Chapter 33: “The Perfect Green Hat”

Zhou Jian was baffled. “I usually don’t wear hats,” he said, looking at himself in the mirror. “Who wears a hat to work?”

Mu Ruo crossed her arms. “I think it suits you perfectly.”

From the moment they entered, Zeng Xiaoyue had been eager to gain Mu Ruo’s favor. Hearing her say this, Zeng Xiaoyue quickly agreed, “I think Sister Ruo Ruo has a great eye. Zhou Jian, you look great in it.”

Zhou Jian was confused. “???” He examined the hat more closely. “This hat is green, isn’t it? What do you mean by this, Ruo Ruo?”

Mu Ruo chuckled.

Zhou Jian assumed Mu Ruo was joking. “Ruo Ruo, you’re dead meat. Find your own ride back to your car.”

Zeng Xiaoyue felt inexplicably uneasy when she realized the hat was green. She stole a glance at Mu Ruo. Although Zeng Xiaoyue believed her relationship with Wu Shuoliang was foolproof and that no one would know unless Wu Shuoliang spoke up, her sixth sense told her Mu Ruo might suspect something.

Wanting to avoid being seen as a gold digger, Zeng Xiaoyue only picked out one outfit and didn’t buy anything else. She looked remorseful. “Zhou Jian, you’re so kind to me. I feel guilty and don’t know how to repay you.”

Zhou Jian quickly waved his hand. “No, Xiaoyue, don’t think that way. Let’s go; I’ll take you home.”

Zhou Jian dropped Mu Ruo off at her car, and she drove home.

Zeng Xiaoyue glanced at the car Mu Ruo was driving. “Zhou Jian, is your friend rich?”

Zhou Jian nodded. “Her husband’s family is very powerful.”

“Could she have feelings for you?” Zeng Xiaoyue frowned. “You two seem very close.”

“Feelings for me?” Zhou Jian felt awkward. “No way.”

Mu Ruo hadn’t even fallen for someone as handsome and wealthy as Fu Jianzhi, being entirely devoted to Lu Beichen. How could she possibly be interested in him? Zhou Jian was self-aware enough to recognize this. Besides, he considered Mu Ruo like a sister; if their relationship changed, it would be incredibly awkward.

Zeng Xiaoyue looked out the window. “Maybe I’m overthinking it… but I don’t really like others getting too close to my boyfriend.”

Zhou Jian understood her concerns. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep my distance from other girls to avoid making you jealous.”

Zeng Xiaoyue acknowledged with a hum. “About my cousin’s job—”

Zhou Jian felt a headache coming on. He really didn’t have any high-paying, easy jobs to offer Zeng Xiaoyue’s cousin. Even a company assistant position required a certain educational background.

He suddenly remembered something Mu Ruo had told him yesterday. “If she really likes you and is right for you, she’ll respect your choices and not make things difficult for you.”

“We’re short of security guards at our company. How about that?”

“Security guard?” Zeng Xiaoyue was dissatisfied. “It’s a tough job, standing all day.”

Wu Shuoliang had previously worked as a security guard but quit because he found it too tiring and disliked greeting residents. He considered the job too menial. Zeng Xiaoyue’s job also required standing all day, but she could endure it. Wu Shuoliang couldn’t, and Zeng Xiaoyue felt sorry for him.

She bit her lip. “Zhou Jian, can’t you arrange a managerial position for him?”

Zhou Jian was taken aback. His company was in the tech industry, where even entry-level employees needed relevant college degrees, and managers were typically top-tier graduates. An uneducated man wouldn’t be able to handle the position.

“That’s not possible,” Zhou Jian said. “He doesn’t meet the qualifications.”

Zeng Xiaoyue lowered her head, silently wiping away her tears.

In the past, Zhou Jian would have felt very distressed. But today, perhaps influenced by Mu Ruo, Zhou Jian suddenly felt that this girl in front of him might not be the right one for him.

Zhou Jian quickly dropped Zeng Xiaoyue off outside her apartment complex.

Zeng Xiaoyue hesitated, “Zhou Jian, aren’t you coming up to my place?”

Tonight, Wu Shuoliang was not at the apartment. Even if he were, it wouldn’t matter much, as Zeng Xiaoyue had previously lied to Zhou Jian, saying she shared a two-bedroom apartment with her cousin to save money.

As an adult, Zhou Jian understood what she meant. Despite giving Zeng Xiaoyue so many gifts, he hadn’t even held her hand. Her attitude had become much more affectionate today, making Zhou Jian feel flattered.

He initially wanted to get out of the car but quickly held back. “It’s late, Xiaoyue. You should go upstairs and rest.”

A flash of disappointment crossed Zeng Xiaoyue’s eyes.

Mu Ruo went to the supermarket to buy some breakfast items for the next morning and some snacks. Back home, she put everything in the fridge. After taking a bath, she noticed that Fu Jianzhi hadn’t returned yet, so she decided to message him on WeChat.

Mu Ruo: “Boss, are you not coming back today?”

Fu Jianzhi had just arrived at the parking lot and was about to go home when he saw her message. “Not coming back.”

“Alright.”

Too bad, she had bought desserts meant for two.

Since Fu Jianzhi wasn’t returning, she decided to eat his share as well.

Mu Ruo took out some chilled wine from the fridge. She had an audition tomorrow afternoon and, regardless of the outcome, she decided to celebrate a bit early with some champagne and cake.

It felt great to have money in her bank account…

Just as she finished eating two pieces of cake, Fu Jianzhi walked through the door.

Mu Ruo, holding her wine glass, locked eyes with him.

Fu Jianzhi raised an eyebrow. “Sneaking food behind my back, madam?”

Mu Ruo: “Uh…”

There was no need to put it so… so crudely.

What did he mean by sneaking food?

Mu Ruo poured him a glass of wine. “How about a glass to help you sleep, boss?”

In the past, when Mu Ruo had trouble sleeping at night, she often drank a glass of red wine to help her sleep. The housekeeper had mentioned to her that Fu Jianzhi also had trouble sleeping at night and asked her to keep noise to a minimum.

Fu Jianzhi accepted the wine she offered.

It cost 998 yuan per bottle at the supermarket, which was quite expensive for Mu Ruo. Unfortunately, Fu Jianzhi didn’t usually drink wine of this caliber.

He took a sip. It tasted more like juice than wine, with the fruit flavors overpowering the alcohol.

Fu Jianzhi looked at her with a half-smile. “You want to drink with me? How’s your alcohol tolerance?”

Mu Ruo replied without hesitation, “I can hold my liquor.”

Thirty minutes later.

In the villa’s underground wine cellar.

Mu Ruo was already fast asleep on the sofa.

Fu Jianzhi looked at her half-finished glass of whiskey, puzzled as to how she had the audacity to claim she could hold her liquor.

The dim night light cast a soft glow on the rows of expensive wine bottles in the temperature-controlled cellar, as well as on Mu Ruo.

Fu Jianzhi’s gaze also fell on her.