After hearing his childhood friend's analysis, Luo He suddenly understood everything. Reflecting on Bai Tao's various reactions today and the things she had said earlier, Luo He felt a slight sense of guilt. He had to admit that, at first, he had been genuinely amused by Bai Tao and couldn't help but play tricks on her. Of course, Bai Tao was unlike anyone else, always acting contrary to his expectations, which stirred his competitive nature.
For example, when he wanted to stay in the family group chat, Bai Tao outright refused; when he tried to pretend to be her boyfriend, Bai Tao strongly opposed; when he asked her to bring him breakfast, she didn't even respond. But over time, his feelings had quietly changed. When he asked Bai Tao to speak at the meeting, it wasn't just about understanding her better; he also hoped she could shine in front of the leadership, as a way of repaying her for adding him to the family group chat.
Later, when he adopted Bai Tao's plan, though there was an element of impulsiveness, he could tell that her proposal wasn't some half-baked idea. In a moment of desperation, he decided to give it a try. As for the dinner and late-night work sessions that followed, only Luo He knew that it was no longer about playing tricks. Deep down, he just wanted to spend more time with her. Being with Bai Tao made life more interesting, and all those nagging feelings of boredom, anxiety, irritability, and insomnia seemed to disappear whenever they were together. All the negative emotions vanished, leaving only peace.
"Bai Tao, I owe you an apology."
Hearing his voice, Bai Tao looked up, her eyes full of confusion. Luo He's serious expression quickly transformed into that of the commanding CEO she had come to know. Bai Tao was shocked; this was already the second time Luo He had apologized to her.
"President Luo, please don't do this. You're making me uncomfortable," Bai Tao said.
At her words, Luo He's lips curled into a smile, and he gave her a teasing look. "When I'm joking, you say I'm messing with you. When I get serious, you feel uncomfortable. What exactly do you want from me?"
Bai Tao froze, almost as if she had been struck by a spell. She could barely hear what Luo He was saying. That smile, that look—Luo He's charm was overwhelming. If anyone could learn even a little of Luo He's charm, they'd be a heartbreaker.
Seeing Bai Tao staring at him blankly, Luo He's cheeks flushed slightly, and his expression became a bit awkward. He frowned and asked, "What are you looking at?"
"Oh! Uh, you were saying something," Bai Tao snapped back to reality.
Luo He sighed helplessly. "I'm asking, what exactly do you want me to do?"
"Ah?" Bai Tao hadn't fully caught what Luo He had said before, and was now completely lost. What did he mean by what do you want me to do? If she wanted something from him, would he just do it?
Bai Tao naturally didn't dare ask directly. After thinking for a moment, she said, "President Luo, why do you like chatting with my family so much?"
Luo He hesitated for a moment. His brow furrowed slightly, and a trace of conflict appeared on his face. This rare reaction piqued Bai Tao's curiosity.
After a brief pause, Luo He seemed to have made up his mind and asked, "Do you really want to know?"
Bai Tao, seeing Luo He's somewhat awkward expression, replied, "If you don't want to say it, forget it."
Luo He shook his head, not answering immediately. He looked toward the door and called for the waiter. Then he ordered a bottle of red wine.
Bai Tao, utterly confused, wondered what such a simple question had to do with needing alcohol. What kind of story was hidden behind this?
"President Luo, we drove here. Are you planning on drinking alone?" Bai Tao almost said that she'd take a taxi home after dinner, leaving Luo He to drive himself, but quickly realized that might sound rude. So, she phrased it more politely. Even though she wasn't entirely happy about it, if Luo He insisted on drinking, she would, of course, be the one to drive him home.
"We'll both have a drink, and we'll call a cab afterward," Luo He replied.
Bai Tao was never one to shy away from alcohol, so she thought this was fine—it spared her from having to make an extra trip.
Soon, the wine arrived, and the waiter filled their glasses before retreating as instructed.
With the wine ready and the atmosphere set, Bai Tao looked at Luo He.
At that moment, Luo He asked, "What were you asking again?"
Bai Tao couldn't help but laugh at herself.
"I asked why you stay in my family group," she answered.
"Because your family group has the feeling of a real family."
Bai Tao was puzzled by this answer. "But doesn't your family group feel like a family?"
Luo He smiled and shook his head. "Don't talk about my family group; even my home doesn't feel like a home."
"Do you not feel loved at home?" Bai Tao asked, incredulous, thinking that Luo He might not be welcomed in his own family.
Luo He shook his head again. "My grandparents, my dad... even my mom, they all like me."
Bai Tao was even more confused. "Then why doesn't it feel like a family? Is it because your family is too small?"
Luo He smiled bitterly and shook his head. "I have a lot of family, more than you could imagine! My grandfather has three sons and two daughters. My family is huge."
Seeing Bai Tao's bewildered expression, Luo He continued, "But in my family, no one cares about whether we're eating well or staying warm. They only care about whether our grades are good or whether our careers are successful. When we get together, the men talk about business, the women compete in fashion. Everyone speaks with an agenda—either indirectly hinting at something or showing off their achievements. Every conversation is carefully calculated, as everyone is afraid of offending someone else. Before long, someone will make a sarcastic remark that puts everyone in a difficult position."
Bai Tao was stunned. This wasn't a family gathering at all—it was more like a palace intrigue!
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]