Chapter 48 Afraid You Might Cling to Me

Chen Xiao smiled and said, "The two of us are not going to end up together anyway, so don't worry too much about it!"

Hua Jiao let out an "oh" sound. "Well, you certainly are self-aware, which makes things much easier!"

"Chen Xiao, let me tell you something. If you really want to find a girlfriend to settle down with, you need to work on self-improvement first. Look at Bai Jie!"

"He works at a major enterprise as a solution expert, earning twenty thousand a month!"

"Not only that, he works in artificial intelligence—high tech with infinite potential!"

Working in artificial intelligence as well? That meant he had run into a peer. Chen Xiao glanced at Bai Jie.

"Mm, very impressive. A successful man!"

"And he already owns a house and a car. He bought the apartment five years ago, and the monthly mortgage is just over four thousand. His single salary can support an entire family!"

"On top of that, he drives a Tiguan L. You two are around the same age, just look at the gap between you!"

"I brought him here today not to upset you, but out of respect for Teacher Wang, to show you what kind of person you should strive to be. Bai Jie is the goal you should be working hard to catch up with!"

Chen Xiao felt a dull ache in his head. He asked indifferently, "What line of work are you in? Education?"

Completely missing his sarcastic tone, she replied, "I used to be, but starting tomorrow, I'm going to work at Bai Jie's company. I'll be in the AI sector too!"

"Congratulations, that's quite a career leap!" Chen Xiao replied perfunctorily.

"Not really. I'm doing finance—isn't making payments the same everywhere?"

Ah, so she was just a cashier and accountant. In that case, it wouldn't make any difference where she went.

At this point, Bai Jie spoke his first words since they had met: "A big leap doesn't matter. With me in the company, I still carry some weight and will be sure to look after her."

Chen Xiao gave him a strange look. Speaking with such a feminine demeanor and you're a solution expert?

Solution experts handle pre-sales work, including product definition, market research, and conducting roadshows. Would delivering a roadshow with such effeminate mannerisms actually be effective?

Which company was so blind as to pair their business team with this kind of pre-sales support? Could they even close any deals?

Hitting someone doesn't mean striking their face, and cursing someone doesn't mean exposing their shortcomings. He had only come through the motions today to give Aunt Wang some closure, knowing full well there was zero chance of them keeping in touch after today.

There was no need to engage in a war of words, so he just smiled and said, "Shall we call it a day then?"

Hua Jiao smiled. "Chen Xiao, you're actually not a bad person. I was worried you might cling to me and refuse to let go."

Big sis, do me a favor and take a look in the mirror, would you? Even if I remain single for the rest of my life, I wouldn't cling to someone like you!

"Then you were worrying over nothing."

Bai Jie stood up and shook his hand. "Chen Xiao, right? You're not bad; you know how to let go when things end. If you ever need help in the future, you can come to me. I'll look out for you."

Who knows what he could possibly look out for? They hadn't added each other on WeChat, nor had they exchanged contact information—this was purely empty politeness!

After the two of them left, Zhao Xiangjun walked over and collapsed right onto the table, though Chen Xiao could see her shoulders shaking continuously.

"Have you laughed enough yet?"

"Hahaha... let me laugh for a bit longer!"

Fine, go ahead and laugh your heart out. He walked over, intending to tickle her.

"Don't, don't, Chen Xiao, I'm ticklish..."

He was just teasing her; out in public, he wouldn't actually make a scene.

The two didn't linger there. That afternoon at Bihu Shuangxi, Chen Xiao helped her receive a lot of daily necessities, so it was a good time to head over, unpack, and arrange everything in its place.

Bai Jie and Hua Jiao walked hand in hand down to the parking garage!

In this day and age, is there really such a thing as a true female best friend between a man and a woman? What kind of people are those who whisper sweet nothings inside a girl's private boudoir?

"I didn't expect your blind date to be so pragmatic!" Bai Jie was referring to Chen Xiao.

"It's because you're too outstanding; he simply didn't have the courage to pester me," Hua Jiao chimed in with a sweet bit of flattery.

Holding Hua Jiao's hand with his chin held high, Bai Jie remarked, "People are divided into strata. Having stayed in his own social circle for too long, he probably thought he was doing okay. Once he saw someone vastly superior to him, he naturally had no choice but to face reality."

"As expected of an expert, your summary is so spot-on! Bai Jie, where should we go strolling tonight?"

"I'll take you for a drive. I know a place with a fantastic environment where a relative of mine works, so they can let us in!"

"What kind of place requires someone to let you in? A restricted military zone?"

"You're overthinking it. What's there to see in a place like that? I'm taking you to a high-end residential complex with a 120,000-square-meter artificial lake inside. The scenery is even more breathtaking than Egret Lake!"

"Just remember that we have to be careful once inside. Everyone living there is either wealthy or influential, and an apartment costs close to ten million!"

Hua Jiao's eyes lit up at those words. An apartment worth ten million successfully ignited her yearning for a life of luxury!

"Let's go take a look and experience the lifestyle of the rich!"

The two of them were so engrossed in conversation that they couldn't remember which section of the parking garage they had left their car in, leading to quite a frantic search.

Sitting in the car, Hua Jiao said, "I'm going to send a message to Teacher Wang right now, telling her we've met and both feel we're not suited for each other!"

There, the message was sent!

"Hey, Jiaojiao, is that Chen Xiao over there?"

Just as the car started, Bai Jie pointed out the window at a man and a woman walking toward them not far away and asked Hua Jiao.

Hua Jiao looked in the direction he was pointing, and sure enough, it was him!

Both of them froze for a moment, though for entirely different reasons.

Hua Jiao thought, "Why is he walking alongside such a gorgeous girl, laughing and chatting, and even holding hands?"

Bai Jie thought, "How can there be such a stunning woman? She's many times prettier than those celebrities on TV. Compared to her, Hua Jiao... Hua Jiao isn't even in the same league!"

Stunned, the two of them watched as Chen Xiao and Zhao Xiangjun walked past the front of their car, and then Chen Xiao pulled out his keys.

The double hazard lights of the Mercedes-Benz CLS flashed twice, and the running lights illuminated.

Bai Jie and Hua Jiao exchanged a blank, bewildered look. "He drives a Mercedes?"

Hua Jiao quickly checked her phone. Oh no, she had sent the message to Teacher Wang too early! She hurriedly tapped the unsend button, but the time limit had passed, and it could no longer be recalled!

Right on cue, Teacher Wang replied: "Alright, Jiaojiao, I also wish you success in finding your ideal partner soon~!"

At that exact moment, she felt a strong urge to burst into song: "My lovebird has already flown away..."

"Driving a Mercedes doesn't mean much. A lot of people can't afford a house, so they simply give up on buying one and spend their money on a car to enjoy themselves instead. But I completely disagree with that kind of consumerist mindset."

Hua Jiao thought about it and decided that made sense. Chances were Chen Xiao couldn't afford a house, gave up on life in despair, and blew his down payment money on a car instead. Such hedonism was an extreme form of irresponsibility toward one's own future!

With that thought, her mood instantly improved. The gorgeous woman from earlier must have been blind, lacking her own sharp judgment. Thinking this, she felt she had finally found an area where she outshone that stunning woman!

Following right behind Chen Xiao's white Mercedes as it drove out of the parking garage, they somehow ended up traveling along the same route for a while, leaving even Bai Jie marveling in disbelief!

"Hmph, did he see us and intentionally show off his Mercedes right in front of me, thinking I might change my mind? Does he really think I'm that superficial?"