Chapter 158 (2/3): Could This Be a Meet-the-Parents Situation?

“That’s more like it! Let’s eat! No one can leave unless you’ve stuffed yourselves!”

“Ah???”

“Come on, boss, if we eat till we burst, how are we supposed to get home?”

Mu Qingxue waved her hand grandly.

“Mu Corporation’s car service will send you anywhere, even if it’s Siberia!”

“Boss, you’re amazing!!!”

In the evening, at 7:03, the party ended.

Qiu Xue stayed by Mu Qingxue’s side.

March Without Snow and Qianren Xue—one handled transportation, the other cleaned the greenhouse and took care of garbage.

On the park road outside, cars were lined up as far as the eye could see.

It drew the attention of passersby and tourists, who stopped to take photos.

“Xiaoyan-jie, are you really going to meet her parents?”

As Chen Xiaoyan and the others left the greenhouse, Chongchong immediately pulled her aside.

“I have no choice, I already agreed.”

“Then I’m coming too. I don’t trust you going alone.”

Chen Xiaoyan burst out laughing, patting her on the head.

“What would you follow me for? Her dad wants to see me, not us.”

“But I’m scared.”

“What’s there to be scared of? Chongchong, don’t forget what I told you in the room. Did you forget already?”

Chongchong hung her head, mumbling, “I didn’t forget.”

“Good. Just relax, I’m not overthinking things anymore.”

“Alright, then… Xiaoyan-jie, if anything happens, message me. I’ll keep my phone on me at all times.” Chongchong waved her phone in front of Chen Xiaoyan.

Chen Xiaoyan smiled.

“Alright, got it. Hurry home now, you live far from Central State, right? If you don’t log in to the game tomorrow… heh, you’ll be in trouble, understand?”

“Okay,” Chongchong looked up and smiled.

She glanced around, made sure nobody was watching, then whispered to Chen Xiaoyan, “Xiaoyan-jie, can I ask you for a favor?”

“What is it? Just say it, no need for secrecy.”

“Then I’ll say it.”

“Mm, go on.”

“Xiaoyan-jie, can you kiss me?”

“What?” Chen Xiaoyan was dumbfounded.

“You want to say that again?”

Chongchong pouted and glared at her, “I said, can you kiss me?”

“Uh…” Chen Xiaoyan was speechless.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?”

“No, I can’t do that,” Chen Xiaoyan shook her head.

“Why not?” Chongchong demanded.

“Because we’re not… that kind of relationship.”

“Then what about a sister’s goodbye kiss?” Chongchong pointed at her cheek, grinning.

“This…” Chen Xiaoyan hesitated again.

Her uncertainty made Chongchong fume.

With a pout and a fierce (cute but fierce) expression, she barked, “Hmph! Xiaoyan-jie, you’ve changed. You call yourself my friend—liar!”

“I didn’t lie to you.”

“Then why won’t you kiss me? Even if it’s a sisterly farewell, you won’t. Is it because you look down on me? I’m not really your friend?”

Chen Xiaoyan held her forehead, speechless. Why did this sound so familiar?

Hadn’t she used this trick before?

This girl’s learning curve was scary—what a waste if she didn’t go for a graduate degree.

“I really didn’t… Never mind, fine, I’ll kiss you. But don’t blame me later, alright?”

Chongchong was overjoyed.

She barely heard the warning, nodding eagerly. “Okay, I promise!”

She puffed out her baby-fat cheeks, waiting.

She’d chosen the perfect time—Mu Qingxue wasn’t around, and no one could stop her from stealing Xiaoyan-jie’s first… cough, first kiss tonight.

Looking at the flawless face in front of her, Chen Xiaoyan’s heart raced with nerves.

Should she really kiss her?

But what then? Was it really just a sisterly goodbye kiss?

Would it really end there?

Would you believe it?

She didn’t.

But if she didn’t, this girl would make a scene, and she still had to meet Mu Qingxue’s parents and get back to Qingzhou for a good night’s sleep.

“Xiaoyan-jie, why are you dawdling? Hurry up, I’ll wilt waiting here!”

“Don’t blame me later, you asked for this,” Chen Xiaoyan reminded her again.

“Yes, yes, I know. Hurry, I have to get on the car soon.”

Seeing Chongchong’s eager face, Chen Xiaoyan shook her head helplessly and slowly leaned down.

“Hey, sneak attack!”

Before she could kiss her, Chongchong suddenly turned and pecked her on the lips.

Then, she ran off.

Whoosh~

Got it~

Xiaoyan-jie’s first kiss is mine, ha!

Chongchong held her burning face and ran off into the night breeze.

Chen Xiaoyan touched her lips, staring dumbly at the culprit as she vanished from sight.

A smile crept up her lips.

Very good, you little rascal. You’ve got my attention now.

I’ll get you in the game tomorrow.

Never thought I’d be ambushed by a girl for my first kiss. What a headache.

Chen Xiaoyan looked up at the night sky, unable to hide her triumphant grin.

But she hadn’t noticed that, not far behind her, someone was watching.

After a moment, that person quietly left.

A few minutes later, Chen Xiaoyan went to find Mu Qingxue and the others.

They took her car to the Mansion District.

Looking at the rows of villas, each one bigger than her entire rented apartment—no, bigger than the whole building—she couldn’t help but be amazed.

Wow, how many millions would it take to buy a single one?

“Qingxue, are all these villas your family’s?”

Chen Xiaoyan pressed her face to the window, marveling at the villas outside.

She looked every bit the bumpkin in a TV drama.

“No, we only have two,” Mu Qingxue replied.

“Only two?” Chen Xiaoyan was stunned at Mu Qingxue’s regretful tone.

What, two isn’t enough?

Have you considered how us ordinary folk feel?

Sigh, so tiring.

“Xiaoyan-boss, with our Mu family’s resources, we could buy out all the villas nearby easily,” Qiu Xue said proudly.

Chen Xiaoyan didn’t argue.

Central State’s richest family, after all—no one knows how many billions they have in the bank.

“Buying them is pointless. Only the rich and powerful live here, and you’d have to pay a premium. But once you buy, you can’t sell at the same price. Not worth it,” Mu Qingxue said calmly.

“Miss, you could try renting them out. I bet plenty of people would love a taste of luxury.”

“Too much trouble.”

“Alright then.”

Listening to the conversation, Chen Xiaoyan shivered.

She’d thought her forty thousand was a small fortune, but here, it’d barely buy a bathroom tile, let alone a bathroom.

Time to set a new goal.

Work hard, save up, and try to buy a bathroom someday ╮(︶﹏︶)╭.

The Mu family’s first villa was by a river at the back.

According to Mu Qingxue, the feng shui there was bad, so they moved to the second villa.

Chen Xiaoyan had to laugh inside. In this day and age, still so superstitious.

Guess the saying is true—rich people are always superstitious.

“We’re here.”

“Huh?”

Chen Xiaoyan quickly pulled aside the curtain and saw a European-style mansion—didn’t know how big, but definitely huge.

Inside, lights blazed.

The owner had left the doors wide open for their guest, with a few maids in uniforms standing to the side.

“Look at this setup. My dad must care a lot about you, Xiaoyan,” Mu Qingxue teased with a hand over her mouth.

Chen Xiaoyan’s face darkened, her mind racing for an excuse to leave.

“Um, Qingxue, maybe I should come another time…”

“Come on, you’re already here. Think you can run away now?”

Mu Qingxue dragged her inside like a puppet.

Sigh, I made my bed, now I have to lie in it.

“Miss, welcome home.”

“Mm.”

“Where’s my dad?”

“Boss Mu is…”

“I’m in the living room,” came a deep, authoritative male voice from inside.

Mu Qingxue waved to the maid and pulled Chen Xiaoyan into the living room.

Along the way, the dazzling decor and antique paintings made Chen Xiaoyan dizzy.

Compared to her tiny rental, it was like a doghouse—or maybe not even as nice as the Mu family’s doghouse.

She felt a pang of envy.

“Dad.”

“Mm.”

The chandelier showered the living room in silver-white light.

Three sofas formed a U-shape around a low glass table with two plates of fruit.

Mu Rongchang and Zhao Rongrong sat on either side—the former with a laptop, glasses on, reading something, the latter texting on her phone.

Seeing Mu Qingxue return, Zhao Rongrong quickly tossed her phone aside and ran over.

“Xiaoxue’s home! Let Mama give you a hug!”

“Mom, not now,” Mu Qingxue dodged.

“Mm?” Zhao Rongrong glanced at Chen Xiaoyan, her smile vanishing as she put on a lofty air.

“This is your friend from the game?”

“Yes.”

“She’s pretty, at least.”

Chen Xiaoyan was both nervous and surprised.

This cute-voiced lady was Mu Qingxue’s mom?

Wow, is this really her mother? They don’t seem much older than each other.