Chapter 32 - Did Anyone Compliment You on Your Beauty Today? (1/2)
When they returned to the office, Gu Nianbin took the bag that Du Xiaoxian had been carrying and put it on the table. He pulled her to the sofa to sit and pointed at the pile of snacks that Zhou Ting bought, “You must be hungry. Eat something first to stave off hunger. I still have something to do, so we’ll go back home later.”
“Young master,” Du Xiaoxian took a look of the snacks and was about to stand up, “Shall I go back first? I have to sweep the courtyard.”
Gu Nianbin stopped her, “It doesn’t matter. Today is your first day of school. Forget about the chore. Leave it tomorrow.”
Du Xiaoxian had no choice but to stay. Gu Nianbin opened a chocolate bar for her and asked about her day at school. Du Xiaoxian blushed and said slowly, ” Young master, I…I can’t understand in class.”
Gu Nianbin stroked her hair with a smile, “Don’t worry. Take your time. You’ll understand gradually.”
“OK.” Du Xiaoxian nodded, ” I will study hard.”
“How were your teachers and classmates?”
“Good.” Du Xiaoxian whispered, “I will be brave and make friends, Young master.”
Gu Nianbin was amused, “So it means that you haven’t made any friends yet?”
A flurry of anxiety was stirred in her as expected, “I… I will.”
“Alright, no hurry. It takes time to make friends.” Gu Nianbin smiled, “You have to sharpen your eyes to choose friends. Make friends with those who are worthy of. Get it?”
“I see.” She was chewing on the chocolate and blew out a strong fragrance of chocolate as she spoke.
Gu Nianbin stared at her for a while and asked, “Did anyone compliment you on your beauty today?”
She thought for a moment with her head tilting and then nodded. This was out of his expectation as he didn’t ask purposely. He narrowed his eyes and lowered his voice, “Who?”
“The driver Xiaoding.” Du Xiaoxian said, “But I don’t think he’s a bad man. He just talks too much.”
“Did he talk much to you?”
Du Xiaoxian then told him how Xiaoding spoke to her endlessly on the way here. Finally, she added, “Xiaoding said he would help me clean the courtyard. He is a good guy.”
Gu Nianbin was speechless. Everyone tended to wear a mask in such a complicated society. How could she believe in others easily just because of some petty favors? He stroked his forehead. The little girl was truly simple and silly…
Du Xiaoxian became nervous with a blush after finishing the chocolate. She mumbled, “Sir, I want to go to the toilet.”
Gu Nianbin showed her the direction, “There it is. Go ahead.”
Du Xiaoxian knew where the toilet was, but this time she had to take a dump. Gu Nianbin was sitting just outside. What if he smelled or heard anything? Du Xiaoxian blushed even worse when thinking about the awkward possibilities.
She shook her head, “I…I cannot use this…” Gu Nianbin seemed to understand her and thus asked Zhou Ting to escort her to another restroom outside.
Shao Boqing entered the room right after Du Xiaoxian left. He studied the expression of Gu Nianbin and then slowly sat in the chair in front of him.
“What is it?” Gu Nianbin raised his head and asked. His face was calm as usual. Shao Boqing felt relieved and raised his eyebrows, preparing to get back at him. He was quite hurt being fiercely glared by Gu Nianbin for no reason. How an old friend you had known for dozens of years be no match for a little maid?
“You glared at me just now.” He complained with grievance.
“You scared my guest.” Gu Nianbin said leisurely.
“Guest? Isn’t she just a maid?” Shao Boqing said crossly.
“She did a great favor to my family.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” said Shao Boqing, “Could your father be killed by Gu Niannan if she didn’t stand up?”
With a dark face, Gu Nianbin looked at the business sheets at hand without responding.
Shao Boqing regretted his improper words and thus softened his tone to make up, “Forget it. I won’t fuss about it. Well, I have things to do. See you.”
He moved slowly, but Gu Nianbin didn’t stop him before he counted to ten. He sighed heavily and walked out quickly. Standing outside the office, he laughed. Was he striving for favor with a little maid?
He was about to leave when Zhou Ting brought Du Xiaoxian back. Shao Boqing raised his eyebrows shortly and beamed a standard smile as he greeted her, “Miss Du, I’m sorry for scaring you just now.” He stopped to keep a two-step space between them and bowed politely to Du Xiaoxian.
He became quite courteous, a far cry from the frivolous behavior right now. Du Xiaoxian was bewildered. Did this President Shao turn over a new leaf during the time she went to toilet?
Shao Boqing found that she was not that afraid of him as before and thus stretched out his hand slowly, “Please allow me to introduce myself to you formally. My name is Shao Boqing, the general manager of Gu’s Company and a friend of Gu Nianbin.”
Since he was the young master’s friend who was so polite to her, Du Xiaoxian stretched out her hand boldly. Shao Boqing, however, stepped back abruptly before she touched him by fingertips. She looked up and found that the young master was standing behind Shao Boqing. He grabbed him by his collar sternly and said coldly, “Didn’t you say you were leaving? Why are you still here?”