Back at the hotel, Chu Qingchan and Chu Fengyi went back to rest first, while Xu Lin came over to Ms. Ye's side. He needed to use a computer because, currently, he could only write articles on a computer; his phone doesn't support it. So, he had to come over to borrow someone else's computer.
He thinks the payment for this public welfare short film would be around 8,000 to 9,000 RMB, so he can really buy a laptop with it, which would be useful for future outings.
"What would you like to drink? I have red wine, juice, and cola here."
"Juice, please," Xu Lin said, his eyes fixed on the screen as he edited the article.
Ms. Ye poured the juice, then gently placed the cup on the table when she saw Xu Lin deeply focused on typing. She then sat beside him, holding her own cup, sipping hot water, and wondering what genre his novel was.
But just silently being watched like this, Xu Lin found himself writing slower and slower. After all, it's one thing to write on your own, but it's another thing when someone is watching; it suddenly feels awkward.
"Um, Ms. Ye, could you not look at me like that? It's making me quite nervous."
"Haha, you're not my employee. If you were slacking off at work, I'd naturally make you nervous. What are you nervous about?"
"It's just... nothing." Xu Lin didn't know how to respond, so he took a sip of juice and started typing again, saving his draft. After all, he had been lazy lately, only having a few drafts saved. He doesn't know if the filming schedule for the next few days will be busy or not, so it might be good to prepare some in advance.
After writing for a few more minutes, with the scent of a mature woman lingering around his nose and being constantly stared at by the other party, he finally couldn't continue.
"What's wrong?"
"Sigh... My thoughts are a bit unclear. I'll take a short break."
I can't possibly use your computer and say I can't continue writing because you're looking at me, right?
"I see. Let's chat for a bit."
"It's my honour to chat with someone like you, a big boss."
"What big boss? I'm just a commander-in-chief who was pushed onto the stage."
"Without any capable subordinates, that's why I have to travel all over the country myself."
Xu Lin nodded. Taking over a struggling company at the age of twenty-something, he couldn't imagine the pressure.
"Is Shaoyao asleep?"
"She played all day today, and she's tired. She really likes you. I've never seen her so close to someone, let alone a stranger."
"I didn't do anything special; I just treated her like an ordinary little girl."
"Maybe it's because you treated her as an ordinary girl, not as Ye Fanleng's child, not as my grandfather's great-granddaughter."
"Children from wealthy families also have troubles and difficulties, huh~"
"Xu Lin, the two by your side are not just ordinary wealthy people. They should have more troubles than me and Jiangli."
"Well, fortunately, I'm just an ordinary person."
"An ordinary person flirting with two rich young ladies?"
"Ms. Ye, don't tease me; my father-in-law will come to chop me up."
"Haha, but since you call him father-in-law, which one do you like?"
"Well... this..." Xu Lin definitely meant Chu Qingchan. After all, they had known each other for a long time, and besides, he liked Chu Qingchan's personality of being cool on the outside but warm on the inside. Chu Fengyi, on the other hand, had been harsh with him from the start, speaking unpleasantly, but after becoming his teacher, she also taught him seriously, and as a teacher, she was also very serious.
Xu Lin's changed his view of her quite a bit, but there's still no element of liking. That's why he's never actively tried to increase her favorability for him.
But this afternoon, since archery, he's been feeling that Chu Fengyi isn't quite right, and he himself feels a bit off too. He's not so indifferent towards her anymore.
Clearly, she's just an ordinary girl with a beautiful face and an average figure, but now it feels different and strange...
"What's wrong? Both of them?"
"Cough, I wouldn't dare. I'm just a high school student now; my love is studying. What about you, Ms. Ye?"
Xu Lin also quickly changed the subject and handed back the revolver with a bullet in it.
"You rascal, I want to find someone too, but there's no suitable candidate."
"Really, no suitable one? With Ms. Ye's conditions, if those who come to pursue you were lined up, they'd reach the university town over there."
"Don't flatter; there aren't really many people pursuing me. Besides Zhang, who is serious, there's just him; the others... haha, they're not even close to him."
"Ordinary people dare not come near me; those with a bit of power are mostly married; they want lovers, not wives."
"The rest are just various second-generation rich kids with some family background; they saw I have a daughter and were quite discouraged."
"Now it's just Zhang Qingzhen; he's inherited all the family property; he doesn't need to worry about anything; he's living carefree."
"We also have a teacher-student relationship at a certain level; we've known each other for a long time, so naturally, his pursuit of me is the most obvious."
"I see, Ms. Ye is still young anyway; take it slow."
"I'm not young anymore; I'm 31 this year; soon it will be 14 and I'll be 32. sigh~ The most suitable age for women to give birth is 26 to 30 years old."
[T/N: Maybe 14 is the date here.]
"Speaking of Shaoyao," Xu Lin said, but then seemed to understand something.
"I won't hide it from you; Shaoyao is not my biological daughter; she is my father's."
Suddenly, Xu Lin's head exploded. Could it be true? They look like mother and daughter, but they're actually sisters. Can it be this melodramatic?
But luckily, Ye Fanleng's next words relieved him slightly.
"My father was in charge of personnel at the time, notorious for bullying newcomers, one of whom was a single mother."
"Due to work reasons, my father was overseeing about a dozen people, and he scolded her for over half an hour."
"That night, she went out for a drink to vent, and on her way back home, she had an accident. When my grandfather found out about it, he scolded my father severely and then sent someone to the female employee's home."
"We found out she had a daughter, not even a year old, who had been temporarily cared for by the woman's mother, but her mother wasn't in good health either."
"My grandfather was prepared to give some money to help the child, but at that time, I felt like I wouldn't get married in the future. In a moment of impulse, I went over there directly and discussed adoption."
"In the end, through my persuasion or perhaps influenced by money, the other party chose to give the child to me, and that child is Jiang Li."
After speaking, her breathing became slightly rapid, and then she took a sip of water and continued.
"But I'm not a responsible mother. I didn't have the consciousness of being a mother. After my grandfather passed away, I understood this even more."
"Because of my incompetence, Jiang Li didn't enjoy maternal love. She didn't have a father either, nor did she experience the love of relatives. I myself have lost what little family I had."
Ye Fanleng's tone became increasingly heavy, but Xu Lin didn't interrupt her; she just continued to listen quietly.
"So after this first shot from the company is completed, I feel like I need to spend more time with Shao Yao as a mother!"
"Well, Shao Yao loves you too; she's just not very good at expressing it, and you, President Ye, aren't either."
"I know; that's why I hope in the future I can be a responsible mother."
"Alright, I'll leave now. I will come back to write when you're free tomorrow; until when will you be here?"
"I'm leaving the day after tomorrow. I might be out during the day; Shao Yao will be in the room; just come directly."
Xu Lin finished the remaining juice in one gulp, got up to leave, and Ye Fanleng immediately stood up to see him off.
Xu Lin waved his hand. "I'll go up by myself, President Ye, take good rest, and take Shao Yao out for a parent-child dinner tonight."
Ye Fanleng nodded and also stood up with him. Xu Lin then noticed she had changed into what seemed to be pyjamas.
Like smooth ice, the fabric slid down her skin due to her excellent figure, appearing as if it were a tight-fitting outfit. The gem pendant around her neck dangled onto her chest, eventually disappearing between the snow-capped mountains.
He couldn't help but let his eyes linger for a moment. He swallowed hard, but the next second, he pinched himself hard, quickly opened the door, and rushed out!
Seeing Xu Lin rush out, Ye Fanleng was also startled, then glanced down at herself, understanding what had happened.
"Hmph~ It seems I'm not completely without desires after all. But I'm also a bad woman. I knew he was coming, so I changed into this outfit."
What was I thinking? I'm just an old woman, after all. Ye Fanleng! You're still the CEO of a company, a mother... You can't let desire control you.
With movements not befitting her age, she lightly patted her cheek, then opened her phone.
"Hello, is this Yuan Qing, the person in charge at Jinling? I'll come by tomorrow to pick up a laptop. Please prepare a good one for me."