living
It was past three in the afternoon when Chu Xiuhuang and Shi Huan left the company, one after the other.
Upon reaching the underground parking garage, he walked to the car and habitually started to pull on the rear door handle.
He made contact but then let go, instead moving two steps forward, pulled open the car door and took a seat in the passenger seat.
As Shi Huan got into the car, Chu Xiuhuang leaned back onto the seat, one hand supporting his graceful head, and one tapping rhythmically on his long leg, with his eyes slightly closed and said casually, âSecretary Shi, if my big brother asked what happened to my lips when we arrive at Huo Yuan, what should I say?â
Shi Huan turned the key in the ignition, âMaster Chu, youâre overthinking it, a mature and steady man like Mr. Huo certainly wonât notice anything about your lips.â
Chu Xiuhuang:ââ¦â
*
*
The car smoothly pulled out.
Chu Xiuhuang maintained his original position, his gaze consistently rested on
Shi Huanâs face.
After a while, Shi Huan finally couldnât help but speak up, âMaster Chu, is there something on my face that I didn t clean off?
âNo.â Chu Xiuhuang replied but continued to watch her unwaveringly.
Shi Huan: ââ¦â
Some time passed again.
Shi Huan frowned, âMaster Chu, Iâm not comfortable being watched while Iâm
driving.â
âReally?â Chu Xiuhuang raised his eyebrow and suddenly asked, âWhat brand
of shampoo do you use?â
Shi Huan was taken aback.
âBuy me a case of it and send it to my villa tomorrow.â Chu Xiuhuang continued, then added, âThey should have a menâs version, right?â
Shi Huan thought about it, âI donât think so.â
âHow is that possible? All care products have menâs and womenâs versions.â Chu Xiuhuang thought his secretary was deliberately misleading him. But who knewâ¦
âMaster Chu, I use a common brand, not those international ones like you. They donât separate their versions into menâs or womenâs. Also, when I bought it, it was during supermarket promotions- â three bottles for 50 yuan, which could be used for the entire year.â
ChuXiuhuang: ââ¦â
âMaster Chu, do you still want it?â
Shi Huan thought, a man of noble background and great taste in life like Master Chu would want the most expensive and the best of everything. He surely would not appreciate her common brand products.
She had once accompanied him to an antiques market, where an inconspicuous small dish that seemed rather inappropriate for her to dip dumplings in caught his fancy. He didnât blink an eye in paying five million for it.
How could such a man possiblyâ¦
âI want it.â
Upon hearing this, Shi Huan almost slammed on the brakes.
She couldnât understand his thought process.
But since the young master of the Chu family said he wanted it, Shi Huan nodded, âAlright, tonight Iâll go to the supermarket to see if there is any promotional event going on. The price is 50 yuan for 3 bottles, a case is 20 bottles, so it would beâ¦â
âIâll transfer you 10,000 yuan.â
Shi Huan hurriedly spoke out, âThereâs no need for that much.
âItâs fine, just remember at next big supermarket sale that your boss is interested.â Chu Xiuhuang said half-jokingly.
Shi Huan was struck dumb: ââ¦Alright.â
The prestigious Young Master Chu would actually use cheap shampoo that costs 3 bottles for 50 yuan?
If this were to get out, what would his crazy female fans think?
Shi Huan couldnât help but shiver at the thought.
*
Fourty minutes later, at the headquarters of the Huo Yuan Group.
As soon as Chu Xiuhuang and Shi Huan walked into the 5oth-floor meeting room, they saw the two representatives of Bingoâs creative team already seated.
âMaster Chu?â
Shen Bingbing immediately stood up, her finely drawn eyes locked onto Chu Xiuhuangâs face. âAre you personally attending todayâs meeting?
She had been collaborating with Huangyou for several years, but had not met
Chu Xiuhuang more than three times.
Even when she went to Huangyou for meetings or attended some ceremonial events, Chu Xiuhuang was always elusive.
In truth, although Huangyou was invested and established by Chu Xiuhuang, most of the work was taken care of by Secretary Shi. Secretary Shi was more like the real person in charge of Huangyou. Hence, the habit of having work discussions with Secretary Shi was the norm, never expecting Chu Xiuhuang would personally attend such a minor meeting today.
Upon close inspection, Chu Xiuhuang appeared even more handsome and charming, his facial features subtly soft and gentle.
Mrs Chu was of Chinese-Russian descent, so the Chu family members had a bit of mixed blood, with high cheekbones, slender faces, the same narrow phoenix eyes being the standard for everyone. At first glance, they all naturally possessed a certain nobility.
In the words of the media, Chu Xiuhuang had what people called the âimperial appearanceâ!
Shen Bingbing was so excited that she wanted to shake hands with Chu Xiuhuang.
This would have been completely impossible in the past. Chu Xiuhuang was notably hygienic, even female companions were not allowed to touch his hands directly, at most they could only arm-link over his clothes. However nowâ¦
Chu Xiuhuang lifted his hand and shook hers gentlemanly.
Meanwhile, his long phoenix eyes glanced at Shi Huan.
Years of tacit understanding allowed Shi Huan to suppress her surprise instantly. She stepped forward and whispered, âBingoâs Creative Director Shen Bingbing.â
âDirector Shen.â Chu Xiuhuang separated his thin lips, revealing a slight smile. Shen Bingbing felt as if all the pear trees had blossomed at once, the smile made her world burst into radiant colors and spring-like jubilation.
Her face lit up instantaneously, her eyes filled with a layer of unspoken sentiment, her voice laden with charm, âI didnât expect that Mr. Chu would remember me.â
This was completely unexpected and flattering.
âMiss Shen, being a capable and beautiful working woman and our longstanding partner at Huangyou, how could I possibly forget?â Chu Xiuhuang continued smiling.
As expected, his words tickled Shen Bingbing pink, âMr. Chu certainly knows howto flatter.â
âNo, no, no.â Chu Xiuhuang withdrew his hand at the right moment.
Shen Bingbing paused in surprise.
âI, Chu Xiuhuang, always tell the truth. I only compliment women I admire, like⦠Miss Shen.â
Shen Bingbingâs laughter fluttered uncontrollably, as she was exceedingly delighted.
Watching Chu Xiuhuang take a seat, she went over and sat next to him. She didnât expect Chu Xiuhuang to be so approachable, talkative, and friendly, completely different from the rumors.
She had always believed that in Nancheng, among the wealthy families, men like Huo Jingshen, who were handsome and classy, were the most captivating. But after personally interacting with Chu Xiuhuang today, she suddenly felt that President Huo was somewhat too reserved, always keeping people at armâs length.
And he was already married.
By comparison, indeed like Chu Xiuhuang, a single noble man, was more attractive to women.
At this time, Shi Huan also found a seat on the other side, opened her laptop, she was just about to check the questions she was going to present but was constantly interrupted by laughter.
Most of them were the high-spirited, flirty voices of women, occasionally accompanied by Chu Xiuhuangâs deep and attractive voice.
Shi Huan couldnât help but wrinkle her brow.
Shen Bingbing was twenty-five this year.
If youâre talking about appearance â Nondescript.
If youâ re talking about work ability â Mediocre at best.
If youâ re talking about family wealth â just as ordinary as anyone could be. If she was chosen to be Chuâs female companion in the past, he would have found it absolutely banal, why is he so enthusiastic about her today?
Has he become desperate?
Thinking about the kiss last nightâ¦
It must be it.
Due to Chuâs old manâs intensive arrangement of blind dates, she indeed hadn t arranged any female companions for Chu. Even at Chuâs old manâs birthday banquet, it was her who accompanied him.
Shi Huan quickly opened her planner and wrote in delicate handwriting,. âStarting today, make reservations for female companions for Mr. Chu.â âBy the way, Mr. Chu.â Shen Bingbingâs voice suddenly rose again, âWhat happened to your lips?â
At the same time, there was a sound of footsteps outside. Immediately following that, Huo Jingshen walked in first, followed by his special assistant and several key staff members from the operations and planning departments.
âHello, everyone.â
Huo Jingshen scanned the room. Finally, his gaze landed on Chu Xiuhuangâs face. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Chu Xiuhuang immediately smiled at him, âHello, what would you like to ask, brother?â
Do you want to ask what happened to my lips?
Come on, ask, ask now!
Huo Jingshen raised an eyebrow. His cold voice smooth and calm, âHas the sun risen from the west today? What are you doing here?â
ChuXiuhuang:ââ¦â
Damn!
He didnât want to answer.
Shi Huan, who was nearby, hastily spoke up, âPresident Huo, since some of the suggestions in the case were proposed by Mr. Chu, he is also here to attend this discussion.â
âOh.â Huo Jingshen responded indifferently, pulling out his chair to sit down, âI thought Huangyou was going bankrupt.â
His underlying meaning was that the boss was forced to come out and scout for work.
Shi Huan:ââ¦â
Chu Xiuhuang rolled his eyes in annoyance, âGot bitten by the bunny at home.â Huo Jingshen scowled and looked over, other people in the room also confounded.
For a moment, nobody knew why Chu, the young master, would make such a comment?
The recently inquisitive Shen Bingbing quickly chimed in cheerfully, âSo it was bitten by a bunny.â
âYes, the little rabbit at my home is so wild.â After Chu Xiuhuang finished speaking, he glanced intentionally at Shi Huan beside him, âItâs a black bunny!â
Shi Huan: