Chapter 89

And just like that, Ding Hao quickly found another good place to freeload, which was Zuo Xueying's home.

Zuo Xueying's mother had a good impression of the young man who had paid for her medical expenses. Since it was their first meeting and Zuo Xueying hadn't signed the contract yet, she told her mother that this was her friend. As for what kind of friend, Zuo's mother was a bit suspicious.

When Zuo's mother was discharged from the hospital, Ding Hao went to pick her up with great enthusiasm. By the third meeting, Zuo's mother was already convinced that this young man was Zuo Xueying's boyfriend. Otherwise, why would a young man, who was neither a relative nor an acquaintance, pay for her medical expenses and go to so much trouble?

So she complained to Zuo Xueying as soon as they met.

"As they say, a grown daughter is no longer under her mother's control. Are you and Little Ding dating? I'm not old-fashioned. You're grown up, and I won't interfere with your affairs. But you should at least let your mother know, right?"

"Mom, what are you talking about?" Zuo Xueying was clearly unprepared. She had seen and appreciated Ding Hao's care for her and her mother over the past few days. Ding Hao seemed to be a good person, and Zuo Xueying secretly resolved to work hard for him.

She didn't expect her mother to suddenly say something like that. Zuo Xueying then realized something was off. Given the significant age difference between her and Ding Hao, neither of them had thought of it that way. But the elderly lady was different; she didn't know the full story, and Ding Hao always had a scruffy appearance!

Ding Hao couldn't help but chuckle at Zuo Xueying's awkwardness.

"What am I saying? Look, Little Ding didn't deny it. Little Ding, tell Auntie how long you've known each other?"

"Um..." If he had to answer, Ding Hao would have a hard time. He had met Zuo Xueying once for a blind date, but neither of them had any romantic intentions.

"Mom, what's wrong with you today? This is our chairman, the one who hired me to work at the company."

"Ah? Chairman, Chairman Ding, please sit down! Please sit down! I'll go make you some tea!" Zuo's mother seemed to realize she had misjudged and been impolite.

"Auntie, it's fine, don't bother. Just let Xueying get me a drink."

"That won't do. I'll find some good tea."

"Mom, don't bother. Chairman Ding is very easy-going." Zuo Xueying knew her mother didn't know where the good tea was stored and might not even be able to brew it properly.

"Right, Auntie, I'm here to freeload. I heard from Xueying that your cooking is excellent, so I came here with high hopes."

"No problem. You and Xueying sit down, and I'll go prepare in the kitchen."

"Alright."

Zuo's mother's cooking was indeed good, but this was also related to Ding Hao's long-term habit of eating takeout at home.

"Auntie, it's really delicious!" Ding Hao said, eating heartily and flattering her.

"Mr. Ding, you're too kind. How can a housewife's cooking compare to the chefs at your place?"

"Hehe, Auntie, we don't have a chef at home. I have to cook everything myself."

"Then your mother must be a great cook, or you wouldn't cook yourself." In Zuo's mother's view, since Ding Hao's family didn't have a chef, his mother must be an excellent cook.

"Mom..." Zuo Xueying didn't expect her usually reserved mother to become so talkative around Ding Hao.

"Hehe, it's fine, Auntie. Actually, I'm an orphan. I lost my parents when I was seven."

"Oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Mr. Ding."

"Auntie, don't call me Mr. Ding all the time. If you do, I'll feel awkward about coming here to freeload."

"Then..."

"Call me Ding Hao. You wouldn't mind me coming here to freeload, would you?"

"Of course not, of course not. Ding Hao, if you want to eat something, just let Auntie know in advance. You can come whenever you want, without worrying about Xueying. You're the boss, and if the food at the restaurant isn't good, you can come here."

Zuo Xueying was speechless. She rarely had the chance to eat at home for lunch. Ding Hao's flattery had made her forget her own name. Was the food at Shanwai Shan really worse?

"That's nice, but if I come too often, it might be a burden on you, Auntie."

"Earlier you said to call you Ding Hao, and now you're being so formal."

"Then I'll pay for my meals..." Ding Hao thought for a moment and couldn't think of anything else to say.

"No, absolutely not. You've already been so kind to us."

"But then I won't have the chance to come often, will I?"

"Of course you can. You can come every day if you want."

"That would be too much. I'm an outsider, and Auntie, your health isn't good."

"My health is fine..." Zuo's mother patted her shoulder and smiled at Ding Hao. Zuo Xueying was puzzled. Her usually calm mother seemed so excited around Ding Hao, and despite her hints, Zuo's mother continued to chat with him enthusiastically.

Later, they naturally talked about Ding Hao's background. After hearing his story, Zuo's mother was a bit unsettled. Perhaps her maternal instincts had kicked in, and she had forgotten that Ding Hao was her daughter's boss.

"Why don't you come to our house to eat? You're an orphan, and I can be your godmother."

"Sure!" Ding Hao's eyes lit up; the problem was solved.

"Mom!" Zuo Xueying was furious.

"What's wrong? Ding Hao agreed."

"Right, godmother!" Ding Hao seized the opportunity to establish the relationship.

Zuo Xueying felt left out, as if Ding Hao and her mother were the real family, and she was the outsider. In fact, besides freeload, Ding Hao also wanted to help Zuo Xueying's family. However, the contract didn't allow for salary adjustments, and Zuo Xueying was a very independent girl, so he had to use indirect methods.

In the future, he could buy groceries and give his godmother some pocket money, and it would all seem natural.

Zuo Xueying's mother simply liked Ding Hao very much. She had initially thought he might be her future son-in-law, and although she was a bit disappointed to learn he was her daughter's boss, she was now happy that he was her godson. He was handsome, wealthy, and, most importantly, adorable!

A housewife had no grand ambitions. She felt that Ding Hao was still a child and enjoyed eating her cooking. She was very happy to see him eat heartily every time. Despite her daughter's repeated warnings that Ding Hao was a rich man and that it wasn't appropriate to treat him this way, Zuo's mother, who was usually cautious, didn't listen this time. She even began to advise her daughter not to be prejudiced against rich people. Being rich wasn't a sin, and wasn't Ding Hao a good person?

"You think all capitalists are cold-blooded. Even if they look good on the surface, they can't hide their hearts that exploit the value of workers. If you think he treats you well, it's because you have something valuable that he wants to exploit.

So when a capitalist treats you well, don't think it's because you're lovable or that the capitalist is kind.

It's even less likely that he's attracted to your beauty. Everything he does is to make you happy while he exploits you. From then on, new employees at the company would be told that the mysterious boss was a very cold-blooded capitalist!"

These were Zuo Xueying's hard-earned lessons, which she often repeated to Ding Hao. However, she hadn't yet realized this. She felt that life was full of sunshine again, and God was fair! The door to that five-star hotel had closed to her.

Of course, if she hadn't been in such despair, she wouldn't have done something so foolish. But fortunately, she not only didn't die but also found a better job. Shanwai Shan's reputation in Qianjiang was no less than that of the hotel she had previously worked at.

Moreover, she was going to be the general manager, and the chairman treated her and her mother very well! Zuo Xueying felt like a starving beggar who had been hit by a large pie, and she was extremely happy! She repeatedly vowed to herself to run Shanwai Shan well.

Not just to repay Ding Hao's kindness, but also to realize her own value!

Soon, Zuo Xueying proved her competence through her hard work, and Ding Hao praised her many times. However, he never mentioned a salary raise, which made Zuo Xueying grind her teeth every time she saw him. Over the past year, she had almost worn herself out for the restaurant, both to show gratitude and to prove her worth.

Ding Hao, on the other hand, almost never cared about the restaurant's operations. There were even rumors that Zuo Xueying was the mistress of the boss behind Shanwai Shan. Otherwise, why would the boss trust a newly graduated college student to run such a large company? Every time Zuo Xueying complained to Ding Hao and asked him to take charge, he just smiled without answering. Zuo Xueying wasn't afraid of hard work or fatigue because Ding Hao had given her enough authority and trust, and the employees didn't dare to look down on her.

But the rumors were hard to refute, and they were becoming more widespread. She couldn't speak out about her suffering because the confidentiality agreement prohibited her from revealing Ding Hao's identity, so she couldn't have him come forward to dispel the rumors.

Sometimes, Zuo Xueying even hoped the rumors were true. Chairman Ding Hao was so handsome, kind, and generous, and he had no bad habits except for being a bit lazy. Which woman wouldn't like such a wealthy and handsome man? What if he was a bit younger? She was willing to wait for him to grow up before getting married! As a woman, Zuo Xueying had also fantasized about it, but every time she tried to get closer to Ding Hao, he deflected her advances.

Zuo Xueying understood. At his age, he was still playful. Even if she were an 18-year-old girl, she couldn't tie him down, so she let him be.

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