Julia Yu turned around and looked back, closing the car door. "Were those dishes just now ordered by Sean Young?"
Sean Young immediately grinned awkwardly. "Yeah, I thought those dishes were great, so I ordered them for you. I already paid for them, so don't worry..."
"Thank you, but you don't need to do that in the future." Julia Yu replied politely, "I can pay for my own meal."
"That's not what I meant, Julia Yu..." Sean Young got flustered. "I just wanted to treat you to a meal. Then, uh, if I don't order for you, can I invite you out to eat alone?"
"Sorry, I have other things to do." Julia Yu’s distant attitude made Sean Young very uncomfortable.
"Julia Yu..." Sean Young didn’t get to finish before Julia Yu got in the car and drove off.
Sean Young stood there like a stone waiting for his wife, watching Julia Yu’s car disappear into the distance, unable to look away.
"Hey, Sean!" A few of Sean Young’s rowdy friends popped out. "That was Julia Yu, right?"
"She’s not that pretty, is she?"
"Yeah, she’s not even as good-looking as Sienna."
"What do you guys know?" Sean Young cursed. "Her aura—none of you could cultivate that in a hundred years! You know what this is? Class! That’s called class!"
"No way, Sean, are you really into her?" someone shouted. "Seriously?"
"Cut the crap! I’m definitely going after the goddess, and you guys better not mess things up for me, or I won’t count you as my brothers anymore." Sean Young slapped his friend’s shoulder hard and stormed off.
The guys looked at each other, silent.
It’s over. Sean is serious this time.
After Sean Young got home, all he could think about was Julia Yu’s cool, distant gaze. The more he thought about it, the less he could sleep.
Sean Young finally sat up, went downstairs, and saw his mom engrossed in a city drama about mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law. He couldn’t help but sit next to her and ask, "Mom, what kind of daughter-in-law do you want?"
Mrs. Young hadn’t expected her son to ask such a question, looking at him as if the sun had risen in the west. "Son, are you feeling okay? Just a few days ago, I asked you to go on a blind date and you acted like it was the end of the world. What’s gotten into you today?"
Sean Young said a little sheepishly, "I just didn’t understand your good intentions before. Mom, tell me, what kind of daughter-in-law do you want?"
Mrs. Young thought for a moment and said, "With our family’s situation, finding someone young and pretty isn’t a problem. But if her background’s too good, we can’t reach that high! Look at you, you didn’t even finish high school, so a top scholar is out of the question."
Sean Young was unwilling to accept it. "Why not?"
"Oh wow, where's that confidence coming from?" Mrs. Young knew her son's level all too well. "You only mess around with those ordinary girls, but those from scholarly families—don’t even dream about it. But son, let me tell you, that Li Si is really something. She’s the best resource you could ever get. If you hadn’t messed up that day, you might’ve even gotten in with the Mo family…"
Listening to Mrs. Young nagging in his ear, Sean Young’s thoughts took a completely different direction.
Mrs. Young’s words echoed in his mind: Girls from scholarly families—don’t even think about it.
He wondered what Julia Yu’s background was.
Sean Young stopped listening to Mrs. Young’s nagging and ran out. "Hey, Lao Song, help me look into someone."
"Who?"
"Julia Yu, Assistant Julia." Sean Young said, "The female assistant to the president of Mo Group."
Bang—a noise came from the other end of the phone as Lao Song dropped something. After a long pause, he finally spoke, "Sean Young, you’ve got guts, huh? You’re even thinking about someone from Mo Group? I’m telling you, that female assistant is way out of your league! If you really try anything with her, your whole family could disappear overnight, believe it or not?"
"Who said I want to do anything to her? Am I that low? I just want to pursue her and find out about her background."
Sean Young hurried to explain.
He couldn’t afford that misunderstanding.
Lao Song finally relaxed, but then tensed up again. "What? You still want to pursue her? Are you nuts? She’s already part of high society now!"
"Enough with the nonsense, just investigate for me!" Xiong Xiong quickly cut him off before he could ramble on.
Lao Song had to psych himself up for a long time before finally saying, "Alright, give me some time. Info on a big shot like that isn’t easy to dig up."
But after Lao Song finished his investigation, even he couldn’t believe his eyes.
Julia Yu started at the very bottom of society and, through her own ability, climbed all the way to the top.
She broke through the barriers of class.
She’s the real deal—a carp leaping over the dragon gate.
Her story is like a poor student becoming the top scholar, then getting promoted to the imperial academy, becoming the emperor’s close companion, and finally rising to be the emperor’s right-hand, honored and titled.
This is just way too inspirational!
Even Lao Song was envious reading it!
No wonder Sean Young fell for her.
Who wouldn’t like such an inspiring woman?
But she’s way too much of a challenge; even Lao Song didn’t think Sean Young had a chance.
Julia Yu’s current status is right there for everyone to see. She’s got countless suitors, and guys like Sean Young, a nouveau riche second-generation, basically have no shot.
When Sean Young got Julia Yu’s background info, he was shocked, but then happily thought that since Julia Yu came from a poor family, she might actually like him.
So, without Julia Yu knowing anything, Sean Young unilaterally announced that he was going to pursue her.
The next morning, when Julia Yu went jogging in the park, she saw Sean Young in brand-new workout gear chasing after her, greeting her like an old friend: "Hey, Assistant Julia, good morning!"
Yu Jie glanced at him and kept jogging, expressionless.
Seeing Julia Yu ignore him, Sean Young hesitated, then caught up again: "Assistant Julia, you like running too? Me too! I’ve always been good at sports since I was a kid…"
This chapter isn’t over yet~.~ Click the next page to keep reading!
For three days in a row, Sean Young showed up on time every day.
Even if she was slow, Julia Yu knew something was up.
Yu Jie took off her headphones and looked at Xiong Xiong. "Are you following me just to tell me you want to keep dating Li Si?"
Sean Young immediately waved his hands. "No, no, I don’t want to date Li Si. I want to pursue you. Miss Julia, give me a chance? I promise I’ll be a good man!"
Yu Jie shook her head speechlessly, put her headphones back on, and continued jogging.
When she got home, Yu Jie saw Li Si looking guilty and shifty-eyed.
"Did you tell Xiong Xiong about my morning jogs?" Yu Jie asked directly.
"Me? No, not me." Li Si denied it completely. "Lots of people go jogging in the morning. Him running into you is totally normal, right?"
"He’s your blind date, just so you know." Julia Yu tapped her finger on the table. "I’m not interested in him."
Li Si smirked maliciously. "Really? I actually think you two are a perfect match. One’s from a poor background, the other’s a nouveau riche. You’re made for each other!"
Looking at Li Si’s malicious grin, Julia Yu really wanted to ask: Li Si, was it me who arranged for you to be kidnapped and assaulted? Why do you always target me? Is it just because I’m easy to bully?
But she didn’t ask.
She knew asking wouldn’t help.
Li Si just needed someone to vent to, no matter who it was or what they’d done. Julia Yu was the unlucky one she picked.
And Julia Yu was the unlucky one Li Si picked.
There’s no reasoning with people like that.
"Whatever makes you happy." Yu Jie said blandly, then turned and went to the bathroom to freshen up.
Days off are always relaxing.
Every day, besides working out and cooking for herself, Julia Yu would drive out to fish, drink tea, and admire flowers.
But no matter where Julia Yu showed up, Sean Young would always appear nearby like it was a coincidence.
After a while, even Julia Yu got annoyed.
Julia Yu stood right in front of Sean Young. "What exactly do you want?"
"I just want to be friends with you." Sean Young stammered. "I want to treat you to a meal."
"Just a meal?" Yu Jie confirmed.
"Yeah, yeah." Sean Young nodded quickly. First a meal, then maybe more.
"Alright." Julia Yu checked her watch. "It’s eleven thirty. I’ll have lunch with you. After lunch, disappear from my sight, ok?"
Sean Young could only agree, though reluctantly.
Julia Yu picked a nearby restaurant at random. Sean Young followed behind, looking absolutely thrilled, trailing her step by step inside.
As soon as the two sat down in the restaurant, in the distance, Song Shizhe happened to look up and saw Julia Yu dining with a man.
Song Shizhe was pleasantly surprised and was about to go over and greet them, but when his gaze landed on Sean Young, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.
As a man, he knew all too well what that kind of look meant.
Who was that young man?
Why was he looking at Julia Yu that way?
Was he planning to pursue Julia Yu?
Song Shizhe had never thought of himself as old; thirty-five was the prime of life!
But looking at the man sitting across from Julia Yu, he looked only about twenty-five or twenty-six, so young it hurt.
Could it be that Julia Yu liked younger, little brother types?
Song Shizhe felt a sudden pang of jealousy.
Song Shizhe had never experienced such feelings before—so complicated, so conflicted.
He couldn’t stay any longer and turned to leave.
He felt his dignity had been challenged.
He needed to think carefully about whether he and Julia Yu were really suited for each other.
Meanwhile, Julia Yu had no idea that having lunch with Sean Young had seriously wounded an older man’s pride.
Of course, even if she knew, she wouldn’t care.
She had no idea that Song Shizhe secretly liked her.
So naturally, she didn’t know that there were already two men in this world who wanted her but couldn’t have her.
Sean Young eagerly ordered for Julia Yu: "Will you eat this? I’ll order it for you."