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Chapter 145: Chapter 142: Who Stepped on My Foot
At the dining table, the atmosphere seemed subtly complex.
Young and sultry girls from Taiwan, a mature and intellectual married woman, and the voluptuous girl-next-door.
Three different personalities intermingled in the Camellia private room, ambiguous yet somewhat unrestrained.
Wen Shulin took a sip of corn silk tea, nodded in satisfaction, and praised elegantly: "Xiao Er, the corn silk tea you made really has a unique flavor!"
"Sister Lin, do you think it tastes good?"
"It’s light and tasty, perfectly offsetting the richness of the pigeon. Your skill is truly exceptional!"
Xiao Meier felt a bit embarrassed by the praise, hurriedly waving her hand: "Sister Lin, you flatter me, it’s just a small skill of mine."
Su Liya watched the two going back and forth and couldn’t help but secretly give Chen Cheng a suggestive look.
Chen Cheng had not yet grasped the deeper meaning of that look when he felt a pair of small feet gently kick his own under the table.
Initially, he thought it was an accident and subconsciously shifted his feet.
Unbeknownst to Chen Cheng, the person across the table was not so placid.
The feet under the table, as if equipped with GPS, accurately followed his movements.
Eventually, they softly stepped on top of his shoe.
Chen Cheng maintained a calm expression, but his eyes darted quickly between the three individuals, trying to locate the source of the restless foot.
From their seating arrangement, Xiao Meier sat to the right of Chen Cheng, making it impossible for her to reach and step on his left foot without bypassing his right leg.
Moreover, such behavior was inconsistent with Xiao Meier’s usual demeanor.
Then he considered Li Ya.
She was seated beside Wen Shulin, and even with the longest legs, she couldn’t possibly stretch past Wen Shulin to make such a subtle move.
Thus, the answer was as obvious as Li Ya’s little white rabbit, seemingly begging to be acknowledged.
Chen Cheng slightly turned his head, looking at Wen Shulin.
She appeared composed, still chattily engaging Xiao Meier about household trivialities as if unaware of the happenings under the table.
"What is she up to?" he thought to himself.
He tried to discreetly move his foot, but her toes gently exerted a bit more pressure on Chen Cheng’s shoe.
At that moment, Chen Cheng realized that compared to Su Liya’s aggressive tactics, Wen Shulin’s subtle undercurrents were truly top-tier provocation.
"Xiao Cheng, why aren’t you speaking?" Xiao Meier laughed as she served him a bowl of lobster-steamed eggs, "Are you uninterested in what we’re talking about?"
Chen Cheng quickly shook his head, "No, I find it interesting to listen to you."
Wen Shulin’s lips curled into an almost imperceptible smile, her foot movements not ceasing.
Her black, polished shoe tip flicked up Chen Cheng’s trouser leg, gently rubbing his calf before quietly sliding down, repeatedly.
Chen Cheng inwardly groaned, portraying Wen Shulin as prim and elegant in public view, but he hadn’t expected her to display such an ambiance now.
"Xiao Er, your dessert juice is so well made, have you ever thought about trying out on your own?" Wen Shulin asked while drinking water.
Xiao Meier blinked, turning towards Chen Cheng.
"Sister Lin, on my own?"
Seizing the opportunity, Wen Shulin leaned forward, placing her leg on Chen Cheng’s thigh, "I’ll establish a brand for you, just to sell these products."
"Ah?"
"Have you heard of a brand called Aunt Hu Shang that sells milk tea?" Wen Shulin mentioned with a smile, "Let’s create one called ’Beijing Sister Xiao Er’."
Laughing, Xiao Meier tugged at Chen Cheng’s arm, "Sister Lin, stop teasing me."
"I’m serious. If you want to do it, I’ll have CGG draft a business plan, initially investing twenty or thirty million to test the waters." 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝒑𝙪𝒃.𝒄𝒐𝙢
Wen Shulin spoke with an ease as if merely drinking water.
Xiao Meier looked towards Chen Cheng, uncertain, "Sister Lin means well, but I’m afraid I’m not capable enough."
"Xiao Er, you must have confidence in yourself."
Wen Shulin smiled with her eyes, "I really believe in you."
"Xiao Cheng, what do you think..."
Chen Cheng, now with his left leg weighted down and his right arm grasped, cleared his throat, "It all comes down to whether you want to do it."
"If you want to do it, you don’t have to go through CGG; I will invest myself," he said with a smile.
Gaining assurance from Chen Cheng’s words was like taking a calming pill for Xiao Meier, more valuable than anything else.
Upon hearing Chen Cheng speak, Wen Shulin questioned, "Mr. Chen, do you not trust CGG, or is it me you don’t trust?"
Chen Cheng met her gaze, "Keeping the business in my own hands is the safest option."
"So, you trust neither?"
Chen Cheng burst into laughter, "Your money is hard to take, and even harder to repay."
Wen Shulin shot Chen Cheng an adorable glare; she knew his refusal mainly stemmed from not wanting to entangle himself and Xiao Meier in complex financial matters.
"You just want to keep Xiao Er tied to your side."
"Sister Lin, Xiao Cheng hasn’t," Xiao Meier hurriedly defended, "Xiao Cheng is just..."
Seeing the atmosphere tense up, she quickly added, "Regardless, I still appreciate Sister Lin’s kindness."
But what Xiao Meier didn’t realize was that the situation under the table had already become twisted; the currents stirred up by Wen Shulin earlier had already overflowed.
Chen Cheng lifted his teacup, "Sister Xiao Er is right, no matter what, I thank you."
Wen Shulin withdrew her leg, and before she could speak, Su Liya interjected, "Mr. Chen, it’s my mother and I who should thank you."
She respectfully stood up, raising her cup, "I also thank Sister Xiao Er for taking me home last night."
Xiao Meier waved her hands, "No worries, perhaps this is our destiny?"
"Indeed!"
Su Liya took a sip of cola and then said to Wen Shulin, "Mommy, can we not talk about business?"
Wen Shulin smiled and nodded, "It’s not really business, just chit-chat."
"Have some vegetables." Su Liya served Wen Shulin some vegetables and then said, "Later, could I walk around the area for a bit?"
"What’s there to roam around here?" Wen Shulin asked confusedly.
Su Liya took out her phone, "There’s a Ghost Market nearby, it looks interesting!"
Clearly, she was well-prepared.
Wen Shulin glanced at it, "They sell fake goods there..."
"Mummy, please~"
Seeing that pleading look, Wen Shulin’s heart softened again.
"Okay, I’ll go with you later."
"Ah?" Su Liya originally planned to use it as an excuse to meet Chen Cheng, and her smile froze when she heard Wen Shulin agree.
"What? You don’t want mummy to accompany you?" Wen Shulin thought she was excited.
Su Liya shook her head, "No... not at all."
Xiao Meier: "Xiao Cheng, why don’t we go together later? It’s not safe for Sister Lin and Li Ya to go alone so late at night."
She glanced at Li Ya’s daring outfit and was a bit worried.
Although Su Liya’s plan wasn’t achieved, she thought the outcome was pretty good.
So, she immediately responded: "Sister Xiao Er is the best~"
Xiao Meier covered her mouth and chuckled lightly, "That place is crowded and chaotic, don’t run off on your own."
Wen Shulin turned and looked at her daughter, "Change your clothes. Now that you’re going to live in China for a long time, you can’t dress like this when you’re outside."
Facing the second reminder, Su Liya knew Wen Shulin’s temperament — there wouldn’t be a third warning.
"But, I didn’t bring any!" She pouted.
Xiao Meier was very enthusiastic, "I bought a lot of new clothes today, I haven’t worn them yet. Li Ya, if you don’t mind, I’ll take you to choose some later."
"Xiao Er, you are really enthusiastic."
"Not at all, you are pretty and sensible, I like you very much too!"
Su Liya clenched Wen Shulin’s arm, coquettishly saying: "Mummy, if only you were as gentle as Sister Xiao Er."
Wen Shulin smiled helplessly: "You girl, always teasing mummy."
"Nee nee nee~"
After dinner, the four sat a bit longer in Wanbao Hall, and then Xiao Meier took Su Liya to a noodle shop to change clothes.
The rolling door rattled open.
Su Liya curiously poked her head out, observing everything.
"It’s upstairs." Xiao Meier smiled as she led the way.
Su Liya steadied herself on the simple staircase and climbed up.
Standing in the attic, Xiao Meier said, "Li Ya, this place is a bit crude, don’t mind it!"
"This is so romantic! A life-flavored loft!"
Su Liya looked at the small table by the window, the floral curtains, and the two single beds pushed together to form a double bed, her eyes twinkling with curiosity.
"Sister Xiao Er, do you and Mr. Chen usually live here?"
"Yes, the conditions are a bit poor, but it’s also quite cozy." Xiao Meier smiled and nodded.
"I think it’s great, much more interesting than I imagined."
Xiao Meier opened the pile of items on the floor that she hadn’t had time to sort, "Li Ya, come and see which one you like?"
Su Liya walked over, her eyes scanning over the clothes, "Sister Xiao Er, you have great taste, these clothes are beautiful!"
"How about this dress?"
Su Liya held it up in front of her, "It’s pretty, I’ll try it on."
"I’ll go downstairs and wait for you."
Su Liya waved her hand, "No need, climbing the stairs is super tiring!"
She turned her back, slipped off her straps, and put on the dress.
Xiao Meier turned her head away somewhat embarrassedly, saying: "Li Ya, you kid, you could be a little more modest."
Su Liya chuckled, "Sister Xiao Er, it’s fine, we’re all girls."
After putting on the clothes, she turned around and looked down, "It seems not quite right."
Xiao Meier also quickly looked, and then realized, the dress that fitted her well was loose and baggy on Su Liya.
It was like hanging a curtain on her.
"It’s not right, you are too slender."
Xiao Meier hurriedly searched again, "Let me see if there’s a smaller one."
Su Liya looked towards the simple wardrobe, "Sister, why don’t you let me try that short-sleeved one?"
Xiao Meier followed the direction of her finger, "That’s Xiao Cheng’s."
"Do you have any then?"
"I do have some, but they are all old clothes."
"It’s fine, just right."
Xiao Meier took out one of her T-shirts, and Su Liya put it on.
Turning around again, it still seemed not quite right.
Xiao Meier looked at the hem that was much shorter and couldn’t help but laugh: "Li Ya, this doesn’t fit well either."
Su Liya helplessly shrugged, "It seems I can’t wear any of Sister Xiao Er’s clothes."
Xiao Meier kept rummaging through the pile of clothes: "Don’t rush, I’ll look some more."
"Sister, let me just wear Mr. Chen’s then!"
Su Liya’s gaze still settled on that POLO shirt, and ripples stirred in her heart.
