"What do you mean?"
Ning An was momentarily confused, not understanding what he was referring to. It was only when her phone chimed with a WeChat notification a second later that it finally clicked.
"Are you talking about the taxi fare?" Ning An asked. When Xi Siyuan had added her on WeChat, he had claimed it was to make it easier to pay her back.
Xi Siyuan: "..."
He remained silent, so Ning An took his silence as confirmation. She waved a hand dismissively. "You drove me home afterward anyway, so that cancels it out."
At the time, she had only agreed to add him on WeChat because she wanted to get away from him and didn't want to waste any more time; she had fully intended to delete him as soon as she got home.
Xi Siyuan hadn't expected her to still be dwelling on it. He rubbed his forehead in frustration. "That was an apology for the fact that you sacrificed your evening to keep me company. It has nothing to do with the taxi fare."
Ning An: "..."
Why was he still obsessing over this?
"Fine, if you say it has nothing to do with it, then it doesn't."
Too tired to argue about who owed whom, Ning An reached out her hand decisively. "Since you insist on paying the fare, then just give it to me."
Xi Siyuan: "..."
Ning An looked at him calmly. "Don't tell me Mr. Xi didn't bring any cash today either?"
Xi Siyuan: "...I really didn't."
Ning An: "There should be an ATM downstairs. You can go withdraw some right now."
Xi Siyuan: "..."
*Ding.* The elevator doors opened.
"Mr. Xi?" Secretary Lin appeared before them, clutching a stack of documents.
Ning An glanced at Secretary Lin, then looked back at Xi Siyuan with a grin. "If it's really inconvenient for you, perhaps you could borrow some from your secretary? He should have cash, right?"
Xi Siyuan: "..."
Ning An: "If that doesn't work, scanning my QR code is fine too."
Secretary Lin was completely bewildered. Seeing Xi Siyuan’s dark, unpleasant expression, he assumed his boss was dealing with an awkward situation. Eager to be helpful, he pulled out his phone and opened the scanner. "I have some balance in my account. I can transfer it."
Xi Siyuan: "..."
Ning An held her payment code out to him. "37.8 yuan."
"Thanks."
Secretary Lin: "..."
Thirty-seven point eight yuan? The boss was deliberately stalling over this pittance?
Out of the corner of his eye, Secretary Lin could see that Xi Siyuan’s expression wasn't just unpleasant—it looked murderous.
Secretary Lin’s heart sank; he broke into a cold sweat. Oh no, he had completely misread the situation.
"Actually, I just remembered my account is restricted, I don't think I can make payments..." Secretary Lin tried to backtrack in a desperate bid for survival. But his phone suddenly buzzed—the scan had been successful.
Ning An looked at him quietly. "Looks like it works just fine."
Secretary Lin: "..."
Secretary Lin didn't dare say another word, his heart weeping as he sought help from Xi Siyuan. He cursed himself for meddling and trying to show loyalty at the wrong time.
Xi Siyuan shot him a cold glare. "Scan it."
"...Yes, sir."
The transfer of thirty-seven yuan and eighty cents went through. Ning An confirmed the receipt and put her phone away. "Thank you, Mr. Xi. I wish you a pleasant day."
"I'll be heading down now."
After expressing her thanks, Ning An stepped into the elevator. As the doors closed, she reopened WeChat, pulled up Xi Siyuan’s profile, and without a moment's hesitation, deleted him.
She didn't believe for a second that Xi Siyuan just wanted to be friends. His status and position were far beyond her reach. Since the outcome was already set, there was no point in wasting time. It was better to cut ties early and keep things simple; otherwise, if her father found out, she would have more trouble on her hands.
***
After dismissing Secretary Lin, Xi Siyuan returned to the hospital room with the documents.
Old Madam Liu’s son was sitting cross-legged on the hospital bed, having polished off a plate of cherries, waiting for Xi Siyuan with an air of relaxed anticipation.
"You specifically had me come to this hospital for a check-up just for that young lady?"
"You only met last night, and today you're already using me as a shield? Do you even consider me your grandfather anymore?"
Xi Siyuan tossed the documents onto the table and said coolly, "You’re always nagging me to get married, aren't you? Do you still want a granddaughter-in-law or not?"
The old man: "..."
"Are you sure about her?" The old man dropped the playful tone, looking at him seriously. "I had someone run a check. She’s the adopted daughter of the Xinhai Group and is already engaged to that boy from the Qin family. I heard the wedding date is almost set."
"So what?" Xi Siyuan raised an eyebrow, his face expressionless. "People get divorced after marriage all the time. It’s just an engagement—can't it just be called off?"
The old man: "..."
"Oh, and Grandfather." Xi Siyuan pulled a document from the pile and handed it to him. "Could you transfer that abandoned commercial street in the western suburbs to me?"
That street had been built over a decade ago during a new district development project, but problems had arisen, the area never took off, and the buildings were left unfinished and derelict. The Xi family hadn't been interested in the project, but the old man had eventually bought the street under his own name to avoid missing out entirely.
The structures were already there. With a bit of redesigning and renovation, it would be the perfect, quiet environment for the children from the orphanage.
The old man glanced at the transfer document. "What are you planning to do with it?"
"Charity work."
Xi Siyuan’s reaction remained as flat as ever; he felt no guilt at all about asking his grandfather for property to give away as a gift. "Perhaps you’d like to be a philanthropist as well?"
"Grandfather, are you interested in doing something for the children at the orphanage?"
The old man: "..."
***
Ning An stayed at the hospital with the director until evening before being sent home.
When she arrived, Xiao Chang and the others had just finished dinner.
"Why are you back?" Xiao Chang frowned in displeasure.
He had warned her just yesterday to stick to Qin Wang and try to get pregnant as soon as possible. How could she be so disobedient?
Ning An stood there obediently and replied, "Director Wu was injured, so I spent the afternoon at the hospital."
"By yourself? Didn't Qin Wang go with you?"
"Old Madam Liu asked him to take me there, but he had something to take care of at the company, so he left early."
Since Old Madam Liu had personally ordered it, it seemed she was still on Ning An's side. Xiao Chang’s expression softened slightly. "You didn't say anything you shouldn't have, did you?"
Ning An shook her head. "No. His mother even apologized and comforted me afterward."
"Very good." Xiao Chang nodded with satisfaction. "During this time, make sure to visit the Qin family more often to keep the old lady company. Let them help you."
"Yes, Father."
"Go eat."
Xiao Chang waved a hand to dismiss her, but Ning An didn't move.
"What? Is there something else?"
"Father," Ning An gathered her courage and asked, "when will the new orphanage be finished?"