Ning Erfu nodded slightly: "Alright, go ahead."
Watching Cha Meiling's retreating figure, Madam Ning sighed, "The sins of parents are the responsibility of their children, but Meiling shouldn't have nothing left and still have to carry on a mountain of debt."
She knew her son's methods well; he had swallowed up the Cha family's business and was leaving them with a mountain of debt.
Assistant Ye looked at Cha Meiling's elegant back and smiled slightly: "Young Master is not a truly heartless person."
Madam Ning shook her head and remained silent.
...
At four o'clock in the afternoon, the sunlight slanted through the hotel's floor-to-ceiling windows, casting long golden shadows in the corridor.
Cha Meiling paced silently around the room, like a canary trapped in an exquisite cage.
The Cha family is now an empty shell; all the valuables are in the eldest brother's hands, leaving only debts.
Cha Meiling suddenly stopped, took out her lipstick, touched it up in front of the full-length mirror, and sprayed on Ning Bingyu's favorite light rose perfume.
Afterward, she carefully examined herself in the mirror and then changed into a black batwing-sleeved mini skirt with a cinched waist.
She remembered her older brother praising her for looking best in clothes that showed off her curves.
Sure enough, the batwing-sleeved silk dress accentuated her snow-white skin and exquisite curves, making her look like a delicate and expensive rose, exuding an alluring aura.
Cha Meiling smoothed her skirt one last time in front of the mirror, and gave a self-deprecating laugh: "I never thought I'd have a time when I could use my looks to gain benefits."
She used to look down on the female celebrities around her older brother.
She closed her eyes, turned around, and walked outside.
She needs to take the initiative...
As soon as she reached the corner of the corridor, she heard laughter and chatter coming from there, and she instinctively looked in that direction.
Tony was seen walking out of the conference room with a young girl, holding a document in his hand, as if they had just finished talking.
The girl wore a simple white shirt with the collar slightly open, revealing her delicate collarbone, and black wide-leg pants that made her legs look even longer.
She casually tied her long hair into a ponytail, with a few stray strands falling across her cheeks, making her fox-like eyes and pointed little face appear even more delicate and beautiful.
This was the first time Cha Meiling had seen such a beautiful girl in mainland China, and she couldn't help but be a little surprised.
No wonder Tony, who is usually cold and aloof, would look at her differently.
Tony asked Chu Hongyu, "Are there any good restaurants nearby?"
Chu Hongyu smiled radiantly, revealing her clean, white teeth—
"There are plenty of good restaurants around here. I recommend you try the pork rib rice cake at the nearby state-run restaurant; if you prefer something fresh, try the poached chicken at Xiao Shaoxing... It's on me!"
She's here today to sign her formal employment contract, so she should treat her colleagues to a meal.
Just as Tony was about to say something, he suddenly caught a glimpse of a familiar, beautiful figure out of the corner of his eye.
He looked over: "Miss Anne?"
“Tony, long time no see. And this is…” Cha Meiling smiled and stepped forward, greeting him familiarly.
“Miss Annie, this is Miss Chu Hongyu, she is… an intern assistant.” Tony paused for a moment, then quickly introduced her. For some reason, he felt a little guilty and didn’t dare to look Cha Meiling in the eye.
"Internship assistant?" Cha Meiling said with a smile, a hint of amusement in her tone—
"Tony, how come I didn't know you were so attentive to the newcomers? You're even personally accompanying them everywhere?"
Tony was momentarily embarrassed and coughed lightly, "Miss Anne, it's not what you think, I just..."
“Miss Chu is indeed a talented person. I asked Tony to handle her onboarding procedures.” A deep, magnetic voice suddenly broke in.
Cha Meiling and Tony turned their heads at the same time and saw Ning Bingyu, dressed in a well-tailored suit, walking over from the other end of the corridor.
Ning Bingyu's handsome face carried a hint of coldness, and his captivating eyes behind his gold-rimmed glasses were as mesmerizing as ever.
Cha Mei-ling recalled his cold and ruthless demeanor at the Hong Kong government, where he ordered her belongings to be thrown out, and suppressed the complex and embarrassing feeling in her heart.
She wore a polite smile, as if nothing had happened: "Brother Yu, it's been a long time."
Ning Bingyu gave a faint "hmm" in response.
His gaze then fell on Chu Hongyu, a polite smile playing on his lips, but his captivating eyes remained unfathomable: "Assistant Chu, are you here today to pick up the contract?"
Chu Hongyu felt uneasy under his gaze, but replied generously, "Yes, young master, I have read the contract and there are no problems."
Ning Bingyu nodded, glanced at the expensive Vacheron Constantin on his wrist, and said slowly, "At this time, it's perfect for you to treat us to a meal, consider it your onboarding dinner."
Chu Hongyu: "..."
Her boss is really considerate of his subordinates; he even lets her, a poor little assistant who's saving up for tuition, pay for a meal.
Tony stood aside, barely suppressing a laugh. Well, another person was in the same boat as him, getting ripped off by the boss!
Chu Hongyu opened her mouth, just about to find an excuse to refuse, when she heard Ning Bingyu say again, "Ning Yuan just got back and is changing clothes in her room. She must miss you a lot."
"Xiao Ning is here too? Okay then, it's my treat today!" Chu Hongyu readily agreed.
She glanced at Tony, who was trying not to laugh, and said frankly, "Tony, it's enough for just a few close friends to get together. I can't afford to invite all my Ning colleagues. My wallet isn't full, and I'm still being exploited by capitalists, you know that."
She used to have plenty of food and drink and lived a comfortable life, but it was far from enough to pay for the Hong Kong government's tuition fees.
Now we have to be careful with our money.
Life is tough, and there are even shady bosses who cheat you. It's truly disheartening!
Tony couldn't help but chuckle: "Okay, I understand."
While the three were talking, Cha Meiling was completely left out.
Cha Meiling watched the three chatting and laughing, especially Ning Bingyu's interest in looking at Chu Hongyu, and felt a mix of emotions.
"Brother Yu, I wonder if I would be honored to join you?" she suddenly asked.
Her tone was gentle and calm, as if the embarrassment and awkwardness from just now had never existed.
Chu Hongyu had already noticed the beautiful woman standing next to her. She looked at her politely but with a hint of doubt: "And this is...?"
“This is my god-sister, my mother’s adopted daughter, Annie,” Ning Bingyu explained calmly, his tone undisturbed.
Cha Meiling felt a chill run down her spine. Goddaughter... Yes, right now she was just Ning's goddaughter, an outsider who was dispensable.
She quickly regained her composure and gave a generous and appropriate smile: "Hello, Assistant Chu, just call me Annie."
God-sister? Goddaughter?
Chu Hongyu glanced at Ning Bingyu, then at Cha Meiling, and sensed a subtle tension between them, as if they were secretly vying for power.
She remembered Xiao Ning saying that the young master's fiancée was a socialite from Hong Kong named Annie.
How did she become a god-sister?
"Hello, Miss Anne." Chu Hongyu smiled politely at Cha Meiling, deciding it was best not to meddle.
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