Chapter 68: The Pitiful Female Supporting Character from a Patriarchal Family in the 2000s (15)

The company does have a project that requires an on-site visit.

Actually, Ye Zhou could have gone alone. He probably would have been done in less than an hour.

But he insisted on bringing Ai Xiaoling. Of course, the reason wasn’t that he needed help. He just liked having her along.

Taking advantage of work as an excuse to take her on a little trip—how nice.

Ai Xiaoling stayed in the office every day. She didn’t have the chance to relax and go out.

Because the location was far, before setting off, Ye Zhou even took her to eat beef noodles. He drove slowly, and by the time they arrived, it was already noon. The staff were on lunch break and told them to come back in the afternoon.

So Ye Zhou took Ai Xiaoling to a restaurant.

Because it was a newly developed high-tech zone, there weren’t many good restaurants nearby. The two could only eat set meals at a small restaurant.

“Eating again,” Ai Xiaoling sighed.

They had eaten beef noodles in the morning. Her boss drove her all the way here. The whole morning had passed. If she got three hundred yuan a day, then she had already earned one hundred and fifty. Now they were eating again.

This little life—

Ye Zhou looked at the set meal that had been brought out. It didn’t look very good, and he thought she might be dissatisfied. So he said, “This area’s near the port. After we finish work, we can go eat seafood for dinner.”

His real purpose for bringing her here was to treat her to a big meal.

“Seafood? With them?” Ai Xiaoling asked.

Ye Zhou fooled her: “Probably.”

As soon as she heard it would be paid for by the company, and she didn’t have to pay, Ai Xiaoling felt hopeful even eating the simple set meal. The little boss even gave her two extra fried eggs.

Truly the nation’s number one best boss.

At two thirty, the staff returned to work. Ye Zhou brought Ai Xiaoling to the job site.

After coming all this way, Ai Xiaoling thought they’d be busy for a long time. But it was done in less than an hour. Most of the work was completed by Ye Zhou.

“Let’s go.” Ye Zhou packed up his notebook and came over to speak to Ai Xiaoling.

“Okay.”

Ai Xiaoling thought there was another site to visit. But that was it?

They had driven for hours, and it was done in under an hour?

She thought it would be busy, so she even went to bed early last night.

“There’s still time. Where do you want to go?” After getting in the car, Ye Zhou turned his head and asked Ai Xiaoling.

“Let’s go for a drive,” Ai Xiaoling checked the time, thinking they’d be waiting for the supervisors to finish work before going for a meal together.

It’s all about networking, after all.

By then, all she had to do was eat seafood. Seafood was so expensive.

Ye Zhou drove her around the city in circles.

The sun gradually set, and the sunset dyed the sky a brilliant red.

Ai Xiaoling leaned against the car window, looking at the scenery outside, sighing, “The craftsmanship of nature. So beautiful.”

Ye Zhou slowed down the car, trying to drive on wide roads. Watching her joyful face and constantly lifted corners of her lips that never faded.

Thinking about how she only had a simple meal at lunch, Ye Zhou wanted to take her to eat early. He parked the car and pretended to go to the bathroom. When he returned, he told her, “They have to work overtime and hold a meeting. They won’t be joining us for dinner.”

“Oh, I see,” Ai Xiaoling replied.

As for who “they” were, she didn’t know. Maybe project leaders, maybe related personnel.

The little boss said they wouldn’t come, so she didn’t ask further.

“Then are we still going to eat seafood?” Ai Xiaoling looked at him, trying her best to hide the longing in her eyes.

The leaders weren’t coming. Would it still be worth spending so much to eat seafood on a company tab?

“We’re already here, so let’s go. If it’s good, there’s another project tomorrow. I’ll bring them then,” Ye Zhou continued to lie without blinking.

“Mhm.” Ai Xiaoling smiled.

The two of them headed to the pier. On both sides of the dock were many food stalls, selling fresh seafood and cooking it on the spot.

“What do you want to eat?” Ye Zhou asked Ai Xiaoling.

“Anything’s fine.” Ai Xiaoling didn’t dare pick from the menu.

Ye Zhou said, “Crab?”

Ai Xiaoling craned her neck to look.

Ye Zhou understood immediately. “One jin of crab, let stir-fry them.”

Ai Xiaoling swallowed her saliva and quietly withdrew her gaze. Her eyes landed on the plate of mantis shrimp on the nearby table.

They were so big, smelled so good, and looked so tempting.

“Half a kilogram of mantis shrimp,” Ye Zhou’s voice sounded.

Ai Xiaoling: “!!!”

Her little boss was really too considerate.

Ai Xiaoling sniffed again. Her gaze fell on the nearby salt-baked spotted babylon. That one didn’t look too expensive, so she turned her head and softly asked Ye Zhou, “Is that one tasty?”

“I’ll go ask.”

As he spoke, Ye Zhou really walked over to that table and asked in a low voice.

Ai Xiaoling’s eyes welled up with tears.

She truly was not a good employee. How could she let her little boss do this kind of thing?

In a short while, Ye Zhou came back with a spotted babylon in his hand and a toothpick. “Try it and you’ll know.”

Ai Xiaoling: “…..”

As she ate, she unintentionally caught sight of the price tag. It was over thirty yuan per half a kilogram. Ai Xiaoling was shocked.

So expensive!

“Let’s not get it, okay?” Ai Xiaoling said.

Ye Zhou replied, “I think it’s worth trying. Half a kilogram will be enough.”

Ai Xiaoling stopped talking. Since the little boss wanted it, she could not stop him.

Ye Zhou ordered two more stir-fried dishes and one bowl of sea bass soup.

Two people. Half a table of food.

“Isn’t that too much?” Ai Xiaoling asked.

Ye Zhou replied, “Try everything. Next time we can bring them here for a meal. This way we’ll know what to order.”

Ai Xiaoling was successfully convinced and happily thought she was sampling the food with a purpose.

Ye Zhou looked at her satisfied expression, and the smile at the corner of his mouth deepened.

“I don’t know how to eat this crab claw,” Ai Xiaoling said and stopped her motion. “Better not break my tooth.”

“Be careful. Don’t bite it.” Ye Zhou’s tone was full of concern. He placed the peeled mantis shrimp in her bowl. “Eat this first.”

Ai Xiaoling immediately said, “Thank you, little boss. I can do it myself.”

“It’s okay.” Ye Zhou reached out and took the crab claw, placing it into a clean bowl before starting to peel it.

Before she started earning money, Ai Xiaoling was often stared at for eating a couple more pieces of meat at home. How could she have ever eaten seafood?

If not for the frequent visits to construction sites with Ye Zhou lately, which helped improve her meals a bit, she would not have gained a few kilos.

Otherwise, she would be eating cheap set meals every day.

Speaking of which, she felt really grateful. She looked up to praise Ye Zhou. “Little boss—”

“Yes,” Ye Zhou responded gently as he placed the peeled crab meat into her bowl.

Ai Xiaoling looked at the meat in her bowl. Her hands suddenly stopped moving, and she stammered, “You eat too—”

No need to be this enthusiastic, right?

Why… why does this feel a bit off?

“There’s more inside.” Ye Zhou peeled another one for himself.

Ai Xiaoling looked at the half-eaten mantis shrimp and the crab meat in her bowl. Her head started to feel fuzzy.

Why was the little boss taking such good care of her?

Some of the details she had overlooked were now piecing themselves together. Ai Xiaoling looked at Ye Zhou, feeling a little flustered. Even the seafood on the table started to lose its flavor.

Something’s not right.

Why did Ye Zhou’s behavior feel so much like a man pursuing her?

“What’s wrong?” Ye Zhou looked over and asked.

“Nothing.” Ai Xiaoling lowered her head and ate seriously.

Because her mind was a mess, she did not really taste anything after that.

After the meal, Ye Zhou drove to find a hotel. The two of them would be spending the night here.

Ever since they got into the car, Ai Xiaoling became even more nervous. She kept observing Ye Zhou and felt like crying.

She was the vicious supporting female character.

Logically speaking, Ye Zhou should not have feelings for her. When Mother Ye tried to match them, he completely ignored it.

Once they arrived at the hotel, Ye Zhou parked the car. Ai Xiaoling followed behind him slowly.

Feeling guilty and anxious.

Were they going to stay in the same room?

Ye Zhou walked to the front desk. “Please open two rooms for us.”

Ai Xiaoling let out a huge sigh of relief.

Once they were in the elevator, Ye Zhou handed her one of the room cards. “You can sleep in a bit tomorrow. The task is not heavy.”

“Okay.”

“Sleep early.”

“Alright.”

After the elevator opened, Ye Zhou entered his room first without saying anything more.

Ai Xiaoling looked at Ye Zhou walking away so decisively and began to doubt herself. She muttered, “Was I overthinking it?”

That must be it!

How could Ye Zhou possibly have feelings for her? Before developing his career beyond the province, his eyes were only on work.

And he was also extremely self-disciplined, just waiting for his fiancée, his destined true love. According to the novel, even at thirty, he was still a virgin.

Thinking of this, Ai Xiaoling’s mind cleared up again. She happily took a shower and went to bed.

On the other side.

As soon as Ye Zhou entered his room, he leaned against the door, closed his eyes, and sighed, completely like a deflated balloon.

At the dinner table, he had clearly wanted to push the relationship forward.

That action was obvious. She was so smart and noticed it right away.

Next step would have been to make it clear.

Then confess and get together.

But what should he say in a confession?

Seeing Ai Xiaoling’s confused and nervous face, Ye Zhou’s mind got stuck. He didn’t dare take that step and quickly pulled back.

What exactly was he doing?

Ye Zhou once again stayed up the entire night.

As for Ai Xiaoling, she had a sweet dream, full of delicious food.

When she woke up, the sun was already high in the sky.

Her sleepiness vanished instantly. She quickly freshened up and went next door to find Ye Zhou.

As soon as she knocked, he opened the door and said to her, “Let’s go eat breakfast.”

“When are we going to work? Or should we go first?” Ai Xiaoling felt guilty because she woke up late.

Ye Zhou pursed his lips. “The person in charge over there is not available anymore. They said to reschedule.”

“We still have to come all the way out here next time? Can’t they be more flexible?”

“No way.”

Ai Xiaoling felt a bit disappointed. “Alright then.”

“Let’s go have breakfast. We check out at two, so we can come back and rest a bit.”

She followed behind Ye Zhou. After they finished breakfast, he returned to his room. He had not slept well last night and was feeling tired.

Ai Xiaoling thought he was in a bad mood because the project negotiation had failed, so she dared not bother him. She sat idly in her room, bored.

Since they had eaten breakfast late, Ai Xiaoling was not hungry for lunch either. She just waited for Ye Zhou to wake up.

Near checkout time, he finally woke up.

The two packed up and left the hotel.

“I overslept. Are you hungry?” Ye Zhou asked her.

“I’m not,” Ai Xiaoling shook her head.

Ye Zhou said, “What do you want to eat?”

“Just some snacks. I don’t feel like having a meal.”

Ye Zhou looked at the car and drove in a circle. Yesterday during their drive he had seen a lively street. He drove to the nearby area and said, “Let’s get out and take a look up ahead. I’m tired from driving.”

“Alright.” Ai Xiaoling quickly agreed. She couldn’t let the little boss get tired. “Let’s go see what good food there is.”

That was what Ye Zhou had in mind too.

After parking, the two walked forward one after another.

That street seemed to be one of the most bustling in the area. Shops lined both sides, and there were probably more shops on the upper floors. Many people were going up and down. Street vendors lined both sides of the road.

Ai Xiaoling saw many snack stalls, all looking quite good.

The two continued walking and browsing.

“Make way, make way,” a thin old man drove a motorcycle with two large baskets on either side loaded with various fruits. A woman sitting on it, wearing a straw hat and holding a scale, kept shouting, “Make way!”

The crowd kept pressing to the sides.

Ai Xiaoling was bumped by someone in front and staggered two steps backward, falling into a warm embrace.

She instinctively grabbed the person’s arm behind her. After stabilizing herself, she turned around to apologize. “Sorry—”

She saw Ye Zhou’s handsome face so close, her heart skipped a beat. She stared at him in a daze, her heart pounding.

“Are you alright?” he asked with concern.

“I’m fine—” Ai Xiaoling quickly looked away and stepped back with a smile.

“Little girl, make way—” the old man passed by with his two big baskets. The crowd squeezed again. Ai Xiaoling was shoved into someone and then pushed forward by someone else.

“Ah—” Ai Xiaoling stumbled forward in panic.

The next second, Ye Zhou reached out and caught her steadily. His arms were strong and his embrace warm. He even had a faint, pleasant soap scent.

Ai Xiaoling’s mind went blank and her body froze.

Ye Zhou continued holding her without any intention of letting go.

The crowd was noisy and chaotic, but Ai Xiaoling felt the world around them suddenly turn quiet, leaving only the two of them.

Their bodies were in full contact. Ye Zhou held her firmly and even pulled her slightly closer into his arms. It was a subtle and careful move, but she noticed it immediately.

A sentence repeated endlessly in her mind: She was doomed, completely doomed—