Chapter 088: More Than Dinner, I Crave You!
Winning first place in the finals brought a prize of twenty thousand yuan, so naturally, a celebration was in order.
The next day at school, before Shiru even had a chance to suggest treating everyone, her classmates were already teasing her and had gathered around. With only about forty people in the class, and plenty of good, inexpensive restaurants nearby, hosting a meal for everyone was hardly a problem.
That afternoon, Shiru and her friends invited the entire class to a buffet barbecue at the mall next door.
Just as she was enjoying herself, her phone rang in her pocket.
Shiru glanced at the glowing screen and, upon seeing the caller ID, couldn’t help but curve her lips into a smile. She squeezed out from the crowded chairs and stepped outside the restaurant.
“Hello?”
A deep, melodious male voice came through the receiver.
“What are you doing? Why did you take so long to answer? Are you misbehaving now that I’m not around?”
Shiru paused, then pouted and protested, “I’m not misbehaving! I’m having dinner with my classmates. Xiao Xuezheng, let me tell you! I won first place in my case competition! Hehe! Am I amazing or what?”
On the other end, the man glanced at the deep night outside and smiled, “That’s wonderful. So when I’m back, will you give me a proper reward?”
“What does it have to do with you? I worked hard for it myself…”
Before she could finish, he reminded her, “Don’t forget who wrote your debate speech.”
Shiru fell silent.
Fine, what a petty man, still remembering that!
How is his memory so sharp?
“Alright then, what kind of reward do you want? Shall I treat you to dinner?”
“I don’t want dinner. More than eating with you, I’d rather eat…”
He paused at the word “you,” and after a moment finally said it.
Shiru’s face flushed instantly. She glanced into the restaurant; fortunately, her classmates were all engrossed in their meal, and no one was looking her way.
“Xiao Xuezheng…”
She had just had a bit of alcohol with her classmates, and now, hearing him say something so sweet, her heart couldn’t help but flutter.
“Alright, I won’t tease you anymore. My flight lands tomorrow at five in the afternoon. Remember to pick me up at the airport, and don’t be late!”
Shiru clutched her phone, steadying her breath. “Got it! Your Highness!”
He always spoke so domineeringly, as if everything had to go his way!
---
Yet Shiru thought to herself that since she’d won the competition and was feeling happy, she wouldn’t argue with him.
Tomorrow was Saturday, and there were no classes at school.
The next Friday would be the final exams, so there was still a week left to review, no rush for now.
She had plenty of time to go to the airport.
Truth be told, after all these days without seeing Xiao Xuezheng, Shiru admitted she felt a bit strange, maybe even missed him a little.
Early the next morning, in America.
At the National Cemetery on the outskirts of New York.
Xiao Xuezheng arrived at dawn, standing before a tombstone. His dark eyes lowered, gazing at the photograph on the grave for a long time.
After a while, he bent down, placed a bouquet of white chrysanthemums, and then took a harmonica from his pocket, playing quietly in front of the grave.
He played for a long time, the melodious notes drifting through the air. When the music finally stopped, he put down the harmonica and said softly, “Zaizao, today is your memorial day. I can’t believe it’s been ten years since you left me.”
At that moment, his secretary Qin Feng approached respectfully. “Mr. Xiao, it’s time to go to the airport.”
The man nodded, took one last look at the cute woman’s photo on the tombstone, pressed his lips together, and finally turned to leave.
Before departing, he spoke tenderly to the grave one last time: “I’m sorry. I’ve met a wonderful girl, just as lovely and kind as you. You want me to be happy, don’t you? Zaizao, I’ll come see you again next year.”
Finishing his words, Xiao Xuezheng walked slowly toward the cemetery’s exit.
Yet as his figure gradually disappeared at the gate, from behind the tombstone marked “Chi Zaizao,” a petite woman stepped out.
She stared after him, her almond eyes brimming with tears. She watched and watched, finally unable to hold back and burst into sobs.
Then she knelt on the grass, murmuring in the direction he’d gone, “Xuezheng… actually, I… actually I still…”
---
Shiru thought everything was fine and was still enjoying her dreams early in the morning, but was abruptly woken by a phone call!
It was Cen Huan, calling in a rush to tell her that although she’d won the case competition, the final report still needed to be revised and uploaded to the system for future reference in subsequent competitions, so she had to come to school immediately to discuss.
Shiru had no choice but to drag herself, still sleepy, to school.
The revision took much longer than expected, stretching all the way to four in the afternoon.
When Shiru finally came back to her senses, she realized it was nearly time to pick him up at the airport!
She couldn’t just leave, seeing how dedicated Cen Huan and the others were. After all, she was the team leader. In the end, she could only feign a stomachache to excuse herself and leave.
With no time to go home, she borrowed a classmate’s dorm room for a quick wash, then hurried out of the school toward the airport.
---
She couldn’t make it by bus, so for the first time, thrifty Shiru spent big and ordered a ride-hailing car to the airport.
By the time she arrived, it was already half past five.
Shiru was frantic. Xiao Xuezheng had said five o’clock yesterday, and now she was half an hour late—she was seriously behind schedule!
He would surely be angry!
The more anxious she became, the less clear-headed she was.
Though it wasn’t her first time at the airport, this time Shiru wandered around, unable to find the exit.
---
At the same moment, in the VIP passage at the airport.
Xiao Xuezheng strode out in a tailored suit, followed by a team of executive secretaries.
Qin Feng followed behind and asked, “Mr. Xiao, the car is here. Would you like to go straight home or…?”
Xiao Xuezheng scanned the area. Not seeing the petite figure he was expecting, he turned to Qin Feng and said, “You take them home first. I’ll stay.”
“Yes, sir.”
After Qin Feng and the others left, Xiao Xuezheng stood at the exit, glanced at his watch—it was almost six. She still hadn’t arrived. She was late!
A faint displeasure rose in his heart.
He took out his phone, intending to call Shiru, but the line was dead—her phone was off.
Well now, not only was she late, but she had the nerve to turn off her phone!
She must be really bold and asking for trouble!
Left with no choice, Xiao Xuezheng surveyed the vast airport and could only wait patiently at the side.
Just then, his phone rang again.
He glanced at the screen and answered.
“What’s wrong?”
Qin Feng’s voice came urgently through the receiver: “Sir, there’s trouble. The company’s network has been hacked, a large batch of confidential data has been stolen, and the last security checkpoint requires your fingerprint. Please come to the company immediately!”