CHAPTER 34: CHAPTER 0034 THE TEMPTATION FROM SISTER XIN_1

Zhang Bin’s heart began to pound, and he closed his eyes in anticipation. Liu Xin hooked her arm around his neck, stood on her tiptoes, and gently kissed him.

He could never have dreamed that Liu Xin would be so bold and proactive as to kiss him first. He instinctively wrapped his arms around her and began to respond with passion.

By the time the kiss ended, Zhang Bin was completely mesmerized and started to push his luck.

"I’m just grateful that you saved my mother-in-law. Don’t get the wrong idea," Liu Xin said, catching Zhang Bin’s hands with a shy blush on her face. Her expression was mixed with a bit of awkwardness.

Zhang Bin’s face immediately fell, filled with disappointment and gloom.

"Xiao Bin, if I were to say yes... would you marry me?" Liu Xin whispered, not wanting to see him disappointed. Her voice was softer than a mosquito’s buzz.

"Marry you?"

Zhang Bin’s heart skipped a beat. He instantly understood that she was actively pursuing him. It wasn’t that she was unwilling; she was waiting for him to declare his intentions.

He hesitated instantly. Liu Xin was mature, charming, alluring, and beautiful—without a doubt, a great candidate for a wife. But she had been married once before and was six years older than him. Besides, he had been pursuing Xiao Fang all this time and was on the verge of winning her over. Suddenly switching targets would be ridiculous.

Seeing Zhang Bin remain silent for so long, Liu Xin said, unwilling to give up, "Xiao Bin, you peeked at me while I was bathing last time, and you said you would marry me."

"Sister Xin, I wasn’t peeking. I was admiring your beauty. You’re so gorgeous and charming, you’re meant to be admired! Besides, I promised I would cure Auntie Zheng’s illness, and now I’ve done it. That’s because I was studying medicine back then," Zhang Bin declared shamelessly.

Liu Xin was almost amused by his audacity. She pouted coquettishly, "Then what about just now..."

"That..." Zhang Bin stammered, unsure how to explain himself. He had truly been lost in the moment.

"So, you do still like Xiao Fang," Liu Xin said, her voice tinged with sadness. "I wish you two the best."

Zhang Bin looked dejected. "I’m sorry..." he said apologetically, turning to leave.

But just as he reached the door, Liu Xin hugged him from behind. "Xiao Bin, I still want to be with you. Can I?"

Zhang Bin immediately stopped in his tracks. A look of profound surprise spread across his face, and the feeling of regaining something he thought he had lost washed over him.

He genuinely liked Liu Xin, second only to how he felt about Xiao Fang. With Liu Xin, it was mostly admiration and compassion. With Xiao Fang, it was simple affection—a love between social equals.

Seeing that Zhang Bin was still quiet, Liu Xin changed her approach, saying coyly, "Now that my mother-in-law is cured, there will surely be many men who want to marry me. Tell me, should I say yes to someone else?"

Zhang Bin pondered for a long time before offering a solution that cleverly sidestepped her question. "Sister Xin, now that Auntie Zheng is all better, you don’t need to stay at home all day. I’d like to hire you as my assistant. Your main job will be to deliver Bright Eye Liquid to my company every three days. The company will provide you with a car. You’ll also be responsible for checking the sales figures and things like that."

Although Liu Xin hadn’t attended college, she had graduated from high school and, most importantly, had a driver’s license. Her integrity was trustworthy, and he needed someone like her as an assistant to keep a good pulse on the company’s situation. After all, he had more important things to do and couldn’t always be there himself. This way, he could grant Liu Xin’s wish to be with him, and her life would improve with a steady salary. It was his way of looking after her.

"So, how much will you pay me?" A look of surprise appeared on Liu Xin’s face.

She was perfectly capable of doing this job and could even do it well. Best of all, she could now be with Zhang Bin openly.

"You’re my assistant, so your salary can’t be low, or I’d lose face, wouldn’t I? It has to be at least 10,000 a month," Zhang Bin said with an air of extravagance.

"No, no! 3,000 is enough," Liu Xin insisted, shaking her head. "If you offer more than that, you’ll have to find someone else."

"Ugh... what kind of person turns down a higher salary?" Zhang Bin muttered, rubbing his forehead in frustration.

"Come on, big boss. A salary of 3,000 is already very high for someone like me. I’m more than satisfied, so you can stop worrying," Liu Xin said, hugging Zhang Bin’s arm and shaking it playfully, cooing like a lover.

"Alright, fine. Come to the company with me tomorrow morning." Zhang Bin found it impossible to resist such a beautiful woman’s charm and had to agree.

"Yes, boss," Liu Xin replied with a joyful smile.

Lunch that day was, of course, at Xu Lao’er’s home.

Furthermore, Xu Lao’er had also invited Village Chief Cheng Youtian and several other respected village elders. Liu Xin was there as well, not to eat, but to stand by and pour drinks. She repeatedly leaned in to whisper in Zhang Bin’s ear, "Don’t get too drunk." She was well aware that Zhang Bin had gotten drunk at Xiaofang’s Home the last time.

"Liu Xin, don’t tell me you’ve actually fallen for Xiao Bin and want to marry him. Is that why you’re so concerned about him?" Xu Lao’er teased with a mischievous grin.

"Hmph! I’m Xiao Bin’s assistant now. I start at his company tomorrow with a high salary of 3,000 a month. Of course I have to look out for him," Liu Xin declared righteously.

"What? Xiao Bin is hiring you as his assistant? For 3,000 a month?"

Xu Lao’er and the other villagers were stunned, their faces filled with envy. In Qingshan County, a migrant worker’s monthly salary was just over 1,000. Earning 2,000 was considered exceptional. How could they not be envious?

"What? Xiao Bin, you’re hiring Liu Xin as your assistant?"

Village Chief Cheng Youtian’s expression soured. Is Xiao Bin planning to dump Xiao Fang and marry Liu Xin instead? He looked at Zhang Bin nervously, waiting for an explanation.