“Director Xiao, are you giving me a show of strength?”
Director Xu ignored the man and spoke to Xiao Yun.
“Sister Xu, what are you talking about? Do you have time tonight? Let’s have a drink together.”
Xiao Yun stepped forward and hooked her arm around Director Xu’s.
“What time is it? Don’t you know I don’t eat dinner? Are you not going to invite me for drinks if I don’t come?”
“Your little sister here just survived a disaster and is out. That’s why I came here. Give your sister some face, let’s have a couple of drinks tonight.”
“What happened? I was wondering a few days ago. You’re usually so active, how come I haven’t seen you for several days in a row? You didn’t answer my calls or reply to my messages, I thought you had disappeared.”
“Sister Xu, your sister really did disappear, I was just rescued.”
“How is that possible? It’s not true, is it?”
Director Xu stared into her eyes for a long time, then casually glanced at the bracelet on her wrist.
“It’s true. I’ll tell you more at the restaurant later. Yangzi, settle the bill.”
Xiao Yun said and walked away, her arm linked with Director Xu’s.
“Manager Liu, how much is this outfit?” Guo Xuyang asked with a smile.
“It’s free, really free,” the man quickly replied.
“That’s very kind of you. I won’t be polite and will accept it. By the way, the clothes inside are for you.” Guo Xuyang said to the man, then turned to the young girl.
“Let’s go, you’re in the same car as these three sisters, go directly to Jun Yue Lai.”
“You’re not coming with us?” Li Minyu asked.
“There are four of you. Brother Liang is still waiting downstairs, I’m going with him. You guys go directly. Fatty and Xu Dahai are already there.”
“You should let them know at home, so Mom and Dad don’t worry.”
“You tell them, just say Xiao Yun has been found. They should be done eating by now, no need for them to come over. I’ll go down first, you guys take Xiao Li directly later.”
“Alright then. Let’s go, little girl, let’s go together.” Li Minyu said.
“I… I’d better not go, right?” Xiao Li nervously clutched her blouse.
“What are you afraid of? The boss is treating today, you don’t have to spend any money.”
“But… but…”
“But what? Speak boldly and without fear. From now on, we are sisters, so just say anything you need. If we can’t decide, we’ll have your boss handle it.”
“My sister is still at home, I need to go home and cook for her.”
“That’s easy, why don’t we bring her over? Where do you live?”
“Not far,” Xiao Li said.
“Then let’s go.” Li Minyu, with his big belly, walked ahead like a general.
“How old is your sister? Why do you still need to cook for her?” Wang Qi asked.
“My sister is three years younger than me, and she just started high school this year,” Xiao Li replied.
“Doesn’t your sister have to live at school if she’s in high school?”
“She said she’s not used to living at school, so I rented a place near her school.”
“What about your parents? Why aren’t they here to take care of her?”
“They’re gone.”
“I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to.”
“It’s okay, I’m used to it.”
“What happened to your parents?”
“They died in a car accident. My parents used to drive trucks, hauling goods for people. When the accident happened, the other party’s brakes failed, and their cab was crushed. They couldn’t be saved.”
“Is there no one else left in your family?”
“Just my sister and me. There’s an uncle and an uncle in our hometown, but we don’t interact with them much.”
“How pitiful. You’re not old yourself, are you?”
“I’m twenty. I was just in my final year of high school when my parents passed away. It’s been over two years.”
“How do you usually eat?”
“We cook in the rental. I usually take on odd jobs, and a friend I knew introduced me to this mall.”
“You’re willing to work for such a heartless boss?”
“We agreed on a deposit and one month’s rent upfront, I didn’t know he would be so heartless. Sister, do you know what my boss specifically hired me for?”
“You’ll have to ask your boss about that, we don’t know.”
“He wouldn’t have taken a liking to me, would he?” Xiao Li said.
“Please don’t think that. I don’t mean to discourage you, but look at us, who do you think your boss would take a liking to?” Wang Qi said.
“That sister,” Xiao Li pointed at Zhan Yifang.
“Why?”
“I don’t know, I just have a feeling.”
“What about her?” Wang Qi pointed at Li Minyu.
“Maybe he would take a liking to her too.”
“If he takes a liking, he takes a liking. Why ‘maybe’?”
“I don’t know how to say it? It’s just the feeling. If the boss takes a liking to this sister, he also communicates with her very little.”
“Oh, you little girl have a knack for this? What about me?” Wang Qi pointed at herself.
“You are too beautiful, but not the type the boss likes.”
“Do you know whose child this sister is carrying?” Wang Qi asked intentionally.
“I don’t know. I can’t guess that.”
“Alright, stop teasing her,” Zhan Yifang said.
“The child this sister is carrying is your boss’s.”
“Ah?” Xiao Li immediately covered her mouth.
“Then… then wasn’t that sister just now his wife?”
“Yes. What’s wrong?”
“Won’t you fight when you meet?”
“Why would we fight?”
“But… but…”
“Your boss is very capable, he has several wives. His wives are even more beautiful than us,” Zhan Yifang said.
“Then you guys?”
“We are his friends. What time does your sister get off school?”
“Eight-thirty, it’s almost time for school to end now.”
“Are we going to the school gate or to your home?”
“To the school. I usually pick her up at school.”
“She’s old enough, doesn’t she need picking up?”
“She’s a girl after all, I’m not at ease with her walking alone.”
“Tell us how to get there.”
“Go straight along this road, pass three traffic lights, turn right, and it’s about a ten-minute drive.” Xiao Li said to Zhan Yifang while sitting in the passenger seat.
“It’s very close. Then your rented place must not be cheap?”
“Over two thousand a month, and I pay for utilities myself.”
“Can you afford it with odd jobs?”
“My parents received some compensation from the insurance company when they passed away, and I also rented out our house, so I can still make a living.”
The few people chatted and soon arrived at the school gate.
“Sister, just stop here. The school doesn’t allow parking ahead, I’ll go down and pick up my sister.” Xiao Li said.
“You go ahead, we’ll wait here,” Zhan Yifang said.
“What do you think of this little girl?” Wang Qi asked after Xiao Li got out of the car.
“From her speaking, there shouldn’t be any problems. We’ll know the truth when we see her sister,” Zhan Yifang replied.
“What are you doing? Do you two want to be Sherlock Holmes or Conan?” Li Minyu couldn’t help but tease.
“Bringing someone home without asking clearly, how can that be acceptable?” Zhan Yifang said.
“Oh, so you’re not treating yourselves as outsiders anymore?” Li Minyu said with a smile.
“Aren’t you afraid Yangzi will also take the little girl in?”
“If you can’t ask him, who can? We can’t beat them, nor can we scold them. We can only endure being little wives.”