Chapter 141 The Chairman's Wife
Having bought the clothes, there was no reason not to return to Beijing. Xia Mian sat obediently the whole way, like a well-behaved primary school student.
Once they entered the capital, Zhou Pingchuan instructed Old Wang: "Go to Shangshanhui."
Shangshan Hui is a well-known private chef restaurant. Xia Mian thought he had a business dinner appointment: "You have an appointment to eat with someone?"
“I was just about to make an appointment,” Zhou Pingchuan turned his head and asked politely, “Mr. Xia, may I invite you to lunch?”
Zhou Pingchuan was mostly indifferent, so much so that when he looked at Xia Mian with a smile, Xia Mian's face began to flush slightly: "The kitchen didn't prepare lunch?"
"Before coming to Yunshan, I didn't know what time I would be able to pick you up, so I didn't ask the kitchen to prepare."
"Oh... then we'll have to eat out. Thanks."
Zhou Pingchuan smiled and said, "It would be my honor."
"Why is this guy smiling so much today?" Xia Mian pursed her lips, looked away, and deliberately avoided looking at him.
Shangshan Club operates on a membership reservation system, requiring reservations to be made ten to two weeks in advance for lunch. Xia Mian was about to ask if the other party had made a reservation, but then she thought that Zhou Pingchuan never did anything unprepared, so she didn't say anything.
Sure enough, upon arriving at the restaurant entrance, the scene was similarly grand. However, the owner of Shangshanhui understood the habits of these wealthy individuals and knew that Zhou Pingchuan was always low-key. He simply closed the door, announced that the restaurant was closed for the day, and waited at the entrance with his wife, without causing as much of a commotion as in the shopping mall.
"Pingchuan, it's been a while since you've been here," the boss said, rushing over to greet Zhou Pingchuan. "This must be Mr. Xia, right? It's a pleasure to meet you."
Xia Mian shook hands with him in a very generous manner.
The proprietress, who is more than ten years younger than the proprietress, often follows the entertainment and fashion circles. She clicked her tongue and said, "Mr. Xia is even more refined in person than on camera. There is indeed a gap between celebrities and ordinary people."
"You look great too. This bag is ostrich leather, right? The style you chose is very unique."
Ostrich skin is a rare entry-level skin from Hermès. Unlike crocodile or lizard skin, it's not highly sought after and is used by fewer people, but the shop owner particularly likes it.
She was pleased to be complimented and happily took Xia Mian's arm: "It's not easy to find a guy who is both handsome and has good taste. Come on, let's talk about our own things and ignore them."
As she spoke, the proprietress pulled Xia Mian inside and personally demonstrated a tea ceremony for her. The two chatted while drinking tea, which was much more interesting than having dinner with Zhou Pingchuan.
"Xia, how did you meet Third Master?" After chatting for a while, the landlady was less reserved. "His personality is notoriously difficult to approach. It's really not easy for you to get married to him."
Xia Mian mumbled, "We met at a relative's wedding."
"So someone did the matchmaking," the proprietress leaned closer to Xia Mian and whispered, "How's married life? You two seem to have a good relationship."
"They have a good relationship?" Xia Mian asked curiously. "How can you tell?"
"Third Master's attitude towards you. He and my husband have known each other for seven or eight years, but he rarely brings people to Shangshanhui. This is the first time he has needed my help."
When Zhou Pingchuan brings friends, the boss can entertain them all by himself. But when he brings family members, the boss has to bring his wife so that Xia Mian won't be neglected.
"And he takes good care of you, even walking so slowly to match your pace."
Xia Mian didn't know what to say.
In everyone's eyes, being able to be brought out by Zhou Pingchuan and walk alongside him instead of being left behind was already the highest honor.
But aren't these the most basic and ordinary things in married life?
Even though you're married, do you still want to go out to eat alone, walking one after the other like strangers on the street?
As she thought about it, Xia Mian couldn't help but laugh. The landlady asked, puzzled, "Xia, what are you laughing at?"
“It’s nothing,” Xia Mian shook her head, answering her previous question. “As you said, our relationship is indeed quite good. Anyway, marriage is like drinking water; only the person drinking knows whether it’s hot or cold. It’s enough to maintain the current state.”
What's the meaning?
The proprietress didn't understand, but she didn't dare to ask any further. They had just met, and no matter how well they got along, they were just ordinary friends. Asking any more questions would be impolite.
And...and her husband has already successfully completed the task he gave her, so she can call it a day and chat about things she likes now!
The proprietress cheered inwardly, then suddenly sat up straight and began gossiping about the celebrities who had come to dine.
Xia Mian was shocked by her erratic thought process, but he knew a lot about gossip, though he usually kept it to himself because he had no one to talk to. Upon hearing this, he immediately went over and whispered to the landlady about crickets.
"..."
No restaurant owner has as much experience as someone in the industry. The proprietress was stunned by those amazing and mind-blowing stories, listening with rapt attention. By the time Xia Mian successfully left Shangshan Hui, it was already past 2 p.m.
This was only because Zhou Pingchuan had something to do at his company and needed to go there to handle; otherwise, Xia Mian would have been kept in the shop by the boss's wife all afternoon, turning herself into a storytelling machine.
Xia Mian's voice was hoarse as she spoke, and before Lao Wang could open the door, she got into the car herself. Zhou Pingchuan said goodbye to his boss, who gave him a "you'll see" look.
Sure enough, five minutes later, he received a message from his boss, the text editor.
Zhou Pingchuan took a closer look and was certain that his guess was correct; Xia Mian harbored serious resentment towards him.
—Last night, after hearing Xia Mian's words, he felt that Xia Mian was angry, but he didn't know what she was angry about.
To find out the truth, he went to Yunshan to pick up Xia Mian, brought her to Shangshanhui, and instructed the boss to bring his wife to help him find out the situation.
The lady lived up to expectations and successfully completed the task of asking the polite questions.
Especially the line "It's enough to stay in the current state," which must have been Xia Mian's initial thought. After all, before joining the crew, Xia Mian was very close to him, even sleeping clinging to him.
Why has it suddenly changed?
What changed him?
Am I angry at myself for not spending time with him?
Zhou Pingchuan believed he had never shortchanged Xia Mian financially, and he never interfered with her choices. As long as Xia Mian was willing, he would support her in every way. For example, she could continue working in the entertainment industry, or she could leave home to film movies.
The only thing he could think of that would displease Xia Mian was... her company. He was busy with work and rarely spent time with Xia Mian.
At this moment, Xia Mian said, "Are we almost at the company? Just drop me off at the intersection ahead."
"Would you like to go and take a look?"
“Look, Kepler?” Xia Mian didn’t understand. “I’m not a company employee, I can’t even get through the door.”
“You don’t have an employee card, but you can enter the company by facial recognition,” Zhou Pingchuan paused, “and the reason for entering is an inspection, and your identity is… the chairman’s wife.”
When Zhou Pingchuan spoke of "the chairman's wife," his voice was low and soft, like a feather gently brushing against Xia Mian's heart.
Xia Mian pursed her lips, suddenly unable to speak.
Zhou Pingchuan didn't urge him and continued reading the documents.
Only after the car executed a clean drift and came to a stop in the parking space in front of the company did Zhou Pingchuan get out first, bend down, and reach out his hand to Xia Mian inside the car:
"So you've come to inspect the place, Mrs. Chairman?"
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