Chapter 22: Each One Showing Off Their Quirks

"Hey, hey, Lan Nian. I'm warning you. It's bad enough that you wrongly accuse people, but you even dare to threaten and humiliate the boss. Don't you think you're being too presumptuous?"

Xin Wen said half-jokingly, then turned around nonchalantly, and lazily took advantage of the situation, saying, "Come on, dear. Hurry up and untie me. This act is a bit overdone!"

"Hmph," Lan Nian snorted disdainfully, skillfully untied the tie, then handed it to him expressionlessly, muttering discontentedly, "So disrespectful. Shouldn't you put back the things you took from others? What's more, we have this special relationship?"

Xin Wen protested exaggeratedly, deliberately emphasizing the words "special relationship". Deep down, he was actually a little expectant. What kind of charm would she exude when she tied the tie for him?

Lan Nian ignored his teasing, directly sat in the driver's seat, and then calmly urged, "Boss Xin, if you don't leave now, are you waiting for them to come back and catch us off guard?"

"What are you afraid of? Don't I have you, the ace bodyguard?" Xin Wen's tone was full of the excitement of watching the fun.

"It seems that Boss Xin really hopes those sticks won't care who they hit," Lan Nian said a little helplessly. She almost impulsively drove away. Then she suddenly gave a mischievous smile, her eyes widened suddenly. Staring behind Xin Wen, she said urgently, "Boss Xin, the friends you've been thinking about have come back. You can stay here and greet them."

"Don't..." As soon as Xin Wen saw this situation, he panicked immediately. He didn't even have the courage to look back. It was as if he was being chased by a pack of wolves. He quickly and anxiously got into the car.

With a swoosh, the car started in time. The corners of Lan Nian's mouth were filled with the pride of having successfully carried out her little scheme. She said coquettishly, "Thanks for your cooperation!"

Hahaha, if the employees of Xinzi Company saw their president in such an awkward state, what kind of funny expressions would they have?

Although Lan Nian didn't burst into a hearty laugh, her slightly suppressed excitement still infected Xin Wen, who kept acting silly beside her.

"Hehe, it's well worth it to make a beautiful woman smile!" Admiring Lan Nian's naughty and cute little trick, Xin Wen felt a kind of comfort and ease as if bathing in the spring breeze. This little woman...

Although she had the stiffness and coldness typical of a bodyguard, she also had a gentle cuteness and naughtiness. She was really special.

Xin Wen's reaction made Lan Nian slightly frown and then feel a bit annoyed. "If I had known this would be the case, I really would have handed you over to those people as you wished, Boss Xin!"

"You wouldn't be willing to do that..." Xin Wen blurted out with certainty, and then added self-assuredly, "I'm the one you once loved deeply. Even though you wrongly accused me and said I had a new lover, our feelings are still there, aren't they?"

Serves you right for being so smarty-pants. Since you dared to play jokes on the president casually, you have to pay some price, right?

Just thinking that he could use this as leverage and pester Lan Nian in an ambiguous way every day in the future, Xin Wen felt that all the cells in his body were singing happily.

After saying that, Xin Wen smiled and sized up Lan Nian, whose face was gradually turning embarrassed. The indescribable ease made him feel like he was with an old friend he hadn't seen for a long time. All the pressure from his work and life vanished instantly.

"..." Knowing she was in the wrong, Lan Nian simply clamped her mouth shut.

She sighed inwardly. What kind of president was this guy anyway? He acted like a child... One moment arrogantly rude, the next wickedly scheming, making people both curious and amused.

"What's wrong? Even Sharp-Tongued Sister has her speechless moments?" Xin Wen poured fuel on the fire, determined to see Lan Nian flustered and embarrassed.

"Did I get it wrong? That curly-haired girl Miss Shang mentioned—is she your old flame?" Blurted out her doubts before she could stop herself, Lan Nian almost added, And isn't Shang Kexin practically your new love?

"..." Xin Wen fell silent immediately. After a moment, he forced a bitter smile. "If I said I've never even spoken to her, would you believe me?"

Of course, if those two playful notes didn't count.

Wait—never spoken a word but still pined after her all this time?

How incredible! Lan Nian's breath hitched, her whole body involuntarily trembling. Wasn't she the same way?

"Hey, let's head to the hotel first." Xin Wen suddenly blurted out, noticing Lan Nian's dazed expression.

"Why?"

"Why? Such a boring question. Where else? To meet my new crush, obviously!" Xin Wen exhaled casually, leaning into the innuendo... If he had to name a "new crush," this girl was the obvious choice.

Seeing Lan Nian still wearing that blank, confused look, Xin Wen complained, "C'mon, at least pretend to be jealous here."

"Alright, Mr. President, stop clowning around before you cause an accident!" Lan Nian shook her head with a laugh, instinctively reaching over to turn his face forward. Mid-movement, both froze.