âYes, do you like them? They say girls like roses, so I ordered 521. How about it, arenât the flowers nice?â
âMr. Zhu, Iâm sorry, but I think I made it clear last time that Iâm not planning to get married or find a boyfriend now.â
âHuanhuan, I understand your concerns, but please trust me, I will make you happy. Why do you keep refusing me? Canât you give me a chance? Weâre both adults, I wonât beat around the bush, I think youâre great, Iâm very satisfied with you.â
Shi Huan replied, âBut I have no feelings for you.â
ââ¦â Zhu Mingpeng was stunned.
Perhaps he hadnât expected her to reject him so directly.
But soon, he said, âHuanhuan, letâs do this, Iâve arranged a place for dinner tonight, come join me. We can talk face to face. I want to show you my sincerity.â
âMr. Zhu, I donât think we need to meet, do we?â Shi Huan really didnât want to waste needless time.
âHuanhuan, wonât you even give me a chance to meet you? I have already booked a restaurant, if you wonât come, then I will have to call Mrs. Shi.â
He kept babbling on and on.
Shi Huan sighed in exasperation, âFine, which restaurant?â
Zhu Mingpeng immediately said the name of the restaurant.
He knew it, Shi Huanâs greatest fear was her grandmother at home, and it worked.
When Shi Huan heard the name, she frowned, âYou said, Xiaoye Garden?â
Xiaoye Garden, isnât that one of Chu Xiuhuangâs properties?
Although most of the investment was decided after discussion between Chu Xiuhuang and Shi Huan, Chu Xiuhuang also had his capricious moments.
Like this private custom restaurant.
It doesnât deliver, doesnât have takeout, does not take reservations. With all designs and materials selected by him, it has a classy and unique ambiance, fit for business dinners.
But the cost is so high that there are very few customers.
Moreover, most of the customers are his close friends who leave without paying every time they go there.
So, all in all, this restaurant lost quite a sum of money every month.
**
In the presidentâs office.
Chu Xiuhuang checked the time.
It was 5:30 in the afternoon.
He got up, opened the door and went out.
Looking at the secretaryâs office, Shi Huanâs seat was empty.
âWhereâs Little Huanhuan?â
Assistant Xiaoli, hearing the sound, got up quickly, âSir Chu, Secretary Shi went out on a date.â
Upon hearing the word âdateâ, Chu Xiuhuangâs eyebrows furrowed, âWhat? A date? With whom? Where? When did this happen?â
Wasnât she supposed to finish her work early and wait for him to arrange things?
And she went on a date with another man behind his back?
Damn her!
Chu Xiuhuang became angrier the more he thought about it, his handsome face turning dark and cold like a storm cloud.
Xiaoli, frightened by his mood, turned pale and stammered, âI⦠I donât know, I just heard Secretary Shi mention⦠Xiaoye Garden.â
Chu Xiuhuang narrowed his eyes, âXiaoye Garden?â
âYes, I didnât hear anything else. Please spare me.â
Luckily, Sir Chu turned around and left right away, âAlright, itâs a holiday today. You guys can leave early.â
âThank you, Sir Chu!â
âLong live Sir Chu!â
âHappy Valentineâs Day, Sir Chu!â
Chu Xiuhuang returned to his office, slamming the door. He snatched a pen from the desk and threw it on the floor in anger.
That damn woman!
A date, huh?
Chu Xiuhuang narrowed his eyes, picked up his phone, and dialed a number.
The call was picked up quickly.
âFourth Brother, what are you doing?â
âWorking overtime.â
âWorking overtime on Valentineâs Day?â
Lu Chenyu was as terse as ever, âYes.â
âAlright, bye.â
Immediately, Chu Xiuhuang dialed another number, âThird Brother, what are you doing?â
âOn a date.â
Chu Xiuhuangâs eyes widened, â⦠Date?â
âYes, dating our eldest brotherâs dog.â
Chu Xiuhuang: ââ¦â
Sure enough, a howl from KO came over the phone.
Impatiently, he said, âTake the dog to Xiaoye Garden and wait for me.â
âWhat for?â
âJust do as I say. Why so many questions?â Sir Chu wasnât happy.
Nangong Ci retorted, âIf Secretary Shi isnât dating you, you turn to me. Am I your backup, huh? I wonât go!â
âBackup, youâre not even worthy.â Chu Xiuhuang sneered, his face darkening, âHurry up! If youâre not there in ten minutes, Iâll break your arm!â
Nangong Ci: ââ¦â
**
Half an hour later.
Xiaoye Garden.
When Shi Huan arrived, Zhu Mingpeng was already waiting at the table.
They sat in the main hall, Zhu Mingpeng ordered a table of romantic French cuisine, in addition, he also ordered a bottle of expensive Lafite.
Shi Huan frowned, âMr. Zhu, you donât need to order so much.â
Zhu Mingpeng asked, âHuanhuan, why are you wearing glasses again?â
She was so beautiful and yet she covered her face with large black-rimmed glasses.
Shi Huan pushed her glasses up, âIâm used to it.â
âYou look better without glasses.â Zhu Mingpeng immediately complimented.
Shi Huan coughed twice, âMr. Zhu, I came today to make it clear to you that actually, Iâ¦.â
âHuanhuan, I like you!â Zhu Mingpeng interrupted her abruptly.
**
Meanwhile, in the upper box of the building.
Nangong Ci looked at Chu Xiuhuang, âSecond Brother, whatâs wrong? Not in a good mood?â
He was just asking casually, but didnât expect Chu Xiuhuang to respond with a âhmâ.
âHoly shit!â Nangong Ci got excited, âWhat happened? Quickly share it with me.â
Chu Xiuhuang furrowed his eyebrows tightly, then murmured after a long pause, âI had a quarrel with my girlfriend.â
Nangong Ci burst into laughter, âYou mean Secretary Shi?â
Chu Xiuhuang gave him a disgusted look, âCall her Second Sister-in-Law.â
âHoly shit, Big Brother has a 20-year-old sister-in-law, you have a 24-year-old one, and they are all younger than me. Have you ever thought about my feelings?â
âYou can find one too.â Chu Xiuhuang said and suddenly stood up, âTime to take action!â
Nangong Ci quickly followed, âKO, letâs go!â
KO, who was initially crouching on the ground munching on a bone, leaped up quickly upon hearing the call.
Like a black lightning flashing by.
Just as they reached the staircase, Chu Xiuhuang stopped, fixated on a certain spot downstairs, his facial expression also tensed up.
âSecond Brother, whatâs wrong again?â Nangong Ci was puzzled.
Chu Xiuhuang squinted his eyes and observed for a while, finally he said, âMy girlfriend is cheating on me.â
Nangong Ci glanced downstairs.
Holy shit!
Indeed, Secretary Shi was having a meal with a man!
**
âHuanhuan, what do you think of me?â
Shi Huan frowned, âMr. Zhu, Iâve already told you that I donât have feelings for you.â
âBut Huanhuan, I liked you at first sight. I think youâre really great. Considering you donât have a boyfriend now, and I donât have a girlfriend, I hope you can give me a chance to woo you, okay?â
After Zhu Mingpeng finished speaking, he eagerly watched the young woman in front of him.
However, Shi Huan flatly refused, âZhu Mingpeng, sorry, but I really donât want to have a boyfriend.â
âHuanhuan, do you think Iâm too old? I am a few years older than you, but I know how to pamper my wife. Since my divorce, I havenât dated anyone and focused all my energy on my career until I met you.â Zhu Mingpeng looked sincere, âBesides, I started a company with my friends and our business is doing well. Iâm the deputy general manager and also have a share in the company. After we get married, I promise you wonât suffer and I will help you take care of the elderly. I will make you happy!â
He thought his words were heartfelt, but Shi Huan was unmoved and responded with an icy âIâm sorry, but I donât plan to get married either.â
Zhu Mingpeng drained the red wine in front of him and put down the glass with a âclunk,â his face had changed, âHuanhuan, do you look down on me?â
Shi Huanâs eyebrows furrowed, âThatâs not what I meant.â
However, Zhu Mingpeng thought she was trying to cover up the truth and scoffed, âShi Huan, others may not know, but I understand your past very clearly. Six years ago, you were assaulted by an old man at the bar, became pregnant, and then had an abortion.â
Shi Huanâs face turned pale.
No one outside the Shi family should know about this incident.
How did Zhu Mingpeng know about it?
Zhu Mingpengâs words became increasingly harsh, âTo put it bluntly, you are no longer a pure woman. Itâs uncertain whether you can even have children. My mother said youâre just like a hen that canât lay eggs. Who do you think would want you? What family would accept a woman like you? Not to mention that you brought bad luck to your grandfather and father, none of them have survived. None of the Shi family likes you. Youâre a joke to them. Your reputation has already gone down the drain! Initially, I thought you looked decent and decided to give you an honorary title. But now it seems, since you refuse the toast only to drink a forfeit⦠damn it!â
Zhu Mingpeng suddenly stood up from his chair.
Shi Huan actually dared to splash red wine on him!
Not only did the wine get in his eyes, but it also soaked his face and clothes, leaving red wine stains that dripped down continuously.
At first glance, it looked like a womanâs menstrual blood, making him appear extremely disarrayed.
This was Xiaoye House, a high-end restaurant with private custom-made dishes. The consumption was high, and the customers who came here were of high status. During this New Year festivity, though there were not many people, the commotion happening here attracted people from the next table to look over and point fingers, making his face turn the color of a pigâs liver.
Seeing Shi Huan getting up to leave, Zhu Mingpeng quickly grabbed her hand, âStand right there!â
Shi Huan fiercely shook his hand off, took all the money out from her wallet and smacked it on his face.
Not only were there RMB notes,
there were also coins.
Right at that moment, Zhu Mingpengâs face turned red from the impact. Amidst the embarrassment, Shi Huanâs voice rang out word by word, âThis is todayâs meal money. Whatever is left, use it to clean your clothes and wash your dirty mouth clean!â
âBitch! You filthy slut!â Zhu Mingpeng was furious, his dignity trampled on. He couldnât take the humiliation and raised his hand to hit her.
But at that moment, a beast-like whimper sounded, followed by a black shadow leaping across like an arrow leaving the bowstring.
Zhu Mingpengâs hand was still hanging in mid-air and he suddenly let out a pig-like scream, âAhhhhhh!â
At the same time, the diners at the neighbouring table who were initially enjoying the drama were scared to their feet.
âThereâs a dog biting someone, a wolf dog is biting someone!â someone shouted.
The sound of plates breaking could be heard amidst the shrill screams of women. The first floor lobby was immediately thrown into chaos.
Shi Huan was surprised as she looked at the black wolf dog. It appeared out of nowhere and bit Zhu Mingpengâs ankle.
âAhhhhhh!â
Zhu Mingpeng had already fallen to the ground, his mouth continuing to let out cries of agony. His face turned from a painful white to a sickly green.
At first he tried to fight back, but the wolf dog turned aggressive, raising its paw and scratching his face, leaving bloody marks. The sight was horrifying.
The people around were too scared to do anything rash.
One, because the dog was huge, with black fur all over, and looked fierce and terrifying.
Two, because the dog was wearing a red collar with embedded diamonds, with a clear logo. Clearly, only the wealthy could afford to keep it.
Three, this restaurant had a strict policy that pets were not allowed in, but this dog could freely enter and exit, indicating its owner was either rich or influential.
Shi Huan snapped back to reality and hastily looked around.
Then, she rushed over, âChu Xiuhuang, did you call this dog? Call it off now.â
Chu Xiuhuangâs gloomy gaze slightly softened as he landed on the womanâs small fair face, and spoke in a nonchalant tone, âIâm not its owner, so it might not listen to me.â
Shi Huan looked quickly towards Nangong Ci, âDr. Nangong, did you call the dog?â