Chapter 24 Indulging Your Arrogance "Put on your gear."
Xie Qingci received a message from Liang Jingzhuo in the afternoon, asking her what she wanted to eat for dinner.
She was lying on her bed at the time, listening to Ke Meng and Duan Siyu arguing in the group chat.
Upon seeing the message pop up, I paused for a moment, assuming he was asking about dinner at the Liang family mansion, and replied: "Auntie Ali said we're having lunch."
After having morning tea, Zhuang Shuying showed her the menu that her family had prepared for her in Hong Kong Island over the past few days. It was very meticulous and thoughtful. Since she didn't know that Zhuang Shuying didn't eat ginger, she asked her if she had any other dietary restrictions.
Hsieh Ching-Tzu doesn't like to bother others, and since she's not a picky eater, she said it's fine and doesn't need to be changed.
After a two-second silence, a message appeared: "Let's go out to eat."
Before she could reply, he said again: "It's just the two of us."
It was as if she was afraid that if she didn't emphasize it, she would bring more people.
Xie Qingci tapped her fingers on the keyboard, pondering for a moment.
On the first day of our marriage, going out for a meal together seemed like a normal thing, so I replied: "Okay, I'll tell Aunt Zhuang."
Liang Jingzhuo replied with "Hmm," and then fell silent.
Ke Meng and Duan Siyu continued speaking into the receiver.
The issue that couldn't be resolved last night was brought up again today after I wished Xie Qingci a happy marriage.
Xie Qingci couldn't pretend to be dead anymore; she had to reply to the congratulations with, "Thank you."
So I was put back on the spot and pulled into a group chat call.
Ke Meng said that he and Duan Siyu had bet their breakfasts for a whole semester, a big bet, and he was determined to know the result, so he asked her to find an opportunity to spy on the situation.
Hmm... I just got married today to her legal husband. I wonder if he'll actually watch the military intelligence videos.
Xie Qingci recalled what he had said last night: he wouldn't watch anything that was illegal or non-compliant.
So the original words were relayed: "He said he wouldn't look at anything that was illegal or non-compliant."
After the message was sent, there was a long silence on the other end of the line, lasting for half a minute.
Duan Siyu: "There are legal and compliant versions of this? Where can I find it? Send me the website address, I want to go and take a look."
Xie Qingci: "...No, they said it was an art film and a drama about ethics."
These types of films do sometimes feature more explicit and unrestrained scenes than conventional films, but their core is not pornographic; they are primarily artistic expressions.
After she replied, the group fell silent again.
After a long pause, Ke Meng couldn't take it anymore and erupted in impotent rage: "I don't believe it! How can there be men who don't watch porn?! Even if the earth exploded, they'd still be watching it!!"
Duan Siyu comforted her, "Relax, Aci's husband seems to be a little different from ordinary men, you can accept it."
With such an ordinary face, he hasn't had a single scandal in 28 years. The only one he did have even led to the newspaper going bankrupt. There's really nothing unbelievable about that.
Ke Meng was silent for a few seconds, then said helplessly and resentfully, "He'd better never get involved in pornography for the rest of his life."
Duan Siyu rejected the possibility: "I'm afraid that won't work."
With just four simple words, the two instantly grasped the meaning and burst into a cryptic laugh.
Xie Qingci could tell from their tone that they weren't having a pleasant conversation, so she decided to stop participating. She had learned her lesson well enough last night and was about to hang up: "I'm out. You two can continue your conversation."
Just as she finished speaking, Ke Meng stopped her, "Wait a minute, let's chat a little longer. Didn't you just get your marriage certificate today? On your wedding night, didn't he invite you out for a wonderful evening?"
Xie Qingci paused before pressing the hang-up button and said truthfully, "I said we'd go out for dinner together tonight."
I guess so.
Ke Meng gave a hesitant "Mmm~", then said, "I meant—a beautiful night."
The sentence is deliberately paused and stressed to emphasize the unusual nature of this beautiful night.
Xie Qingci was momentarily stunned, then belatedly realized what it meant, and a flush rose from her neck to her cheeks. "Um...no."
There probably won't be one between them.
Ke Meng was greatly disappointed, and his previously high-spirited tone immediately deflated. "Fine, then I can only wish you a good meal."
What a boring blessing.
Xie Qingci laughed and glanced at the time. She didn't know what time Liang Jingzhuo would get off work, but she had to tell Aunt Ali and Aunt Zhuang in advance that they wouldn't be eating at home that night.
"I'm not talking anymore. Let's talk when I get back to school."
Tomorrow is the first day of the short holiday. Ke Meng and Duan Siyu plan to travel around Xinjiang and leave tonight. They haven't finished packing their luggage yet, so Ke Meng said goodbye to Duan Siyu and went to pack her luggage.
When I went downstairs, Zhuang Shuying hadn't gotten up from her afternoon nap yet, and Aunt Ali was watering the flowers in the garden. Xie Qingci had told her that she wouldn't be having dinner at home tonight.
Aunt Ali, holding the water pipe, laughed, "Going out for some alone time with Jingzhuo?"
The phrase "a world for two" was somewhat ambiguous, so Xie Qingci responded, "Yes, let's have a meal together."
Aunt Ali had a knowing look on her face, but she didn't say anything. "Okay, I understand."
Xie Qingci felt her cheeks flush for no apparent reason, and turned to go upstairs.
-
After the pre-holiday meeting, Liang Jingzhuo signed a few more documents and had no other plans. He glanced at the time and decided to leave a little earlier, as the traffic situation on Hong Kong Island was not much better than in Jingzhao.
He had just gotten up to pick up his coat from the coat rack when the office door opened without knocking. He frowned instinctively and looked up.
Deng Bo'an pushed the door open and walked in, holding a folder. He glanced at the clothes in Liang's hand and said, "Oh! Is the work-obsessed CEO Liang leaving early today?"
In the past, you would never see him getting dressed and leaving at this time.
Someone who could be seen in the CEO's office in the early hours of the morning is actually leaving before the end of the workday today, which is quite rare.
Liang Jingzhuo glanced at the folder in his hand, then put down his coat. "What is it?"
Deng Bo'an handed over the folder and got down to business, "Take a look at Mingning's revenue report for the last quarter."
Mingning is an established business under the Liang family, and one of the first companies to undergo reform after Liang Jingzhuo joined the Liang family a few years ago.
It was one of the most vocal protesters among the established industries undergoing reforms at the time. Due to its seniority, it refused to implement the headquarters' decisions and launched a large-scale strike.
The entire board of directors spent a great deal of effort to resolve the matter. Revenue has been steadily increasing in recent years, but the company remains a key focus.
Liang Jingzhuo took the folder, sat down at his desk again, read through the details of the document from beginning to end, and signed his name at the end of the page.
Deng Bo'an immediately noticed the ring on the hand that was resting on the documents. As if he had discovered something new, his shock was palpable. "It's blinding!"
Deng Bo'an and Liang Jingzhuo have been classmates since their first year of secondary school, and Deng Bo'an has witnessed Liang Jingzhuo's monotonous and dull 28 years of life. Not to mention girlfriends, he rarely has female subordinates or partners.
When Deng Bo'an learned that he was going to get married, he was initially worried for his young fiancée. He was a pioneer who put work first, so wouldn't they quarrel every day after they got married?
In short, I never imagined that one day I would see him voluntarily wearing his wedding ring to work.
Based on what I know about him, he would most likely say in a serious tone: "Marriage is a voluntary act of restraint between husband and wife. Wearing a ring can have a substantial effect, so what is the point of marriage law?"
Cold-blooded and ruthless, yet strictly businesslike.
Liang Jingzhuo ignored the veiled mockery in the words, signed his name, put down his pen, and handed the document back. "You can go now. Also, remember to knock next time."
Deng Bo'an took the folder but showed no intention of leaving. He sat down on the desk and said, "You don't have any women hiding in your office, so why should I knock?"
After saying that, she glanced at her watch and instantly understood why he had left early. "Oh, I remember now, you're getting married today, and you're rushing to your date?"
Liang Jingzhuo frowned at the backside sitting in front of him, stood up, put on his coat, and leaned forward to press the call button on the phone to call the front desk: "Call the cleaning service, my desk needs to be disinfected."
Deng Bo'an exclaimed "Hey, hey, hey!" several times in a row, "I just changed into this new outfit this afternoon because I was meeting a client, okay? Don't you have any respect for people?"
Liang Jingzhuo buttoned up his suit jacket, glanced at him indifferently, and said, "How much respect do you have for people when you're sitting at their desks?"
"Alright, alright." Deng Bo'an didn't want to argue with him. Before leaving, he patted him on the shoulder and said earnestly, "On your wedding night date, be prepared. It's a matter of life and death, so be careful."
After saying that, he nodded solemnly, took the documents, and left.
Just then, the cleaning staff came in with disinfection tools. She was shocked as if she had accidentally overheard some secret. She stood frozen in place, not knowing whether to go in or back, and secretly glanced at Liang Jingzhuo standing behind the desk.
The latter wasn't particularly shocked. He paused for a moment, as if deep in thought, before gesturing for him to continue and then walking out of the office.
-
Around five o'clock, Xie Qingci received a message from Liang Jingzhuo saying that he was almost at the Liang family mansion.
She had just changed her clothes and put on some light makeup when she replied, "Okay." She put her phone in her bag and left the room.
As she was going downstairs, a large white dog suddenly rushed towards her, causing her to stop in her tracks.
Aunt Ali chased after him, "Duo Zai! You knocked over the vase, Madam will spank you!"
Duozai, panting heavily with its tongue lolling out, circled around Xie Qingci, wagging its tail wildly and sniffing around.
Aunt Ali turned the corner of the corridor and saw Xie Qingci. She quickly grabbed Duozai's ear and said, "Duozai, don't scare Miss Qingci."
After saying that, he looked up and asked her, "Miss Qingci, are you afraid of dogs?"
Aunt Ali held Duo Zai's two ears in her hands, making it look like his braids were tied up tightly, his eyes stretched back, and he was grinning, unable to move.
Xie Qingci shook her head and said with a smile, "It's alright, you can put it down."
Duo Zai seemed to understand the instructions. He struggled and broke free of his restraints, excitedly rubbing against Xie Qingci's legs.
She glanced down at the dog beside her legs. "I don't think I saw it yesterday."
Aunt Ali laughed, "Yes, Madam sent her to a weight loss camp a couple of days ago. She's just too greedy and can't be controlled at home, so we have to send her there to exercise."
Not only that, he also dates people everywhere!
Zhuang Shuying couldn't stand its gluttonous and love-struck behavior, so she enrolled it in a month-long closed-door weight loss training camp.
I've lost a lot of weight since I came back this time.
Duozai seemed unhappy that others were talking badly about it, and barked twice at Aunt Ali.
Xie Qingci bent down and stroked its head, greeting it, "Hello, Duozai."
The happy puppy nuzzled her palm with its nose, just as the phone in her bag rang.
Liang Jingzhuo called.
She pressed the answer button and held the phone to her ear.
"Xie Qingci."
"I have arrived."
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Author's Note: No extra chapter today, I'll make it up tomorrow~ [kiss]
The overall progress of this book will be faster than that of "Hot Kiss Begonia".
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