So she was the second Miss Lu's college classmate?
Xu Yanxia recalled that Lu Jingxi had attended a prestigious music conservatory in Shencheng.
When she first started working at the Lu household, she remembered hearing Sister Wang and Sister Sun gossiping. They mentioned that a piano-playing classmate of Lu Jingxi's had visited the house before, and Mrs. Lu had been quite fond of her. Could this be the same person?
However, Lu Jingming still looked as though he barely remembered her. Out of sheer politeness, he gave a brief nod and said, "Hello."
This Miss Jiang, on the other hand, pressed on. "I heard Jingxi caught a cold a couple of days ago. Is she feeling any better now?"
Lu Jingming replied, keeping his tone courteous, "She has already returned to work."
Just then, the elevator finally arrived. They waited for the passengers to exit before stepping inside together.
As the doors slid shut and the elevator began its descent, Jiang Zhiyue turned to Lu Jingming again. "It's been a while since I last visited your family. I happen to be in Rong City for a performance, so I'd love to find some time to drop by and see Auntie."
Once again, Lu Jingming responded with practiced politeness. "My mother happens to be away on a business trip right now. She isn't in the country."
"Oh, I see." She offered a somewhat forced smile. "What a shame."
With a soft ding, the elevator stopped on the third floor, and two more young women walked in.
The group naturally stepped back to make room.
Miss Jiang then shifted her gaze toward Xu Yanxia. "And this must be... your family's chef, right? I believe I saw her trending online a couple of days ago."
Xu Yanxia offered a polite nod. "Hello."
"The articles mentioned that you're an exceptional cook and even know a lot about dietary therapy. That's quite impressive." Miss Jiang continued, "If it's convenient, why don't you add my assistant on WeChat? You can teach her how to cook, too."
Lu Jingming couldn't help but frown.
The underlying tone of entitlement and command in her words was far too obvious, making it incredibly off-putting.
Xu Yanxia, however, simply smiled with perfect grace. "You flatter me, it's nothing much. But I did recently start a TikTok account where I post cooking videos regularly. You can have your assistant follow my page—it might be easier for her to learn that way."
Before Jiang Zhiyue could respond, the two young women who had just boarded the elevator immediately turned around. Staring at Xu Yanxia, their faces lit up with pleasant surprise.
"Wait, is it really you, Xiaoxia? We're your fans! We actually just watched your newest video! That sizzling beef offal looked absolutely mouthwatering!"
"Yes, oh my gosh! Can we take a picture with you?"
Running into fans in an elevator was the last thing Xu Yanxia had expected. She smiled warmly and said, "Of course."
Lu Jingming willingly stepped up to play the role of photographer, taking a few pictures for them.
As the elevator reached the ground floor, the two girls cheerfully waved goodbye and stepped out.
The doors slid shut again, continuing its descent toward the basement parking garage.
In the quiet space of the elevator car, a sudden laugh broke the silence. "Must be nice being an internet celebrity."
"..."
Xu Yanxia cast a sidelong glance at Jiang Zhiyue. Why did that comment sound so distinctly passive-aggressive?
Without missing a beat, Jiang Zhiyue turned her attention back to Lu Jingming. "Oh, by the way, Jingming, our orchestra is performing at the concert hall tomorrow night. If you're free, I'd love for you to come. I'll be performing three solo pieces this time."
However, Lu Jingming merely gave a flat reply. "My apologies. I've been quite busy lately."
Right on cue, the elevator chimed as it arrived at the first basement level.
"Let's go."
Without sparing Jiang Zhiyue another glance, he spoke softly to Xu Yanxia and guided her out of the elevator.
Jiang Zhiyue hesitated for a moment and started to follow them out, only to be stopped by her assistant. "This is the VIP parking garage. Our ride is waiting on B2."
...
Neither of them paid any mind to the minor encounter. Less than ten minutes after CEO Lu's luxury car glided out of the Jinji Center parking garage, they arrived at their next destination.
It was the same boutique Mrs. Lu had taken Xu Yanxia to the last time they went shopping. A minimalist logo hung against the massive glass storefront, its sleek, gold-embossed lettering exuding an undeniable sense of luxury.
The moment Xu Yanxia and Lu Jingming approached the entrance, the same female manager from their previous visit hurried out to greet them.
"Welcome, Mr. Lu, Miss Xu."
Beaming with enthusiasm, the manager ushered them inside. "The outfits are all ready. Miss Xu, you can head straight in to try them on."
"I'll wait for you out here, then."
Lu Jingming took a seat on the plush sofa in the VIP lounge and pulled out his phone to check his work apps.
During their hotpot meal earlier, he had received notifications for several emails but hadn't bothered to read them.
Xu Yanxia followed two sales associates into the private fitting area.
"Hello, Miss Xu! I'm not sure if you remember me, but I helped you with your fittings last time," the older of the two associates greeted her with a warm, familiar smile.
In truth, Xu Yanxia didn't really remember her, but she offered a polite smile anyway. "Yes, of course. What a coincidence."
The associate then went over the selections. "Mrs. Lu picked out three different styles of dresses for you this time. Let's start with this casual, everyday look."
With that, she brought out a white sleeveless dress. The design featured clean black accent lines and a slightly asymmetrical hemline, boasting a sharp, tailored cut.
Xu Yanxia agreed and took the dress into the fitting room. When she stepped back out, both associates' eyes lit up.
"You look absolutely stunning in this!"
"And the fit is perfect."
The two women stepped forward to smooth out the fabric, continuing their praises. "This piece is fantastic for everyday wear, and it's incredibly versatile. Whether you pair it with heels or flats, a little clutch or even a small backpack, it works flawlessly."
"Is there anything you feel needs to be altered?"
Xu Yanxia wasn't particularly picky when it came to clothes. She felt the dress fit her like a glove, and the cut perfectly accentuated her slender waist and long legs.
She shook her head. "I think it's great as it is. It doesn't need any adjustments, does it?"
Catching the slight hesitation in her voice, the associate suggested, "Would you like Mr. Lu to take a look and give his opinion?"
Xu Yanxia recalled her previous shopping trip with Mrs. Lu. Since these were technically her work clothes, it made sense to have her employer approve them.
And since Mrs. Lu wasn't here today, her eldest son would just have to be the judge.
She nodded and followed the associate out of the fitting area.
"Mr. Lu, do you think there's anything that needs to be altered on Miss Xu's dress?"
At the associate's prompt, Lu Jingming looked up from his emails, instantly captivated by the sight before him.
It was the first time he had ever seen Xu Yanxia in a dress like this. The cinched waist highlighted her slender figure, while the slightly flared, asymmetrical hem beautifully accentuated her long legs. Even the delicate curve of her ankles seemed to radiate a vibrant, youthful energy.
She looked stylish and sophisticated, yet undeniably playful.
"It looks wonderful."
He smiled and gave an approving nod, though his gaze lingered on her, reluctant to look away.
The associate chimed in, "Let's go ahead and try on the second outfit, then."
With that, she guided Xu Yanxia back into the fitting room.
Lu Jingming forced his eyes back to his phone screen. After quickly firing off replies to two emails, he gave up on working altogether. He stood up and strolled over to the entrance of the fitting room corridor.
This way, he would be the first to see her the second she stepped out.
Sure enough, it wasn't long before Xu Yanxia emerged in her next outfit.
This time, she wore an off-the-shoulder, cream-colored long evening gown.
The shop assistant had even helped pin her hair up, highlighting her fair skin and the long, elegant curve of her neck. The exquisite lace embroidery on the dress further accentuated her delicate facial features.
"Your figure is absolutely perfect for this dress."
The young assistant who was helping her adjust the hemline looked up with eyes full of envy. "Anyone without sufficiently long legs wouldn't be able to pull off such a beautiful silhouette."
"Yes, exactly!"
The female manager attending to them also went into full flattery mode. "Mrs. Lu specifically commissioned designer Vivian to create this evening gown for you. It complements your aura perfectly!"
However, Xu Yanxia seemed a bit bewildered. She stared at her reflection in the mirror, looking at it again and again before asking doubtfully, "Do I really need to dress this formally?"
After speaking, she cast an inquiring glance at Lu Jingming through the mirror.
She looked like a little princess lost in a fairy-tale forest, innocent and pure.
Snapping out of his daze, Lu Jingming smiled at her through the mirror and said, "I think it's beautiful."
"This dress is actually incredibly versatile,"
the female manager quickly chimed in from the side. "It is perfect for evening banquets, but it is also suitable for some everyday fashion events."
But Xu Yanxia was still slightly puzzled. "But I basically have no need to attend events like that right now."
Lu Jingming, however, replied, "You might in the future. I think it's wonderful."
"...Alright then."
Xu Yanxia nodded.
—After all, it was essentially a work uniform. Since the boss had made the call, it wasn't her place to say anything else.
She then followed the assistant back to try on the third outfit.
Lu Jingming continued to stand there waiting for her.
However, this time, it seemed to take a bit longer.
