Willow catkins floated on the riverbank of the community, and the footsteps of spring were really approaching. On both sides of the street, the camphor trees had sprouted tiny buds, and the roses on the walls of the neighborhood had sprouted.
It was Friday again. From the afternoon onwards, everyone in the office seemed to have lost the mood to work. If they were not chatting on the phone and arranging their weekend's schedule,'they would be' fully engrossed 'on the Internet. For example, Xiamang was in the group chat with a group of old classmates, discussing the class reunion enthusiastically.
"Xiao Xia, someone is looking for you." Mo Yan 'er, who was sitting at the very front and closest to the door, turned around and shouted in Xiamang's direction.
After Xia Mang typed the sentence " I don't know how to organize, I'm only responsible for participating ", she looked up at the entrance of the office and saw the person standing up and screaming,""Rao Rao!"
"It's me, Sammy." It was Chen Su Rao, the apple of the eye of the CEO of the New Age Group, Chen Jiyuan. She was half a year older than Xia Mang. Dad Xia and Uncle Chen were both martial arts fans in their younger days. One day, they were bored and learned from Guo Xiaotian and Yang Tiexin. They promised to marry and have children in the future. If they were a boy or a girl, they would be engaged as children. Otherwise, they would become sworn brothers. Jokes aside, the two families had been close back then. Chen Surao and Xiamang had always called each other sisters. Later on, because of President Chen's booming career, the two families lived far away from each other and rarely left each other. However, they still met a few times a year. After graduating from high school, Chen Su Rao went straight to England. She returned home twice a year, so she had even fewer chances to see Xia Mang.
"Raorao, when did you come back? He graduated? Or is it a holiday?" Xia Mang quickly got up and walked out. As soon as he reached the door, Chen Surao gave him a French hug. It was only then that Xia Mang saw the person beside Chen Surao. It was the CEO's secretary, Sister Cai.
"I came back yesterday, so I'm not leaving this time. Come to my house for dinner tonight, Sammy. My dad has already informed Uncle and Aunt Xia.”Chen Su Rao was slightly taller than Xia Mang. Although she was half a year old, she did not look as childish as Xia Mang. She had a " Witch Youxi " hairstyle. Her appearance was average, but she looked clean. Perhaps it was because she had stayed in England for a few years, she was used to wearing dresses and spoke very elegantly.
Xia Mang took a closer look and finally understood the secret that had been surrounding Chen Su Rao. It was not surprising that Rao Rao, who had a pair of black-rimmed glasses before going abroad, took off her glasses after returning to China for the first time. What was strange was that her eyes suddenly became very beautiful. Not long ago, Xia Mang found out that contact lenses had a series of cosmetic contact lenses. The cosmetic contact lenses and light makeup had an amazing effect, just like Rao Rao's eyes now. Her eyes lit up her entire being.
"Alright, I understand. See you then.”
"I'll go ahead with my work then, Sammy. I'll look for you after work.”Chen Su Rao turned around after she finished speaking. Xia Mang and Sister Cai nodded at her before returning to their seats.
Other than Old Shu, everyone else in the office was gossipy. From the initial whispers to the open discussions, Mo Yan 'er was finally asked by Xiamang as a representative,""Xiao Xia, I heard that she's the CEO's daughter?”
Who asked Mo Yan 'er and Xiamang to have such a good relationship? And this time, Old Shu was not in the habit of frowning when he heard gossip. He sat behind Xia Mang and listened attentively.
"Yes." Xiamang looked at the long chat history that had been added to the group chat after she left and replied casually.
"Then she called you sister? She even invited you to her house for dinner?" Mo Yan 'er once again voiced everyone's thoughts. Usually, in this kind of company and department, everyone's " background " was a hot topic of discussion in secret. This kind of open question had never been asked before. Perhaps it was because they didn't know Chen Sulao's background.
"Yes, we know each other." Xiamang didn't want to say much, but everyone understood something. At first, he thought that she had entered the company through her boyfriend, especially Shi Jing. The last time she had openly argued with Xiamang because of the Henglong incident, he had not expected that Xiamang's words," I entered the company through my connections, or maybe I got to my current position because of that, but I did not rely on my boyfriend's connections ", were actually true.
Sometimes, people's speculations about your " origin " could not be confirmed by " authority ", but unconfirmed speculations often passed around as if they were true. This was how things were. Such speculations would directly affect your work.
The gathering at Chen Su Rao's house at night looked more like a small PARTY. It was not formal, but the theme was clear-welcome Chen Su Rao back to China after graduation. Apart from Uncle Chen's family, Xiamang's family, and two of the Chen family's relatives who held high positions in the New Age Group, Father Xia and Mother Xia were familiar with everyone present. Xiamang also knew the two 'royal relatives' because of her work.
Xiamang and Chen Surao were chatting on the balcony while the elders were chatting in the living room. It would be dinner soon, but Chen Surao was looking at her phone from time to time.
"Is there anyone else who hasn't arrived?" Xia Mang asked with a smile when he saw Chen Su Rao's uneasy expression.
Chen Su Rao turned on her phone and closed it again. She nodded and smiled shyly.
"So it's someone very important. Could it be Raorao's sweetheart?”Xiamang teased.
Chen Su Rao, who had been smiling shyly, became more relaxed when she heard that. She looked at Xia Mang and said,""Sammy, you should know him too!"
"Eh? Really? Who is it?" Xia Mang grabbed Chen Surao's hand and seemed to be more excited than the person in question. As she asked, she searched her mind for the boy that both she and Chen Surao knew.
"You will see it soon." The doorbell rang at the right time. Chen Su Rao said this and ran happily to the living room.
Xia Mang smiled as she watched Chen Su Rao's figure disappear. She shook her head and slowly walked back to the living room. Chen Su Rao came in from outside the door. Beside her were Cheng Mo and Yu Weitao. When Xia Mang looked at Cheng Mo, Cheng Mo also happened to see her. When their eyes met, both of them were stunned. Before he could confirm anything, Chen Jiyuan stood up and called for everyone to move to the dining room.""Come, come, everyone's here. Let's eat first.”
There were ten people at the table, and it was very round. Xia Mang stood by the table and waited for the elders and the host to take their seats before sitting down next to Mother Xia. Cheng Mo and Yu Weitao sat later than Xia Mang. Chen Surao reached out to pull Cheng Mo's sleeve, indicating for him to sit beside her. Cheng Mo turned slightly to the side and avoided her without a trace. He turned to sit on Xia Mang's right, leaving an empty seat between Chen Surao and Yu Weitao.
Yu Weitao naturally understood. Although he felt awkward, he still sat down with a smile. Chen Su Rao was slightly stunned. Chen Jiyuan could not help but glance at Xia Mang.
Cheng Mo smiled at Xia Mang and nodded politely at his parents. He knew that it wasn't a good time to formally introduce himself to Xia Mang's parents. Everyone present was a discerning person. Just this little clue was enough to make them feel confident, but they did not show it. Other than Xiamang, who was eating with a cold heart and uneasiness, the others seemed to be enjoying themselves.
If Cheng Mo and Raorao had something going on, or if someone thought highly of them, then it was understandable that Ji Yuan and Heng Long were working together to develop a hotel project. This included Xia Mang's doubts about Ji Yuan's trust in Heng Long on this project. If Uncle Chen was really optimistic about this relationship, and he only had one daughter, Chen Sulao, nothing was impossible. On the way here, Uncle Chen had mentioned in the car that Chen Sulao would be working at the company. Chen Sulao would be taking over the hotel. Uncle Chen had also told Chen Sulao to learn such pleasantries from Xiamang.
Xia Mang had known Cheng Mo for more than half a year. From the start of their relationship to their love, Xia Mang knew that things would not go so smoothly between them. Due to family resistance, his parents 'disapproval, and perhaps the disharmony in their living habits, she never expected things to turn out like this. When Xia Mang saw Cheng Mo appear tonight and that he had a close relationship with the Chen family, coupled with the relationship between the Xia family and the Chen family, she felt an indescribable feeling in her heart. Was she too slow, or was Cheng Mo hiding it too well?
She thought about what he had confessed that night at the hotel. When she angrily asked him if he didn't have a wife or a girlfriend at his age, he actually said no without blushing or panting, not to mention his birthday. That night, when Yu Weitao unintentionally mentioned "YoYO", she should have thought of Rao Rao. When they talked about studying in England, didn't Rao Rao also study in England, and her English name was YoYO?
A man's words were ultimately unreliable.
Xia Mang had been looking at Cheng Mo and Chen Su Rao with this strange mentality for the entire night. She kept a distance and looked at them casually. Cheng Mo still called her Sammy in front of everyone and didn't change his name. After dinner, he listened to Chen Surao talk about her experience in England. Most of it was about the time she spent with Cheng Mo. Cheng Mo would occasionally interject and laugh at Uncle Chen about the jokes that Chen Surao made when she first went to England. The atmosphere was very warm and harmonious.
It turned out that the two families had gotten to know each other a few years ago. Later, Uncle Chen sent Chen Surao to England and found out that Cheng Mo was also in England. He was worried about his precious daughter and entrusted Cheng Mo to take care of her. Cheng Mo had returned to the country before the New Year last year. As for Yu Weitao, Chen Su Rao also knew him because of Cheng Mo. Compared to Chen Su Rao, Yu Weitao was clearly more familiar with Uncle Chen and the other two high-ranking members of the Ji Yuan Group.
Cheng Mo had also taken the initiative to talk to Xia Mang, but Xia Mang only smiled and said nothing. Instead, he talked to Yu Weitao a lot. Xiamang felt that smiling was a very simple thing. It was not as difficult as he had imagined. Looking happy and calm seemed to be instinctive at this moment.
Before they parted ways, Uncle Chen asked the chauffeur to send Xiamang's family home. Yu Weitao saw that Xiamang had " volunteered " to be sent by him. Before Father Xia nodded in agreement, Cheng Mo finally couldn't help but speak.
"Weitao, it's not on the way. Let me do it.”When he said this, everyone stood outside the door. Some sent people off, some left. It was originally bustling, but as soon as he finished speaking, everyone suddenly fell silent.
Dad Xia glanced at Xia Mang and saw that Xia Mang was silent. He turned back to the crowd and smiled.""Actually, it's very convenient for us to take a taxi back. Everyone is too polite.”
Everyone regained their composure and exchanged a few more pleasantries before taking their leave. Chen Surao looked at Cheng Mo and suddenly went forward to hold Xia Mang's arm intimately. She smiled at Cheng Mo and said,""Then you'll be in charge of sending Mr. Sherwood, Mrs. Sherwood, and Sammy home safely.”
The most innocent person that night was Chen Su Rao. She seemed to be oblivious to the difference between Cheng Mo and Xia Mang. She only revealed her deep relationship with Cheng Mo in front of everyone at the right time.
Xia Mang didn't say a word until she got into Cheng Mo's black Mercedes. Xia Mang felt that the more she said or rejected, the more awkward the situation would be. Since everyone, including Uncle Chen, pretended not to know, they all agreed that it was better not to break the ice.
Unlike Xia Mang's silence, Cheng Mo made a formal introduction before the car started.""Uncle, Auntie, my name is Cheng Mo. I haven't had the chance to pay you a formal visit. I didn't expect to meet you today. Just call me Xiao Cheng from now on."
Hearing this, Mother Xia was even more certain of Cheng Mo's relationship with Xia Mang. Although Xia Mang had always asked Cheng Mo to park his car outside the neighborhood, she did not want to reveal her relationship with Cheng Mo to her parents so early. She did not want to hide her relationship, but she did not want her parents to know about Cheng Mo so quickly and then visit him in a hurry, disrupting the order and rhythm of the journey. However, Mother Xia had already known about this since the first time Cheng Mo came downstairs to look for Xia Mang. Half a year had passed, and although she didn't know Cheng Mo's background, she could tell from his car that he was probably rich. She had discussed this matter with Father Xia many times in private. There was once when she tried to talk to Xia Mang about the concept of matching families. In the end, Xia Mang replied that she hadn't thought that far ahead, so she could only keep her worries to herself.
Father Xia and Mother Xia did not have the joy and gratification they had when they first met Xu Wenhao, but they still smiled and replied. Xiamang remained silent throughout the journey. He neither spoke nor looked at anyone.
"Xiao Cheng, I haven't said anything yet. How did you know to turn here?”Dad Xia was a university professor. Other than teaching, he usually stayed in the study room to study. Although he had noticed something about Cheng Mo from tonight's dinner and Mom Xia's nagging, he had never seen Cheng Mo pick up Xia Mang from work countless times before, so he found it strange that Cheng Mo knew the way around.
"Uncle, I accompanied Sammy back to S City to pack her luggage the last time I went on a business trip, so I remember which apartment and building we were in.”Cheng Mo said naturally.
"Sammy went on a business trip with you last time.”Father Xia pretended to be enlightened. He guessed that if Cheng Mo and his daughter had an emotional entanglement back then, what would happen to his precious daughter this time? "Sammy, you've caused a lot of trouble, haven't you?”
"Sammy's work performance is top-notch.”Cheng Mo said with a smile. The car stopped at the right time and happened to be downstairs of Xiamang's house.
"You're here so soon. Xiao Cheng, do you want to go up and sit?”Dad Xia invited politely.
"Dad, you and Mom can go up first." Xiamang opened the car door for Mother Xia and said to Father Xia.
Father Xia exchanged a few more pleasantries before going upstairs with Mother Xia.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]