Chereads / Rebirth Begins with Rejecting My Childhood Friend / Chapter 357 - Chapter 355: Unexpected Visitor.

Chapter 357 - Chapter 355: Unexpected Visitor.

"Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da..."

The sky outside was dark and overcast.

Raindrops fell on the glass one by one, making a crisp sound.

Soon, the rain became more intense.

Xu Xiuwen was awakened by the sound of rain outside.

He lay in bed, slowly opening his eyes.

Looking at the dim sky outside, he shook off his drowsiness and got up.

He came out of his room.

Ning Wanqiu was already up.

She was standing at the bathroom sink, brushing her teeth.

Just out of bed, Ning Wanqiu was still in her nightgown.

When Xu Xiuwen saw Ning Wanqiu, his eyes widened, and he stood there, stunned.

Ning Wanqiu was wearing a short black lace-trimmed nightdress.

The large V-neck design revealed a significant portion of her white skin on her chest.

This hint of exposure was even more eye-catching than if everything was exposed.

The nightdress was just the right length, with the hem falling just to her thighs.

Her long, fair legs were completely exposed, incredibly alluring.

Ning Wanqiu looked extremely sexy and seductive at this moment.

Xu Xiuwen was completely captivated.

Ning Wanqiu had long been accustomed to waking up and coming out in her nightdress, as her son was often not home.

Today was no different.

She had forgotten that her son had come home last night and instinctively came out in her nightdress after waking up.

While brushing her teeth, she suddenly saw Xu Xiuwen in the mirror behind her.

Realizing her son had seen her like this, Ning Wanqiu froze.

They both stood still for a moment.

Xu Xiuwen was the first to recover.

He hurriedly looked away and said, "I... I'm thirsty, I'll go get some water."

Xu Xiuwen walked to the kitchen and poured himself a glass of water.

He tried to calm his mind and forget the scene he had just witnessed.

Ning Wanqiu quickly returned to her room and changed her clothes before coming out again.

During breakfast, the mother and son sat facing each other, not mentioning what had happened earlier.

There was a faintly awkward atmosphere despite the calm.

After breakfast, Ning Wanqiu left in a hurry, as if there were some fierce beasts in the house.

Xu Xiuwen didn't stay either.

He drove to Guangming Distillery.

Upon arriving, he headed straight to his office.

Xu Qian had been waiting there for some time.

These days, Xu Qian mostly served as Xu Xiuwen's secretary, conveying many of his decisions and instructions.

Xu Xiuwen placed his umbrella on the ground by the door and asked Xu Qian, "How is the recruitment going?"

Xu Qian replied, "The venue is set up, and the personnel are arranged. The interviews start today."

Xu Xiuwen said, "Good, thank you for your hard work."

Xu Qian asked, "Mr. Xu, aren't you participating in the interviews?"

Xu Xiuwen said, "There's no need for me to be involved in such matters. You can represent me."

Xu Qian nodded, "Okay."

Xu Xiuwen added, "I'm having lunch with Zhao Yatong today. Do you want to join us?"

Xu Qian was momentarily surprised and then asked in astonishment, "Mr. Xu, you're inviting Sister Yatong to lunch?"

Xu Xiuwen nodded.

Xu Qian immediately said, "I want to come. It's a rare opportunity to eat Mr. Xu. I can't miss it."

Xu Xiuwen smiled, "Did I offend you somehow?"

Xu Qian shook her head, "No."

Xu Xiuwen said, "Then why do you want to 'eat me'?"

Xu Qian stuck out her tongue and said, "I misspoke. I mean I want to eat the meal you're treating us to."

Xu Xiuwen chuckled, "Alright, you can go now."

Xu Qian nodded and left.

After she left, Xu Xiuwen stood up and walked to the window.

He stood by the window, looking outside.

His office was on the top floor of Guangming Distillery's office building, offering an excellent view.

Standing there, he could almost see the entire distillery.

Guangming Distillery wasn't the starting point of his career, but it was definitely a significant part of it.

This will be the cornerstone of his rise.

Although it was clearly dark and rainy outside, Xu Xiuwen was in an excellent mood, full of ambition.

Now that the distillery was on track, there were fewer things requiring Xu Xiuwen's attention.

He only needed to make occasional decisions and sign documents.

The morning passed quickly.

When it was time for the midday break, Xu Qian knocked on Xu Xiuwen's door.

With her was Zhao Yatong.

Xu Xiuwen looked up and saw the two women, smiled, and said, "It's lunchtime, right? I'll treat you to lunch. Where do you want to eat?"

Xu Qian and Zhao Yatong started discussing animatedly about where to go.

But after a long discussion, they still hadn't decided.

Xu Xiuwen said, "Stop arguing. I know a place with good food."

Xu Qian and Zhao Yatong stopped and looked at Xu Xiuwen in confusion.

Xu Xiuwen asked, "Do you want to go to the place I mentioned?"

Xu Qian asked, "Mr. Xu, which place are you talking about?"

Xu Xiuwen mentioned the name of a restaurant.

Xu Qian was unfamiliar with it.

Zhao Yatong was first taken aback, then chuckled, "Mr. Xu, isn't that the restaurant on the next street from our hotel?"

Xu Xiuwen nodded in acknowledgment.

Zhao Yatong couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Xu, you chose that place not because of the good food but because it's close, right?"

Xu Xiuwen didn't argue, "Isn't closer better?"

Zhao Yatong rolled her eyes, her beautiful face looking very charming.

Xu Qian finally understood and smiled slightly.

Since they had decided on that restaurant, the three of them set off.

Xu Xiuwen drove the two women to the restaurant.

The restaurant was quite busy, with many customers having lunch, making the hall a bit noisy.

Xu Xiuwen requested a private room.

When it came time to order, Xu Xiuwen handed the menu to the two women.

Zhao Yatong took the menu and started ordering without hesitation.

Xu Qian asked, "Mr. Xu, is there anything you'd like to eat?"

Xu Xiuwen waved his hand, "It's okay. I have general tastes. Just order what you like."

The two women whispered and discussed for a while before finally finishing their order.

Working together at Guangming Distillery for many days had brought the three of them closer.

Xu Xiuwen and Zhao Yatong had the added connection of being former schoolmates, which gave them even more to talk about.

The three of them had a pleasant chat during the meal.

After the meal, the three of them walked out of the restaurant together.

At the counter, Xu Xiuwen settled the bill.

The meal cost 300 yuan in total, averaging just over 100 yuan per person—not particularly cheap, but not expensive either. The important thing was that they had enjoyed it.

Zhao Yatong and Xu Qian said in unison, "Thank you, Mr. Xu, for the treat."

Xu Xiuwen waved his hand.

At the restaurant entrance, Xu Xiuwen turned and asked, "Xu Qian, are you going home later? I can give you a ride."

Xu Qian shook her head, "No, I'll stay in Sister Yatong's room for a while."

"Alright, let's go."

It was still raining outside.

Xu Xiuwen opened his umbrella, and the two women shared another umbrella.

After getting into the car, Xu Xiuwen drove the two women back to the hotel.

He parked the car on the road in front of the hotel.

The three of them walked into the hotel together.

They had just walked through the hotel entrance.

Xu Xiuwen suddenly saw a girl.

The girl was wearing a pink shirt with a pink-gray vest over it.

Her lower body was clad in a short black and gray plaid skirt.

The skirt was very short, covering only half of her thighs, leaving the rest exposed to the air.

Her calves were wrapped in black over-the-knee socks, paired with white shoes that had pink laces, matching her top.

The girl had her hair styled in a princess cut with a pink butterfly hair clip on top.

She had a small white bag slung over her shoulder, making her look very youthful, both cute and pure, hard to look away from at first glance.

Even though it was just her back, Xu Xiuwen immediately recognized the girl.

"Xiao Youran!" Xu Xiuwen suddenly called out.

The girl had been standing by the window, talking to the hotel owner.

She turned around upon hearing her name.

"Xiao Xu!" The girl, indeed Xiao Youran, exclaimed in surprise upon seeing Xu Xiuwen.

In the next moment, a sweet fragrance filled the air as she approached Xu Xiuwen, her face flushed with excitement.

"Xiao Xu~" Xiao Youran softly called again.

Xu Xiuwen asked, "Why are you here?"

Xiao Youran smiled and explained, "I came to find you."

Xu Xiuwen frowned and said, "Stop messing around. Why are you here? Go back to school."

Xiao Youran's joyful expression vanished at Xu Xiuwen's words.

She bit her lip and asked, "Don't you want to see me?"

Xu Xiuwen replied, "That's not what I mean. You should go back to school."

Xiao Youran's face tightened, her lips turning pale, her eyes filled with disappointment. "You don't want to see me, do you?"

She then noticed the two women next to Xu Xiuwen.

Pointing at them, Xiao Youran asked, "Is it because of them that you don't want to see me?"

Xu Xiuwen responded, "What nonsense are you talking about?"

Xiao Youran suddenly started crying.

Xu Xiuwen was stunned.

Next to him, Zhao Yatong and Xu Qian also recognized Xiao Youran.

Both women were very surprised by Xiao Youran's appearance and even more so by her words, leaving them in a state of shock.

Because of the commotion, the hotel owner and some passing guests looked over.

Xu Xiuwen didn't want to become the center of attention.

He sighed and grabbed Xiao Youran's hand, saying, "Come back to the room with me," before she could refuse.

He then led her toward the room, with Zhao Yatong and Xu Qian following.

Xu Xiuwen's and Zhao Yatong's rooms were adjacent.

Xu Xiuwen took out his key to unlock the door while Zhao Yatong did the same.

Xu Xiuwen said to Zhao Yatong, "I might not go to the factory this afternoon. You don't have to wait for me."

"Okay, Mr. Xu," they both replied.

Xu Xiuwen nodded, opened the door, and pulled Xiao Youran inside.

Once inside, Xu Xiuwen immediately turned around and closed the door.

Turning back, he saw Xiao Youran still standing there, silently crying.

Xu Xiuwen felt a bit helpless.

He walked to the bed, tore off two tissues, and approached Xiao Youran to wipe her tears.

However, Xiao Youran took a few small steps back.

Crying, she said, "I don't need your help. If you don't want to see me, I'll leave now."

Xu Xiuwen didn't explain but instead took two steps forward.

Xiao Youran wanted to retreat again, but this time there was a door behind her, leaving her with no way to back off.

Xu Xiuwen, with a firm attitude, grabbed her hand and walked toward the bed.

When they reached the bed, he pressed down on Xiao Youran's shoulders, making her sit down on the edge of the bed, and then gently wiped away her tears.

Xu Xiuwen sighed, "I really can't handle you. Did I ever say you weren't welcome?"

Xiao Youran pouted and said, "You did."

"I didn't."

"You did!"

"I misspoke," Xu Xiuwen said, his tone and gaze extremely gentle.

Xiao Youran huffed and didn't say anything.

Xu Xiuwen threw the tissue into the trash can and was about to sit down.

Xiao Youran suddenly moved to the side, saying coquettishly, "I haven't forgiven you yet."

"Why won't you forgive me?"

"I mustered up the courage to come see you, and the first thing you did was tell me to go back. How can you be so mean?" Xiao Youran said with a stern face.

Xu Xiuwen explained, "I didn't want you to skip class. If Aunt Zhang found out, she'd definitely be angry. If she thought I lured you here and talked to me about it, wouldn't I get scolded?"

Hearing his explanation, Xiao Youran felt a bit more forgiving but was still a little angry.

She couldn't help but ask, "Is that the only reason? No other reason?"

"What other reason?"

"Isn't it because you were fooling around with them and didn't want me to interrupt, so you told me to go back?"

Xu Xiuwen laughed silently.

Seeing that he didn't explain, Xiao Youran's mind started to wander.

Xu Xiuwen saw her expression and guessed what she was thinking.

He quickly said, "Xiao Youran!"

His tone had changed from before, becoming somewhat serious.

Xiao Youran noticed the change and suddenly felt a bit nervous.

Xu Xiuwen continued, "I'm here for work. Do you think I'm fooling around every day? Is that what you always think of me?"

Xiao Youran was startled.

She felt a bit scared and more than a little regretful.

Had she gone too far with her words just now? She wanted to apologize but found it hard to say the words.

Thinking of the scene where Xu Xiuwen led two women into the hotel, anyone would misunderstand, right?

Xu Xiuwen sighed, "I'm in a boss-subordinate relationship with them. Don't let your mind run wild. Xu Qian usually stays at home. Today, I happened to invite them for lunch, and she was too lazy to go home, so she came to the hotel to rest for a while."

Xiao Youran asked, "Is that true?"

"Of course it's true. Would I lie to you?"

Xiao Youran immediately nodded, "Yes, you would."

Xu Xiuwen was speechless.

Seeing his expression, especially after meeting his gaze for a few seconds, Xiao Youran pouted, "Okay, I believe you."

Xu Xiuwen asked, "Shouldn't you have classes today?"

Xiao Youran replied, "Yes, I have classes today."

"Then why are you here? Did you get permission from your advisor?"

Xiao Youran shook her head, "I didn't ask for leave."

She paused.

"I skipped class."

Xu Xiuwen widened his eyes and asked, "You didn't ask for leave and just skipped class?"

"Yes." Xiao Youran asked, "Why are you so surprised?"

Xu Xiuwen laughed, "I wouldn't be surprised if someone else skipped class, but if Xiao Youran skips class, of course, I'm surprised. Wow, I never thought you would skip class. Aren't you afraid Aunt Zhang will find out?"

Xiao Youran tilted her head to the side, "It's no big deal to skip class."

She tried to appear calm.

But her evasive eyes and the fingers she quietly clasped together revealed her inner unease.

It seemed she was still worried that Zhang Ruoshu would find out she skipped class.

Xu Xiuwen smiled faintly and comforted, "Okay, don't worry. Aunt Zhang won't find out you skipped class."

Xiao Youran responded with a soft "Mm."

Xu Xiuwen asked, "So when are you planning to go back? Do you want to go home before you do?"

Xiao Youran said, "I will go back, but it has to be tomorrow. I can't let her know I didn't go to class today."

Xu Xiuwen couldn't help but ask, "Then where will you sleep tonight?"