Lumuyao was consumed by jealousy and couldn't help but make a derogatory comment. "They were inside for so long, who knows what they were doing... Probably some shady business."
"Yaoyao!" Xu Aiqin immediately understood what Lumuyao was hinting at, but Mr. Si's bodyguard was still ahead of them. If he accidentally overheard, it would only make matters worse for the Lu family.
Lumuyao bit her lip, unwillingly gazing at the figure ahead of them...
If the person holding onto Mr. Si's arm was her... how wonderful would that be!
Fifteen minutes later.
The car arrived in front of a serene and elegant Chinese-style villa.
This was the residence of Si Hesong, covering an area of over ten thousand square meters.
With its black tiles and white exterior walls, it exuded a subtle antique charm. The wooden railings and doors showcased a grand atmosphere. The roof featured a flying eave design, with an overall symmetrical and stable structure.
It possessed a hint of the Huizhou architectural style while retaining the charm of the Jiangnan region. It was named "Xiyuan" because of the clear creek flowing around it.
"Yanyan, we're home!" Si Hesong's enthusiasm was high as he warmly greeted, "Let's sit in the courtyard. I'll have some good tea brewed, and do you have any favorite snacks? I can have them made for you."
"No need, Grandfather." Qingyan raised a faint smile and obediently declined, "I still need to go back to work, so I won't go inside."
Si Hesong's excitement waned, "You're leaving?"
"Madam, you've arrived at the doorstep. How about not going to the company today?" The butler, Wen, also liked her very much and tried to persuade her, "Come in and rest for a while, have some tea, and eat something."
"There are some matters to handle at the company." Qingyan replied gently, "Next time, perhaps."
"What time do you finish work? I'll have Chen go and pick you up..." Although Si Hesong was reluctant, he didn't want to delay his daughter-in-law's affairs, "Have dinner at my place tonight and chat with me?"
"The old master's health hasn't fully recovered. He needs Madam to take a look..." Wen hurriedly nudged Si Hesong, gesturing with his eyebrows.
"Oh, my heart..." Si Hesong immediately played along, "Yanyan, you can check on me later tonight. I still feel a bit uncomfortable here... cough, cough..."
Qingyan saw through the old man's clumsy and exaggerated acting but didn't expose him, instead, she curved her lips into a smile. "Alright."
"That's great! What do you like to eat? I'll have the kitchen prepare!" Si Hesong realized he was getting too excited and pretended to cough again, speaking weakly, "Are there any dietary restrictions? Cough, cough..."
"I'm fine with anything." Qingyan's eyes gleamed with elegance, her temperament otherworldly, "Don't prepare too much."
"Okay." Si Hesong was as happy as a child, "Then I'll have the driver take you to the company first. After work, you can come with Chen."
"Alright."
After Qingyan left, Si Hesong immediately regained his spirits and asked with a smile, "So, did I play my part well just now?"
Wenguan, the housekeeper, gestured with his thumb and forefinger, saying, "There was a little bit of exaggeration..."
"Really?" Si Hesong looked in the direction the car had left. "Then I'll tone down my performance next time..."
Once inside the house, he took out his phone and called Si Yechen, adopting a firm attitude.
"I don't care what urgent matters you have, but tonight, you must pick up Yanyan after work and come to my place for dinner together."
"Okay." Unexpectedly, the man on the other end of the phone agreed quickly, without even half a second of consideration.
Si Hesong: ???
Why did he agree so readily?! Did he mishear something?!
"I warn you! Yanyan is the daughter-in-law I've set my eyes on. You're not allowed to play any tricks!"
"She gets off work at five." Si Yechen's deep voice came through the other end. "I'll be at your place before six."
Implication: Have dinner prepared before six.
Si Hesong: ???
Did he imagine things? Did that brat really say that himself?
"As for the dessert after dinner," Si Yechen seemed to know Qingyan's taste well, explaining gently, "she doesn't like chocolate-flavored things, but prepare more strawberry-flavored ones."
Si Hesong: ???
After hanging up the phone, Si Hesong still couldn't recover from his shock. He felt like his grandson had become an enigma, someone he couldn't figure out.
Wenguan, the housekeeper, thought that the old master had hit a wall and took it upon himself to alleviate his worries. "Old Master, I feel like the progress between the young master and the young madam is slow. Why don't we add some fuel tonight?"
"Do you have any good ideas?" Si Hesong was actually curious.
"We could..." Wenguan leaned in and whispered a plan into his ear. Seeing the old master's smiling face, his own smile expanded. "Then I'll have the staff below prepare the room in advance..."
On the other side.
Qingyan took the elevator and arrived on the twentieth floor of the company. From a distance, she saw the old expert Wang Fu standing with a few people outside her office, waiting for her.
"General Manager Qing!" Wang Fu became excited when he saw her and approached her. "You finally came! There's a national-level drug development competition next week. I signed up our company to increase our visibility!"
"Oh." Qingyan replied indifferently. "That's good. Are you going alone?"
"No, it's our company's team. There will be a total of six people going."
"Oh." Qingyan nodded, pushing open the door to her office. "Well, good luck to all of you."
"President Qing... "
"Do you need something?"
"This time, you are leading the competition," Wang Fu said with a smile, "I've put your name on the list."
Qing Yan: ?????
"Last time, when I saw you in the lab making medicine, all of us were in awe, knowing that your abilities surpass ours..."
"I don't have time."
For a small-scale competition like this, she didn't have the time to participate.
"President Qing, our company has been mocked in the industry for many years. If we can turn things around this time, no one will dare to laugh at us anymore!" said Liang Jian, with a determined look.
Others also chimed in:
"Our business will skyrocket!"
"You are the backbone of the company. With you, our morale is soaring. Ranking in the top ten is a sure thing!"
"President Qing, will you go with us?"
"I don't have time next week," Qing Yan had a pile of things to handle herself. Coming to this company every day had already made her incredibly busy, not to mention that someone was constantly bothering her...
"President Qing!!" The five people surrounded her with pleading eyes.
Qing Yan: ...
"President Qing, if it weren't for you, I would have given up on this industry!"
"Because of your presence, I stepped back into the lab!"
"We've regained our confidence because of your encouragement and support!"
"The headquarters has been wanting to shut down our subsidiary for a long time! If we don't achieve some results soon, all of us will be out of work!"
"President Qing, please make time and participate with us?!"
"The main issue is that the roster has already been submitted, and it can't be changed. If one person is absent, the entire team will be disqualified!"