Chapter 55 Ambiguous

Holding a damp dishcloth and just about to wipe the dining table clean, Chen Jiong suddenly caught sight of the scene unfolding before him. He grinned from ear to ear, tiptoed back into the kitchen, and started gesturing wildly toward the master bedroom.

Tan Weibo, who was busy washing dishes, looked thoroughly puzzled and asked, "Why are you poking my waist with your finger?"

"Shh, keep it down. They're hugging over there," Chen Jiong whispered.

Tan Weibo blinked in surprise. "Seriously? You aren't pulling my leg, are you?"

"I've got nothing better to do? Would lying to you be any fun?"

"Well, seeing as dry tinder has met roaring fire and things are bound to get out of hand, should we make ourselves scarce? Wait, why don't the two of us just book a hotel for the night?"

"Let's go take a stroll downstairs and give the newlyweds some privacy."

Thinking Chen Jiong's suggestion made complete sense, the two of them didn't hesitate a moment longer. They slipped out the door, closing it quietly without making the slightest sound.

Inside the master bedroom, the atmosphere was thick with ambiguity. Nie Yunyang stood wrapped in Mu Qingyao's embrace, catching the faint scent of her perfume.

Mu Qingyao had already confessed her feelings before, though Nie Yunyang hadn't given her a direct answer, leaving an unspoken mutual understanding between them.

This time, Nie Yunyang made no move to push her away. For a woman to take such a step required an immense amount of resolve.

"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Nie Yunyang asked gently.

Mu Qingyao shook her head slightly. "Nothing's wrong. I just wanted to hold you. It makes me feel more secure."

From now on, the opportunities for the two of them to meet would dwindle, and they would very likely drift apart over time.

Over the past month or so, Mu Qingyao had experienced a whirlwind of events. She felt as though she had known Nie Yunyang for ages, and aside from working hours, they were practically inseparable.

Yet, after tonight, they wouldn't be able to be so intimate, perhaps only managing to see each other once a week.

Nie Yunyang pondered for a moment, then turned around to look at Mu Qingyao's delicate face. With a smile, he said, "Everything is over now. For you, a brand-new life is just beginning."

Today, Mu Qingyao was dressed in sportswear and wearing Martin boots. Standing at a height of one meter eighty, she was able to look Nie Yunyang directly in the eye.

In an instant, Mu Qingyao gazed at him with deep affection, leaving him somewhat at a loss for what to do.

She tightened her arms around him, her eyes as gentle as water. Slowly leaning in, she pressed her alluring, cherry-red lips straight against his.

Nie Yunyang was momentarily stunned; he hadn't expected this to happen.

Mu Qingyao was the quintessential good girl who strictly guarded her virtue and had never been in a relationship before. Naturally, her kissing technique was clumsy, but despite that, she remained in control, playfully teasing his lips with her warm tongue.

After a long while, when both of them were running out of breath, Nie Yunyang finally pulled away, fearing that if he let his impulses take over, he would make a grave mistake.

Mu Qingyao's cheeks flushed crimson. With her sparkling eyes fixed on him, she suddenly burst into a giggle, clearly deeply moved by the moment.

"What are you laughing at?" Nie Yunyang asked.

Looking utterly charming and enchanting, she smiled and said, "I thought you were just a block of wood who kept women at arm's length."

"Would you believe it if I told you I'm about to take you right here and now?" Nie Yunyang threatened playfully.

Mu Qingyao puffed out her chest and retorted, "Come on then, bring it on! Do you think I'm scared of you?"

"You, you're practically Daji reborn, coming here just to steal a man's soul. I surrender," Nie Yunyang conceded in defeat.

Mu Qingyao covered her mouth and giggled endlessly.

Glancing at the night sky outside the window, Nie Yunyang said, "It's getting late. Let me take you back."

"Alright," Mu Qingyao replied, sounding somewhat reluctant to end the evening.

Truth be told, she wouldn't have minded taking things further, but there were other people in the apartment.

However, when the two of them stepped out of the master bedroom, they discovered that Chen Jiong and Tan Weibo had vanished without a trace, leaving them thoroughly bewildered.

Nie Yunyang pulled out his Xiaomi 11 and called Chen Jiong. "Where did you guys go?"

"Oh, we cleared the stage for you two! I mean... we came out to buy some fruit," Chen Jiong stammered.

Unable to decide whether to laugh or cry, Nie Yunyang said, "Yaoyao is heading home. You two wait downstairs."

When Nie Yunyang and Mu Qingyao came downstairs, Chen Jiong and Tan Weibo were already waiting by the entrance.

Chen Jiong was holding a bag of apples, waving at Nie Yunyang. "Big brother, I really did go buy fruit!"

"Get lost," Nie Yunyang retorted.

Taking the cue, Tan Weibo chimed in with a tease, "Yaoyao's heading back now, Yunyang. It's a long night ahead, so take your time and enjoy it. We won't wait up for you. Don't forget safety precautions!"

Hearing this, Nie Yunyang felt like committing murder, while Mu Qingyao flushed beet red, keeping her head lowered in shyness.

Chen Jiong roared with laughter beside them, looking thoroughly gleeful at Nie Yunyang's expense.

Realizing he couldn't stick around any longer—given whatever else Tan Weibo might decide to spout—Nie Yunyang quickly pulled Mu Qingyao away.

Along the way, Nie Yunyang drove obediently while Mu Qingyao kept her eyes fixed on him, her gaze shining brightly.

After getting out of the car, Nie Yunyang walked Mu Qingyao all the way to her building. Throwing caution to the wind, she looped her arm through his, making the two of them look for all the world like a pair of sweethearts.

When they reached the doorway, Nie Yunyang decided to draw the line. "Head on up. Get to sleep early."

"Aren't you coming up for a bit?" Mu Qingyao bit her lower lip, revealing her hidden intentions.

Nie Yunyang gave a dry cough, catching the subtext in her words. If he actually went up with her, there was no telling what might happen.

He shook his head and said, "Don't cause trouble. Go on back."

"Alright, I'm heading home then," she said.

Nie Yunyang waved. "Go ahead."

Before heading up the stairs, Mu Qingyao suddenly leaned in and planted a kiss on his right cheek, then darted away like a startled fawn, breaking into a playful tune after taking just a few steps.

With her back to him, she waved and called out, "Goodnight!"

"Goodnight," Nie Yunyang called back.

A new week had begun.

For most people, trying to gain a secure foothold in Chongqing brought immense pressure, especially for outsiders striving to make a fortune here, which proved even more difficult.

However, for Nie Yunyang, every bit of pressure was simply a challenge. If everything went too smoothly, life would lose its thrill.

On Monday morning, Jinxiu Huating held its weekly meetings—first a company-wide assembly, followed by departmental sessions.

To everyone's surprise, Hou Feipeng, the deputy manager of the security department, was absent, setting off a flurry of whispers among the staff.

The management structure of Jinxiu Huating was quite simple: Dai Zhenxuan held absolute authority with no deputy general manager, followed directly by the managers and deputy managers of each department.

Therefore, Hou Feipeng's failure to appear at the security department meeting was highly irregular.

Sure enough, the very first thing Dai Zhenxuan announced when he took the stage was that Hou Feipeng had resigned due to personal reasons. As soon as the news dropped, the room erupted in a din of shock.

Nie Yunyang smiled faintly. This outcome was well within his expectations; he only wondered who had leaked the information to Cao Weihua.

Following the company-wide meeting, the departmental meetings commenced. Although Nie Yunyang was studying reception and security, he now leaned more toward the reception department.

The reception department had one manager and two deputy managers, both of whom had been promoted from regular staff. He Lei frequently praised Nie Yunyang and urged everyone to learn from him, which naturally stirred up resentment among quite a few people.

As noon approached, Dai Zhenxuan suddenly sought out Nie Yunyang and reminded him, "Yunyang, President Cao wants to see you."

Nie Yunyang was taken aback. He hadn't even eaten lunch yet—why would Cao Weihua want to see him? Could it be a reward for the employees?

Flagging down a taxi by the roadside, Nie Yunyang arrived at the garden villas of Vanke Eling Peak and was escorted in by the housekeeper. Cao Weihua was currently enjoying his lunch, and the talented writer Shen Hui was there as well.

Ignoring Cao Weihua, Nie Yunyang simply greeted Shen Hui with a smile. Shen Hui, whose impression of Nie Yunyang remained poor, offered only a perfunctory smile in return.

"Why do you look like you carry the grievances of the entire world?" Cao Weihua asked with displeasure.

Nie Yunyang curled his lip and retorted, "Whenever you call me over, it's never anything good!"

"What do you mean, nothing good? I just wanted to find out how you're getting along at Jinxiu Huating," Cao Weihua said.

"Not bad at all. Wow, Uncle Cao, look at all these dishes. Can you possibly finish them by yourself?"

Nie Yunyang picked up his bowl and chopsticks and dug in with gusto.

After finishing the meal, Cao Weihua slowly brought up the real topic. "I've already heard about what happened at Jinxiu Huating."

"What happened?" Nie Yunyang asked.

"About Hou Feipeng. That scoundrel bit the hand that fed him, got mixed up in gambling, and dragged the company's reputation through the mud. Dai Zhenxuan mentioned that you knew all about it!"

"Uncle Cao, your reach is truly boundless. Even from so far away, you managed to find out."

"By the way, now that Hou Feipeng is gone, his position as deputy manager is vacant. Are you interested?"

"Not interested."

"Hehe, I actually think your friend Tan Weibo is quite capable."

Hearing this, Nie Yunyang finally realized why Cao Weihua had summoned him—the old fox was trying to poach his friend.