C18 Barbecue

All day, his mind was filled with thoughts of Qianqian after she got drunk in the bathroom...

The entire company spent the day under a cloud of tension.

Reason one: Qianqian didn't show up for work!

Reason two: Director Leng was in a terrible mood, with his mood index at negative ten!

Reason three: Some department heads came to work hungover!

It felt like a minefield—one wrong step and disaster could strike.

When Shaowen learned that Qianqian hadn't come to work, he was taken aback. How could that intriguing woman not show up? Could it be she was still sleeping off last night's drinks?

Curious, Shaowen dialed Qianqian's number. On the other end, seeing an unfamiliar number, Qianqian hesitated before cautiously answering, "Hello?"

"Is this Secretary Xu? This is Shaowen," Shaowen said, causing Qianqian to pause. She instinctively glanced at the phone number before quickly responding, "Hello, Director Xie. Is there something you need?"

"Not really, just heard you didn't come to work. Are you feeling unwell?" Shaowen chuckled, amused by the memory of someone’s drunken antics and Yechen's stern expression.

It was already unusual for Yechen to have a female secretary, and even more so for her to spend the night at his place. However, knowing Yechen well, Shaowen was certain that whatever people might think, there was nothing going on between Yechen and Qianqian.

"No, I'm fine. Thank you for your concern, Director Xie," Qianqian replied politely.

A soft chuckle came from the other end, "No need to be so formal. Call me Shaowen, and I'll call you Qianqian, alright?"

His voice was warm, like a gentle breeze, bringing a comforting warmth to Qianqian's heart.

"Okay," Qianqian agreed, feeling a sweetness spread through her.

"It's rare for Yechen to give you a day off. Want to grab a meal? I might be heading back to the States in a couple of days," Shaowen suggested as he drove, already steering the car toward Yechen's estate.

"Is he heading back to the States already? So soon?"

Xu Qianqian knew it would be quick, but she didn't expect it to be this fast. She felt that Xie Shaowen was a rare gem of a person; being with him was effortless. So, she agreed without hesitation.

"Sure, having dinner with Director Xie is an honor," Xu Qianqian exclaimed, jumping out of bed and rummaging through her closet for something to wear.

When she went downstairs, Xie Shaowen's car was already parked outside the mansion. He seemed to be a frequent visitor, as the butler and security guards were quite familiar with him, chatting and laughing together at the entrance.

Seeing Xu Qianqian, Xie Shaowen quickly waved and gallantly opened the car door for her, whisking her away from Leng Yechen's mansion.

The sleek, understated car cruised through bustling streets.

"What do you feel like eating? This area is known for its great food; I’m sure you’ll find something you like."

"If you're treating, I'm easygoing. But if I'm treating..." Xu Qianqian teased with a mysterious smile, her meaning clear.

"I’ve never let a lady pay before. Are you looking to be my first?" Xie Shaowen joked, and Xu Qianqian's cheeks flushed instantly.

First time...

Those words brought back memories of her first time with Leng Yechen last night...

Seeing her blush, Xie Shaowen chuckled even more, shaking his head with delight. "It's rare to meet someone as interesting as you. Let's stick with this plan."

When they parked, Xie Shaowen opened the car door for her, thoughtfully placing his hand to prevent her from bumping into it.

"Thank you," Xu Qianqian said, stepping out and smiling as she glanced at the food shop behind them.

Wow, who would've thought that the esteemed tech director of XS Company would enjoy these street snacks?

"Hey, spicy hot pot, barbecue, stinky tofu... do you want to try all of these?" Qianqian turned around, smiling with curiosity.

It's rare, really rare, to see someone in an expensive suit and shoes come to a place like this. The ground is covered in thick grease, and the air isn't exactly fresh, but here, Qianqian feels an indescribable sense of relaxation.

She's finally out of that stifling office building, no longer having to carefully navigate in high heels, no longer needing to keep her head up and stomach in...

Without realizing it, Qianqian feels an urge to spread her arms and soar!

Even though she only worked for one day, she felt so stifled she could almost scream. Now, being here is like a bird released from its cage, suddenly free to fly in the sky.

"Isn't this nice? I thought you'd enjoy this kind of environment," Shaowen said with an easy smile. Seeing Qianqian's genuine smile, he couldn't help but smile himself.

How long had it been since he felt this relaxed?

Ah, those student days were truly the best!