Chapter 7: You Are the One She Discarded

Qiao Xu patted her chest, and remembering that her new apartment had no security cameras installed yet, she hurriedly placed an order online for two.

At lunchtime, Qiao Xu didn't see Xu Si'an in the staff canteen. That made sense; he was the boss, so why would he come to a place like this?

Fang Kexin spoke up, "I feel like President Xu is actually really great. That old miser from before used to nitpick every single day, unlike President Xu, who says what he means."

"What was it that old miser used to say again?"

Ye Yurou and Qiao Xu said in unison, "If I have to tell you everything, then what do I need a secretary for?"

While they were chatting, Ye Yurou asked about what happened to Qiao Xu that morning.

"Xu Xu, were you being chased by a ghost this morning?"

"Don't even mention it. My car flipped over after work last night."

Qiao Xu was stabbing at the rice on her plate so hard it was almost pulverized.

"Flipped over?"

"Are you hurt?"

Qiao Xu shook her head and told them about what happened the previous night. Ye Yurou and Fang Kexin exchanged glances; there was something suspicious going on.

"Xu Xu, be honest. Did you and President Xu know each other before?"

"Exactly! Why else would he go out of his way to ram your car?"

Qiao Xu gritted her teeth, "He’s just bored and looking for trouble."

Ye Yurou and Fang Kexin widened their eyes and glanced around. Ye Yurou set down her chopsticks, "Good grief, you really dare to say anything. Could it be that you two were old flames?"

"Yeah."

"No way—is he that ex-boyfriend you broke up with four years ago?"

Qiao Xu lowered her head, "Keep your voice down."

Fang Kexin asked curiously, "Did President Xu compensate you for the car?"

"He did. A BMW. I didn't dare take it; I can't afford that kind of debt."

Ye Yurou raised an eyebrow, "Why wouldn't you dare to take it? If I had an ex-boyfriend that handsome and wealthy, I’d still be hooking up with him even after the breakup."

Qiao Xu whispered again, "I think he found out I stole his dog."

Ye Yurou and Fang Kexin synchronized a fist-and-palm salute toward her, "Sister, take care."

They had worked with Qiao Xu for four years and heard her mention that her dog was something she had "snatched" from her ex-boyfriend when they broke up.

Qiao Xu: "..."

She was currently thinking that she absolutely could not let that despicable man know about the dog theft. Otherwise, with the methods he used to toy with her, he might just call the police.

During her nap, perhaps because Xu Si'an was right next door in his office, she couldn't fall asleep while slumped over her desk. She was afraid that, just like yesterday, she would fall asleep and dream of him.

Damn it!

She had almost plucked the violets in the vase bald.

Before getting off work, Qiao Xu received a WeChat message from Xu Si'an.

Xu Si'an: "Come here."

Qiao Xu, who had just closed her computer, picked up her phone, swiped it open, and with a straight face, mimicked his tone, "Come here..."

"Treating me like a dog."

Qiao Xu slipped back into her high heels, shoved her phone into her suit pocket, and headed toward the president's office next door.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

"Come in."

Qiao Xu stood at the doorway, took a deep breath, and pushed the door open, "President Xu, you wanted to see me?"

Xu Si'an was sitting in front of his computer, appearing to be in a video conference. He pointed toward the sofa. Qiao Xu saw several gift bags sitting there. She didn't understand, so she just stood there—surely he didn't expect her to sit on the sofa and wait? Given Xu Si'an’s black-hearted nature and the level of resentment he held for her dumping him, it was a miracle he wasn't making her wait on her knees.

"Wait a moment."

Seeing her standing still, Xu Si'an halted his meeting and muted the audio. "There are clothes on the sofa. Pick a set and put it on."

Qiao Xu pointed at herself, "I should change?"

"What else?"

"Hurry up. Don't hold things up."

Qiao Xu pursed her lips, "President Xu, I think the clothes I’m wearing are just fine. I don't need to change."

Xu Si'an turned his handsome face away from the computer screen and scoffed, "Are you planning on accompanying your boss to a dinner with a major client dressed in this old maid's work uniform?"

Old maid???

Wasn't this the most standard professional attire? A shirt, a suit jacket, and a skirt. At least hers was beige; the finance and HR departments wore black suits—wouldn't that be the old...

What a despicable man.

As for whether she was a virgin...

"President Xu, I think your taste is questionable. Formal wear is the most appropriate attire for meeting clients."

Xu Si'an beckoned her over with his finger. Qiao Xu took two steps forward, standing at the edge of his desk.

"The meeting ends in five minutes. You can hesitate, but I wouldn't mind helping you—trying them on one by one."

Qiao Xu stepped back, her beautiful eyes glaring at him, "Pervert."

She picked up the bags from the sofa, intending to leave, "Stealing my things again?"

Qiao Xu was exasperated and threw the bags back onto the sofa, "Are you sick? Didn't you tell me to go change?"

Xu Si'an smiled maliciously, "There's a bathroom inside."

"I'm not used to using it," Qiao Xu refused.

Xu Si'an nodded. The moment he stood up, Qiao Xu surrendered instantly, grabbed the bags, and dashed into the lounge.

The man’s smile was playful, "Little coward."

Inside the lounge, Qiao Xu instinctively locked the door behind her. Only after her heart, which had been pounding in her throat, settled back into place did she survey the room, which was about the size of her own apartment.

The president’s lounge used to be filled with the pungent scent of expensive perfume; it seemed a bit different now. A two-meter wardrobe, a six-foot bed, two nightstands, a bathroom... It was certainly in Xu Si'an’s signature "model home" style.

Qiao Xu looked through all the dresses in the bags and finally chose the most ordinary blue floral-collared long dress.

As soon as she put the dress on, she reached behind her, struggling to zip it up.

"Open the door."

Her hand shook, and the zipper snagged the edge of her bra. Qiao Xu cursed under her breath.

"Qiao Xu, open the door."

Qiao Xu looked in the mirror, not daring to pull too hard because the zipper was incredibly thin.

"I'm changing clothes."

The man said calmly, "I need to change too."

"You wait for me..."

"I can't wait. We're running out of time."

*Click.* The sound of the lock turning. Xu Si'an pushed down the handle. Seeing Qiao Xu in the blue dress, his gaze remained calm, but inside...

Wait... was the size wrong? Why was she covering her clothes?

"What are you standing there for?"

"President Xu, I'll head out first."

Qiao Xu moved, backing away while facing him; she needed to go downstairs and have Kexin and the others help her with the zipper.

"Stay where you are."

"Turn around."

Qiao Xu didn't move. Xu Si'an took a step forward.

"What are you doing?"

*Bang!* The door was slammed shut by him, and a hand landed on Qiao Xu's shoulder.

Her limbs stiffened, "Xu Si... President Xu, even though you are my superior, you cannot..."

Qiao Xu felt his fingers touch the zipper on her back.

Xu Si'an lowered his eyes to look at her.

The next second, the dress was tugged, and the zipper was pulled all the way up.

"There."

Qiao Xu’s eyes were unfocused.

Xu Si'an snapped his fingers by her ear, "Assistant Qiao, if you don't head out, are you planning to watch your superior change clothes here?"

Qiao Xu snapped back to reality, grabbed the professional clothes she had taken off, and fled in a panic.

Xu Si'an took a black suit from the wardrobe and chose a tie from dozens of options that matched the color of her dress. As he was tying his tie, his hands suddenly stopped.

*[Ah Si looks so handsome in a suit. When we graduate and get married, I’ll wake up every day to tie your tie for you.]*

His mind was filled with the image of Qiao Xu tying his tie four years ago.

Xu Si'an tightened his tie and smiled mockingly, "Don't dream, Xu Si'an. You're the one who was thrown away by her."