CHAPTER 349: CHAPTER 180: THE CHIEF STEWARD OF THE IMPERIAL HOUSEHOLD

Liang Wu didn’t linger on the second floor, not wanting to be an eyesore. She went down to the first floor to get a bowl of duck blood vermicelli soup.

She ate with great elegance and grace.

Just as she lifted a chopstick-full of vermicelli to her mouth, before she could even bite into it, she spotted Xi Luting and Fang Feifei striding over, constantly looking around.

Looking for someone?

Liang Wu was stunned for a moment, then suddenly, something clicked in her mind.

That’s right! Isn’t there a rumor in the department that she and the BOSS are having an affair? Her clothes, necklaces, watches—they say the BOSS bought them all for her. Could they be here to catch them in the act?

If that was true... what a heaven-sent opportunity!

"PFFT!"

Liang Wu abruptly lowered her head, spat the vermicelli back into her bowl, casually wiped her mouth, and then hurriedly rose to approach Xi Luting.

On her way, she whipped out her phone. "There’s a mole, cancel the deal!" Pfft! Wrong script. Take two—

The message she actually sent read: "Division Chief Xi is here and seems to be in a hurry. I’ll stall her for a bit."

When Han Lie saw this message, he remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he felt a mixture of shock and joy.

He was shocked by his brother-in-law’s infuriating antics and Xi Luting’s gall.

The joy was because... Liang Wu was just too damn useful.

Whether she could actually pull it off wasn’t particularly important; what mattered was her proactive attitude and cleverness.

On only her second day on the job, she already knew to proactively help her leader with his worries. She was worth cultivating!

With time, they would surely develop a great rapport. Eventually, a single glance and she would understand it was time to switch positions; how useful would that be?!

Brother Lie chuckled inwardly, pleased with himself, then turned his attention to the two girls. "Have you eaten your fill? How’s our cafeteria?"

"It’s pretty good."

Chen Yanfei wasn’t a picky or pretentious girl; she had eaten two steamed buns and a fried dough stick and was very down-to-earth.

"Mm-hmm! It’s especially good!"

Ding Xiang nodded with great sincerity and enthusiasm, though in reality, she had only eaten half a bowl of tofu brain, half a salted duck egg, and half a fried dough stick before she started to dawdle.

"You two are so easy to please. I feel like my hospitality is lacking..."

Han Lie smiled and then glanced at his watch.

"When will Ding Yu arrive?"

Ding Xiang, looking embarrassed, immediately took out her phone and made a call.

Chen Yanfei noticed Han Lie glance at his watch, and her heart skipped a beat. Feigning casualness, she asked, "Do you have other plans today?"

Han Lie hesitated for a moment, then laughed heartily. "Nope. Making sure you have a good time is my top priority."

Ah, that slight hesitation—so perfectly timed!

Chen Yanfei looked skeptical. "Really?"

"Really!"

Brother Lie nodded decisively, with utter conviction.

Chen Yanfei couldn’t suppress the joy welling up inside her. She pursed her lips, looking like she wanted to smile but was too shy, which was incredibly cute.

She took the opportunity to roll her eyes playfully at Han Lie.

Then she became exceptionally understanding and agreeable.

"Honestly! If you have something to do, just go. We’re both free; we can wander around anywhere."

Han Lie paused again, looking like he wanted to say something but was holding back.

Chen Yanfei waved her hand magnanimously. "Go on, go on! Go get your work done and call us when you’re finished. Don’t worry about us. We’ll sit here for a bit and leave once Ding Yu gets here."

Now that the young lady had put it so considerately, could a good man, a true gentleman, really bear to disappoint her?

Absolutely not!

So, Brother Lie nodded with apparent reluctance, accepting her kind offer.

"Alright then, you two take care of yourselves. I’ll call you the moment I’m finished... Don’t leave the downtown area, okay?"

"Yourselves" and "you"... Brother Lie always knew how to use them so artfully.

Chen Yanfei nodded happily. Han Lie stood up and waved at a bewildered Little Xiangxiang.

Ding Xiang put down her phone, which no one had answered, and quickly stood up, about to speak.

Too bad, Brother Lie was in a hurry to leave and didn’t give her a chance.

"Xiangxiang, bye!"

"Oh... oh oh, bye!"

Even after waving back with utmost politeness, she still had no idea what was happening.

Chen Yanfei rolled her eyes. "Don’t look at me, you naive thing!"

"Huh???"

Ding Xiang didn’t understand.

Chen Yanfei, exasperated as if trying to forge scrap iron into steel, pinched her cheek. "You... you better not come here alone next time, understand? I’m worried you’d end up throwing yourself at some tough guy in minutes..."

Ding Xiang blushed, instinctively changing the subject.

"I would not! ...That darned little brother of mine, why isn’t he answering his phone?"

She dialed the number again. The ringback tone sounded incredibly irritating, making her feel flustered and anxious.

Ding Yu, you dare stand me up?! I’ll kill you!

「 」

"Division Chief Xi, what a coincidence!"

Xi Luting, who was looking around, turned her head at the sound and couldn’t help but be startled.

Today, Liang Wu was dressed in a very... strikingly mature fashion.

She wore a coat over a blouse and an A-line skirt, paired with high boots.

It resembled an office worker’s attire but wasn’t as formal or stiff.

It did an excellent job of concealing her pear-shaped figure, yet her demeanor and aura instantly outshone all the students in the vicinity.

"Liang Wu?"

Xi Luting frowned and then instinctively looked behind Liang Wu.

After scanning the area, she still didn’t see Han Lie.

"Division Chief Xi, I was just looking for you," Liang Wu said with a smile, stepping in front of Xi Luting and gesturing invitingly. "Shall we go somewhere to talk? You haven’t eaten yet, have you?"

Xi Luting was in no mood to exchange pleasantries with her. She remained rooted to the spot, her attitude cold.

"What’s the matter?"

Indeed, what is the matter? You’re asking me? I’ll have to invent something on the fly...

Truthfully, Liang Wu had no understanding of Xi Luting and Han Lie’s relationship. She had indeed gathered a lot of information about Han Lie, but when it came to his girlfriends, the situation was an utter muddle.

One moment, someone would swear blind that Han Lie and Pan Ge, the beautiful rich girl, were an item. They’d insist, "Brother Lie always rides in her family’s car; I’ve seen it myself more than once!"