{Guys, is this for your kids? 1}

Qian Xu simply couldn’t understand one thing—

Why was she expected to carefully plan a birthday party for the boss’s son?

True, many professional managers in her position grew close to their employers’ families, and it wasn’t uncommon to socialize with them. But this seemed to go too far. She wasn’t sure what she’d said or done to make Zhao Buhui think she was planning a grand party for him.

The only thing she could be sure of was that with someone like Zhao Buhui, he’d definitely take a small gesture and run with it.

“Listen, I don’t know what gave you this impression, but I hope you understand my current financial situation.”

Qian Xu’s anger reached its peak and then began to fade. Her tone returned to the calm, rational professionalism she used at work. “I was a bit harsh just now—don’t take it to heart.”

“Happy birthday.”

The only thing she could offer was this simple, cost-free wish.

Nothing more.

She assumed Zhao Buhui would understand her meaning, accept her refusal, and not push her further.

And, indeed, he didn’t.

“I didn’t really need you to throw me a party. I’ve got plenty of people here, and it’s lively enough…”

He said this, but there was a hint of loneliness in his voice.

“I didn’t have to have you come. I… misunderstood last night.”

There were some teasing voices around him, seemingly directed at him, but she couldn’t make them out clearly. Given her cautious nature, she had no desire to go out of her way to attend a coworker’s birthday.

It would be easy to misinterpret, for one.

At most, people might think she was trying to cozy up to the boss’s son in the Zhao Group. But mainly, there was no reason for her to spend money on someone like him.

For ordinary people, saving money was practically the only way forward.

And since she hadn’t even received her first paycheck yet, she had no idea what kind of vintage wines these trust-fund kids usually drank.

It wasn’t that Qian Xu intended to ignore Zhao Buhui entirely.

He had tried to help her a few times. Maybe he hadn’t succeeded, but he didn’t deserve such a sharp response from her.

After all, it was his birthday.

After much hesitation, she went to take out the trash at the residential recycling area, and as she passed by her Beetle, she happened to have her car keys with her.

In the end, the woman with a “sharp tongue and soft heart” reluctantly decided to go to his club to take a look.

But only to take a look as an observer.

If he was having a good time, she’d keep out of sight and not disturb him. But if his birthday turned out to be lonely, with friends leaving and him left alone, she wouldn’t mind spending an ordinary birthday with him.

It was a winter night.

Branches wove together overhead, creating a tangled canopy. Qian Xu followed the navigation, winding her way into the old city center. Finally, she reached the address registered under Zhao Buhui’s name. She thought it would be humble in comparison to the Zhao Group’s buildings, but a closer look revealed a vast difference that couldn’t even be put in the same category.

In the pitch-black darkness, she turned on her flashlight. The path up wasn’t easy to navigate.

Had it not been for her three years in Ohio, or those nights spent shielding her two kids, perhaps she’d feel fear. But now, Qian Xu moved with ease, completely unafraid.

It turned out the lightbulb on the lower floor was broken.