“Thatโs more like it! Letโs eat! No one can leave unless youโve 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 Corporationโs car service will send you anywhere, even if itโs Siberia!”
“Boss, youโre amazing!!!”
In the evening, at 7:03, the party ended.
Qiu Xue stayed by Mu Qingxueโs side.
March Without Snow and Qianren Xueโone 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 Iโm coming too. I donโt 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 Iโm scared.”
“Whatโs there to be scared of? Chongchong, donโt forget what I told you in the room. Did you forget already?”
Chongchong hung her head, mumbling, “I didnโt forget.”
“Good. Just relax, Iโm not overthinking things anymore.”
“Alright, thenโฆ Xiaoyan-jie, if anything happens, message me. Iโll 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 donโt log in to the game tomorrowโฆ heh, youโll 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 Iโll 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?”
“Uhโฆ” Chen Xiaoyan was speechless.
“Why arenโt you saying anything?”
“No, I canโt do that,” Chen Xiaoyan shook her head.
“Why not?” Chongchong demanded.
“Because weโre notโฆ that kind of relationship.”
“Then what about a sisterโs goodbye kiss?” Chongchong pointed at her cheek, grinning.
“Thisโฆ” Chen Xiaoyan hesitated again.
Her uncertainty made Chongchong fume.
With a pout and a fierce (cute but fierce) expression, she barked, “Hmph! Xiaoyan-jie, youโve changed. You call yourself my friendโliar!”
“I didnโt lie to you.”
“Then why wonโt you kiss me? Even if itโs a sisterly farewell, you wonโt. Is it because you look down on me? Iโm not really your friend?”
Chen Xiaoyan held her forehead, speechless. Why did this sound so familiar?
Hadnโt she used this trick before?
This girlโs learning curve was scaryโwhat a waste if she didnโt go for a graduate degree.
“I really didnโtโฆ Never mind, fine, Iโll kiss you. But donโt 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.
Sheโd chosen the perfect timeโMu Qingxue wasnโt around, and no one could stop her from stealing Xiaoyan-jieโs firstโฆ cough, first kiss tonight.
Looking at the flawless face in front of her, Chen Xiaoyanโs 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 didnโt.
But if she didnโt, this girl would make a scene, and she still had to meet Mu Qingxueโs parents and get back to Qingzhou for a good nightโs sleep.
“Xiaoyan-jie, why are you dawdling? Hurry up, Iโll wilt waiting here!”
“Donโt 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 Chongchongโs 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-jieโs 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. Youโve got my attention now.
Iโll get you in the game tomorrow.
Never thought Iโd 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 hadnโt 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 apartmentโno, bigger than the whole buildingโshe couldnโt help but be amazed.
Wow, how many millions would it take to buy a single one?
“Qingxue, are all these villas your familyโs?”
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 Qingxueโs regretful tone.
What, two isnโt enough?
Have you considered how us ordinary folk feel?
Sigh, so tiring.
“Xiaoyan-boss, with our Mu familyโs resources, we could buy out all the villas nearby easily,” Qiu Xue said proudly.
Chen Xiaoyan didnโt argue.
Central Stateโs richest family, after allโno one knows how many billions they have in the bank.
“Buying them is pointless. Only the rich and powerful live here, and youโd have to pay a premium. But once you buy, you canโt 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.
Sheโd thought her forty thousand was a small fortune, but here, itโd 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 โฎ(๏ธถ๏น๏ธถ)โญ.
The Mu familyโs 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 trueโrich people are always superstitious.
“Weโre here.”
“Huh?”
Chen Xiaoyan quickly pulled aside the curtain and saw a European-style mansionโdidnโt 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 Xiaoyanโs face darkened, her mind racing for an excuse to leave.
“Um, Qingxue, maybe I should come another timeโฆ”
“Come on, youโre 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.”
“Whereโs my dad?”
“Boss Mu isโฆ”
“Iโm 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 doghouseโor maybe not even as nice as the Mu familyโs 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 sideโthe 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.
“Xiaoxueโs 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.”
“Sheโs pretty, at least.”
Chen Xiaoyan was both nervous and surprised.
This cute-voiced lady was Mu Qingxueโs mom?
Wow, is this really her mother? They donโt seem much older than each other.