An Nuannuan's pretty face was as elastic as a great rubber, but her eyes sparkled. She took a sip of her milk tea, chewing on the pearls: "How do you want me, huh?"
She imitated Xu Musen's usual shameless manner, quite convincingly.
Yes, much earlier than even the earliest of times...
"Then I'm going to bully you!"
Xu Musen leaned down and kissed her, snatching the pearls that she hadn't finished chewing from her mouth.
Mmm, Nuannuan's brand is still tastier.
"Crap! The moment school starts, I see you two feeding each other dog food!"
"My god, aren't you two running a bubble tea shop, can't afford two cups of milk tea for yourselves?"
"Tsk tsk tsk... Boss Xu, you're really thirsty."
At this moment, Zhou Hangyu, Li Rundong, and Ma Yaxing arrived, and as soon as they reached the office area, they saw the two sitting on the sofa, all lovey-dovey.
An Nuannuan was still modest in front of others, blushing as she hid behind Xu Musen.
"What mess are you making, do you believe the boss's lady will fire you?"
An Nuannuan pinched him again.
It was as if she was the one who wanted to do something to him.
Of course, it was time to arrange a meal together.
"You guys are free to go and inform the person in charge of each school that there will be a dinner tonight, sort of a celebration for the past year."
"Sure thing! I'm good at eating, should we invite a few junior sisters to liven things up?"
Zhou Hangyu shamelessly suggested.
"Sure, but you're paying for the girls' meals."
Zhou Hangyu instantly turned obedient.
But speaking of girls, Xu Musen did remember a little rich lady.
Last time, he mentioned taking Qingzhu Yulan out for a meal, but she had to leave early for some reason.
This time for the get-together, he should invite her as well. After all, they were going to be business partners, and it's good to keep in touch frequently.
Thinking this, Xu Musen dialed her number, but the first two calls were busy.
On the third call, someone finally answered, but before Xu Musen could speak, Zhu Yulan's indignant voice came through.
"Stop calling me, I said I would rather wander the streets than follow your arrangements!"
Xu Musen was taken aback and after a moment of silence, he cleared his throat, "Um, it's me."
The sound of Xu Musen's voice made Zhu Yulan realize, and she saw the note on her phone, suddenly feeling a bit dumbfounded.
Xu Musen paused for a second before proactively speaking up, "Are you okay?"
Zhu Yulan was silent for two seconds, her tone already calming as she slowly spoke.
"I'm fine… What do you need me for?"
She clearly wasn't fine, and it was the first time Xu Musen had heard her sound so angry.
But as adults, if she didn't want to say, then it was best not to keep asking.
"Boss Zhu, I am holding a banquet tonight, would you honor us with your presence?"
Normally, Zhu Yulan would have agreed readily, maybe with a bit of tsundere attitude, but she would swiftly arrive in her Ferrari.
But this time, her tone still had a touch of irritation as if she'd been fed gunpowder recently.
Nevertheless, Xu Musen was used to it and continued with a smile, "Last time I still owed you a meal, so let's go out for dinner tonight, can I count on your gracious presence?"
Zhu Yulan stayed silent for a few seconds, as if taking a moment to calm down, "Let's skip it today... I'm not in a good mood."
In fact, Zhu Yulan felt a bit unnatural at that moment; her tone might have angered someone else.
"It's exactly when you're not feeling good that you should come out for a change of scenery. Everyone is coming out today, it's better than moping alone in your room."
Still, Xu Musen invited her warmly with a laugh.
"It's an internal company gathering, I don't want to intrude."
Zhu Yulan pursed her lips, but after saying that, she felt a tinge of regret. She was accustomed to being stubborn, but that didn't mean everyone would always indulge her.
"It is an internal company gathering, but also an old friends' reunion. Surely, Zhu beauty, you wouldn't refuse to show your old friends this courtesy?"
Xu Musen's voice seemed to carry warmth as he invited her again.
That word seemed quite extravagant to Zhu Yulan.
She pursed her lips, "Okay."
"Then I await your esteemed arrival."
Zhu Yulan now sat in her chair with a complicated expression on her face.
Ever since the last argument with her father and leaving home, she found to her surprise that several of her main cards had been frozen.
The companies she ran also encountered many unexplained obstacles, even some under her name had been transferred under her second sister's control.
She didn't know how long her private funds would last.
She knew this was her father using financial means to make her bow and apologize. As long as she submitted, she'd still be the same glamorous, enviable heiress, and her only price would be her freedom.
Just like a canary in a cage.
But that was precisely what Zhu Yulan detested.
Especially when she thought of what had happened to her eldest sister, she clenched her teeth even more, and she hadn't expected that her companies would suddenly fall under her second sister's control.
She didn't understand, was her sister kicking her while she was down?
Anyway, her affection for her family had dwindled.
Since her mother and elder sister passed away, she felt like she never really experienced warmth from others, nor did anyone bother to coddle or pamper her.
But only he, a friend...
At this stage, it seemed only he, the scammer king, truly considered her as a friend...
Thinking of that annoying yet warm-hearted guy who always made her feel cherished whenever he smiled...