The little rose is so sweet and alluring, even the aloof CEO can't resist!

As she spoke, Yan Beian leaned forward to pick up some food that was a little further away, and she caught a glimpse of Yan Zhixu's profile. Just as she was about to smile at him, Yan Beian sat back down, blocking her view of that part of his face, and her smile froze instantly.

Xiao Ling noticed her reaction and glanced at Yan Zhixu without making a sound. He was calmly drinking his soup and didn't turn around to look at her while talking to Lisa.

She then looked at Grandpa Yan, who was also looking at Lisa thoughtfully, clearly having also noticed something.

Xiao Ling smiled slightly, picked up her soup bowl, blew on it gracefully, and took a sip.

Yan Zhixu put down his soup bowl and said, "I stayed in China because there are new investment projects being developed here, and I have to be there to inspect them in person. But it's pointless for you to stay here for so long. Although it doesn't prevent you from following up on the old projects in North America, it also means that you can't take over the new projects. As the head of the North American region, if you can't be in charge of the region for a long time, it would be better to change the head as soon as possible, which would also be beneficial to the company."

These were harsh words, especially in front of the entire Yan family. Lisa felt humiliated and quickly said, "I know I can't leave there for long, that's why I said that as long as you go back, I'll..."

Yan Zhixu leaned back in his chair: "I am the group president, not the regional president. You and I are different."

Seeing that he had moved, Yan Bei'an quickly moved back as well, once again blocking Lisa's time.

Lisa leaned forward and turned to look at Yan Zhixu: "I—"

Yan Bei'an leaned forward again, seemingly unintentionally, blocking Lisa's view several times. She was furious and wanted to say something.

Grandpa Yan looked at Yan Zhixu's left hand resting on the table and asked in confusion, "Waiter, why are you only using your right hand to eat today? What's wrong with your left hand?"

As soon as he said that, everyone at the table focused their attention on Yan Zhixu's left hand.

Yan Zhixu glanced at his left hand, and under the watchful eyes of several people, he clenched his fist and said, "It's nothing. I lifted something heavy yesterday, and my arm feels a bit sore today, so I haven't used it."

The old man asked, "What heavy thing do you need to lift?"

Yan Zhixu smiled and said, "Yesterday I went shopping with my girlfriend. She bought some things that were quite heavy, so I carried them for her the whole way. I didn't realize it at the time, but this morning I found that my arms were sore."

The old man chuckled: "That's how it should be. If you take good care of your girlfriend, she won't find you boring and run away."

Thinking of his girlfriend's charming appearance, Yan Zhixu smiled and said, "She won't find me boring."

Xiao Ling also laughed and said, "I heard from Dad that you're bringing someone back next week? Don't go back on your word. I'll have someone prepare the ingredients for dinner that day in advance. If you do, not only will all the effort be wasted, but Dad's ebony cane will be hitting you on the back next time."

Yan Zhixu picked up a piece of pork rib and put it in the bowl, then lowered her eyes and said, "I won't go back on my word. I've already told her that she likes pork ribs and shrimp, so please prepare those two dishes for her."

"Okay, I've got it," Xiao Ling smiled, then, as if remembering something, glared at Yan Beian and said, "You like ribs and shrimp, huh? That's something you have in common with Weiwei. Weiwei likes those two dishes too. It's a pity she probably won't come again—"

Yan Bei'an broke out in a cold sweat instantly, feeling the double glare from his grandfather and mother, wishing he could shrink his neck into a crack in the ground.

He chuckled twice and looked at Yan Zhixu beside him pleadingly.

Yan Zhixu was slowly and deliberately chewing on her ribs, not even glancing at him.

None of the Yan family members at the table noticed that Lisa's expression changed instantly.

Does the Yan family know about his girlfriend, Liang Liangwei?

But something seems a little off.

Why do they say Liang Liangwei will be back next week, but then say "Weiwei" won't come back?

~

After the meal, Lisa sat in the living room for a while before getting up to say goodbye.

She wasn't oblivious to the distance the Yan family showed him; while they weren't exactly impolite, they just weren't warm towards him.

She got bored after a while.

Xiao Ling got up and saw her out, saying politely, "Come visit again another time when you have time."

Lisa smiled and said, "Okay, then I'll come over again next Saturday to bother you. I hope that won't be too presumptuous."

The Yan family: "..."

The Yan family: "!!"

Xiao Ling chuckled dryly: "Hehe—"

He glanced at Yan Zhixu.

Upon reaching the entryway, Lisa turned around and looked at the man standing by the sofa with his hands in his pockets. She said, "Ah Xu, I have a few things to say to you privately. Can you come out for a moment?"

Yan Zhixu said calmly, "It's so cold outside. If it's not important, you can go back first. We can talk about it when you get to the company tomorrow."

Lisa: "You haven't been to the company for the past two days. Are you sure you'll be there tomorrow?"

Yan Zhixu looked at her without saying a word.

Lisa: "Right, I knew you probably wouldn't go, but I can understand. You're busy with the new project, so I can only chat with you now. It's really cold outside, so we can talk here."

Xiao Ling glanced at the two of them and immediately understood, saying, "You two chat, we'll go back to our room first. Zhi Xu, could you see Miss Zhou off later?"

Yan Zhixu nodded slightly.

The others then left the living room.

As they passed by Yan Zhixu, they all glanced at him without prior arrangement, their eyes filled with meaningful glances.

Yan Bei'an, in particular, stopped at the corner of the stairs and hid there to peek at the two people downstairs.

Yan Zhixu leaned back on the sofa and said, "Say what you have to say."

Lisa walked up to him, looked up at him, and asked in English, "When are you going to introduce me to your girlfriend?"

Yan Zhixu frowned slightly, then relaxed and said, "There will be opportunities to get to know each other."

Lisa: "You really like her?"

Yan Zhixu: "Of course, why would I chase after someone to be my girlfriend if I didn't like them?"

Lisa: "Is she better than me?"

“You are you, and she is she. There is no comparison,” Yan Zhixu said with a dark face and displeasure. “Lisa, you have overstepped your bounds.”

Lisa pursed her lips and said, "You know perfectly well that I like you..."

Yan Zhixu: "This is your business. I told you before, you should take back these abnormal thoughts. We can't be together."

Lisa raised her voice a few notches: "Not normal? Is that how you see me? How is this not normal, impossible? We're not really dating..."

"Lisa, that's enough!" Yan Zhixu shouted sternly, his eyes filled with impatience. "It has nothing to do with your status or relationship. I have no interest in you. Get your bearings right, or you can forget about being the president of the North American region!"

Lisa was speechless for a moment.

Yan Zhixu gestured with her chin toward the door: "Aren't you going back? Assistant Xu is waiting for you in the car. He'll take you back to your place. Don't keep him waiting. He has a lot to do tomorrow, so get some rest tonight."

Lisa took a deep breath, trying to control her emotions, and said, "I heard that there was a seven-car pileup in the city center a couple of days ago, did you know?"