Ch 54: Love At First Sight

Wang Xinru blushed, shaking her head repeatedly. “Don’t mention it, Manager Zhuang. You asked me to recommend her for an interview. Do you plan to keep her at our shop?”

The man glanced at her and asked, “What do you think?”

“She’s great! Xiao Yao is beautiful, and she looks especially stylish in our clothes.” Most importantly, she’s a really good match for the General Manager!

A perfect match made in heaven! Wang Xinru silently added in her heart.

Manager Zhuang, who was usually aloof and distant, caught a glimpse of Xiao Yao when she came to the shop to buy clothes. Afterward, he quietly retrieved her customer information from the reception desk.

Not long ago, he even asked her to recommend Xiao Yao as a fashion model for the shop. His intentions are clear.

A beautiful lady is worthy of a gentleman’s pursuit. She understands, she understands it all.

Watching Manager Zhuang extinguish his cigarette, one hand in his pocket, as he walked into the mall restaurant, Wang Xinru, full of gossip and curiosity, secretly followed him and peeked from a corner.

The mall’s restaurant was a hodgepodge of various fast-food stalls. The environment was noisy and chaotic; staying there for five minutes would leave you smelling of oil fumes.

Zhuang Lingyun suddenly regretted bringing her to this place. However, if they left the mall, she would definitely be on guard. Perhaps, she would simply refuse.

His work involved a lot of contact with women, and because of his looks, women constantly surrounded him. But none had ever left such a deep impression on him as she had upon their first meeting.

This girl possessed an extremely pure and clean temperament—youthful and bright. One glance made one want to approach her.

She was a freshman at Ying University, and he had graduated two years ago. This could be considered a kind of fate, couldn’t it?

Passing through the dense crowd, he went to the juice bar and bought a drink, holding it in his hand as Zhuang Lingyun walked towards his destination.

Knock knock knock—

He tapped the table with his index finger knuckle and asked the girl who was playing with her mobile phone, “Excuse me, is anyone sitting there?”

This wasn’t the first time someone had asked. Xiao Yao didn’t look up. “Sorry, it’s taken.”

“Then I’ll sit here for a while. I’ll leave when they arrive.”

Xiao Yao ignored him. There was an empty seat beside her. Even if Wang Xinru returned immediately, she could move over, and Wang Xinru would have a place to sit. They could just share a table; it’s common.

Xiao Yao was texting Xiao Wenxing, complaining vehemently about her morning encounter. She severely criticized the driver and profusely praised the Lincoln car owner who had helped her.

She also added that if Xiao Wenxing had half the kindness of that Lincoln car owner, he wouldn’t have been single for 25 years without a girlfriend.

Xiao Wenxing sent an angry emoji, “What? You like him? Then go with him! What do you need me for?!”

“I wish I could, but the handsome guy left. As for you, why haven’t you figured out your self-positioning? You’re my errand boy, remember? Errand boy! Don’t even think about rising to the level of ‘brother’; that height is unattainable for you.”

“Xiao Yao, you just wait!”

“So it’s settled then. Pick me up after my interview.”

“……When did I say that?”

“Didn’t you tell me to wait?”

When Xiao Yao was texting Xiao Wenxing, she had a mischievous grin, happily chuckling to herself, completely oblivious to the man opposite her, whose gaze was a blatant appraisal.

While waiting for Xiao Wenxing’s reply, Xiao Yao looked around for Wang Xinru. She’d been gone for a long time; why hadn’t she come back yet?

Her gaze naturally fell on the man who was “temporarily sitting” opposite her. He was wearing a black shirt, the collar open to the second button, revealing his slender collarbones. The black shirt accentuated his fair, lean face. His handsome face was smiling gently at her. “Finally decided to look up?”

“It’s you?” Xiao Yao was both surprised and delighted. She hadn’t expected that the moment she mentioned him to Xiao Wenxing, he would be sitting across from her!

She felt it was uncanny. “Are you here to eat too?”

The man shook his head. “Passing by. I just happened to see you sitting here. Finished your interview?”

“No way! I got the last number, and just as it was my turn, the interviewer went for lunch, so I have to wait until the afternoon.” As she spoke, her eyes scanned the area, still unable to find Wang Xinru. She guessed she might have had an urgent matter at the shop and gone back.

Xiao Yao asked him, “Did you have lunch? I was in such a hurry this morning that I didn’t get to thank you properly. Let me treat you to a meal?”

The man looked at her with a light smile, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Xiao Yao blinked. The next moment, she suddenly remembered that he drove a million-dollar luxury car, so he must be used to luxurious food. This cafeteria-style place was too low-key.

“Or should we change places? What do you want to eat? Western food or Chinese?”

“Chinese food.” He looked into her eyes as he replied.

Chinese food was easy. There were several places she frequented that served delicious food, and they weren’t far from here.

Xiao Yao grabbed her backpack, stood up, and smiled at him. “By the way, my surname is Xiao, with the grass radical and then the character sù. My name is Xiao Yao. What’s your name?”

Xiao Yao… He silently repeated the name in his heart.

“My surname is Zhuang, as in Zhuangzi. My given name is Lingyun, as in ‘ambitious Lingyun’.”

Xiao Yao’s eyes sparkled. “What a beautiful name.”

“Yours is too.”

The two looked at each other and suddenly both laughed.

Xiao Yao was considered a campus belle at Ying University, and she naturally had many suitors. However, compared to Zhuang Lingyun, the male students at university, even the handsome ones, seemed quite childish.

He had a calm temperament, mature and steady. His words and actions were reassuring. Perhaps it was because of his help that morning that Xiao Yao viewed him through a beautiful filter.

She blushed involuntarily, taking a step back and following him from the narrow corridor towards the exit of the restaurant.

A middle-aged woman carrying a steaming bowl of Guoqiao Mixian （crossing-the-bridge noodles） walked past them. She stumbled, and the noodles tilted, the soup about to spill. He suddenly turned, put his arm around her shoulders, and slightly shifted, protecting her in his arms, narrowly avoiding the spill.

The middle-aged woman apologized repeatedly. Xiao Yao inhaled the faint scent of mint and tobacco from his chest, still stunned, while Zhuang Lingyun frowned and glared at the woman. “Be more careful.”

After the middle-aged woman left, a group of young men and women walked into the dining hall, chatting and laughing. The already narrow corridor became instantly blocked.

Zhuang Lingyun looked down at the girl in his arms. From this angle, he could only see the top of her black hair, her fair forehead, her thick long eyelashes, and her straight nose bridge.

“Are you alright?”

The vibrations from his chest as he spoke sent a tremor through Xiao Yao’s heart. She suddenly realized that this action was inappropriate and tried to step back. But he didn’t let go. He held her in his arms, navigating the crowded passage until they reached the spacious area outside the restaurant, and only then did he release her.

He deliberately created some distance, somewhat apologetic. “Sorry, I was in a hurry… I’m sorry for the imposition.”

“No, no… I, I should thank you.”

If there had been a mirror, Xiao Yao would have seen her face, as red as a monkey’s bottom. It was truly… very red.

The man’s lips curved into a smile. He couldn’t help but chuckle. “Shall we go then?”

“Okay…”

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