CHAPTER 383: CHAPTER 383

When Ye Yuning heard he was coming up, her body reacted almost faster than her mind; she shot up from her office chair.

Without bothering to greet the room full of people, she hurried toward the door.

Chen Wei was startled by her reaction! Have people from the Xiao Corporation already stormed over? This is...!

"The boss has an urgent matter and needs to step out for a moment. Please, everyone, wait here," Chen Wei announced, quickly standing up to chase after Ye Yuning, wanting to find out what was happening. Judging by her boss’s demeanor, she looked ready to confront someone!

But by the time Chen Wei rushed out, Ye Yuning had already entered the elevator.

At that moment, Xiao Linye, who was waiting for the elevator, pinched his throbbing temples. He had also been planning to discuss Nanjia Peak with Boss Ye. After what happened today, the concluding phase of the Nanjia Peak project would likely involve Manlang again, or so that young woman had said. The thought of all the past unpleasant dealings with Manlang made Xiao Linye’s head throb.

DING! The elevator doors opened.

Just as he was about to step inside, he saw Ye Yuning standing there. She wasn’t wearing a mask, and the rash that had looked quite severe only last night had miraculously vanished...

"Why are you here at this time? Aren’t you working?" Ye Yuning asked.

"I’m here to see you," Xiao Linye stated, his tone neutral, though his furrowed brows clearly signaled his displeasure.

Ye Yuning immediately stepped out of the elevator, grabbed his arm, and pulled him toward the parking garage. Xiao Linye noted the direction she was heading.

His expression stiffened. "Aren’t you going to invite me up for a bit?"

"Everyone’s working right now; it’s not a good time for a visit."

With that, she practically pulled Xiao Linye into her car.

Her frantic rushing... no matter how you looked at it, it made him seem like some sort of embarrassment she had to hide! Xiao Linye thought, a frown deepening on his face.

Once in the car, Ye Yuning glanced at her watch. After all that commotion, it was nearly quitting time.

"What would you like for lunch?" she asked, a rare proactive question from her.

Previously, whenever they were together, Xiao Linye was always the one asking her what she wanted to eat. This sudden initiative now felt obviously forced, carrying a clear intention to usher him away.

Xiao Linye frowned at her, his expression clearly showing his discontent.

When Xiao Linye didn’t answer, Ye Yuning turned to him. He hadn’t started the car and was just staring at her, his expression resentful, like a newlywed nursing a grievance.

The corner of Ye Yuning’s mouth twitched involuntarily. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Am I such an embarrassment?" Xiao Linye asked.

"Huh? What are you talking about?" Ye Yuning scratched her head, completely baffled.

This feels so familiar. Xiao Linye acted like this once before, all moody because of the car. It made me look rather vain, as if I didn’t want my colleagues to see his Passat. I’m not complaining about the car this time, so what’s wrong now?

"I’ve never been to Manlang," Xiao Linye stated.

"What would you even do there?" Ye Yuning blurted out instinctively.

Xiao Linye looked even more displeased. "Can’t I go there to wait for you to finish work?!"

Ye Yuning was speechless. Absolutely not!

But hearing him say that, she roughly understood why he was upset. He wanted to be more involved in her life, her circle.

But my circle... it’s not something I can just reveal to him, she thought.

Seeing Xiao Linye acting so petulant, Ye Yuning felt a major headache brewing.

"Do you want to wait for me to finish work?"

"Can I?" Xiao Linye pressed.

Ye Yuning was silent for a moment. Can I really say no right now? If I say ’no,’ there’s no telling how badly he’ll misunderstand. So, ’no’ is absolutely not an option. But if I say ’yes’...! Then I’ll be...!

After mulling it over, not daring to hesitate too long, Ye Yuning finally nodded. "Of course, you can. If you finish work before I do and get bored waiting for me in the underground garage, you can come upstairs to wait."

She said it against her better judgment, and her heart pounded with trepidation. She didn’t dare imagine what would happen if Xiao Linye actually went upstairs and saw her real situation.

Marrying a man who wants to understand every single thing about me... it’s really such a headache, she lamented internally.

Seeing her agree, Xiao Linye’s expression softened considerably. He nodded. "So, starting this afternoon, I’ll come up and wait for you to finish work?"

While he said he was going to wait for Ye Yuning to finish work, Xiao Linye secretly had other plans.

My current assistant is completely unreliable! I might have seriously misunderstood some things about Manlang’s boss. Since the Nanjia Peak design has fallen through again, I’ve decided I need to personally step in and get to know this... Boss Ye... properly!

"So, can we go eat now?" Ye Yuning asked cautiously, observing Xiao Linye’s finally relaxed expression.

She was terrified Xiao Linye would insist on seeing her workplace right then and there; that would truly be the end of her.

Fortunately, Xiao Linye didn’t continue to let his imagination run wild. He nodded. "Mm, what do you want to eat?"

As he spoke, he started the car.

Only then did Ye Yuning finally let out a sigh of relief.