Gu Nianbin called Xia Xiaowan before leaving the office and said he would pick her up later.

Xia Xiaowan held breath for two seconds and then answered readily, “OK.”

There was no reason to decline. Things would be much different if she went to his home by herself.

Did this mean that they got closer to each other?

Gu Nianbin showed up at the office building of Xia Xiaowan's company on time. He was handsome with an imposing appearance, like a s.h.i.+ning star in the bustling crowd.

Soon he became the object of many admiring sights.

Xia Xiaowan came out along with the crowd and spotted him immediately.

There were quite a few rich guys waiting for their lovers in luxury cars. But Gu Nianbin was undoubtedly the most outstanding one, overshadowing all the others.

“Look! It's President Gu. Why is he here?” A girl who often read financial news exclaimed with surprise.

Office buildings were never short of boy-crazy girls and gossips. The originally fast-moving crowd slowed down immediately. Some even looked back at Gu Nianbin once again, hoping to find out who the lucky dog was.

People commented nonstop.

“He is so handsome!”

Some even blushed and giggled at Gu Nianbin, “He looks more handsome in person than in picture.”

Xia Xiaowan heard all these comments with complacency. She slowly walked up to Gu Nianbin and asked with a smile, “Have you been waiting for a long time?”

“Not really. I just arrived.”

Gu Nianbin answered politely with a perfect smile.

Xia Xiaowan received envious sights from all around. Some even gasped, “She is the lucky girl!”

“Who is she?”

“Xia Xiaowan, CFO of MEIJIU, a beauty from a wealthy family.”

Someone sighed, “Only a princess deserves the prince. Why don't we ordinary girls have any chance?”

“Stop it. The lucky Cinderella only exists in fairy tales.”

“Yes, the story of Cinderella is merely a fairy tale.

“Stop daydreaming, girls!”

“Hahaha…”

Xia Xiaowan knew that Gu Nianbin had heard more or less of those discussions. She took a glance at him and found him gentle and calm as usual, with no obvious emotions in his eyes.

Xia Xiaowan felt uneasy for a moment. When they walked to the car, she said, “Please don't mind their words. They become crazy when seeing handsome men.”

Gu Nianbin opened the car door for her and smiled, “I don't mind.”

After Xia Xiaowan got into the car and fastened the seat belt, Gu Nianbin gently started the car and drove out of the parking lot. Xia Xiaowan saw from the rearview mirror that there were still some people standing there, watching their car leaving.

“Actually, you don't have to pick me up. I can go by myself,” said she with composure, although complacent inside.

“Never mind,” Gu Nianbin said gently, “It's my pleasure.”

Xia Xiaowan chuckled softly, with shyness.

Gu Nianbin said, “I want to thank you for your favor last time.

You know, I've been quite bothered with those occasions. It's good to have your company.”

“I'm obliged to.”

Xia Xiaowan emphasized the word “obliged”, hoping that Gu Nianbin could get her implication.

“I cannot stand up with those capricious and pestering girls from connected families. I have no choice except you. Please don't mind.”

Xia Xiaowan failed to keep her smile for a moment but then managed to smile even more brilliantly, “It's an emergency. I won't mind.”

“I know you won't mind, but I still need to express my grat.i.tude.” Gu Nianbin turned around to look at her gently.

Xia Xiaowan said with a smile, “Alright. I'm at your disposal for such occasions. It's my honor to be your companion at parties.”

“Thanks. I might bother you in future.”

Gu Nianbin remained as polite as ever.

But politeness created distance. Xia Xiaowan looked out of the window, feeling a little bit disappointed.

It was the rush hour in the evening. They were trapped in a traffic jam. Impatient drivers honked their horns. The harsh noisy made Xia Xiaowan somewhat restless.

“Are you hungry?”

Gu Nianbin asked.

Xia Xiaowan turned back and smiled at him, “No. It's just the annoying traffic jam.”

“You can do nothing about it,” Gu Nianbin said. “Things are the same every day. We have to face the music.”

“News had it that to alleviate traffic jams, the city government will implement the staggered rush hour scheme. Will your company support this campaign?”

“If it really worked, my company would be honored to contribute to the improvement of the city's traffic.”

“You are really resourceful,” Xia Xiaowan joked.

Gu Nianbin smiled and turned right at the intersection, leaving the main road. The traffic condition became much better.

Soon, the Gu mansion came into their eyes.

It was about six o'clock. The sky was gray-blue with s.h.i.+ning bright white. When the car slowly drove past the iron gate, Xia Xiaowan saw a little maid in lavender uniform cleaning the path with a large broom.

The maid dodged to the wayside quickly, probably alerted by the rolling noise of the car. When pa.s.sing by her, Xia Xiaowan beheld a pair of big eyes full of shyness. She felt very familiar with them, as if she had seen them somewhere before.

But she failed to recollect it. She ridiculed her own oversensitiveness. A maid of the Gu mansion. She must have met her here last time.

Fang Yaru was delighted to see her arrival and received her with great hospitality. Gu Nianbin, however, went upstairs by himself after escorting Xia Xiaowan to the living room. Fang Yaru then noticed his absence and inquired, “Where is Nianbin? He was here just now.”

“He went upstairs.”

Xia Xiaowan replied with a smile.

“It's uncivil for him to leave you alone. I will call him down.”

Fang Yaru was about to go upstairs.

Gu Guangxian stopped her, “He is getting changed and will come down right away.”

Gu Nianbin did go upstairs to get changed. But he did not go downstairs immediately. Instead, he lit a cigarette in front of the window.

The slim figure in a distance was still busy with cleaning, drawing nearer to the gate. As long as she piled the leaves up and put them into the basket beside the iron gate, her duty would be fulfilled.

She wiped the sweat off her forehead and swiftly shoveled the fallen leaves into the big basket.

Then, she strode towards the house with the broom.

She looked extremely energetic in the golden hue of the sunset.

A few strands of hair were sticking to her face due to sweating. She raised her head to brush it away and thus saw him on the second floor. Gu Nianbin smiled and waved at her. Du Xiaoxian flushed and compressed her lips into a smile. She then looked down and circled around to the back of the house.

Gu Nianbin put off the half-smoked cigarette in the ashtray and slowly went downstairs.

Fang Yaru cried at him, “It took you so much time to get changed. The dishes have been served on table.”

“You don't have to wait for me, help yourself.” said Gu Nianbin.

Fang Yaru glared at her son.

“How can Xiaowan enjoy the dinner without you?”

Gu Nianbin looked at Xia Xiaowan and said, “Please don't be so courteous. It's not the first time and you can be at ease.”

“Yes,” Fang Yaru continued, “Xiaowan, take this place as your own home. Don't be nervous.”

“Thank you, auntie. I won't.” Xia Xiaowan smiled, “I was impressed by the dishes last time. You've got a good chef!”

Everyone laughed. Fang Yaru said, “Then what is your favorite dish? I will have the chef cook for you next time.”

“Hum,” Xia Xiaowan thought for a moment, “Jellied pork skin and roasted chicken with chestnuts.”

Fang Yaru glanced at the dining table and said, “What a coincidence. We have them all today. Let me get you some!”

She picked up a piece of chicken and put it into Xia Xiaowan's bowl.

Xia Xiaowan thanked her and smiled, “Auntie, I am a carnivore.”

“It's good to have more meat,” Fang Yaru said. “Meat keeps us healthy. I don't like the skinny lifeless girls who give up on meat. You look perfect, neither fat nor thin.”

Xia Xiaowan smiled bashfully at Gu Nianbin and then lowered her head to enjoy her food silently.

Gu Nianbin was never a talker. But he chatted now and then over the table, for the sake of not snubbing Xia Xiaowan.

Fang Yaru, dissatisfied with her son, winked at him a few times, but Gu Nianbin concentrated on his food without noticing her. He would neglect her even if he saw it. Fang Yaru had no choice but to chat more with Xia Xiaowan.

Xia Xiaowan knew Gu Nianbin too well to be annoyed.

She chatted at ease with Fang Yaru over the table.

Contented with her gracefulness, Fang Yaru became increasingly fond of her and couldn't help smiling.

After dinner, they moved to the living room to continue chatting. Xiao Bonian instructed the maids to serve tea and fruits.

Gu Nianbin spotted a familiar figure among the maids and curled his lips into a smile.

Lanzhi served the fruits, Ling and Du Xiaoxian the tea.

Du Xiaoxian first served the tea for Gu Guangxian and Fang Yaru, then Gu Nianbin, and finally Xia Xiaowan. Perhaps she was too nervous. When she carried the tea cup to the coffee table in front of Xia Xiaowan, she suddenly stumbled and was about to pour the hot tea on Xia Xiaowan.

Gu Nianbin rapidly pulled Xia Xiaowan to his side, but her arm got slightly scalded and turned red immediately.

Du Xiaoxian froze there, totally at loss. She wanted to help Xia Xiaowan wipe the water off her arm, but Fang Yaru got up and pushed her away. She asked Xia Xiaowan with concern, “Does it hurt?”

“Don't worry.” Xia Xiaowan looked down at her arm, “Just a few drops of water. I'm fine.”

Fang Yaru also looked down and cried out, “Your skin is scalded to red. You need an ointment.”

She then turned to Du Xiaoxian and yelled, “Why are you so careless today? You are agile before.”

Du Xiaoxian was in a total panic. She huddled up and bowed to Xia Xiaowan continuously to apologize.

“Enough. She didn't do it on purpose.”

“Off you go,” Gu Guangxian said to Du Xiaoxian.

“You've indulged her,” Fang Yaru threw a glare at her husband and asked Lanzhi to fetch the ointment for Xia Xiaowan.