Chapter 7 – Hot Dogs
That afternoon, Shu Mingyang was sitting in the company's large conference room, listening to his subordinates report on last quarter's performance and propose development plans for the new one.
But he just couldn't concentrate.
His mind kept conjuring the same image—
A girl in a gray shirt slowly walking down the stairs, droplets of water sliding from her hair onto the pale skin of her neck. She lifted her fingers, caught one drop, and traced it down from her slender neck…
"President Shu? President Shu?"
The rough voice of Harold, the product manager, pulled him back to reality. Shu Mingyang blinked and said, a little flustered,
"Sorry, which part were you on?"
Harold looked at him curiously.
"I'm done. Just waiting for your conclusion."
"I see…" Shu glanced down at the materials in front of him.
"The summary of last quarter's problems is good. As long as we don't repeat them, we'll be fine. Also, I have a suggestion for product development—Harold, do you think making some changes to the laptop's appearance would attract more buyers?"
"You mean color? Like champagne gold or rose gold?"
The others chuckled. Shu Mingyang smiled.
"That's fine too, but I mean the shape. What if we made the laptop lid shaped like small animals—say, a cat? I think that might appeal to a lot of female customers."
"Custom-shaped cases?" Harold nodded. "Good idea, but since we mainly make accessories, we'd need to coordinate with the laptop manufacturers."
"Alright, I'll leave that to you," Shu said. "As for everything else, let's go ahead with your proposals. Keep me updated if problems come up. Meeting adjourned."
Everyone left in high spirits. Shu was known for keeping meetings short, which had earned him a good reputation in the new company.
He was tidying up his papers when Harold patted him on the shoulder.
"What's going on, man? I've known you for years, and spacing out in a meeting just isn't like you." Harold grinned.
Shu rubbed his nose, embarrassed.
"Sorry, maybe I didn't sleep well last night."
"Ha! Don't give me that. I can tell this isn't about sleep." Harold leaned closer, teasing. "It's about a woman, isn't it? That Loreal girl got you all tangled up? I thought you weren't into her."
"Loreal?" Shu froze, then remembered Harold meant the blonde he'd been set up with.
"No, not her. We're not in touch anymore."
"Then who is it? You know me, I won't let it go until you tell me."
Shu smiled helplessly.
"Alright… there is a special girl I met. But that's all. Nothing's going on between us."
"Nothing? And yet you're daydreaming in meetings?" Harold gave him a knowing look. "Let me guess—you keep seeing her face in your head, hearing her voice out of nowhere, and sometimes when you check the rearview mirror, you find yourself smiling like an idiot?"
Shu's heart skipped a beat. He looked at Harold.
"And if I do?"
"Then, my friend, you've fallen for her!" Harold clapped him on the shoulder with relief. "Finally! I was starting to wonder if something was wrong with you."
"Fallen for her? No way—I've only known her a few days…"
"Doesn't matter," Harold said like a seasoned veteran. "I fell for my wife at first sight. Three months later, we were married. Now we've got two kids."
"But I don't even know her name. How could that be love?"
"Then go ask! The universe doesn't hand you someone like this every day. Grab her before someone else does, or you'll regret it."
When Harold left, Shu sat in the conference room alone for a long time. Part of him admitted Harold made sense, but another part just couldn't believe he'd fallen so quickly.
He thought about calling Gu Leng for advice—then imagined the playboy's teasing and decided against it.
Forget it. Wasn't this what he'd always wanted—to find true love? If it had really arrived, then all he had to do was be brave enough to face it and learn. Harold was right: he should at least find out her name.
Back in his office, Shu worked for another half hour. Then his phone rang—from an unfamiliar number.
Thinking it might be a client, he answered,
"Hello?"
The voice on the other end sent a tingle down his spine.
"Good afternoon, Shu little-cutie. Done with work yet?"
His own tone brightened without him realizing.
"How did you get my number?"
"The night before last, when you went outside to watch the snow, I stole a business card from your briefcase," Xiao Miao said cheerfully. "Told you I'd steal from you. You really don't pay attention, dummy."
Shu laughed.
"So why are you calling?"
"To return your jacket, of course! I'm at your company's front desk right now, but the receptionist says I don't have an appointment so she won't let me see you. I'm so sad. Come be my prince and ride your white horse to rescue me, okay?" she cooed.
"Alright, I'm coming right now."
He hung up and rushed out. Even when his secretary tried to stop him for a signature, he brushed her off. Employees throughout the company watched their usually composed, reserved CEO dash out like the wind.
In the lobby, Xiao Miao—smoky-eyed and leaning lazily against the counter—spotted him and immediately turned to the receptionist with a triumphant smirk.
"Told you he'd be here in under five minutes."
The Chinese receptionist glared at her.
Ignoring her, Xiao Miao turned to Shu, who was half-running toward her.
"Where's your white horse? No white horse, no prince—zero stars!"
Shu panted,
"Uh… where would I find a horse in that short a time?"
She giggled.
"Silly. Here's your jacket. I didn't have money to get it cleaned, so you'll have to wash it yourself."
Taking it, Shu said,
"Your coat and dress are in my car. I was going to give them to you after work."
"No rush," she said, fiddling with her nails. "Aren't you done for the day? Let's go eat."
Before Shu could answer, the receptionist jumped in:
"Our president is very busy. He works late every day. He wouldn't leave at this hour, let alone go out with… irrelevant people."
Xiao Miao's eyes went cold. She slipped her arms around Shu's neck, her voice suddenly soft and sweet.
"No working late. Come have dinner with me, Shu little-cutie."
Shu almost forgot how to breathe.
"O-okay. Wait here, I'll get my coat."
When he left, Xiao Miao suddenly grabbed the receptionist by the collar, her nails digging into the woman's neck. Lowering her voice, she said coldly,
"If you know what's good for you, don't cross me again. I'm irrelevant people—and when I'm mad, there's no telling what I might do."
She let go. The receptionist clutched her neck, terrified, the earlier arrogance gone.
Bitchy-level not high enough, and you dare challenge me?
Xiao Miao snorted and idly played with a potted orchid. When Shu came back down, she immediately ran over and took his arm.
"Let's go, Shu little-cutie."
They took the elevator to the parking garage, unaware a crowd of employees was secretly following them. Everyone stared, slack-jawed, as Shu opened the car door for her and the two drove off in his sports car.
"Damn, he really ditched overtime for her. I think this one's serious."
"Serious? Look at how careful he was with her. I've never seen him like that."
"My five bucks… gone…"
Harold grinned at the others.
"Told you so. And now you're sorry you didn't believe me. Whoever bet he ran out because he had to pee—your money's mine."
—
"What do you want to eat?" Shu asked in the car.
Instead of answering, Xiao Miao asked,
"That receptionist had such an attitude. Why haven't you fired her?"
Shu sighed.
"She's a distant relative's daughter. My mom didn't want me to offend the family, so I kept her on."
"Figures. No wonder she's so cocky." Xiao Miao sneered. "I don't like her."
"Sorry she upset you. I'll talk to her," Shu said. "Anyway, have you decided what to eat? There's a Michelin three-star here—BForest. Very famous. Want to try it?"
"No! Just because you have money doesn't mean you have to eat expensive. Trying to show off?" She shot him a glare.
And just like that, she was mad again. Shu could only smile helplessly.
"Alright, whatever you want, I'll go along."
She glanced out the window.
"Stop the car! I want that."
Shu braked hard and looked where she was pointing.
"That? The hot dog stand?"
"Yeah. Problem?" She pouted at him.
He chuckled.
"No problem. Wait here, I'll get them."
"No, let's go together. There's a river nearby—we can sit by the water. Romantic, right?"
Romantic? In this freezing weather?
Shu wanted to talk her out of it, but she'd already hopped out. He followed, and soon they each had a hot dog and a cup of coffee, sitting by the river at night.
She took a bite of hers, then asked,
"What sauce do you have?"
"Honey mustard."
"Let me try."
Shu turned the hot dog so she could bite the untouched end, but she deliberately took a big bite from the side he'd already eaten.
"Mmm, so good! Yours is better. Let's trade."
Before he could answer, she swapped them, leaving him with the ketchup one.
He'd only had a few bites when she grabbed it back.
"I changed my mind—this one's good too. They're both mine now!"
Shu could only watch.
"Then what do I eat?"
She held a hot dog sausage to his lips.
"I'll let you have half."
The suggestive gesture made him blush. He turned away.
"Forget it. I'll just drink my coffee."
She grinned and finished the sausages, then shoved a piece of lettuce into his mouth.
"I don't like this. You eat it."
Chewing the flavorless lettuce, face stung by the cold wind, Shu watched her finish both hot dogs. His stomach growled.
What am I doing? Is this what falling for someone feels like—voluntarily suffering? I'm a rich second-gen! Why is it that when Gu Leng dates, the girls chase him, but with me it's the other way around?
The more he thought, the more annoyed—and hungry—he felt. But before he could say anything, she suddenly leaned into his arms.
And just like that, his irritation faded away.
Snuggling closer, she murmured,
"You're so warm. I like it."
He looked down at her face.
"You've got honey mustard on the corner of your mouth—wait, what's your hand doing?"
"Touching your abs."
"...No! Hands out!"
Author's Note:
Pure-hearted Shu, getting bullied by the heroine every single day. 23333