Chapter 6

Xie Rongzhuo did pay for the coat after all.

However, he went back and picked out an additional silk scarf, bringing the total to 18 items.

Shen Mi looked down at her “battle outfit” and suddenly felt that her value had increased dramatically.

Xie Rongzhuo was meeting with the head of a foreign company’s China division. This company was involved in real estate investment and had been ramping up its efforts in recent years. Not long ago, they extended an olive branch to Xie Rongzhuo, and this time, it just happened that he was on a business trip, so they immediately invited him.

Shen Mi had observed Ruixing Bank’s investment direction over the past two years. Xie Rongzhuo had more interest in the internet and healthcare industries than in real estate, which was also the reason he established Ruixing Huashang on his own.

He probably just didn’t want to offend the other party and was going through the motions.

Xie Rongzhuo was invited into the conference room, while Shen Mi waited for him in the lounge. She glanced at her watch and got up to go to the restroom.

Suddenly, she heard someone call her name. Shen Mi turned around and took a few seconds to recognize the person, politely saying, “Brother Peng.”

Upon seeing Shen Mi, Ou Xiaopeng didn’t hide his impatience: “Wait, why are you here at my company? Didn’t my mom tell you it’s not allowed?”

Shen Mi frowned: “Say it again, I’m here for work.”

Ou Xiaopeng said irritably, “How much did the wine cost my dad? I’ll reimburse you later. Our company is a listed enterprise; it’s not just about having a college degree to get in, do you understand? You’ve been causing chaos in my family since we were kids, and now you come back. Does our family owe you something? You’ve at least been to college; how can you not understand human language?”

After saying that, he forcefully pushed Shen Mi towards the exit. “Consider it a request from me; can you not come and bother us?”

The new high heels she was wearing were still a bit uncomfortable, and with such a strong push, Shen Mi almost lost her balance.

She held it in.

But she couldn’t hold back anymore and was just about to curse—

“Shen Mi.”

Xie Rongzhuo had come out at some point, looking up at her. “Come here.”

Shen Mi quickly patted down the wrinkled sleeves of her coat and adjusted her collar before walking over briskly.

The bodyguards and assistants made way for her next to Xie Rongzhuo.

She stood there and forced a smile, “Boss.”

Ou Xiaopeng’s expression changed.

“Boss? The president of Ruixing Bank is Shen Mi’s boss?”

“It’s a misunderstanding, it’s all a misunderstanding—”

The company president rushed out, followed by a group of people. “Mr. Xie, why don’t we discuss the collaboration first, then—”

“Sorry,” Xie Rongzhuo replied in a calm tone, “the character of your company’s management seriously raises my doubts about the quality of the project. Maybe we can collaborate next time.”

He didn’t even spare a glance at Ou Xiaopeng the entire time.

“Mr. Xie! Mr. Xie…” A crowd rushed out to see Xie Rongzhuo off to his car.

The Rolls-Royce kicked up dust as it drove away.

The middle-aged man turned to Ou Xiaopeng and shouted, “What’s wrong with you?!”

Ou Xiaopeng hurriedly explained, his voice trembling: “Zhang, that was my cousin. We actually have a good relationship; she stayed at my house for a year when she was little—”

“Is that what I’m asking?” The president was so angry his blood pressure shot up. “What are you? What kind of person is she? You can’t just mess with the secretary of the president of Ruixing Bank!”

•  

Shen Mi pressed down the small table in the car, unscrewed the thermos, and poured out hot water, handing it to the man next to her.

“Boss.”

Xie Rongzhuo didn’t take it but lifted his eyelids to look at her, his gaze ambiguous. Just when Shen Mi thought he wasn’t thirsty and was about to retract her hand, he took it. “Someone bullies you and you don’t call me?”

Shen Mi froze, the words sounding strangely familiar.

They were a bit like her Master’s tone.

But her Master had never spoken through the mic, and typing couldn’t really convey tone.

“Shen Mi,”

Xie Rongzhuo was still looking at her: “Don’t let anyone touch you without permission in the future.”

Shen Mi nodded: “The sleeve that was touched has been sprayed with disinfectant.”

Xie Rongzhuo: “…”

He remained silent, his expression seeming to say, “Is that what I meant?”

“I’m sorry,” Shen Mi apologized, “Because I affected your cooperation.”

“I went to sell my friend a favor,” Xie Rongzhuo’s friend was his American classmate from university, whose family was the largest shareholder of this company. “You just gave me an excuse to refuse.”

Shen Mi was Xie Rongzhuo’s person, pushing her away was a slap in the face to Xie Rongzhuo. This time, his refusal to cooperate wouldn’t damage their relationship, but instead, the other party would owe him an apology.

Shen Mi was amazed by Xie Rongzhuo’s acting skills.

That expression of suppressed anger he had just now, it didn’t feel like he was acting at all! It felt like if there weren’t so many people around, Ou Xiaopeng would have been torn apart by him with his bare hands.

She put the lid back on her thermos and asked, “Are you having lunch back at the hotel?”

“Eating out,” Xie Rongzhuo glanced at his watch. “Going to the horse farm at 3:30, bring the gift you prepared.”

He didn’t ask what gift she had prepared, which was a recognition and trust of her work.

Shen Mi was happy: “Okay.”

She swiped open her phone and clicked into the few restaurants with tranquil environments that she had pre-selected. Xie Rongzhuo didn’t eat spicy food, so Sichuan cuisine was out first. She chose a Cantonese restaurant and made a reservation for ordering, to ensure they wouldn’t waste time.

Shen Mi discovered that Xie Rongzhuo’s taste was very much aligned with hers.

Although she was from Rongcheng, Shen Mi couldn’t eat spicy food due to her stomach issues, and instead had a fondness for Cantonese cuisine. Xie Rongzhuo’s maternal grandmother was from Guangdong, and he not only spoke Cantonese, but also loved Cantonese food, always finding something to eat together with Shen Mi.

Every dish she ordered was finished, not a single bit wasted.

After lunch, the driver drove the car into a private horse farm in the suburbs.

A vast expanse of emerald green met the distant, indigo mountains, forming a breathtaking picture. The lawn was expansive, with a beauty that was both awe-inspiring and captivating.

If Xie Rongzhuo hadn’t been beside her, Shen Mi would have already pulled out her phone to take pictures.

“Rongzhuo!”

A young man in casual clothes stood waving from the rest area not far away, then strode over, pointing at Shen Mi. “Who is this?”

Shen Mi introduced herself: “Hello, I’m Mr. Xie’s secretary, my name is Shen Mi.”

“Shen Mi? Oh, I know you, Rongzhuo’s new personal secretary, I’ve heard your name. ” The young man smiled and patted his trouser pocket. “I didn’t bring my business card today, Zhong Xu. Nice to meet you.” He extended his right hand warmly.

“Nice to meet you too.” Shen Mi generously extended her hand, but her fingertips touched the man’s lean and strong waist. She abruptly retracted her hand. Xie Rongzhuo walked forward without looking, as if he had just happened to pass by her hand.

Shen Mi’s fingertips were burning, the heat spreading to her ears.

Zhong Xu coughed dryly, withdrawing his hand, and smiled in consolation: “He’s always been like this since he was a kid, a genius, you know, solitary. Don’t mind him, girl.”

Xie Rongzhuo’s academic background, abilities, and investment vision were all astonishing, a “monster” who graduated from Harvard at the age of 19, a recognized business genius.

Shen Mi smiled politely and distantly: “No, my boss is a very good person.”

“Then you definitely don’t know him well enough.” Zhong Xu looked at the girl’s flushed face and asked with a smile, “How long have you been by his side?”

Shen Mi: “Less than a month.”

“Let me tell you, he’s got a lot of quirks, he’s known for being demanding when it comes to work, you can come to me if you have any problems, I’ll teach you how to deal with them.”

Zhong Xu always liked to interact with young and beautiful girls, but not just any kind could catch his eye. Shen Mi’s beauty was unpretentious, both bright and capable, yet with a touch of “fragility” that was just right, making people want to protect her.

“How about we add each other on WeChat, later…”

“Shen Mi.”

Xie Rongzhuo suddenly turned back, his gaze lingering on Shen Mi’s face for two seconds before abruptly retracting it. “Come here.”

Shen Mi nodded to Zhong Xu and quickly followed Xie Rongzhuo. Her phone was ringing, a Xinjiang number, Shen Mi looked up at Xie Rongzhuo, ready to hang up.

Xie Rongzhuo lowered his eyes: “Answer it.”

Shen Mi didn’t answer, she hung up the call: “I’ll accompany you to meet Mr. Zhong first.”

They hadn’t taken two steps when the same number called again.

“No rush, he’s not here yet.” Xie Rongzhuo’s attention was on his phone, not looking at her. “Answer the call and come find me in the rest area.”

“Okay.”

Watching Xie Rongzhuo walk away, Shen Mi turned and answered the phone.

“Mimi, it’s Mom.”

Shen Mi restrained her expression: “How did you get my number?”

“It’s not hard to find out, is it? I asked your classmates.”

Right.

It’s easy to find out, it just depends on whether you want to or not.

Shen Mi had escaped from her hometown to attend university. After the college entrance examination, her fourth aunt introduced her to a wealthy older man, who gave her mother a bride price of sixty thousand yuan. In her hometown, sixty thousand was a substantial amount, and her family was wary of her running away, bombarding her with brainwashing words.

Shen Mi was resolute and refused to give up her education.

Ou Peilan even withheld her travel expenses and burned her admission notice.

That act also severed the last thread of familial affection.

“Mimi,” Ou Peilan’s tone was hesitant, “I heard from your fourth aunt that you’ve become a leader and can even manage your cousin now.”

Shen Mi sensed her intention and replied coldly, “I can’t help with work matters.”

“Since you guessed it, then Mom will be straightforward. When I married your dad, our family had nothing. It was all thanks to your uncles and aunts taking care of us. Your dad was useless, and the family faced