"Hello, Chairman Xu."
"Can you help me find my son's phone number?"
This question from Xu Guimin left the person on the other end bewildered. It was unheard of for a father to ask someone else for his own son's phone number.
After two seconds, the person suddenly remembered that Xu Guimin had more than one son. There was also an eldest son who hadn't returned home for nearly ten years.
In the CEO's office of Heyuan Group, Xu Xiuhe was handling various documents, not paying any attention to Xu Guimin's matter.
"CEO, there are rumors outside that you'll return to inherit the shares of Xu Group," Liu Bo said as he entered.
"Is there any news about Xu Guimin?"
"There's no news online about Xu Guimin's current physical condition."
"Hmm, let's treat it as if nothing has happened."
"But some people are saying that it's likely more bad news than good. Xu Guimin is quite old now, and his health was probably not great to begin with. Plus, with this weather, it's almost below zero..."
"Wasn't he having issues while swimming at home?"
Xu Xiuhe had an impression of the family's swimming pool. The Xu family's pool was quite large; their villa was much bigger than Ziyue Manor. The pool in the courtyard alone was about 400 square meters, with a depth of about 1.6 meters. In theory, Xu Guimin shouldn't have just disappeared like that.
"The exact reason is unknown, but in winter, no matter how good an outdoor pool is, the water will be cold."
"I see, alright."
Seeing that Xu Xiuhe wasn't interested in this matter, Liu Bo didn't mention it further and continued to report on the recent work situation.
Just as he was about to leave, Xu Xiuhe called him back.
"Liu Bo, have you set a wedding date?"
Xu Xiuhe looked at Liu Bo and asked.
Liu Bo had thought Xu Xiuhe was just joking last time, but now it seemed that Xu Xiuhe wasn't the type to joke at all.
"What's with that shocked expression? Haven't you set a date yet?"
Liu Bo...
Could he say that he and Xiao Li'er were fake? If he did, would the CEO fire them both on the spot?
"We've been quite busy with work lately, and neither of us has had time to discuss this matter."
"Alright, that's my fault. I'll take care of the company's affairs for a while. You two take paid leave starting this afternoon. Go home and have a good discussion about the wedding arrangements and date. Try to have the wedding before the new year."
Liu Bo...
The CEO was being so good to him, not caring about his own inheritance rights, and now caring about his wedding. He felt overwhelmed by this favor.
"Do you have any objections?"
"No, no." Did he dare to say he had any?
"If not, then go pack up and leave with Xiao Li'er."
Liu Bo wanted to cry but had no tears. Indeed, one lie requires many more lies to cover it up.
Now the question was, how should he explain this to Xiao Li'er? Should he just say, "Hey, fake girlfriend, the CEO wants us to get married before we come back to work"?
With Xiao Li'er's personality, she'd probably call him a big idiot.
"CEO, this isn't something I can decide on my own. Marriage is a matter for two people."
Liu Bo was making a last-ditch effort.
"I understand. Go out and call Xiao Li'er in. I'll talk to her myself."
Liu Bo was truly impressed. How could there be such a meticulous boss, and his superior at that?
"Go on."
Liu Bo left Xu Xiuhe's office door, feeling utterly helpless.
Xiao Li'er was engrossed in her work when Liu Bo walked to the assistant's office area. A group of assistants looked over, thinking that the "Liu-Li CP" hadn't been "giving sugar" lately, but here it was now.
"Xiao Li, the CEO wants to see you," Liu Bo said, tapping on Xiao Li'er's desk.
Xiao Li'er thought she had misheard and asked again, "What did you say?"
"The CEO wants to see you."
This time she heard clearly, and Xiao Li'er started to panic. The last time she went into the CEO's office was... well, the last time. She hadn't been talking badly about the CEO behind his back recently, nor had she sent any inappropriate messages in the group chat. Why was she being called into the office again?
"Is it good news or bad news?"
Xiao Li'er asked. It shouldn't be about work issues; work-related matters were usually handled by Liu Bo.
"It's hard to say. It depends on how you look at it. Whether it's good or bad depends on you."
Liu Bo's response made Xiao Li'er even more anxious. Damn, what did he mean by "it depends on how she looks at it"?
"Why are you being so wordy and beating around the bush? Can't you just tell me what it's about?"
Xiao Li'er's tone became a bit agitated. She had been pretending to be in a relationship with Liu Bo for a while now, and their relationship had become incredibly close. She couldn't even distinguish what their relationship really was anymore. It seemed real yet fake, hard to say. Sometimes, she even felt like she actually had a boyfriend.
But soon after, she would come back to her senses. It was fake, each of them getting what they wanted and needed.
"The CEO wants to give you time off, starting this afternoon and for the next few days," Liu Bo said.
"That's good news, isn't it?"
Xiao Li'er was a bit excited. Time off work, isn't that a good thing? Who genuinely wants to work, after all?
After being happy for just two seconds, Xiao Li'er's expression gradually froze. Why would they give her time off for no reason? Everyone else was still working, why just her?
Perhaps this "time off" had another meaning. Maybe the CEO wanted to fire her, and Liu Bo thought it would be too harsh to say it directly, so he was beating around the bush, saying the CEO wanted to give her time off.
"Xiao Li'er, what's wrong with you? Your expression keeps changing from happy to terrified," Yang Mo asked from the side. She had never seen Xiao Li'er's face change so quickly.
"It's nothing. I'll go in first."
As if walking on hot coals, each of Xiao Li'er's steps was incredibly heavy.
"CEO," Xiao Li'er knocked on Xu Xiuhe's office door, her voice trembling.
"Come in."
Hearing this, Xiao Li'er walked in, observing Xu Xiuhe's expression while preparing what she would say next.
Yes, she wanted to ask why they were suddenly planning to fire her. There should be a reason for everything, right?
"What are your plans for the future?" Xu Xiuhe looked up from his work as Xiao Li'er approached his desk.
This question caught Xiao Li'er off guard. Was he directly asking her to find a new job?
"CEO, I'd like to ask, have I made any serious mistakes recently?"
Xiao Li'er's tone was incredibly submissive. Fortunately, she didn't have an internal breakdown like last time. After all, once bitten, twice shy.
"Hm? What do you mean?"
Similarly, Xiao Li'er's question left Xu Xiuhe completely puzzled.
"I want to know what plans I should have for the future."
"Plans for marriage, of course. Didn't Liu Bo tell you?"
!!!!
What?
Xiao Li'er's mind went blank. How could it be about this? And Liu Bo knew about it?
"CEO, isn't it a bit too early to get married now? I'm only 26."
"Is 26 too young? My wife is only 24, and my son is already two years old." Xu Xiuhe's face lit up with happiness as he mentioned Shen Yin and Xu Yunzheng, his joy evident in his expression.
Xiao Li'er felt like she was being shown off to, but still had to agree: "That's right, your wife is only 24, so young and beautiful."
