"Get Han Zhen to date me tomorrow night. I want him to be my partner at the Gu family's cocktail party this Friday!" Gu Liqing said arrogantly.
Gao Xiaoxiao explained patiently, "You should be the one to date him…"
"I don't care. In short, I'll leave this matter to you… his ex-girlfriend!" With that, Gu Liqing stood up gracefully and left in her high heels.
Gao Xiaoxiao clenched her fists in anger. She was just an insignificant junior assistant in Han Tai Corporation's secretary's office. Gu Liqing really thought too highly of her.
Gao Xiaoxiao finished the rest of the coffee in her cup and quickly thought of a strategy. She prayed inwardly, "I'm sorry, Young Master Han. For my son, I have to sell you out. Anyway… you have so many girlfriends. It doesn't matter if you have one more, right?"
• • •
"Yawn!" Just as Han Zhen picked up his wine glass, he suddenly sneezed.
A similarly outstanding man beside him raised his eyebrows slightly with a mischievous look. "Which girl did Young Master Han sleep with last night? Why did he catch a cold?"
"Go to hell," Han Zhen put down his glass and said snappily.
Yu Yuting took a sip of wine and glanced at the empty room. "Tsk, tsk. There's no point in us two men drinking together every day, right?"
"Oh, then what will be interesting?" Han Zhen leaned against the black leather sofa, playing with a metal lighter in his hand as he replied nonchalantly.
Yu Yuting seemed to think carefully before he inched closer to Han Zhen. "Call your Xiaoxiao…"
"Get lost!" Before he could finish, Han Zhen glared at him coldly.
After getting rebuffed, Yu Yuting put his cup back on the table. "You have a wife but you don't go home every day. Do you find it interesting? Not only do you not go home, but you also keep asking me to accompany you. You're wasting my time. I could have been earning money and getting a girl…"
Han Zhen stood up instantly. "Since you think it's boring, I'll get going."
Yu Yuting panicked. "Hey! I was just joking. Don't… Hey, you're really leaving? Hello, Han Zhen!"
The door closed with a slam.
• • •
When Gao Xiaoxiao returned to Cuiyuan Estate, it was already 5:00 pm.
When she opened the door, a chubby little round face greeted her. "Miss Ye, you're back. Dinner is ready. You can eat now."
On the sofa, Gao Xiaobai put down his phone and called obediently, "Mommy."
Gao Xiaoxiao changed her shoes and could not help but go over to lecture him. "Children should not be looking at their phones so often. It's not good for your eyes. If something comes up, I'll call you. Look at it when you hear my voice, alright?"
Gao Xiaobai nodded and moved off the sofa to hold Gao Xiaoxiao's hand. "Let's eat."
Gao Xiaoxiao put down her bag and held the little guy's hand as they walked towards the dining table. Although she did not make him promise, she knew that he had listened to her.
Xiaobai had been very smart since he was young and always listened to Gao Xiaoxiao. He was not like those brats that one saw these days.
But at the same time, he was a quiet child who did not talk much. He could stay in his room for a whole day, playing strange games such as Lego planes and Escape Room.
Gao Xiaoxiao still remembered that when she first sent Xiaobai to kindergarten, a teacher had kindly alerted her to take her child to the doctor. As he was too quiet and not lively, she suspected that he had autism.
Gao Xiaoxiao was furious. She went all out to transfer Xiaobai to the current St. John's Kindergarten.
"Xiaobai is so smart," she thought. "How can he be suffering from autism? He's just more mature and doesn't play well with those childish kids."
Although St. John's Kindergarten's tuition fees were expensive, it had top-notch teachers and education models. There were other children who were as intelligent as Xiaobai. After he attended the kindergarten, he was quickly selected as the junior monitor because of his outstanding performance. He even became the little prince charming of the kindergarten!
It was precisely because of this that, despite being proud, Gao Xiaoxiao had secretly thanked the strange man from back then. He must be a scientist and very handsome. That was why Xiaobai had such outstanding and powerful genes.
Suddenly, the outstanding Xiaobai asked, "Mommy, the teacher said that there's a parent-teacher conference before summer break. Can daddy attend?"
Gao Xiaoxiao was stunned. She looked at her son's puffed up face and said in surprise, "… Uh, your dad has been too busy recently. A parent-teacher meeting… Can Mommy attend?"
Gao Xiaoxiao thought it was strange. Why was Xiao Bai asking about his father more and more recently? In the past, he would only ask about his father once in a long time. This time around, it was only two days ago that he had mentioned his father.
"Okay." After saying that, Gao Xiaobai did not ask any further questions and continued to eat his food.
Gao Xiaoxiao smiled. Recalling what Gao Zhenning said yesterday, she said, "Oh right, Xiaobai, we'll go back to Chongcheng tomorrow night to visit Great-grandma's grave. When you reach school tomorrow, remember to apply for two days off from the teacher. Got it?"
Gao Xiaobai nodded to show that he understood.
Usually, Gao Xiaoxiao was used to letting him handle such small matters himself.
• • •
After dinner, Gao Xiaoxiao looked at the time. It was six o'clock.
Yesterday, Han Zhen did not come home. He did not call her today, so he should be coming home.
Thinking that she would have to catch the train tomorrow night, Gao Xiaoxiao decided to return to the villa early and pack her luggage.
Usually, Han Zhen would return home after 10 o'clock, so there was plenty of time.
After making her decision, Gao Xiaoxiao said to Gao Xiaobai, "Xiaobai, Mommy won't be coming back to sleep tonight. Pack your luggage later. I'll pick you up at the kindergarten tomorrow afternoon."
Gao Xiaobai nodded sensibly. After Gao Xiaoxiao left, he climbed onto the sofa and skillfully took out his small phone to go online.
Two words appeared in the search box: 'Han Zhen!'
• • •
Gao Xiaoxiao took her time to return to Xiangxi Garden. After taking out her key and opening the gated door, she realized that the main door was not locked.
"That's strange. Did I leave in such a hurry yesterday that I forgot to lock the door?" she wondered.
Just as she was lowering her head to change her shoes, a sudden voice startled her. "Where did you go?"
On the sofa in the living room, Han Zhen placed one hand on the back of the sofa and crossed his long legs like an elegant cheetah waiting for an opportunity.
The light in the living room was not switched on. The afterglow of the sun shone through the French window, making his features look more pronounced. He had perfect facial contours.
The sleeves of his white shirt were rolled up to his arms, and he did not have a tie. Three or four shirt buttons were unbuttoned, revealing his well-defined chest.
The usually mysterious man had returned so early today and seemed to have waited a long time…
A chill ran down her spine as she smiled awkwardly. "You're back so early today? Aren't you on a date?"