Наving rесеivеd a New Yеаr's gift frоm him, shе nаturally had tо rеciprоcatе.
It wаs just thаt this wаs Ruаn Siхian's first time giving а gift to a man, and she wasn't quitе fаmiliar with thе prосеss, unsurе how tо арреar сalm and cоmрosеd.
After somе thought, she dеcided tо just gо fоr it.
Shе rеасhed out tо tug аt Fu Mingуu's tiе.
"Сomе a littlе сloser."
Fu Мingуu cоmplied, leаning down toward hеr.
Ruаn Siхian bеgan to undo his tiе.
"Whаt аre уоu dоing?"
Fu Мingуu рressеd his hаnd ovеr hers, lоwering his voiсe. "It's а hоlidаy tоdау, аnd I'm very busy."
"..."
Ruаn Sixian suddenly pinсhed the Windsor knоt, her hands рositiоnеd abоve and below, pulling it tight around his neck.
Fu Mingyu hissed, "Are you trying to kill me?"
"Can your brain stop being filled with nothing but dirty thoughts?" Ruan Sixian abandoned her earlier carefulness, roughly undoing the tie in a few quick motions and tossing it aside.
Just as Fu Mingyu was about to say something, the LED screen on the office door suddenly lit up.
Bai Yang was outside, needing to come in for something.
Ruan Sixian naturally saw it too and said nothing, sitting upright with the tie in her hand.
Bai Yang walked in expressionlessly, holding a folder. He glanced at Fu Mingyu's "disheveled" appearance without any change in expression, then laid the documents out on the table and said, "Mr. Fu, there's a document here that requires your signature."
As a competent assistant, aside from being meticulous and serious at work, one must also possess excellent emotional control—no sudden reactions—otherwise, it's easy to become a source of amusement in the boss's romantic life.
Fu Mingyu straightened the collar that Ruan Sixian had messed up, stood up, and walked over to the table. With one hand in his pocket and the other flipping through the documents, he glanced over the contents briefly before picking up a pen and signing with a swift motion. As he lowered his head, the evening sun shone through the window, casting a faint golden glow on his face.
Ruan Sixian openly watched him the entire time.
Her boyfriend was really handsome—his eyes, nose, mouth, his profile... even the strands of his hair perfectly aligned with her aesthetic preferences.
Bai Yang reported from the side, "Starting from 6 p.m., passenger traffic during this holiday has begun to surge sharply. All duty managers are on duty, and both flight operations and maintenance control are currently running normally. In twenty minutes, the operational monitoring status of all flights will be synchronized."
After finishing his report, Bai Yang picked up the signed document and turned to leave, still expressionless.
Before exiting, he pressed a button by the door. Once he left and the door closed, it automatically locked from the outside.
Fu Mingyu turned and walked back toward Ruan Sixian, sitting down beside her.
A hint of mischief flickered in his eyes as he tilted his chin up. "Continue?"
Continue, my foot.
Ruan Sixian directly pulled out the box she had hidden behind her back and said irritably, "A gift."
Fu Mingyu stared intently at Ruan Sixian.
Feeling a bit uncomfortable under his gaze, Ruan Sixian didn't want to speak and simply took action.
She had often seen Fu Mingyu tie a Windsor knot—a simple triangle, its principle probably similar to that of a scarf.
As she worked on it, she said, "Although this might not compare to what you usually use, if you say you don't like it, then it can serve another purpose."
"Hmm? What purpose?"
"Just—"
Ruan Sixian looked up, meeting Fu Mingyu's ambiguous gaze, and her words trailed off.
With so much dirty-minded thinking, why doesn't he just become a painter?Two seconds later, she couldn’t resist tugging his neck again, saying fiercely, “A noose for your life.”
Ruan Sixian realized that Fu Mingyu now paid no attention at all to her harsh words.
Hearing “a noose for your life,” he instead laughed.
It was utterly unsatisfying, and she didn’t even want to talk to him.
Just then, someone rang the doorbell again. Ruan Sixian tossed the tie aside and stood up, walking to the window.
Hearing a woman’s voice, she glanced back and saw the assistant entering with a food container, bending over to arrange the items one by one on the coffee table.
The reason why the holiday rush was called a battlefield was that even someone in Fu Mingyu’s position dared not easily leave his post.
The dense flight schedule directly doubled the probability of incidents. Even a minor delay could trigger a chain reaction, affecting a series of subsequent flights. Moreover, if a safety incident occurred during this period, Fu Mingyu would bear the brunt of the responsibility.
Fu Mingyu lowered his head and finished tying his tie. The assistant had already set out the meal and silently retreated.
“Come have dinner.” Fu Mingyu remembered something. “I’m practically tied up these days. Are your next three days also fully scheduled with flights?”
“Yes.”
“On the evening of the 4th, Uncle Yan’s seventieth birthday banquet is being held at Warner Manor. Will you accompany me?”
Ruan Sixian blinked. “Who?”
“Uncle Yan,” Fu Mingyu said. “Yan An’s father.”
Ruan Sixian: “…”
She wasn’t at all surprised that Fu Mingyu would attend Yan An’s father’s birthday banquet.
After all, she had known for years that World Airlines and North Airlines had a mutually beneficial relationship, with intertwined collaborations dating back to Fu Mingyu’s father’s generation. They could truly be considered old family friends.
Fu Mingyu thought Ruan Sixian probably didn’t enjoy attending such events, but in his view, accompanying him was necessary.
First, bringing a girlfriend to such occasions was an unspoken social norm. Second, since World Airlines’ official Weibo post, everyone who knew Fu Mingyu, directly or indirectly, was aware of his girlfriend’s existence.
Moreover, for this girlfriend, Fu Mingyu had broken his usual low-key demeanor and publicly distanced himself from any ties to Li Zhihuai. If he appeared alone at this social event, it would inevitably lead to speculation about his “girlfriend.”
Fu Mingyu asked again, “Will you go?”
“Sure,” Ruan Sixian said. “You already know Yan An pursued me before. As long as you don’t mind, I have nothing to say.”
“Why would I mind? He didn’t succeed, did he?” Fu Mingyu chuckled. “If anything, you shouldn’t worry about it. He and I have been like this since we were kids.”
Ruan Sixian stopped listening, her thoughts already drifting elsewhere.
What should she wear to her first banquet like this?
The event was on the evening of the 4th, and she wouldn’t be free until the afternoon of the 3rd. She’d have to rush to buy clothes like she was going into battle.
So annoying.
“Why are you only telling me today?” Ruan Sixian grumbled. “Couldn’t you have said something earlier?”
Fu Mingyu had been about to pick up some food with his chopsticks. Hearing her sudden outburst, his hand paused, puzzled. “I gave you four days’ notice.”
Ruan Sixian glared at him. “What do you know? A year’s notice wouldn’t be too early.”
This way of thinking was exactly like his mother’s—often preparing for a banquet weeks in advance, making a huge fuss over every little detail."By the way," Fu Mingyu thought of something else, "the Zheng family will also be attending this time."
The Zheng family.
Without Fu Mingyu explaining, she knew he had deliberately mentioned it because it was Zheng You'an's family.
"They can go if they want."
Ruan Sixian paused, muttering softly, "Do I have to deliberately avoid them?"
"Alright, I'll pick you up at five o'clock on the afternoon of the fourth."-
Fu Mingyu seemed to have an exceptionally strong sense of time. If he said five o'clock, he wouldn't arrive a minute early.
Ruan Sixian had everything ready by four-thirty, forcing herself to wait at home for half an hour.
During that time, she opened the window once and reached out to feel the temperature outside.
It was truly cold.
Looking down at the dress she was wearing, she suddenly felt how difficult it was to be a woman.
Although she hadn't intended to compete for attention at the banquet, she at least couldn't look worse than her impeccably dressed boyfriend.
So warmth was not within her consideration.
Unfortunately, her luck wasn't great. When she woke up this morning, her period had arrived early, giving her a surprise.
What could she do? Bare legs were a sign of respect for the dress.
Respect knows no season.
When the clock struck five, the doorbell rang precisely.
As she opened the door, a gust of cold wind rushed in, but Ruan Sixian's expression remained unchanged.
Fu Mingyu was momentarily stunned.
The person before him wore a wine-red evening gown that cinched her waist perfectly. The clean, sharp tailoring and the off-shoulder design accentuated her elegant neckline and shoulders, with a small inverted triangle opening in the center, adding a touch of bold sensuality.
Above her smooth collarbone hung the necklace he had given her, drawing attention away from the focus on her chest.
Seeing the admiration in Fu Mingyu's eyes, Ruan Sixian felt that enduring the cold was worth it.
She tilted her head slightly. "What? Don't you recognize your girlfriend?"
Fu Mingyu reached out, took her hand, and smiled. "You look beautiful."
Ruan Sixian put on her coat and followed Fu Mingyu out, feeling satisfied.
The sound of her high heels echoed in the hallway, a melody unique to women.
"Are you cold?"
Fu Mingyu asked.
Ruan Sixian gritted her teeth. "No, it's just a short walk. Isn't there heating inside?"-
He Lanxiang and Fu Boyan arrived earlier.
Music was already playing in the banquet hall. He Lanxiang held a glass of champagne, discreetly observing her surroundings.
"Zheng Taichu has been talking with his daughter and Yan An for almost twenty minutes. Does he have something in mind again?"
Fu Boyan followed his wife's gaze.
"The situation is getting more serious. He's already grasping at his last lifeline."
"Ah," He Lanxiang said, "didn't he look down on Yan An before?"
"What else can he do?" Fu Boyan replied. "Your son announced his girlfriend so publicly. Can he still push his daughter forward?"
"But he shouldn't push his daughter into a pit of fire. I'm not saying Yan An isn't a good kid—he has many qualities—but he just can't settle down, no matter how old he gets."
"Does he have any other choice now?" Fu Boyan glanced at her. "If you feel sorry for him, you could lend a hand. After all, there's still another unmarried son, isn't there?""Please don't. Even abroad you won't let him off the hook, are you really his biological father?" He Lanxiang curled her lips, glancing toward Dong Xian in another corner, "And who would want to be in-laws with her? It's always so uncomfortable. Thankfully, our Mingyu has a girlfriend now. I really have to thank her properly, otherwise they might have latched onto us again. By the way, he's bringing his girlfriend over later. Tidy up that stern look of yours, don't scare the poor girl."
Fu Boyan smiled. He Lanxiang glanced at him and clicked her tongue, "Forget it, better not smile. Oh, I think they're here!"
The couple turned to look in unison.
Two waiters in fishtail suits pushed open the banquet hall doors. Under the chandelier's glow, Fu Mingyu was walking toward them.
The woman on his arm was wrapped in a red dress, the fishtail silk shimmering, revealing slender, fair calves as she strode confidently in stiletto heels.
Though she hadn't seen her face yet, He Lanxiang had already given her full marks in her mind.
With such a figure and presence, how could her face be anything less than stunning?
He Lanxiang linked arms with Fu Boyan and pressed a hand to her forehead, sighing, "Ah, at my age I wanted to keep a low profile, but someone just had to show off for me. What can I do? I don't want to be the envy of everyone in every way—it's not good to attract jealousy."
Fu Boyan sighed, falling into his habitual silence.
He Lanxiang had noticed Fu Mingyu and his companion, and naturally, others hadn't overlooked them either.
Gradually, gazes began to converge on them.
Sensing the shift in the banquet hall, Dong Xian also turned to look.
"Ruan Ruan?" Dong Jing, standing beside her, was surprised. "So her boyfriend is him?"
Ruan Sixian held Fu Mingyu's arm, a proper smile on her lips, but her fingers couldn't help tightening their grip on him.
"You didn't tell me your parents were here."
"I wanted to tell you last night, but you were in a hurry to go shopping and hung up on me, remember?" Fu Mingyu turned his head to look at her. "Are you nervous?"
How could she not be?
Ruan Sixian had never imagined meeting Fu Mingyu's parents so soon.
And in such a setting, no less.
She glanced down at her dress and whispered, "If you'd told me earlier, I wouldn't have worn this."
Before Fu Mingyu could respond, He Lanxiang had already approached with Fu Boyan on her arm.
She tilted her head, openly observing Ruan Sixian.
"Dad, Mom." Fu Mingyu released Ruan Sixian's arm and instead took her hand. "This is Ruan Sixian."
Ruan Sixian immediately added, "Hello, Uncle and Auntie."
He Lanxiang nodded with satisfaction. "I've heard so much about you. Seeing you in person, you're even prettier than in photos. Were you cold on the way here? Would you like some warm water?"
"Not cold." As she spoke, Ruan Sixian caught sight of two figures approaching from the corner of her eye and tightened her grip on Fu Mingyu's hand. "Thank you, Auntie."
He Lanxiang smiled as she looked Ruan Sixian over, growing more pleased by the moment.
At the same time, Dong Xian and Dong Jing also walked over.
He Lanxiang glanced at them and said with a smile, "I was just saying Mingyu should come over and greet you. Here, let me introduce you—this is Mingyu's girlfriend, Ruan Sixian."
"..."
Ruan Sixian first nodded toward the somewhat stunned Dong Jing. "Auntie."
The smile on He Lanxiang's lips froze for a moment.
Wait, who did she just call "Auntie"?
Did Dong Jing have any other sisters?
Ruan Sixian slowly turned her gaze to Dong Xian, her expression still holding a polite smile. "Mom."He Lanxiang: "..."
She gripped her husband's hand beside her, nearly losing her balance.
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