Chapter 77

"Everyone else is wearing formal attire, why are you the only one..."

Chu Muchao: "Then take off your coat and sweater. I think your clothes underneath look better."

Chu Muchao's retort echoed throughout the entire venue through the speakers.

Some people blushed, some turned pale, a colorful display.

Chu Muchao stood on the stage, enjoying the spectacular scene.

Some people may not be dressing so revealingly voluntarily; it may just be to satisfy the aesthetic preferences of certain individuals.

What normal person would wear clothes out of season and disregard their own physical sensations?

Others might be unable to refuse due to work or personal considerations, but she didn't have that worry.

However, she still held back a bit, speaking rather tactfully and not harshly.

I was dressed quite warmly, but the people I brought with me were all wearing spring/summer designs, each one thinner than the last.

They know how to enjoy life.

Chu Muchao looked to the side.

At first glance, I didn't see anyone next to me. I shifted my gaze and then saw the host a few meters away.

After making eye contact, the host smiled at her and mouthed, "Can we continue?"

Chu Muchao smiled and waved to her: "It's okay, you don't need to stay so far away from me. You can continue with the process."

The host bowed slightly and took a few steps closer.

"Mr. Chu, what would you like to say about this charity gala?"

Chu Muchao looked down at the audience.

"I hope everyone has clothes to wear, knows how to keep warm, and is also aware of how others are feeling. If you don't have funds, you can talk to me about investment. If you don't know how to design autumn and winter clothing, you can cooperate with clothing brands under the MZ Group."

Chu Muchao returned to his seat.

The host then cued the next person.

A man wearing the same style of men's overcoat got up from the first row of seats on the other side and walked towards the stage.

Chu Muchao looked up and saw a man with a roguish smile interacting with the host.

"So, Mr. Qin, what would you like to say about this charity gala?"

"Yes, I think President Chu is right. Some of the costume arrangements are too illogical. If you didn't know better, you would think this is a prank show."

-

After the charity gala ended, the online discussion intensified.

[To be honest, I think it's pretentious. Isn't this how everyone dresses for galas before? Why is she the only one who can't wear it? Truly a pampered rich girl who's never experienced hardship.]

My mom worries I'll catch a cold if I go out without wearing a sweater.

[A bunch of people who earn 200 a day are feeling sorry for others who earn 2 million a day. It's laughable.]

But I think she's not wrong. Why can male bosses wear warm, normal clothes, but women have to wear skirts? And they're all dressed so lightly—what if they catch a cold?

[It wasn't all male bosses; I also saw female bosses with male companions wearing deep V-neck sheer dresses.]

Those are someone else's performance costumes, worn for a performance.

[Didn't we already say the air conditioning was broken? The temperature was down to single digits, it must have been freezing! Couldn't they have adjusted it for us, or given us a change of clothes? It's so inhumane.]

Although skirts are prettier, what should you wear in winter if you don't wear autumn/winter clothes? A bikini?

[Those who criticize others should look at what they're wearing. Even at work, have some empathy! Wouldn't you be angry if you wore a skirt to work in the dead of winter?]

-

They left the venue.

Chu Muchao was talking to Xiao He when someone blocked his way.

Catching a glimpse of the man out of the corner of his eye, Chu Muchao turned his head and met Zhai Jinwu's fierce glare.

Chu Muchao chuckled: "You're here on purpose, Mr. Zhai, trying to scare me."

Zhai Jinwu sneered: "You're feeling frustrated because you didn't get what you wanted, right? Here's what we'll do you: I can give you those two collectibles as a favor, but you'll have to give me a condition in return."

"No, thank you." Chu Muchao smiled and said, "The price is too high, it has lost its value to me. You should keep it and appreciate it yourself."

Zhai Jinwu's lips immediately drooped, and his gaze toward Chu Muchao became even more ferocious.

Chu Muchao tilted his head and asked with a smile, "Mr. Zhai, if you're finished speaking, please don't block the way."

"I heard Xin Qing is signed by you?" Zhai Jinwu sneered. "Why do you women always prefer other women? Or have you tasted the goodness of men and now want to try something new?"

Chu Muchao smiled and said, "I have a normal brain, which is different from Mr. Zhai's brain structure."

"What do you mean?"

Zhai Jinwu was furious.

"Besides the Chu family's background, what else do you have? What are you showing off to me for?"

Chu Muchao touched his face.

"I can't get rid of her, I am my parents' biological daughter."

Sigh, I feel like I'm about to break down from this fake smile.

"If you keep blocking my way, I'll call security. Don't blame me if you get kicked out; I won't give you any face."

Zhai Jinwu looked around.

There were also media outlets filming and conducting interviews nearby, and making a big fuss would definitely not look good.

Zhai Jinwu took a deep breath and took out his phone: "Let's add each other as friends, so it'll be easier to contact each other later."

"No, we won't add it."

Chu Muchao was about to lose his temper. Participating in the event was annoying enough, but now he had to deal with this idiot.

After saying this with a smile, Chu Muchao walked past him and left.

Step out the door.

Chu Muchao saw Qin Ye next to his car, who was wearing the same coat as him.

He put his hands in his coat pockets, looked down at his shoes, and seemed to have been waiting for a while, getting a little bored and not knowing what to do.

"Brother Qin Ye."

Chu Muchao called out and walked towards him.

Qin Ye looked up at the person who had just arrived.

Her peach blossom eyes instantly filled with smiles and tenderness.

"Xiao Chao, long time no see." Qin Ye took a step forward, blocking the back door of the car. "I didn't expect to run into you here. How many days are you planning to stay here?"

Chu Muchao looked at Xiao He beside him.

Xiao He replied, "Mr. Chu, your return flight is tomorrow at 3 PM."

Chu Muchao turned around and looked at Qin Ye: "What about you?"

Qin Ye chuckled: "It seems you're really short on time. I didn't even have time to show you around the area."

"Next time," Chu Muchao said with a smile, "Let's come and play together again when we're both free next time."

Qin Ye lowered his eyes and murmured softly, "Next time...we..."

Who knows when the next time will be? And who knows if "we" refers to him and Xiao Chao, or if Chu Wen was added as well?

Qin Ye chuckled to himself.

When he looked up again, his expression had returned to normal.

He took a step back and opened the back door for Chu Muchao.

"Get in the car, little princess."

"Thank you, Brother Qin Ye."

Chu Muchao approached, placed his right hand on the car door, and asked, "Brother Qin Ye, where's your car?"

Qin Ye's eyes flickered: "I didn't bring a driver, so we'll take a taxi back to the hotel later."

He's lying.

Suddenly, the system's voice rang in my mind.

His driver and car were right next to him, they just didn't come over.

Chu Muchao: But we've already come this far...

[...]

【^-^Miss Mu Mu is so gentle!】

Chu Muchao pretended not to notice the system's sarcastic tone and invited, "Then I'll give you a piece of my life."

"Okay." Qin Ye's smile became much more genuine. "Xiao Chao knows how to care for her brother now. I'm so proud of her."

"How cheesy!"

Chu Muchao glared at him and got into the car first.

Qin Ye followed closely behind and got into the car.

Xiao He went to the passenger seat.

It had been a long time since we last met. Chu Muchao now seemed more mature, but also more unfamiliar.

At the charity gala, his gaze would unconsciously wander across the crowd, stealing glances at her.

The little girl who used to follow behind them and call them "brother" in her childish voice has now grown up to the point where she can handle emergencies on her own.

Chu Muchao couldn't hear Qin Ye's inner sighs, but he could feel his burning gaze.

Feeling uncomfortable after being stared at for a while, Chu Muchao turned to look at him.

"Brother Qin Ye, why are you staring at me like that?"

Qin Ye chuckled, his gaze gentle: "I was thinking, our Xiao Chao has really grown up. No wonder Chu Wen is always worried about the men around you, and treats me like a thief."

Chu Muchao tilted his head: "Huh? Why is my brother being so wary of you?"

[…Pfft.]

? ? ?

She thought she heard the system laughing?

She must have heard correctly, right?

What's so funny?

Huh? System, say something! What are you laughing at?

[...]

Qin Ye laughed and said, "When I saw you being humiliated on stage, I was planning to play the hero and act as a gentleman to protect our Princess Xiao Chao. Unfortunately, Princess Xiao Chao did not give me that opportunity."

"That's right, I'm a princess with a mouth." Chu Muchao pouted and said irritably, "Those people are so idle, pointing fingers at me. I decide what I wear to the event myself. They should feel honored that I can attend this gala and that they can share the stage with me."

"Yes, yes, yes." Qin Ye's smile deepened. "I am truly honored. I made the right choice coming here."

The atmosphere became somber.

The car suddenly became quiet.

Chu Muchao wondered if she should ask what Qin Ye had been busy with lately.

If we keep talking about this, I guess we're just waiting for her to ask something.

But at the same time, I felt that I shouldn't talk to Qin Ye too much.

It was one thing if she didn't know Qin Ye's feelings for her before, but now that she does, it's wrong of her not to keep her distance.

Chu Muchao held back for a moment, turned his head to look out the window, and did not take the initiative to start a conversation again.

Send Qin Ye back to the hotel first.

When the car pulled up in front of the hotel, Qin Ye got out, turned around, leaned against the car frame, and bent down to talk to Chu Muchao inside the car.

"Get some rest. If you need any help from your brother, just give him a call, okay?"

Chu Muchao leaned forward, exposing his entire face to the other person's view, and returned the smile.

"Okay, thanks, Brother Qin Ye. Goodbye."

"goodbye."

Qin Ye lowered his eyes and slowly straightened his body.

The car window rolled up, and it sped away.

His gaze remained fixed intently on the car.

Until it disappears.

*

This charity gala was my last trip outside of work.

“Yes, Mr. Chu. There’s another discussion in the city at the end of the year, and after that there aren’t any other major meetings that I have to attend.” Xiao He asked, “Mr. Chu, how do you plan to organize this year’s annual meeting? This is your first annual meeting since taking office, so we should have a good time, right?”

Annual party...

Chu Muchao asked, "How did you do it in the past?"

Xiao He replied, "In previous years, we would go to hotels under the parent group, book the largest hall for events, and hold performances, raffles, and giveaways."

Chu Muchao pouted, "Ugh, so boring, I don't want to watch a performance. Do all the branch offices gather together?"

Xiao He: "Yes."

Chu Muchao asked, "With so many branches across the country, do they all have to gather here? Can't they each hold their own events?"

Xiao He scratched his head: "Well... they should have their own year-end activities too, but they'll all come to participate in the head office's annual meeting."

“Then let’s have a vote to gather opinions,” Chu Muchao said. “Let’s see what everyone wants to do. The annual meeting shouldn’t be too long, and let’s skip the speeches. I don’t want to give a speech. Let’s just have the awards, prize money, raffle, and then dinner. As for the arrangements afterward, let’s see where everyone wants to use the funds for entertainment and let them vote on it.”

Xiao He blinked: "What are the arrangements afterward?"

Chu Muchao nodded: "That's right. There are still a few days off after the annual meeting, so we can have everyone vote on where to go, or we can take a vacation in advance."

Xiao He remained silent for a moment.

"Well, Mr. Chu, the few days between the annual meeting and the Lunar New Year... are usually not a holiday."

Now it was Chu Muchao's turn to remain silent.

After a long while, she asked.

"Don't we get a holiday nationwide? It's almost Chinese New Year, can't we go home for the holidays? What kind of work still needs to be done at the end of the year?"