On the weekend, Ying Jingsheng had a day off, but Tao Xinrou still had to work.
When she opened the door in the morning, they bumped into each other.
Their eyes met, and both were startled for a moment.
Ying Jingsheng quickly recovered, putting on a polite smile as he slightly stepped aside. "Good morning."
Tao Xinrou didn't speak, just nodded in response.
She brushed past him and quickly left, as if afraid of having too much interaction with him.
Over the past few days, living under the same roof, Ying Jingsheng had been deliberately observing Tao Xinrou's every move.
Seeing her leave early and return late every day, silently enduring Li Meili's harassment, Ying Jingsheng grew more convinced that Tao Xinrou was not simple. Someone who could break through a crisis so precisely at a critical moment—how could she be willing to keep being bullied?
He needed more solid evidence.
So while she was out, Ying Jingsheng bought a box of cherries and some pastries, took a walk around, and returned to Tao's home in the afternoon.
Just as he took out his key, the door was opened by Tao's mother. She paused and asked, "Xiao Fang? You didn't go to work today?"
Ying Jingsheng smiled and replied, "Hello, Auntie. I have a day off today." He raised the things in his hand. "I remember Tao Xinrou mentioning you like sweets, so I bought some on a whim. I passed a fruit shop, and the cherries looked fresh. Nothing too expensive—I hope you don't mind."
Tao's mother already thought this tenant was clean, tidy, and regular in his habits, always polite in daily interactions. Seeing that he had deliberately bought things, she felt even more touched, but she frowned at the bags in his hand. "Oh, you're being too polite, child."
Ying Jingsheng walked in with the bags, placed the cherries and pastries on the coffee table, then took the initiative to open the packaging and handed a box to Tao's mother. "Auntie, have a try. These are freshly baked flower pastries."
Tao's mother took them with a smile, a little embarrassed. "You're so thoughtful, child."
As they ate, they sat on the sofa chatting.
Ying Jingsheng was good at finding topics. He started from finding a place to live, chatted about nearby amenities, and naturally shifted to work, saying that since he and Tao Xinrou were colleagues and lived under the same roof, it was right to look out for each other.
"She takes good care of me at the company and often reminds me of work-related matters."
These words hit Tao's mother right in the heart. Her smile grew wider as she rambled about Tao Xinrou. "That girl is just clumsy with words. She has good judgment but doesn't know how to express it. Stubborn since she was a child—once she sets her mind on something, she won't give up. Now that she's just started working, I'm always worried she'll be wronged. But knowing you're her colleague makes me feel much more at ease."
Ying Jingsheng listened attentively, nodding occasionally, and even said a few considerate words at the right time. "Auntie, don't worry. Tao Xinrou is very capable, very clear-headed. The leadership even praises her."
Tao's mother found Ying Jingsheng more and more attentive and thoughtful, and couldn't help sighing, "Nowadays, there aren't many polite young people like you. You're much better at talking than our Xiao Rou."
Just then, the security door clicked open, and Tao Xinrou returned.
Seeing the scene in the living room, Tao Xinrou's footsteps instantly stopped.
"Mom, what are you two doing here?"
Pretending to ask, Tao Xinrou had already noticed the fruits and pastries on the coffee table and guessed part of it.
"Xiao Fang has the day off today, and I had nothing to do, so we just chatted," Tao's mother said, then picked up a pastry from the table. "These are flower pastries Xiao Fang just bought. They're delicious. Want a taste?"
Tao Xinrou's internal alarm bells rang.
A taste? Can she just have a taste?
Alarmed, she quickly took the flower pastry from her mother's hand, put it back in the box, and respectfully pushed it in front of Fang Rong. "Fang Rong, you're too kind. But this gift is too valuable; we really can't accept it. You are our tenant, and it's our duty to take care of you according to the contract. If you do this, we'll feel uneasy. We appreciate your kindness, but please take these things back."
A string of respectful "you"s left Fang Rong unsure of Tao Xinrou's meaning.
He looked at the returned gift, then at Tao Xinrou's expression—seemingly polite but clearly conveying a desire to "draw a clear line." His smile faltered for a moment, then he understood and said apologetically, "It was inconsiderate of me. I put you in a difficult position. I just thought Auntie usually takes good care of me, so I wanted to express my gratitude."
"No, no, no. Taking care of you is what we should do. After all, you paid the rent, and you've made our humble home shine."
Fang Rong smiled back. "You're exaggerating. I'm the one intruding. Since you insist... then I'll take these back."
Seeing how cooperative he was, Tao Xinrou secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
But the next second, Fang Rong asked naturally, "By the way, it's almost dinner time. Do you know any nearby restaurants that serve home-style food? I'd like to treat you to dinner outside, as a celebration for the weekend?"
Tao Xinrou's body stiffened again.
Ah? The CEO wants to treat them to dinner!
Her heart, which had just settled, leaped again. What does the CEO mean? Does he think our hospitality is lacking? Or does he think rejecting the gift was too disrespectful?
In an instant, a thousand scenarios from workplace dramas and palace intrigue flashed through her mind. She put on a stiff, awkward smile. "Ah, this... How can we let you spend money? We have ingredients at home. My mom is a great cook! Mom, right?"
Before Tao's mother could react, Fang Rong had already spoken. "Don't trouble Auntie. I just want to familiarize myself with the neighborhood. You can recommend a place, or... I'll bring takeout and we can eat together? That way Auntie won't have to work hard."
As the two were going back and forth, Tao's mother interjected, "Oh no, I got so caught up in chatting that I forgot to buy groceries."
Tao Xinrou turned to look at her mother. It seemed there was no avoiding this meal.
"Then I'll just pick a random place. Auntie, you take a rest today." Fang Rong stood up and walked out.
As soon as the door closed, Tao Xinrou immediately turned to complain to her mother. "Mom, how could you let him buy dinner? It's over, it's all over."
Tao's mother was puzzled by her daughter's series of smooth yet inexplicable actions. "What's over? Xiao Rou, what's wrong with you today? Are you possessed?"
"Mom, I'm perfectly normal." Tao Xinrou collapsed onto the sofa, her mood plummeting.
"Normal? You call this normal? That young man Fang is such a good kid. He had a day off and still thought of us, bought fruits and pastries, spoke politely, and had good manners. You, on the other hand, Xiao Rou, you're not usually this unreasonable. Did something happen at work?"
Tao Xinrou sat up in a flash and explained, "Mom, listen to me. I did what I did not because I'm being unreasonable."
"Then why?"
"Because his identity is unusual. He is the future CEO of our hotel."