Considering Lin Zhiyi still had work in the afternoon, Gong Chen didn’t cause too much trouble.
But he couldn’t help himself a few times, leaving marks on her neck.
Lin Zhiyi looked into the mirror angrily: "You did it on purpose! I’m wearing a semi-high collar, and you just perfectly hit this spot!"
Gong Chen lazily buttoned his shirt: "I want a status, is that too much to ask?"
"I don’t think it’ll work. Miss Bai in just a few words fixed you as my elder, now anything I say seems inappropriate."
Lin Zhiyi tugged at her collar, trying to cover the red marks.
Gong Chen paused, understood: "You keep bringing her up, what do you want to say?"
Lin Zhiyi pursed her lips, indeed, nothing can be hidden from him.
But she didn’t know how to start talking.
Seeing her remain silent for a long time, Gong Chen gently embraced her.
"Before you’d say anything, how come you’re being so secretive now?"
Lin Zhiyi thought for a while, slightly tilted her head to stare at him: "If I say she’s really strange, would you believe me?"
"I believe." Gong Chen replied without hesitation, "I’ve told you, I have never doubted you."
It’s just that before, when he handled matters, he weighed pros and cons too much, thinking as long as she could survive the struggle, it was enough.
He overlooked the grievances she endured.
Lin Zhiyi nodded, continued: "She seems to know me."
"Have you met her before?"
Not even in her past life, let alone now.
Besides, her rival in her past life was Song Wanqiu, someone completely unrelated to her.
Gong Chen pondered for a few seconds: "I’ll have someone look into it, she indeed is an ambitious woman, even more so than Song Wanqiu. Combined with her abilities, if applied to work, she could be a very accomplished designer."
"Advance by retreating, I’m not naive."
Gong Chen uncovered Bai Ruoshu’s pretentiousness in front of him.
"Then why did you give her a ride back? You noticed she had an agenda." Lin Zhiyi wondered.
Gong Chen casually said: "She said her car broke down and asked for a lift, I took the opportunity to come find you."
Lin Zhiyi felt her concern was completely unnecessary.
Yet, Bai Ruoshu claiming Gong Chen as her little uncle, she really had no way to refute, even was left speechless.
Gong Chen gently brushed her cheek, immediately seeing through her worry.
His long fingers lightly pinched her palm.
"You severed ties with the Gong Family long ago, there’s no blood relation between us. If you’re worried, we can get our marriage license this afternoon, the civil affairs bureau will give you an answer, since close relatives cannot marry."
Lin Zhiyi was about to nod before realizing he was leading her into another trap.
"Who’s marrying you."
The impact of marriage in her past life was too great, she always felt not marrying was the right choice.
Gong Chen stared at her, wanting to say something, the car stopped.
Chen Jin knocked on the window before opening the door.
"Third Young Master, we’re at the restaurant."
Lin Zhiyi immediately understood Chen Jin’s subtle hint, her cheeks flushed, quickly flipped open the small table, and got out from the other side.
Gong Chen knew she was shy, so he got out by himself.
Halfway through the meal, Lin Zhiyi secretly observed Gong Chen’s expression.
He seemed in a good mood.
Lin Zhiyi picked up the teapot to pour him tea, smiled.
"Third Young Master, about the charity jewelry..."
Gong Chen looked at the teacup handed to him, took a sip of tea.
"Want to break the rules?"
Lin Zhiyi pressed her lips together.
She didn’t want to overstep either.
After all, she’s currently just Bai Ruoshu’s assistant, unable to directly liaise Bai Ruoshu’s clients on her own.
Gong Chen never discussed Ji Nian Jewelry designs privately with her due to this.
Each has their own rules, breaking them would leave a handle for criticism.
But with Bai Ruoshu’s current attitude towards her, true collaboration seems impossible.
That left her alone to talk to Gong Chen.
But for Lin Zhiyi to say something conclusive, she was at a loss.
She also had no evidence to prove Bai Ruoshu was targeting her.
Gong Chen glanced at her, subtly said: "Assistant Lin, did Miss Bai forget to ask something?"
Lin Zhiyi was stunned for a few seconds, looking up to meet Gong Chen’s eyes, instantly understood.
Being an assistant has its perks!
She immediately got up obsequiously, lifting the teapot to refill Gong Chen’s tea.
"Yes, yes, I’m Miss Bai’s assistant, it’s my duty to help her solve problems. Miss Bai just wanted to ask if Third Young Master had any requirements for Ji Nian Jewelry, I’ll jot them down, so I won’t be clueless when Miss Bai asks."
Gong Chen toyed with the teacup in front of him, gently raised his eyes to stare at Lin Zhiyi.
"I’m not one to repeat myself, so... let’s see how Assistant Lin performs."
Lin Zhiyi bit her lip, she knew he wasn’t kindly reminding her.
"Third Young Master, isn’t bribery prohibited?"
"Depends on the person."
Gong Chen placed his hand on Lin Zhiyi’s hand holding the teapot, gently rubbed.
A complete shameless old flirt.
He’s really putting on an act.
Lin Zhiyi withdrew her hand: "Be proper."
With that, she had just set down the teapot when she was pulled over, confined in his arms.
The man’s long fingers traced up her spine, inducing a wave of tingling.
He lowered his head and said: "This is what’s improper..."
Lin Zhiyi’s breath quickened, pressing against his arm: "I won’t ask anymore, alright?"
The one just grabbed was unlikely to be easily let go by Gong Chen.
He without change of face made a demand: "Kiss me."
Lin Zhiyi looked at him in disbelief, unable to imagine the man who was cold outside, now like a child asking for candy.
While stunned, he had already pressed down her head to kiss her.
Moments later, he released her, dipped his finger in some water, and wrote a word on the table.
Lin Zhiyi was a bit puzzled, looking back at Gong Chen, he just raised his finger to his lips.
This implied something else.
Lin Zhiyi nodded, beginning to ponder the meaning of the word.
Before she figured it out, her phone reminded her lunch break was ending soon.
Gong Chen wiped his hands, stood up: "I’ll send you back."
On the way back, neither mentioned Ji Nian Jewelry again.
Arriving at the studio, as Lin Zhiyi was about to get off, Gong Chen reached out and pulled her.
"I’ll pick you up tonight."
"No." She frowned, tugging at her collar.
The red marks on her neck, she didn’t know how to explain them.
A late autumn mosquito.
It’s simply a poorly concealed excuse.
Gong Chen exerted slight force to pull her closer, raised his hand to wrap a scarf around her neck.
Lin Zhiyi lowered her head and saw the character ’Chen’ embroidered on it.
She carefully examined it this time, realizing it was hand-stitched.
"It’s beautifully embroidered."
"My mom made it for me. It was like she knew she’d pass away and everything at home would change, she couldn’t let go of me, so, despite her illness, she knit the sweaters and scarves I’d use later."
As he spoke, he reached to tie the scarf for Lin Zhiyi.
Lin Zhiyi was slightly surprised, no wonder Li Huan used that facial expression when she wore Gong Chen’s sweater before.
"Then why did you give it to me?"
He tugged the scarf, bringing Lin Zhiyi closer.
With breaths intermingling, Lin Zhiyi’s neck felt warm, she worried about dirtying the scarf.
"It’s too precious, you better keep it."
"It was meant for you, I have my own."
Gong Chen took out the dark red scarf she’d knitted.
Lin Zhiyi glanced at it, recalling the incident in the closet that day.
Her cheeks flushed red, she no longer refused, quickly pushed Gong Chen away.
She got off the car in a hurry and ran off.
Upon entering the studio, she almost bumped into someone.