Chapter 416 Don't you feel ashamed?
She turned her face away from his gaze, frowning, "I know my own body best."
Zhou Mubin released his grip, saying, "This isn't called going to great lengths; it's called basic humanitarianism."
As he spoke, Zhou Mubin stepped back and pointed to the spare umbrella in the entryway cabinet. "There are umbrellas, but look at the rain. Using an umbrella makes no difference. The apartment has guest rooms, and the sheets and blankets are all freshly changed. There are also spare towels and clean bedding. You can either wait here for the rain to stop, or you can stay here. It's one of the two options."
His tone was soft, yet assertive, less playful than before, and more serious, leaving no room for doubt.
Looking at the relentless rain outside the window, Cui Xiao turned to look at Zhou Mubin's expression. Suddenly, images of his deliberate delays while cooking and his silence while washing dishes flashed through her mind, and all the clues came together.
From inviting her to cook at his home, to deliberately wasting time making her wash the dishes, to this perfectly timed downpour, it was all no coincidence; it was all a carefully designed trap.
Cui Xiao suddenly looked up, her gaze sharp as an ice-cold knife, shooting straight at Zhou Mubin, "You knew it was going to rain tonight, didn't you?"
Zhou Mubin made no attempt to hide anything, readily nodding in admission, "Yes, I checked the weather forecast on the way there."
He turned around, walked to the sofa, sat down, picked up the remote, and turned down the TV volume to avoid the noise disturbing their conversation.
Cui Xiao said with a stern face, "Don't you feel ashamed?"
Zhou Mubin didn't care. "I just didn't want you to go back in such heavy rain, that's all."
Cui Xiao's heart sank, her hand gripping her phone trembled slightly, and her gaze swept across the torrential rain outside the window before settling on the clock hanging on the living room wall.
It's already 11 p.m., and with this kind of rain, there's no way it'll stop anytime soon.
If I insist on leaving in the rain, let alone whether I can get a car, even if I am lucky enough to get one, I will look really miserable, soaked to the bone, not to mention that I have an important project meeting tomorrow.
She was unwilling to be tricked into staying overnight at Zhou Mubin's house.
Zhou Mubin seemed to see through her dilemma, got up and walked to the bar to pour her a glass of warm water. "Have some water to calm down. I know what you're worried about. Don't worry, I'm not so despicable as to take advantage of someone in distress. Besides, you've stayed here before, so why are you being so dramatic now?"
He placed the water glass in her hand, their palms briefly touching before he immediately withdrew.
Cui Xiao held the warm water glass and looked up at Zhou Mubin.
He stood two steps away from her, his posture upright, his gaze open and honest, without the slightest hint of lewdness, but his eyes were deep, as if he wanted to see right through her.
She remained silent for a full half minute before finally hearing her own slightly hoarse voice say, "Thank you for taking me in, Lawyer Zhou."
A barely perceptible smile flashed in Zhou Mubin's eyes. "Just call me if you need anything. Get some rest. I'll take you to the company tomorrow."
Cui Xiao didn't say thank you again, she just nodded.
Just then, Zhou Mubin's phone rang. His phone was on the table, and Cui Xiao inadvertently glanced at the caller ID.
Then Zhou Mubin answered the phone, his voice not lowered as he did, carrying his usual indifference, "What's wrong?"
A woman's sweet and clear voice came from the other end of the receiver. Even from a distance, you could hear the excitement and anticipation in her voice. "Brother Zhou, our department has a debate competition this weekend. I'm a key debater. Can you come and cheer me on?"
Cui Xiao's steps subconsciously stopped. She saw Zhou Mubin leaning against the sofa armrest, his expression unwavering, and he refused without the slightest hesitation, saying, "I'm busy."
The aloofness in his tone was completely different from his deliberate attempts to persuade her to stay earlier.
The woman's voice instantly turned somber, the last syllable trailing off with a hint of girlish grievance, "Alright... I'll invite Brother Zhou again next time I have the chance."
"Hmm." Zhou Mubin's response was brief and indifferent. "Is there anything else?"
"No, nothing else."
"That's it then, bye."
As soon as he finished speaking, he casually tossed his phone onto the coffee table with a soft thud.
Zhou Mubin looked up at Cui Xiao, his tone no longer calm, "Go and get some rest."
Cui Xiao withdrew her gaze, nodded, and walked towards the guest room without stopping, never once asking who was on the other end of the phone.
But she had seen it clearly just now; the moment her phone screen lit up, the caller ID clearly showed the two words "Miao Miao".
The guest room door was gently closed, blocking out the light from the living room.
Cui Xiao leaned against the door and let out a long sigh, but felt a tightness in her chest.
Miao Miao, just from her name you can tell she's a young, vibrant girl who still has a touch of childishness.
She walked to the window, looked at the raging wind and rain outside, and a self-deprecating smile appeared on her lips.
Just now, he deliberately arranged for her to stay, and she even had a ridiculous thought that shouldn't have crossed her mind. Now that she thinks about it, it was just a momentary amusement of his.
How could a womanizer like Zhou Mubin, who has been with countless women, possibly give up his entire harem for her?
She was never one to indulge in illusions; Miao Miao's phone call would only make her more sober.
Lying in bed, Cui Xiao stared blankly at the chandelier above her head.
Suddenly, her phone rang. Cui Xiao picked it up and saw that it was Jin Ping calling.
Without even thinking, he hung up. Then, Sun Lu called, and he hung up again.
It's obvious what they're after: Sun Lu's job, and they want her to plead with Zhou Mubin on her behalf.
Sure enough, when he didn't answer the phone, Jin Ping sent him a message.
[Xiaoxiao, Mom was wrong, Mom really knows she was wrong. Please ask Attorney Zhou to let your sister go back to work at the law firm. Mom will leave tomorrow and promises not to bother you anymore.]
Cui Xiao glanced at it, and before she could put her phone down, Sun Lu sent her a message.
Sister, I'm begging you, I really can't lose this job. Don't worry, I'll see Mom off at the airport first thing tomorrow morning, and this will absolutely never happen again.
Cui Xiao never softened her heart. She never expected any family affection. She had already endured hardship when she was a child, and life now was much better than it had been then.
Cui Xiao replied to Sun Lu's message with almost indifference.
I'll think about it.
Sun Lu replied instantly: "Thank you, sister. I will be grateful to you for the rest of my life."
Sun Lu wouldn't believe that.
The next morning, Cui Xiao and Zhou Mubin got up almost at the same time. They looked at each other and Zhou Mubin spoke first, "There's a tea restaurant nearby, shall we go together?"
Cui Xiao hesitated for half a second, then nodded, "Okay."
I don't know when the torrential rain stopped last night, but the sky was clear and blue this morning.
The two sat facing each other. Zhou Mubin ordered several popular items and a pot of tea.
Immediately afterward, Cui Xiao asked, "What are your plans to do about Sun Lu's situation?"
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