Chapter 621: Side Story 034 I’ll Return to Your Side Once the Contract is Agreed Upon (First Update)

“Why should I pay to put myself through this?” Xin Zaozao’s tone was incredibly cold.

Mu Cidian just watched her.

Watched the way she seemed overly cold and detached.

He asked her, “You’re fed up with me, want me to keep my distance, you can just tell me to get lost. Why are you helping me find a sugar mommy? Since when did you become so kind-hearted, Xin Zaozao?”

“Even I have moments of compassion. I’m afraid you might end up like your mother one day.” Xin Zaozao pushed Mu Cidian away.

Mu Cidian leaned against the wall.

Xin Zaozao said, “You should make the most of it while women are still interested in you, try to please them. Who knows, once you have money, there might be a chance for you to make a comeback.”

“I would refuse,” Mu Cidian said bluntly.

Xin Zaozao’s eyes tightened.

“If it’s not about getting the contract for you, I will refuse upfront and let her know that you wanted me to say no.”

“Mu Cidian!” Xin Zaozao gritted her teeth.

Mu Cidian said, “If she’s not useful for you, there’s no reason for me to charm her.”

With that, he turned and prepared to leave.

“Mu Cidian.” Xin Zaozao stopped him.

Mu Cidian looked at her.

It seemed like he always had a knack for guessing what she was thinking.

She admitted, “Yes, I’m negotiating a contract with her.”

“Why can’t you just admit it?”

“I just don’t want you to feel that you are worth anything.” Xin Zaozao said in a word-by-word manner.

“I thought you were hesitant to admit that you can’t let me go, and that if it wasn’t for this contract, you wouldn’t cast me aside.”

“You’re overthinking.” Xin Zaozao gave a cold laugh.

“When will you be honest?”

“What do you mean?”

“Xin Zaozao,” Mu Cidian said, “do you find me disgusting?”

Xin Zaozao frowned.

“I’ve been with more women than just you, and after tonight, there may be one more.”

Xin Zaozao didn’t say anything.

“If you don’t mind, I will help you finalize your contract. After the contract is signed, can I return to be by your side?” asked Mu Cidian.

“I’m tired of playing around.” Xin Zaozao refused.

“What if I offer this as a bargain?” asked Mu Cidian.

“Mu Cidian, do you find it amusing to constantly be humiliated by me? I think we’ve had enough of each other, and I don’t want to take revenge on you anymore. You and your mother should get out of my sight as far as possible. If you treat Lina well this time, I will pay you. How much do you want, is 10 million enough?” Xin Zaozao’s tone was somewhat heavy.

“I only want you.” Mu Cidian was certain.

“Do you think that’s possible?” Xin Zaozao gave a sarcastic laugh.

“At one point, I too thought it wasn’t probable, and I assumed we’d just go our separate ways. But spending time with you, I feel that you still like me.”

“Are you joking? Or do you think too highly of yourself? Did a few older women’s attention make you overly confident?”

“Even though you hate me so much, you still want me around. I don’t believe it’s just out of spite. You said it just now, whatever issues we had, it all ended when I went to jail. Everything you did afterward, wasn’t it what you wanted?”

“I don’t know where you get your confidence from, but I never thought of being with you. I’d rather stay single my whole life than be with you, Mu Cidian. It’s absolutely impossible between us, absolutely impossible!”

“Nothing in this world is absolute. At first, I never imagined I could fall for you, and didn’t expect to fall this deeply.” Mu Cidian squeezed Xin Zaozao’s hand.

Xin Zaozao refused.

Mu Cidian held her even tighter.

Xin Zaozao looked somewhat uncomfortable.

Mu Cidian said, “Didn’t you say that if I severed all ties with my mother, you’d agree to anything I asked?”

Xin Zaozao looked at him intently.

“I’m severing all ties with her now, swearing that there will be no contact from today onwards. Will you agree to be with me?”

“Mu Cidian, have you gone mad tonight? Or have you caught the same sickness as your mother?”

“I love you.” Mu Cidian suddenly confessed, passionately and genuinely.

At that moment, Xin Zaozao could feel the heat from his gaze.

As Xin Zaozao was about to respond, Mu Cidian suddenly leaned forward.

He kissed her.

Xin Zaozao was taken aback.

Didn’t they say when she doesn’t want him to touch her, he wouldn’t?

Yet he suddenly, and forcefully kissed her.

Xin Zaozao writhed beneath him.

Mu Cidian held her even tighter, refusing to let go no matter how much Xin Zaozao struggled.

Xin Zaozao’s eyes tightened.

Xin Zaozao stopped resisting. She gripped Mu Cidian’s arm as he continued to kiss her, their bodies entangled…

“Zaozao!” There was a knock on the door.

It seemed like Xin Zaozao only then regained her senses.

She pushed Mu Cidian away with all her strength.

Mu Cidian landed heavily against the wall.

As he was pushed away, Mu Cidian seemed to smile for a second.

Xin Zaozao looked rather uncomfortable.

She fiercely opened the bathroom door.

“What took you so long? What were you talking about?” Lina looked at them, her eyes full of curiosity.

Xin Zaozao said, “Nothing.”

“She was just telling me how to please you.” Mu Cidian spoke.

Lina looked at Xin Zaozao.

Xin Zaozao gave an awkward smile.

“Let’s hear it, I want to know too.” Lina said, her tone full of implications.

Xin Zaozao gave Mu Cidian a glare, and then she walked out with Lina.

Mu Cidian watched them leave.

The smile on his lips slowly faded.

He followed them out and consciously sat next to Lina.

Lina clearly felt Mu Cidian moving closer to her. She smiled, “It seems Xin Zaozao was very thorough with her instructions.”

“She said you’re a very good person and that I should treat you well.” Mu Cidian poured himself a drink, and one for Lina as well.

“Really?”

“Let’s have a toast.” Mu Cidian raised his glass.

Lina picked up the glass and downed the drink with Mu Cidian.

“You have good alcohol tolerance.” Lina looked at Mu Cidian’s drinking demeanor.

“I don’t usually drink much because of my stomach.”

“What’s wrong with your stomach?” Lina asked in concern.

“Just some minor issues.” Mu Cidian said, then added, “When I see you, everything seems insignificant.”

“I used to think you were a man of few words, didn’t expect you to be so eloquent when you do speak.”

“So do you prefer men who talk, or those who don’t? In our line of work, we can have it all.” Mu Cidian said jokingly.

Lina couldn’t help but laugh, “I like your honesty.”

With that, she leaned over and kissed Mu Cidian on the cheek.

Mu Cidian seemed surprised.

His gaze fell on Xin Zaozao.

Xin Zaozao clearly saw it too. She averted her eyes and casually sipped from her glass.

“What’s wrong, didn’t like the kiss?” Lina looked at Mu Cidian’s expression, teasing.

“No, I’m just savoring.”

“You really are to my taste.”

“What an honor.” Mu Cidian poured more wine.

Lina and Mu Cidian, while sipping wine, turned to Xin Zaozao and asked, “Did you say his skills weren’t very good?”

Xin Zaozao nodded.

“Being criticized like this by a benefactor can’t feel nice,” Lina said to Mu Cidian.

“Indeed.”

“Don’t worry, although I’m not as young or pretty as Xin Zaozao, I definitely have more experience than her. I’ll help you improve a hundredfold.”

“I look forward to it.” Mu Cidian smiled.

Xin Zaozao quietly observed their interaction.

In that moment, she suddenly thought that Mu Cidian could make quite a good gigolo.

So skilled at charming women.

So his cool and clumsy demeanor in front of her had been a pretense?

She said, “It’s getting late, why don’t we call it a night.”

“So soon?” Lina checked her watch.

“I don’t want to hold you up.” Xin Zaozao said with a knowing smile.

Understanding the hint, Lina agreed, “If that’s the case, let’s call it a night.”

Xin Zaozao paid the bill and left with them.

Xin Zaozao saw them off.

She saw Mu Cidian and Lina off.

As Mu Cidian got in the car, he glanced at Xin Zaozao.

Xin Zaozao looked back at him.

He said, “I’ll take that as your agreement.”

“What?” Xin Zaozao frowned.

“To sign the contract and have me return to your side.”

Xin Zaozao didn’t respond.

Mu Cidian got into Lina’s car.

Xin Zaozao just watched as he and Lina drove away.

Watching their taillights.

She had a feeling that Mu Cidian seemed happy.

Happily leaving.

She thought to herself, once Mu Cidian went, he probably wouldn’t want to come back.

She returned to her own car.

Went back to her own home, entering her apartment.

She had drunk a bit tonight and although she wasn’t drunk, her stomach felt uneasy.

She sat on the sofa, staring at the ceiling.

It’s easy for people to become accustomed to things. Once they do, it’s hard to change, like when there’s one fewer person at home…

A person less, suddenly left the place feeling much emptier.

She couldn’t help but smile.

She found herself missing Mu Cidian a little.

She even wondered what Mu Cidian was doing at Lina’s, what Lina would have him do, what Lina could offer him.

She stood up from the sofa.

She rarely regretted her decisions, and she didn’t regret this one either.

Mu Cidian wasn’t hers.

She never forced him, it was all his choice.

She went into the bathroom, took a shower, and went to sleep.

As for Mu Cidian, she actually couldn’t care less.

A week later.

Lina, on behalf of the Senwo International Group, signed the contract with Xin Zaozao.

Drafting the contract took a whole week, with many modifications made according to the mutual interests of both sides. The updated contents pushed the cooperation between the two companies to a new level, gaining unanimous consent. With the contract signed…

Zaozao shook hands with Lina, “Thank you for your company’s trust.”

Lina smiled, “It’s a win-win project, no need for modesty.”

“We should have dinner together tonight to celebrate.”

“I have plans tonight.” Lina said frankly.

“Next time then,” Xin Zaozao didn’t press.

“I have plans with Mu Cidian.” Lina suddenly blurted.

Xin Zaozao smiled slightly without commenting.

“Tonight will be our last night together.” Lina added.

“Really?” Xin Zaozao played along, “You lost interest so soon?”

“That’s not the case.” Lina responded, “It’s just that people have their own aspirations.”

Xin Zaozao didn’t ask any further.

Suffice to say that she was intentionally avoiding the topic.

“I should get going.”

“Allow me to see you off,” was Xin Zaozao’s courteous offer.

Lina got into her car.

Xin Zaozao waved goodbye.

Lina rolled down the window and said to Xin Zaozao, “Zaozao, I really envy you.”

“Hmm?”

“It’s not easy to have someone truly love you in this life,” Lina put on her sunglasses, “See you later.”

With that, she rolled up the window.

And her car pulled away.

Xin Zaozao watched as the car drove off.

She, in truth, hadn’t taken Lina’s words to heart.

Yet at that moment, with the contract finally signed, she felt as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She thought she would feel a strong sense of accomplishment, but instead, she felt strangely empty and lost.

Perhaps this was what they meant by ‘great joy leads to sorrow’.

“Chairman,” Song Lifei approached her from behind.

Xin Zaozao turned around.

“The project took a lot of effort to finalize. The general department suggests holding a celebration banquet tonight.”

“Sure.”

“We’d like to invite you.”

Xin Zaozao considered, “Alright.”

Sometimes, a company needs team building and a little motivation.

…

Xin Zaozao left the celebration banquet a little past 11 p.m.

Everyone was still partying at that time, but she couldn’t endure any longer and decided to leave early.

Song Lifei offered to see her off, but she declined.

Her reasoning was that since he was in charge, he had to stay till the end.

Lifei was well aware that Xin Zaozao was deliberately distancing herself from him.

He watched as Xin Zaozao walked away.

Watched as her demure figure disappeared.

Why couldn’t she find someone to lean on, why did she have to be so stubborn!