Chapter 389 Trying to have your cake and eat it too, how shameless!
Cui Xiao paused, her hand holding the chopsticks, and her gaze fell on the sweet and sour pork ribs on the plate that hadn't been touched much.
That was a dish I always ordered when I ate with Zhou Mubin.
Cui Xiao picked up a piece of pork rib but didn't put it in her mouth. She gently traced a circle on the edge of the porcelain plate with her fingertip, and her voice was a little softer than before, "Nanzhi, I'm tired."
When Cui Xiao looked up, she met Xie Nanzhi's inquiring gaze. The corners of her mouth curved into a relieved smile.
“I used to always follow him around, no matter who was standing next to him, I had the strength and courage to protect him without expecting anything in return. But now it's different. I'm tired, and I don't have that same fearless courage anymore. I just want to live an ordinary life and live a simple and peaceful life.”
Xie Nanzhi sighed. Actually, she could understand Cui Xiao's feelings.
That disappointment was just like the one she felt for Pei Jingchuan back then. Perhaps the only difference was that Cui Xiao didn't hate Zhou Mubin, and Zhou Mubin had never deceived her.
Speaking of Zhou Mubin, who was her childhood friend, Xie Nanzhi couldn't help but say on his behalf, "To be honest, he asked me for help last week. He wanted me to give him some advice. And ever since he decided to pursue you, he hasn't had any other women around him for a long time. He even said that if you marry him, he'll rent an entire island for the wedding. I know that what he said at that moment came from the bottom of his heart."
Cui Xiao remained calm. "Nan Zhi, I can't afford to gamble, and I'm different from him. There's no cost of trial and error in my life."
Cui Xiao picked up a piece of pork rib and took a small bite. The sweet and sour taste spread on her tongue. "Zhou Mubin should find a wealthy heiress who is his equal. That's the path he should take."
Looking at her calm profile, Xie Nanzhi knew that saying anything more would be useless, so she could only sigh softly and pick up a spoon to serve her a bowl of soup.
"Alright, as long as you keep it in mind. If he really goes too far in the future, don't try to hide it; you have to tell me."
Cui Xiao took the soup bowl, her fingertips touching the warm porcelain, and smiled at Xie Nanzhi. "Don't worry, come on, try this fish, it tastes quite fresh."
As she spoke, Cui Xiao picked up a piece of fish and put it into Xie Nanzhi's bowl.
Xie Nanzhi tasted the fish in her bowl, and the delicious broth spread in her mouth. She couldn't help but nod, "It's really good."
She put down her chopsticks, but couldn't help looking at Cui Xiao again. Cui Xiao picked up her teacup, took a sip, and changed the subject, "By the way, one of my clients' daughters really likes your paintings. I heard you're having a solo exhibition this weekend, and the tickets are sold out. Could you do me a favor and give me a couple?"
Seeing that she was unwilling to mention Zhou Mubin again, Xie Nanzhi had no choice but to swallow back the words she was about to say and followed up with, "Of course, it's not a difficult thing."
Cui Xiao said gratefully, "Nanzhi, thank you so much."
Xie Nanzhi said, "There's no need to be so polite between us."
Cui Xiao smiled and nodded, then put another piece of greens on Xie Nanzhi's plate. "Eat more vegetables. Their vegetables are actually quite good."
The two chatted back and forth, from the art exhibition to work, and the atmosphere gradually relaxed again. However, the topic of Zhou Mubin was never mentioned again.
After finishing her meal, Cui Xiao was bending down to pick up her bag from the seat next to her. Just as her fingertips touched the handle, she heard a deliberately raised, mocking voice behind her, "Oh, isn't this Miss Cui? What a coincidence, to run into you here."
Upon hearing the sound, Xie Nanzhi and Cui Xiao looked over at the same time and saw a woman in a tight-fitting dress walking over in high heels. She had exquisite makeup and an extremely unfriendly look in her eyes, staring straight at Cui Xiao.
Xie Nanzhi recognized her at a glance; she was one of Zhou Mubin's previous girlfriends. Apart from Jin Moli, she was the longest-lasting one. She and Xibei had even joked that he was planning to marry her. She never expected to run into her here.
Cui Xiao tightened her grip on her coat, but her face remained expressionless as she simply said, "I never expected my luck to be this bad."
This person is none other than Liu Xiaojie.
Liu Xiaojie stepped forward, crossed her arms, raised her chin slightly, and said in an even more aggressive tone, "What do you mean by that? Cui Xiao, have I offended you?"
Liu Xiaojie had always had an arrogant attitude. She was just a slightly famous young model, not particularly outstanding among Zhou Mubin's many women, but she was still incredibly proud and arrogant.
"Oh, I see, it's because of Zhou Lu, right? But didn't you have a boyfriend? Haven't you given up on Zhou Lu yet? It's such a pity that you've been so devoted all these years, and he hasn't even given you a second glance. Cui Xiao, are you particularly jealous of me?"
Liu Xiaojie was probably angry with Cui Xiao. She couldn't stand Cui Xiao's arrogant attitude. Why did a lowly laborer like her stand so straight?
She should bend down and serve them properly, just like they did with the jujube cakes they threw at her back then.
Liu Xiaojie, wearing high heels, smiled and said, "But what can I do? Zhou Lu likes me so much. I just got back to China, and he put aside all his work to pick me up at the airport. Oh, and he said he's going to throw me a welcome-back party. Cui Xiao, why don't you bring your boyfriend along?"
Anyone could hear the provocation in this statement.
Xie Nanzhi immediately flew into a rage upon hearing this, and stood in front of Cui Xiao, frowning as she retorted, "Miss Liu, is that right? May I ask, who gave you the right to be so arrogant? Was it that blind bastard Zhou Mubin?"
"I'm talking to her, what right do you have to interfere?" Liu Xiaojie glanced at Xie Nanzhi, her tone full of disdain. "Besides, I was just kindly inviting Miss Cui, how is that being arrogant? Back when I was with Zhou Mubin, I had a pretty good relationship with Cui Xiao. You can't be so shameless towards me."
Cui Xiao stepped out from behind Xie Nanzhi, her eyes turning cold as she stared directly at Liu Xiaojie. "Liu Xiaojie, I've already left the law firm. Zhou Mubin is just a former boss to me. I don't care what your relationship with him is, and you don't need to tell me. If you're so capable, then let him marry you. When you become Mrs. Zhou, I will definitely be there to congratulate you in person."
Liu Xiaojie was taken aback, her face turning somewhat pale, but she forced herself to continue, saying, "Don't pretend to be strong. I just can't stand your hypocrisy. If you really don't want to have anything to do with him, then don't let him keep bothering you. You're hypocritical, aren't you?"
Cui Xiao frowned slightly, trying to keep her expression calm. "If I wanted to pester him, I wouldn't have waited until now, and I certainly wouldn't have quit my job. Or perhaps Miss Liu wants to see what it's like if I really pester him? If you're so curious, I can satisfy your curiosity."
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