"Let the nurse watch for a while. We'll grab something to eat and then buy some things,"
"Buy what? Grandma can't eat anything now. What are you buying randomly?"
"Clothes. Neither of us brought any change of clothes. We can't wear these tomorrow, can we? And toiletries, things like that. No need to go home and get them, right?"
What he said made some sense, but Xiang Wan didn't want to go with him.
"Why don't you go eat by yourself, buy things after, and I'll stay here..."
"I knew you'd say that."
Lu Mingzhe's face fell, and he sulkily sat by Grandma's bedside with Nian Nian in his arms.
"I shouldn't have promised not to kiss you. You're someone who needs to be disciplined sometimes!"
"..."
"Two choices: either we go together, or neither of us goes. Let's starve to death together. You decide."
Besides bullying himself and acting tough in front of him, did he have any other skills?
Xiang Wan rolled her eyes at him again, went to the nurses' station, said a few words to the nurse, and turned towards the elevator.
Upon realizing they were leaving the cage, Nian Nian excitedly wriggled in her daddy's arms.
Lu Mingzhe carried her over to show Xiang Wan.
"Nian Nian has had enough of the hospital too. Look how happy she is when she hears we're going out. Let's buy something for her too later."
Xiang Wan: "Sure, you're paying anyway. I don't mind if you buy her an LV bag."
There were fast-food restaurants all around the hospital.
They were cheap, but the food sold there was truly lacking in nutrition and cleanliness.
Seeing Xiang Wan about to pick a random noodle shop, Lu Mingzhe hailed a taxi and put her inside.
"What are you doing? Grandma is still being watched by the nurse. Are you planning to stay out for a long time?"
"It's my first time shopping with my daughter. I have to pick a better place. Driver, take us to Guomao."
After eating at a high-end restaurant near Guomao, Lu Mingzhe pulled her into luxury stores.
Xiang Wan sneered inwardly. As expected, the way wealthy men pleased women was only through buying, buying, buying.
Wearing such expensive clothes to serve a patient in the hospital, those who knew would think she had a wealthy ex-boyfriend. Those who didn't would think she was out of her mind.
Xiang Wan had a good figure and was beautiful, so she looked good in anything.
Lu Mingzhe spent money like water, buying everything he liked. By the end, Xiang Wan started to feel concerned.
If he really divorced that Fang Shuya, then the money in the future would belong to her and Nian Nian. Spending it like this was equivalent to wasting her own hard-earned money, and she couldn't bear it.
"Keep these two sets. Don't take the rest. Don't listen to him, listen to me. Thank you."
Exiting the store, Lu Mingzhe was beaming.
"Still not admitting you haven't let go of me and still have feelings for me? You were just worried about my money."
As if caught doing something secret, Xiang Wan felt a bit awkward and annoyed by his smugness.
"Who's worried about your money? I just don't like this brand and don't want so much."
"If you have too much money to spend, I'll find another store to buy more."
"Alright, as long as you like it. You can even max out your card today."
She was defeated by this carefree rich second-generation.
Xiang Wan couldn't argue with him.
Her childhood experience of living frugally made her feel pained whenever she spent a lot of money, even if it wasn't hers.
She could only admit defeat.
They each bought two sets of clothes, bought a branded toy for Nian Nian, and went to hail a taxi at the mall entrance.
Xiang Wan carried the designer shopping bags, Lu Mingzhe held the child, and they stood side by side.
A perfectly matched couple in terms of looks and height, passersby cast glances their way.
Unfortunately, before Lu Mingzhe could bask in his glory for even a minute, Xiang Wan's phone rang.
It was her female apprentice calling.
"Sister Wan, where are you now? Have you finished with your family matters? Can you come over?"
Hearing the noise on her end and seeing the time, it was definitely another business negotiation with a client.
Most likely, she had encountered a client who wanted to take advantage of her and couldn't get away, which was why she was calling her.
Xiang Wan didn't reply, but asked her instead.
"Where are you? Are you alone? With which client?"
The apprentice gave an address.
"It's just me and Xiao He. President Tang was supposed to come too, but he drank a bit at lunch and came back to the office drunk. He ended up sleeping in his office, so we didn't call him."
"It's clearly not working out now. Mr. Zhang has made it clear that he'll only sign the contract if I go to Yunling Mountain Villa with him tonight."
"Xiao He and I are at our wit's end, and we don't want to lose this deal. Sister Wan, it's all up to you now."
Whenever they encountered difficult clients, they all did their best to cooperate and cover for each other.
Usually, Xiang Wan was the main one, with her two apprentices assisting.
Today, with both her and Tang Haichao absent, it was indeed difficult for the two of them.
Although Grandma was still hospitalized, with Lu Mingzhe there, Xiang Wan felt at ease.
She couldn't just stand by and watch her apprentices get into trouble, so she immediately agreed.
"Send me the room number. I'm coming over. Don't rush, stall him slowly."
Lu Mingzhe, standing nearby, guessed most of her conversation and forbade her from going.
"Grandma is still lying in the hospital. What are you doing?"
"There's a problem with a colleague. She can't handle it, so I'm going to help. You should hurry back to the hospital and watch Grandma."
"What colleague has a problem she can't handle? It's just a client who wants to take advantage, and she can't get away, right!?"
"If she can't get away, you'll go? Or, to sign that pathetic deal, you're willing to give up everything?"
His words were truly unpleasant.
He had explicitly said he liked her just a few hours ago, claiming he couldn't live without her.
And now he was insulting her character like this?
Xiang Wan gritted her teeth in anger, "That's right. That's the kind of person I am. I'm willing to do anything for money."
"Since I started working, haven't I earned everything myself? I meet and deal with countless men every day. Are you only disgusted by it now?"
"..."
Lu Mingzhe was choked into silence, "You know very well that's not what I meant..."
"Whatever you mean. I'm not forcing you to marry me. If you can't stand it, leave!"
As the taxi arrived, Xiang Wan opened the door and got in after speaking.
Lu Mingzhe, holding the child, was inconvenienced and a step slower, allowing her to escape.
He chased a couple of steps but couldn't catch up. Angrily, he lowered his head and complained to Nian Nian.
"With me here, does your mommy need to work so hard? She never smiled at me when I gave her money. Why should she smile at others?"
"No, I have to get her back, or who knows what will happen!"
But he had the child, and the hospital had a patient...
At this critical moment, his dear brother, Lu Qingxu, sent a WeChat video call.
"Brother, I've arrived in Hangcheng. Send me the address of the house you prepared for me."