Chapter 287: Nineties: Spring Water Family Chapter 287: Have You Two Met Before, or Haven't You?

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Protagonist:

Lin Xiyu

A melodious, pleasant tune was playing in the Western restaurant, sounding like a classic old song from the 90s European and American nostalgia repertoire.

Guben listened to the familiar melody, walked over to the plaintiff, and sat down, exchanging seemingly polite pleasantries, but in reality his thoughts were entirely occupied by the music, and his mind involuntarily recalled that warm past from when he had just been admitted to university.

At that time, Lin Xiyu was studying in the English Department of Huashi University; after buying a Walkman, she became obsessed with English songs, and borrowed lyrics to write letters to him, conveying affection while also harboring a little thought of showing off her rapidly improving English.

He also doted on her and played along, replying to her letters with English lyrics.

The two exchanged letters back and forth, truly making many people envious.

Especially his roommates from the Law Department of Fudan University, who held deep resentment toward him; every time they saw a reply letter, they would use various pretexts to mock him, making for a laughable yet awkward situation.

——

"General Manager Gu, it seems you aren't listening to what I'm saying?"

A slightly displeased voice rang out by his ear; the woman sitting opposite, unwilling to be ignored, stood up from her chair with some embarrassment and annoyance: "Since you people have no sincerity, there's no need to continue talking; we'll see each other in court."

"Hey hey, don't go......"

Chen Xiaoyi got anxious, disregarding the distinction between men and women, and grabbed her with one hand.

"Let go!"

The woman coldly rebuked.

"No need to be in such a rush......"

Chen Xiaoyi didn't let go, smiling thick-skinned: "We can negotiate nicely; Brother-in-law is already here, you can name any condition, however much compensation we can afford......"

"Brother-in-law?"

The woman's expression changed drastically, a face of utter disbelief: "He is your brother-in-law?"

"That's right."

Chen Xiaoyi took it for granted: "Aren't you wanting to see the person who calls the shots? My brother-in-law is the President of Xingyao Game Company, sitting in the top seat; no one has more say than him."

What I care about isn't what relationship he has with you.

It's that he's already married!

The woman's mood was complex, a trace of loss flashing in her eyes.

"Is it Zhu Luoxuan?"

Guben only at this moment properly sized up the woman before him: "The name Luoxuan suits you well, beautiful as the Goddess of the Luo River, daylily without worry; you and your paintings both possess spirit."

"You still remember my name?"

Zhu Luoxuan's eyes brightened, her gaze revealing surprise and delight.

Guben's reaction was completely opposite to hers, raising his brows in slight astonishment.

"Have the two of you met before?"

Now it was Chen Xiaoyi's turn to be shocked, his wary little eyes darting back and forth between the two.

One must say, Zhu Luoxuan indeed matched Guben's description, very pretty, pure and sweet, the kind that could make one fall in love at first sight.......

"We have met."

"Have we?"

Two completely opposite answers, once again causing his confusion.

"Have you two met before, or haven't you?"

——

Six years ago, when Guben had just started his business, because of Liu Rushi's slander, the game company once fell into a credit crisis.

Facing reporters' pressing questions, he publicly promised to provide free legal consultation to those in need.

This matter, reprinted by major newspapers, once attracted considerable attention.

Citizens came for consultation, and he did his utmost, helping many people out of difficulties.

Zhu Luoxuan's father worked at a watch factory; the factory's performance was poor, and after being laid off, he learned from others to do business, but due to insufficient experience, he was coaxed into investing in a shell company, and the money saved over a lifetime was all swindled away, adding frost to snow for an already not well-off family.

In despair, he saw the information in the newspaper, and with the attitude of trying a dead horse as a living horse doctor, he found Guben to seek help.

The day they came to the company for consultation, it was Zhu Luoxuan who accompanied her father.

Before this, she held a skeptical attitude toward Guben's promise, thinking he was just grandstanding, wanting to win favor and build momentum for his own company.

After having contact with him, she discovered this person was not falsely famous; he truly had ability. While helping them recover part of the debt, he cooperated with relevant departments to bring the swindlers to justice.

Through this matter, not only did her opinion of him change, but a seed of youthful stirring was also planted in her heart.

That year she was 17, still in high school.

On the day they received the debt payment, she came to the company with her parents to thank him in person.

When leaving, she suddenly mustered her courage, walked up to him, and said a sentence to him.

"My name is Zhu Luoxuan, beautiful as the Goddess of the Luo River, daylily without worry; thank you for helping us, I will repay you, hoping there will be a chance to meet again in the future."

——

Guben did not not remember her; deliberately mentioning the meaning of the two characters "Luoxuan" was to remind her of the words she once said about repaying him.

As for the subsequent pretense of not knowing her, it was deliberate upon seeing a flash of loss in her eyes.

He could read the meaning that expression represented; the more it was like this, the more he wanted to avoid her.

A pretty girl is like a rose with thorns; once entangled, one is easily pierced all over with wounds.

——

"Can the two of you stop speaking in riddles......"

Seeing the two of them stay silent, Chen Xiaoyi was so anxious he was scratching his ears and cheeks.

"I've met your brother-in-law."

Zhu Luoxuan was still a sensible person; she saw Guben's obvious intention to distance himself, didn't press the matter further, and proactively changed her address to 'your brother-in-law': "He helped me before; he's my benefactor."

"Hey."

Chen Xiaoyi couldn't stay calm; his gaze at Guben was full of resentment: "Brother-in-law, that's not loyal of you; you clearly met her, yet you still lied to me, treating me like an idiot to fool me?"

"You weren't smart to begin with."

Guben gave him a look that said he was an idiot, and when he wanted to argue, dealt him another critical blow: "Would a smart person use someone else's artwork without permission?"

"Uh."

Chen Xiaoyi was embarrassed; he rubbed his nose with his hand, and had no follow-up.

"Pfft."

Zhu Luoxuan found it amusing; she covered her mouth and laughed out loud.

"That made you laugh?"

Chen Xiaoyi couldn't help but bicker with her: "Your laugh threshold is so low; you look not too smart either."

"I just laughed; what can you do to me?"

Zhu Luoxuan's beautiful eyes widened; she retorted in Shanghainese.

"I suspect you're cursing at me."

Chen Xiaoyi didn't understand; he deliberately picked a fight.

"I am cursing at you; what can you do to me?"

Zhu Luoxuan was an authentic Shanghai girl; her personality was very spicy.

This sentence wasn't spoken in Shanghainese; Chen Xiaoyi understood it.

Zhu Luoxuan originally thought he would continue picking a fight, deliberately opposing her, cursing back.

Unexpectedly, he actually chickened out; drooping his eyelids, he said: "Cursing is right; I'll let you curse......"

Zhu Luoxuan: "......."

This person concedes a bit too fast, right?

It left her not knowing how to continue.

"Xiaoyi used your artwork without permission; that is indeed his fault."

Guben spoke at the right moment, expressing his standpoint: "Whatever conditions you have, feel free to bring them up; if you want to hit or scold to vent, that works too; I'll just pretend I didn't see it."

Chen Xiaoyi: "......"

Confirmed the gaze; it's my real brother-in-law.

"Really, any condition works?"

Zhu Luoxuan didn't pay attention to a certain someone's little resentment; her eager gaze remained fixed on Guben.

"Yes."

Guben, taking the opportunity of a nod, averted his gaze.

Zhu Luoxuan dropped a bombshell: "I want to join Xingyao, the R&D Department."

"You want to come to our company?"

Chen Xiaoyi froze; he dug at his ear, suspecting auditory hallucination.

"Can't I?"

Zhu Luoxuan countered: "Just now your brother-in-law also said my art has spirit; at the very least, it won't be worse than yours, right?"

"Game development isn't just as simple as drawing......"

Chen Xiaoyi choked; he felt the need to defend himself a few sentences: "You need to master many techniques; I also studied for three years in university before I barely grasped a little bit of the ropes, and even like this I wouldn't dare say I'm fully competent for this job."

"I also studied an art major in university."

Zhu Luoxuan was unconvinced: "After graduation, I worked as an illustrator at an advertising company for a year; I also have some understanding of the game industry."

Chen Xiaoyi countered: "Since you're doing so well at the advertising company, why jump ship to come to our company?"

Because he's not there!

I want to go where he is.

Even though he's already married, that burning heat in her heart still drove her, wanting to get as close to him as possible.

——

"Tsk tsk, that woman, the 'mistress' vibe is strong."

"One look and you can tell she has ulterior motives, wants to be a mistress."

"Your friend is in danger; which man seeing such a woman could hold himself back?"

"As long as her husband doesn't refuse, eighty percent he's moved; with such a fox spirit by his side, cheating is only a matter of time."

Not far from where the three sat, a few wealthy noblewomen acquainted with Li Qing were also whispering, discussing in low voices.

"From my understanding of Guben, he won't agree."

Li Qing, priding herself on having some friendship with Guben, spoke from his standpoint to speak for him: "Even if he agreed, there would definitely be other reasons."

"You say that; do you believe it yourself?"

"I don't believe it."

"I don't believe it either."

"A man with no other thoughts would be gentle and pleasant to a woman who came to pick a fight?"

"Exactly; moreover, that woman still wants to sue him."

Several wealthy wives, priding themselves on having seen the filthy affairs of aristocratic families, sneered at her words.

"Don't believe me? Just watch."

Li Qing was very certain: "Let's bet. I bet he won't agree."

"Bet it is. I don't believe there's a man as devoted as you say."

"That kind of man has already gone extinct in this world."

"Unless he has some hidden reason, he wouldn't dislike beauties."

"What's the bet? Count me in."

"Let's bet on that limited-edition LV bag we fancied while shopping just now. The loser buys one for each of us."

"Deal. It's settled then."

The wealthy wives chattered among themselves, making the decision for Li Qing without waiting for her agreement.

Li Qing was egged on by them and felt tempted too, and turned her head together with them, waiting for the final outcome.

——

"Miss Zhu thinks highly of Xingyao. As Xingyao's General Manager, I am very gratified......"

At the seat by the floor-to-ceiling window in the Western restaurant, Guben's two handsome sword-shaped brows furrowed slightly. He fell silent for a long while before speaking again.

"My work at the advertising company hasn't been as smooth as you imagine......"

Zhu Luoxuan was a smart person. From his tone, she heard the intention to politely refuse.

If she missed this opportunity, she would never have any connection with him again.

Therefore, she went all in, decisively playing the victim to win his sympathy.

A "but" turned in Guben's throat, forcibly stuffed back down by her.

"You should also know, in this society of ours, how hard it is for a woman to get ahead."

Zhu Luoxuan had only wanted to gain sympathy at first, but speaking to the sad part, tears involuntarily welled in her eyes: "Especially for a young, beautiful woman like me, with no status or background, no ability to protect herself, it's even more difficult."

"Many times, I've hated that I couldn't look a bit more ordinary, so fewer people would harass me."

"Before working at the advertising company, I'd already changed jobs several times. Every time, I couldn't last long before someone wanted to impose unspoken rules. Not wanting to be harassed, I could only leave."

"The most dangerous time, a married Supervisor, right at a public colleague gathering, chased everyone out and tried to rape me. If I hadn't fought back with my life, smashing a wine bottle over his head......."

——

"Beast!"

"Worse than pigs and dogs!"

"That kind of person should be castrated and thrown out to feed the dogs......"

Chen Xiaoyi was young and hot-blooded, unable to stomach such filthy affairs. He was so angry his lungs nearly exploded.

"Sigh."

Guben sighed with some regret, understanding that with a hotheaded young brother-in-law present, he had already lost the initiative. It would be hard to find another chance to refuse.

"Brother-in-law, look, she's quite pitiful too......"

Sure enough, the next second, Chen Xiaoyi's reaction confirmed his guess: "Why don't you just agree to her? The R&D Department is so big, it doesn't matter if there's one or two more people. She can draw, so it's a professional match. Let her intern at the company for a while. If she performs well, keep her?"

"Pretty women with no status or background, no ability to protect themselves, are everywhere. Unspoken rules happen every day......"

Guben gave him a cool sidelong glance and coldly retorted: "Do you think you have the ability to help a few? Or do you want to turn the company into a shelter? See one, help one?"

"Uh."

Chen Xiaoyi was embarrassed, his face flushing bright red.

"You like this......"

Guben helplessly held his forehead: "How can I feel at ease entrusting the company to you?"

"Brother-in-law, I, I, I......"

Chen Xiaoyi was ashamed to the extreme, and stammered splendidly again.

"I was wrong. I shouldn't have been arrogant, making such a demand......."

Zhu Luoxuan's eyes showed despair. She choked up and stood up, making a move to leave.

"Hey hey, don't go......"

Chen Xiaoyi got anxious and grabbed her with one hand.

"What else do you want?"

Zhu Luoxuan shook off his hand, her eyes showing shame and anger: "Haven't I been humiliated enough by you? Stealing my painting, thinking a bit of money can send me away......."

"I'm trying to think of a way to solve it, aren't I?"

Chen Xiaoyi was anxious to explain, not realizing he was already being led by the nose by the other party: "Brother-in-law, even if I beg you, just let her into the company. Plagiarizing her painting was my fault. Treat it as compensation. I'll pay her salary during the internship."

"You'll pay?"

Guben raised an eyebrow and countered: "Do you have money?"

"I, I, I......."

Chen Xiaoyi was embarrassed again, choked for a good long while, before squeezing out a sentence: "I don't have money. I'll borrow from you first, and pay you back when I earn money."

"Fine."

Guben knew the situation inside out. There was no more room to maneuver. Rather than let him make a fool of himself in public, he might as well go with the flow and treat it as a test for him.

"Brother-in-law, you agreed?"

Chen Xiaoyi's eyes showed pleasant surprise. He was just about to flatter him a few words when he heard Guben leisurely add another line.

"Don't get happy yet. Words are empty. Write a written pledge. If you can't do it, just wait. I won't even need to lift a finger; your sister will skin you."

Chen Xiaoyi: "......"