184: He was jealous and upset

He was jealous and upset

He wants to show his love openly but has to keep it a secret. He understands the reasons behind their hidden relationship, but deep inside he was struggling.

Online posts linking her to someone else make him feel even worse.

Whenever he read the name 'Zheng Qingsheng' in all those posts and comments just right next to her name, it triggers his worries. It's like a sign that he's not the only important person in her life. Each time that name comes up, he feels like he's not good enough, and it makes him feel jealous and upset.

He wishes people saw him with her as they do with the other person. It's like he's not only jealous of them but also of how people see them together.

Luo Zhelan who had only contemplated about these things now that Jiang Yue had brought up the topic, has his head lowered with his brows furrowed.

Jiang Yue who had been reading his expression as he answered her didn't know what to feel.

Although she had already expected he might be upset, but seeing his expression, it seems like what he feels is more than that.

It must have been hard for him to have his first relationship hidden yet his partner is being linked to another man.

Jiang Yue's hand reached out and gently touched Luo Zhelan's cheek.

Her touch made his wandering thoughts fade, bringing him back to the moment, as her warm hand on his skin reminded him of reality.

"And here I thought you might be mad at me for what I did," he stated with a smile on his lips, prompting Jiang Yue to raise her brow, as though asking him what he meant.

Luo Zhelan continued, "Then you called all of a sudden, saying you're coming here. So I guessed it was because I deleted those posts and comments without asking you first."

"Oh," Jiang Yue reacted, looking surprised. She was just about to retract her hand when Luo Zhelan grabbed it and held it on his cheek, "It's not a big deal, honestly. Besides, I understand why you did it. I'm also to blame for giving people something to gossip about."

"Why would you think that's your fault?" Luo Zhelan questioned with a hint of disbelief. "You didn't do anything wrong. People simply wanted a topic for discussion, and you, being back in the spotlight on Weibo, became their prime subject."

He, as her boyfriend, had never even thought of blaming her for knowing Zheng Qingsheng or how she acted around him as there wasn't anything wrong to criticize. It was those others who wanted something to gossip about.

So, when she admitted fault, he was surprised.

Jiang Yue scratched her head.

She understood that this mess was mostly due to her talking to Zheng Qingsheng a few times. While most of it was about work and music, the root cause was her, especially since she wanted to keep their relationship a secret.

She was aware of that and that's why she apologized. She was someone who is not scared to admit her mistakes once she was aware of them.

She knew that which is why she said sorry. When she realized her mistakes, she wasn't afraid to own up to them.

But hearing him say it wasn't her fault left her unsure about her feelings.

She does not want to push the topic anymore so she nodded, and said after a few seconds of thinking, "I'll make it up to you."

"You don't have to—" Jiang Yue didn't let him finish his words as she immediately looked at him sternly and repeated, "I'll make it up to you." 

Luo Zhelan nodded. 

Seeing the food containers she had bought from the cafeteria remain untouched, she questioned, "You haven't eaten those yet?" 

She and Luo Zhelan's mother had been talking for almost half an hour, so she thought he had already eaten the food she had bought. 

"I tried them, but they're not as good as yours."

"Young Master Luo, since when did you get so picky with food? I remember you'd eat whatever I put on your plate."

Luo Zhelan grinned, "Just a while ago, I just realized what I've been missing in life after tasting your cooking."

She playfully tapped his cheek and withdrew her hand as she rolled her eyes, knowing that he was exaggerating again, "The sweet and sour pork was bland and the soup was too thin." 

Then the man beside her laughed, "Ah, so you're aware all this time," he said between laughter, as he didn't expect her to considering how confidently she offered him the food she cooked.

Jiang Yue pursed her lips and stated right after, "It's the thought that counts." 

Although she mainly had lived alone all these years and had learned to cook, it wasn't to the point that it was comparable to what chefs make. 

Sometimes, her cooking is tasty and savory, and there are also times that you just wanna flush it down the drain.

  It was hit or miss.

"I know,"  Luo Zhelan replied with a smile, observing her pouting, "and I still prefer this over anything else. Plus, the blandness helps me avoid certain illnesses."

"My cooking can be too salty sometimes."

"Then that just balances everything, don't you think so?" 

Jiang Yue rolled her eyes, but a hint of a smile tugged at her lips.

***

Days had passed since the two spent time with each other on that afternoon in Luo Corporation. 

It was the day that the He family will hold the 70th birthday banquet celebration of their family's Old Master in their mansion, which is in one of the renowned subdivisions in the Capital, Ember State Subdivision. 

The He family is well-known for having essential roles in the government. Over generations, they have become a respected family that is deeply involved in how the government works and makes decisions.

The head of the He family, the Old Master, was the mayor of the main city for the past sixteen years. He did an excellent job and made the city even better. When he finished his time as mayor, his oldest son decided to run for the position and won. 

He has been leading the city for more than six years now.

The second son, He Jianhong, chose a career in the police force. He has been a police officer for nearly 30 years and he's currently the Deputy Chief Police Officer of the Capital's police department.

The youngest daughter of the family recently got elected to be an official in the city's government. She is just starting her journey in government service.

Being a family with important roles in the government, the He family has many connections to rich and powerful people.

  This made the evening of their event quite special. 

Around 6 o'clock in the evening, a group of well-dressed individuals in elegant dresses and stylish suits began to show up at their grand mansion. 

The air was filled with an air of elegance and sophistication as these guests arrived.

The Luo Family, which owns the leading company in their country, was the most eagerly anticipated group of guests. 

Even people who are already wealthy and influential want to be acquainted with anyone from the Luo Family. Luo Zhelan, who is currently in charge of Luo Corporation and has taken it to new heights, was the person everyone, who was there for ulterior motives, wanted to talk to the most at the event.

Certain elders of different families were even open about the fact that they had brought their daughters to introduce them to Luo Zhelan, and talk to his grandparents, and parents, hoping that perhaps they would consider marrying their son to their daughters, niece, or granddaughters. 

This kind of arranged marriage is common in some families and is seen as normal.

Right before the banquet began, the Luo Family finally made their entrance. The Old Master and his three children even stepped out to welcome their guests.

The Lou Family that attended the banquet included a total of nine individuals. The head of the Luo Family, known as the Old Master Luo Wen, was accompanied by his wife, Dai Zhenya. Due to their old age, they rarely participated in events nowadays, especially the Old Madam. However, since their close friend was hosting a celebration banquet, they couldn't afford to miss it.

The eldest son of the Luo Family, Luo Zexian, arrived with his wife, Yuan Ru, and their son, Luo Zhelan. 

Then, the second son, Luo Zhenkang, came with his daughter, Luo Lina, and his son, Luo Xin.

  As the two respected heads of the Luo family made their entrance side by side, the attending guests couldn't help but notice and raise their eyebrows in curiosity. People were aware that Luo Zexian and Luo Zhenkang didn't get along very well. 

This had been going on for a while.  2

It was because Luo Zexian, the older one, had always done well while his younger brother, Luo Zhenkang, struggled more.

Their children also had their differences, but it wasn't comparable to the strained relationship between Luo Zexian and Luo Zhenkang.

Luo Wen had two more daughters but unfortunately, neither of them was at the event.

The older daughter was in another country, and the younger one lived in a different city with her husband's family. 

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