Jiang Ci moved into the company''s dormitory, which was right across from the office, saving on both commuting costs and rent.


    She, Han Lan, and two girls from the customer service department were assigned to one apartment. It wasn''t very large, and since they moved in late, the sun-facing rooms had already been taken by the two girls from the customer service department. Han Lan wanted to argue with them, but Jiang Ci said, "The rooms don''t have names on them. If they''ve taken them, so be it."


    Han Lan let it go.


    Jiang Ci even gave the larger, shadier room to Han Lan and took the smallest one for herself. It had no windows and poor ventilation, making it stuffy and damp even in the summer.


    After just a few days, Jiang Ci felt that this dark room wasn''t great. The apartment was in a building with many rooms along the hallway, and their unit was already in a bad location. Her room was the worst of all. After washing her clothes, she often had to dry them in the bathroom and then bring them back to her room to get rid of the smell.


    But because this New East Group apartment was in the prime real estate area of Financial Street, and Jiangzhou''s housing prices were among the highest in the country, rent could easily eat up a month''s salary for a fresh graduate. So, employee apartments became a very scarce resource, and you had to apply for a room as soon as you became a full-time employee, or you''d miss out. Jiang Ci knew this, so she didn''t complain.


    On Friday, Jiang Ci got her period.


    She thought to herself: This time going to Grandpa''s house, I finally don''t have to worry about the "to do or not to do" issue.


    In the evening, Jiang Ci received a WeChat message from Lu Yudong: "We''ll go to Grandpa''s house tomorrow, get ready."


    "Okay, Mr. Lu, I''ll meet you near the Fengyue Café at the end of Financial Street."


    She was worried that Lu Yudong would pick her up at the apartment building, which would spark gossip among her colleagues.


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    On Saturday, Jiang Ci got into Lu Yudong''s car.


    This time, Lu Yudong had switched to a high-end Mercedes, not as flashy as a Maybach, just looking like an ordinary luxury car.


    They both sat in the back as usual, not talking much.


    Suddenly, Lu Yudong sniffed the air and asked, "What''s that smell?"


    Jiang Ci snapped back to reality and sniffed too, but didn''t notice any smell.


    Lu Yudong frowned slightly and looked Jiang Ci up and down. "Your clothes, what smell is that?"


    Jiang Ci, used to it, hadn''t noticed any smell herself, but felt a bit embarrassed that Lu Yudong had detected something unpleasant on her.


    After all, she was a girl.


    She thought for a moment. "Is it a musty smell?"


    "Something like that."


    "Oh, maybe it''s because the room I live in never lets clothes dry completely, so over time, they pick up this smell." Jiang Ci instinctively blamed the external environment. After all, if Lu Yudong thought the smell was coming from her, it would be too embarrassing.


    Lu Yudong gave Jiang Ci a silent glance but said nothing, turning his gaze back to the window.


    This visit to Grandpa''s house made Grandpa very happy. Between Grandpa and Jiang Ci, there was a genuine feeling of love and affection typical of a grandparent and grandchild.


    Compared to Lu Yudong, Jiang Ci and Grandpa seemed more like a grandparent-grandchild pair. Perhaps because Lu Yudong was mature beyond his years, he never shared his troubles with Grandpa and always shouldered everything himself, leaving Grandpa unable to help. As a result, Grandpa showed less of the affection typical of his generation towards Lu Yudong, and they seemed more like peers.


    Jiang Ci was different. She always asked Grandpa about everything and chatted with him in detail about topics like the differences in course arrangements between Qingcheng University and Jiangzhou University, where she studied, Grandpa''s interesting teaching experiences, and the troublesome students he encountered. These were things Grandpa never discussed with Lu Yudong, but he spoke freely and animatedly with Jiang Ci.


    While Lu Yudong quietly read alone, he could hear bursts of laughter, as if he were the outsider.


    Grandpa even half-jokingly reminded Jiang Ci, "Little Ci, aren''t you planning to have a child? Grandpa would love to see what a little Ci would be like."


    It was as if Jiang Ci were his real granddaughter.


    Grandpa had already changed his nickname for her from "Little Jiang" to "Little Ci."


    The first time Grandpa called her "Little Ci," Jiang Ci felt a warmth in her heart, and her eyes welled up. It was as if she heard her parents and Shao Zheng calling her "Little Ci" again, all the people closest to her.


    But now, those closest to her were gone, and she didn''t know if her mother would ever have the chance to call her "Little Ci" again.


    Grandpa was the only person in the world who called her "Little Ci" now.


    Jiang Ci''s hand paused as she ate, feeling a deep sense of guilt. She realized that Grandpa''s wish might not come true. She had agreed to a marriage contract with Lu Yudong but had no plans to have children. Once a child was involved, things would become complicated.


    "Grandpa, you, as an intellectual, have always emphasized self-development. Since when have you been so focused on children?" Lu Yudong interjected to help Jiang Ci out.


    "Sigh, I''m not..." Grandpa''s eyes dimmed for a moment. The past was the past, and today was no longer the same.


    Seeing Grandpa like this, Lu Yudong said nothing further. He knew that Grandpa''s wish was absolutely impossible to fulfill.


    Jiang Ci also felt very down, thinking of her father''s last moments and then looking at Grandpa, she felt even more sorrowful.


    After returning to her room, Jiang Ci deliberately placed her sanitary pads on the bedside table.


    With just one glance, Lu Yudong noticed. He understood completely.