Daddy! Come Home for Dinner!

Li Xiaoyun was puzzled when she suddenly heard a familiar voice, "Finished work?"

Startled, Li Xiaoyun gasped and instinctively raised her hand to cover her mouth.

She saw that Zhao Dingli had already appeared in front of her.

Li Xiaoyun widened her eyes and then closed them for several seconds before opening them again.

Was it just her imagination running wild, causing hallucinations?

Once she opened her eyes again, Zhao Dingli was still there.

He even lowered his head and smiled at her, "Why are you daydreaming?"

Li Xiaoyun swallowed and finally found her voice, "Why are you here?"

"Didn’t I say this morning that I’d meet you at noon?" Zhao Dingli replied with a gentle smile.

Everyone perked up their ears to listen.

Here’s some gossip brewing!

Turns out the two of them had already planned to have lunch together since this morning?

Li Xiaoyun blinked. Didn’t he say this morning that he’d continue their conversation at noon?

So it did mean he’d come to see her at noon?

Li Xiaoyun noticed many people in the office were watching them gossiping.

Quickly, Li Xiaoyun started pushing Zhao Dingli outside, "Let’s go quickly, what do you want to eat for lunch?"

Zhao Dingli could have easily resisted being pushed by Li Xiaoyun.

But he cooperated with her, glancing back with an especially indulging and affectionate expression towards Li Xiaoyun.

"Have you finished your work?" Zhao Dingli asked again.

Everyone froze in place.

Isn’t Zhao Dingli’s voice just too pampering!

Is this how Zhao Dingli usually talks to Li Xiaoyun?

If Li Xiaoyun claims she and Zhao Dingli are just ordinary friends, they wouldn’t believe a word.

What kind of ordinary friends, or even for the sake of a bosom friend’s face, would speak so gently to someone!

"Mm." Li Xiaoyun nodded hastily.

Just like that, she pushed Zhao Dingli out of the business department.

Li Xiaoyun didn’t dare to look back.

At this moment, she didn’t dare face her colleagues’ curious faces.

Because she didn’t even know how to explain it properly.

Once out of the business department, Li Xiaoyun quickly apologized, "Sorry, I really didn’t know how to explain it to them."

"No problem, I came suddenly." Zhao Dingli replied.

Being pushed out of the business department didn’t matter, since there were even more people outside.

Li Xiaoyun evidently forgot this point.

But being pushed like that just now, with her soft palm pressed against his back, really felt quite comfortable.

And thinking from another perspective.

She indeed closed the distance with him now, no longer avoiding so much, so she could just push him out of the office directly.

If it were before, Li Xiaoyun wouldn’t dare to do this!

This, in turn, made their relationship seem closer.

"However, when you said you’d talk to me at noon this morning, I thought you meant calling me," Li Xiaoyun said.

"Anyway, our two companies aren’t far apart, so I came directly, and wanted to see your company’s situation," Zhao Dingli said, "Considering this morning’s photo issue, I was really worried about your situation at the company."

"I’m fine." Now everyone thought she was dating Zhao Dingli, who would dare provoke her?

Embarrassed, Li Xiaoyun said, "It’s just... just everyone misunderstood our relationship."

Li Xiaoyun sighed and said, "Now I truly understand the feeling of having a hard time explaining."

"And this incident implicated you as well." Li Xiaoyun thought; she’d never seen before that Zheng Xuelin had such nerve.

Sending photos to Rui’s to confront her was one thing.

But what was the mindset behind sending them to Changlin?

No matter how she thought about it, she couldn’t figure out why he’d go after Zhao Dingli.

Or did he feel he could handle Zhao Dingli?

With these petty tricks, did he think he could disrupt Zhong Aidi?

Zhao Dingli chuckled, "In the end, I’m not at a loss here; I’m more concerned about your situation at the company."

"Has anyone in your company started some nasty gossip because of the photos?" Zhao Dingli asked.

"No, not really." Li Xiaoyun finally said, forcing herself to speak, "It’s just... they misunderstood... misunderstood that you’re my boyfriend..."

At the end, Li Xiaoyun hung her head, speaking in a whisper.

Since she had her head down, she didn’t notice that there were now many colleagues around them.

Zhao Dingli indeed heard her clearly.

Although Li Xiaoyun spoke softly, Zhao Dingli’s hearing was excellent.

Yet he still pretended not to hear clearly and deliberately bent down, leaning his ear towards Li Xiaoyun, "What did you say?"

Li Xiaoyun’s vision was completely blocked by Zhao Dingli’s profile.

Because of how close Zhao Dingli was, Li Xiaoyun’s face was flushed, feeling as if steam was coming off it.

The scent of pinewood wafted over from his collar.

Face burning, Li Xiaoyun repeated, "The colleagues think you’re my boyfriend."

Zhao Dingli’s mouth curved upwards, and he suddenly turned to face her.

His face had been close to hers initially, and now it was even closer.

Startled, Li Xiaoyun stepped back instantly.

Zhao Dingli quickly placed his palm on her back, stabilizing her.

"Careful," Zhao Dingli chuckled, "What’s wrong?"

Could Li Xiaoyun say that he startled her by suddenly turning his head?

Zhao Dingli straightened up and walked normally, no longer keeping his face so close to Li Xiaoyun’s.

Anyway, many colleagues saw their actions just now.

The goal was achieved.

At this moment, he kept his hand on Li Xiaoyun’s back.

Maintaining a protective stance around Li Xiaoyun.

This stance now made them appear more intimate to others.

"Will these rumors trouble you?" Zhao Dingli asked Li Xiaoyun.

Li Xiaoyun spoke truthfully, it wasn’t all that troubling.

Thanks to this, no one dared bother her at the company now.

As for being misunderstood, deterring any suitors.

When asked by Zhao Dingli, Li Xiaoyun realized she hadn’t considered this.

Perhaps after growing closer to Zhao Dingli and getting to know him better.

Having met such a great man, it seemed like her taste was raised, making dating anyone else seem dull.

Who else is as gentlemanly, attentive, and considerate as Zhao Dingli?

So even if no one pursued her because of this, she didn’t feel regretful.

In fact, she felt a bit secretly delighted.

Even if nothing could happen with Zhao Dingli.

She could at least enjoy a bit of benefit.

Even if it was just a misunderstanding, at least her name was once linked with Zhao Dingli.

Li Xiaoyun knew she was being a bit sneaky.

But she couldn’t help it.

She wanted this one sneaky chance.

Even if it was just for a short dream.

Once awake, nothing remained, and there might even be harsher consequences.

Everything she had now, she’d lose once the dream ended, possibly facing much criticism.