Chapter 137 - One For You
Chapter 137 – One For You
Even after Ruan Meilin left the office, Ma Jin stood rooted to his place. He carefully looked at Shui Xian's expressions before mentally sighing. He had been around his boss for years and yet, he couldn't read him well. But he knew that Ruan Meilin had been with Shui Xian from the very beginning. That's why he always felt strange seeing how Shui Xian treated her.
He had heard that they had been classmates in high school, but how estranged Shui Xian acted towards Ruan Meilin would give one the impression as if they were just strangers. He had never reacted to Ruan Meilin's casual way of talking to him or deliberately showing the familiarity between them, instead, Shui Xian had stayed silent.
Even when there were several rumors in the inner business circle about Shui Xian and Ruan Meilin's relationship. He never reacted to any of it.
It was as if he had nothing to with any of it. And Ma Jin could actually see that Shui Xian really felt like it had nothing to do with him. He'd never waste time on such insignificant matters.
"Why are you still standing here?" asked Shui Xian.
Ma Jin's daydreaming broke as he faced Shui Xian's intimidating gaze. Swallowing his saliva, he reminded Shui Xian regarding the meetings he had to attend for the day.
"Also, the government project we've been preparing for, the bid will be held in about two weeks from now," told Ma Jin. "Apart from our team, three major enterprises are gonna take part in the bid. The competition won't be easy this time around."
"I'll handle it personally," said Shui Xian. "And I'll also handpick the team for this project."
"Yes," with that Ma Jin took his leave and left Shui Xian to do his own stuff.
Later, Shui Xian got busy to the point that he didn't even have time to drink a glass of water. But it only lasted till lunchbreak rolled in.
In the meeting room, the heads of different departments were seated and even the Vice President sat across from the President. Suddenly, Shui Xian's mobile blared as his alarm rang out.
Shui Xian raised his hand to stop the person who was in the middle of the report as he checked the time and said, "Let's start again after an hour. You all can go and enjoy your lunch now."
Seemingly not surprised by this change, almost everyone left the meeting room. Well, except for Ruan Meilin who was dumbstruck. When did this workaholic start caring about lunchbreaks? And why did no one else found it strange?
Well, she didn't even know that everyone already found it weird when it happened for the first time last week. Now, they had all come to terms with this positive change. Only she was a little slow in catching the news.
She ran after him and before Shui Xian could enter his office, she called out, "Shui Xian!" He stopped but he didn't turn around. Instead, she had to walk up to him as she said, "Since you're free now, how about we discuss the new project that you gave me. I've already looked through the details and I have a plan that I'd like to discuss with you."
"I think I clearly mentioned earlier that it's a lunch break," Shui Xian repeated in a rather impatient manner.
Taken aback by his reply, she took a moment before her smile could recover as she said, "Then how about we have lunch together?"
Shui Xian's phone rang and he didn't need to see to know that it was his punctual wife making the call to him at this time. He had deliberately set his alarm five minutes before the time for her phone call. That gave him enough time to come back to his office, but today he was being obstructed outside his office which he wasn't liking at all.
"You can enjoy your lunch on your own," said Shui Xian before he walked past her and entered the office. "Hey, Wifey!" was the first thing he said as soon as the call connected.
"Usually, you pick up at the third ring," said Raelle clearly reminding him that he had taken longer than usual to take her call.
"I know," replied Shui Xian. "I'm sorry for that."
"That apology was not needed but it's still accepted," replied Raelle making Shui Xian's lips curve up.
After talking just about any random stuff, he asked, "So, what are you having for lunch today?"
He heard his wife's voice calling out, "Cloe, what's in lunch?"
Cloe cleared her throat and told her the name of the dishes in an orderly manner, "Fattoush salad with sumac and lemon dressing. Creamy mushroom soup. Onion rice with nuts and Mango pudding."
Shui Xian's brows jumped up slightly as he asked, "Wifey, is that a lunch menu or a party menu?"
"There is a little bit of everything," said Raelle. "Just enough for one person."
"Oh, that means I can't share it with you?" said Shui Xian rather ruefully. "And here I thought since you have such variety, maybe I should make a visit to have lunch with you."
Shui Xian thought she would instantly reject the idea just as she had rejected when he suggested that they could go to work together. But who knew she would say, "It'll take you over half an hour to get here and the same amount of time to get back. Do you really want to spend that much time on the road?"
Although it sounded like a roundabout way of hers to refuse him, however, Shui Xian thought otherwise. If his wife wanted to refuse, she would do it outrightly. Currently, she wasn't refusing him but rather, asking him whether he was willing to take such a long trip just for a lunch with her.
"If I knew you'd agree, I'd have set out earlier!" replied Shui Xian.
Hearing the sound of knocking, Shui Xian went quiet and his facial expressions reverted back to coldness as well. A female secretary came inside with a tray of food for him and cautiously placed it on the coffee table before hurriedly rushing out.
But as soon as Shui Xian looked at the food, he was stunned. "Wife, what game are you playing?"
"It seems like you received your lunch," came Raelle's voice making him purse his lips. "Have I mentioned that my lunchbox comes from home every day? Today, I just happened to ask for two. One for you and one for me."
Shui Xian felt like someone just stole his breath with that one sentence!