rose ashes

The lounge instantly fell into silence and awkwardness. Luo Yang and the two employees in the tea room looked at each other, seeming to want to say something but stopping themselves.

The president’s wife, who they had been talking about as a “powerful character” just a second ago, suddenly appeared beside them.

"What are you doing here?" Ye Gu probably didn't know that a standard tea room culture had just been played out here, and he raised his eyebrows and looked at Luo Yang.

Luo Yang held her forehead helplessly and said, "Nothing, let's go." She just wanted to escape from this embarrassing situation as soon as possible. Although she didn't care what others thought of her, it was somewhat embarrassing for those employees to see her.

After delivering the documents and meeting Ye Gu, Luo Yang was about to leave, but was stopped by him.
"It's noon now, let's eat first and then leave."

Liu Min was slightly startled and whispered, "Mr. Ye, the meal you ordered today is only for one person."

Ye Gu's eyes were stern, "Let's go to the cafeteria."

Liu Min: “???”
The canteen food of Hengyuan Group is well-known in the industry for its excellence, but Ye Gu has never eaten there. Although the employees in the company are very curious, they will not deliberately spy on the boss's habits, so they enjoy the company's benefits with peace of mind.

In the past, he had ordered all of Ye Gu's meals in advance at the restaurants designated by Ye Gu. He was a little scared when he was suddenly told to go to the cafeteria. Mr. Ye had a lot of dietary restrictions, and he had been repeatedly told about this requirement since he applied for the position of general assistant.

If he rushed to the cafeteria now, the dishes would definitely not be completely redone just for him. Liu Min was afraid that there would be another bloody storm in the cafeteria.

Luo Yang didn't shy away, but said openly, tilting his head slightly, "Okay."
She had not visited Ye Gu's company yet. In fact, she knew some news about Ye Gu when she was abroad, but they were all scattered and fragmentary. She only knew roughly that he started a company and did not inherit the mantle according to Mr. Ye's requirements, and he suffered a lot for this.

Over the years, Luo Yang has been preparing to return to China, but when she looked back she realized that Ye Gu had already left long before her.

Since Ye Gu said so, Liu Min had no choice but to follow along in case anything went wrong so that he could make amends.

Liu Min is very talkative, probably because he is someone like Ye Gu who can't utter a word for a long time. If he were more quiet, he would have been bored to death in the office.

"Ma'am, do I look familiar to you?"

Luo Yang smiled, but actually looked at Liu Min seriously. He had a vague memory in his mind, but he still couldn't remember the name.

Liu Min clapped his hands, pointed at the cup in Ye Gu's hand, and whispered, "Milk tea, the last cup of Spring Milk!"

That night, Luo Yang was already in a low mood and was planning to buy a cup of hot drink to relieve her depressed mood. However, just after she ordered, a breathless man pushed the door open and also wanted to order a cup of Spring Limited Edition...

Luo Yang was surprised, "It's you."
She remembered that although she would not deliberately remember what happened in her daily life, she was not forgetful either. She could find that event from her memory if it was mentioned at the slightest.

Liu Min smiled. He had always wanted to say thank you to Luo Yang, but he didn't expect that they were so destined to be together. Luo Yang is now the wife of the president of the group.

Ye Gu was walking very fast in front. When he turned around, he saw Liu Min and Luo Yang chatting happily. He cleared his throat uncomfortably and said, "What are you talking about so happily? Assistant Liu, I think you have too little to do."

Liu Min quickly fell silent, made a zipper-zipping gesture, and kept silent.

Luo Yang found it amusing. The Ye Gu that Liu Min mentioned just now was different from every Ye Gu in her memory.

Liu Min told her in detail the specifications of milk tea that Ye Gu liked and the rules regarding milk tea in the company. Luo Yang didn't know when Ye Gu had so many complicated specifications for milk tea. Besides, he always claimed that he was a "tough guy who doesn't drink milk tea."

Now they have even openly written the specifications of milk tea into the company's rules and regulations, and even do not allow people to drink coffee in front of him. This makes Luo Yang really laugh and cry.

She used to like drinking milk tea, but in recent years she has been drinking coffee more frequently.

The cafeteria is bright and clean, with a decoration style that is very different from Ye Gu's office. Most of the colors are white, which brightens your mood.

The large floor-to-ceiling windows provide a wide view of the high-rise buildings opposite, and you can look down to see the hustle and bustle of traffic downstairs.
There is also a bar by the window where employees are resting or chatting. The company atmosphere is open and comfortable, which doesn't quite match Ye Gu.

Ye Gu led her along the way. From time to time, people would cast curious and surprised glances at her, and there would even be suppressed exclamations, as if they had seen some extraordinary person.

Luo Yang was puzzled, "Why are your employees so surprised to see you?"

Ye Gu said seriously, and handed her a plate naturally: "Because they all respect me more."

Liu Min: “…”
It's because he never comes to the cafeteria. If he had the courage, he would want to tell Ye Gu loudly that it was not respect, but fear.

Luo Yang was no pushover either. She could tell that the employees were obviously surprised that Ye Gu came to the cafeteria. But seeing how shamelessly he spoke, she actually felt a little reluctant to expose him.

I just held back my smile and nodded.

Luo Yang found a seat by the window and sat down. Ye Gu sat down next to her. Just as Liu Min was about to leave, Ye Gu stopped him.
"Let's eat together, and then we'll have the meeting."

Liu Min's shoulders trembled in fear, and he almost dropped his chopsticks. He smiled awkwardly, "Okay...Okay, Mr. Ye."

After Ye Gu came, the cafeteria consciously entered silent mode, and even the sound of employees putting down their plates after eating was reduced to a minimum. Luo Yang was amused, and finally couldn't help it. He poked his chopsticks and said calmly: "Is Mr. Ye usually very strict? Your employees seem to be afraid of you?"
Liu Min unconsciously wanted to interrupt, "That's not the case..." Halfway through his words, he felt a gaze as sharp as ice from his boss, and immediately turned off the microphone and ate quietly.

Ye Gu calmed down, looked around, and suddenly called out to a person who was about to walk past him quickly.

The man dropped his chopsticks on the ground like a frightened bird.
Ye Gu asked him seriously, "Do you think I'm fierce?"

That person didn't dare to tell the truth, and kept shaking his head, "This is nonsense... Ye, President Ye is like a spring breeze..."
After saying that, he fled at full speed, using work as an excuse.

Luo Yang couldn't hold it back, and beside Ye Gu, his shoulders trembled, and finally he laughed out loud.

Liu Min wanted to laugh, but he was sitting opposite Ye Gu, and all he could see was Ye Gu's serious expression.
He could only hold it in, feeling miserable.

If suffocating to death is considered an occupational injury, then it's not impossible for him to do so.

"Is this funny?" Ye Gu coughed lightly, his voice stiff and with a hint of guilty feeling.

Luo Yang laughed so hard that he couldn't straighten his back. His forehead rested on the back of his hand which was on the edge of the table. He just tilted his head and looked at Ye Gu.
"Isn't this funny? You really should give that employee a raise for making things difficult for him. Hahahaha."

The natural light from outside the window fell on Luo Yang, shrouded in a thick and dreamy atmosphere. For a moment, he thought he was back in his student days.

He was also her desk mate. He watched her chatting with her friends during class breaks. When she heard something funny, she would laugh without any manner at all, rocking back and forth in her seat, with red lips and white teeth.

But since Yang Yue left, she has become unrecognizable. She wrapped herself up tightly, unwilling to accept comfort from the outside world, and firmly denied the difficulties she was experiencing.

It was as if I had really grown up overnight, from a girl who could laugh anytime and anywhere to a person who would not shed a tear even if her heart was full of pain.

She also began to streamline her social life and never spent any time on anything other than what was necessary.

He even felt as if the Luo Yang in front of him, who was laughing freely, was from another world.

Under the sunlight, Liu Min was a little surprised that Ye Gu's face was rarely stained with a smile that was associated with gentleness.
He rubbed his eyes, wondering if he was hallucinating.

/ / /
Luo Yang left early in the afternoon because of some matters at the consulting office.

The meeting in the afternoon was the most mild-mannered one that Liu Min had ever attended. During the overseas video conference, the public relations manager of the branch company made two insignificant mistakes, but Ye Gu did not pursue them.

In the past, if the manager had not experienced Ye Gu's scolding, he would not have been considered to have truly participated in the meeting.

Liu Min was confused, but didn't ask any more questions.

On the way back to Yinyue State Guest House, Ye Guwu asked: "Liu Min, tell me the truth, do I really look fierce?"

Liu Min swallowed his saliva, and looked at Ye Gu through the rearview mirror. He was torn between his conscience and his conscience in his mind, jumping back and forth between telling the truth and lying.

Finally, he surrendered, "Boss, to be honest, there is still a little bit," he panted, pinched his thumb with his index finger and made a very strict gesture, "but, it's really only this little bit!"

Ye deliberately did not look gloomy, but just turned his head to look out the window, gently twisting his index finger.
"So she will be afraid too..."

Liu Min didn't hear clearly, "Ah? Boss, what did you say?"

Ye Gu said vaguely, "Nothing."

/ / /
When Ye Gu got home, Luo Yang had just finished taking a shower and was wearing a suspenders and had not had time to put on her coat. When she suddenly saw the person at the door, Luo Yang was stunned for a second and calmly put on her coat.

It seemed that the atmosphere between the two people began to become subtle.

"Have you eaten?" Ye Gu still spoke in a casual tone, but he didn't look into her eyes uncomfortably, just wandering around the room.

Luo Yang raised his eyes slightly, pursed his lips, pondered for a moment, and said: "No, I plan to cook some noodles."

"Cook two bowls."
Ye Gu stood up, bringing up a gust of wind, and the faint scent of ice spring water passed over Luo Yang's nose.

Luo Yang watched him step firmly into the kitchen with her eyes slightly narrowed.
Muttering softly: "...Didn't you say you would never go into the kitchen?"

Suddenly, an explosive image flashed through Luo Yang's mind, and she hurried to the kitchen without even having time to tie up her hair.

Ye Gu is a person who once cooked a bowl of instant noodles by himself and caused the whole kitchen to explode!
(End of this chapter)