Daddy! Come Home for Dinner!

"What’s wrong?" Zhao Dingli saw Li Xiaoyun looking over and asked.

Li Xiaoyun instinctively wanted to cover the phone’s speaker with her hand.

But just as her hand lifted a little, she put it down again.

She chuckled to herself.

Just after work, she had openly told Lin Lingli and Zhou Yunyun, and didn’t mind them knowing at all.

What’s the point of hiding now?

She was just acting out of habit again.

Lin Lingli had the speaker on, listening with Zhou Yunyun.

Even though Zhao Dingli’s voice wasn’t loud, the two of them heard it.

They immediately got excited.

"Xiaoyun, who’s next to you? Is it Zhao Dingli?" Lin Lingli asked excitedly.

Lin Lingli and Zhou Yunyun were just like CP fans now.

Already clenching their small fists excitedly, stomping in place.

"Yeah." Li Xiaoyun nodded.

If she said that Zhao Dingli was there to pick up Li Xiaoyun because of Ye Fei, they wouldn’t believe it even if it killed them.

Even if it’s just a friend’s niece, there’s no need to personally pick her up and drop her off.

They guessed that Zhao Dingli probably wasn’t even this warm to his own nephew.

As for a mistress or anything, the two of them just scoffed.

The reason was surprisingly in line with what Liu Meiyun and others thought.

No matter what, it wouldn’t make sense to go for his niece-in-law’s friend.

That would just be a slap in the face, wouldn’t it?

"Well... we won’t bother you anymore then." Lin Lingli and Zhou Yunyun got their answer.

As for the specifics, they’ll wait until tomorrow to ask Li Xiaoyun.

The two hung up and Zhou Yunyun excitedly grabbed and shook Lin Lingli’s arm: "Lingli, do you think Zhao Dingli is after Xiaoyun?"

"He definitely is!" Lin Lingli nodded heavily, even more confident than Li Xiaoyun herself.

"Xiaoyun said it was out of courtesy to Ye Fei, giving her the business. But I think, Zhao Dingli didn’t want to benefit others, it was really just to have more chances to meet Xiaoyun," said Lin Lingli.

The two discussed all the way, entering the subway station.

Li Xiaoyun hung up the phone, her face a little red.

Although Lin Lingli didn’t say anything else, Li Xiaoyun could hear what she meant from her tone.

She really hadn’t expected Zhao Dingli to pick her up again today.

She thought yesterday was the only time.

Li Xiaoyun also asked the question herself.

Zhao Dingli explained, "Today your President Lin called me, saying that Zheng Xuelin was dismissed."

Li Xiaoyun: "..."

President Lin acted as if he was Zhao Dingli’s subordinate.

May as well let Changlin acquire Rui Shi in one go.

To dismiss an employee, he actually reported to the president of another company.

Li Xiaoyun didn’t even know how to complain about this.

But thinking about it, she could understand.

President Lin probably thought Zhao Dingli believed that Zheng Xuelin’s character was questionable and was afraid he’d think Rui Shi wasn’t good because of it.

So after firing Zheng Xuelin, he immediately told Zhao Dingli.

To show him that Rui Shi doesn’t keep employees like Zheng Xuelin, they are a principled company.

Then Zhao Dingli continued, "As you said before, Zheng Xuelin shifted all the blame onto you. I’m afraid after he got fired today, he might want to harm you in secret, so I came to pick you up."

Li Xiaoyun thought Zhao Dingli must be some kind of fortune teller?

How did he know so accurately?

"Did he give you any trouble?" Zhao Dingli asked.

"Today, when he was fired, everyone in the office was protecting me, and I was wary myself, so he couldn’t trouble me," Li Xiaoyun replied.

"Xiaoyun." Suddenly Zhao Dingli called her.

Li Xiaoyun’s heart skipped a beat.

This was the first time Zhao Dingli called her like that.

"You’ve been calling me Dingli, so calling you this way shouldn’t be an issue, right?" Zhao Dingli smiled slightly and said.

"Of course not," Li Xiaoyun replied immediately.

"Since we’re both addressing each other like this, I hope if you encounter anything, you won’t keep it from me," Zhao Dingli added.

"I’m not being conceited, but protecting you is just within my capability. Whatever you need help with, I think I can probably assist with," he said.

"What I don’t want is for you to treat me like an outsider, keeping things from me when something happens," Zhao Dingli said.

Li Xiaoyun blinked.

If he’s not an outsider, then is he an insider?

"So, tell me," Zhao Dingli said, "Given Zheng Xuelin’s character, it’s impossible for him to do nothing. Even if it’s just some bravado, it won’t be lacking."

"Today he got fired, tell me in detail what happened," Zhao Dingli paused, then suddenly, "Hmm?"

This "hmm" had a slight rise, with a hint of raspiness.

Very lazy.

If not now, if it were in a warm, sunny afternoon.

If he lightly whispered in her ear like that, how could it not be so utterly mesmerizing?

Li Xiaoyun felt her whole body go soft.

Just from this "hmm," she was ready to agree to whatever Zhao Dingli said.

So, in a dizzy state, Li Xiaoyun told Zhao Dingli everything that happened today, without hiding anything.

"So, he did threaten you," Zhao Dingli frowned and said.

Li Xiaoyun nodded, "But I’m not sure if he’s just all talk or if he really plans to do something."

Zhao Dingli let out a breath, "Lucky I came today, otherwise how could I be at ease with you going home alone."

"I was originally thinking, if push comes to shove, I’d just call a car and go straight home; he wouldn’t be able to get to me that way," Li Xiaoyun said.

"How can that be okay?" Zhao Dingli immediately opposed, "Even if you leave work on time, it’ll be almost dark by then. If you work late, it’ll be even later."

"There’ve been many incidents with ride-hailing apps. A girl taking a stranger’s car alone at night is really not safe. So many cases of girls getting hurt, calling a car like that, it’s too risky," Zhao Dingli said.

"How about this, from now on I’ll pick you up and drop you off every day, not just in the evening, but also pick you up from home in the morning," Zhao Dingli said, "Nighttime is important, but what if Zheng Xuelin decides to catch you off-guard and waits for you early in the morning?"

Li Xiaoyun hadn’t thought of that point. When Zhao Dingli mentioned it, it made perfect sense to her.

"If you work late, just let me know," Zhao Dingli paused and said, "If no one’s around at your office at night, what if Zheng Xuelin goes to your office then? You wouldn’t have anyone to protect you."

"If you work late, I’ll just go to your office and keep you company," Zhao Dingli added.

With his fingers tapping on the steering wheel, Zhao Dingli said, "If possible, try to have lunch meetings. Of course, I know, there are things that aren’t up to you."