"Then who would be suitable?" Bo Jingyu asked back, holding a coffee cup still steaming.
"Don't tell me it's you, who was punished by Grandpa with family rules the other day."
After saying that, without giving Bo Siming a chance to retort, he turned around and went upstairs, tightly closing the bedroom door.
"You!"
Bo Siming, worried about waking Grandpa up, clenched his fists and endured in silence.
"You just wait for me!"
In the early morning.
When Xiao Shujing came out of the bathroom after washing up, she saw Yan Yueyue looking smug and confident.
The smile on the corner of her mouth was really unpleasant.
"Big star, you're up so early? Do you have any work arrangements?"
She walked past her with the washbasin in her arms without saying a word.
Yan Yueyue wasn't angry at all. She pulled out the chair under Xiao Shujing's bunk and sat down. "What's your decision about me borrowing money from you?"
"Out of money," Xiao Shujing refused without hesitation.
"Fine. I've got plenty of ways to make you have the money."
She quickly showed her the forum post she had just edited on her phone.
The title on it was straightforward and pointed right at her -
Popular actress Miss Xiao planned to take a female student to the hospital for surgery due to her younger brother's negligence. What on earth was her ulterior motive?
"What do you mean!"
Looking at the anger in her eyes, Yan Yueyue was quite satisfied.
"Nothing much. If you lend me the money, I won't post it."
"But if you don't lend it to me... then no one knows what will happen next."
Xiao Shujing gasped exhaustedly. "Are you threatening me?"
"Not really a threat. It's more like a negotiation," she stood up and walked around her, pretending to be calm. "After all, I'll be your sister - in - law in the future. You should help me with this favor, right?"
Seeing Xiao Shujing hesitating and silent, Yan Yueyue added, "If a popular actress gets involved in such negative news, do you think the company will still give you endless opportunities to perform like before? You might even get blacklisted, and lose your job. The stain on your life will never be wiped away."
Xiao Shujing couldn't argue with her. She said weakly, "How much?"
A flash of guilt passed through her eyes, but in the current situation, she had to do something against her will, or else she would be the one to suffer.
"One million."
"Ha," she was too lazy to show any shock. "Does it cost one million for a surgery? It must be Xiao Shuyuan's idea, asking you to come and talk to me early in the morning."
"Absolutely not. A Yuan has no idea," Yan Yueyue pretended to be stupid.
"He's my younger brother. I know him better than anyone."
Xiao Shujing looked as pale as death. "I haven't taken any advertising jobs or attended any business activities recently. I only have 100,000 yuan."
"Okay, okay!" Yan Yueyue nodded eagerly.
At least it was one zero less, which made her feel a bit better.
"You wait in the dorm. I'll go outside the school to withdraw the money."
After saying that, she grabbed her canvas bag and rushed out of the dorm.
As soon as Xiao Shujing left the school gate, a man in a black suit and a mask followed her unhurriedly.
Yancheng Bank.
Su Minghan stood at the door, frowning in confusion.
What was she doing at the bank so early in the morning?
Then his phone rang. It was Xiao Shujing calling.
"Mr. Su, I'm so sorry to bother you so early."
Such a formal tone made the joy in his eyes fade away. "What do you need?"
Xiao Shujing paced back and forth in front of the bank, stuttering, "I... I need some money now, and the bank requires your voice recognition. Could you please help?"
"How much do you want to withdraw?" Su Minghan asked, looking at her not far away.
"100,000 yuan."
He knew what kind of person she was. She hardly ever touched the money she earned.
If it weren't for her relatives and that good - for - nothing younger brother who were like leeches sucking her dry, she could have bought a villa by now.
This 100,000 yuan was probably another trouble caused by Xiao Shuyuan.
"I have a business engagement at the central square later. I'll be there in ten minutes."
Xiao Shujing was stunned. "What?"
"Wait for me there." After saying that, Su Minghan took off his disguise. He had called for a car in advance and pretended he had just arrived.
When she got there, he was already waiting by the fountain.
"Mr. S - Su."
He handed her the packed fried dumplings in his hand.
"You haven't had breakfast yet. This is for you."
Xiao Shujing quickly shook her head and refused. "I can't accept this. Thank you for your kindness, but really, I can't."
"What, you don't want it because you think it's from me?"
Su Minghan's tone suddenly dropped.
"No, you mis - "
"Then why?"
There was a hint of anger in his words.
But Xiao Shujing didn't dare to guess too much, for fear of misunderstanding.
"You were the one who begged me to let Xiao Yang be reinstated, and you're also the one who's been talking about quitting. Have I ever forced you to do anything?"
Su Minghan's tone was filled with annoyance and even anger.
She thought this was his special way of caring. Before she could reply, she heard the following words that sent her straight to hell.
"Although Juan Yi's fashion show wasn't a huge event, all the important people were there. Even the representative of A Hairui came with an assistant. Do you look down on those popularity opportunities or what?"
Xiao Shujing opened her mouth, but he interrupted her.
"Everyone was asking me why I didn't bring you. I'm the future heir of the Su Group, for goodness' sake. It's a sure thing. Where am I supposed to put my face?"
Su Minghan cursed himself in his heart. He didn't want to scold her like this. He came to comfort her, but his mouth always moved faster than his brain. Before he could figure out how to express his feelings, the conversation had gone completely off - track.
"Your current attitude makes me doubt more and more whether I should keep you."
The thin relationship between them, like a piece of window paper, was completely torn at this moment and could never be mended.
Xiao Shujing silently took the fried dumplings from his hand and bowed deeply.
"Thank you for taking care of me during this period. I'm really, really sorry that I missed the fashion show."
Su Minghan regretfully rubbed the back of his neck. He wanted to slap himself. This wasn't the result he wanted, nor what he intended to express.
He could handle all the matters in the company with ease, but why was it always so hard for him to find the right way when dealing with this woman?
He was always so clumsy and couldn't express his true feelings straightforwardly.
Xiao Shujing's tears rolled down one by one. She kept her body bent at a 90 - degree angle. "Could you please not assign me any work recently? I'll hand over my resignation as soon as possible."
"I'll bear the penalty for breach of contract alone. I definitely can't pay it all at once. I hope you'll allow me to write an IOU or pay in installments."
She was extremely humble, but she didn't think it was embarrassing. After all, in front of this shining man, she didn't have the confidence or the qualification to hold her head up.