Chapter 424 If you won't do it, plenty of others will.
Miao Miao froze completely. Her previously chaotic mind was instantly filled with icy shock. She almost blurted out, "Why, Brother Zhou? Did I do something wrong? Or... is there something wrong with you?"
She finally stopped working part-time at a bar to earn tuition fees and could finally have her own life like a normal girl. How could he suddenly say he wouldn't support her anymore?
Zhou Mubin's slightly somber voice came through the receiver, "It's not your fault, nor is it because I'm in a difficult situation. It's just... I don't want my girlfriend to misunderstand because of this, and I don't want it to affect our relationship. I hope you can understand."
The word "girlfriend" struck Miao Miao like a hammer blow. Her cheeks, which had been burning hot, instantly lost all color, and the tissue in her hand was crumpled into a ball.
It turns out that my roommate's claim of "having something on his mind" was all just my imagination. He wasn't being special to me; he was just being kind. Now, for his girlfriend's sake, he's even taking back that kindness.
She opened her mouth, wanting to say something more, but her throat felt blocked and she couldn't make a sound; she could only hear her own rapid breathing.
Zhou Mubin's voice rang out at the right moment, tinged with a hint of impatience, "Are you listening?"
Miao Miao sniffed hard, suppressing the sob in her throat, and tried to make her voice sound calm: "I...I understand, Brother Zhou. Thank you for your help during this time. I can handle it myself from now on."
"Okay, then you should get some rest."
After finishing his sentence, Zhou Mubin gave a few more instructions on safety before hanging up the phone.
The phone slipped from my limp hand and fell onto the table with a soft sound.
Her roommate came over and, seeing her pale face, quickly asked, "What's wrong? Who called?"
Miao Miao turned her head, her eyes red, but she held back her tears. "It was Brother Zhou... He said that he has a girlfriend and will no longer support me, because he is afraid that his girlfriend will misunderstand."
"Girlfriend?" My roommate was taken aback for a moment, then frowned. "No, why did he have to say it was a misunderstanding now, right after he saved you? That's too much of a coincidence. Could it be that his girlfriend is deliberately picking a fight to force him to cut off contact with you?"
These words were like a thorn in Miao Miao's heart. She suddenly remembered Xie Nanzhi standing next to Zhou Mubin at the barbecue restaurant.
With long, flowing hair and a gentle demeanor, her eyes sparkle like stars when she smiles, and her clothing and speech are both exquisite.
Just now she thought that woman was very nice, but now she wondered if the "girlfriend" Zhou Mubin mentioned could be her.
No, that's not it.
When Xu Shao introduced her to Zhou Mubin, he mentioned that the woman he liked resembled her, which is why he chose her to accompany him.
The woman from earlier looked completely different from her, so she wasn't Zhou Mubin's boyfriend. Then who could she be?
This thought made her feel even more suffocated, and her fingertips unconsciously dug into the wood grain of the desk.
Seeing that her face was even worse, her roommate quickly softened her tone, "It's not necessarily his girlfriend's fault. Maybe he just wanted to distance himself? But it was too sudden. He could have at least told you beforehand. How are you going to adjust to this all of a sudden?"
Miao Miao shook her head, her voice nasal, "He has no obligation to support me indefinitely... I'm just too dependent on him."
Despite saying that, tears still streamed down her cheeks.
She wasn't heartbroken about losing her source of income; after all, she had already saved some money by working part-time during her spare time. It was just that Zhou Mubin's words, "I'm afraid my girlfriend will misunderstand," seemed to completely sever the secret expectation in her heart that she hadn't even dared to think about in detail.
Her roommate quickly handed her a tissue, sighed, and said, "Why are you crying? It's not worth it. Besides, didn't he say he'd help you get a scholarship? If all else fails, I'll go with you to go through the application process. And you're so outstanding; you can earn a good amount through part-time jobs. You'll definitely get through this."
Miao Miao took the tissue, wiped her tears, and nodded.
But that night, lying in bed, she tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Her mind kept flashing back to the first time she met Zhou Mubin, the back of the man who had stood in front of her, and the words on the phone, "I'm afraid my girlfriend will misunderstand." Could it be that the woman who looked like her had already accepted him?
——
Zhou Mubin drank quite a bit last night, and didn't go to the law firm the next morning. He only went there after lunch.
Sun Lu's salary had been reduced so much that the whole law firm knew about it. She always felt like someone was talking about her behind her back, but when she turned around, there was nothing there.
She made a solemn vow to become Zhou Mubin's girlfriend and avenge herself.
Just then, Zhou Mubin walked over, and Sun Lu immediately stepped forward to greet him, "Lawyer Zhou, the weather has been humid lately, so I've prepared a dehumidifier for your office."
Zhou Mubin glanced at her and said, "It seems that Assistant Sun is quite well-off and not in dire need of money."
Sun Lu tearfully told Zhou Mubin that she had no money to rent a place and asked him to be lenient and stay at Cui Xiao's house temporarily, promising not to bother her.
But Zhou Mubin didn't give her a chance at all, and just said, "If you don't do this job, there are plenty of others who will."
After that, Sun Lu never mentioned it again.
Sun Lu couldn't possibly miss that sarcastic tone.
Sun Lu's fingertips clenched so tightly they turned white, her nails almost digging into the flesh of her palms, barely managing to maintain a calm expression on her face.
Then, Zhou Mubin's figure had already disappeared behind the office door, the heavy solid wood door making a dull thud as it closed.
Sun Lu took a deep breath, her eyes sharp.
A moment later, she arrived at her workstation. Her previous private office had been replaced, and now she worked in the corner of the office area.
As soon as I sat down, Sister Li, who was sitting next to me, came over and twirled a pen in her hand. "Assistant Sun, I think I heard Lawyer Zhou talking to you just now? He seems to be in a bad mood lately, don't take it to heart."
Sun Lu felt that these words were not out of concern at all; they were just gloating.
But she couldn't let it out; she had to keep up the act. Sun Lu forced a smile that looked more like a grimace. "It's okay, Sister Li, I won't take it to heart."
Sister Li offered a few more words of comfort before continuing with her work.
Sun Lu secretly rolled her eyes. As it was almost time to leave work, Zhou Mubin walked out of the office first, and he subconsciously looked at Sun Lu.
Sun Lu was secretly watching him.
Zhou Mubin frowned, as if he had been spied on, and his face darkened.
Then, Zhou Mubin spoke coldly, "Assistant Sun, I've reviewed the documents for the pre-trial conference at nine o'clock tomorrow morning. There are a few loopholes. I don't care how late you work overtime, I need to see them in my email before six o'clock tomorrow morning."
Sun Lu was stunned for a moment, then quickly nodded, "Okay, Attorney Zhou, I will definitely correct it tonight."
Zhou Mubin didn't say anything more, put his hands in his pockets, and strode out.
But Sun Lu was dumbfounded.
How could she possibly know these things?
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