About twenty minutes later.
Xu Ye took Chen Qingqing away after all.
Old Zhang and Old Xu had only just gotten back, and if they really were going to eat at home there was no telling when the meal would actually happen. Anything that formal would only make Chen Qingqing more uncomfortable, and Xu Ye could already see she was on pins and needles, so he quickly found an excuse and took her out of there.
Old Zhang clearly hadn’t had enough of it. Her mind had already run ahead to a happy retirement at home, minding grandchildren…
Once they were in the car Xu Ye protested his innocence. “I really did not know they were coming back today.”
Chen Qingqing’s head was a mess. She still hadn’t caught up with herself.
She had imagined a great many versions of meeting the parents, and not one of them was anything like today.
It was just… too mortifying.
They weren’t home, and I went to his place with him anyway, and then his mom and dad saw us…
At that thought she punched Xu Ye’s arm a dozen times or more, then gave the same spot a vicious pinch.
Xu Ye laughed. “All right, it’s over and done with. Isn’t this better as it is?”
Chen Qingqing asked quickly, “Your mom and dad weren’t home and I went over anyway. Are they going to think—”
“They won’t.”
Xu Ye knew what she was trying to say. “When I get home tonight I’ll tell them I tricked you into coming.”
“You did.”
“Haha.” Xu Ye reached over and pinched her cheek, then drove off to find somewhere to eat.
By the time Xu Ye had eaten, taken Chen Qingqing home and gotten back himself, it was eight thirty in the evening.
He had barely sat down on the sofa before Old Zhang and Old Xu settled in on either side of him. She said, beaming, “When are you bringing her over again? Today was too rushed. Otherwise Mom would have kept her for a meal no matter what.”
“Mom, you’re such an extrovert. She’d never dare come back.”
“Extrovert?”
Old Zhang had never heard anyone use the word before, but she could guess roughly what it meant. Only then did she say, a little embarrassed, “Mom just got excited, that’s all. It certainly won’t happen like that next time.”
“We’ll see. There’ll be plenty of chances.”
Old Xu, though, asked in all seriousness, “How far along are things with the girl now?”
Xu Ye was all grins. “Guess.”
“Little brat.”
“All right, I’m going to shower. Oh — and you’re not to tell anyone Qingqing came over. If she finds out, I won’t be able to trick her into it again next time.”
“My mouth is very tight. I’m certainly not going to blab.”
“Ha. Do I look like I believe you?”
“Old Xu. Your son is asking for a smack.”
……
The days started repeating themselves again.
Every morning Xu Ye picked Chen Qingqing up and the two of them went to work at the factory, and in the middle of the afternoon headed to Red Leaf Estate for his swimming lesson. In the blink of an eye it was the end of July.
Once Jiang Meilin was back home, Chen Qingqing was too embarrassed to go in to work with him every day.
And Second Aunt’s family of three, after a week at his grandmother’s, had come back into the city and checked into a hotel not far from the apartment.
Every evening when Xu Ye got home he found Second Aunt sitting with his mom chatting away, and Little Aunt would come over too if she had time. As for Wang Manning, that wild little thing, ever since he had agreed to buy her an iPad she latched onto him every time she saw him — and had given him the nickname mangy dog.
She badgered him until he’d had enough, and that evening he finally waved a hand. “I’ll take you to buy it tomorrow. Stop bothering me all day long after that.”
“Tomorrow when?”
“In the morning.”
“Then I’ll come over first thing tomorrow.”
Xu Ye couldn’t be bothered with her. Early the next morning he drove to the factory on his own.
By the time Wang Manning came over there was no sign of him.
……
In the office, Pei Youwei was looking at the month’s revenue report and grinning so widely she couldn’t close her mouth.
When Xu Ye arrived she called him straight over and handed him the July report.
Xu Ye only glanced at the profit figure in the bottom right corner and found it was more than five times last month’s. He started smiling too. “Well, Boss? Am I a reliable general manager or not?”
“Extremely reliable. Haha.”
Pei Youwei was full of anticipation for the future now. That feeling of watching her life and her business get better bit by bit through her own effort was exciting, and she was intoxicated by it.
Xu Ye said, “I go to Shanghai in mid-August. In the second half of the year you start on scaling up. If there isn’t enough money, come to me for it — we’ll count it as a loan from me.”
“Okay~”
They talked for a while, then each got on with their own work.
At noon Chen Qingqing messaged him to say Jiang Meilin was taking her to a beauty salon that afternoon and he shouldn’t come looking for her.
Xu Ye naturally didn’t dare compete with his mother-in-law for her, and meekly sent back an OK.
He sat at his desk for the whole afternoon. Once he had cleared what was in front of him, he went searching online for news about the economy and the internet industry.
Ever since founding Qingye Investment he had paid particular attention to that sort of thing.
And meanwhile.
A solidly built man was climbing the stairs with a lunch box in his hand. He was none other than Pei Youwei’s brother, Pei Jianhua.
Just as he was reaching the door, Zhang Xiaonuan happened to come out of the Taobao team’s office. Seeing her, Pei Jianhua beckoned immediately. “Xiaonuan, come here. Let me ask you something.”
Zhang Xiaonuan came over and asked quietly, “What is it?”
Pei Jianhua glanced at his sister’s closed office door and dropped his voice to match. “Is your boss’s partner in the office?”
“He is.”
Zhang Xiaonuan blurted, “They’ve been working in the same office all summer.”
A pleased look came over Pei Jianhua’s face and he pressed on. “And the two of them… how are things between them now?”
“Very good.”
Pei Jianhua was happier still. He nodded. “Good. I understand. Get back to work.”
Zhang Xiaonuan found it all a bit baffling, but she went off to the finance office to collect what she had printed.
Pei Jianhua walked to the office door and raised his hand, about to knock.
“Click~”
But the door was pulled open from inside. Xu Ye, on his way out for the day, found an unfamiliar man standing there, and asked with a frown, “You are?”
Pei Jianhua froze too, and said almost simultaneously, “You are?”
Pei Youwei looked out and introduced him quickly. “That’s my brother.”
Only then did Xu Ye call out hurriedly, “Hello, Pei-ge.”
Pei Jianhua hadn’t quite caught up.
Surely not.
His sister’s partner was this green kid?
Before he could ask, Xu Ye finished his greeting and walked out of the office.
Pei Jianhua watched him walk away, stood there blankly for a long moment, and only then went into the office. “Youwei,” he asked, thoroughly curious, “so that’s your partner?”
“Yes. Why?”
“Is he your only partner?”
“Mm.”
Pei Jianhua handed her the lunch box. He worked over his wording for a long time before saying, carefully, “He’s so young. You and him… it isn’t really suitable, is it?”
Pei Youwei didn’t understand what he meant. She blurted, “What’s unsuitable about it? Don’t go by his age — he’s very… capable.”
Pei Jianhua’s jaw was on the floor.
(End of Chapter 275)