Chapter 44 Banana! Banana! (1/2)
Shen I, who was waiting for A Miao downstairs, immediately fished out his phone after seeing her disappear into the dark and gritty building.
”Boss! She has returned to her old home.”
”Yes, I'm waiting dowanstairs.”
”Yes. When she woke up and saw that you're not around, she immediately asked where you've gone.”
”Yes, I told her! I told her that you were very busy and left for the company.”
”Okay, I understand!”
After ending the call, Shen Xinglan pursed his lips. The woman was tactful enough to at least know to ask after him.
”Boss?” Shen II paused. He thought he saw Shen Xinglan smile earlier.
Shen Xinglan cast him a glance without any expression. ”Nothing. Continue.”
”There's a little hiccup in the acquisition over in the United States.” Shen II was an exemplary subordinate who absolutely obeyed orders and did not engage in gossip. He immediately returned to their topic at hand. ”Our men discovered that it was Ji Yan's handiwork after an investigation.”
”Bai Yongwei's son?” Shen Xinglan lifted an eyebrow. ”The old man has given him only a company to play with. Looks like he's no longer satisfied with it and wants something larger.”
”He has been buying the company's shares and they're no longer willing to accept the price that we've agreed on.”
Shen Xinglan scowled. ”Who's responsible for the operations there?”
”Someone named Li Junbao.” Shen II glanced at the information in his hand. ”It's a veteran personnel of Ji Conglomerate. He's one of the employees who worked hard with Elder Ji to establish the company.”
He paused before adding, ”I suspect that Ji Yan has roped him in.”
”Looks like I'll need to make a personal visit,” Shen Xinglan said impatiently. ”Go and arrange it. We'll leave tomorrow morning.”
When he returned home that night, his impatience rose to a peak after not seeing that woman in the living room.
”Where is she?”
Shen I pointed upstairs. ”She returned to her room after dinner and did not step out.”
”Did she eat dinner on her own?” Shen Xinglan's voice rose by several octaves.
”Y-Yes…”
”Hehe! Very well!”
Shen Xinglan took large strides into the dining hall. Auntie Zhang immediately placed the dishes in front of him. He picked up a pair of chopsticks and slammed them on the table after just a few bites.
”Tell her to come down.”
Shen I turned his head to look at Shen II. The latter acted like he had gone deaf.
”Boss, what if she's asleep?” Shen I had no choice but to ask himself.
Shen Xinglan cast him a sinister look. ”Wake her up if she's asleep. Don't you know how to wake someone?”
”I do! I do!” Shen I ran upstairs while nodding.
When A Miao heard a knock at her door, she was watching television while lying in bed. There was no television in her room in the Xia family villa. To be more precise, she had very few chances to watch television so comfortably.
”Miss!” Shen I knocked on the door.
A Miao was currently watching a celebrity variety show and laughing so hard that she was gasping for breath. ”Do you need me?”
”Boss asks you to come down.”
”... Can I say I don't want to go?”
She opened the door with an unsightly expression. ”Why is your Boss looking for me?”
”I don't know.” Shen I made an inviting gesture. ”You better go down and take a look immediately!”
A Miao lost all anger after thinking about it for three seconds.
”This home is his and so is the television! What's there to get angry about…” After considering this, she adjusted her expression and walked downstairs with a wide smile.
”Looks like you're living quite comfortably.”
A Miao sat on the other side of the dining table. ”Yes! I have to thank you for that. At least I don't have to be constantly on my toes here and worry about someone hurting me.”
She looked at Shen Xinglan with her bright eyes which looked weird with the makeup. Shen Xinglan even felt they were not so ugly because he was familiar with them or of something else.
”You still have a conscience at least.” The man moved somewhat awkwardly.
”There's something I want to talk to you about.” Seeing as he was in a rather good mood, A Miao took the opportunity to say, ”Do you have time to listen to me?”
Shen Xinglan had been furious earlier but for some reason, he found himself calm again. This seemed to be his first conversation with A Miao that did not stink of gunpowder.
”Say it.” He picked up his chopsticks.
”I want to attend university.” A Miao saw him glancing at her and immediately added, ”I'm not saying I want to study overseas. It's fine to study at a local university.”
She had thought about it. She was certain she could not leave while bearing the title of Shen Xinglan's fiancee.
”It's my dream to attend university. I hope you can agree,” A Miao continued. ”I've applied for a spot in a nearby university before living with the Xia family. I ought to sit for the examination at the end of this month.”
Shen Xinglan put down his bowl. ”It's a prestigious university. Will you succeed?”
”I don't foresee any problem.”
A Miao was rather confident in this aspect. She scratched her fingertips as she said, ”I'll try my best to get good results and fight for a scholarship. I'll work as I study to cover my other expenditure. I promise not to trouble you.”
Her words were like flipping a switch. Shen Xinglan felt a burst of anger rising to his head.
”Up to you.” He stood up and walked out of the dining hall. Before he left, however, he left behind these words, ”You're not allowed to tell anyone at the university about our relationship. I can't bear that sort of shame.”
A Miao curled her lips. ”I would have to be mad to tell anyone…”
”Don't worry. I don't want others to know either.” She nodded especially sincerely but found that the man seemed to be even angrier.
Shen Xinglan left with a dark expression. A Miao patted her chest and said, ”What's that guy's heart made out of? He changes his mind like he changes clothes!”
After returning to his room, Shen Xinglan sat without moving for a long time. He remembered that he had called the woman to come downstairs to teach her a lesson. How dare she eat dinner without waiting for the owner to come back?