Just then, that playboy's voice came through the phone, asking Xu Yanxia with familiar ease, "We're having the gathering at Jingyao's place tomorrow, right? Is there anything I should bring?"
"No need,"
Xu Yanxia replied with measured politeness, "We'll have all the necessary ingredients prepared here. Please don't trouble yourselves, just come and enjoy the meal."
Chu Hao then asked her, "Is there anything I can bring for you, then?"
His tone, both in voice and manner, was unmistakably flirtatious.
Lu Jingming couldn't help but frown again.
Xu Yanxia also paused before replying courteously, "There's nothing I need either. You can just come over with everyone when the time comes."
Chu Hao on the other end let out an "oh," then asked her, "Sorry, I've been busy with classes and haven't had a chance to chat properly with you since adding you on WeChat. How have you been these past couple of days?"
The way he said it was enough to make one cringe with secondhand embarrassment.
Xu Yanxia instinctively glanced at Lu Jingming and tried her best to maintain politeness in her reply, "I've been fine, thank you for your concern. Um... something just came up with work on my end. If there's anything else, you can just message me in the group chat."
"Alright then,"
the guy finally bid her farewell, "I won't disturb you further. Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow."
Xu Yanxia, "...Okay."
She quickly hung up the phone.
The world was finally peaceful again.
She breathed a sigh of relief, only to hear Lu Jingming, who was still petting the cat, ask her, "A friend of Jingyao's? When did you add each other on WeChat?"
Xu Yanxia said, "Last time I was on break, he happened to come to our place for a meal. He wanted to add me, and I didn't feel right refusing."
Lu Jingming gave an "oh," then asked as if casually, "You all have a group chat?"
Xu Yanxia, completely unsuspecting, nodded and said, "Third Young Master came to our place for a meal on Tuesday, so he added me to their group to send them the location pin."
Hmm.
Lu Jingming asked again, "What do they usually talk about in that group?"
"I haven't really paid attention,"
Xu Yanxia had already put her phone back in her pocket, "I have notifications muted and don't usually check the chat history."
Lu Jingming nodded, then said, "Didn't you just sprain your wrist? Why not ask them to come another day?"
"It's really okay,"
Xu Yanxia hurriedly waved her hand, "I'm pretty much better already. Besides, Third Young Master and the others arranged this last week. We shouldn't disappoint everyone because of my minor injury."
Lu Jingming didn't say anything more after that.
A while later, the cats finished their food and went off to play.
The distant sky rumbled faintly with thunder. A sea breeze blew into the garden, carrying a damp scent.
Xu Yanxia said, "It looks like it's going to rain, President Lu. Let's head back inside."
"Alright."
Lu Jingming left the lawn with her.
Xu Yanxia went to the kitchen to put things away, while Lu Jingming went upstairs, took out his phone, and sent a message to Lu Jingyao.
[You have a group chat, right, with Xiao Xia in it? Add me too.]
...
After Xu Yanxia returned to her quarters, took a shower, it indeed started raining outside.
With the day's work done, lying in bed listening to the rain was the most relaxing time.
She took out her phone intending to ask about her brother's situation, but upon opening WeChat, she discovered a bunch of messages tagging her in the group chat named "The Lads."
She quickly tapped in and scrolled up through the chat history. It started with Lu Jingyao adding Lu Jingming to the group twenty minutes prior. After an introduction, a bunch of people followed up greeting him as "Big Bro."
Then Lu Jingming posted, [Regarding tomorrow's gathering, if anyone has any special requests or needs preparations, you can come to me. Xiao Xia has injured her wrist and isn't very comfortable.]
Immediately after, everyone started tagging her—
Lu Jingyao: [Sister Xia, are you okay? How did you get injured in just one day?]
Lu Tong: [Sis, how did you get hurt? Did you lose a fight? Need the brothers to step in?]
Chu Hao: [You're injured? Why didn't you tell me just now?]
Xiao Xu: [Sis, did you get worn out from too much work at the Lu's? Come to our house, we have fewer people.]
Lu Tong: [Come to our place, Sis!!! Whatever the Lu's are paying you monthly, I'll triple it!!!]
Lu Jingyao: [You two, get lost! Don't even think about stealing my Sister Xia!]
Xu Yanxia, "..."
She had no choice but to quickly reply, [I just twisted it a little by accident, it's nothing serious. Thank you all for your concern.]
Lu Jingyao hurriedly told her, [I have some sprain ointment in my room, Sister Xia. Ask Aunt Zhang to help you find it.]
The others also chimed in, offering to bring her medicine.
Xu Yanxia was just about to type out her thanks when, before she could finish, she saw Lu Jingming post another message, [I've already gotten some for Xiao Xia. Since her hand is injured and it's inconvenient for her to cook many dishes, we'll do a BBQ buffet tomorrow. My apologies if the hospitality is lacking.]
The young guys all quickly responded with OKs.
Xu Yanxia could only follow up with, [Looking forward to welcoming everyone tomorrow. I won't disturb the chat further.]
And she exited the group.
She had actually already prepared a menu, but President Lu was the host. If he decided on BBQ, then BBQ it was. Besides, a BBQ would indeed save her a lot of trouble.
As it was getting late, she then dialed her brother Xu Zhanpeng's number.
The phone rang twice before it was answered. She quickly asked, "Bro, how are things? Are you home yet?"
Xu Zhanpeng's voice came from the other end, "We're already home, don't worry. Yuan Jincai has been handed over to the police station too."
Xu Yanxia felt relieved and asked, "Did the Yuan family come to make a scene?"
"Auntie is taking a very firm stance this time. Besides, with him already at the station, there's not much they can do even if they wanted to make trouble."
Xu Zhanpeng still sounded angry, "In such a short time, that guy managed to spend almost a quarter of the money. If we hadn't reported it and gotten his account frozen, he probably would have blown through it all by now."
"It was to be expected,"
Xu Yanxia comforted her brother, "What's done is done, getting angry won't help. Also, he is, after all, Xiaoyue's biological father. If he agrees to divorce Auntie cleanly and leave with nothing, we can consider letting him repay less, for Xiaoyue's sake. Otherwise, we'll settle this thoroughly."
"I know,"
Xu Zhanpeng then asked her, "By the way, Xiao Xia, that man who came with you today is..."
"He's my boss,"
Xu Yanxia quickly reminded her brother, "Oh right, I haven't told Grandma and Grandpa that I found a job as a chef. I only told them I work in an office at a company. Don't let it slip, in case Grandpa gets upset again."
"Yeah, I know,"
Xu Zhanpeng paused, then said, "Jiajia said... your boss... seems to be interested in you. Going so far as to personally drive you there for something like this."
"That's not it at all,"
Xu Yanxia immediately denied without a second thought, "You're overthinking it. We just happened to have lunch together at noon, and he knew I was in a hurry, so he gave me a ride, that's all."
But her brother said, "Bosses aren't usually that kind-hearted. You should be more careful. Even though he's good-looking and his family is wealthy, he's not from the same world as us. I'm just worried you might get hurt."
This brother of hers still thought of her as a naive twenty-year-old college student.
Xu Yanxia was truly caught between laughter and tears. She could only say, "Alright, alright. This is actually a good chance for you to discuss future plans with Sister Jiajia. Since most of the money has been recovered, if you can't afford the full payment, a down payment will do. Grandpa and Grandma can't live in a rental forever, and Sister Jiajia shouldn't have to suffer without a proper status by your side indefinitely."
On the other end of the line, Xu Zhanpeng grunted in agreement, and the two hung up.
Xu Yanxia took out a book she had borrowed a few days ago and was just about to start reading when her phone buzzed with a new message.
It was from Lu Jingming: [Are you asleep yet?]
Xu Yanxia hurriedly replied politely, [Not yet. Is there something you need?]
A new message came quickly: [I'll be dining alone tomorrow morning, something simple will be fine.]
Xu Yanxia promptly replied, [Understood.]
Immediately after, he added, [Remember to use the spray before bed. Good night.]
She also sent back a, [Good night.]
Turning off the screen, she suddenly remembered her brother's words.
—Those bosses, are they ever that kind-hearted?
While it made sense, it wasn't an absolute rule.
President Lu, for instance, seemed like a perfectly decent man.
