Marriage First, True Love Later - Chapter 39

By the time Anran arrived at the company, the meeting had already ended. Xiao Xiao came out of the conference room, but when she saw Anran, she seemed a little startled. Then, she regained her composure and asked with a smile, “Anran, didn’t you request a leave of absence?”

“Um.” Anron froze and didn’t know how to react. Request a leave of absence?! When did she call to request a leave of absence?

While Anran was still in her daze, Ling Lin came out of the conference room with documents in her hands, and beside her were two young men that were responsible for drawings. They were busy discussing something, but when she saw Anran, she rushed forward and expressed in concern, “Sister Gu, are you feeling okay?”

Anran was baffled by her question and felt like she had no idea what was going on.

Huang Dexing finally came out, and, seeing Anran surrounded by everyone, he said, “You all don’t need to work anymore?”

Everyone spread out after hearing this.

Anran looked at Huang Dexing a little sheepishly and was just about to speak, but he interrupted her first.

“Anran, come to my office.” Huang Dexing shot her a look, then turned and walked toward his office.

Anran followed him to the Director’s office. Huang Dexing put the materials in his hands on the table and sat down in the large, black, leather swivel chair. He motioned for Anran to sit opposite him.

Huang Dexing brought the teacup on the side to his mouth and sipped it, then said, “Anran, have you been letting your emotions affect your work ethic lately?”

“Uh, no.” Anran denied, saying, “In the morning, in the morning, I had something that came up at the last minute, so I came in late. I’m sorry, I will be more careful next time.” Anran apologized for coming in late, but in terms of the real reason she came in late, it was too shameful for her to tell.

Huang Dexing nodded, “We have been investigating the cause of the accident, and the results should come out within a few days. To be honest, I think that your drawing design is reasonable, but I can’t really say anything with certainty before the investigation results come out. I hope you understand that. ”

Anron nodded and said, “I understand.” In reality, she did understand the difficult position he was in. Of course, she had also been waiting for reports on the results of the investigation. If the fault really lay with her drawing design, then no matter the consequences, she would accept them.

“Yes.” Huang Dexing responded, and then asked, “How is your drawing design for the government building proceeding? If you have any questions, you can ask me directly. In a sense, I’m basically your teacher as well.”

“Thank you, Director.” Anran smiled and thanked him. “The drawings will be finished in a few days.”

“Well, I have always had high hopes for you, and you have great talent in terms of designing. I hope you won’t let me down this time.”

Anran nodded with a smile. She felt that Huang Dexing was acting a little strange today. He almost never praised anyone, and she has been with him for more than six years. Her drawing designs were almost always rejected, so hearing him praise her today gave her a strange sensation.

“Do you need anything else, Director? If not, I’ll be heading out,” Anran asked. She really needed to catch up on the drawing design for that government building. She has only made a rough sketch so far, so she would need to work overtime for these few days.

“Um.” Huang Dexing nodded.

Anran stood up and walked toward the door, but just as she grabbed the doorknob and prepared to head out, Huang Dexing suddenly stopped her.

“Wait a moment, Anran.”

Anran turned back and looked at him with a somewhat puzzled expression, asking, “Director, is there anything else?”

Huang Dexing suddenly remembered the morning call, and that the number came from the leader of the municipal party committee. He couldn’t help asking, “Do you know people from the municipal party committee?”

“Er.” Anran froze, and shook her head reflexively, “I don’t know any of them.” She seemed to have completely forgotten that the man who caused her tardiness that morning was a government official, forgotten that she was now married, and thrown to the back of her mind that she was now the wife of a high-ranking government official.

Huang Wenxing murmured in a low voice, “Is that so? So am I wrong, then?”

“Huh? Director, what did you say?” He muttered in too low a voice, and Anran didn’t hear him clearly.

“Oh, it’s nothing. You can head out now.” Huang Dexing regained his attention and smiled at Anran. Perhaps he really was wrong.

Anran didn’t probe any further and turned around to head out of the Director’s office.

When Anran returned to his office, Xiao Xiao was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed and a smirk on her face.

Anran glanced at her. “Do you need anything?” She grabbed the keys and opened the door.

Xiao Xiao followed her in, closed the door, and played with her lion’s mane of wavy hair, then sat down on the chair before Anran’s desk and said, “The silk scarf you’re wearing today looks pretty nice. I don’t remember ever seeing you wear it before. How come you’re wearing it today?”

Anran froze and she blushed slightly. She opened her bag and placed it on the side of the desk, then opened her computer. Avoiding the topic, she asked, “What do you want with me?”

Xiao Xiao didn’t let go of her silk scarf. She only used the silk scarf as an ice breaker; what she said next was the important topic. She knew that Anran didn’t like people beating around the bush, so she went straight to the point and asked, “I have to ask you something: who was that guy waiting for you at the door the day before yesterday? The one driving the Mercedes.”

Anran’s fingers paused on the document, and she frowned slightly, then looked at her and said, “Why do you ask?”

Xiao Xiao frowned and played with her curls a little, then decided not to hide it and confessed frankly, “I’m interested in him and want to take a shot.”

Hearing this, Anran frowned slightly, then said, “You’re too late. He already has a wife.”

“So what if he has a wife? Divorces are common now,” Xiao Xiao said indifferently.

Anran looked at her. Although she had heard some rumors about her in the industry and knew what others said about her, but as her colleague, she knew how much effort she put into her work, and always felt that those comments about her from outsiders were unfair to her. But now, she wasn’t so sure about her previous notions anymore.

When she saw that Anran didn’t say anything, Xiao Xiao smiled and said, “What? Are you interested in him as well? From what I saw that day, it certainly seemed like he was interested in you.”

Anran averted her gaze to avoid eye contact. “I can’t help you with this. You can find someone else.”

Even though she refused to say, Xiao Xiao wasn’t upset and asked instead, “Anran, is he your ex-boyfriend? Don’t tell me he is the reason you haven’t dated anyone for these past few years.”

“What are you talking about?” Anran was somewhat irritated and looked at her as she said, “Xiao Xiao, you should give up, because don’t think for a second that he would fall for you, nor would he divorce his wife for you.” Since he had broken up with her for money and power back in the day, how could he give up all he dreamed for just for a mere woman? He was a selfish man, and he had never loved anyone besides himself.

“How do you know he won’t fall for me?” Xiao Xiao looked at her. “I can see that he is interested in you, and I don’t think that I am worse than you. I’m confident that he will fall for me one day, sooner or later.”

Anran stared at her for a while but said nothing in the end.

Xiao Xiao still had a smile on her face as she stood up and said, “By the way, the man you left with the other day seemed pretty handsome as well, but he seems to be a little lacking in terms of his background.” Then, she turned around and left with a smile on her face.