Fang Ning looked at Zhou Lu casually, as though she had suddenly understood. "Oh, so that's what people said online."
After a moment's thought, Fang Ning blinked, seeming hesitant to speak. "Mr. Zhou, speaking of things online, yesterday I saw an article saying you were going in and out of a residence with several girls."
"The article also said that you, a supposedly single man, already have a wife, a girlfriend, and a boyfriend on top of that. You're three-timing them."
As she spoke, Fang Ning seemed to feel that her voice was too loud and lowered it. "So, Mr. Zhou, is everything people say online true?"
At such an explosive revelation, everyone present, gossipy by nature, instantly turned their eyes toward Zhou Lu!
Zhou Lu's expression stiffened slightly. Was this woman sick in the head? They were clearly talking about Ji Xiangchen. Fuck, why had she turned it back on him?
He did not understand how anyone could speak up for someone like Ji Xiangchen. Could she be...
Sick in the head!
Looking at that gentle face and those bright eyes, Zhou Lu reached a conclusion. Not only was this woman hard to fool,
but instead of joining him in bad-mouthing Ji Xiangchen, she had actually turned it back on him! She was terrifying.
Failing to get what he wanted, Zhou Lu felt his heart seize up. "Ms. Fang, I don't know what you're thinking, but I only hope you don't get hurt. I worked with him before and experienced Ji Xiangchen's temper, then accidentally got hurt. That's how it was, Ms. Fang. That's all I have to say. I have other things to do, so I'll be leaving."
Zhou Lu's expression changed so quickly. A moment ago, he had acted as though he had her best interests at heart. Now that her retort had left him speechless, he had adopted yet another attitude. Fang Ning could not help marveling.
When it came to being a fake, innocent schemer, Mr. Zhou really was the master.
His act was rich and thoroughly convincing!
Once Zhou Lu left, the others dispersed too. Having won a battle, Fang Ning stretched. "I'm so hungry."
Not far away, Ji Xiangchen had taken in every scene and heard the entire exchange.
His new assistant was beside him too. She glanced at Ji Xiangchen fearfully, terrified that he would pick up something nearby and charge over to knock someone down.
After all, Ji Xiangchen's explosive temper was common knowledge. If she had not just graduated and been unable to find a good job, she would never have taken this nerve-racking assistant position. Now she only hoped Ji Xiangchen would not charge over.
Otherwise, if a brawl broke out, there were only two of them, her and Ji Xiangchen. They could not take on that whole crowd!
But the more the assistant studied Ji Xiangchen's face, the more she felt something was off.
Not only was Ji Xiangchen not angry, but his stern face actually showed a hint of pleasure!
What was going on? People were insulting him to his face, and he actually looked happy! How terrifying.
Could he be a masochist?
The assistant felt she had discovered something incredible.
Before the assistant could recover from her shock, she heard a low voice. "Did you hear that just now? It sounded like she was standing up for me, wasn't she?"
The assistant had not yet processed it and nodded instinctively. "Yes, Ms. Fang Ning just spoke up for you."
At those words, even Ji Xiangchen's eyes held a hint of satisfaction.
The assistant's expression became inscrutable. No, seriously, what are you doing? Don't tell me you like Fang Ning!
But she had heard that Fang Ning seemed to already have a husband.
Someone help! Come on, don't go falling for a married woman! That's morally corrupt!
By the time Fang Ning finished removing her makeup, she was unbearably hungry and was about to order herself some takeout.
Instead, Ji Xiangchen arrived with a pile of things.
Fang Ning had just helped him tell off that idiot Zhou Lu, and he did not know how to thank her. As it happened, his assistant had ordered some takeout.
He remembered that Fang Ning seemed to have said she was hungry just now, so he had brought the takeout over.
However, he preferred lightly seasoned food, and it was all Cantonese cuisine. He did not know whether she would like it.
"For you."
Surprised, Fang Ning accepted what he handed her. It seemed to be food. "For me?"
Ji Xiangchen nodded reservedly, looking a little conflicted. "It's takeout, but the flavors are a little mild. I don't know whether you'll like it."
A handsome guy was bringing her food. Although this handsome guy was her husband's younger brother, who could say no? "I'm not picky. I happen to be hungry. Thank you."
Hearing that, Ji Xiangchen's expression became less stern, and he visibly relaxed.
The assistant following behind him was a little confused.
Based on her extensive experience reading people, the way Ji Xiangchen behaved toward Fang Ning did not look like romantic admiration.
Instead, his behavior toward Fang Ning gave her the impression of a child trying to please his mother.
So Ji Xiangchen was treating Fang Ning as an elder and trying to please her?
What on earth was going on? Fang Ning only looked to be in her twenties!
She couldn't possibly have a son that old!
The assistant's mental CPU was fried, yet she still could not figure it out or make sense of what their relationship actually was!
Chapter 14
After delivering the takeout to Fang Ning, Ji Xiangchen encountered Zhou Lu slowly approaching from the opposite direction in the corridor on his way back to his room.
The two already did not get along, and they had only just clashed last week, so when they suddenly came face-to-face, the atmosphere became a little off.
Ji Xiangchen was not the sort of person who wanted to remain entangled with others for too long. In his eyes, what had happened before was over and done with.
No matter how much resentment he felt inside, Ji Xiangchen did not want to get too involved with Zhou Lu on the surface. Without shifting his gaze, he turned his body slightly, intending to walk around Zhou Lu.
But Zhou Lu clearly did not think the same way. He had already had a conflict with Ji Xiangchen, and with the casting issue for this production added to it, grievances both new and old had left him resenting Ji Xiangchen for a long time.
There was no one much around just then, and he did not want to pass up the chance to disgust Ji Xiangchen.
Zhou Lu stopped beside Ji Xiangchen and turned his head, his tone mocking. "Ji Xiangchen, you must be feeling pretty smug now that you've stolen my role, right?"