Chapter 63: Sensitive Dandelion

Chapter 63: Sensitive Dandelion

Tan Xing's face flushed red; he wished to cover his ears, thinking that like mother, like son, both of them had a penchant for bold and racy language.

After teasing her own son, Kong Luo boldly shifted to sit beside Tan Xing.

She took Tan Xing's hand and said, "Xiao Xing, although Liang Xigui is clueless about romance and somewhat rigid, he's still reliable. If there's anything you're not satisfied with, tell him directly, or you can tell me as well."

As she spoke, Kong Luo took out her phone to exchange contact information with Tan Xing. Tan Xing, listening to Kong Luo's evaluation of Liang Xigui, glanced at Liang Xigui with a hint of mockery.

Liang Xigui knew this mischievous cat was going to poke fun at him, so the moment Kong Luo finished speaking, he tactfully lowered his head to start brewing tea.

Just moments ago, he was being served tea by Tan Xing, but now he had transformed into a tea boy brewing tea.

Dealing with elders was indeed a mentally exhausting task. In just a short span of ten minutes, Tan Xing felt as if an entire day had passed.

Kong Luo seemed satisfied after getting a basic understanding of Tan Xing's situation and wanted to pry further into the details of how they met.

After all, if she asked Liang Xigui, that guy would likely mix two truths in every ten sentences, leaving her and Old Liang spinning in confusion.

Liang Xigui caught Tan Xing's pleading gaze. He shook his head reassuringly, signaling Tan Xing not to worry, then lowered his head to send a message on his phone.

"Auntie, I met Mr. Liang—"

"Knock knock—"

Before Tan Xing could finish his sentence, the office door was knocked upon.

The savior secretary, carrying everyone's hopes, walked in. Seeing the CEO's mother, he understood immediately that he was once again being used as a shield.

Even though he was inwardly frustrated, the secretary maintained a proper expression. "Mr. Liang, here are all the project reports and reflections for this quarter."

"Good, leave them on the desk." The pile of documents in the secretary's arms was quite exaggerated.

Liang Xigui glanced at his watch, then looked at Kong Luo. "Mom, I'm busy today, and Tan Xing has many things to do. Don't delay his normal working hours."

Kong Luo looked at Tan Xing, who nervously nodded. "I'm sorry, Auntie. We'll chat another time."

Who could bear to blame someone with such an obedient demeanor? She guessed that Liang Xigui must have been tamed by this very approach.

Ever since she arrived, Liang Xigui had been subtly siding with Tan Xing, while he guarded against her, as if hiding some secret too shameful to admit.

"Don't talk about 'next time' with Auntie. Auntie isn't that easy to appease," Kong Luo hatched a plan. "How about this: when Xigui takes his vacation soon, give Xiao Xing some time off too, and we'll go on a group trip to the vast grasslands together."

This was originally planned as a romantic getaway for her and Old Liang, but now the plan had changed. Her gossiping nature flared up, and she was determined to uncover what secrets were being kept from her.

Tan Xing tried to seek help from Liang Xigui, but this time, Kong Luo noticed the subtle signal. She stepped in front of Liang Xigui and patted Tan Xing's shoulder. "Don't look at that stinky brat; he knows nothing. Just answer me, do you want to play with Auntie?"

When Kong Luo spoke seriously, she exuded a sense of pressure. Tan Xing, who wasn't adept at handling elders, couldn't withstand the pressure and could only agree first, planning to find a solution with Liang Xigui later.

"Alright, we'll go together."

Kong Luo's smile blossomed. She turned around and patted Liang Xigui's shoulder meaningfully. "There's dust on your suit; be more careful."

"I understand," Liang Xigui replied, regaining his composed demeanor in front of the secretary.

Kong Luo didn't say much more. With a flick of her finger, she lifted her handbag from the table. As she passed the secretary, she paused, smiling warmly. "Work hard. At the end of the year, let Xigui give you a raise."

Though it was a typical encouraging remark from an elder, the secretary sensed a hint of gritted teeth. Being a secretary to the boss was truly difficult.

Tan Xing watched as Kong Luo left the office, the sound of her heels fading away. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief. Acting was harder than leading troops into battle.

Liang Xigui glanced at the secretary. "Anything else?"

The secretary immediately understood the cue. "Mr. Liang, there's a meeting scheduled for this afternoon. There won't be time to handle these files."

Liang Xigui quickly followed the lead. "Never mind, we'll discuss it next time. Take them down for now."

The seasoned actor made a graceful exit, leaving only Liang Xigui and Tan Xing in the room. Tan Xing felt the pressure intensify.

"Mr. Liang."

"Hmm, don't burden yourself too much. Sit."

Liang Xigui knew he couldn't hide anything from his mother, but before he officially confessed his feelings to Tan Xing and they became a couple, he intended to keep the sugar daddy arrangement under wraps as long as possible.

He also needed to give Qi Lü a heads-up. His mother, if she decided to investigate something, would stop at nothing and leave no stone unturned.

"If you don't want to go on the trip mentioned earlier, you don't have to. I'll find an excuse to get us out of it."

Tan Xing nodded, but his face still wore a troubled expression, as if preoccupied with other concerns.

"Is there something else?"

"Mr. Liang, you shouldn't have admitted our relationship in front of Auntie."

Liang Xigui was provoked by these words, his tone becoming sharp. "What kind of relationship? Tan Xing, how should I introduce you?"

"A contractual relationship," Tan Xing stubbornly replied, looking straight at Liang Xigui.

The seemingly clear-headed one had already fallen deeply, while the one who appeared to retreat first was actually the most lucid. Staring into those clear eyes, Liang Xigui found himself speechless.

Tan Xing realized his tone had been serious. After some thought, he softened his stance. "Mr. Liang, you should have told Auntie."

"Liang Xing, don't forget. The contract stipulates that Party B has the obligation to cooperate with Party A and conceal the true nature of their relationship within certain limits."

Tan Xing couldn't recall the specifics of the contract he signed, and Liang Xigui seized upon this, fabricating a clause to deceive Tan Xing.

"Really?"

"To Tan Xing, one should repay kindness," Liang Xigui said with evident disappointment in his tone.

Liang Xigui had once again seized upon one of Tan Xing's character flaws: his strong sense of responsibility. If he owed something, he would find a way to make amends no matter what.

Tan Xing was left speechless by these words. Yes, he was under someone else's roof now and had to bow his head.

Liang Xigui had provided him with material support and emotional tolerance; he owed Liang Xigui a great deal. Acting along wouldn't hurt him—it wasn't as if it would cost him a piece of flesh.

"Mm, thank you for the reminder, Mr. Liang."

Liang Xigui's hand, hanging at his side, clenched and unclenched, harboring an inexplicable frustration with nowhere to vent. Tan Xing was truly something, quickly setting clear boundaries between them.

"Go to work then."

"Alright."

Some people love too sensitively, like timid dandelions. At the slightest sound, they scatter in the wind, leaving others unable to grasp them.

Those who love dandelions can only handle them with care, yet can't help but feel insecure, wanting to use forceful means to keep the dandelions close.

In the end, they themselves become sensitive dandelions.