There was no opportunity during the week, so it was delayed until the weekend before Miao Zhu saw Mu Shanyi again.
Mu Shanyi had returned to the country and was making a short stop in Capital City. The next day, she had to fly to a new mine in the west.
The temperature in Capital City was higher than in Cloud City. Miao Zhu had left Cloud City at noon, wearing a strapless Hepburn-style dress with a misty pink knitted cardigan draped over it. But by the time she waited outside the lecture hall at Capital University for Mu Shanyi’s talk to end, she had already taken off the cardigan and casually draped it over her arm.
Her shoulders and back were thinly covered. A few students ran past her, the swirling airflow lifting a strand of her sleek black hair.
“Where? Let me see!”
“Aaaah, what was I doing earlier? The senior said the main speaker was the Mu Family’s No.1, super charismatic. I didn’t take it seriously, or I wouldn’t be stuck outside the classroom. I wanted to go in and interact too, QAQ.”
“Who gets it? I couldn’t focus on a word she said. My eyes were just glued to her face.”
“Is it only the face that’s gorgeous? Look at her hand resting on the podium.”
“I dare not. My mind is full of stuff that wouldn’t pass censorship.”
Miao Zhu watched openly. That hand on the podium had distinct knuckles, neatly trimmed nails, and faintly red fingertips. It occasionally tapped the desk elegantly.
After a moment, the hand reached into the pocket of her slacks and pulled out a neatly folded white handkerchief, bringing it to her lips.
Mu Shanyi lowered her head and coughed lightly.
Miao Zhu’s relaxed stance suddenly straightened. She turned to Lu Zheng behind her.
“President Mu’s schedule has been packed lately, hopping across time zones. She hasn’t rested well and has a bit of a cold,” Lu Zheng explained briefly, then added, “Min Assistant prepared cold medicine for her, but she didn’t take it.”
Miao Zhu’s pretty brows furrowed slightly.
The classroom buzzed with lively interaction as the lecture neared its end.
Lu Zheng suggested Miao Zhu return to the nanny van to rest first. The group had long-term research collaborations with Capital University, so after the lecture, Mu Shanyi had to have a discussion with the school officials and a brief interview for the campus publication.
The clock hands pointed to 5. Miao Zhu sat in the car, thinking it would be a long wait. But just over ten minutes later, Mu Shanyi emerged from the building, surrounded by people like a moon among stars.
She asked the school officials to stop and not see her off further, but some reluctant students still trailed her, phones raised to snap photos.
Someone knocked on the car window.
Miao Zhu withdrew her gaze. Through the glass, she saw a delicate, slightly nervous face.
The window slowly rolled down.
“Hi, uh, I actually noticed you outside the classroom earlier… I’m a second-year grad student. Are you from the business school? A freshman?” The girl’s face grew redder as she spoke, handing over her phone with a QR code on the screen. “Mind if we add WeChat?”
Miao Zhu handled such advances with ease, but out of the corner of her eye, she saw that familiar figure approaching. She considered for two seconds.
“Hold on.”
Miao Zhu grabbed her bag from the seat, slowly fished out her phone, and aimed it at the QR code outside the window.
A hand covered Miao Zhu’s wrist, sliding up to take her phone away. Another hand spread open, blocking her face.
“Classmate, is there something you need?” Mu Shanyi’s clear, smiling voice rang out.
At the same time, Min Assistant called from nearby, “Please stop filming, everyone. Don’t upload today’s photos or videos online. Thank you for your understanding.”
The girl who wanted to connect with Miao Zhu widened her eyes in shock.
Her gaze darted between Miao Zhu and Mu Shanyi, realization dawning. This girl she’d taken a liking to at first sight wasn’t a Capital University student attending the lecture. She was here waiting for President Mu, and judging by President Mu’s actions, their relationship was obvious.
“Sorry for the interruption.” Approaching her had taken all her courage; now mortified, the girl covered her face and hurried away.
Mu Shanyi rubbed Miao Zhu’s phone as she got into the car.
She could tell at a glance that Miao Zhu had no intention of scanning the code—the phone was even powered off.
She had done it on purpose.
Something similar, because of Meng Shiyi?
They both tacitly ignored the little interlude.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.” Mu Shanyi handed the phone back to Miao Zhu and leaned in to examine her right cheek.
Miao Zhu was made up, so it was hard to tell if the bruise was still there.
Miao Zhu took Mu Shanyi’s hand, clasping it in her palm to feel her temperature.
Her heart eased a bit. Mu Shanyi was just coughing—no fever.
Lu Zheng and Min Assistant got in one after another. The car started, heading to the hotel.
Min Assistant glanced at the rearview mirror out of the corner of her eye.
She had joined the group in April as one of the new presidential office assistants in the domestic branch. This was her third time seeing Miss Miao, and each time left a deep impression—without exaggeration.
The first was early May, shortly after she started. President Mu had suddenly added a visit to Cloud Initial Plaza. She accompanied her and saw Miss Miao in the cinema lounge area, wrapped in a shawl. President Mu chatted with her briefly. After they parted, President Mu called logistics to adjust the mall’s AC based on real-time temperature and foot traffic. The logistics head broke out in cold sweat and arranged it immediately.
The second was late June. There was an urgent negotiation; President Mu was about to head out when she took a call and diverted to Pearl Hospital. President Mu gave her the address of a private restaurant and listed over a dozen requirements. President Mu wasn’t picky herself, so Min Assistant was curious who could make her push aside work and be so attentive—until she saw the ill Miss Miao and President Mu walking out of the hospital together.
And now this time, President Mu had crammed her schedule to the limit, and the first person she saw upon returning was Miss Miao, even skipping tonight’s chamber of commerce event for it.
Min Assistant averted her eyes, strictly managing her gaze, but she couldn’t help sniffing.
