Jingxia Rose

Chapter 113: She Doesn't Belong to Me
Lunch was a real feast. Aunt Zhao made all of Ji Xian's favorite dishes, and the table was filled with them.

Ji Xuan stared in disbelief; how could anyone possibly finish eating all of this?

"These days, it's rare to see you even once a year. I'm so happy! See if it still tastes the same as before. If you like it, eat more."

After saying that, he waved his hand and went back to the kitchen.

When Ji Xuan looked away, Wen Qi had already served her a bowl of old duck soup.

The soup, simmered for two hours, was incredibly flavorful.

One bite and your stomach feels warm and cozy.

The temperature today is zero degrees Celsius, and the spring rain is continuous and drizzling. It didn't stop even after the two of them finished eating.

Aunt Zhao prepared two desserts, which were placed in a food storage container. Ji Xuan sat for about half an hour before getting up to say goodbye.

"Take this home and eat it. If you want more, come anytime, or tell the young master and I'll make it and have him send it to you."

Ji Xuan took the bag and thanked her with a smile, "Thank you for your hard work today, Aunt Zhao."

"There's nothing hard or difficult about it; it's all very simple to do."

Ji Xuan turned around and saw that Wen Qi had already opened his umbrella and was waiting for her.

Her car was parked outside the yard; it would take about two minutes to walk there.

He actually wanted her to wait until the rain stopped before leaving, but Ji Xian insisted on leaving, and he had no choice.

The two walked into the rain side by side, and the black umbrella above their heads subconsciously tilted towards her.

The rain, carried by the wind, quickly soaked his left shoulder.

Walking to the car, Ji Xian bent down and sat inside, placing her bag and purse in the passenger seat. Looking up, she saw Wen Qi's gaze fixed on her from under the umbrella.

Behind him was a curtain of rain, a gloomy sky, and a little further away were two crabapple trees with newly sprouted buds.

But all of this scenery paled in comparison to the tenderness in his eyes.

He whispered a reminder, "Drive slowly and be careful."

Ji Xuan nodded slightly, noticing his wet shoulder, and pursed her lips to remind him, "Remember to change your clothes, be careful not to let dampness get into your body."

"Okay." Wen Qi smiled. "I'll change when we get back."

Ji Xuan closed the car door, started the car, and drove away from Canglan Residence.

I received a call from Xiao Guxing halfway there.

Although their relationship became slightly awkward after the school anniversary celebration, their current communication and interactions can still be considered natural and peaceful.

"Have you got a meal yet?"

"I've definitely eaten by now," Ji Xuan laughed. "What's wrong?"

"I have something to tell you about work," Xiao Guxing said. "I just received a call from Qin Yue at the branch office. He said a client in the UK specifically requested that you be his accompanying translator."

"You know this client."

Ji Xuan asked in surprise, "Who?"

"Mr. Gerry."

Ji Xuan suddenly realized, "It's him, business type?"

“Yes. It includes accompanying interpreters and written translation, English to Chinese.” Xiao Guxing said, “They have already sent the necessary materials. I will send them to your email later so you can take a look.”

Which company will you partner with?

"They say it's three state-owned enterprises: Zheng's, Lü's, and Chongshen Technology."

How long will it take?

"About three to six months."

It takes quite a long time.

Most orders take a few days, but international business orders like this can easily last several months. She pursed her lips, pondered for a moment, gripped the steering wheel a little tighter, and said frankly, "I can take this order. However... after this order is completed, I want to resign."

Xiao Guxing paused on the other end of the phone, as if a sharp weapon had pierced his heart.

A fine, persistent pain.

"Is it because of me?" His usually gentle voice sounded somewhat deep at this moment.

Ji Xian wanted to say "no," but other reasons wouldn't be reasonable enough.

Seeing that she didn't speak, Xiao Guxing pinched the bridge of his nose. "Ji Xuan, did what I said that day bother you?"

Ji Xian was speechless, still unable to utter a word.

The reason she resigned was that she was afraid of the awkwardness of seeing each other so often at the company, and there were already rumors circulating in the company about them.

The reason I didn't care before was that I believed the innocent would clear themselves.

Since Xiao Guxing broke the ice, this idea naturally became untenable, and there was no way to avoid suspicion.

Knowing full well that he liked her, yet still staying at his company, this subtle feeling made her feel uneasy and uncomfortable.

So she spent the whole night thinking about it.

“I don’t want you to give up your future because of this small matter. You’ve seen what you’ve achieved in the translation industry over the past year. And as the president of Chengkong, I genuinely don’t want to lose such a talented person as you.”

“You were born for this, Ji Xuan. If I make you feel uncomfortable or uneasy in Moscow, I can transfer you back to Beijing. I spend most of the year in Moscow.”

"That was not what I meant……"

Ji Xian simply parked the car on the side of the road, then felt that his words were somewhat pale and powerless.

Xiao Guxing suddenly chuckled softly, "Don't feel pressured. Now that I know your answer, I'll handle the rest myself."

"Ji Xuan, can we... still be friends?"

Ji Xuan replied without hesitation, "Of course."

“I still hope you can stay in Chengkong.” Xiao Guxing paused. “Of course, this is just my hope. Whatever your final decision, I will respect it, and our friendship will remain unchanged.”

Ji Xian opened his mouth, then hesitated for a long time before saying, "I will consider it carefully. At least, I will do my best for Mr. Gerry's order."

Xiao Guxing knew what she was worried about, and his attempt to keep her was indeed driven by personal motives.

But it has nothing to do with personal preference; this selfish motive stems from the company's perspective.

Her attitude was already very clear, leaving him no room for imagination or expectation.

That's fine too.

After hanging up the phone, he stood by the window, staring blankly at the rain outside.

"Judging from your heartbroken appearance, it seems you won't be able to bring my granddaughter-in-law back."

Suddenly, a kind and gentle voice rang out.

Xiao Guxing was lost in thought when he turned around and saw an old lady with white hair at her temples, wearing a dark purple Chinese-style round-neck dress and glasses, sitting on the sofa with a cane.

"Grandma, why did you come down?" He put away his phone and walked over.

"You slept well, come out for a walk." The old lady turned to look at him. "Did you get rejected by the girl you mentioned last time?"

Xiao Guxing gave a wry smile and sat down next to her. "How did you figure that out?"

The old lady snorted, "I know you well enough. Last time you mentioned her to me, your eyes were full of light. You could talk about all the good things about her without even trying, and you said I would definitely like her."

"But I've noticed you've been absent-minded and distracted these past few days, which is most likely related to that girl."

Xiao Guxing rested his elbows on his lap, clasped his hands together, and revealed the first undisguised sadness in his eyes in days.

Her voice became hoarse, "Yes, I'm sorry to disappoint you, Grandma. I can't bring her back; she doesn't belong to me."

An extra chapter is here! An extra chapter is here! Sorry to keep you all waiting, my darlings. I'm shamelessly asking for some votes again. I still feel sorry for my senior. What do you guys think? Should we give him a little sun (a lucky charm/gift)?