My Weekend Lover Turned Out To Be My Boss - Chapter 85

Chapter 85: The Omen · “Hidden Dragon”

No one spoke. Suppressing a temper on the verge of exploding, I grabbed Guan Shuyun’s arm: “Let’s go!”

Guan Shuyun swallowed her anger and let me drag her out the front gate. Only when we were away from prying eyes did she fling my hand off, roaring in a fit of rage, “Why did you stop me back there?! You were drugged and then hit—don’t you know how to stand up for yourself and argue back?!”

I rubbed my cheek, responding helplessly, “Hey, hey, hey, that’s her territory. If we’d really squared off, do you think she’s the one who would have suffered? Qiao Xin didn’t dare touch you, so she took all her temper out on me. I’d be the unlucky one in the end. I know you wanted to stick up for me, but she’s your partner after all. Don’t ruin the harmony over small things.”

“What’s the use of talking sense when you still got hit? You don’t even know your own weight. When Qiao Xin goes wild, she doesn’t care whose face she’s looking at. Today was a warning shot; you’ll have plenty to endure later. So, stay away from her.”

“Ouch! You make it sound like I’m the one throwing myself at her door!”

Despite her lecture, my point stood. Guan Shuyun reached out to touch my face: “Does it hurt?”

“Of course it hurts!”

“Let me see… it’s swollen. She hit you pretty hard…”

She observed the fingerprint marks on my face, then said wearily, “Let’s go home. I haven’t eaten all day; I’m starving.”

“Qiao Xin is a bit too ruthless, not even giving us food!”

Guan Shuyun rolled her eyes. “Naive. Would you even dare eat her food? That’s basic vigilance.”

With that, Guan Shuyun strode forward, likely wanting to leave this place as fast as possible. I stared at her back and, making sure no one saw, let out a triumphant smile. “A needle hidden in silk,” bit by bit—it was the same principle as “using four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds.” Everyone relied on their background and strength to counter one another.

I was the most insignificant ant among them. To emerge as the winner, I could only yield and attach myself to their powerful networks. But I possessed the specialty of an ant: the art of subversion.

They were starting to fight internally. Once it happens once, it only gets more intense until they tear each other apart. I had successfully infiltrated the Qiao-Guan alliance. Everything was going according to plan, but there were still unexpected variables. Who exactly was the one following Qiao Xin and me yesterday?

The task Guan Shuyun and Qiao Xin wanted me to do seemed simple: go public to the media, show my face, and tell a few “truths” to put Phoebe’s life and career in a dilemma. In reality, this act would be the fuse for an explosion. They were clever; they were shifting the entire blame onto me.

Once the seemingly calm relationship between the parties intensified, I would become the target of everyone’s scorn. No one would pity me then, and the people around me would likely leave. I couldn’t imagine how Phoebe would look at me at that time, but I knew clearly: I would lose everyone who ever loved me.

Sitting in the car, Guan Shuyun was silent for a moment. She probably knew what I was thinking, so she said casually, “I was the one who sent someone to follow you yesterday.”

I looked at her in surprise, then turned my head to stare out the window. She continued, “Don’t overthink it. I didn’t follow you because I didn’t trust you; I just anticipated that Qiao Xin would make a move on you.”

I grumbled in a low voice, “Then why didn’t you come rescue me last night?”

“You were so drunk, what could she have possibly gotten out of you? Besides, if I had brought you back immediately, wouldn’t I have blown my cover? That’s why I came today. Those secret photos played a big role. I simply used the same method Qiu Qi used on you.”

“Oh~~ then shouldn’t I praise you for being so smart and wonderful?”

“Hey! Don’t use that tone with me!”

“Thank you, okay?!”

“Go back and cook a good meal to reward me. Prove it with actions.”

“Why do you always want me in the kitchen? Fine, what do you want to eat? As long as I know how to make it, I’ll show off a few moves today~”

“That’s more like it.”

…

“Biu biu biu~~”

Guan Shuyun was wearing a thick coat, holding lit sparklers in both hands. They sizzled and glowed as she waved them in front of me, haphazardly drawing lines in the air. I held the fireworks prepared by the butler, arranging them into a pretty shape, getting ready to light them at the stroke of midnight.

Guan Shuyun tried to move closer, but I quickly led her away. “Play over here, play over here. Careful not to set off the big ones, it’s dangerous.”

She threw away the burnt-out sticks and beckoned me with her finger. “You Feifan, are you full?”

Tonight’s New Year’s Eve dinner at the Guan residence included everyone, regardless of status. After Guan Shuyun gave a short speech from the head of the table, she prepared a red cardboard box. Everyone drew a prize; the worst one was still a red envelope worth several thousand yuan. It was the only day of the year the dining room felt purely lively.

Baffled by her question, I leaned in. “I’m full. Why?”

“Are you happy today?”

“I am.”

“No, you’re not. You want to go home.”

“Why would I go home? I’d just be by myself anyway.”

She was still smiling, a rare and pure expression. “You know where I’m talking about.”

I lowered my head, took two sparklers from my pocket, and lit them for her. I said to myself, “I don’t want to go anywhere. It’s good here, no worries.”

It was strange. Ever since Phoebe and I completely broke up, my friends seemed to have vanished into thin air. They only sent holiday greetings, and that was it. Just then, my phone buzzed with a text. It was a short video from Soso. I opened it, and Guan Shuyun leaned her head against mine, curious to see.

Qingfan was wearing new clothes, vanity-spinning in the video, and finally pouting her lips toward the camera for a kiss, shouting loudly, “Da Fan! Happy New Year!”

A tear hit the screen, betraying my sadness. Guan Shuyun didn’t say a word but reached out to wipe the tear away. Finally, she sighed. “The little girl is so beautiful… she has traces of Qiao An in her. You should go back.”

I shook my head. “I’m not going back. There’s no place for me there.”

Suddenly, the sky was lit up by fireworks from all directions. One after another, I checked my phone. Twelve midnight exactly. I reached out, took Guan Shuyun’s hand, and smiled. “Happy New Year!”

With that, I led her to the fireworks and lit them all. The servants of the Guan household poured into the garden. For a moment, brilliant, fleeting flowers bloomed above us with thunderous bangs. Guan Shuyun tugged my hand. I turned to look at her; her eyes reflected the light of the sparks. She shouted loudly, “You Feifan, Happy New Year!”

I yelled back at the top of my lungs, “Give me my red envelope!”

Because it was too noisy, we leaned close to each other’s ears. She shook her head. “No red envelope!”

“I don’t care, I want a red envelope!”

“You’re really thick-skinned.”

She fumbled through her pockets and actually pulled out a red envelope, but it was empty. I looked at it with disdain and shoved my phone in front of her. “Then a WeChat red envelope! Either way, I want one!”

“You’re such a money-grubber!”

“I asked Phoebe for one every year, and she always gave me one just for good luck! This year you took me in, so I don’t care, I want a red envelope!”

Guan Shuyun grabbed my ear and dragged me toward the living room. I tilted my head, grimacing. “Hiss! It hurts, it hurts, it hurts!”

Once inside, I sat obediently on the sofa waiting. Guan Shuyun pulled a small stack of bills out of her wallet and stuffed them into the red envelope. “Here, here, here! How old are you, still shamelessly asking for red envelopes!”

“Thank you, Boss! I wish Boss prosperous business and great luck!”

Suddenly, things went quiet. Guan Shuyun looked at me seriously. I stared back at her face, then naturally reached out and tapped her cheek. “Your recovery speed is pretty good. I cut you with a knife, but it didn’t even leave a scar.”

She slapped my hand away and glared at me. “It’s a holiday, can’t you say something auspicious?”

The night was long and I wasn’t sleepy. Since it was a holiday, we had to find some fun. I changed the subject: “Do you know how to play Mahjong?”

At the mention of Mahjong, Guan Shuyun’s eyes immediately lit up. “Of course. What, you want to play? Careful you don’t lose your pants.”

“Hmph, I’m the ‘Self-Drawn Little Whirlwind.’ I’ve never been afraid.”

Just as the two of us were looking for more players, a teasing voice came from the doorway: “Yo, what are you two up to?”

The appearance of Qiao Xin made Guan Shuyun and me look at each other. Finally, we both flashed identical wicked smiles. She came at the perfect time.

I quickly added, “Wait, she’s a foreigner. She probably can’t even recognize the tiles.”

Guan Shuyun crossed her arms, enjoying the show. “Ask her if she knows. I’ll lose if she’s missing even one of the four vices: eating, drinking, gambling, or womanizing. To survive in this circle, Mahjong is a mandatory social skill.”

“Playing Mahjong?”

Qiao Xin looked stunned for a second, then it was clear she was an old gambler. At the word “Mahjong,” her addiction kicked in. She tossed her handbag aside and rolled up her sleeves. “It’s a holiday today. Let’s not talk about those old grudges. We’ll settle it at the table.”

Guan Shuyun arched an eyebrow at me. “Was I wrong?”

I rolled up my sleeves too. “Three missing one, three missing one!”

Qiao Xin poked my head. “I’m going to destroy you!”

“Oh ho~ who’s afraid of who!”

Guan Shuyun beckoned the butler. “Come over and fill the fourth spot. If you lose, it’s on me. If you win, it’s yours.”

The butler froze for a moment, then nodded immediately. “Yes, Boss.”

The four of us headed straight for the entertainment room downstairs. At the table, I picked a good spot and carefully placed the red envelope Guan Shuyun gave me into the drawer for luck. Guan Shuyun looked at me amusedly and didn’t forget to mock me: “You sure have a lot of rituals.”

I rubbed my hands together and said to Guan Shuyun and Qiao Xin, “I’ll say this first. One: Mr. Butler, don’t go easy on us. This is a once-a-year chance to make a fortune. Don’t miss it. Two: At this table today, if you have grievances, air them; if you have grudges, avenge them. I won’t be taking it easy on you.”

Qiao Xin let out a cold laugh and said mockingly, “We bet big. Careful you don’t go bankrupt.”

I smiled and shook my head, gesturing the number five to Guan Shuyun. Her face changed instantly. “If you dare mention that five million again, I’ll hang you up and whip you! Tell me, how do you want to play?”

I bit my lower lip and thought for a moment before deciding, “How about the most popular style: ‘Battle to the End’ with ‘Exchange Three Tiles’? Do you know how?”

Qiao Xin said haughtily, “Of course! Chengdu, Guangdong, Hong Kong Mahjong—take your pick.”

Is this woman really a foreigner? Truly rare! Everyone agreed they knew the rules. I nodded with satisfaction. “To be fair, Mr. Butler will be the dealer. Let’s begin.”

As I started lining up my tiles, I flipped Qiao Xin the middle finger and gave her a wicked grin. “Watch out. I’m going to destroy you!”