Chapter 6: Shouldn’t You Also Do Me a Favor?
Everyone was stunned, staring blankly at the sycophantic Liu Kun and Jiang Nuo, utterly speechless!
Jiang Nuo was a full-time employee at a publicly traded company in the Provincial City, and her boyfriend was a department manager, yet they were being so incredibly respectful to Cheng Yuan’s girlfriend.
’Just what kind of person is Cheng Yuan’s girlfriend?’
’She has to be a vice president at a publicly traded company, at the very least!’
The women’s expressions changed in an instant as they turned to shower Wu Xiuli with compliments.
"That Xiaoyuan, he’s always been a boy with guts and a mind of his own. I knew he’d be successful when he grew up, and look at him now! He even found a senior executive from a publicly traded company to be his girlfriend!"
"I finally understand why Sister Wu wasn’t impressed with Jiang Nuo. They’re not even in the same league..."
"And then there are those who get a department manager for a son-in-law and act all high and mighty. Sister Wu is the classy one—she lands a top executive for a daughter-in-law and stays completely low-key about it."
Huang Yanzi’s face turned the color of liver. If a hole had opened in the ground right then, she would have dived right in.
Her daughter and son-in-law were her greatest pride.
But now, that pride had been brutally trampled!
Wu Xiuli was also completely bewildered.
’Isn’t Xiaoyuan’s girlfriend a college student from a very ordinary background?’
’Before Xiaoyuan went to prison, she borrowed three hundred thousand yuan from us for surgery.’
’How did she turn into a senior executive at a publicly traded company in the blink of an eye?’
As Wu Xiuli fielded the crowd’s flattery, she shot a questioning glance at Cheng Yuan.
In response, Cheng Yuan could only shrug. He was a bit dazed himself. ’I just happened to save some random girl, and she turns out to be a senior corporate executive!’
Lin Ruoxi nodded calmly. "Manager Liu, and... you there. This is a private occasion, no need to be so formal. I’m busy here, so you’re free to go."
"Yes, yes, of course. President Lin is busy."
As everyone watched, Lin Ruoxi attentively took the grocery basket from Wu Xiuli. "Auntie, I’m getting a little hungry. Shall we hurry home?"
"Ah, yes, okay."
How could Wu Xiuli let Lin Ruoxi carry the basket? She quickly nudged Cheng Yuan’s arm. "Xiaoyuan, have you no sense? Quick, take the basket for Ruoxi."
"Oh."
Cheng Yuan and his family left. Only after their figures disappeared into the building’s entrance did Liu Kun and Jiang Nuo’s hearts, which had been lodged in their throats, finally drop back into place. They subconsciously wiped the sweat from their foreheads.
’President Lin’s aura is terrifying. She was smiling, but it felt like she was hiding a knife.’
A particularly curious woman asked, "Xiaonuo, what’s the deal with that President Lin? Why are you two so deferential to her?"
Jiang Nuo replied, her voice trembling slightly with emotion, "President Lin is the Vice President of our Huanyu Group, and she’s also the General Manager of the jewelry division. We both work under her. Normally, an ordinary employee like me would be lucky to even catch a glimpse of President Lin, I never imagined I’d run into her here."
’Cheng Yuan’s girlfriend is my daughter and son-in-law’s big boss?’
Huang Yanzi felt the blood drain from her head, and a wave of dizziness washed over her.
’Oh, cruel heavens, how could you be so blind?’
’Why would you let Wu Xiuli get such an incredible daughter-in-law?’
’I’ll never be able to hold my head up in front of her again!’
Liu Kun, oblivious to Huang Yanzi’s despair, looked at her with an expectant gaze.
"Aunt Huang, how’s your relationship with that Aunt Wu? Do you think you could ask her to put in a good word for me? Our Sales Director is getting promoted, and if President Lin just says the word, I could become the next Sales Director!"
Huang Yanzi wanted to die. ’If I had known that Wu Xiuli would find such a powerful daughter-in-law, I never would have targeted her all this time!’
’Based on the relationship I used to have with Wu Xiuli, this would have been a sure thing!’
’What a shame...’
Huang Yanzi said with some embarrassment, "Xiaoliu, I’m afraid I can’t help you. My relationship with Sister Wu is... just average."
PUFFT! A few of the women let out uncharitable laughs.
Huang Yanzi had been arrogant for so long, and they finally had a chance to kick her while she was down.
"Huang Yanzi, aren’t you putting it mildly? Just ’average’? You two are like oil and water!"
"You’re on your own, young man. Forget a good word; Sister Wu probably has a mountain of bad things she could say."
"This young man had such a promising future, but now that he’s been dragged down by Huang Yanzi, his path to advancement is completely blocked. He might even lose his job. How pitiful, so pitiful!"
Hearing this, the color drained from Liu Kun’s face. He wasn’t about to get dragged down for no reason!
’There are plenty of female colleagues at the company who are better looking than Jiang Nuo. No need to hang my future on this one crooked tree!’
"Jiang Nuo, we’re breaking up, starting today! I’m transferring you to Sales Department Two. After this, I never want to see you again!"
VROOM! VROOM!
The BMW roared to life, leaving Huang Yanzi and Jiang Nuo behind, utterly devastated and alone.
======
Cheng Yuan’s home was on the ground floor and had a small courtyard. The yard was filled with flowers and plants, and there was a large jujube tree, its branches heavy with so many dates that some of the thinner boughs drooped low.
After stepping inside, Lin Ruoxi looked around with curiosity.
The living room was small but very tidy. ’The woman of the house must be very diligent,’ she thought.
Wu Xiuli warmly welcomed her. "Ruoxi, please, have a seat."
Lin Ruoxi smiled sweetly and sat down obediently on the sofa.
"Xiaoyuan, what are you standing there gaping for? Hurry up and pour Ruoxi some water."
"Oh..."
Cheng Yuan quickly poured a glass of water for Lin Ruoxi.
"Thank you."
"Ruoxi, don’t be a stranger. Make yourself at home. Just relax for a bit."
"Okay, Auntie."
"Xiaoyuan, come give your mother a hand."
With that, Wu Xiuli pulled Cheng Yuan into the kitchen.
After shutting the kitchen door, Wu Xiuli could no longer contain her curiosity. "Xiaoyuan, what on earth is going on? I thought Ruoxi came from a very modest background. How did she become a senior corporate executive?"
Not wanting his mother to worry, Cheng Yuan started spinning a tale.
"During the two years I was in prison, Ruoxi discovered by chance that she was adopted. Her birth parents, a prominent family from the Provincial City, found her and welcomed her back home."
Hearing this, Wu Xiuli suddenly became agitated and said loudly, "If they already abandoned her, why would they go looking for her now? What kind of parents give birth to a child but don’t raise her?"
Cheng Yuan was taken aback. ’Mom’s always so gentle. Why is she suddenly so furious?’
"Mom, please calm down. Ruoxi wasn’t abandoned, she was abducted. Her parents searched nearly the entire country looking for her."
Wu Xiuli’s expression softened slightly. "If that’s the case, then it’s a bit more understandable. Still, Ruoxi’s birth parents were too careless. If only they had kept a better eye on their child, none of this would have happened."
"Yes, yes, you’re right, Mom. What do you need me to do? Wash the vegetables or prep them?"
"Oh, you little troublemaker, don’t make a mess for me. Just go out and keep Ruoxi company."
With that, Wu Xiuli pushed Cheng Yuan out of the kitchen.
Cheng Yuan hurried over to Lin Ruoxi’s side and whispered, "Ruoxi, my mom was suspicious about your identity, so I told her... Just make sure you don’t blow it."
Lin Ruoxi nodded calmly. "You can rest assured. But since I’ve done you such a big favor, don’t you think you should do one for me?"
"No problem. What is it?"
"Tomorrow, we’re going to the Civil Affairs Bureau to get a marriage license."