Chapter 48: The Official Opening

With He Fei dealt with, Chen Xuewen felt that a weight had finally been lifted from his mind.

He brought Li Eryong and the others back home and immediately resumed planning for the grand opening of his business.

While they were busy, the door suddenly swung open, and Wu Lihong walked in.

"Sister Hong, why are you only just back?"

"We were almost starving to death!"

Li Eryong and Monkey wailed instantly.

Wu Lihong smiled. "I went out to look for a place today and just finished renting one."

"Come over to my place for lunch tomorrow noon!"

Hearing this, a subtle ripple stirred in Chen Xuewen's heart.

Yet, in the end, he said nothing. He knew his own situation all too well; having Wu Lihong stay by his side was hardly a blessing.

Monkey and Li Eryong, however, were completely dumbfounded. They asked in bewilderment, "You went out and rented a place?"

"Why?"

"Wasn't living here with Brother Wen working out just fine?"

Wu Lihong offered a faint smile. "Well, it's still a bit inconvenient after all."

"Alright, you guys keep chatting. I'll go pack up my things and move them over!"

Wu Lihong walked into the inner room, and everyone inside simultaneously turned their gazes toward Chen Xuewen. Even Li Tiezhu made the rare gesture of putting down his phone to look at Chen Xuewen.

Chen Xuewen snapped, "What are you all staring at? Let's get back to business."

"It's settled then. We'll open the first branch first, and the second one will remain closed for now."

"Once we've planted our feet and stabilized the situation, we'll open the second branch..."

Li Eryong and Monkey exchanged glances, both looking as though they had something to say but swallowed it back.

Inside the room, Wu Lihong packed up all her clothes. Looking around the bedroom where she had spent a period of her life, her eyes inevitably turned slightly red.

She took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the ache in her heart, then turned around and walked out of the room with a smile.

"Everyone, remember to come to my place for lunch tomorrow!"

"From now on, it'll be just like before—come eat at my place at noon!"

Wu Lihong cheerfully shared the new address with them, picked up her bags, and left.

Everyone watched her depart, their faces etched with confusion.

After a long while, Monkey finally couldn't hold it in any longer. "Brother Wen, what on earth is going on here?"

"How did you manage to tick Sister Hong off?"

Chen Xuewen replied, "She isn't angry..."

"Oh, come off it!" Monkey interrupted.

"If this isn't being angry, what is?"

"She packed up and left—that's the textbook definition of being angry!"

Li Eryong nodded vigorously in agreement.

Chen Xuewen was rendered utterly speechless. "You two lifelong bachelors, what the hell do you know?"

"Does moving out automatically mean someone is angry?"

Li Eryong protested, "That's not fair. I refuse to accept that."

"Sure, the two of us are bachelors, but it's not like you're married, is it?"

Monkey nodded as well. "Brother Wen, I might not have a girlfriend, but I understand women a little bit."

"I can tell that Sister Hong clearly has feelings for you. Living here, she acts just like a young wife, taking such good care of you day in and day out."

"If you hadn't pissed her off, would she have packed her things and left?"

"If you don't believe me, ask Dongzi!"

Chen Xuewen looked at Wang Zhendong. Wang Zhendong wore an awkward expression, but still nodded. "I do think she's in a rather bad mood."

"Brother Wen, did you... did you unintentionally offend her?"

Li Eryong was even more blunt. "Wenzi, as your brother, let me ask you something I probably shouldn't."

"Do you look down on Sister Hong?"