Gao Xiaoxiao hung up and stuffed her phone back into her pocket nonchalantly. "Oh, someone got the wrong number."
At this moment, there was a red light at the crossing in front. Han Zhen stopped the car and placed his fingers on the steering wheel casually. "A call from your boyfriend?"
Gao Xiaoxiao almost choked. She looked at Han Zhen in exasperation and said, "Do you think I'm like you…"
"Hehe." Han Zhen chuckled and turned to look into her eyes.
Behind the thick glasses, her glistening eyes were bright and clear, with a hint of anger.
"What's wrong with me?" His tone was casual and somewhat flippant. "If you have any dissatisfaction with me, your husband, feel free to tell me."
Gao Xiaoxiao's eyes twitched, perhaps because that face of his was too good-looking. But she quickly turned around and said, "There's none. Young Master Han must be joking."
Even if she was dissatisfied, she would not dare to mention it. "Don't you want the money?" she reminded herself.
"… Little Xiaoxiao, can you not call me Young Master Han in private? It sounds awkward." Han Zhen seemed to be staring at her the whole time. As he spoke, Gao Xiaoxiao could smell a faint hint of masculinity.
Gao Xiaoxiao did not turn around. After a long while, she mumbled, "… Oh."
• • •
Neither of them spoke again, and the phone did not ring again.
They finally arrived at the train station.
"… Just stop here," Gao Xiaoxiao said.
Han Zhen stopped the car and unbuckled his seat belt with a smile. "I'll walk you in."
"… No need, Young Master Han. I can go in by myself." Gao Xiaoxiao wanted to cry with frustration. "What is going on with him today?" she thought. "Is he embracing the spirit of altruism?"
"You're calling me Young Master Han again?" He frowned.
"…Uh, Ah Zhen." Gao Xiaoxiao felt helpless.
"Be good, I'll walk you in." With that, he picked up her bag and got out of the car.
Gao Xiaoxiao was stunned for a moment before she quickly got out of the car and smiled ingratiatingly at him. "Haha, give me my bag. It's such a short distance. I can go in by myself. I won't hold you up."
Han Zhen looked down at her with a faint smile in his amorous eyes. "Why do I feel that you despise me as your husband?"
Feeling flustered, Gao Xiaoxiao waved her hand. "No, no! You're mistaken. Why would I despise you?"
Han Zhen stared at her flustered expression, wanting to read her.
Gao Xiaoxiao faked a smile and took the bag from him. "Then… I'll get going first! Goodbye!"
With that said, she charged forward as if a ghost was chasing her.
Han Zhen stood there with his hands in his pockets, looking thoughtful.
• • •
Gao Xiaoxiao walked briskly into the waiting area and stealthily turned around to make sure that Han Zhen had driven away. She heaved a sigh of relief and immediately took out her phone as she backtracked.
Gao Xiaoxiao got into a taxi in a huff as she said, "Hello, Xiaobai, are you still at the kindergarten? I'm sorry. I'll pick you up right away."
"I've already gone home by myself. Don't worry, Mommy. I'll wait for you at the entrance of the neighborhood." Gao Xiaobai said in his childish voice.
Gao Xiaoxiao smiled. "Okay."
• • •
When the taxi arrived at the entrance of the neighborhood, Gao Xiaobai was standing by himself, carrying a big backpack.
Gao Xiaoxiao got out of the taxi and moved to the backseat with Xiaobai. She told the driver to go back the way she came.
As soon as the taxi drove off, Gao Xiaobai blinked and looked at her. "Mommy, you still haven't explained why you hung up on me just now."
"… Uh, just now, my… phone ran out of battery. Uh, no, my hand slipped…" Gao Xiaoxiao's voice became fainter as she spoke.
She could lie through her teeth with others, but with her son, she would falter as she looked at those big, black eyes that were so clear…
Gao Xiaobai sighed. "You can think of a worse reason."
Gao Xiaoxiao put her arm around his shoulder awkwardly and changed the topic. "… Uh, Xiaobai, shall we go buy some dried bamboo shoots tomorrow? We can fry vegetables and make soup…"
"What's the point of buying? You don't even know how to cook." Gao Xiaobai shrugged his small shoulders with a look of disdain.
Gao Xiaoxiao did not know what to say.
• • •
On the train, in order to make it up to her son, Gao Xiaoxiao specially bought Haagen-Dazs icecream for Xiaobai.
Gao Xiaobai sat on the lower bunk, eating the icecream with a small spoon in his hand. Because he was small, his little legs were swinging in the air.
An elegantly dressed woman sat on the lower bunk opposite him. She looked at Xiaobai for a long time, her eyes filled with a loving smile. "Your son is really cute and obedient."
Gao Xiaoxiao smiled politely. "Thank you."
The woman could not help but look at Gao Xiaoxiao a few times. "You're going to Chongcheng too?"
"That's right." Gao Xiaoxiao nodded calmly. After Xiaobai finished his icecream, she got up and took the little guy to wash up.
• • •
Meanwhile, at the Golden Ground Clubhouse.
Gu Liqing had been sitting for almost an hour, looking elegant and demure. Just as she thought that she had been stood up, a tall figure appeared.
He was wearing a clean cut shirt that was smart and chic. His footsteps, neither fast nor slow, were casual and relaxed. There was a faint smile on his handsome face, and he exuded a distinctive aura.
As he approached, Gu Liqing realized she had been staring at him with baited breath.
"There was a traffic jam on the way. Sorry to have kept you waiting, Ms. Gu," Han Zhen said as he pulled out a chair.
Gu Liqing lowered her head shyly and replied gently, "Young Master Han is busy every day. It's alright for me to wait for a while."
Han Zhen smiled and sat down to order food.
• • •
They enjoyed a quiet dinner with dishes from Western cuisine.
As the waiter was serving dessert, Gu Liqing looked at the elegant Han Zhen with adoration in her eyes. She blurted, "Young Master Han, Gu Corporation has a celebratory feast in Lidu this Saturday. I wonder… if I can have the honor of inviting you to join us?"
Han Zhen put down his glass of red wine. "If I remember correctly, the invitation was sent to me a week ago."
Gu Liqing could not read Han Zhen's thoughts. She did not know if he was acting dumb, so she cut to the chase. "What I mean is, will Young Master Han be my partner that day?"
With that, she reached out to brush away the stray hair at her temple, propped her chin on her hand, and looked at him with fervent and expressive eyes.