Chapter 104: Perfunctory
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Coincidentally, the dessert shop was selling French desserts the next day. Although the patissier was not a native of Shangxia, he was very fluent in its language so there was no barrier in communication.
...Upon hearing Lin Xiaowan’s request, he smiled, revealing the wrinkles on his forehead, as he asked, “Sure. When do I have to be there?”
Lin Xiaowan had asked about this yesterday. The party was on Friday night the week after next. If the patissier agreed to go, the shop would have to close early in the afternoon. However, she did not mind it.
Lin Xiaowan texted Zhu Yingyue, asking if she could borrow the patissier for a day.
[Zhu Yingyue: Do whatever you want. You can make decisions yourself. Just let me know about it.]
Zhu Yingyue was also very easygoing.
The patissier from Lin Xiaowan’s shop was not the only one who was hired. After all, it was a huge banquet, and they would need a lot of desserts.
Before the birthday party, Lin Xiaowan followed the patissier there to have a look out of curiosity.
Bai Xinting enthusiastically showed everyone the kitchen they would be working in and showed them the banquet menu as well. She also took the initiative to assign 16 helpers to Lin Xiaowan’s patissier. After all, Lin Xiaowan only gave her patissier an assistant.
What made Lin Xiaowan feel even more embarrassed was the fact that she had met Bai Xinting before. Bai Xinting was the beautiful woman whom she had met at the stairwell in the dessert shop previously. At that time, she had lied to Bai Xinting.
However, Bai Xinting did not seem angry. Instead, she said with a gentle smile, “As expected, you’re Lin Xiaowan.”
Lin Xiaowan was so embarrassed that she did not know what to say. She laughed before she explained earnestly, “1 didn’t mean to lie. 1 was just trying to avoid trouble.”
“It’s okay. I understand,” Bai Xinting said. She was very understanding.
‘Is it really okay?’
Lin Xiaowan remained silent. Bai Xinting was smiling so warmly at her that she felt even more embarrassed and guilty. For this reason, she somehow promised Bai Xinting in a daze that she would attend the birthday party. She could not refuse the other party and could only laugh stiffly and said, “Of course, I’ll attend the party.”
As soon as Lin Xiaowan left, she began to hesitate and regret her decision. When she saw Huo Zheng, she asked for his opinion.
“Just do what you want. It doesn’t matter if you don’t go,” Huo Zheng said. Then, he thought of a sentence he had read before but disagreed with. However, he felt that he could use it now to reassure Lin Xiaowan so he said, “Most agreements between adults are just perfunctory.”
Lin Xiaowan looked at him skeptically as she asked, “Then, are your agreements with CEO Li, CEO Wang, CEO Zhao, and the other CEOs perfunctory?”
Huo Zheng was rendered speechless. Naturally, those agreements were not perfunctory. Moreover, people in his position hated going back on their words or making casual promises.
Sometimes, one might speak casually, but the listener might take it seriously. If one did not watch one’s words when speaking, it would be easy to make mistakes.
Huo Zheng tried his best to defend himself. “The situation is different.”
Lin Xiaowan did not want to attend the birthday party because she knew she had to watch her words and actions very carefully. It was uncomfortable and tiring. Another reason for her reluctance was the lie she told at the dessert shop.
Lin Xiaowan looked a little depressed as she snuggled into Huo Zheng’s arms and said, “I have something to tell you…”
“Hmm?”
Lin Xiaowan told Huo Zheng about how she had lied about being someone else when asked.
“Why did you do that?” Huo Zheng laughed.
“I just blurted it out without thinking back then…”
“It’s okay. You don’t have to worry or feel embarrassed. It’s just a harmless joke,” Huo Zheng said. He did not think it was a big deal at all, but seeing how worried she was, he asked, “Would it be better if 1 accompany you?”
Lin Xiaowan knew Huo Zheng rarely attended such events. The events he attended were usually very formal where they discussed business cooperation. Therefore, she did not expect him to go with her.
Lin Xiaowan put her thumb and index finger together before she said, “I feel just a tiny bit better…”
Huo Zheng laughed and did not say anything seeing that she was in a better mood.
A few days before the birthday party, Lin Xiaowan’s custom brooch finally arrived. It looked even more exquisite and beautiful than the photos that the designer had sent her.
After processing, the seashell’s patterns were even more obvious. The embedded gemstones also set off the seashell beautifully. She excitedly showed it to him, saying that it was her gift to him.
When Huo Zheng accompanied Lin Xiaowan to attend the Bai family’s birthday party, he wore the brooch. To match the brooch, he wore a light blue shirt. Ever since he had taken over Huo Corporation, he had rarely dressed in light colors. Perhaps that was why he was even more eye-catching than the head of the Bai family today.
Lin Xiaowan, on the other hand, wore a light pink dress. The two of them looked like a match made in heaven.
With Lin Xiaowan around, everyone could see that Huo Zheng was in a good mood.
When the couple handed the gift to the butler, Lin Xiaowan could clearly see the butler’s probing gaze. She straightened her back and boldly met his gaze. She was much more courageous than before, especially after she started working at the dessert shop.
Although she was still nervous on social occasions like this, she was still able to act confidently.
After a while, Lin Xiaowan whispered to the man next to her, “It seems like many people are looking at you…”
Huo Zheng adjusted her hair ornament and replied, “They’re also looking at you.”
When he saw Lin Xiaowan’s tense expression and her eyes darting around, he asked, “Are you very nervous?”
Chapter 104: Perfunctory
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Coincidentally, the dessert shop was selling French desserts the next day. Although the patissier was not a native of Shangxia, he was very fluent in its language so there was no barrier in communication.
...Upon hearing Lin Xiaowan’s request, he smiled, revealing the wrinkles on his forehead, as he asked, “Sure. When do I have to be there?”
Lin Xiaowan had asked about this yesterday. The party was on Friday night the week after next. If the patissier agreed to go, the shop would have to close early in the afternoon. However, she did not mind it.
Lin Xiaowan texted Zhu Yingyue, asking if she could borrow the patissier for a day.
[Zhu Yingyue: Do whatever you want. You can make decisions yourself. Just let me know about it.]
Zhu Yingyue was also very easygoing.
The patissier from Lin Xiaowan’s shop was not the only one who was hired. After all, it was a huge banquet, and they would need a lot of desserts.
Before the birthday party, Lin Xiaowan followed the patissier there to have a look out of curiosity.
Bai Xinting enthusiastically showed everyone the kitchen they would be working in and showed them the banquet menu as well. She also took the initiative to assign 16 helpers to Lin Xiaowan’s patissier. After all, Lin Xiaowan only gave her patissier an assistant.
What made Lin Xiaowan feel even more embarrassed was the fact that she had met Bai Xinting before. Bai Xinting was the beautiful woman whom she had met at the stairwell in the dessert shop previously. At that time, she had lied to Bai Xinting.
However, Bai Xinting did not seem angry. Instead, she said with a gentle smile, “As expected, you’re Lin Xiaowan.”
Lin Xiaowan was so embarrassed that she did not know what to say. She laughed before she explained earnestly, “1 didn’t mean to lie. 1 was just trying to avoid trouble.”
“It’s okay. I understand,” Bai Xinting said. She was very understanding.
‘Is it really okay?’
Lin Xiaowan remained silent. Bai Xinting was smiling so warmly at her that she felt even more embarrassed and guilty. For this reason, she somehow promised Bai Xinting in a daze that she would attend the birthday party. She could not refuse the other party and could only laugh stiffly and said, “Of course, I’ll attend the party.”
As soon as Lin Xiaowan left, she began to hesitate and regret her decision. When she saw Huo Zheng, she asked for his opinion.
“Just do what you want. It doesn’t matter if you don’t go,” Huo Zheng said. Then, he thought of a sentence he had read before but disagreed with. However, he felt that he could use it now to reassure Lin Xiaowan so he said, “Most agreements between adults are just perfunctory.”
Lin Xiaowan looked at him skeptically as she asked, “Then, are your agreements with CEO Li, CEO Wang, CEO Zhao, and the other CEOs perfunctory?”
Huo Zheng was rendered speechless. Naturally, those agreements were not perfunctory. Moreover, people in his position hated going back on their words or making casual promises.
Sometimes, one might speak casually, but the listener might take it seriously. If one did not watch one’s words when speaking, it would be easy to make mistakes.
Huo Zheng tried his best to defend himself. “The situation is different.”
Lin Xiaowan did not want to attend the birthday party because she knew she had to watch her words and actions very carefully. It was uncomfortable and tiring. Another reason for her reluctance was the lie she told at the dessert shop.
Lin Xiaowan looked a little depressed as she snuggled into Huo Zheng’s arms and said, “I have something to tell you…”
“Hmm?”
Lin Xiaowan told Huo Zheng about how she had lied about being someone else when asked.
“Why did you do that?” Huo Zheng laughed.
“I just blurted it out without thinking back then…”
“It’s okay. You don’t have to worry or feel embarrassed. It’s just a harmless joke,” Huo Zheng said. He did not think it was a big deal at all, but seeing how worried she was, he asked, “Would it be better if 1 accompany you?”
Lin Xiaowan knew Huo Zheng rarely attended such events. The events he attended were usually very formal where they discussed business cooperation. Therefore, she did not expect him to go with her.
Lin Xiaowan put her thumb and index finger together before she said, “I feel just a tiny bit better…”
Huo Zheng laughed and did not say anything seeing that she was in a better mood.
A few days before the birthday party, Lin Xiaowan’s custom brooch finally arrived. It looked even more exquisite and beautiful than the photos that the designer had sent her.
After processing, the seashell’s patterns were even more obvious. The embedded gemstones also set off the seashell beautifully. She excitedly showed it to him, saying that it was her gift to him.
When Huo Zheng accompanied Lin Xiaowan to attend the Bai family’s birthday party, he wore the brooch. To match the brooch, he wore a light blue shirt. Ever since he had taken over Huo Corporation, he had rarely dressed in light colors. Perhaps that was why he was even more eye-catching than the head of the Bai family today.
Lin Xiaowan, on the other hand, wore a light pink dress. The two of them looked like a match made in heaven.
With Lin Xiaowan around, everyone could see that Huo Zheng was in a good mood.
When the couple handed the gift to the butler, Lin Xiaowan could clearly see the butler’s probing gaze. She straightened her back and boldly met his gaze. She was much more courageous than before, especially after she started working at the dessert shop.
Although she was still nervous on social occasions like this, she was still able to act confidently.
After a while, Lin Xiaowan whispered to the man next to her, “It seems like many people are looking at you…”
Huo Zheng adjusted her hair ornament and replied, “They’re also looking at you.”
When he saw Lin Xiaowan’s tense expression and her eyes darting around, he asked, “Are you very nervous?”
