“Well…”
“You have nothing to worry about. I just found out about the job vacancy, and it had been vacant for some time as we couldn’t find a suitable candidate. I can also assure you that your accommodation would be settled if you can land yourself a place in the Ye Group, as one of the employee benefits is a single apartment unit suitable for a single woman such as you.”
Xu Yanwan was tempted by the offer, but she really didn’t want to receive help from others, as it would cast her in an unfavorable light. Besides, she liked Han Qing a lot, and she would never be able to stand on par with Han Qing if she were to accept help from his sister. She wore a bitter smile upon reaching the conclusion. “Muzi, I appreciate your offer, but I can’t accept it. I’m sorry.”
How come? Han Muzi laid everything out in the open, so she wasn’t expecting Xu Yanwan to turn her down. She tried to stand in the latter’s shoes and quickly realized that she would most probably turn down an offer from her crush’s sister too. So that’s how it is… Han Muzi’s gaze deepened.
She never thought that Xu Yanwan had such deep feelings toward her brother. Didn’t they lose contact for a couple of years? So why does she still hold such deep feelings for him? Did she never get herself another boyfriend? Or… Han Muzi felt that something was off, thus made another call to Xu Yanwan and asked to meet up with her.
They sat in silence in the cafeteria upon meeting each other. Han Muzi surmised that Xu Yanwan had grasped onto the situation as well upon noticing the expression she wore, thus opened up with a faint smile, “Yanwan, the Han and Xu families used to be on friendly terms. Although I don’t remember you as much as you do I, but considering that you used to take care of me, I would say we have bonded to some degree. I wanted to help you while understanding why you would turn me down, which was why all I wanted to do was to tell you about the opportunity, and the rest would be up to your own capabilities. Is this also unacceptable?”
Xu Yanwan’s knuckles turned white from how hard she gripped onto the coffee cup, all the while looking toward Han Muzi sternly. “I’m really sorry.”
Han Muzi smiled nonchalantly before taking a sip out of her coffee and asked, “Yanwan, can you tell me why you wouldn’t accept my help?”
With a long face, Xu Yanwan remained silent, and Han Muzi went on, “Can I make a guess, since you’re intent on keeping your silence?”
Upon hearing her words, Xu Yanwan glanced at Han Muzi out of reflex. The latter had sharp and immaculate features, and her eyes were especially so. They were clear and bright as crystal, as if they could see through everything.
Meanwhile, her stepping in to make a guess on Xu Yanwan’s circumstances stirred up a sudden sense of panic within Xu Yanwan. Did she read my mind? That should be impossible…
“Yanwan?” Han Muzi called out to Xu Yanwan when she noticed the latter seemed distracted.
Pulling herself together, Xu Yanwan shook her head. “You don’t have to say it out loud. I know you probably had it right.” Xu Yanwan wore a dismal smile as she spoke, “You’re smart enough to be able to arrange everything accordingly, so it made sense that you could surmise my intentions.”
Han Muzi was startled by her outright confession. Did I get it right? Was she really turning me down because she is in love with Han Qing, and her pride wouldn’t allow her to get help from his sister?
“My family had fallen from grace, and I was ashamed of it. If I accept your help, I doubt I would be able to stand proud before him in the future,” Xu Yanwan explained. Han Muzi listened in silence while realizing it was just as she thought.
“However, you can rest assured. I was able to surmise that he has a girlfriend when you told me he was living a blessed life, so I wouldn’t make a move on him.”
Han Muzi didn’t say a word but was washed over by a sudden feeling of pity toward Xu Yanwan.
“I’m not that despicable. Although I like him and did hold a sliver of hope for his reciprocation, I didn’t contact him throughout all these years, and I was satisfied upon seeing him leading a good life. I won’t try to undermine him, and all I will do is watch from afar.”
Han Muzi was at a loss of words while being seized by the feeling that she was the villain. She wanted to arrange for Xu Yanwan to work in the Ye Group out of an urge to help the latter, which was fair enough, but a second reason was to put some distance between Xu Yanwan and Han Qing, as she wouldn’t put her bet on Xu Yanwan being able to control her feelings.
Han Muzi was different from Han Qing in the sense that she wasn’t acquainted with Xu Yanwan, and she couldn’t guarantee that Xu Yanwan’s morals would withstand the test of time, as it was human to change.
“Muzi, is Han Qing’s girlfriend your friend?” Xu Yanwan asked suddenly, which caught Han Muzi off guard, thus looked at Xu Yanwan in surprise.
“You don’t have to be surprised, as I should’ve known better. You’re so keen on solving the problem precisely because both people are important to you, or else you would’ve focused on your brother’s happiness and wouldn’t consider much else.”
Han Muzi was startled for a moment when Xu Yanwan pointed out everything, but she quickly admitted with a smile, “You are right, she is my friend, and they finally got together after my brother spent so many years alone, so I hope that their relationship would progress smoothly.”
“Understood. You can rest assured that I will never interfere with their relationship.”
In the end, Xu Yanwan didn’t accept Han Muzi’s proposal, instead insisting on finding a job through her own means. Han Muzi said nothing upon witnessing her insistence, only telling Xu Yanwan that she could come to her for help anytime when needed. They then parted ways and left.
…
Jiang Xiaobai began living in Xiao Su’s house after a few days of being his personal cook. In the beginning, she only moved her cooking utensils into Xiao Su’s house. She then brought her computer along as they were dining together, but she quickly realized the chairs in his house were uncomfortable to sit on, so she brought her own office chair.
She had a matching office table that came with the chair, thus she moved both into Xiao Su’s house. She spent half a day in peace before feeling that her room seemed dull, which affected her performance, thus proceeded to move all her ornaments, curtains, and paintings into his house.
So whenever Xiao Su came back from work, he would always find several new items in his house that were seemingly conjured out of nowhere. While he had inquired Jiang Xiaobai about it in the beginning, he stopped doing so after some time.
