A real-life ship happening right before my eyes!
My work life just got a little more romance novel flavor!
Walking to the entrance and spotting Mu Tingshen's car, she headed toward it.
Just as she reached the passenger side, Mu Tingshen stepped forward to open the door. Shen Xingling got in, and Mu Tingshen instinctively cupped his hand over her head to protect it as she stepped inside.
This man is so smooth!
How could Shen Xingling possibly resist feeling her heart skip a beat.
Once inside the car, Shen Xingling simply froze, showing no intention of putting on her seatbelt.
Mu Tingshen leaned over, picked up the seatbelt, and clicked it into place across Shen Xingling's left side. As he leaned over to fasten it for her, a faint, clean fragrance from his hair drifted right across her face.
Recovering her senses, Shen Xingling realized that Mu Tingshen had just put on her seatbelt.
*What's happening?* she thought. *My heart is beating faster and faster.*
After fastening her seatbelt, Mu Tingshen walked around to the other side, slipped into the driver's seat, and started the engine.
Forty-odd minutes later, they arrived at Nanyueju.
Mu Tingshen gave her a few instructions: "Don't stay out too late. Call me as soon as the gathering's over, and I'll come pick you up."
Feeling a bit self-conscious, Shen Xingling gave a slight nod to show she understood.
Then Mu Tingshen drove away.
Instead of heading home after dropping her off, Mu Tingshen went to the office. By the time he arrived, most of the employees had already left.
Meanwhile, over at Nanyueju.
After getting out of the car, Shen Xingling was led by an employee to her usual private dining room, just as she had done many times before.
Upon entering the room, Shen Xingling saw only Han Xinyue.
Han Xinyue complained immediately, "Babe! You're finally here. I've been sitting here all alone waiting for you and Wanwan for ages! Sob! I was so bored. I just asked Wanwan in our group chat, and she said she's still twenty minutes away."
Shen Xingling laughed, "What do you mean, 'ages'?"
Using an exaggerated tone, Han Xinyue held up one hand and flashed five fingers. "I've been bored in this private room all by myself for a whole five minutes! Five minutes, can you believe it?"
Shen Xingling almost laughed herself to tears. "All right, all right! My fault for making our precious little princess sit here suffering alone. I'll make sure you get an extra-large chicken leg and a giant braised pork knuckle later."
The two close friends chatted while playing ranked matches. After playing for a little over ten minutes, Jun Wanwan arrived at Nanyueju.
When Jun Wanwan pushed open the door and entered the room, she saw her two friends frantically playing ranked matches while simultaneously roasting their teammates.
The two friends were far too absorbed in the game.
No, correction—far too absorbed in their ranting.
They hadn't noticed Jun Wanwan walk in at all.
Han Xinyue cursed out loud, "Crap! Does this marksman even know how to play? If you don't know how, stop running in and handing over free kills! At least play defensively! I can't with this! Help me, someone help me!"
Shen Xingling was even more agitated than her friend. "Oh come on! Where were you when we were having a team fight? Were you sitting in the bush trying to recover from childbirth?"
Trading insults back and forth, they finally won the match thanks to Han Xinyue's Tachibana Ukyo, who also took MVP of the match, while Shen Xingling earned a silver badge for her support role playing Princess Yaoyao.
Shen Xingling grabbed Han Xinyue and planted a kiss right on her cheek. "Ah! Xinyue, we won! I'm one step closer to your main account's rank!"
Looking at the two of them with fond affection, Jun Wanwan chuckled. "Are you two really this worked up?! You're even swearing in pure internet slang! Anyway, the dishes are all served, let's eat and chat."
Emboldened, Shen Xingling suggested ordering drinks. "Sisters, the match I just won was crucial because I ranked up! I'm no longer stuck in Bronze anymore! Your fairy princess is now a glorious Gold! Name whatever drinks you want, this round is on me."
With that, she pulled the black card Mu Tingshen had given her out of her bag.
Instantly, Han Xinyue and Jun Wanwan's eyes lit up.
The two of them cried out in unison, "Mu Tingshen gave you that?!"
With a knowing smile, Shen Xingling simply nodded.
Han Xinyue teased with a grin, "He hands over the purse strings after just one day of marriage!"
Shen Xingling replied, "It's just pocket money."
The two friends chorused again, "Just?! Do you have to flex this hard?!"
Eventually, the trio dropped the subject.
Jun Wanwan asked curiously, "Weren't you stubbornly stuck in Bronze before?"
Proudly, Han Xinyue declared, "That's because this lady spent an entire afternoon helping her climb."
Jun Wanwan joked, "Little Xing has really changed! Didn't you always swear you were going to climb purely on your own skill?"
Giggling and bantering, the three friends ate and chatted. Shen Xingling explained why Han Xinyue had to help her rank up, and also shared Mu Tingshen's sweet gestures toward her.
Watching the three of them sharing this happy moment felt like looking at a gorgeous painting.
In that instant, it felt as though amidst the bustling world, they were quietly guarding their own little slice of happiness—a profound sense of peace and time standing still.
Two hours later, all three of them were heavily intoxicated, mumbling incoherently.
Meanwhile, back at the Mu Group headquarters.
Mu Tingshen was still bent over his desk working. His eyelids kept twitching intermittently, and his heartbeat began to gradually accelerate.
He flipped his wrist to check his watch.
It was already past eight, and she still hadn't called.
Growing somewhat concerned, Mu Tingshen dialed Shen Xingling's number.
It rang for a long time with no answer. He tried several more times, but every single call went unanswered.
Mu Tingshen picked up his suit jacket hanging from the chair and strode out.
Reaching the parking lot, he hurried to his car, started the engine, and drove faster and faster. Twenty-odd minutes later, he arrived at Nanyueju.
Stepping inside the establishment, he walked right up to a passing employee.
Anxious, Mu Tingshen asked, "Which private room is Shen Xingling in? Take me there."
The employee led Mu Tingshen to Shen Xingling's room.
Upon walking in, he saw Shen Xingling sipping alcohol while mumbling words that made no sense.
Seeing that she was physically present, he let out a sigh of relief.
Mu Tingshen immediately called Jun Hao, asking him to bring some people over to help escort Han Xinyue and Jun Wanwan home.
Noticing that Shen Xingling looked like she was about to throw up, Mu Tingshen quickly grabbed a trash can and held it out in front of her, using his other hand to gently stroke her back.
Once Shen Xingling had finished vomiting, he poured her a cup of warm water to rinse her mouth.
Half an hour later, Jun Hao arrived with his people.
As soon as he stepped inside, a familiar figure caught his eye.
"Wanwan?" Jun Hao walked over to Jun Wanwan's side.
"Hmm? Big brother, why are you here?" Jun Wanwan muttered before trailing off and falling right back asleep.
Turning to Mu Tingshen, Jun Hao asked, "President Mu, I brought two bodyguards with me. What are your instructions?"
Mu Tingshen replied, "Miss Jun is your sister, so you can take Miss Jun home. Have the other two bodyguards take Miss Han back. Be careful when escorting Miss Han home, she's a public figure. Actually, forget it—you two go contact her brother instead."
After that, Mu Tingshen picked up Shen Xingling's phone and handbag, scooped her up horizontally in his arms, and walked out.
Instead of taking Shen Xingling back to the Mu Family Manor, Mu Tingshen drove her to Wanhe Xingcheng, an upscale residential complex in the city center.