15: The encounter between the two heroines

Before Chen Mengyao could refuse, the female manager had already called two female assistants, who stuffed all the clothes Chen Mengyao had just tried on into bags.

"Miss Chen, please follow me to the dressing room. I'll do your makeup and hair, and then you can go see Lu Chen."

"Oh... okay..." Chen Mengyao nodded blankly, pulled by the female manager towards the dressing room.

Half an hour later,

Chen Mengyao sat in front of the dressing table, looking at the delicate woman in the mirror, her thin lips slightly pursed, her mind filled with a myriad of thoughts.

The female manager took a light gold blush brush and applied it a few times to her face. Her originally pale complexion immediately became rosy and tender, looking like a freshly peeled egg.

"Perfect."

The female manager looked left and right in the mirror, a satisfied smile on her lips, and praised Chen Mengyao: "Miss Chen, you will surely amaze Lu Chen tonight!"

Chen Mengyao was a little embarrassed by her praise, her cheeks flushed, but she still had to explain.

"You've misunderstood. Lu Chen and I really have no relationship. I'm just their... housekeeper."

"Oh, I know, I know, I understand everything, Miss Chen, you don't need to say anymore."

The female manager winked ambiguously, reached out and patted her hand, her tone intimate, "Don't worry, Miss Chen, you just need to seize the opportunity and serve Lu Chen well. Riches and honor will be yours in the future."

Chen Mengyao awkwardly withdrew her hand, shook her head, and finally stopped trying to explain anything.

"Miss Chen, let's go. Lu Chen is waiting for you in the private room."

The female manager said, then led the way.

Chen Mengyao silently followed behind.

As soon as she entered the private room,

Chen Mengyao saw Lu Chen leaning on the sofa, flipping through a magazine.

Hearing the sound of the door opening, he slightly turned his gaze, his eyes falling on her.

Chen Mengyao quickly lowered her head, avoiding Lu Chen's gaze.

Lu Chen looked her up and down, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

Tonight's Chen Mengyao was vastly different from her usual self.

She was wearing a simple beige dress, its fitted design accentuating her slender waist.

The color of the dress was warm and soft, revealing her rounded, full shoulders just right, adding a touch of charm and sexiness.

Especially when she lowered her eyes, her curled eyelashes trembled slightly, like the wings of a butterfly about to take flight, stirring an unbearable itch in one's heart.

"Lu... Lu Chen, housekeeper Chen Mengyao reporting, hello!" Chen Mengyao tensed her body, calling out softly, as if afraid of disturbing him.

From now on, she would be the Lu family's housekeeper. Calling him Lu Chen should be perfectly acceptable, right?

Lu Chen smiled faintly, slowly sitting up straight.

This Chen Mengyao is quite interesting. Does she think she can shed her maid identity by calling herself a housekeeper?

Sensing the man's burning gaze, Chen Mengyao's heart skipped a beat. She instinctively clutched the hem of her dress, feeling as if her breathing was about to stop.

Seeing this, the female manager quickly exited the private room, closing the door behind her.

"Not bad, it suits you quite well."

Lu Chen raised a hand to rub his forehead, his lazy and captivating voice echoing in the quiet private room.

Chen Mengyao's body tensed even further. She couldn't help but swallow, extremely nervous.

"Tha... thank you..."

She thanked him stammering, trying hard to ignore the stirring emotion rising within her.

Lu Chen stood up and walked directly towards Chen Mengyao.

Chen Mengyao's delicate body trembled slightly, her little heart pounding wildly, her hands gripping the hem of her dress tightly.

Was what she feared finally about to happen?

Sure enough, seeing her like this, Lu Chen finally couldn't hold back and was about to reveal his long-hidden true intentions!

Chen Mengyao closed her eyes in fear, the lines she had prepared long ago blurting out: "Lu Chen, I'm here to work. Please abide by the contract and don't lay hands on..."

Before she could finish her sentence,

Lu Chen brushed past her, not even giving her a second glance. He opened the private room door and walked out, saying faintly:

"Since you're ready, let's go. I'll take you to the hospital."

Chen Mengyao was slightly stunned, not quite reacting.

What was happening?

This man... was he really not interested in her?

"Ah? Ah... okay... okay..."

At this moment,

Besides relief, Chen Mengyao's heart seemed to hold a hint of subtle disappointment, a complex emotion.

It was like an arrogant little kitten, meticulously dressed, coming before its owner, anticipating its owner's affection and caresses.

But the result was—

The owner didn't even notice her, and was too lazy to even touch her.

Bah, bah, bah, what kind of nonsense was this?

Chen Mengyao shook her head, shaking off all these jumbled thoughts, and quickly lifted her skirt to chase after him... The rain had stopped by now. Under the night sky, traffic flowed, and neon lights flickered with dazzling colors, adding a sense of mystery to the night view.

The streets, after the rain, had regained their bustle. Pedestrians came and went in an endless stream, enjoying the cool nightlife.

Gu Xiaoxiao, dressed in a black mini-skirt, walked hand-in-hand with her best friend, strolling down the pedestrian street in a gloomy mood.

Her best friend, Zhao Jiaqi, complained as she walked: "What's wrong with you today? You seem to be in a bad mood. Did you break up?"

"Who told you I broke up?" Gu Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes at her best friend, pouting, and replied seemingly casually:

"I've never even been in a relationship, okay? I just lost my job, that's all."

"Ah?" Zhao Jiaqi's eyes widened in surprise, and she asked curiously:

"Isn't Lu Chen from Dihao Group always pursuing you? He even offered you a six-figure monthly salary. With him around, who would dare to fire you?"

Gu Xiaoxiao shook her head, depressed: "He's the one who fired me."

Thinking about being fired, she felt a pang of sadness, as if she had lost something important, leaving her feeling empty and distressed.

Especially after returning home, Gu Xiaoxiao felt even more unaccustomed.

Because every time she got off work, Lu Chen would personally drive her home, and he would also send her many messages, reminding her to rest and so on.

If she casually mentioned something she wanted to eat, no matter how late, no matter where she was, Lu Chen would personally bring it to her in the shortest possible time.

To be honest, Gu Xiaoxiao never expected that someone of Lu Chen's wealth would dote on a girl like that.

Lu Chen was too good to her, so good that it felt unreal.

So much so that when Lu Chen suddenly stopped being good to her, she felt particularly unaccustomed, her entire heart feeling empty.

Lu Chen had been so good to her just a while ago, why did his attitude change so drastically all of a sudden?

During the time after being fired, Gu Xiaoxiao couldn't stop overthinking.

She didn't understand why Lu Chen suddenly became cold and distant towards her. Was he tired of her? Or did he have a new love? Or did she annoy him in some way?

Gu Xiaoxiao thought back carefully but found that she couldn't guess Lu Chen's thoughts at all.

He clearly liked her so much, so how could he bear to fire her!?

The more Gu Xiaoxiao thought about it, the more uncomfortable and wronged she felt. Her nose couldn't help but tingle, and her eyes gradually reddened.

That's why she made plans to go shopping with her best friend, intending to alleviate her mood.

"What's wrong?" Zhao Jiaqi looked at her worriedly and asked: "You weren't really fired, were you?"

"Why would I lie to you..." Gu Xiaoxiao said glumly, lowering her head.

"No way?" Zhao Jiaqi's eyes widened in disbelief: "Are you sure he fired you, and it wasn't someone secretly bullying you?"

Zhao Jiaqi frowned tightly. She knew very well how crazy Lu Chen's pursuit of Gu Xiaoxiao had been for the past three months.

Every time he saw Gu Xiaoxiao, he couldn't wait to stick to her.

He also sent Gu Xiaoxiao flowers every day, invited her to dinner, bought her gifts to make her happy, and even actively made Gu Xiaoxiao his personal secretary to please her.

Gu Xiaoxiao was originally just a small intern who had just joined Dihao Group.

But because of Lu Chen's various solicitous attentions, she became the only private secretary of Dihao Group, practically second only to him, and all the executives and employees in the company envied her immensely.

Zhao Jiaqi even once suspected that if Gu Xiaoxiao wanted the stars from the sky, Lu Chen would not hesitate to pluck them down and give them to her.

How could such a devoted man bear to fire Gu Xiaoxiao?

Gu Xiaoxiao shook her head and sighed: "No one bullied me. With him in Dihao Group, who would dare to bully me?"

Zhao Jiaqi stared at Gu Xiaoxiao suspiciously, and after a long while, tentatively asked: "Could it be that you kept refusing, and Lu Chen gave up?"

"Who knows." Gu Xiaoxiao pursed her lips, her mood indescribably complex.

Although she kept telling herself that staying away from a scumbag and cutting her losses in time was a good thing.

But every time she thought about it, her heart still uncontrollably felt sad.

"That shouldn't be..." Zhao Jiaqi was still a little unwilling to believe it.

"Someone definitely bullied you. Tell me who it is, and I'll go settle the score with him."

Zhao Jiaqi rolled up her sleeves and said angrily.

Gu Xiaoxiao smiled and pulled her, sighing softly: "You should rest for a bit. I'm really fine. Just assume I was fired. It's good, I didn't want to stay at Dihao Group anyway, to avoid seeing that disgusting scumbag's face every day."

"Really?" Zhao Jiaqi was half-believing, half-doubting: "You're willing to leave Dihao Group?"

"What else can I do..." Gu Xiaoxiao lowered her head, as if responding to Zhao Jiaqi, and also as if comforting herself: "Anyway, I'd have to change jobs sooner or later. Now is just right."

Zhao Jiaqi frowned upon hearing this, looking disappointed.

"You're so foolish! You should have held onto a man like Lu Chen. If you miss him, he's gone forever!"

Gu Xiaoxiao was silent for a moment, then said softly: "He's too much of a playboy, with countless women around him. I don't like him."

"You girl!" Zhao Jiaqi sighed, helpless: "Since you know there are so many women who want to get into Lu Chen's bed, you still don't know how to cherish him!"

"But..." Gu Xiaoxiao paused, then looked up and said seriously: "I want a stable relationship and unique affection. I don't want to share the same love with other women."

"Oh, you, you'll regret it sooner or later." Zhao Jiaqi shook her head helplessly.

Gu Xiaoxiao smiled slightly, confidently saying: "Don't worry, Lu Chen definitely still likes me. In three days at most, he will definitely come looking for me again."

Zhao Jiaqi pondered for a moment, then nodded, agreeing deeply: "Given Lu Chen's feelings for you, that's actually quite possible. If Lu Chen comes looking for you, remember not to be so arrogant. Take the olive branch when it's offered, after all, Lu Chen is quite devoted to you."

"We'll see how he performs then." Gu Xiaoxiao raised her delicate chin, letting out a soft hmph: "He fired me without a word. I haven't settled that score with him yet."

"Then don't go too far, I'm telling you, devoted men like Lu Chen are really hard to find these days." Zhao Jiaqi warned.

"I know, I know." Gu Xiaoxiao waved her hand.

The two continued walking along the commercial street.

The ground, freshly washed by the rain, was wet. Under the glow of the neon lights, it reflected the shadows of the surrounding tall buildings, creating a dreamlike and illusory scene.

As people passed by, it was as if their unspoken thoughts were cast onto the ground, intertwining into a mottled and chaotic play of light and shadow.

Gu Xiaoxiao walked with her head down, lost in thought, absentmindedly dodging puddles on the path.

Just then,

She suddenly felt a tug on her arm.

Gu Xiaoxiao turned her head and asked with a frown: "What's wrong with you?"

Zhao Jiaqi stopped abruptly, her eyes wide as she looked at Emperor Square straight ahead, pointing a finger, her voice astonished:

"Xiaoxiao, look quickly, isn't that man Lu Chen?"

"And there seems to be a... woman behind him?"

...