To win over a foodie, using handsome men is useless; only delicious food can solve the problem.
Dinner was moved to the restaurant because of Tantai Yi's arrival, and the three of them—Mu Chen, Song Yunxi, and Tantai Yi—were the only ones dining.
Unlike the business reception for Li Shenghuan last time, this time it was not Mu Chen who was welcoming Tantai Yi, but Song Yunxi who was having dinner with Mu Chen and at the same time invited his love rival.
Mu Chen didn't really care about the rule that employees couldn't date. He could just fight with President Jiang and the others again and change the rule back.
The reason she was willing to cooperate with Song Yunxi in pretending they weren't lovers in public was simply to support her. After all, Song Yunxi had only proposed this rule less than a week ago, and she couldn't afford to be proven wrong so quickly. Otherwise, she would lose all credibility at the Platinum Hotel.
When Tantai Yi saw that Song Yunxi's hand was wrapped in gauze, he genuinely showed his concern. "How did you get hurt again?" His tone carried a hint of reproach for not protecting herself properly.
Song Yunxi laughed self-deprecatingly. "Yeah, I seem to get injured all the time."
"It's my fault. I won't let you get hurt again." Mu Chen actually wanted to hold Song Yunxi's hand, but thinking of her previous worries, he held back.
After the dishes were served, Song Yunxi still took a spoon. Just like yesterday, Mu Chen picked out the rice and vegetables and put them in the spoon. Song Yunxi then put the food in the spoon into her mouth.
Their teamwork was seamless and natural.
Yesterday, she could only passively accept the food Mu Chen put into her spoon, but today she can order for herself. She can indicate which dish she wants with her eyes or simply say it, and Mu Chen will pick up that dish and put it into her spoon the next second.
Therefore, the relationship has changed, and even the power to decide on meals has increased.
Tantai Yi chuckled lightly, picked up some food, and placed it into Song Yunxi's spoon while Mu Chen went to pick up other dishes.
Song Yunxi smiled and said, "Thank you. I heard that Mr. Tantai gave a lecture at Lan University today. It's a pity I found out too late, otherwise I would definitely have gone to listen."
"It's just a regular lecture; everyone's kindness is appreciated. If Ms. Song would like to attend, I'll definitely invite you in advance next time."
"Okay. I'll look forward to it then."
Song Yunxi reached for the wine glass, but Mu Chen stopped her. He didn't say anything, silently moved the wine glass away, and pushed the mango juice next to it over.
This move to assert sovereignty is obvious to anyone with eyes.
Song Yunxi smiled, picked up the mango juice, and raised her glass. "The doctor said not to drink alcohol, as it will hinder wound healing. So I'll toast Mr. Tantai with this juice instead of alcohol. I hope Mr. Tantai will put in a lot of effort for this collaborative project."
Tantai Yi smiled and clinked glasses with Song Yunxi. "Of course, even in ordinary business cooperation, there's no reason not to do one's best. Besides, this is a project that Miss Song is in charge of, so I should do my utmost."
After dinner, the three of them went upstairs together and said goodbye in the elevator. Tantai Yi lived in a suite on a lower floor, so he got off the elevator first.
"Mr. Mu, Ms. Song, see you tomorrow."
Song Yunxi smiled and said goodbye, "See you tomorrow."
Mu Chen nodded slightly as a sign of politeness.
After the elevator went up a few more floors, it stopped at the floor where Mu Chen and Song Yunxi were. Mu Chen consciously walked side by side with Song Yunxi towards her room.
During the day, they didn't have a chance to spend time together in front of others, so the only time he had was before bedtime when he could kiss and hug her.
Once the floodgates of human desire are opened, people never want to close them again. I was already happy just to see her every day, but after that first kiss, I felt like I could never get enough of her.
Song Yunxi swiped her room card to open the door, and Mu Chen was about to follow her in. But Song Yunxi turned around and blocked his way.
"Mr. Mu, it's getting late, you should go home and get some rest."
Mu Chen was stunned for a moment. What did that mean? Your idol is here, and you won't even let me in the door?
He said, "It's still early, I can go back later."
"I still have some work to finish this afternoon."
"You can focus on your work and ask me any questions you may have."
"I'd like to take a shower before I start working. I'm afraid it might be inconvenient for President Mu to come in."
"Then go take a shower, I'll wait for you in the living room. You have an injury on your hand, so I can help if anything happens."
Song Yunxi thought to herself: You're a man, I don't need your help with anything while I'm taking a shower, do I?
Seeing that Song Yunxi didn't offer any new reasons, Mu Chen took the initiative to ask her, "Milk and cherries, don't you want to drink them anymore?"
Okay, Song Yunxi admits she lost, lost to Milk and Cherries. She stepped aside to let Mu Chen into the room.
Mu Chen took a medical glove from the first-aid kit, pulled Song Yunxi's hand, and helped her put the glove on her right hand.
"Go take a shower, then you can drink it."
He pushed her into the bathroom and then helped her place her clean bathrobe on the stool by the bathroom door.
The injured hand did not affect Song Yunxi's bathing speed at all, as if Mu Chen would run away with her milk and cherries if she bathed too slowly.
When she came out of the bathroom, Mu Chen called to her, "Go sit on the sofa first, it'll be ready soon." Then he turned on the juicer.
Oh right, he said the shelf life of juice is too short, so he waited for her to finish washing before he started making it, right?
Mu Chen still poured the juice into a wine glass and handed it to Song Yunxi. She took a small sip and smiled broadly.
It seems that using handsome men to deal with foodies is useless; only delicious food can solve the problem.
After pouring her a second glass, Mu Chen turned and went to the bathroom to get a hairdryer. Song Yunxi understood his intention, so she sat on the sofa and turned to the side, waiting for him to dry her hair.
After finishing her juice and drying her hair, Mu Chen sat on the sofa, picked up Song Yunxi, and placed her on his lap. He was about to lean down to kiss her when Song Yunxi turned her head away.
She put her hands behind his waist, hugged him tightly, and buried her head in his chest.
Mu Chen kissed her hair and whispered in an extremely gentle tone, "What's wrong?"
"I heard you used to have a crush on a female student, the one who looks a lot like me. I don't know if you really liked me, or if you only liked me because I look like her?"
After Song Yunxi asked that question, she clearly felt Mu Chen's body stiffen. Because she was hugging him so tightly, she could feel any change in his body.
Mu Chen couldn't answer this question for a moment. He knew he had fallen in love with Song Yunxi, but what exactly was the reason for his love for her?
The person in front of him was Song Yunxi, but he initially paid attention to her because she looked like Rui Yan. He probably had a bit of a case of "because of the dog, because of the house".
Song Yunxi remained in the same position, still tightly hugging his waist and leaning against his chest. "President Mu, please think it over carefully. Tell me when you're sure of your feelings, okay?"
She craved his embrace. Although he was thin and didn't have a broad chest, she felt that as long as she leaned against him, she had the greatest sense of security in the world.
Mu Chen still held her on his lap, but he didn't kiss her again. They just sat there quietly, neither of them speaking.
When the person in his arms stopped hugging him so tightly and her breathing became light and even, Mu Chen looked down at her. Song Yunxi had already fallen asleep.
He gently kissed her lips, then put one arm around her back and slipped the other behind her knees, lifting her horizontally from his lap and carrying her into the bedroom.
After closing the door and stepping out, Mu Chen slowly walked to the floor-to-ceiling window in the living room. His long, dark shadow with a blurred outline was reflected in the glass, and outside the glass was the brightly lit night scene of Lancheng.
But he had no mood to appreciate the stark contrast between light and dark; Song Yunxi's question still lingered in his mind, and he himself seemed unable to figure it out.
*
A new bouquet of roses appeared on Song Yunxi's desk. However, the name on the card was no longer Tantai Yi, but a single letter: C. The flowers were no longer bright, passionate red roses, but the gentle, reserved Diana.
Furthermore, Mr. C's flowers are delivered by the florist every morning without fail, rain or shine.
Mu Chen still took Song Yunxi to the hospital to change her dressings every day, dutifully served her food at meals, made her milk and cherries in the evenings, and then watched a movie with her in the room, or simply held her quietly for a while. But he no longer felt the same eagerness to kiss her as he had a few days ago.
Song Yunxi knew that he hadn't figured out his own feelings yet, and he needed some more time.
And she would have to throw herself into her work. After all, He Yi's consulting fees were really expensive. Having paid such a high price for the co-branded project, she had to recoup that cost a million times over after the project went live.
Because every penny spent in the hotel reduces the year-end profit and affects the GOP (Gross Operating Profit) she's tied to.
Lin Xiaoran pulled out the small card from the bouquet and asked her, "I looked it up online, and nine Diana flowers mean: lasting love. So, who exactly is this Mr. C?"
The small card had only a "C" on it and nothing else; she couldn't find any clues.
Song Yunxi smiled and handed over the documents. "Stop gossiping, these are the documents Miss Tang and the others requested, please send them over quickly."
The Diana Rose is no longer just a perfume that Ji Yanchu gave to Dong Jia; it represents an unspoken secret between her and someone else.
"So what if you have money? All you do is flirt with other women all day long." Fu Meilin muttered under her breath, throwing a crumpled piece of paper into the trash can.
Fu Meilin and Song Yunxi worked in the same open-plan office area, just a little far apart. But even from a distance, she could see that the flowers on Song Yunxi's desk were changed every day.
"Mr. Fu, is something bothering you?"
Fu Meilin turned her head and saw Xu Jiasheng from Jiasheng Labor Service Company. He was looking at her with a smile.
Fu Meilin glanced at the electronic calendar on the table. "Mr. Xu, isn't it time to settle the bill yet?"
Platinum Hotel and Jiasheng Labor Service Company also have a long-term cooperative relationship. Some of the more flexible positions in the hotel are filled by temporary workers provided by Jiasheng Company. Platinum Hotel pays Jiasheng Company a monthly fee, and Jiasheng then pays the salaries of their employees.
But Platinum Hotel has never defaulted on labor fees. Even if it did, there's no need for Xu Jiasheng, the big boss, to come forward and demand payment, right?
As the largest labor service company in Lancheng, Jiasheng has partnered with so many hotels of all sizes. If the boss had to personally run around to each one, wouldn't he be exhausted?
Xu Jiasheng still smiled gently. "I'm not here to collect debts, just to follow up with an important client."
"Oh." Fu Meilin pulled over a chair next to her. "Then you can sit down."
Xu Jiasheng sat down and took the water that Fu Meilin handed him. "Thank you."
Xu Jiasheng sat next to Fu Meilin's workstation all morning. He watched her quietly as she worked; when she had a break, he chatted with her for a few minutes. He didn't leave until noon, after treating her to lunch.
The next morning, Fu Meilin's flowers and Song Yunxi's flowers were delivered to the office almost simultaneously. A bouquet of red roses and a bouquet of pink roses occupied two corners of the office.
Song Yunxi turned to look at Fu Meilin, who even provocatively raised her chin at her.
Pink rose signed: C. Red rose signed: Xu Jiasheng.
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