Chapter 625: Confusion (32)
Near noon.
After almost finishing the work, Qiao Xi had just cleaned up the table when Wei Xinghe came to her desk and knocked on it, reminding her.
"Let's go eat. Do you have your meal card?"
"No."
Qiao Xi shook his head honestly.
She seldom comes here, so she doesn't have a meal card. The company cafeteria has five floors. The first floor is like a high-end buffet restaurant, the second floor is a revolving restaurant, and the third floor is where the chef prepares the food on site.
The fourth and fifth floors are usually where high-ranking officials or famous artists dine quietly without being disturbed.
Their staff cafeteria can be described as luxurious.
In addition, there are fitness centers and other entertainment facilities nearby. There are also monthly subsidies for meal cards and discounts of a certain amount.
The food is also delicious, so many employees like to eat at the company.
When the artists were having lunch.
The staff sent by the program team to follow the filming will naturally have meals together in their company’s cafeteria and introduce their cafeteria by the way.
"You have to be more approachable and create chance encounters."
Wei Xinghe couldn't help but sigh when he saw Qiao Xi's look. Although he knew that he didn't need to worry about Qiao Xi's business ability, sometimes he couldn't help but worry when he saw the girl looking confused.
"I invite you, let's go."
He could only half drag and half pull Qiao Xi out of the office to the cafeteria in a somewhat forceful manner.
It was lunch time.
The cafeteria was bustling with people, and the first floor was the liveliest. Many employees were having their meals here, as were some accompanying artists who were filming some unknown show. They were smiling and introducing the food they had taken to the camera.
"This is our company's cafeteria. Isn't it great? After working out, I always come here in the evening when I see it's open."
The female artist was probably doing a live broadcast.
Smiling and introducing it to the camera, the photographer quickly got the gist of it, then turned the camera nearby to capture the scene of the cafeteria.
Maybe you accidentally saw a familiar person appear in the camera.
The netizens who came to watch the live broadcast were talking about it, and the female artist smiled slightly when she noticed the comments from netizens.
"Oh, yes, Zhen Xing is from our company too, of course she's here. Did you see her? Huh? And Brother Tan? Wow, you guys have really good eyesight."
She was echoing the netizens.
Netizens were also excited because they discovered familiar celebrities.
This is basically the case when there are cameras around. Wei Xinghe took Qiao Xi for a quick walk and then went upstairs.
Many people know the chairman Wei Xinghe.
The staff also greeted him with a smile, and the artists they met were no exception.
"Brother Wei, you're here for dinner too. And... the boss?"
The tone they spoke to Wei Xinghe was friendly and natural, but when they turned to Wei Xinghe and saw Qiao Xi, their tone suddenly became a little stuttering.
How should I put it...
If you occasionally run into your boss coming to work or parking outside, that's normal.
Sometimes they saw the boss, and each time he drove a different luxury car, the price of which was generally in the millions. He didn't seem like a normal person at all, and suddenly gave people a sense of distance.
Plus...
They had never seen Qiao Xi anywhere else.
Not to mention seeing Qiao Xi come to the cafeteria.
So in comparison.
Wei Xinghe, who is of similar age and has no generation gap with everyone, and is humorous and witty, is deeply loved and respected by everyone.
"Haha, everyone, just be casual."
Wei Xinghe tried to smooth things over with a laugh, winking at her furiously. Noticing the boy's gaze, Qiao Xi curved her eyes and smiled, casually chatting with the staff.
Wei Xinghe also felt that the time was almost right.
He took the opportunity to take Qiao Xi to the upper floor.
"The artist who was on the show is coming soon. He's the singer Bai Jiangran. He was on a singing show before and was the runner-up."
Wei Xinghe took advantage of the remaining time to quickly introduce Qiao Xi.
A young and talented singer-songwriter. He's also good-looking and has released some hit songs on short video platforms, making him quite popular among the younger generation, which is why he was featured on the show.
To be recorded in the company's daily routine.
"I understand." Qiao Xi said that she understood and would cooperate.
After appearing on camera here, she will also go to the set to visit Qin Luying, the actor who plays the third male lead, and also act out some cooperation in front of the camera.
Qiao Xi herself was also well-known among netizens because of certain events in the past, but over the years, the Xi family deleted all traces of her on the Internet.
And now she is grown up.
She also puts on makeup and dresses up exquisitely, which is very different from her previous temperament. I'm afraid not many people can recognize her.
The most they knew was that she, a rich girl, was kidnapped.
However, netizens have not seen her photos. As the incident subsided, the heat has long since subsided. More than a year has passed, so naturally no one will mention it again, and no one will specifically remember entertainment news from more than a year ago.
"Me? I don't have any particular favorite food..."
Faint voices of talking could be heard. Wei Xinghe, who was sitting by the window with Qiao Xi, stood up when he noticed it. He winked at Qiao Xi playfully, indicating that she should behave well, and then disappeared from Qiao Xi's sight.
It seems the target is here.
Qiao Xi lowered her eyelashes slightly, picked up the mug in front of her and took a sip of hot milk. Wei Xinghe knew that she didn't like coffee, so he would always give her hot milk when she came to the office.
It's still here now.
When they arrived at the fifth floor of the cafeteria, Wei Xinghe went to order food. While waiting, Wei Xinghe also brought hot milk to Qiao Xi.
Compared to the first and second floors where there are more people.
The fifth floor was quite deserted, with few people dining there. Wei Xinghe took Qiao Xi to his usual seat, which was generally considered the chairman's, and few people came.
I'll come specially.
There are only those artists who are accompanying the program crew to tour the cafeteria.
"Oh, but there are really a lot of familiar seniors here. I just saw the senior on the fourth floor. Jiang Ran is a little nervous, right?"
A joking male voice came.
I think it was the staff member who livened up the atmosphere and brought up topics around Bai Jiangran. For a variety show newcomer like Bai Jiangran who had no experience, awkward silences were common.
Correspondingly, the program team will also have a host to liven up the atmosphere.
The young man's smiling voice came from the other side.
"Yeah, I don't usually see so many seniors. I don't run into them because of work. But if you come to the cafeteria, you might get a chance to meet and talk."
Bai Jiangran continued the topic.
The two of them were chatting and laughing, and the atmosphere seemed pretty good.
Sudden.
The host over there noticed a vague figure not far ahead, and he couldn't help but feel surprised.
"Jiang Ran just said that the front is usually where the chairman sits, right?"
Bai Jiangran was a little confused.
But he nodded and continued the conversation: "Yes, the chairman usually sits over there to eat..."
The words haven't been finished yet.
He followed the host's gaze and was immediately stunned.
"Oh, the chairman is really a beauty."
The host was completely unaware and walked over with the photographer as if he had discovered a new world.
When Bai Jiangran, who was standing there in a daze, noticed it.
He suddenly realized that the current chairman should be the young and easy-going Brother Xinghe. How could it be a woman? Although there was a female chairman, she had just handed over the position to Brother Xinghe not long ago.
Then there is only...
The feeling of uneasiness instantly grew in Bai Jiangran's heart. He was nervous and quickly followed the host forward.
I can see the man's face clearly.
Bai Jiangran's heart skipped a beat. How, how could it be the boss...
That's very mysterious.
The real boss of the company, Xi Xi, who never appears under normal circumstances.
The boss does not hold a position in the company, but is the only shareholder. Because she holds 100% of the shares, all decisions regarding the company are personally reviewed by her.
And then there is…
For some very important projects, I will also ask the boss for his opinion in advance about who to promote and who to provide resources to.
Then those important decisions that are passed are implemented by the board of directors.
Because the boss seldom comes here.
So everyone is actually not familiar with this boss and doesn’t know him well.
So no one knows what kind of person this is.
Seeing the host smiling and about to step forward to say hello, Bai Jiangran became nervous, fearing that the host would offend Xi Xi over there, so he spoke hurriedly.
"Morning, boss."
The words came out instantly without thinking.
The girl in front of him, who was as delicate as a doll, looked at him with a surprised look and confusion.
Then.
There was a hint of smile in her eyes, which were as clear and bright as gemstones.
"It's getting late, Jiang Ran. It's already noon."
The gentle voice was like a gurgling stream, light and agile, mixed with a smile that was as refreshing as spring breeze.
The host widened his eyes in surprise when he heard this.
His eyes looked back and forth between Qiao Xi and Bai Jiangran, then he quickly reacted and shouted in a surprised and somewhat exaggerated tone.
"Wow! I didn't meet the chairman, but I actually met the legendary boss! And I didn't expect that she's so young, really rich and beautiful. It's so wonderful to work under such a boss."
The host's series of exaggerated compliments left Bai Jiangran at a loss.
I still don't know what this boss's personality is like.
Would such exaggerated words anger people? He didn't dare to speak, and could only force a smile, unable to stay there for a second.
However, the host seemed to have sensed the topic.
Not only did he not leave, he also continued to talk with Qiao Xi.
Bai Jiangran felt his scalp tingle and he felt a little embarrassed. Just as he was getting anxious and trying to find an excuse to leave, the young woman sitting there seemed to see through his thoughts.
Their eyes met inadvertently.
That gentle, seemingly non-aggressive look also made Bai Jiangran nervous.
"It's inconvenient to talk while standing. Why don't you sit down? Have you had lunch?"
Qiao Xi said in a gentle voice.
The host's eyes lit up and he immediately laughed: "Not yet. We came to visit the cafeteria to see what Jiang Ran usually eats. We plan to go eat after we take a look around."
Qiao Xi nodded.
"Is that so? How about we eat here first before continuing? It's hard to work on an empty stomach. Good health is the most important thing."
When she said this, she looked at Bai Jiangran, asking for his opinion.
They looked at each other again.
Bai Jiangran became inexplicably nervous, his heart pounding wildly. The boy could only suppress the trembling in his words and nodded slightly.
"Okay, since the boss said so, then..."
Bai Jiangran still looked a little hesitant.
Seeing this, the host took the opportunity to continue his words: "At times like this, it's better to be respectful and obey."
He smiled and pushed Bai Jiangran to sit down.
A little reserved.
But Bai Jiangran still sat down, looking a little embarrassed, and Qiao Xi also signaled them to order.
This meal was naturally her treat.
After all, she is a boss. She wouldn't ask her employees to eat here and not even pay for the meal.
The host also seized the opportunity.
During the meal, he livened up the atmosphere by chatting and laughing with Qiao Xi, which invisibly eased Bai Jiangran's tension.
Wait until you are almost done eating.
Bai Jiangran could also face Qiao Xi more naturally. At this time, he finally discovered that this boss seemed to be a gentle person who was easy to talk to.
If I didn’t know that the other party was the boss.
I'm afraid that if we have a normal conversation, he won't think about it in this way.
I don't see any airs.
The pleasant lunch time ended, and the production crew had captured the scenes they wanted to see, so they naturally left feeling satisfied.
This mysterious boss appears for the first time.
He had a feeling that this episode would be a hit, because in the previous episodes, when the bosses of the other two companies made their debut, their ratings exploded.
I can still see those two from time to time.
But now, they came several times but failed to take pictures of this person. It was someone from the program team who used their connections to find their president and mentioned this matter.
but.
Want to film the boss? This matter is not something the president can decide alone, so it was reported to the board of directors. The board of directors decided that the chairman would ask the boss for his opinion.
That's why Wei Xinghe said those words to Qiao Xi.
After the meal, Bai Jiangran and the program crew left, and the filming came to an end.
Silence returned to Qiao Xi's side again.
The tableware has been taken away, but Wei Xinghe, who left earlier, has not made any movement until now. Where did he go?
It was as if space was specially made for Qiao Xi.
After bringing her here, he gave her some food and then disappeared, giving her his usual seat.
It's really arbitrary.
Qiao Xi also stood up and looked for Wei Xinghe on this floor. She always felt that he had not left, as if he had always been there.
An indescribable intuition.
Pulled by an inexplicable feeling, Qiao Xi saw Wei Xinghe sitting in another seat. He was probably distracted, staring out the window in a daze. His profile was quiet, and he seemed to have matured a lot. He no longer had the playful expression he usually had when facing Qiao Xi.
I don't know what I'm looking at.
Wei Xinghe seemed to be extremely focused and didn't even notice Qiao Xi approaching.
"What are you daydreaming about?"
Qiao Xi walked over curiously, and Wei Xinghe's body shook, as if he finally reacted.
"Ah? No, are you done there?"
He turned his head to look at the girl standing nearby and smiled slightly, then soon put on the expression that Qiao Xi was familiar with.
"Well, it ended smoothly. Have you eaten yet?"
"have eaten."
Wei Xinghe also stood up. The boy put one hand in his pocket and shrugged, signaling to her, "Let's go back."
"good."
Qiao Xi and Wei Xinghe returned to the office. As they walked side by side, they couldn't avoid the curious glances of the employees on the road.
Return to the office and continue working.
Not long after, the quiet atmosphere was broken by the slight vibration of Qiao Xi's phone.
There is an incoming call.
Seeing the name, Qiao Xi picked up the phone without hesitation.
"Miss."
The voice of his father's secretary came from the other end of the phone. Before Qiao Xi could speak, the other party continued.
"What's your answer...? Do you have a candidate in mind?"
Qiao Xi understood after hearing this.
It turned out that they were urging her to come and ask her to choose her fiancé first.
Qiao Xi pretended to be confused even though she knew the truth: "Is Yan Liang okay?"
The secretary was stunned for a moment, then took a firm stance. "The one from the Yan family? No, absolutely not! Miss, why would you mention that person's name? The Xi family is their competitor, and..."
"Then let's be Yuzhi."
Before the secretary could finish, Qiao Xi casually reported another name. There was silence on the other end of the line for two seconds, probably because they were checking.
"The second son of the Yu family? Miss, this one won't do either. You should choose your husband carefully."
He also knew this. The eldest son of the Yu family was very capable and had already inherited the Yu family.
As for the second son.
It's impossible to say that he didn't give him anything at all. It's just that I heard that the second son loves to play and ran away from home to become an idol.
But in fact.
The Yu family has always been paying attention to the situation of the second son. The second son is not bad either, and the Yu family also intends to let him inherit part of it to assist the eldest son.
Marry someone like this.
Maybe the Xi family will be accepted by the other party.
"Uh, choose your husband carefully? Then..." Qiao Xi was speechless and couldn't remember whose name to say for a moment.
Nan Xiangzhu had Gan Youmeng, so she was still a little uncomfortable. Zhi Liao… It was better not to mention this man. I was afraid that no one would know his identity even if I did.
As for the other Jiang Jingze.
In terms of status, I'm afraid the Xi family doesn't take me seriously because the gap is too huge.
"I'll give you an answer after I've thought about it."
After much thought, Qiao Xi could only say this. The secretary over there sighed and said nothing more.
Hang up the phone.
Qiao Xi noticed that Wei Xinghe was supporting his face with one hand, turning his pen idly and looking at her.
"What are you looking at?" Qiao Xi glanced at him.
"No, I just thought you'd be urged to get married too. There's no rush at your age, right? You're only twenty-four."
Wei Xinghe said this while stroking his chin.
Although I could only hear Qiao Xi's voice, but judging from the other party's tone, plus the two names that Qiao Xi said.
Wei Xinghe also guessed it roughly.
"But then again, I didn't expect that you know the one from the Yan family and the one from the Yu family?"
He was a little strange.
He knew Qiao Xi's true identity, after all, the Xi family had informed the board of directors. But the others in the company didn't know, and just thought Qiao Xi was the rich and beautiful girl who inherited the company.
Regarding Qiao Xi's background.
We shouldn't get too close to the Yan and Yu families, as they are rivals who are eyeing each other covetously.
"Yes, I know him."
Qiao Xi sighed and lay weakly on the table.
Wei Xinghe looked at her lazily lying down, and inadvertently noticed that her collar was a little loose because of Qiao Xi's movements.
Then……
The red mark that caught his eye also made his expression look a little strange.
"Your neck...?"
Wei Xinghe hesitated to speak.
Qiao Xi noticed his gaze and knew that Wei Xinghe had discovered it, so she simply stopped fastening the button that was stuck around her neck and unbuttoned it.
The top button of the shirt is undone.
The snow-white neck was exposed, but scattered on it were conspicuous marks.
"Yes."
Qiao Xi stroked her neck, which was finally able to breathe, and said this calmly.
"Don't you and your girlfriend do that too?"
Glancing at the oddly-looking Wei Xinghe, she was quite puzzled. This kind of thing, when lovers are deeply in love, is hard to resist. Generally, anyone with the necessary conditions would do it, right?
Until now, I still insist on not touching it before marriage.
Either he is a perfect man, or it is a family tradition, or he is in poor health.
In modern big cities.
There are probably very few adults who can still maintain this state. So many people have rushed for love and given it back in vain that even this kind of thing has become very common.
It’s no secret that those who have money spend lavishly.
Especially Wei Xinghe, who is in this circle, should know it better than anyone else.
"That's not what I'm asking. It's... which of them did you do this with?"
Wei Xinghe's tone was a little irritable.
Looking at Qiao Xi who acted as if nothing had happened and said such words nonchalantly, she then thought, what if Qiao Xi had done it with one of the two people she just mentioned, she felt a little... uneasy?
If it's just for fun, then it's fine.
Who hasn’t been young and passionate?
But if Qiao Xi fell in love, neither of those two people would bring her happiness and would also destroy the Xi family.
Yu Zhi’s words are slightly better.
After all, it's not a direct inheritance, but if it's another one, then...
An uneasy premonition was burning in Wei Xinghe's heart, and he prayed that it would not be what he thought.
Who knows.
Hearing what he said, Qiao Xi seemed to remember something. She narrowed her eyes, smiled ambiguously as if recalling a memory, and said the answer he least wanted to hear.
"Yan Liang. But if it's Yu Zhi, it should be soon too?"
He spoke in a casual tone, saying things that sounded unimportant.
There was nothing unusual about her expression.
It seemed like they were talking about something extremely ordinary, but Wei Xinghe knew that this was not normal.
How can it be normal?
Having fun is understandable, but Qiao Xi is just pursuing excitement by rushing into the fire knowing the danger.
His chest tightened.
Filled with unease, Wei Xinghe inexplicably recalled the time when he first met Qiao Xi. Back then, her eyes were lifeless and filled with despair.
Later.
Wei Xinghe thought she had gotten better and become stronger, so he concentrated on doing what he was supposed to do.
I no longer cared about Qiao Xi.
Until now, he suddenly realized that the girl seemed to have fallen into a deeper darkness in a place unknown to him. And, in such darkness, she began to seek that kind of excitement?
Obviously, they are the ones who hate that kind of thing the most.
He thought Qiao Xi was at least the same as him. They both disliked people who were obsessed with money and luxury.
However……
Wei Xinghe felt as if he had been hit on the head, his mind went blank, and indescribable strong emotions instantly invaded his thoughts.
He stood up.
No longer in his usual cynical and frivolous demeanor, Wei Xinghe's eyes were clearly stained with anger, an expression of disappointment at his friend who had indulged in depravity.
Seeing him like this, Qiao Xi couldn't help but burst out laughing. She joked, "You're not my mother, why are you so worried? Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
Her nonchalant attitude poured cold water on Wei Xinghe.
The young man drooped his shoulders somewhat helplessly, and all his anger turned into heavy sighs and helplessness.
"Please, I'm serious, don't joke around."
He even heard Qiao Xi say the word "husband".
Qiao Xi looked at him with amusement: "What's wrong? Are you so worried about who my husband will be? Isn't your girlfriend jealous?"
Wei Xinghe rubbed his temples with a headache.
"My friend got lost, so it has nothing to do with my partner, right? Don't interrupt me. Besides, if there's not even this basic trust, then there's no point in even dating me."
His family is also urging him to get married.
So, he followed his family's wishes and tried dating the women he met on blind dates. Although Wei Xinghe had girlfriends before, most of them had no plans to get married and were just playing around, so he followed suit.
Now this.
They are still in the stage of trying to get to know each other, and they have agreed to break up if they don't get along, so as not to put pressure on each other.
He had planned to talk to the other party a few days ago.
However, I was so overwhelmed by work that I had little time to rest and never found a chance to talk.
"I'm being honest, it's okay. I'm strong-willed."
Qiao Xi hooked her long hair between her fingers and curled it around her fingertips, playing with it. She leaned lazily against the chair and said, "Just like you said, it's just for fun. Yan Liang and I won't get married. The Yan family is putting a lot of pressure on him. I'm afraid they will just find him a fiancée."
Wei Xinghe's eyelids twitched.
"If he has a fiancée in the future and you also have a fiancée, do you still have to play together?"
Qiao Xi tilted her head. "Well, let's see what happens. You know there's no love involved in this kind of marriage between families. It's not uncommon for couples to go their separate ways after marriage."
"I know……"
Seeing Qiao Xi like this, Wei Xinghe felt upset and indescribably uncomfortable.
How did Qiao Xi just go with the flow and become like this?
Wouldn't he want to fight for his own love? Wouldn't he want to spend his whole life with the one he loves? But just like this, marrying someone he doesn't love for the rest of his life, if it were him, the thought of it would make him suffocate.
"Okay, don't worry about that."
Qiao Xi was trying to fool him by laughing it off, and it was obvious that she was just trying to get away with it.
Wei Xinghe opened his lips, but in the end, no words came out. A thought briefly floated through his mind, fleeting, but he quickly grasped it, and involuntarily, the words fell.
"...Is it not possible for me?"
At that moment, the air seemed to become quiet.
When Wei Xinghe realized it, he suddenly reacted and shuddered. What was he talking about? Didn't this horrible thought mean that he was coveting En's child?
As long as one has a good family background, anyone is qualified to stand by Qiao Xi's side.
He... absolutely couldn't do that. He owed the Xi family so much, and they had agreed that he would serve them like a slave for the rest of his life, assisting Qiao Xi and being loyal to her.
On the board of directors.
Basically, everyone owes the Xi family a favor and is indebted to them.
That is why they are so loyal to the Xi family and carry out the Xi family's decision to assist Qiao Xi.
Qiao Xi over there pretended to be exaggerated and gave herself goosebumps.
"Of course not. How can a male mother want to take the top position? Don't joke with me. It makes me feel creepy."
Her playful words didn't sound disgusted, but rather meant to smooth things over.
"...Whose male mother is this?"
Wei Xinghe frowned and looked at her with dissatisfaction.
"You, the male mother. Also, it's best not to say such things. Your partner really has a green light on his head."
Qiao Xi looked at him with pity, no, to be precise.
Should it be looking through him and at his object?
Wei Xinghe lost his temper. He scratched his hair irritably and clicked his tongue: "Tsk, I didn't feel anything in the first place. I was planning to break up today."
Qiao Xi blinked in surprise: "Then you are too fast to find someone to take over."
Wei Xinghe was speechless for a moment: "...Are you not done yet?"
He regretted it.
Now he truly regretted having that inexplicable thought and saying it out loud. If he could turn back time, he would travel back a minute and strangle himself to death for saying that.
Qiao Xi coughed lightly and straightened his expression.
"Director Wei, please work diligently and don't bring your personal emotions into the work."
Wei Xinghe glanced at her speechlessly.
How dare you say that? Everyone is qualified to make him work hard, except Qiao Xi, who has always been a hands-off boss and slacked off every day.
He pulled out his chair and sat back down. "If someone had a little more self-awareness, I would have finished this mountain of work long ago."
Qiao Xi lowered her head and pretended to hear.
The afternoon work was carried out in silence. When it was time to get off work, Wei Xinghe hurriedly took his things and left, apparently saying that he had an appointment with his girlfriend to discuss something.
Qiao Xi looked at the time and then at the itinerary Wei Xinghe had sent her.
This is the itinerary of Qin Luying, who plays the third male lead.
It looks like they are filming right now. If I go there from the company now, I can just catch up with the crew finishing dinner and should be able to see the filming scene.
Since we agreed to go and express our condolences.
Qiao Xi naturally had to show some sincerity. She opened her address book, searched for the director's name, and called him.
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