Chapter 562: Chapter 561: 561, why don’t you even send me a New Year’s red envelope?

Madame Shi quickly hid her irritation.

As expected, a chubby mother and son appeared at the door after it swung open.

“Auntie Shi, I’ve brought my son with me.”

Madame Shi’s face immediately lit up with a broad smile, “Oh, Xiaozhu is here.”

The sudden change in her expression left Tu Youran almost dumbfounded.

Zhu Mingpeng had already begun to assess Shi Huan.

Originally, he wasn’t too thrilled about visiting the hospital to meet an old person and potentially going on a blind date on New Year’s day.

Why would anyone want to visit a hospital on the first day of the New Year?

It seemed like bad luck!

However, on the way over, he found out that although Shi Huan may not be very beautiful, she was very good at making money. She was able to repay the Shi Family’s enormous debt on her own, and also managed the daily expenses. Not only did she own a car and a house, her work capability was also fairly good.

On hearing the name of her company, Huangyou Investments, he couldn’t help but be impressed. It was a big deal!

Zhu Mingpeng also runs his own company, and after a quick search, he found out that the company is owned by Chu Xiuhuang, the eldest son of the Nancheng’s Chu family. Hence, it was likely that the annual dividends were quite good.

Having thought it through, he decided to give it a shot as long as Shi Huan was not too unattractive. After all, his own financial situation wasn’t exactly great, and having a wife who could help him pay off his debts wouldn’t be a bad idea.

However, to his surprise, she was actually very beautiful!

Standing about 1.65 meters tall, dressed simply – black down jacket, dark pants, black leather shoes – she may not have had any particular taste in fashion.

But her face was delicate and pleasing with exquisite features. She even had a hint of classical beauty. She seemed fragile and delicate, the kind of woman who could easily be manipulated. It seems

Although her cheek seemed to be slightly swollen from an earlier slap, that made her eyes look all the more appealing.

Her skin was also incredibly fair. It was evident that she didn’t wear any makeup, yet her skin was smooth and delicate like a peeled hard-boiled egg. Her skin must be just as tender too.

Zhu Mingpeng was stunned.

Was this the same woman his mother had described as unattractive?

Even Lady Zhu was taken aback.

She had seen Shi Huan before, always with a huge pair of black-rimmed glasses. Who would have thought she would look so beautiful without them?

It seemed they had found a treasure indeed!

Shi Huan felt very uneasy under this relentless scrutiny.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Their gaze was like they were selecting pork at a market. How much does it weigh? What is the quality? When was it slaughtered?

Just as she was struggling with this, her phone rang. Shi Huan immediately said, “I’m sorry, but I need to step out to take this call.”

Although Madame Shi looked displeased, she didn’t express it in front of their guests.

Lady Zhu watched Shi Huan leave, and then asked with a smile, “Auntie Shi, is this your granddaughter?”

Madame Shi nodded, “What do you think? Is she acceptable?”

“Quite good.”

Upon hearing these words, Madame Shi couldn’t contain her happiness. When Zhu Mingpeng said, “Grandma Shi, I’ll step out for a bit,” she was overjoyed, waving him off with a quick “go ahead.”

As soon as Shi Huan had left, Zhu Mingpeng was already hunting for her.

Madame Shi and Lady Zhu shared a knowing smile.

It seemed the two young people have potential!

*

*

Shi Huan went to the corridor and answered the call, “Mr. Chu?”

“What are you doing, Little Huanhuan?”

Chu Xiuhuang’s voice was as always—nonchalant and carefree.

Shi Huan asked, “Mr. Chu, is there something at the company?”

“Can’t I call you if there’s nothing wrong?” Chu Xiuhuang clicked his tongue, “Why did you only send me one New Year greeting message?”

New Year’s message?

Did she send one?

After thinking for a moment, Shi Huan remembered she had sent a mass New Year’s greeting.

Awkward.

Little did she know, Master Chu continued to criticize, “Why didn’t you send me a New Year red envelope?”

Shi Huan sighed, “Mr. Chu, I will send you a red envelope later. Is there anything else?”

“What do you mean with that impatient tone? Can’t I reach out to you if there is no reason? Are you deliberately trying to upset me?”

Chu Xiuhuang’s string of questions left Shi Huan slightly dizzy and she quickly replied, “I’m…busy.”

“Busy with what? Didn’t the company give a 10-day holiday?” Master Chu’s words were astonishing, “I am coming to find you.”

“I’m not at home.”

“I know. You are at the old Shi Family house, right?” Since it was the Spring festival, it was natural for Chu Xiuhuang to think she was there.

Who would have thought…

“No, I’m at the hospital.”

“Are you ill?”

“No, my grandmother is in the hospital.” Shi Huan patiently explained.

“Which hospital?”

“Mr. Chu, she will be discharged today.”

In fact, the elder Mrs. Shi could have been discharged yesterday, as there is nothing significantly wrong with her health.

Shi Huan didn’t understand it until now. It turns out that her grandmother wanted to show off to the Zhu family’s mother and son by staying in a luxury ward.

However, the Shi family had fallen from grace years ago. After the death of the old master and elder son, the family business declared bankruptcy and their old mansion was sold. The family had to move back to the small village where they used to live. Their fortunes had significantly declined, and they could no longer live as they did in the past.

However, the old lady had not accepted reality.

She was used to living a privileged life before, and she often tried to maintain face, often doing things like pretending to be better off than they really were, like today.

Seeing a figure suddenly appear in front of her, Shi Huan quickly said, “Mr. Chu, I have something to do, I’ll hang up first.”

Without waiting for his response, she hung up the phone.

“Huanhuan.”

Huanhuan?

Shi Huan pulled on the corner of her lips, “Mr. Zhu.”

Zhu Mingpeng enthusiastically took out his phone and shook it, “Let’s exchange WeChat contacts.”

Shi Huan furrowed her brow, “Mr. Zhu, I have no interest in you in that way.”

Zhu Mingpeng acted as if he didn’t hear her, “By the way, I heard from your grandmother that you’re now a secretary at Huangyou Investments, right?”

Shi Huan nodded.

“Good, I was planning to provide training for the new staff in the secretarial department after the new year. I may need your guidance on the details. Shall we exchange WeChat contacts now? It will make future communication easier.” He said while taking out his phone.

Zhu Mingpeng was all smiles, his attitude friendly and his reasons justified.

As the saying goes, one does not slap the smiling face.

Shi Huan also took out her phone and scanned his WeChat QR code.

After finishing this business, Zhu Mingpeng didn’t say anything else and just turned around and left.

Shi Huan followed him, going to the door. Hearing her grandmother’s voice coming from inside the room, she suddenly stopped.

A few seconds later, she picked up her phone and sent a message before quietly leaving.

*

*

Inside the ward, Shi Minyan suddenly received a WeChat message from Shi Huan.

[I have to go due to an urgent matter. Please tell my grandmother for me, thank you.]

He smiled and put down his phone.

The elder Mrs. Shi was chatting with the Zhu family mother and son. After a while, she couldn’t help asking, “Where did Huanhuan go? She’s been on the phone for so long. Youran, go out and bring her back for me.”

“Ok.”

“No need to call.” Shi Minyan spoke then, “Huanhuan said she had an urgent matter and had to leave first.”

Upon hearing this, everyone in the room was stunned.

Tu Youran’s eyebrows furrowed.

Old Mrs. Shi was displeased, “This girl, we have guests here, and she left without saying goodbye? She has no manners! Plus, it’s the holiday season, what urgent matters could she have?”

After finally arranging this meeting with the matchmaker, and the man was interested in Huanhuan, why did she sneak away?

This brat must have done it on purpose!

“Mrs. Shi.” Zhu Mingpeng started, smiling, “Don’t worry, I’ve already exchanged WeChat contacts with Huanhuan.”

Old Mrs. Shi instantly changed her expression, “So, Huanhuan is quite satisfied with you?”

Shi Minyan glanced at Zhu Mingpeng.

This man was thirty-five this year, several years older than him, and a full eleven years older than Huanhuan.

With a bald head, a beer belly, oily features and a mouth full of uneven yellow teeth, even dressed in decent clothes, he couldn’t hide his mercenary air.

“What did Huanhuan say?” Mrs. Zhu asked eagerly.

Zhu Mingpeng laughed, “Don’t worry, I will have a good chat with Huanhuan when I get back.”

Hearing this, Mrs. Shi became even happier, “Actually, our Huanhuan is not bad-looking, she just doesn’t like dressing up. Because she’s used to saving money and living frugally, she doesn’t fuss over herself much. She’s very filial, a good girl.”

Zhu Mingpeng listened and kept nodding.

Both Shi Minyan and Tu Youran were stunned: “…”

*

*

Shi Huan left the hospital in her car, but she didn’t know where to go.

That’s why she doesn’t like holidays.

Every holiday, she felt idle and aimless, like her heart was nothing more than a floating feather, unable to find its ground.

She’d rather be busy all day every day, too busy to have time to have random thoughts, then she can feel secure in her heart.