Wen Xiaorou was staring at him without blinking and ignoring his question, the nameless anger in Jing Nuo's heart flared even higher. This woman always ignored him like this; even when she was at a disadvantage, she still gave him the cold shoulder.

Jing Nuo waited for quite a while without receiving a reply from Wen Xiaorou, making the atmosphere somewhat awkward. He applied a little more pressure to her chin and pressed further, "Well?"