THE CEO's LOVE 96 Love Before Marriage

"Ah'Zhi?" The woman's surprised voice travelled from behind. "Who brought you?"

Zhihao smiled.

There was no way anyone would doubt the familiarity between his son and grandson. The eyes, nose, ears, the well curved mouth and that smile. Everything about this little guy reminded her of her son.

"Aunt Jiu brought me. She is hungry and wants to eat only your food."

Xiaocan couldn't help but giggle. "Okay, okay. You don't want to eat?" She asked raising an eyebrow.

Zhihao cleared his throat. "I really want some,"

Xiaocan laughed out making the customers look towards them. "Let's go in." She scooped him up.

After they had enough to eat, Jiuwen drove Zhihao to the company.

The gloomy face of the man lightened up when he saw his son. Zhihao had come with a packed meal from his granny.

"I visited granny... She sent you this." He outstretched his little hands holding onto the flask to his father.

Zhaolin smiled. This was a tough year. Busier than the other years. He rarely spent quality times with his son. He didn't even have time to woo his woman. He made sure not to miss the daily message, checking up on her.

He never once received a reply. He wondered to himself if she truly detest him that much.

He called secretary Jiang to come pickup the signed designs.

He started eating and Zhihao poured water for him.

*****

An unknown number? Xueyan wondered when she saw her phone had series of missed calls.

She called back, it didn't take one ring and the call instantly connected.

"h.e.l.lo, Miss Xueyan." The person on the other end said.

Xueyan was hesitant.

"h.e.l.lo, are you there?"

"h.e.l.lo, it's me He Jingtang, Du Xiujun's secretary."

Xueyan's eyes constricted. "Hi," she finally said.

She heard the man's sigh.

"I need to meet with you. When will you be chanced to meet up with me? It's the weekend tomorrow, do you work on Sat.u.r.days?"

"Why would you suddenly want to meet with me? I had clearly rejected your offer..."

"Please, Miss Xueyan, I need your help." He interrupted. He couldn't imagine her rejecting his ask for help. "Please,"

Xueyan hesitated and turned to her little girl, they had agreed to go out to the park tomorrow.

"Okay. Where?"

"Thank you. Thank you so much! I will send you location and time." After that he hung up.

Xueyan prayed it wouldn't be too late.

They was a message from Yuxi. <"he jingtang="" had="" pleaded="" for="" your="" number,="" i="" gave="" it="" to="" him="" after="" calling="" you="" for="" sometimes="" and="" didn't="" receive="" a="" response."="">

*

"I've spoken to her, thank you." Jingtang said to Yuxi. She nodded her head.

While he was busy thinking of how to find Xueyan, then he remembered a familiar face he had been seeing in the company.

When Chu Feng saw the two discussing, he frowned. He is praying Qiangshen doesn't fall for Yuxi and now he has to deal with He Jingtang.

He trotted towards Yuxi and asked, "What was he saying?" Chu Feng didn't take his eyes off Jingtang's disappearing form.

"Its nothing to worry about." Yuxi smiled.

"If you ever find yourself in a difficult position, come straight to me. With me as your backing, no one would be able to mess with you!"

Yuxi almost laughed out. "Okay, okay."

"You will be able to go home today... You really need to rest, you've been working a lot." Chu Feng held her shoulders and he was smiling brightly.

"Sure," Chu Feng let go of her, when Qiangshen walked up to them.

"Everything is done. You really did good." Chu Feng patted Qiangshen's shoulder.

"I'm famished," these two simple words made two heads snap back at him. Qiangshen frowned. He was really hungry.

"h.e.l.lo everyone," Chu Feng loudly announced, drawing all attention on him. "I'm treating everyone to lunch!"

"Whoa!"

"Yay!"

"Let's go!"

Voice of excitement filled the room and everyone started getting ready.

Chu Feng made call to a restaurant but it was all booked. "Qiangshen, do you have any good restaurant, we can reserve?"

"Fu Restaurant."

Some of the people pa.s.sing heard that and couldn't help but scream with happiness. If they could reserve and eat at Fu restaurant, then it would be their greatest memory.

Fu Restaurant, owned by the Great Fu family and managed by their only child. Miss Fu Xiaocan, she started handling it at fifteen before she married into the Xing family at eighteen. She was the sole chef. All the ingredients was formed by her.

At twenty-two she attended a cooking contest and won.

Even though she came from a very rich family, she never acted like one. A humble woman filled with respect. But only a few knew what extent she would go to protect her loved ones.

Everyone was set to go bye twenty minutes past two, with growling stomach they used the company's bus. The bus was solely meant to move them to different locations for shoots.

It was five o'clock in the evening when they exited the restaurant. Xiaocan had been shocked by their numbers. They called at the last minute to reserve the restaurant but she was able to pull through.

"I would be sure to send you lunch from now on. I can't imagine you being hungry. I hope you had enough to eat," Xiaocan held Qiangshen's shoulders while she spoke.

He nodded with a smile on his face.

"I heard from mother you got a girlfriend, be sure to bring her over once in a while to have delicious food rolling down her spine."

Qiangshen smile never left his face. "She's here. And granny was the one that pursued her... I didn't." He said matter-of-factly.

"You shouldn't allow mother decide for you. You should make the decision yourself, so you'd find happiness and love, just like your parents."

'Yes, his mother was arrogant and even towards Grandma Xing sometimes, but that didn't stop his father from loving her. No matter what their mother did, she had the man's support.' He hopes to find true love as well. Not like his brother's...

"I will keep that in mind. Love first before marriage."

Xiaocan chuckled. "Oh, and where's she?"

He pivoted around, there she was, in her 8cm stilettoes, her neatly pressed skirt and a pink s.h.i.+rt tucked in without any part poking out. She loves pink. He noted. Her hair in a neat up do, and that smile that stuns him always. He didn't know why, but he enjoyed her smile. Her laugh, though it wasn't common.

She was standing with some workers, they were discussing, which she rarely did with him.

Xiaocan noticed the gentle look on Qiangshen's face when he watched the girl. Is this going to work? Will it be better than her son's marriage to s.h.i.+ya? She wondered, she had the expression of a wounded lion.

"Stop staring and call out to her," Xiaocan's whisper brought Qiangshen back from his reverie.

Yuxi felt the eyes on her and turned to find its source, and Qiangshen muttered two words. She read his mouth, "Come over."

She excused herself from the group of girls and walked over.

"She's beautiful," Xiaocan mumbled. Qiangshen had heard her nonetheless. 

When she got close, she bowed. "Good evening ma'am, thank you for such delicious meal."

It made Xiaocan smile. She was immediately impressed. "It means you're not a picky eater."

The statement made Yuxi smile. "Not actually ma'am. But I do watch out for my stomach, don't want to be seen as a pregnant woman."

"Hahaha!" Xiaocan cackled. "What nonsense is that? You should always eat to remain healthy."

"Sure! With you as the cooker, I'd eat an elephant."

'Impressive! She won his second mom over with a few statement.' Qiangshen thought.

"What is the name child?"

Yuxi smile blossomed. "Yuxi."

"Oh, is that it? Yuxi only?"

"Bai Yuxi,"

There was a deadly silence.

They seemed to be a halt in the air, the smile on Xiaocan's face almost faded, but then it brightened again. "I see. How about your parents?"

"They are here in Shanghai."

Xiaocan nodded. "I would love to gift them a reward on your behalf. You're so sweet!"

Yuxi smiled. "Thank you ma'am," Yuxi was about to bow, but then the woman held her back up and hugged her.

"This is much better!"

Chu Feng strode towards them and bowed to Xiaocan. She nodded in acknowledgement. "Bet you've been good."

It was a statement but Chu Feng answered. "Yes sure."

"Treat her well," Xiaocan said and placed a hand on Yuxi's hand. "Don't stress her out."

Chu Feng nodded. "Sure, sure."

"We will leave now," Qiangshen said. "There's still some work left to do."

"Oh, that's okay." Xiaocan turned to Yuxi. "Visit me often dear. I will make sure to feed you until you get fatter."

"Ok, ma'am..."

"No. Aunt would be much appreciated." Xiaocan raised an eyebrow, eagerly waiting for Yuxi's response.

"Okay, aunt. Stay healthy." Yuxi gave a bow.

Xiaocan didn't know why, but she really liked Yuxi. The young lady gave her a feeling of sincerity. And she was sweet. It was unlike young ladies of nowadays to have such attributes. They smile was practiced to perfection. They acted nice but actually sneaky. She had felt Yuxi's cheek, it was soft unlike...

She put whatever else she had to say at the back of her mind.

After they left, she called the workers to clear the tables and clean the whole restaurant. It hadn't been an easy day. She declared the day had ended. And it made the workers smile. They happily cleaned up so they'd leave as soon as possible.