Chapter 33: Stealing Emoticons

The next morning, everyone slept in until the sun was high in the sky. At noon, they gathered with their department colleagues for a meal, then each returned to their rooms to pack up and prepare to leave.

In the group chat they had created during their previous gatherings, Wen Jiu sent a message letting everyone know they were getting ready to head back.

Lin Lehan replied almost instantly: “Okay, sis, drive safe!”

Wen Jiu responded with a little crocodile sticker giving an OK sign, then headed to the underground parking lot.

There was no signal in the parking lot, so it wasn’t until she drove out that Wen Jiu heard her phone ping with new messages.

While waiting for a colleague at the hotel entrance, Wen Jiu checked her messages.

Pei Yi had replied to her earlier message: “Jiujiu, we’re heading back tonight as well. If you’re not in a hurry, why don’t we all go together?”

He’d even added an expectant, starry-eyed emoji.

Wen Jiu smiled at that and replied honestly: “I’m not in a rush, but I came with my colleagues in one car, so I can’t go back with you guys. Make sure you all drive safe too (﹡ˆOˆ﹡)”

Lin Lehan and Pei Yi both replied with an OK gesture.

What surprised Wen Jiu was that Gu Zehuai also replied to her message.

First, he sent back the same OK sticker she’d used, then added a simple: “Drive safe.”

Wen Jiu couldn’t help but laugh out loud again. Just seeing that OK sticker, she could easily imagine Gu Zehuai’s serious face as he made that cute gesture.

Still lost in her imagination, she was startled by a tap on the passenger window.

Seeing it was her colleague, Wen Jiu snapped back to reality and quickly unlocked the door.

As soon as her colleague got in, she teased Wen Jiu with a smile. “What were you looking at? You’re grinning so much.”

Wen Jiu shook her head a little guiltily—she couldn’t exactly say she’d been daydreaming.

Then her colleague added something that left Wen Jiu stunned. “Jiujiu, you look just like someone in love. If I didn’t know you weren’t seeing anyone, I’d really be suspicious, haha.”

She paused, as if realizing something, and looked at Wen Jiu with bright eyes. “Jiujiu, be honest, is there something going on?”

At that, the first face that popped into Wen Jiu’s mind was Gu Zehuai’s.

She quickly tried to shake the thought away and hurriedly shook her head at her colleague.

But her overly flustered reaction only made it look more suspicious.

Her colleague gave her a knowing smile but didn’t press the issue further, respecting the boundaries of gossip and changing the subject to remind Wen Jiu to start driving.

Wen Jiu recovered her composure and focused on the road.

After a little over an hour, they were back in the city.

Wen Jiu dropped her colleague off at home first, then drove to her own apartment.

Standing at her door, Wen Jiu glanced at the tightly shut door across the hall, thinking: They’re probably getting ready to head back now, too.

Without dwelling on it, she let herself in.

Meanwhile, Pei Yi’s group was also packing up.

They hadn’t brought much—just two changes of clothes each. Only Lin Lehan had a small suitcase.

Lin Youqi helped her with it, walking by her side.

As if suddenly remembering something, Lin Lehan looked at Gu Zehuai, covering her mouth with a laugh. “Brother Huai, I never thought you’d use such a cute sticker. You must have stolen it from Jiujiu’s collection.”

Gu Zehuai, caught out, felt a little awkward. He coughed, pretending nothing had happened.

Lin Youqi watched the whole exchange from behind, smiling silently.

Pei Yi, on the other hand, was completely focused on the sticker Wen Jiu had sent, oblivious to everything else.

Gu Zehuai shot him a glance, but in the end, said nothing at all.