The bustling Wanchao Building in Jiangcheng, usually filled with people coming and going, was now overcast and enveloped in a heavy atmosphere.
Assistant Chen checked the time. It was almost ten forty, and the food delivery rider still hadn't arrived.
He dialed the number anxiously. "Hello, how much longer will it take... It's not about giving a bad review. I know it's raining heavily outside... Alright, hurry up."
He hung up the phone and glanced into the office. Seeing the operations director coming out, he quickly stepped forward. "General Manager Wang, how's the situation in there?"
General Manager Wang shook his head and made a throat - slitting gesture. "In a bad mood. It's really scary."
Hearing this, Assistant Chen's face turned ashen. His boss was not only highly capable at work but also extremely intimidating.
Actually, he was quite gentle on normal days, but on October 21st every year, his mood seemed particularly bad.
It was said that this was the birthday of his fiancée. Back then, the boss had been excitedly preparing to celebrate her birthday, but then his fiancée had run away with someone else. This had become an eternal wound in his heart.
Even though five years had passed, he still hadn't been able to get over the pain of the past. Every year on this day, he would order a cake and lock himself in his office.
In previous years, Assistant Chen had always taken care of ordering the cake himself. But today, since he was busy with a meeting, he had ordered it through a food delivery service. Who would have thought that there would be a heavy rain, and the delivery rider was stuck in traffic.
Just as Assistant Chen was about to open the door and go in to plead guilty, he heard an apologetic female voice behind him. "Sorry, I'm late. Could you please confirm the order first?"
Assistant Chen checked the time. She was exactly five minutes late, and his boss hated it most when people were late.
"Here's your cake." The delivery rider was a slender girl with a pair of round eyes full of apology.
Assistant Chen didn't take it. He pointed to the office behind him. "You go and deliver it in person!"
Wu Jiangyue looked up and saw the sign "President's Office" on the door. She hesitated. "Is this appropriate?"
Normally, the president wouldn't sign for the food delivery in person, would he?
Assistant Chen was in a difficult position. "It's mainly because you're late. If I go in, I'll be scolded to death."
After he said this, he realized he shouldn't have complained about his boss like this. He coughed lightly and said, "Actually, our boss is a nice person. He's just more particular about this."
Wu Jiangyue looked at the cake box in her hand and understood what he meant. Anyone would be angry if the birthday cake didn't arrive on time!
"I'll go and explain in person!" After all, this was her fault. It would be best for her to go and apologize in person.
Assistant Chen was relieved. "Then I'll trouble you."
After saying that, he scurried away as if he was afraid that Wu Jiangyue would change her mind if he was a bit slower.
Wu Jiangyue took a deep breath, raised her hand, and knocked on the door. A cold "Come in" came from inside.
It was also her birthday today, but unexpectedly, she was going to be scolded.
She touched her nose and carefully pushed the door open.
"Sorry..." The man looked up, and Wu Jiangyue's words got stuck in her throat. The cake box in her hand fell to the ground.
She was awakened by the sound and hurriedly squatted down to clean up the mess. "Sorry."
Jiang He stared intently at the woman squatting on the ground. It took him a long time to confirm that he wasn't dreaming.
He slowly stood up, walked over to her, took several deep breaths, and then found his voice. "Leave it alone. I'll call someone to clean it up."
Wu Jiangyue continued to lower her head and clean up the mess. Her hands were covered in cream, and her voice was so soft that it was almost inaudible. "Sorry, I'll compensate you at the original price."
She wanted him not to give her a bad review, otherwise, her work for the day would be in vain. But then she felt like she was being pitiful, so she swallowed the rest of her words and said "Sorry" again.
"It's okay." Jiang He stared at her fixedly, as if she would disappear like in his dreams if he blinked. "Long time no see. How have you been?"
Wu Jiangyue's hand paused slightly. She picked up the cake box and stood up, looking apologetic. "I'll make up another cake for you. The refund will be returned to your original account..."
"Wu Jiangyue!" Jiang He interrupted her coldly and grabbed her wrist. "Is this all you want to say to me?"
Wu Jiangyue struggled but couldn't break free. She frowned, and her face turned cold. "Sir, it's not appropriate for you to manhandle a married woman, is it?"
"Really?" Jiang He lifted her left hand. "Where's your wedding ring?"
Wu Jiangyue struggled again but still couldn't break free. She gave up struggling. "I forgot to wear it."
Jiang He looked at her almost obsessively. Her eyes were still as bright as ever, but unfortunately, they would never smile at him again.
Looking at the exhaustion in Wu Jiangyue's eyes, Jiang He felt as if his heart had been stabbed by the sharpest knife. The pain made his eyes tremble.
She was the one he had cherished deeply in his heart. Why wasn't she cherished when she was with someone else?
He suddenly pulled Wu Jiangyue forward and almost encircled her in his arms. "Divorce him!"
Wu Jiangyue instinctively struggled, but Jiang He's strength was so great that she couldn't break free.
She was both anxious and heart - broken. Her eyes were red. "Jiang He, what right do you have to say such things! I used to like you, but that doesn't mean you can look down on me and trample on me. I'm Wu Jiangyue, not Wu Pengpeng."
Hearing that long - forgotten name, Jiang He couldn't help but be stunned.
Seeing his reaction, Wu Jiangyue smiled self - deprecatingly. What was she expecting after all?
"What do you know?" Jiang He asked eagerly. Could it be that she had left him because she had known something back then?
Wu Jiangyue threw the cake box on the ground and pried his fingers off with her other hand. "What are you afraid I'll know?"
Jiang He blurted out, "I'm not afraid."
After he returned to the Jiang family that year, he had fallen seriously ill and had been sick on and off for almost half a year. After he recovered, there was an extra memory in his mind.
It was the memory of his previous life. In that life, he had a person he loved deeply, and her name was Wu Pengpeng.
Later, he died for her and came to this world.
He had thought that he would miss Wu Pengpeng very much, but slowly he found that the girl who often appeared in his dreams wasn't Wu Pengpeng but Wu Jiangyue.
Every moment they had spent together had become the most glorious part of his life.
In the five years of separation, these memories had been repeatedly pulled out from his mind to accompany him through the long and painful days.
Jiang He grabbed Wu Jiangyue's arm to stop her from leaving. "I can tell you everything about her."
He told her everything about that year in great detail.
Wu Jiangyue listened, feeling both heart - ache and sadness. He was willing to give up his life for that person.
She wanted to curse at him and ask him why he didn't cherish himself, but suddenly she realized that from beginning to end, she had just been an outsider.
"I used to think that fate was too cruel to me." Jiang He looked at her, his eyes gentle and affectionate. "Later, I realized that I had gone through so many hardships just to meet you."
"Is the person you love me?" Wu Jiangyue looked directly into his eyes, her tone cruel and decisive. "Or do you just see that person's shadow in me?"
"Wu Jiangyue, why don't you want to believe me?" Jiang He tightened his grip on her wrist a little more, wishing he could cut his heart out and show it to her.
Wu Jiangyue lowered her head and stood there for a while before saying very softly, "Jiang He, it's all in the past. Look forward!"
She looked up at him and smiled relievedly. "We're not destined to be together. Don't force it."
They had been separated for five years, and just when they finally reunited, she so easily cut off all their retreats.
A strong sense of unwillingness suddenly welled up in Jiang He's heart.
In these five years, he had never inquired about her news. He had tried to be a qualified "ex - lover" and not disturb her life.
He had let her go to pursue her own happiness, but it seemed that she wasn't happy.
This time, he would never let go again.
"What if I insist on forcing it?" He looked into her eyes, his eyes filled with the courage of a desperate man.
Wu Jiangyue was silent for a long time before saying tiredly, "Then I'll disappear from your sight and from this world."
All of Jiang He's persistence crumbled at that moment.
He wasn't afraid that she didn't love him, nor was he afraid that she hated him. He was only afraid that she would hurt herself.
He held her wrist and stood there for a long time before letting go with red eyes.
"Go." He took the cake box from her hand and said softly, "There's no need to send another cake."
Wu Jiangyue glanced at him, then turned around and left without saying a word.
Jiang He put the cake box on the table, walked to the window, and saw Wu Jiangyue come out of the building. She braved the heavy rain and walked towards the parking lot at the back, quickly disappearing around the corner of the building.
He retracted his gaze, walked to the desk, picked up the phone, and dialed the internal line. "From now on, all the company's desserts will be ordered from..."
He looked at the table. The words "Journey Home" were written on the cake box. He unconsciously repeated it. "Journey Home."