The President's Tender Trap

Sunlight streamed through the office window onto Su Wan's desk, casting a bright spot of light. She was busy working on a project, eagerly anticipating the upcoming presentation. However, her peaceful days were shattered by the appearance of a photograph.

That day, Su Wan was concentrating on her work in the office when her phone suddenly vibrated. She looked down and saw a message from Lin Xiaoyu. She opened it, and her heart sank. The message was a forwarded message from a popular social media post containing a photo of Lu Ming and his ex-girlfriend, Annie, standing together, beaming.

"What's going on?" Su Wan felt a surge of unease. Her finger carelessly swiped across the screen, and the details of the photo became clearer. Lu Ming's hand rested gently on Annie's shoulder, a warm smile on his face. The image at that moment was like a thorn, piercing Su Wan's heart.

"Have they really gotten back together?" Countless questions flashed through Su Wan's mind, and her heart grew heavier. Her face gradually paled, and her inner doubts surged like a tide, difficult to calm. Lu Ming hadn't told her that he was meeting his ex. Could it be that he was still obsessed with Annie?

Su Wan tried to calm herself, trying to convince herself that this was just a work encounter, but the uneasiness in her heart was like a lingering shadow, making her unable to rest. She remembered that Lu Ming had mentioned Annie before. Although he said they had broken up long ago, at this moment, seeing this photo, Su Wan couldn't help but feel betrayed.

"What's wrong with you? You look like you're in a bad mood." Lin Xiaoyu walked over, noticed Su Wan's expression, and asked with concern.

"It's okay." Su Wan forced a smile, but her heart was already swirling with anxiety. She didn't want to confide her troubles to her best friend, especially about Lu Ming. She knew Lin Xiaoyu would be worried and might even try to persuade her to give up on the relationship.

"Are you really okay? I just saw the photos you sent and I feel like something is wrong with you." Lin Xiaoyu still didn't give up and continued to ask.

Su Wan shook her head, her heart in turmoil. She wanted to confide in Lin Xiaoyu, but she was afraid of appearing too vulnerable. Ultimately, she chose silence, secretly deciding to get to the bottom of the matter.

Over the next few days, Su Wan's mood grew increasingly depressed. She tried to focus on her work, but found herself constantly distracted. Whenever she saw Lu Ming, the photo would inevitably surface in her mind, and the tension in her heart made it difficult for her to breathe.

Lu Ming seemed to notice Su Wan's change and tried to communicate with her. However, Su Wan was always irritable and even reluctant to say more when facing him. She began to avoid his gaze intentionally or unintentionally, fearing that Lu Ming would see her uneasiness.

"Su Wan, have you had any troubles lately?" Lu Ming finally couldn't help but ask during lunch. He looked at Su Wan, his eyes full of concern and confusion.

"I'm fine." Su Wan's tone was cold, but her heart was filled with guilt. She knew she was running away, but she didn't want to make Lu Ming worry.

"If there's anything, remember to tell me." Lu Ming sighed, a hint of disappointment flashing in his eyes, but he didn't ask any further. Su Wan's indifference made him feel helpless, but he was powerless.

A few days later, Su Wan returned home, her heart pounding with anxiety. She picked up her phone and flipped through the photo, a wave of bitterness welling up in her. She knew Lu Ming and Annie's relationship had long since ended, but that moment of intimacy had sown a seed of doubt in her heart.

Just then, her phone vibrated again, and she saw that it was Lu Ming calling. After hesitating for a moment, she answered the call.

"Su Wan, I want to talk to you." Lu Ming's voice came from the other end of the phone, with a hint of nervousness.

"What to talk about?" Su Wan's voice was cold, but her heart was unsettled.

"About that photo..." Lu Ming said seriously, as if trying to explain.

"I don't want to listen." Su Wan interrupted him, her heart filled with anxiety and anger. She didn't want to hear anything about Annie anymore.

"But this is a misunderstanding." Lu Ming insisted, trying hard to make Su Wan understand the truth.

"Misunderstanding? All I saw was you and her together. How else do you want to explain?" Su Wan's voice became sharp and her emotions became more and more agitated.

"Annie and I were only together for work. It was a PR event that day, and I really didn't know we would be photographed." Lu Ming's voice was filled with anxiety, trying to calm Su Wan down.

"Do you think I will believe it?" Su Wan's heart was full of doubts, and tears in her eyes were almost bursting out.

"I hope you can believe me. I love you, Su Wan." Lu Ming's voice was low and sincere, and every word expressed his feelings.

However, Su Wan's heart was filled with suspicion and anxiety, and she could not listen to Lu Ming's explanation. She tried hard to suppress her inner emotions, but she could not calm down.

"I need time." Su Wan finally said, her voice trembling.

"Su Wan..." Lu Ming wanted to continue persuading her, but Su Wan had already hung up the phone, leaving him alone in silence.

After hanging up the phone, Su Wan's mood became increasingly complicated. She paced back and forth in the room, her mind constantly replaying every word Lu Ming had said. She wanted to believe Lu Ming, wanted to believe his feelings for her, but the doubts in her heart lingered like a haze.

A few days later, Su Wan's mood remained unchanged. She and Lu Ming's communication became less frequent, and she made frequent mistakes at work. The constant anxiety made it difficult for her to concentrate. Lu Ming watched silently from the side, his heart filled with anxiety and helplessness.

Finally, Su Wan decided to confide in Lin Xiaoyu. She asked Lin Xiaoyu to come to a cafe, feeling anxious and expectant.

"Xiaoyu, I'm really annoyed lately." Su Wan said in a low voice after sitting down.

"What happened? Is it related to Lu Ming?" Lin Xiaoyu keenly captured Su Wan's emotions.

"I saw a photo... He was with his ex." Su Wan's voice trembled, and there was a glint of anxiety in her eyes.

"Have you asked him?" Lin Xiaoyu asked, with concern in her eyes.

"I asked, but I still don't believe him in my heart." Su Wan sighed, feeling that her trust in Lu Ming was collapsing.

"You have to believe him. After all, the relationship between you is deep." Lin Xiaoyu tried to help Su Wan, with encouragement in her tone.

"I know, but that photo really makes me upset." Su Wan shook her head helplessly, with a hint of loss in her eyes.

Lin Xiaoyu listened quietly, feeling uneasy. She knew that Su Wan and Lu Ming had a deep bond, but if their trust was broken, it would cause irreparable damage to both of them.

"I think you should have a good talk and clarify each other's thoughts." Lin Xiaoyu suggested, hoping to help Su Wan sort out her thoughts.

"I don't know how to talk about it. I have too many doubts in my heart." Su Wan's voice was low, and her heart was full of struggle.

In the days that followed, Su Wan's inner struggle intensified. She began to frequently recall her memories of Lu Ming, but she was constantly haunted by the photo. She wanted to let it go, but she couldn't completely let it go. Ultimately, she decided to keep her distance and give herself some time to think.