For the next two days, Xu Yun kept to his usual work schedule.
He would occasionally step out at noon to meet Luo Dongxu's assistant at the downstairs coffee shop and give him some information regarding himself and Huang Mengyao.
When he returned, he would, as was his habit, order coffee for all his colleagues.
He paid no mind to Su Mu's sudden coldness.
He had plenty of women in his life now; he wasn't about to kiss up to someone who was giving him the cold shoulder.
She used to be completely out of his league, but now, he saw her as an equal. There was no longer any reason to feel inferior.
But just as he thought they were about to drift apart, Su Mu unexpectedly messaged him and asked him out to dinner.
This took Xu Yun by surprise.
'Has she had a change of heart?'
After agreeing, Xu Yun and Su Mu, wanting to avoid suspicion, deliberately lingered at the office for a while after hours. They left one after the other, went straight to the parking garage, and he got into her car.
Anyone who didn't know better might have thought they were having an affair.
After he got in, Su Mu said nothing and simply drove off.
On the road, seeing that Su Mu was being cold and silent, Xu Yun also kept quiet, content to just look out the window.
"I heard from Jinshu that you bought a car?"
Xu Yun looked over. "Are you talking to me, Manager Su?"
"Is there anyone else in this car?"
"Just a casual purchase."
Xu Yun asked casually, "What about it? Does Manager Su want to take a spin in my passenger seat?"
"You used to always call me 'Sister.'"
Su Mu frowned, annoyed. "What, now that your cover as a rich young master is blown, you're dropping the act?"
"You're the one who wanted to draw a line and keep our relationship strictly professional."
Xu Yun gave a cold laugh. "I'm giving you what you wanted. Why aren't you happy now?"
'You really think I'm still some pushover you can toy with?'
'If you want to put on airs, I'm not about to play along.'
Su Mu was speechless.
Another wave of silence fell over them.
"Xu Yun."
Su Mu sighed, finally breaking the silence again. "The reason I divorced my ex-husband is because he cheated on me and lied to me. That's why I can't stand being lied to by men now."
"And what did I lie to you about?"
Xu Yun retorted. "Go on, tell me."
"You're rich. Why did you pretend to be an ordinary guy to get close to me?"
Su Mu said, "Every time I helped you get your perfect attendance bonus of a few hundred yuan, edited your timecard for you, and secretly fought to get you benefits and a raise, were you just looking at me like I was some kind of idiot?
Because that little bit of money means nothing to you!"
"Uh…"
Xu Yun was speechless. "So after all this time, *that's* the reason you've been treating me this way?"
"Yes."
Su Mu said, a hint of anger in her voice, "Because you made me feel like a complete clown. Don't I have a right to be mad at you?"
"If that's the case…"
Xu Yun couldn't help but laugh and retorted, "Then why did you drink the brown sugar fruit juice I ordered for you?"
"Those are two different things. You can't compare them."
Su Mu paused for a moment before saying, "I asked you out today because I wanted to ask you about this. It will determine the future of our relationship."
"It's actually quite simple."
Xu Yun held up his hands. "The truth is, I really didn't have any money before. I only have it now. I never lied to you, and I certainly never made a fool of you.
You've looked out for me a lot at the company these past two years, and I'm very grateful for that."
"Then how did you suddenly get so much money?"
Su Mu said, "And don't say you won the lottery. I checked—there haven't been any recent jackpots."
"Sister Su, everyone has their secrets."
Xu Yun continued, "Just like you have yours. Everyone at the office misunderstands you and spreads rumors, but I've never seen you stand up and explain yourself to them."
Su Mu fell silent.
Listening to Xu Yun, she suddenly felt that she had been overthinking things, that she had been too sensitive.
'She had really gotten bogged down in it.'
'That's right, everyone has their secrets.'
'Why did I feel the need to probe so deeply into it?'
Once Su Mu figured this out, her mood brightened considerably.
She smiled and said, "Xu Yun, I was in the wrong before. To make it up to you, I'll grant you one request tonight, as long as it's something I can do."
"Any request at all?"
"That's right."
"Alright, I'll remember that."
Xu Yun replied with a smile, "But first, let's go eat. I'm starving."
...
「An hour later.」
Su Mu brought Xu Yun to a place called Wan Qingshao Restaurant, located in the East Lake Scenic Area.
"This place is so remote. Is anyone even here?"
Xu Yun walked in and looked around. The restaurant wasn't large, and there was only one other table of customers. He asked skeptically, "And with so few customers, can the food really be that good?"
"You couldn't get a table here even if you tried."
Su Mu explained with a smile, "This is the best restaurant I know. It's about 1,600 yuan per person, very private, and only takes advance reservations. They only serve two tables at a time."
"Classic scarcity marketing."
Xu Yun looked around and teased, "But I have to admit, this place is perfect for a date. Did you used to come here secretly with your ex-husband often?"
"No."
Su Mu answered, "I only found this place after my divorce. Sometimes, when I have nothing to do after work and don't feel like going home, I'll drive here by myself to sit for a bit."
"So I'm the first man you've brought here?"
Su Mu smiled. "I suppose so."
"I feel quite honored, then."
Xu Yun smiled as he sat down and picked up the menu. It was all in English, however, and he looked as though he couldn't quite make sense of it.
As the two were chatting, the owner of the restaurant came over.
Since Su Mu was a member and a regular, the owner naturally came over to greet her and personally attend to her table when he saw she had arrived.
The owner smiled as soon as he saw her. "Ms. Su, it's been a while. You're as beautiful as ever."
"Boss Mou, long time no see."
Su Mu said with a smile, "I happened to be free today, so I brought a friend over for a meal."
"Welcome, welcome."
Boss Mou looked over at Xu Yun, who was sitting across from Su Mu.
This was the first time he had ever seen Su Mu bring a man here to eat; their relationship was surely anything but ordinary.
He turned to Xu Yun and said warmly, "Sir, is there anything you'd like to eat? I can recommend some of our specialties."
"No need."
Xu Yun said casually, "Boss, just bring us one of every signature dish you have."
"..."
Boss Mou thought he must have misheard. "Won't that be a bit much?" he asked.
"Boss Mou."
Su Mu, remembering what happened last time at Crane Garden, couldn't help but laugh. "Just do as he says. This friend of mine has a huge appetite; otherwise, he won't get full."
Boss Mou was left speechless.
Thanks to Xu Yun's extravagance, the bill, which should have been around 4,000 yuan, came out to over 8,000, doubling the cost.
After they paid and left, Xu Yun grinned. "Sister Su, did I order a little too much back there?"
"I may not be as rich as you, but I can still afford to treat someone to an 8,000-yuan meal every now and then."
Su Mu asked, "So, what now? Should I take you straight home, or…?"
"If we go back now, I'll be alone, and you'll be alone."
Xu Yun said, "So why don't we go to a hotel and move on to the next activity?"
Su Mu: "???"
"But Sister Su, you did say it in the car."
Xu Yun grinned. "That no matter what I ask for tonight, as long as you can do it, you have to agree."