"Little Na, our Tao Bao is truly wonderful. He's much more stable than my A Wei. He's never been in love before, so his first affection will be genuine. Don't mind his quiet nature; he's bound to be a man who cherishes his wife." Ms. Lu had always observed Na Mu Zhong's demeanor. Even knowing their background, the girl showed no inclination to fawn over them. She seemed to possess a solid confidence, a quality Ms. Lu admired greatly, so she continuously tried to persuade Na Mu Zhong to accept Lu Tao Bao.
Lu Tao Bao didn't care about losing face. If Na Mu Zhong agreed today, that would be the best outcome.
"Mom, if Na Mu Zhong leaves with Tao Bao, our group will lose a valuable member. Am I supposed to bear that loss?" Zheng Wei, holding Shen Xiao Yan's hand, approached and said casually.
"Oh? Xiao Na, you work in our group?" Not only Ms. Lu, but even Mother Lin and Mother Lu were greatly surprised.
They had known this girl was a high-level executive, but hearing she was part of the Zheng family's group sent shivers down their spines.
The Zheng family was also a major conglomerate, known for their stringent hiring practices. Considering her young age, her achievements were truly… exceptional!
However, with this understanding, it became somewhat easier to comprehend her lack of interest in Lu Tao Bao. Reaching such a senior position in the Zheng Corporation was no small feat. She could clearly have whatever she desired, without needing to rely on any man. With this foundation, her perspective on relationships would naturally be purer.
Upon hearing Zheng Wei's words, Mother Lu's impression of Na Mu Zhong improved even further! Truly worthy of being the woman her son fancied. Impressive, indeed!
"If Xiao Na is part of our group, doesn't that make her one of those eight people?" The Zheng Corporation's hierarchy was very clearly defined. Apart from Zheng Wei and a few old shareholders, the most valued individuals were the eight deputy general managers of the lower departments. The existence of these eight "great immortals" was known even to other corporations.
"Mm," Zheng Wei nodded. "Na Mu Zhong is the youngest among these eight, and the only woman."
Honestly, he wasn't fond of Na Mu Zhong's current attire. He still easily recalled the "tomboy" she used to be. If the tomboy had appeared today, Mother Lu probably wouldn't be so excited and enthusiastic.
All these changes were thanks to his wife helping her.
"Why would I leave? The cost of poaching me is very high right now! Besides, I am exclusively responsible for public relations and promotion, which doesn't involve the core of the group. I won't jump ship for something insignificant." Na Mu Zhong found it hard to understand their thought processes. She was clearly doing well, and she intended to remain a powerful female leader!
"Promotion and publicity indeed don't involve the core of the group, so even if we get married in the future, you won't have to resign due to the overlap in our companies," Lu Tao Bao said casually, leaning to the side.
Na Mu Zhong shook her head. "Sorry, I have no expectations for marriage."
She spoke calmly, but… the past betrayal by that scoundrel had hurt her deeply.
Fortunately, she hadn't given up her career for such a scumbag back then, otherwise, she would be in a miserable situation now.
"Alas, Xiao Na, having a man isn't so bad." Mother Lu was now a little hesitant. The girl clearly had no interest in that area. She couldn't fathom how her son had called her his girlfriend; she clearly wasn't.
"As you know, he's surrounded by too many temptations. If he truly wants to fall in love seriously, he'll have to put in genuine effort. Frankly, I don't trust feelings very much, so… I'd rather not start anything. Otherwise, I might have to work during the day and deal with some unwanted attention at night. It's exhausting." Na Mu Zhong truly feared nothing and didn't mind expressing her true thoughts in front of several esteemed ladies.
"That sort of thing won't happen with me," Lu Tao Bao said, lifting his head and shaking it.
"Apologies," Na Mu Zhong shook her head again, then nodded to the mothers before going to find Shen Xiao Yan.
Seeing this, Zheng Wei let Shen Xiao Yan and Na Mu Zhong go to the garden outside to sit.
Watching the two women walk away, Mother Lu said with some regret, "She's a good, capable wife who isn't delicate. It's just… has she been hurt in the past?"
This was also the feeling of the three of them. The girl was very conservative, even evasive, when it came to relationships…
"Mm, she's been bitten once and is wary of snakes." Zheng Wei nodded, confirming their speculations.
"This matter is actually quite simple. Such women are actually the hardest to soften. Look, she's very wealthy now, has plenty of time, can buy whatever she wants, go wherever she pleases. But if she were to get married, not only would Tao Bao not actively pursue other women, but it doesn't mean other women wouldn't pursue Tao Bao. She'd have to deal with all that, and perhaps family matters too. If they went out, others would gossip about her relying on men or the Lu family for advancement. She's not a fool; she'll naturally choose what's best for her. I do think it might be slightly related to past hurt, but the primary reason is that she doesn't need a man. The greatest use a man could serve for her is… warming the bed?" Lin Xin's spirits lifted, especially after seeing Lu Tao Bao flustered. He analyzed the situation very systematically for everyone.
After analyzing, he turned to his mother and asked, "Mom, if you were Na Mu Zhong, would you find it troublesome or prefer to be carefree on your own?"
"Although not every woman can achieve Xiao Na's position, Xiao Na's life is truly excellent right now." Although Mother Lin was reluctant to admit it, all of them knew that after marriage, they would inevitably have to attend various events, and indeed, many women would try to get close to their men. They had all gone through this.
Lu Tao Bao's face darkened further.
"What Tao Bao needs to do now is to let nature take its course. If you pressure this kind of woman, she might truly become a lifelong single. In any case, take it slow. You can't be faster than Shen Xiao Yan and Old Zheng anyway. Their child is due to be born soon!" Lin Xin then pulled Lu Tao Bao into the ranks of single dogs.
Lu Tao Bao moved aside with a hint of disdain.
"Alas, I never imagined my Tao Bao would like such an independent and strong girl. Honestly, I didn't have much hope," Mother Lu said worriedly after Lu Tao Bao walked away. "This is Tao Bao's first serious relationship; I'm truly afraid he won't be able to bear it!"
"Alas, young people have their own ways of resolving things. Perhaps she'll be won over by Xiao Na soon." Mother Lin waved her hand. However, after seeing Shen Xiao Yan and Na Mu Zhong, she unconsciously began to measure her future daughter-in-law against their standards.
It was a pity that, let alone a daughter-in-law, her son didn't even have a girlfriend he could proudly present.
…
For the three grown men, the conversation of middle-aged women was somewhat tedious. Zheng Wei's backyard had a small basketball court built. Seeing the two women chatting on rattan chairs under a tree, the three men changed clothes and went to play basketball.
The booming sound of basketballs was quite loud, but it was beyond the hearing range of these two women. After discussing the secret to dressing well with Shen Xiao Yan, Na Mu Zhong then earnestly asked Shen Xiao Yan, "Madam CEO, have you truly not considered creating a clothing brand? Your impeccable craftsmanship shouldn't be wasted like this!"
Shen Xiao Yan was a little surprised. This wasn't the first time Na Mu Zhong had mentioned this to her.
"Creating a clothing brand involves many considerations; it's not just about having an idea. Furthermore, I have no intention of creating a widely popular brand." Shen Xiao Yan wrote on paper. In fact, this was related to her scope of work. After having children, even with Aunt Na and Ms. Lu's care, she would inevitably need to dedicate some parent-child time to them. Therefore, she thought if she were to create a brand, she would lean towards niche customization.
She briefly wrote these down. Na Mu Zhong carefully read every sentence Shen Xiao Yan wrote. Just as Shen Xiao Yan expected her to ponder or voice an objection, she heard Na Mu Zhong say, "It's not necessary. We're doing great right now, and this is what makes us unique!"
Shen Xiao Yan nodded and wrote on the paper, "I'll think about it."
"My idea is to place the workshop under Zheng's name. Look, there are so many banquets in the capital every day, not to mention award ceremonies in the entertainment industry." The more Na Mu Zhong learned from Shen Xiao Yan, the more enthusiastic she became. Clothing truly transformed a person.
Shen Xiao Yan nodded. "I will seriously consider it."
Her mood was also very good now because the child in her womb could finally be kept. She could also do what she loved. She was very content.
Na Mu Zhong was also full of energy. Just as Shen Xiao Yan was about to ask her something, she heard Na Mu Zhong's phone ring.
Na Mu Zhong didn't try to hide it from her and answered the call directly in front of her. But within seconds, Shen Xiao Yan heard Na Mu Zhong scolding into the phone, "You're asking me how to do it? If I did it, what would they hire you for? If you don't want to do it, you don't have to. Go to the human resources department tomorrow to process your resignation. I'll only give you this one chance. If you can't get it done by tonight, then you can have your wish and go wherever you please!"
When Na Mu Zhong was at work, she exuded a powerful aura, like an empress standing tall. Others in front of her could only submit.
"Startled?" Na Mu Zhong put away her phone and looked at Shen Xiao Yan.
Shen Xiao Yan shook her head and wrote, "You have great resolve."
"Young people nowadays are increasingly unwilling to endure hardship. Actually, this is very simple; it only takes a bit of effort, and it can be done in two hours. But he keeps calling me. I really can't understand this kind of behavior that wastes each other's time." Na Mu Zhong spoke with a tone that sounded mature and could easily be overlooked, though she herself was still quite young.