Around seven o'clock.
Huo Linsheng stopped his work.
He left his office and walked towards Ling Nuan's workstation. Seeing her concentrating on her work, he reached out and tapped on her desk.
Hearing the sound, Ling Nuan looked up, her eyes full of inquiry.
"Let's go for dinner," Huo Linsheng said.
Hearing this, Ling Nuan glanced at the time in the lower right corner of the computer. "It's still early. I'll finish this first."
Huo Linsheng laughed and teased, "Even if you're so hardworking, I won't give you a bonus."
"Sure, sure. I love the company and my job," Ling Nuan replied casually and continued with her work.
It wasn't that Ling Nuan was being overly diligent. These were indeed her tasks. She could have left them until tomorrow since they weren't urgent. However, in the days to come, she might have to devote more energy to dealing with Huo Xiao and Shen Shaoqing. So, while the drama hadn't started yet, she thought she should get as much done as possible.
Ling Nuan had her own little plan.
Huo Linsheng neither knew nor cared about it.
He directly reached out and snatched the mouse from Ling Nuan's hand, his tone firm. "Let's go for dinner."
Ling Nuan looked up again. Seeing his expressionless and extremely serious face, she sighed softly. "Fine, let's go."
She immediately stood up as if she was about to leave.
Huo Linsheng was momentarily stunned and didn't remind her right away. When Ling Nuan walked a few steps and noticed that Huo Linsheng was still standing there, she turned around in confusion. "What are you standing there for? Aren't we going for dinner?"
Huo Linsheng pointed at the bag Ling Nuan left on her workstation. "Aren't you going to pack up?"
Ling Nuan said, "Do I need to bring my bag to the company cafeteria?"
"The company - cafeteria?" Huo Linsheng repeated.
They looked at each other. It took Ling Nuan a while to realize that she had misunderstood.
"I still haven't finished my work," Ling Nuan said. She thought it would be okay to just have a simple meal in the company so that she could come back and continue working.
However, her body was quite honest. She obediently returned to her workstation and started packing up.
Seeing her reaction, Huo Linsheng curved his lips into a smile, apparently quite pleased.
While waiting for Ling Nuan, he said, "The work isn't going anywhere. No one else will do it for you."
Ling Nuan retorted, "Then why is Mr. Huo personally overseeing and asking me to come back for overtime?"
Huo Linsheng showed no sign of guilt and counter - questioned, "Haven't you been working overtime?"
Ling Nuan let out a soft scoff.
She did work overtime, but accompanying him for dinner was the real deal.
After Ling Nuan packed up, before Huo Linsheng led her away, probably in a good mood, he glanced at the still - busy employees and said, "Leave non - urgent work until tomorrow. For those who need to work overtime, Lin Lan, please count the number of people and order some meals. Charge it to my account."
Hearing this, everyone immediately cheered.
"Thank you, Mr. Huo!"
When Lin Lan ordered meals, she always chose the restaurants that Huo Linsheng often went to. The meals were all expensive. This meal might even cost more than their overtime pay.
Even those who originally wanted to go off work now thought that it wouldn't be a bad idea to work a little longer and get a free meal.
In the end, it seemed that only Ling Nuan was leaving.
"I feel like I don't fit in," Ling Nuan glanced at the busy work area behind her and then looked at Huo Linsheng, unable to hide her complaint.
Huo Linsheng put his arm around Ling Nuan and replied, "You really don't."
Ling Nuan: "?"
"Huo Linsheng, have you noticed that you're getting more and more blunt with your words?" Ling Nuan complained again.
Huo Linsheng said, "They're just employees. You're part of the capitalist class."
Ling Nuan retorted, "I'm just an ordinary employee. How can I be a capitalist? Don't try to drive a wedge between my colleague - friendship with them!"
"Colleague - friendship?" Huo Linsheng's words were clearly teasing.
Although Ling Nuan's situation in the company had improved a lot after her relationship with Huo Linsheng was made public, it only meant that no one would make things difficult for her. It was nonsense to say that they had a good relationship.
Ling Nuan felt that she was being laughed at.
"We've struggled and worked overtime together. How can it not be colleague - friendship?" Ling Nuan argued.
"Okay," Huo Linsheng acknowledged this statement. Then he reached out and pinched Ling Nuan's chin, counter - questioning, "Which is more important, colleague - friendship or marital affection?"
Ling Nuan: "?"
Was there any doubt about this question? But Ling Nuan didn't want to let Huo Linsheng have his way. She gave a soft snort and didn't answer.
Huo Linsheng laughed. Then, out of the blue, he said, "We didn't sign a prenuptial agreement before getting married."
Ling Nuan gave a soft "hmm" and then looked at Huo Linsheng.
For a family like the Huos, it was normal to sign a prenuptial agreement. Ling Nuan had only thought that they just weren't prepared yet. After all, although the contract was easy to draft, it would probably take some time to take inventory of Huo Linsheng's property.
"When are we going to make it up?" Ling Nuan asked actively when Huo Linsheng didn't say anything.
Huo Linsheng: "?"
After understanding what Ling Nuan meant, Huo Linsheng was both angry and amused.
"What? Is the capitalist's money burning your hands?" Huo Linsheng mocked.
Ling Nuan was surprised.
The money didn't burn her hands. It was just that for a family like the Huos, it was impossible for Huo Linsheng to get married without a prenuptial agreement. However, now she understood what Huo Linsheng meant just now.
Her words just now had obviously displeased Huo Linsheng.
Ling Nuan didn't respond to Huo Linsheng's words. Instead, she smiled and took his arm, saying, "I really don't fit in with them. I'm probably half a capitalist."
Huo Linsheng let out a soft scoff and didn't say anything more.
It seemed that he had been easily appeased by Ling Nuan's words.
As they were talking, they had already reached the parking lot.
"Where are we going to eat?" Ling Nuan asked.
While opening the car door for Ling Nuan, Huo Linsheng asked, "What would you like to eat?"
Ling Nuan thought seriously for a while. "Something light?"
Hearing this, Huo Linsheng pondered for a moment. Just as he was about to give some suggestions, he was interrupted by the ringing of his phone.
It was a call from Fu Qili.
Huo Linsheng tapped on the speakerphone and started the engine at the same time.
"Where are you?" Fu Qili asked.
"About to go for dinner," Huo Linsheng replied. "What's up?"
"Meng Shuluo is here. She just arrived in Jing City today. Someone organized a gathering for her. Are you coming?" Fu Qili inquired.
Huo Linsheng frowned slightly. "Meng Shuluo? Why is she here?"
When Ling Nuan heard this name, she paused slightly and couldn't help but glance at Huo Linsheng.
"If you're asking me, who should I ask?" Fu Qili's tone sounded a bit rascally. He asked again, "Come on, a simple yes or no. Are you coming?"
Huo Linsheng refused without hesitation. "No. I'm taking Ling Nuan for dinner."
"Ling Nuan? Bring her along. They're all from our circle. We haven't gotten together for a long time," Fu Qili didn't give up.
Hearing this, Huo Linsheng turned to look at Ling Nuan.
Ling Nuan was also a bit curious about this Meng Shuluo. So, she nodded at Huo Linsheng.
"Where? We'll come now," Huo Linsheng replied.
"Chuyan," came Fu Qili's voice.
Ling Nuan was stunned. Wasn't that the place where Huo Zhen and Huo Xiao were having dinner tonight?
Was this just a coincidence or...?