She dared not look, couldn’t bear to look, and just buried her head in her meal.
Jian Dan enjoyed Bo Qin’s service with satisfaction, polishing off half of the large shrimp by himself before admitting he could eat no more and asking Bo Qin to stop, "Uncle Qin, you eat. I can’t eat anymore."
Bo Qin hadn’t touched his own shrimp either. He didn’t care for seafood, but Jian Dan liked it, so he regulated Jian Dan’s diet, allowing such treats no more than once a week, a rule that Lin’s mother also followed closely.
Not long after Bo Qin had finished dinner, Secretary Zhou arrived to pick someone up. Jian Dan saw Bo Qin to the door, the scene almost no different from the morning’s, and Secretary Zhou repeated his earlier caution in the car before he glanced at Bo Qin’s expression through the rearview mirror, casually remarking, "President Bo, Jian Dan is still young and emotionally attached. With your success and distinguished looks, if you spoil her as she grows up, it will be hard for her to distinguish between familial love and romantic love. She might easily develop feelings for you."
Sitting in the back seat, Bo Qin’s eyes suddenly widened, "Zhou Yao, you have too much free time."
These were the words Secretary Zhou had originally hesitated to speak. Just like the current situation, he felt he was meddling in his boss’s private life. Such a subordinate would not be favored by his boss. But watching a young girl harboring deep-seated feelings for her own uncle and possibly never breaking free of them, he thought it best to be upfront—even if it risked displeasing his boss.
Secretary Zhou sighed, "President Bo, can’t you see Jian Dan’s feelings for you are different? When she sees you, her eyes clearly light up.
That’s not the kind of joy a younger relative feels upon seeing an elder. She likes you, so..."
Secretary Zhou closed his mouth, holding back his unfinished words.
He knew Bo Qin didn’t like to hear it, but he had said quite a lot already, and figured Bo Qin must have some inkling now—that was good enough.
Although he had scolded Secretary Zhou, Bo Qin’s mind was weighing things. Was it because his distance from Jian Dan wasn’t enough that Secretary Zhou had misunderstood? If Secretary Zhou could misunderstand, might others misconstrue even more deeply?
If he, of all people, was misunderstood , then likely the rumors and gossip about Jian Dan were even worse.
"Zhou Yao, do you all think that I deliberately made Jian Dan like me?"
Secretary Zhou hurriedly shook his head, "No, President Bo, we all believe that your care for Jian Dan is sincere. But Jian Dan is a young girl, at an age where emotions bloom. Among the people she’s met, there’s no one of the opposite sex as outstanding as you. Her standard for choosing a partner will be based on yours, which, inadvertently, will cause her to slowly fall for you;
President Bo, there’s no ill intent in my words. Jian Dan has grown up before our eyes. I hadn’t paid much attention before, but after observing her for some time, I can see her feelings for you are different;
When you can’t keep your promises, she becomes dejected, but the moment you spare time for her, her smile blossoms. That’s not just familial affection; it’s more like... the expectations one has for someone they like."
Bo Qin’s expression darkened. He remained silent. After a long while, he said, "From now on, I’ll come here less often."
Regardless of whether Secretary Zhou’s deduction was accurate, he couldn’t let Jian Dan dwell on it. Jian Dan couldn’t be allowed to like him.
Moreover, Bo Qin hadn’t thought much of it until Secretary Zhou spoke up. Now, the more he thought about it, the more it seemed to be the case. The expression Jian Dan had when she saw him was bashful.
He had previously thought Jian Dan was just shy. Now it seemed to be something else entirely. Some things don’t withstand close scrutiny; the more you think about them, the less you should.
Secretary Zhou felt somewhat cruel, especially towards Jian Dan, "President Bo, I just..."
"Perhaps you’re right. I’ve been careless about maintaining our distance before. Let’s go now, no need to say more."
Jian Dan was oblivious to all of this. After seeing Bo Qin off, she dived into the kitchen to help Lin’s mother prepare desserts and cakes for the next day’s outing. Zhao Linlin was also helping, beaming with joy. It was her first time participating in baking these treats, and she found it joyful and fun.
The three of them were busy until late into the night. As the cakes came out of the oven and the aroma filled the air, Zhao Linlin’s eyes widened, "This is my first time making a cake. I didn’t expect to feel such a sense of accomplishment! I kneaded the dough, and I even did the frosting. It’s really so amazing."
Jian Dan laughed, "Next time you come over, Lin’s mother and I will often bake. By then, you’ll feel even more accomplished."
Unknown to Jian Dan, Bo Qin was planning to distance himself from her,