chapter 87

Shao Boqing walked into Gu Nianbin’s office with a folder and put it on the desk smugly. “Check out Chenguang Project’s performance for this month.”

Gu Nianbin took a glance but didn’t open the folder. “Do I need to take charge of Chenguang Project as well?”

Shao Boqing sat down opposite him casually and said with a serious expression, “Boss Gu, I have promised to Chenguang that if they can increase this month’s performance by 30%, in addition to the reward they deserve, Gu’s Group will give them an extra bonus.”

Gu Nianbin said indifferently, “You promised that, I didn’t.”

Shao Boqing said, “Actually, I don’t need to report such a tiny thing to you. The bonus is not much money anyway. I mean, I want to throw a small celebration party by then and invite you to give the bonus to Chenguang’s marketing team personally. What do you think, Boss Gu?”

At this time, Gu Nianbin shot a serious look at him and said, “Boss Shao, are you asking me to give a bonus to the marketing team or to Manager Fang? Do you think it is appropriate to even involve the president into this in order to please your beautiful lover?”

“Come on, what are you saying? I’m talking about business. What does Manager Fang have to do with this?” Shao Boqing patted the table gently and continued, “This is the way we show how much Gu’s Group value Chenguang, okay? It can also be considered your appreciation to their good work, so that Chenguang will spare no effort to work for you in the future.”

Gu Nianbin said, “We have signed a contract with Chenguang. Everything will be handled according to the contract. As for the bonus, you can organize it yourself, but keep me out of it. I don’t have time for that.”

“Tsk! You don’t have time when it comes to business.” Shao Boqing looked at him sideways. “But you have time to help Du Xiaoxian decorate her room.”

Gu Nianbin was annoyed when anyone mentioned Du Xiaoxian these days, so he raised his eyelids and shot a cold glare over. Shao Boqing raised his head and pretended not to see that, but he didn’t dare to continue talking.

Gu Nianbin took a sip of water and said, “Well, I heard you’re getting married?”

“It’s still a long way from marriage, but…” said Shao Boqing with a giggle, “I want to get engaged first.”

“Have you really made up your mind? Are you sure?” Gu Nianbin asked him.

“Kind of.” Shao Boqing nodded. “She is quite nice. Don’t you think that I have changed a lot under her influences?”

Gu Nianbin sized him up and curved the corners of his mouth. “I didn’t see that. Weren’t you annoyed with white-collar elites before? Why do you take a fancy on her this time?”

Shao Boqing sighed. “I don’t know. It’s all fate! Just like you and Du Xiaoxian. Who would have thought that Young Master Gu, the number one bachelor in G City, would like a little maid? So, just as the poem goes, what is true love on earth? True love is a matter of life and death…” He said this with his head up, so he didn’t see that Gu Nianbin’s expression rapidly turned solemn. After the emotional speech, Shao Boqing withdrew his gaze from the void to look at Gu Nianbin and was shocked. He felt puzzled and thought to himself that he didn’t say anything wrong, but what was wrong with Gu Nianbin?

“Go ahead and be with your lover forever. Leave me alone.” Gu Nianbin kicked him out coldly.

“About what I just said…”

“Get out!”

“Yes or no? Give me an answer.”

“Get out!”

Shao Boqing stood up angrily and thought to himself again that this guy had been out of his mind recently, who lost his temper suddenly for no reason. Forget it, Shao Boqing decided not to argue with Gu Nianbin and thought he’d better leave.

Shao Boqing turned around to leave and happened to see Zhou Ting leading Xia Xiaowan in. He was shocked and turned to look at Gu Nianbin, who was instead looking at Xia Xiaowan with a smile. Feeling even more puzzled, Shao Boqing nodded at Xia Xiaowan and walked out.

Back in his office, Shao Boqing found that Nina was busy with work at her desk. Seeing him coming in, Nina raised her head and said hello to her boss, then lowered her head to continue her work immediately.

Shao Boqing tilted his head and looked at her. “Nina, what are you busy with?”

“I’m busy with the big event in your life, boss.” Nina responded to him with a flirtatious look. “Do you want to take a look at the engagement process?”

Shao Boqing said, “It’s just a small private party. No need to make it too grand.” Saying this, he walked over to Nina’s desk and read through the engagement arrangements she had sorted out.

Nina asked, “Boss, why don’t you just get married?”

“It’s the family rules. There’s nothing I can do.”

Nina said, “Boss, I heard that all the noble young masters like you will marry noble young ladies. Manager Fang seems to be from an ordinary family. Does your family agree with that?”

“I don’t need to inherit my family’s fortune, nor do I need to find another family to support me. Besides, my family is relieved when seeing me quit being a playboy and finally settle down, so they have no choice but to reluctantly accept it.”

Nina laughed. “Boss, really? You will not flirt around after getting married? Aren’t you lying?”

“You have to believe me, Nina. You’ve known me for years. I’ve never lied to you before.”

Nina smiled, took a preserved plum from the jar on the table and threw it into her mouth.

Shao Boqing also put one into his mouth. In the next second, his eyes narrowed and he spat it out into the garbage can hurriedly. “The plum is so sour! Aren’t you afraid that it will make your teeth fall?”

Nina chuckled. “I like sour food.”

Shao Boqing read through the engagement process carefully and patted Nina’s shoulder with satisfaction. “You really know what I want. Good, that’s it. A luxury and meaningful party of low profile! She will like it!”

Nina said, “I didn’t do it for her. I tried my best for the sake of you.”

“I know, I know.” Shao Boqing kneaded her shoulders. “You’ve been working hard for me all these years. I’m satisfied to have a secretary like you in my career.”

Nina snorted. “It’s good that you know. I’m not bragging, but it’s very hard to find someone like me nowadays!”

“Yes, yes, yes,” Shao Boqing said, “alright, don’t be too tired. Divide the work to others. I’m going inside.”

Nina waved her hand. “Go ahead!”

Shao Boqing nodded. “Wait a minute!” He suddenly stopped at the door and turned to Nina. “You act like you are the boss. Alright, I’ll work for you in the future, Secretary Nina!”

Nina laughed so hard that tears appeared in her eyes. She wiped them off and continued to laugh while sprawling over on the table. Shao Boqing said, “Hey, take it easy. Don’t laugh too hard, or else you’ll get chest pains!”

Nina was still laughing and she waved her hand, signaling Shao Boqing to go in.

The reason why Xia Xiaowan came to Gu Nianbin was to deliver medicine to his mother. Fang Yaru thought the medicine Xia Xiaowan gave her last time was very effective, so she called Xia Xiaowan and asked her to buy some more for her. Xia Xiaowan sat opposite Gu Nianbin and placed the bag of medicine on the desk. “I just happened to pass by. I thought for a while and decided to give the medicine to you first. Every time I go to your home, auntie is so enthusiastic that I’m too flattered and embarrassed.”

Gu Nianbin smiled and said, “I’m the one who should feel embarrassed. I’m too busy with work to look after my parents. Sorry to bother you with this.”

Xia Xiaowan said, “No at all. I enjoy chatting with auntie, even more than with my mother. I happened to know that one of my friends’ mother was also suffering from backache. She used this medicine and found it effective. So I got some for auntie to try and it really worked. My friend has a special channel to get this medicine. It’s quite convenient for me to get the medicine from her. I’m not bothered at all.”

“I still need to thank you,” Gu Nianbin said, “I’ll transfer the money to your account later.”

“Well, thank you, boss,” Xia Xiaowan joked. “If I don’t accept your money, President Gu, you will definitely get angry at me.”

“It’s already troublesome for you to buy the medicine for me. How can I take it for free?”

Xia Xiaowan said, “By the way, is uncle feeling better? Last time, I heard from auntie that he had trouble with breathing smoothly and needed to rest in bed.”

Gu Nianbin said, “Better, thank you for asking. Father’s health condition has not been very good all the time. I’m planning to send them to the ancestral mansion in the suburbs lately. The house is big there, the air is good, and they don’t have to climb the stairs every day, which is good for my father’s health.”

Xia Xiaowan nodded with a smile. “I seem to have heard auntie mention your ancestral mansion. She said that the scenery is very good, so is the air, and the spring water in the back mountain is clear and sweet. Uncle likes to make tea with the spring water there the most.”

“Yeah. It’s a beautiful place with mountains and rivers. You can go there and have fun if you have time.”

“Alright, I will.” Xia Xiaowan stood up. “Get back to your work. I won’t disturb you now. I’m leaving.”

Gu Nianbin agreed, stood up and walked her to the door.

Du Xiaoxian walked up the stairs quickly with the schoolbag on her back. Just as she entered the hall, she saw Xia Xiaowan walking towards her. It was already too late for her to hide away, and Xia Xiaowan greeted her with a big smile. “Xiaoxian, you’re back from school!”

Du Xiaoxian smiled awkwardly and nodded.

Xia Xiaowan asked, “Are you here for Nianbin?”

Du Xiaoxian nodded out of instinct. Then she realized she shouldn’t do this and shook her head hurriedly. Xia Xiaowan smiled. “Don’t be nervous. Nianbin is busy now. Let’s go over there and talk, shall we?”

Du Xiaoxian did not want to go, but she did not know how to refuse either. So she was dragged to the rest area near the wall and sat down with a blank mind.

“Well, how are you doing lately?” Xia Xiaowan looked at her and smiled.

Du Xiaoxian nodded.

Xia Xiaowan then said jokingly, “What’s wrong? You are quiet, don’t you want to talk with me?”

“It’s not like that, Miss Xia, I…” Du Xiaoxian bit her lips. “I don’t know how to chat with people. Young master often says I’m a foolish girl.”

Xia Xiaowan said, “We’re talking now. This is good. Did you enjoy Yang Liying’s ball last time?”

“Yes,” Du Xiaoxian said softly.

“I saw you were smiling happily with your little boyfriend all the time. You two really are a good match.”

“He’s not my boyfriend,” Du Xiaoxian said, “he’s my classmate.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.” Xia Xiaowan patted her hand and said, “I think he seems to like you very much. He was focusing on you all night.”

Du Xiaoxian didn’t know how to answer, so she remained silent. She was never good at such kind of topic.

It seemed that she didn’t want to continue talking, so Xia Xiaowan changed the topic and said, “You need to go to school and take care of Nianbin at the same time, do you feel tired?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“Nianbin and I will go to the suburbs in a few days. You can join us to visit his ancestral mansion. I heard that the scenery there is very beautiful, the air is good, and there is even sweet spring water to drink.”

Du Xiaoxian didn’t dare to agree. How could she go with them? Even if she was shameless enough to request that, young master would not let her go. The previous incident seemed to have ended, but she felt that they could not return to their previous intimacy, as if they were always separated by a tiny gap. She could clearly see him, but could not get too close.

Looking at the woman who had a gentle smile in front of her, Du Xiaoxian thought that perhaps she was the one who could really get close to the young master!