"Team - building shouldn't require our attendance, right?" Ning Anmiao asked, her tone extremely calm yet quite natural.
She preferred tranquility and disliked excitement.
Lu Yan raised his eyes and stared at her. "Ning Anmiao doesn't need to attend, but Lu Yan does."
It seemed to make sense.
Ning Anmiao remembered that she was now "Lu Yan", and such occasions were inevitable. Suddenly, her mood became complicated.
"The team - building is scheduled for Friday afternoon. All matters will be handled by the secretary." Lu Yan clearly had a plan in mind. "You don't need to worry."
Lu Yan's tone was very calm, which diluted much of Ning Anmiao's initial uneasiness.
"And you..."
Lu Yan's gaze fell on her, showing no emotion, his expression indifferent. "To avoid any accidents, I'll go with you."
Ning Anmiao replied, "Oh, I see."
For some reason, Ning Anmiao felt a tightness in her chest.
Since their last argument, they had had no more interactions. He seemed overly calm, and his expression was normal.
She thought quietly for a while and then let it go.
Yes, the soul - swapping during this period had almost made her forget what kind of person Lu Yan was.
He was calm, cold, and also indifferent.
Perhaps the words he said at that time were just one of his rare emotional breakdowns. Now he had adjusted his emotions, calmly weighed the pros and cons, and returned to his former self.
He was always like this.
After figuring this out, Ning Anmiao's mood didn't ease; instead, she became even more irritable.
Lu Yan's office was very monotonous. Only a pot of Epipremnum aureum on the windowsill showed a bit of vitality. She stared at it for a long time.
Obviously, this was the result she wanted. Why did she still feel so empty inside?
---
Their stiff relationship lasted until the team - building on Friday afternoon.
Lu Yan left all the arrangements for the team - building to the secretary. Based on the votes of all employees, the secretary chose a restaurant by the river as the venue.
There were many luxurious restaurants by the river in Shanghai. They were all built facing the river. Drinking while looking at the sparkling river was quite an interesting experience.
The location was well - chosen.
As it was almost time to get off work, just thinking about the team - building with other employees made Ning Anmiao feel conflicted. She glanced at Lu Yan several times.
As if he had guessed her concerns, Lu Yan lifted his gaze from the documents. "Don't worry. I'll definitely go with you later."
Ning Anmiao was speechless for a moment.
She didn't expect Lu Yan to be able to guess her concerns.
However, with this answer, she felt reassured and no longer as nervous as before.
Anyway, Lu Yan would be there.
After work, the employees cheered and left the company in groups, taking taxis to the team - building destination.
Lu Yan and Ning Anmiao were the last to leave the company.
"Let's go together. It's on the way," Lu Yan said casually, his tone still calm, showing no emotion.
Ning Anmiao lowered her eyes, thinking that it was just on the way.
Moreover, if they didn't take the same car, she was worried that Lu Yan would run away halfway, leaving her alone to deal with the socializing.
She disliked socializing.
So, they left the company together and got into the same car.
All the way, they remained silent.
It wasn't until the car was almost at the river that Lu Yan spoke. "After all the employees arrive, you don't need to say too much. You can just play with your phone."
"Don't I need to say a few words to everyone?"
In Ning Anmiao's impression, a big boss like Lu Yan should say a few words during team - building.
Even if it wasn't a long speech, a few inspiring words were still necessary for the occasion.
"I don't give employees empty promises," Lu Yan said unhurriedly. "A good boss should say less empty talk and pay more salaries."
Ning Anmiao almost couldn't help laughing.
This boss was reliable. He really knew what the employees needed most.
"Has Mr. Lu paid the employees more salaries?" Maybe because of Lu Yan's words, the atmosphere became a bit more relaxed, and Ning Anmiao joked.
Lu Yan raised his eyebrows. "Those who create corresponding value will naturally get bonuses."
"But you still agreed with the secretary to have the team - building in such an expensive place."
Ning Anmiao knew very well how luxurious the restaurants by the river in Shanghai could be. The price of a single dish could be sky - high.
This didn't seem like a choice a stingy boss would make.
Lu Yan said casually, "The restaurant for this team - building is a subsidiary of the Xinghe Group."
Sure enough.
As expected of a boss. He was as clear as a mirror. He wouldn't spend a single extra cent on unnecessary things.
He had really mastered the art of self - production and self - consumption.
When they arrived at the river, Lu Yan parked the car. Ning Anmiao opened the door and got out.
The air by the river was really special. It carried the coolness and moisture of the river water and rushed towards her, refreshing beyond words.
Ning Anmiao closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
When she exhaled, her chest felt as if it had been purified, extremely broad.
The design of this restaurant was very special. It was built across the river. The floors and corridors of the restaurant were outside, allowing people to enjoy the river view without any obstruction.
There was also music in the restaurant. It seemed that a professional classical music ensemble had been invited, and from time to time, the sound of music drifted over the river.
In such a place, eating became the least important thing.
"Let's go. The secretary said everyone is here," Lu Yan lifted his chin, indicating that they should enter the restaurant. Everyone was waiting for them.
Hearing this, Ning Anmiao let out a long sigh. She knew that no matter how much she resisted, she had to show up. So, she forced herself to look calm and stepped in.
Lu Yan watched her mood and pursed his lips.
It was really a bit difficult for someone who didn't like excitement and socializing to be forced to handle such an occasion.
Thinking of this, he was a bit eager to swap their bodies back.
Only when they swapped their bodies back could he, as Lu Yan, protect her well.
...
When they both appeared in the restaurant, the noisy hall suddenly fell silent.
Although several high - level executives of Xinghe had seen "Ning Anmiao", this was a company - wide team - building after all, and some ordinary employees were seeing her for the first time.
The employees couldn't help but stare at them and whisper to each other.
"Is that Mrs. Lu? She's so delicate - looking."
"She seems to have an extraordinary temperament. Look at how she walks so briskly. She has a feeling of a strong - willed woman."
"I heard she's now a high - level executive in our company. She became the design director as soon as she joined. It was probably arranged by Mr. Lu."
"Really? But it seems that Mr. Lu and Mrs. Lu don't have a good relationship. I remember they were on the verge of divorce not long ago."
"..."
"Ning Anmiao" frowned, with an indescribable feeling in her heart.
So this was the world that Miaomiao lived in.
Because she had married him, everything about her was labeled as "Mrs. Lu". It seemed that everything she did was related to him.