Chapter 157: Gloating over Misfortune
Seeing Fan Yunting's expression, my bad feeling became stronger. I bit the bullet and said cautiously, "Mr. Fan, please tell me first and see if I can help you."
Fan Yunting hesitated for a while before saying, "I... told you, please don't misunderstand me. I... have no choice but to... ask for your help."
I had already started to sweat, and after swallowing hard, I said, "As long as... I can help, there shouldn't be any...problems."
"Well! I'll tell you!" Fan Yunting paused for a moment, and finally made up her mind to speak: "You also know that my parents are far away in Qinghai, and I seldom go back for several years. Their biggest wish now is to see me get married and start a career. I have established a career now, but starting a family..."
I was startled and said quickly: "I'm afraid I can't help you with this matter!"
Fan Yunting rolled her eyes at me and said angrily, "I've already told you not to misunderstand me. I haven't finished what I'm saying yet!"
I wiped the cold sweat off my forehead and said, "Really? Then tell me, then tell me!"
Fan Yunting went on, "I'm busy with company matters now, so how can I have time to think about personal problems? But my parents are nagging. They call me every now and then to show concern for me, saying that I'm not a child anymore and it's time for me to have grandchildren, etc. And they keep sending me photos of certain men, saying this is so-and-so, how outstanding , and how well-off his family is, and asking me to consider it. I'm so annoyed that I get a headache every time I hear them call or write. Later, I simply said that I already have a boyfriend, so they don't have to worry about it." When she said this, she looked at me with a shy and happy look, and stopped herself from talking.
The sweat I just wiped off came out again, and I asked worriedly, "You...are you talking about me?"
Fan Yunting smiled and said, "Look how nervous you are. I didn't say it was you! It's just that my parents were so happy that they insisted that I send a few photos of my boyfriend back to let them see them. But I don't have a boyfriend now, so..."
I understood immediately and said, "You want to use my photo to impersonate me?"
Fan Yunting nodded and said, "Yes! I have no choice but to just get by with it, so that they don't have to bother me all day long!"
I thought about it and said, "There are so many men in this world. You can just pick a few that your parents won't recognize. Why do you have to use my photo?"
Fan Yunting said, "Huh! Even you can think of this, how can my parents be so easy to deceive? These photos must have me and my boyfriend together. Now among the people I know, you are the only one who is suitable. If you don't help me, who will?"
I said, "Oh? But... it's not a good idea to keep lying like this. What ? Won't they be exposed in the end?"
Fan Yunting was delighted and said, "So you agree? That's great! You don't have to worry about this problem. He's just a boyfriend! He's not a husband. If the time comes, just say you've broken up. I can't stand them bothering me, so I'll just be quiet as long as I can. It won't cause you any trouble. It's such a small favor, isn't it?"
I scratched my head and said, "It's not that difficult, but... I think it's not good to deceive your parents, right?"
"It's none of your business. Just find a time to take a couple of photos with me. I'll handle the future myself and won't bother you again. What do you think? I'm the general manager of the company, you won't refuse to give me this face, right?"
I thought about it and thought that this favor was not difficult. Mr. Fan was usually nice to me. It would be unreasonable for me to refuse her request. Anyway, it was just a photo shoot, and I wouldn't have to deal with her parents, and there wouldn't be any trouble in the future. So I said, "Okay! But I'll say this in advance. If your parents want to see me or something, I can't show up. I can't lie to them!"
Fan Yunting was overjoyed. She grabbed my hand in excitement and said happily, "No problem! Let's go now! I have booked two rooms at Xianxia Villa. We will go there this afternoon to have some fun. We have been busy for so long, so we should relax. Let's soak in the hot springs, take some photos, stay one night and come back tomorrow morning."
I…sweat!
I hurriedly said, "Not today! That... Hua Jingjing is back, and I have to go to her house for dinner tonight! And it's probably not appropriate for the two of us to go to Xianxia Villa alone. Isn't it just taking a few photos? There's no place that can't be taken?"
Fan Yunting was startled and cried out, "Hua Jingjing...is back from America?"
I said, "Yeah! That's why I don't have time! We can just find a random place to take some photos tomorrow. I have to spend more time with her these two days."
Fan Yunting looked disappointed. She opened her mouth to speak, but she didn't know what to say. After a long while, she said angrily, "Then when will she leave?"
I raised my wrist to check my watch and said with a smile, "Maybe... I will never leave! Well, I should go now. I still need to get a haircut. Um... I need to ask for leave first. Can you allow me to leave early? Haha!"
I was happy, but Fan Yunting looked depressed. She said irritably, "Go away! How can I not allow you to do so? Your heart...is no longer here."
I smiled and turned away, saying, "Thanks! Let's talk about taking photos tomorrow!"
As soon as I walked to the door, Fan Yunting called me from behind: "Wait a minute!" I opened the door and looked back at her, only to see her walking towards me with a bag. Then she threw the bag at me and said unhappily: "Take it, dress nicely when you go to meet your parents-in-law! Don't let people say that the vice president of Ye Jianxiang's company is a bumpkin!"
I quickly reached out and grabbed the bag, saying, "But... I can't have this dress."
Fan Yunting glared at me and said angrily, "If you don't want it, just throw it away! It's useless for me to keep it anyway! Okay, go away! Don't be a nuisance here!"
I was confused! General Manager Fan was unhappy and I didn't know why. She was angry and I couldn't argue with her. I left the general manager's office with my bag and called Secretary Zhou over.
I handed the bag to Secretary Zhou and said, "Xiao Zhou, I'll leave this bag here with you. You can help me return it to Mr. Fan later and tell him that I forgot it here and didn't take it away."
Secretary Zhou covered his mouth and laughed, "Boss Tang, you really are...unromantic!"
"Really?" I was stunned for a while, and didn't think about it anymore. I left the company and went to a barber shop to wash and cut my hair.
I had just finished dry-cleaning my hair when my cell phone rang. I took it out and saw that it was Jingjing calling. I quickly pressed the answer button and said happily, "My dear wife! What's up?"
"Husband, what are you doing? Come over here!"
I smiled and said, "I'm getting a haircut! My crappy son-in-law is coming to visit for the first time today, so I have to dress up!"
"Tsk! Stop being so conceited! Who acknowledges you as the son-in-law? It's just a meal, why make such a big deal out of it?"
"You should be more alert! This is the most basic courtesy. You don't want me to come to see your grandmother with unkempt hair and dirty face, right?"
"Well! You are right! Then hurry up! We are all waiting!"
"Okay! I'll be there soon!"
"Oh, by the way! Please don't buy anything! My grandma hates it the most when people do that!"
"Hey! I was just wondering what to buy to bring home! Now that you mention it, I'm really excited!"
"Humph! You stingy guy! Well then! Come quickly and don't keep my grandma waiting for too long!"
"OK, bye!"
I put down my phone and said to the shampoo lady, "Please hurry up, I have something else to do!"
The young lady said, "Okay, go wash it off!"
I lay down and showered halfway when my phone rang again. I closed my eyes and couldn't open them, so I quickly signaled the shampoo lady to wait a moment, took out my phone and put it to my ear: "Hello? Who is this?"
"What? You forgot my phone number just one night ago?"
When I heard Xu Shu's voice, I smiled and said, "You? I'm washing my hair and can't open my eyes. Aren't you going yet? I'll go after I finish my haircut."
"Yeah! Jingjing just called to urge me. But..."
"What? You're not going?"
"No, there is some... bad news. I told you to be prepared."
"Oh? What news?"
"Well... my sister came today. She just grabbed the phone and chatted with Jingjing for a while. Jingjing... also invited her to the banquet with me!"
"What?" I was shocked and quickly sat up from the recliner. The water all over my head dripped onto my shoulders and chest: "Xiao Xin also... this... how can it be possible? Don't let her come!"
"Humph! I don't care! You should find a way to solve your own romantic debts! I have already done my best by informing you, and Jingjing has already asked for it, so how can I stop her from going?"
I said anxiously, "But...but if Xiao Xinruo comes, with her devilish temper, it would be strange if she doesn't make trouble!"
"Haha! I know! Some people will have a headache! Let me tell you again, my sister already looked very unhappy when she came here today. Just now after answering the phone, she went upstairs angrily. You will be in trouble in a while, don't beg me! I can't help you!"
"Xu Shu! You...you didn't do this on purpose, did you?"
"How dare I? Humph! I informed you with good intentions! You are really a dog biting Lu Dongbin, who doesn't know the kindness of a good person! I don't care about you anymore, you can do whatever you want!"
"Xu Shu! Wait! Wait! Oh! I know I'm not good and shouldn't have provoked your sister. I have nothing to say if you're angry. But today is a very important day for me. Can you... think of a way to help me again?"
"Humph! That's so difficult! You, a playboy, want to have the best of both worlds? I don't have the ability to help you! Hehehe..."
Hearing Xu Shu's gloating laughter on the phone, I felt a splitting headache and was so angry that my teeth itched. At the same time, I cried out in my heart: "Oh my God! What should I do?"
