NOVPUBXu Musen had just taken a few steps when Zhu Yulan lifted her head, her gaze calmly fixed on him.
"You don't seem surprised at all?"
"The moment the door opened, I smelled a whiff of jerk. Who else could it be if not you?"
Xu Musen was somewhat bemused: "Launching personal attacks the moment you see me during the New Year's is not very nice."
"I'm merely stating the facts."
Zhu Yulan retorted sharply a couple of times, which seemed to lighten her mood significantly. Indeed, cursing someone out really does cleanse one's heart.
"Make me a cup of tea."
She pointed at the tea-maker next to her and ordered Xu Musen around with utter ease, despite him being the big boss.
Xu Musen kept a straight face: "Can you please accept the reality that I am your boss? Can't you be a little nicer?"
But Zhu Yulan, with both hands propping up her delicate chin and her almond-shaped eyes narrowing playfully, replied, "Sorry, but my niceness is reserved for my future boyfriend. Otherwise, why don't you try winning me over?"
"Do you want black tea or green tea?"
Xu Musen responded swiftly and crisply, which caught Zhu Yulan off guard.
"...Whatever!"
Once the tea was ready, Zhu Yulan took her cup, visibly not in the mood to interact with him.
"I ran into Xiao Tao just outside the office. She had a bunch of snacks with her and told me not to tell you."
Xu Musen blurted out and snitched on Yang Xiaotao the moment he opened his mouth.
"She's still eating, has she seen how much weight she's gained? If nobody stops her, she might find it hard to get married later on."
Zhu Yulan sighed.
Xu Musen couldn't help but laugh: "Xiao Tao's chubby cheeks are just baby fat, and it's quite adorable."
"Of course, to you, anyone who's chubby is just 'baby fat'."
Zhu Yulan let out a cold chuckle. All men are the same; they find it adorable as long as the fat is in the right place.
Xu Musen waved his hand dismissively: "Besides, whether she gets married or not is no concern of yours. Why do you sound like an old granny?"
"You're the old granny!"
Zhu Yulan gave him a disdainful glare, then turned to look at Xu Musen: "She told you not to tell me, and yet you did?"
Xu Musen smiled: "You are in charge of ordering the office snacks, and it's obvious that you spoil her. Did you really think I would complain and then you'd have the heart to stop her from eating? Such a proud tsundere."
Zhu Yulan's face turned red, but she made no retort.
"After all, Xiao Tao is the only one willing to keep all her money with me and willing to stand by me as I make a comeback. I am happy to spoil her... You're the real proud tsundere!"
Xu Musen laughed heartily: "By the way, with the New Year and all, why aren't you home celebrating instead of working overtime at the office?"
At this topic, Zhu Yulan's expression changed slightly: "Anyway, New Year's is just about having a meal together, dealing with nosy aunts prying with uninteresting and boastful questions. Better to enjoy some peace and quiet alone at the office."
"That's true."
Xu Musen nodded.
"You seem to be in good spirits, coming to Huhai during the New Year. It looks like your engagement with Nuannuan is all set in stone," Zhu Yulan observed Xu Musen, biting her lip and taking a sip of tea before asking in a seemingly indifferent tone.
"Yeah, just looking for a suitable day to hold the engagement party."
Xu Musen nodded, not overly excited, but the happy smile at the corner of his mouth was slightly blinding.
"So it's decided just like that?" Zhu Yulan took a sip of her tea, not feeling the heat, but feeling a bit of chaos in her heart.
"It was decided a lifetime ago." Xu Musen affirmed decisively.
"And what about her?"
Zhu Yulan looked at him directly.
His childhood sweetheart, not an easy person to deal with, indeed a tough nut to crack.
Xu Musen also took a sip of his tea, still with no hesitation, and cracked a small smile, "Her? She was decided in a past life."
...
Zhu Yulan remained silent for a long while, the black tea in her mouth tasting like vinegar.
She smirked, though her eyes flickered.
"One for this lifetime, one for a past life, so if there were another person, would they have to wait for the next life?"
The smile was forced and self-deprecating. All in all, she still hoped to hear an answer she desired.
"In this world, there's no guarantee of a next life."
Xu Musen chuckled, shaking his head, his voice still free from hesitation: "If there really is one, then I must find them at the first chance."
Zhu Yulan watched him, the flurry of emotions in her eyes perhaps only understandable to her.
"Lickspittle!"
Zhu Yulan wanted to say something but ended up gritting her teeth and spitting out those two words.
Xu Musen, now accustomed to being scolded, laughed and accepted the title.
Zhu Yulan took a deep breath. She had blurted out her feelings while drunk last time, but she knew that if she truly wanted to ask, it had to be when she was sober.
"Xu Musen, you know what I'm going to ask."
"I know, and I've answered."
Xu Musen didn't hesitate, meeting her gaze with the same unfathomable gentleness.
"I love your gentleness the most, and yet I hate this perpetual gentleness of yours, as if aside from your Nuannuan and childhood sweetheart, no one else could truly enter your heart and stir any emotions..."
Zhu Yulan clenched her teeth, her gaze lingering on Xu Musen, and yet, in the end, she seemed to deflate.
"Xu Musen, I both like and hate you!"
Xu Musen shook his head with a smile.
Zhu Yulan had completely lost the desire to deal with him now, waving him off, "Just go, the very smell of you reeks of a dog, and it's annoying."
Xu Musen looked at his watch with a smile, "If you have time in the next few days, we could have a meal together, connect and bond, you know."
"Who would care to 'bond' with a scum like you? Go find your Fiancee!"
