Chapter 160 – A Date with a Central Government Leader (1/2)

1 second…. 5 seconds… 10 seconds… It was eerily silent in Sister Xie’s living room.

Dong Xuebing was standing by the coffee table, embarrassed. He wanted to dig a hole and bury his head in it. He thought Xie Huilan was innocent and does not know what was on her stockings that day. She knew it. Goddamn! Since you already know what that was, why did you pretended nothing had happened? I’m dead. The righteous imagine I built is all gone. She is trying to settle the score now!

“Sister Xie, that day……. I……” Dong Xuebing does not know how to explain his actions that day.

Xie Huilan looked at him. “You still dare to tell me that you only have respect for me? You do not have feelings for me?”

Dong Xuebing replied with a dismal look. “No…… it’s not like that.”

“Oh, then give me an explanation of what is on my stockings…”

Dong Xuebing surrendered. “Sister Xie, please stop talking about it. Please. It was a moment of folly. I am wrong. I… Please punish me.”

“Hehe, I am not your leader. News Department is also not your governing body. I do not have the authority.” Xie Huilan smiled. “I am now your girlfriend. What I can do is to remind you not to do this again. It is not good for your health, and that is a worn stocking. It is unhygienic to use it to do that. Take note of this in the future, alright?”

Dong Xuebing wanted to kill himself on the spot. He had never been so embarrassed before in his life. “O…… Ok”

Xie Huilan nodded. “Don’t be so uptight. Relax. Haha, have a seat.”

Dong Xuebing sat down cautiously and look at Xie Huilan’s expression secretly. She does not even feel embarrassed when she said all those things. She was still as calm and graceful as before. Dong Xuebing could never become like her.

Xie Huilan pushed the plate of fruits towards Dong Xuebing. “Want some oranges?”

Dong Xuebing replied with a straight face. “Thank you. I will pass.”

Xie Huilan laughed and pointed at him. “You… do we look like we are dating?”

Huh? We are not really dating in the first place. But Dong Xuebing does not dare to say it out. Xie Huilan had a hold against him. “Errr… I will have an orange.” He saw Xie Huilan was about to help him peel the orange, he quickly snatches it from her and peels an orange for her, before peeling one more for himself.

Xie Huilan ate the orange slowly, and after she finishes eating, she said. “Address me as Huilan in the future, alright?”

Dong Xuebing could only nod.

Xie Huilan added. “Watch TV by yourself here. I will go and write my presentation first.”

Xie Huilan bends over to pick up the stack of materials, and Dong Xuebing quickly carried it for her. “Let me……. Let me bring it into the room for you.”

“Hehe, thank you.”

Xie Huilan’s bedroom looks more like a study room. Other than a bed, PC, and a closet, there were rows of bookshelves. There were all sorts of books. Dong Xuebing took a glance at the books. There were books on Thick Black Theory, Economy, philosophy, and records from the News Department. Xie Huilan was self-motivated. But she was different from Dong Xuebing. She will prepare herself and then try to move upwards. Dong Xuebing on the other hand, only focuses on climbing up the ranks.

But Dong Xuebing knew he had no choice. The job of the General Affairs Office was only supporting the leaders. He could only get promoted if the leaders were close to him. If he did something on his own, that would be acting beyond his power. He will be able to do much more when he goes to the grassroots level. All the things he does at the grassroots level will be his credit.

Xie Huilan quickly enters here work mode. She looked at the materials Dong Xuebing brought and start writing her report.

Dong Xuebing does not want to disturb her and went out of the room silently. He went out to brew a cup of tea and left it on her desk before leaving and closing the door behind him. He sat in the living room thinking about what had happened. What the hell was going on? Aunt Xuan still had not given me an answer, and I have to date a Central Government Leader? Is Sister Xie serious? She really likes me? Impossible. She must be joking. But she does not sound like she is joking with me…

Dong Xuebing had complicated feelings.

1 minute passed……

10 minutes passed……

Dong Xuebing was afraid that he would disturb Xie Huilan, and he mutes the TV. He could not calm himself as he watched the TV in silent. He had gotten into a relationship suddenly, and it felt surreal. Sister Xie also knew about the stockings. He really has the urge to jump down from the building. What was Sister Xie’s impression of him? A pervert? A hooligan? But why did she still want to date him?

Dong Xuebing could not figure out the answer.

Dong Xuebing sat on the sofa restlessly. He stood up and look around. He needs to find something to do. That’s right. I can help Sister Xie tidy up her apartment. I will rebuild my image and cannot let the stocking incident affect my relationship with Sister Xie. I must show her the better side of me.

Dong Xuebing rolled up his sleeves and start cleaning up the kitchen. He wiped the ventilation hood first. Xie Huilan should be someone that does not do household chores. She must have a part-time helper to help her clean the apartment. The tables were cleaned, and only the ventilation hood was slightly dirty. Dong Xuebing was poor when he was young. His family could not afford to hire someone to clean their ventilation hood. Everything had to be cleaned himself. Dong Xuebing dismantled the hood and start cleaning it. After that, he went to get a mop and start mopping the floor. Sister Xie was still at work after he finishes, and Dong Xuebing went to get a rag and old newspapers to start cleaning the window panels. He even washes Xie Huilan’s clothes.

After 3 hours of household chores, Dong Xuebing was sweating buckets. But he felt much better.

5.25 pm.

Dong Xuebing was squatting by the shoe cabinet in the living, polishing Sister Xie’s heels when the bedroom door opened.

Xie Huilan walked out of her room and ask: “Xiao Dong, what are you doing?”

Actually, Dong Xuebing had heard the sounds of Xie Huilan’s slippers and knew she will be coming out of the room. He quickly opens the shoe cabinet and starts wiping her heels. Helping the leader wash her clothes and clean the windows were still fine. But polishing heels was…… too degrading. Dong Xuebing purposely did this was to make himself look more pitiful and hope to let Xie Huilan forgive him about her stockings. “Ah, Sister Xie. You finished your work? Sorry, I did not get your permission and cleaned your house for you. I have cleaned your ventilation hood and the windows.”

Xie Huilan was surprised and looked at her kitchen and the windows. “What are you doing? I can get a part-timer to clean.”

Dong Xuebing continued to wipe the shoes: “Oh, I have nothing to do. Is it fine for me to use black polish on this pair of heels?”

Xie Huilan smiled and walked over to take that pair of heels from him. “Stop it. You are my boyfriend now. How can you polish my heels and clean up my place? This should be what women do for their men. Go and rest. You should be tired.”

Dong Xuebing was eager to please her. “It’s fine. Let me finish cleaning this pair of heels first.”

Xie Huilan narrowed her eyes. “Go and rest, alright?”

Dong Xuebing was only pretending. He did not really want to polish her heels for her. He ‘unwillingly’ let go of the heels and went to the bathroom.

“Oh, you helped me wash my clothes?” Xie Huilan smiled. “You mopped the floor, wiped all the windows, clean my ventilation hood, polished my heels…… You spent the whole afternoon……. Xiao Dong, let me tell you again. We are dating now. I am not your superior. Do not do these again, alright?”

Huh? You keep calling me Xiao Dong, and how can this be considered dating? You should at least call me Big Brother.

Dong Xuebing just nodded his head.

Xie Huilan looked at the spotless bathroom and her suits that were hung out to dry by the heater. She laughed: “I was still thinking of ordering take-outs for our dinner. But seeing you have worked hard the whole afternoon, let go out and eat. Chinese or Western food?”

Dong Xuebing shook his head. “No… Don’t be so troublesome. I will go back and eat.”

“How can I let you go back after you helped me clean up my apartment?”

“Hah, it’s nothing. Err…… how about we cook something for dinner here?”

Xie Huilan looked at him and laughed. “Are you trying to embarrass me? I can’t cook.”

“Huh… No… I am saying that I will…… prepare dinner for you. My cooking skills are still alright. If you don’t mind……”

Xie Huilan started counting with her fingers. “How many times have you helped me? You caught the thief, saved my life, stop my engagement, help me get the materials I needed, and even clean up my apartment. Haha, how can I let you cook dinner for me? Never mind. Since you want to have dinner at home, so be it. I will cook two simple dishes. Alright?”

“Let me help you.”

In the kitchen.

Xie Huilan was beating the eggs with a pair of chopsticks and threw some chopped green onions in it. “Xiao Dong, my house only has eggs and some vegetables. I seldom cook at home. I eat out or order food most of the time. That’s why I do not have many ingredients in my fridge.”

Dong Xuebing replied: “I am fine with anything. Two simple dishes are enough. Eh, don’t put too much salt in the eggs.”

“Like this?”

“Yes. Err…… add more chopped green onions into the eggs. It will taste better.”

“Oh.” Xie Huilan smiled and looked at him. “Xiao Dong, we are doing something like dating couples do now. Hehe, don’t you think so?”