The people downstairs were still stunned when they heard Luo Qiao say, "The oranges are very sweet, please take them as a token of my appreciation and share among yourselves."
Only then did those few individuals turn their attention to the bag of oranges in their colleague’s hand, and they all suddenly burst into laughter.
Truly, no one expected the situation to end like this.
Everyone was prepared to be criticized, but they hadn’t anticipated that the director’s spouse would be so amicable. Not only did she not complain, but she even wanted to thank them and provided a thank-you gift.
With that, things became lively downstairs. Even people in neighboring offices who were eavesdropping all rushed in, and in no time, the bag of oranges was completely distributed.
The middle-aged woman enjoying the delicious oranges, all smiles, said, "These oranges are really tasty, and the director’s spouse has such a nice character. I was all ready to be scolded, but I didn’t expect it to turn out this way."
"That’s right, no wonder the director could endure three years of separation. With such a beautiful wife, who else could attract his attention?"
"Don’t even start, the director’s spouse is really a looker; just look at her skin, it’s so tender you could probably squeeze water out of it."
"Exactly, otherwise I wouldn’t have mistaken her for one of the director’s flings. I mean, she’s given birth to five kids, yet her figure looks just like an eighteen or nineteen-year-old girl."
"No wonder the director is fond of her. Over the past few years, there hasn’t been a hint of scandal around the director. As for those who wanted to climb the social ladder through him, he hasn’t given any of them the time of day."
"The director really is a good man, and of course, with a delicate wife at home, he wouldn’t cast a second glance at those ordinary women."
The previously mentioned middle-aged sister laughed, "It’s just my fault that I hadn’t met her before, otherwise I wouldn’t have caused such a laughable situation today."
A male colleague eating an orange on the side joked, "Sister Zhang, you haven’t lived in the residential compound, and besides, the director and his wife haven’t spent much time there, so it’s normal that you don’t recognize them."
"Sigh, the director’s spouse really has a good temper, taking it so lightly and even joking with us. I like her character."
Luo Qiao followed Lu Yichen into the office and saw several kids there playing with bullet casings, only realizing upon closer examination that they were using them to build models.
She was standing right in front of them before the children even noticed her, which showed just how engrossed they were.
The kids stopped playing and gathered around her, with Xiao Ye clinging to Luo Qiao’s leg and looking up, "Mommy, how did you know we were here?"
Luo Qiao gently pinched Xiao Ye’s nose, "I guessed."
But Xiao Yu ruthlessly exposed the truth: "Mommy is telling a fib, I saw daddy leaving a note."
Yanyan looked at her little brother with a smile, "Couldn’t you pretend not to know?"
Xiao Yu pouted, "I’m an honest child."
Xiao Ye chuckled, "So that’s how it is."
Lu Yichen looked at the children, "Put down what you’re holding, it’s time to eat. Clean up, and let’s go."
The canteen was at the back. They had to walk through the entire office block after going downstairs, and since it was time for dinner, the family of seven drew a lot of attention.
Thankfully, Luo Qiao wasn’t a delicate flower, or she really wouldn’t have been able to cope.
Those who recognized them came up to greet, and Luo Qiao smiled and responded.
"Luo Qiao, when did you return to the country?"
Luo Qiao saw it was Zhou Aiqing, who lived opposite her in the residential compound: "Director Zhou, we came back yesterday."
Zhou Aiqing looked at the five children by Lu Yichen’s side: "Director, you’re amazing."
Lu Yichen looked at Zhou Aiqing, "Did you just come up from downstairs?"
Zhou Aiqing nodded, "Yes, I just got back to the office and heard you brought your sons and daughters over for an appearance. I was thinking of coming over to see."
Looking at the little ones, "Hello, I’m your Uncle Zhou, your next-door neighbor. You can come play at our place when you have time."
The children politely said, "Hello, Uncle Zhou."
Then they looked at their parents, seeking clarification.
Luo Qiao smiled, "Uncle Zhou is our neighbor in the residential compound, we’ll see him often."
Zhou Aiqing chuckled, "Let’s go, let’s go eat together."
As they walked ahead, the people behind began to talk, "The director’s children are really good-looking."
"Both the director and his spouse are attractive; there’s no way their children wouldn’t be."
"The director’s spouse really looks young, not at all like someone who has had five children."
"No wonder the director cherishes her so much."
"Don’t be sour, they have the capital. Not only is she beautiful, but she can also have kids, and what’s most important is she’s highly educated. She already had a PhD in China, and now she’s gone abroad and got two more."
"Really? Where did you hear that news?"
"Well, she was sent abroad by the government to pursue her PhD, isn’t it obvious?"
"No, I meant, you said she brought back two PhD degrees, right?"
"Of course it’s... I’m not telling you, haha."
"Let’s go, let’s go, comparing yourself to others will only make you miserable, eating is the priority."
The people behind laughed upon hearing this.