"Ahhhhhhhhhh, I'm finally a formal employee!" Looking at the message in the system, Xia Nan danced with excitement at the work station, "Sister Zhao Yu, thank you, I really love you so much!"
Zhao Yu smiled, "The formal hiring was going to happen in time anyway and I didn't help you. What are you thanking me for?"
"Thank you for all your tips. Anyway, to show my thanks, can I invite you to dinner after work tonight?"
Zhao Yu shook her head regretfully. "I have an appointment tonight."
"Oh, I understand." Xia Nan looked at her pointedly, "Is it a date with Mr. Xue?"
She and Xue Ziang's relationship was kept secret from the rest of the company, but Xia Nan worked with them every day, it was impossible to hide it from her. But Xia Nan was also a well-meaning person and wouldn't casually expose them.
Nonetheless, Zhao Yu's date was not with Xue Ziang, but with Shi Yu and his mother, and very possibly, Ji Sui.
It also happened to be the day of Shang Lu and Miss Zheng's engagement ceremony. Xue Ziang had long made plans to go and asked Zhao Yu to go with him, but was refused.
The last time she dared to attend Shang Lu's stepmom's birthday party because it was a private, invite-only event. As long as she didn't run into Zhuang Yiqing, there was no risk of exposure.
However, several major conglomerates were backing this engagement so a lot of media personnel were invited and it was a highly publicized event. Even if Zhuang Yiqing wasn't at the venue, Zhao Yu will probably be caught on camera.
Moreover, she was not certain if Zhuang Yiqing would be there tonight. If they bumped into each other, all her progress would be lost.
At work, Zhao Yu had to deliver a document that required Xue Zhan's signature to the top floor but as soon as she arrived at his secretary's desk, Wang Qi kept winking at her.
Zhao Yu walked to Wang Qi's workstation and asked in a hushed tone, "What's wrong?"
Wang Qi shot a glance at Xue Zhan's office and pouted. "There are people inside. The boss is dealing with private affairs, wait a moment."
Zhao Yu guessed at once. "Another blind date?"
"How can it not be? Someone dressed up so extravagantly came saying they just HAD to go to some engagement ceremony with my boss in the evening."
Done mocking the person, Wang Qi couldn't help laughing, "You too late to witness the boss' poisonous tongue."
Zhao Yu was curious. "Why is it poisonous?"
Wang Qi smiled, leaned close to her ear, and said, "The boss said that the lady had worn several villas' worth on her body, if she arrived at the event, the hotel would be crushed. He also pointed out that the lady's necklace was too flashy, and he was afraid that it would reflect all the light into the camera lens, and stop the media from broadcasting live."
Hearing this, Zhao Yu also burst out laughing, she didn't know that Xue Zhan had this side to him.
"So it seems that this lady is not as prestigious as Miss Yu from the last time?"
After all, the last time Xue Zhan didn't dare to casually offend little Miss Yu but this time, he was completely ruthless.
Wang Qi nodded. "Not at all, the lady last time is very well-known. She has a bad temper and looks down on people. This one is a typical upstart, and stupid to boot. Dressed this flashily to attend an engagement. I fear the heroine will not be able to steal the limelight."
The two were talking in low voices when the office door was suddenly opened. A woman in a luxurious dress came out angrily with her skirt and high heels in hand. When she saw the secretaries outside, she shot them a vicious look.
Wang Qi curled his lips and dialed the phone to ask for instructions before she said to Zhao Yu, "Hurry in. The boss is going to the engagement ceremony today and leave work soon."
The office was open. Zhao Yu knocked on the door and walked in when Xue Zhan agreed. She saw tea stains and watermarks from a distance, but the cup was still on the table intact.
When she walked to the desk, she discovered that Xue Zhan had a piece of tea on his head and his hair was slightly wet. Looking closer, the white shirt on his body was also wet from the chest to the abdomen.
Clearly, the lady had just splashed tea in his face.
Imagining the scene, Zhao Yu sighed inwardly. That young lady was so brave, no one except for her, dared treat Xue Zhan like this.
Xue Zhan did not show any embarrassment and sat calmly. Before Zhao Yu could speak, he took the document, skimmed through it, and took a pen to write his comments.
Looking at the tea leaves on his head, Zhao Yu hesitated a little before unnoticeably stretching out her hand to quietly take it.
But Xue Zhan still noticed.
Like a beast that was suddenly attacked, he sharply raised his head and glared at her suddenly, his eyes fierce, scaring her into unconsciously take a step back, not daring to say a word.
Then he saw the tea leaves between her fingers.
Zhao Yu saw that he was obviously stunned for two seconds, then lowered his head to continue writing, and quickly signed his name.
After saying her thanks, Zhao Yu took back the documents and prepared to leave, but Xue Zhan's low voice sounded, "Don't say anything."
After a pause, he added, "Especially to Xue Ziang."
Zhao Yu found out then that this Vice-Chairman Xue was not only afraid of blind dates but also afraid of losing face.
This was probably already the most embarrassing moment in his life. If Xue Ziang found out about it, who knew how long he would laugh.
But who forced him to have such a poisonous tongue towards others?
Of course, Zhao Yu didn't dare to say "You deserved it" to his face so she only respectfully replied, "Yes, Mr. Xue."
After getting off work, Zhao Yu went straight to the meeting place she had agreed with Shi Yu on, but her hopes didn't bear fruit. Ji Sui did not come to dinner with Qu Sixiao.
Shi Yu said he had gone to some engagement ceremony. Zhao Yu knew then that surely, he had gone with Zhuang Yiqing.
Because Xu Chengyan was away from Donghai City on a business trip, and Ji Sui and Zhuang Yiqing were considered siblings, it didn't hurt Xu Chengyan's image for Ji Sui to accompany her in public.
Shi Yu and Zhao Yu took Qu Sixiao out to play for a while after eating. Around nine o'clock, on her way home, Zhao Yu received a call from Xue Ziang asking her to pick him up. She knew that he had too much to drink.
Zhao Yu drove to the hotel's underground parking lot and notified Xue Ziang to come down.
A few minutes later, she received a strange call.
"Hello."
"It's me."
It was Shang Lu's voice.
She was a little surprised. "What's the matter?"
"I am engaged."
Like Xue Ziang, his voice was a little hoarse, probably because he had drunk too much alcohol. While Xue Ziang was using alcohol as an excuse to throw a tantrum, Shang Lu sounded tired and worn out.
Zhao Yu was silent for a moment, and calmly replied, "I know."
They fell into silence again.
The two of them didn't hang up, but they didn't say anything either. Just stayed silently with each other.
The car door suddenly opened, and Xue Ziang, drunk as a skunk, sat down in the front seat. Zhao Yu, who was lost in her thoughts, startled and subconsciously hid the phone under her seat.
Fortunately, Xue Ziang was not clear-minded and didn't notice any out of place. Instead, covered her whole body, kissing and pulling at her clothes desperately.
"Xue Ziang…Ahh…" Zhao Yu started to feel it, but Xue Ziang was acting out of character and seemed angry.
He gnawed on her lips like a beast. Only when they were both almost out of breath did Xue Ziang slowly let go.
Looking into his red eyes, Zhao Yu asked, "What's wrong?"
"I want you, I want it now." He panted heavily, "Come here."
As soon as Zhao Yu crossed over to the passenger seat, he pulled her onto his lap, causing her to sit on him with her back against him. In that position, he continued to eagerly strip her clothes.
She didn't struggle, letting him kiss her neck from behind, stroking her breasts and legs.
When his fiery desire entered her, she trembled, raised her head, and moaned.
There, looking past the windshield, was a shadow not far away. She then realized it was a man standing still.
The man was Shang Lu.
She turned and looked at the phone on the seat. It turned out, he had still not hung up.