How Can a Construction Foreman Be the Public Girlfriend of a Top Celebrity? - Chapter 13
Chapter 13
Shu Xuan thought for a moment. “I’m free.”
“Alright, I’ll tell Director Hou we’ll meet tomorrow morning then.”
The next morning.
Zheng Ling got up early and rummaged through her cabinets. She finally found a tin box in the study, which she immediately opened.
Inside was a stack of temporary tattoo stickers. She recalled the instructions and hurried into the bathroom to mess around with them.
Shu Xuan, assuming the bathroom was empty, pushed the door open while getting ready for the day—only to find Zheng Ling curled up like a shrimp on top of the bathtub.
“What are you doing?” Shu Xuan asked, puzzled.
Zheng Ling lifted her shirt slightly. Underneath, she was wearing SpongeBob SquarePants underwear. “Putting on tattoos.”
“??” Shu Xuan looked at the yellow SpongeBob and the tattoo on Zheng Ling’s stomach, which read: “Serve the nation with loyalty.”
Sometimes she really wondered—how was Zheng Ling managing engineering projects again?
Shu Xuan once again failed her facial expression control.
“Cool, right?” Zheng Ling asked proudly.
“Are you going into battle or something?” Shu Xuan asked, lips twitching.
Zheng Ling rolled up her sleeves. “Aren’t we meeting Director Hou? I want to look intimidating.”
On her forearm was a tattoo of the general Guan Yu—but the handle of his weapon was missing a segment.
Shu Xuan: “Whatever makes you happy.”
Zheng Ling stood up and walked over to Shu Xuan. “Shu-laoshi, want to wear one too?”
“No, thanks.” Shu Xuan refused with her whole body.
“Come on~ Look at this butterfly, perfect for your lower back,” Zheng Ling teased, getting close on purpose.
Shu Xuan stiffened. “If I were to wear one, I’d pick the twin pistols.”
“That’s so tacky.” Zheng Ling followed her gaze—there was indeed a tattoo of twin pistols among the pile.
“Well,” Shu Xuan gave her a fake smile. “Because I really want to shoot you.”
She had no idea where Zheng Ling got all these things, but somehow, it all weirdly made sense for her.
After they got ready and left the house, Shu Xuan glanced at Zheng Ling’s arm. The tattoo did look somewhat convincing from a distance. Paired with her rebellious face, she actually looked like a real thug.
Shu Xuan suddenly remembered the gossip during their wedding—how Zheng Ling had been dubbed the “top sister” at Jiangcheng High School, with countless (absurd) legendary tales.
“Did we go to the same high school?” she asked.
They happened to stop at a red light. Zheng Ling stepped on the brake and looked over. “Yeah. What? Did Shu-laoshi notice me back then?”
Shu Xuan thought back carefully. “A little. I remember you doing a public apology under the national flag.”
“You remember that?” Zheng Ling was surprised. “Did you secretly like me in high school?”
“You blew up the bathroom. Someone from my class was using it. When they came back, their face and hands were covered in…” Shu Xuan paused. “What kind of brain do you have?”
Zheng Ling stifled a laugh and checked the light. “That was someone from your class, huh?”
“You did it on purpose?” Shu Xuan asked.
“Yup. What, you gonna speak up for them now?” Zheng Ling asked nonchalantly while steering the wheel.
Shu Xuan didn’t reply. She wasn’t sure why Zheng Ling had done something like that—maybe it was just teenage rebellion. But from how she’d gotten to know her recently, Zheng Ling didn’t seem like someone who picked on others without reason.
At the restaurant where they were meeting, Director Hou and the head of the security team were already waiting outside.
When they saw Zheng Ling’s car pull up, they immediately ran over.
“Boss Zheng! Mrs. Zheng! You’re here!” Director Hou greeted them with a sycophantic smile.
Zheng Ling opened the car door for Shu Xuan, who stepped out elegantly with a mask on.
“Don’t call her Mrs. Zheng. Call her Shu-laoshi,” Zheng Ling said sharply.
Shu Xuan gave a small nod, understanding why Zheng Ling had corrected him—they had a matched marriage, with no real feelings between them.
“Of course, of course. Shu-laoshi, please come in.” The security chief gestured politely.
They’d booked a private room in a five-star restaurant.
Once everyone was seated, the security chief began, “Boss Zheng, Shu-laoshi, the incident before was entirely my fault.”
“I want to start by bowing to you both.” He stood up and bowed ninety degrees three times.
Zheng Ling immediately stood and waved her hand. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Are you trying to send us to the afterlife?”
“Please, just accept my apology,” the man continued, still bent at the waist.
“Get up already,” Zheng Ling said as she helped him. “If you keep bowing like this, we might as well stick three incense sticks in the rice and offer a proper memorial.”
Even Director Hou couldn’t bear it anymore and helped lift him up.
Shu Xuan sat silently on the side, observing.
Director Hou tried to smooth things over. “Here’s the thing—yesterday we saw the news. Shu-laoshi’s fans reported those haters and got them investigated.”
“We figured this whole ordeal could be chalked up to personal conflict. So we just wanted to formally apologize, and hope you won’t hold a grudge.”
Shu Xuan and Zheng Ling exchanged glances. They understood—these men weren’t apologizing because they were sorry, but because they were afraid the story might go viral and cost them their jobs.
“Want to really make it right?” Zheng Ling leaned back and crossed her legs, looking at them from above.
The two men nodded quickly.
“You’ve always been in Nancheng, right?” she asked.
“Yes, yes! We’ve always been here.”
“There’s a kid in the village where I do my engineering work, his name is Huang Tian.” She took a sip of water. Her sleeve shifted, revealing a bit of her tattoo. “Could you send him some clothes and daily essentials every month?”
The security chief agreed instantly. “Absolutely! Boss Zheng, whatever you say!”
“And one more thing…” Zheng Ling started, but then paused. “Never mind. Shu-laoshi, what do you think?”
Shu Xuan didn’t say much—she didn’t want to waste energy dealing with people like this.
“Alright,” Zheng Ling stood and casually fiddled with the chopsticks and bowls. “We’re not eating. I hit you, and now I’m apologizing.”
She grabbed three chopsticks, stuck them vertically into the bowl of rice, and bowed three times. “Sorry for hitting you.”
“Please, don’t! Please stop! Boss Zheng, you’re killing me here!” the security chief nearly collapsed.
After bowing, Zheng Ling pulled Shu Xuan out of the room.
“That girl’s cursing me to death!” the security chief howled, clutching Director Hou as he cried.
Zheng Ling was laughing hysterically by the time they got back to the car. “Shu-laoshi, did you see the guy’s face? Hahahahaha—”
Shu Xuan fastened her seatbelt. “Boss Zheng, why didn’t you want him calling me Mrs. Zheng?”
“Huh?” Zheng Ling looked confused. “I just figured… you probably wouldn’t like being called that.”
“Besides, you’re not my possession.”
Shu Xuan understood now. She smiled softly. “Yeah.”
They’d mentioned traveling before, and now Zheng Ling was actually packing.
“Shu-laoshi, should we book one room or two when we go?” she shouted from her bedroom.