In the small bathroom of the spicy hotpot restaurant.
Ai Le clasped Gu Xiaoer's hands with both of hers, with an earnest and pleading expression, "Xiao Er, I can see that he truly cares about you."
Gu Xiaoer's heart soured, and her small, upturned nose turned red as well, murmuring, "I know." She turned her head and saw herself in the bathroom mirror, looking dejected.
"So when do you plan to forgive him?" Ai Le wished she could just shake her awake.
"Lele, I've noticed that ever since you discovered his identity, you've stopped taking my side..." she lamented. The shift from a male escort to a CEO had caused even her close friend's scales to unconsciously tip in his favor, and she felt a pang of jealousy.
"You silly girl, I am of course on your side. It's not because of his identity..." Ai Le rebutted with a guilty conscience, "I just think that as a CEO, what he has done for you is already beyond the call of his status. Xiao Er, maybe, just maybe, Cinderella's story might really happen."
Gu Xiaoer was not pleased and pouted, "Cinderella was the daughter of an earl..."
"But you also come from a prominent family!"
"…" She heaved a heavy sigh. The Gu Residence, what kind of prominent family was that. "Alright, Lele, I need to take care of some private business."
Ai Le hesitantly returned to the dining table alone and from afar, she could see President Han looking at her with a puzzled expression.
She awkwardly greeted him and sat down with the feeling of sitting on pins and needles.
"Mr. Han, President Han, I uh..." Ai Le surreptitiously pinched her own thigh, actually wanting to apologize.
"Miss Ai, you are Xiao Er's friend; there's no need for formality."
"Then Mr. Han, since that's the case, there are some things I want to say." After some hesitation and struggle, Ai Le spoke with a serious expression, this time deliberately and not nervously.
"Mr. Han, please don't be angry with me for what I am about to say. Xiao Er lost her mother at five and witnessed her mother's tragic death. The next day, her father brought home a stepmother. She didn't get to enjoy the warmth of a family for many years and had to start living on her own at a young age, so she cares deeply about the people who are kind to her. She treasures that so much that it's difficult for her to accept what happened..."
After speaking, Ai Le sneaked a peek to see if he was angry.
The man sitting opposite narrowed his eyes, appearing to listen intently, casually tapping his fingers against the glass tabletop. Even in this modest eatery, his innate aristocratic air wasn't diminished in the slightest.
Han Luoli's handsome face was stern. He had not known that she had witnessed her mother's tragic death... After a moment, he spoke again: "Miss Ai, thank you. In the future, if there is anything, feel free to contact me directly."
As he spoke, his slender fingers pulled a pure black high-end business card from his suit pocket.
Ai Le's hand trembled as she took the business card. This was the President of Shenghan's personal contact information! Before she could bask in the excitement, she heard President Han's cold, stern voice continue from across the table: "I came today to take Xiao Er back home, so..."
So... Han Luoli didn't finish his sentence, but Ai Le deeply understood the message that his deep, slightly squinted eyes relayed to her: Miss Ai, help me get Xiao Er home, you know what I mean!
Wailing inside, the first task the President had assigned her was proving to be a difficult one!
When Gu Xiaoer came out of the bathroom, the three of them turned around and headed back to school.
"Xiao Er, with nothing urgent at school, do you still plan to live like this?" Ai Le had been troubled the whole way back and finally mustered up the courage to bring it up seemingly casually.
Gu Xiaoer tilted her head in thought. Indeed, there was no need for her to stay on campus since she wasn't needed to host the graduation farewell party anymore.
"Lele, I don't want to stay at school either." Too many unhappy things had happened recently.
Ai Le's eyes lit up: Good on you, Xiao Er!
President Han was quietly pleased: Baby, come back to your husband!
But the joy lasted less than three seconds before the sweet voice spoke up again, "Lele, let me stay at your place!"