Proud senior schoolgirl was tender and sweet, we fell in love

```

But even until the end, Xie Xiao's face still showed hesitation, "Brother Ge, you've got to let me go back and think about it. My mind is all jumbled right now, and I've never been very brave."

After speaking, he gave Ge Hui an embarrassed smile.

Ge Hui clicked his tongue, "Little bro, the brave die of overconfidence, and the timid die of starvation."

Xie Xiao blinked, nodded, but the hesitation on his face remained unchanged.

At this moment, Ge Hui was feeling somewhat contemptuous toward Xie Xiao; Luo Ming's eye for people wasn't that great, after all.

This kid hesitates even with a fattening opportunity delivered to his mouth.

Although that's what he thought, Ge Hui still wore the smile of a good older brother, "Alright, you go back and think it over. Your project hasn't started yet, has it?"

That last sentence was a probe.

Xie Xiao didn't know if he had made contact with others, but there was a high probability that he had.

It's just that Ge Hui thought it would be more effective to seek him out first, so he came to him as a priority.

Xie Xiao seemed to understand what Xu Hao had said; the relationship between a company and its employees is really just about mutual benefit.

So, you can't trust anyone too much.

Unless you're like Xu Hao, who already has shares in the company and is part of it.

The others are just working for a paycheck.

So, no matter how sweet the talk, nothing's more real than money.

That's reality.

At this point, Xie Xiao honestly said, "The project indeed hasn't started; we're still waiting for Luo Ming's confirmation on the supplier selection."

This was the truth, and there was nothing that couldn't be said.

As expected, Ge Hui showed a satisfied expression, "Then little bro, you've got to consider it quickly. Opportunities to make money like this are rare. You just have to move your lips, and you don't have to do much. Besides, we've worked together before, and you know the quality we offer. It's really about a win-win..."

The more he talked, the more tempting it sounded.

Xie Xiao's eyes lit up.

Ge Hui felt that the deal was as good as done.

Although Xie Xiao didn't agree to consider it further until the very end.

But Ge Hui just looked at him for a while, nodded, and had Yan Shi take him back first.

After getting into the car, Xie Xiao rubbed his forehead, his drooping eyelashes concealing most of his emotions.

But the smile on his face had disappeared; he hadn't expected that Ge Hui would want the project this badly.

Yan Shi, who was driving, suddenly spoke up, "I told you before, our boss is not suitable for collaboration."

Xie Xiao paused, lowered his hand, and looked into the rearview mirror to see Yan Shi's gaze. He spoke softly, "Shouldn't there be a reason for that? And don't you find it tempting?"

Yan Shi was silent for a moment before finally exhaling, "It's tempting, sure. A few words could mean hundreds of thousands or even millions; who wouldn't be tempted?"

Xie Xiao felt a sinking feeling in his heart. Ge Hui and his people knew about Luo Ming's plans to open a chain.

But this information hadn't been announced to the public yet; surely, someone responsible for the project must have already been in contact with Ge Hui and his people.

"But Xie Xiao, I think I'm rather ordinary, you don't seem that way," Yan Shi didn't give a proper reason, in the end.

Xie Xiao just stayed silent for a while, then said, "Who doesn't love money? If I didn't love money, why would I want to work?"

Yan Shi frowned, wanting to say something, but he couldn't say much more.

```

He fell silent in the end.

After all, he had given his advice, but the other person didn't appreciate it.

Then he couldn't be blamed.

When they reached the entrance of the residential area, Xie Xiao spoke up, "Were you following me before?"

Yan Shi was startled for a moment, "You found out?"

He didn't deny it.

Xie Xiao laughed in exasperation, "Why were you following me?"

"I don't quite trust that Zhou Mianmian has cut off contact with you. You might have truly moved on, but she might not, otherwise, we wouldn't have fought so fiercely back then." Yan Shi rolled down the car window and took out a cigarette, "I need to smoke one."

Xie Xiao didn't say a word.

From Yan Shi's perspective, he had heard another version of the story. Previously, he heard that it was because Yan Shi had gotten involved with certain things and, due to his own leg problems, his family had been abusive towards Zhou Mianmian, eventually driving her to a breaking point.

She reported Yan Shi to the police and had him locked up.
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But now, Yan Shi said, "We were married, and at first, I also wanted to live a good life, but she despised me, eh. I'm just a cripple, and she still likes you..."

Yan Shi laughed self-mockingly, "If I were her, I guess I'd like you too. What am I compared to you? But Xie Xiao, we are both men, and I really couldn't bear it, I really did hit her and even my parents beat her..."

Xie Xiao said nothing, just looked outside, where the streets were nearly empty with only an occasional passerby.

"I did hit her. But I never thought she'd be so ruthless. Wasn't it because of her that I got involved with that stuff? She must be heartless, Zhou Mianmian must be heartless..."

They kept blaming each other, but Yan Shi still wanted to find her in the end.

Xie Xiao didn't understand – was it for revenge or something else?

But Xie Xiao didn't want to get involved in this.

He opened the car door, then said, "I really haven't been in contact with her, and your stalking has affected my life."

As Xie Xiao pushed the car door open, Yan Shi spoke, "Xie Xiao, I've said this before but many people don't believe it, I'll tell you once today. I don't know why, but I want to know if you'll believe me. When I was with Zhou Mianmian, I didn't force her."

"Although I was impulsive at the time, I wasn't foolish, I knew that forcing her was a crime, and how could I force her if I loved her so much? She was willing, and it was her who got the room, but no one believes what I say."

Yan Shi's voice trembled slightly, "Because I was just a thug, and how could she, a young girl, lie, right? Xie Xiao, do you believe it?"

Xie Xiao looked at Yan Shi, who was looking back at him.

Years ago, nobody would have imagined Yan Shi would come to Xie Xiao to tell him such a thing, to ask if he believed it.

Not even Xie Xiao would have thought so.

He sighed softly, "Does it really matter, Yan Shi? We're just acquaintances; does my opinion really matter? Our lives won't intersect or connect."

A hint of self-mockery flashed through Yan Shi's eyes before he lowered his head; why would he still crave for a word of belief from Xie Xiao?

Even his own parents hadn't believed him.

But then Xie Xiao's voice came again, "Why care about how others see you? The more you care and explain, the more you trap yourself. Your life is your own."

Xie Xiao's voice had always been so gentle. Yan Shi had once thought it was all an act.

But now he seemed to understand why people said Xie Xiao was as gentle as jade.

It wasn't infatuation; it was his true nature, to be incredibly kind, even to someone like himself.

He said, "Yan Shi, it's not others' opinions that trap you, but your own obsessions. Yet it's unnecessary, we're only in our twenties; there's still a long road ahead."

"Goodbye, there's no need to follow me anymore. You should know, with Ranran in my life, it's impossible for me to be in contact with Zhou Mianmian."