Who wants to be a male model after being reborn? I want to be a male god.

Chapter 359: BBQ and Ice Beer at Night ( Subscriptions per Day)
After saying goodbye to Xia Ning, Xu Wen drove back to Shancheng.

He still has a lot of work to do here and can't delay.

Xu Wen quickly walked through the office area and then pushed open the office door.

The afterglow of the setting sun shines in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, giving the entire room a warm golden hue.

His eyes first fell on the familiar thermos on the desk.

That was what Gu Xingruo often used. She always did this, sending him various nourishing soups after he stayed up late to work overtime.

He walked to the table, unscrewed the lid of the thermos, and a rich aroma immediately hit him.

There are a few wolfberries and red dates floating on the surface of the soup. The soup is clear and you can see the chicken and medicinal herbs at the bottom.

Xu Wen picked up the spoon and took a sip. The delicious taste bloomed on the tip of his tongue, and the temperature was just right. It was obvious that Gu Xingruo had carefully calculated the time to deliver it.

After tasting the delicious food, the corners of his mouth unconsciously raised.

He remembered the smug little expression on Gu Xingruo's face every time she brought him soup, as if she was saying "Praise me quickly".

This girl always expresses her concern in the most direct way and never beats around the bush.

After drinking a few sips of soup, Xu Wen's eyes inadvertently swept across the computer screen.

The online reading page of "The Disease Name is You" still occupies the entire monitor, and I don't know whether Gu Xingruo has seen the content inside.

Xu Wen put down the spoon and frowned slightly.

He carefully recalled every detail of the office.

The documents were neatly stacked, the scattered pens were returned to the pen holder, and even the coat he had casually thrown on the sofa was hung up.

These are all traces of Gu Xingruo’s visit, but did she notice the computer screen?
Xu Wen tapped his fingers lightly on the table, thinking about various possibilities.

If Gu Xingruo saw it, why didn't he question him directly?

According to her personality, shouldn't she call immediately to ask for accusation?

Rather than guessing, just ask.

Xu Wen made up his mind, picked up the phone and put it down again.

It's not the right time yet, he needs to finish the urgent work first.

The latest developments of Meituan, the implementation of the merchant loyalty program, and the operational details of the extreme weather protection fund all require his immediate attention.

For the next two hours, Xu Wen forced himself to concentrate on his work, but his thoughts always drifted uncontrollably to the unsolved mystery.

Every time he finished a task, he would glance at his phone, as if waiting for something.

But Gu Xingruo never sent any message.
When the clock struck 7:30 in the evening, Xu Wen finally completed all the urgent matters.

He took a deep breath, picked up his phone and called Gu Xingruo.

The phone rang three times before it was picked up. Gu Xingruo's cheerful voice came from the other end of the line: "Hello? Are you done?"

"Well, I just finished it. Have you had dinner?" Xu Wen said as usual.

"No, the weather is too hot and I don't want to eat. Suddenly I want to drink cold beer and eat barbecue. Let's go together!" Gu Xingruo's voice was a little lazy.

Xu Wen was stunned for a moment. This proposal was very much in line with Gu Xingruo's style.

Be spontaneous and do whatever you want to do immediately.

There was nothing unusual in her tone, neither the sharpness of questioning nor the stiffness of deliberate avoidance.

"Okay, I'll pick you up." Xu Wen agreed, while pricking up his ears to catch any clues on the other end of the phone.

"Then I'll wait for you at home. Hurry up, I'm hungry!" Gu Xingruo's tone was still cheerful, and she hung up the phone after she finished speaking.

Xu Wen stared at the phone screen for a few seconds.

This phone call was so ordinary that it was a little abnormal.

As he expected, Gu Xingruo would at least mention the bowl of soup, or ask him where he went today.

But she didn't ask anything, as if nothing had happened.

After packing up, Xu Wen drove to Gu Xingruo's villa.

The summer evening breeze blew in through the car window, bringing with it the unique hustle and bustle and heat of the city.

Xu Wen's thoughts involuntarily returned to his meeting with Xia Ning in the afternoon.

He shook his head, pushing those thoughts out of his mind.

Now was not the time to dwell on the past, he needed to focus on the issues at hand.

Does Gu Xingruo know?
If she knew, why didn't she say a word?
When Xu Wen's car stopped in front of the villa, Gu Xingruo was already standing at the door waiting.

She wore a simple white T-shirt and denim shorts, with her hair casually tied into a ponytail, looking fresh and energetic.

When she saw Xu Wen's car, she immediately trotted over, opened the door and got in.

"It's so hot! Tianlin River is like a steamer." Gu Xingruo complained as soon as she got in the car and reached out to lower the air-conditioning temperature.

Xu Wen observed her expression carefully. There was no trace of gloom in her bright eyes, and the smile on her lips was as bright as ever.

"Which barbecue restaurant do you want to go to?" he asked, starting the car.

"Just follow my instructions. There's a barbecue restaurant I haven't been to for a long time." Gu Xingruo said as he fastened his seat belt.

Xu Wen chuckled and said, "Okay, then I'll ask Xiao Gu to guide me."

The atmosphere in the car became relaxed, and the two of them talked about interesting things that had happened recently.

Gu Xingruo behaved normally, and from time to time he laughed out loud at Xu Wen's words, or interrupted to add some details.

She even mentioned some of the company's recent projects and asked Xu Wen what he thought about Meituan's next move.

This natural conversation made Xu Wen gradually relax his vigilance. Maybe Gu Xingruo really didn't see that web page?
Or did she see it but not care?

After all, "The Disease Name is You" is very popular on the Internet, and Gu Xingruo may have known about the existence of this book for a long time.

The car drove through the bustling urban area and turned into a familiar road.

From a distance, Xu Wen could already see the sign of "HSBC BBQ".

Roadside stalls are always bustling on summer nights, with plastic tables and chairs filling the sidewalks and the air filled with the aroma of charcoal and cumin.

"We're here! I want to have twenty skewers of lamb, grilled eggplant, and grilled steamed bread slices." Gu Xingruo said excitedly, unbuckling his seat belt before the car stopped completely.

Xu Wen parked the car and followed Gu Xingruo to a low table in the corner, away from the road but not exposed to the fumes.

The boss recognized Gu Xingruo and came over to greet him enthusiastically: "Hey, I haven't seen you here for a long time."

"I've been too busy lately." Gu Xingruo responded with a smile and skillfully ordered a bunch of barbecue and two bottles of cold beer.

The beer came first, and Gu Xingruo couldn't wait to pour two glasses, and the foam overflowed from the rim of the glass.

"Cheers! What are you toasting for? Because Shancheng is about to defeat Meituan?" She raised her glass and gently clinked it with Xu Wen's.

Xu Wen smiled and took a sip. The cool liquid slid down his throat, dispelling the heat of the summer night.

"For us," he added softly.

Gu Xingruo's eyes sparkled under the light. She tilted her head back and took a big sip of beer, then sighed with satisfaction: "Ah, cool! It's really necessary to drink ice beer on such a hot day."

The barbecues were served one after another. Gu Xingruo picked up a skewer of lamb and started eating it as if he was starving.

Xu Wen looked at her unrestrained eating and couldn't help but remind her: "Eat slowly, don't burn yourself."

Ever since he'd been with Gu Xingruo, he slowly realized that this was the real Gu Xingruo.

"Hmm, it's delicious!" the eldest lady said vaguely, with a little cumin powder on the corner of her mouth.

Xu Wen naturally reached out and wiped it off for her. This intimate action made both of them stunned for a moment.

Gu Xingruo's eyelashes trembled slightly, but she soon returned to her smile: "Thank you!"

She continued to eat the barbecue, taking a sip of beer from time to time, and seemed to be completely immersed in the enjoyment of the food.

Xu Wen ate while observing Gu Xingruo, trying to find anything unusual in her words and actions.

But Gu Xingruo acted too naturally, even more relaxed than usual.

She talked about the movies she had watched recently, complained about the new interns in the company, and enthusiastically planned where to go on a short trip during the summer vacation.

"By the way, my dad said he would invite you to his house for dinner next week and talk to you about the next investment plan." Gu Xingruo suddenly said, picking up a string of grilled mushrooms.

Xu Wen nodded: "Okay, I'll arrange the time."

He hesitated for a moment, and finally decided to ask tentatively: "Did you go to the company today?"

"Yes, I brought you some soup, didn't I?" Gu Xingruo answered without raising her head, concentrating on the skewers in her hand.

"The soup is delicious, thank you. What else did you do in my office?" Xu Wen said slowly.

Gu Xingruo raised her head, with a little sauce on the corner of her mouth: "I just tidied your desk. You always put the files in a mess."

She tilted her head: "What's wrong? Did you lose something?"

Xu Wen shook his head: "No, just asking casually."

Gu Xingruo continued to eat barbecue and seemed to be completely uninterested in the topic.

Xu Wen felt even more confused. If Gu Xingruo had seen that web page, why could he be so calm?

Does she really not care about him meeting Xia Ning?

As the night deepened, the customers at the barbecue stall came and went, but Xu Wen and Gu Xingruo were still sitting there, having already finished their third bottle of beer.

Gu Xingruo's cheeks were slightly red due to the alcohol, but her eyes were still clear.

She suddenly put down the skewers in her hand and looked directly into Xu Wen's eyes: "Where did you go today? You were not in the company this afternoon."

Xu Wen's heart skipped a beat, and it finally came.

"I went to see an old friend," he answered cautiously.

Xu Wen's answer was ambiguous.

He has already thought of a complete explanation for this matter.

Gu Xingruo hates people who are secretive, so he tells the truth no matter what he does.

Even if you have done something bad, you must tell the truth.

"Oh? Who? Do I know him?" Gu Xingruo raised her eyebrows.

"Xia Ning, she's returning to Beijing today. I want to see her before she leaves." Xu Wen directly said the name while closely watching Gu Xingruo's reaction.

Gu Xingruo's expression hardly changed. She just hummed softly, then picked up the beer and took a sip.

"How was the chat?" she asked, her tone as calm as if she was asking about today's weather.

"We were just chatting casually. She said she wanted to take a year off from school to travel." Xu Wen answered truthfully, and at the same time was surprised at Gu Xingruo's calmness.

After all, she wasn't like this before.

In just one short year, looking back, Xu Wen realized that not only he had changed, but everyone had changed.

"That's good. She really needs to relax. I've read the book. It's well written, but a bit depressing." Gu Xingruo nodded.

Xu Wen was completely stunned. Gu Xingruo not only knew about "The Disease Name is You", but also read it?
And she could actually talk about Xia Ning so calmly?
This is completely different from the Gu Xingruo who was nervous about Xia Ning's name a year ago. "Aren't you angry?" Xu Wen couldn't help asking.

Gu Xingruo put down her wine glass and looked at Xu Wen seriously: "Why are you angry? Isn't it normal for you to meet and chat? Or did you do something you shouldn't have done?"

Her cheeks were rosy and there was a smile in her eyes.

"We just had a cup of coffee and chatted about recent events." Xu Wen shook his head in denial.

"Then there's nothing to be angry about. I believe you." Gu Xingruo shrugged and picked up another skewer of barbecue.

These three words were like a stone thrown into Xu Wen's heart, causing ripples.

Gu Xingruo's trust was so direct and pure, without any temptation or conditions.

"Ruoruo." Xu Wen wanted to say something but didn't know where to start.

Gu Xingruo suddenly smiled and patted Xu Wen on the shoulder: "Okay, don't look like you've done something wrong. I know you have something to hide. You deliberately left the webpage open, right? Are you trying to test me?"

Unexpectedly, but understandably, the eldest lady saw through his intentions.

"You just want to know if I will be jealous like before, or if I will make a big fuss. I am not the same person I was a year ago. I know what is important and what is not important. It doesn't matter if you meet Xia Ning. What's important is that you come back to find me." Gu Xingruo said in a relaxed tone.

Xu Wen was speechless. He was somewhat surprised by Gu Xingruo's growth.

This girl who was once reckless and impulsive has now learned to deal with her emotions in a mature way.

"Besides, I've known about that book for a long time. The internet is full of promotion. I'm not blind. I also know that Xia Ning held a book signing event in Linjiang. It's only a matter of time before you meet." Gu Xingruo winked cunningly.

Xu Wen finally understood: "So you have been waiting for me to tell you?"

"I guess so. I wanted to see if you would hide it from me, and you didn't let me down." Gu Xingruo nodded.

She raised her glass: "Come on, let's drink to honesty!"

The two glasses clinked again, making a crisp sound.

Xu Wen drank the glass of wine. He didn't expect that this matter could be resolved so easily, and he didn't expect Gu Xingruo's attitude to be so calm.

"Actually, this barbecue restaurant is quite special." The eldest lady said, raising her head.

She didn't look at Xu Wen, but at the surrounding environment, the noisy crowd, the fire on the stove, and the proprietress who kept serving dishes.

Xu Wen looked around, searching for memories in his mind, but he didn't find anything special.

Finally, I had to ask: "Tell me, what's so special about it?"

Gu Xingruo turned her head and looked at him with a half-smile: "Do you still remember the night when Xia Ning forcefully kissed you?"

Xu Wen's heart tightened. He thought the eldest lady was going to bring up old matters, but she still had a smile on her face and was not angry at all.

But he still gave a symbolic explanation: "I didn't see her at that time either."

"It's not important. Do you remember the excuse I gave you before I left? I said I wanted to eat barbecue and I knew a small trail." Gu Xingruo continued.

After a brief recollection, Xu Wen discovered that this barbecue restaurant was indeed very close to the eldest lady's bar.

He inquired, "So it's this barbecue restaurant?"

Gu Xingruo nodded, then asked, "How is it? Is it delicious?"

Xu Wen did not rush to answer. He picked up a skewer from the plate and put it in his mouth. While eating, he said, "It tastes really good."

Gu Xingruo leaned gently on Xu Wen's shoulder: "I finally brought you here now, and we really became a couple."

"Yeah." His voice was so soft that only the two of them could hear it.

As the night deepened, the lights from the barbecue stalls seemed particularly warm in the summer night.

Xu Wen and Gu Xingruo walked out of the barbecue restaurant side by side. Their shadows stretched very long on the ground and finally merged together.

Xu Wen quietly took Gu Xingruo's hand and felt the strength of her grip in return.

"Go home?" he asked softly.

"Well, let's go home." Gu Xingruo nodded with a satisfied smile on her face.

On this ordinary summer night, they seemed to have reached a tacit understanding. There was no need for suspicion or probing, only the simplest trust and understanding.

Gu Xingruo leaned on Xu Wen and said softly, "I know she will definitely occupy a small place in your heart, but as long as you love me, as long as I am the most important person to you, it doesn't matter to me."

The noise of the night seemed to blow away the whisper.

But Xu Wen heard it very carefully.

She remembered what Gu Xingruo had said half-jokingly before they were together.

"You can find a mistress later, but I have to be the boss."

Xu Wen discovered that even he could not say "I want them all" with a clear conscience.

Some things only ferment slowly in each other's hearts.

Xu Wen turned his head and said seriously: "I will always love you, no matter when, even in the next life, I will still love you."

He said a lot of sweet words to a lot of people, but most of them were fake.

But it is true.

Gu Xingruo liked this sentence very much.

When she got back to the car, she took out her cell phone and posted this.

"My boyfriend said he would love me forever."

Lan Qiu Sheng stared at the financial statements on the computer screen and tapped out a string of numbers on the keyboard with his fingertips.

The August sun shone through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a light golden hue on the side of her face.

Linjiang is even hotter now, and it is already the most unbearable season of the year.

The air conditioning in the office was on high, but she still felt a layer of fine beads of sweat on her back.

This quarterly report has been revised three times and Xu Wen will use it tomorrow.

The phone suddenly vibrated and an unfamiliar number appeared on the screen.

"Hello?" She pressed the answer button, her voice filled with impatience at being interrupted at work.

"Is this Secretary Lan? I'm Zhong Ming, Zhong Ming from Meituan." There was a deliberately low male voice on the other end of the line.

Lan Qiusheng's fingers tightened instantly.

She looked up at the busy office area outside the glass wall, then stood up and walked to the empty corner.

"How dare you contact us?" Her voice was as cold as ice.

A bitter laugh came from the other end of the phone: "I was fired. Huang Jiangang said that I brought back false information and caused the company to lose two million in subsidies."

His voice suddenly became excited: "But that bastard embezzled at least five million himself! I have evidence!"

Lan Qiu Sheng's eyelashes trembled slightly.

"Why me?" she asked.

"Because, because Mr. Xu said that the core of Shancheng is people. I know you are preparing to deal with Meituan. These evidences can help you directly bring down Huang Jiangang." Zhong Ming's voice suddenly became firm.

The landline on the desk suddenly rang, and the internal line displayed "Xu Wen".

Lan Qiusheng stared at the name for two seconds and said to the phone, "Give me half an hour."

She hung up the phone, took a deep breath, and then answered the landline: "Squad leader?"

"Bring me the thing I asked you to get for me this morning. That's it." Xu Wen's voice sounded on the phone.

"That one, right? I'll get it right away." Lan Qiu Sheng replied.

The two had a "secret conversation" that only they knew about.

When he pushed open the office door, Lan Qiu Sheng saw Xu Wen standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window.

Hearing the door open, he turned around with that warm smile she was familiar with.

Lan Qiusheng first handed the document to Xu Wen, and then told him what had just happened: "Zhong Ming called me just now and said that Huang Jiangang had misappropriated the subsidy."

Xu Wen raised his eyebrows: "Is there such a thing?"

He tapped his brows with a thoughtful look, "Sister Jiang just found out that Huang Jiangang bought a villa in Da Nan last month."

The floor-to-ceiling windows reflected the figures of two people standing side by side.

Lan Qiusheng noticed Xu Wen's gaze.

She suddenly remembered Ding Yue's words: "In his eyes, there is Xia Ning and Gu Xingruo, but not you."

"Zhong Ming said he would give us evidence." She forced herself to get back to the topic.

Xu Wen's fingers tapped out a rhythm on the window frame.

"Ask him a meeting, but make sure it's safe," he said suddenly.

"I'll arrange it." Lan Qiu Sheng turned around to leave, but was stopped by Xu Wen.

"Tell Zhong Ming that as long as the evidence is true, Shancheng can give him a position." He reminded.

Lan Qiu Sheng replied "OK" and left the office with the recorder.

Just as I left the office, my cell phone vibrated again. It was a text message from Zhong Ming.

"Tonight at 8 o'clock, East Gate of Linjiang Park, bring your laptop."

She stared at the message for a long time and suddenly realized that it was a trap.

Meituan is likely conducting a sting operation.

After returning to her workstation, she immediately sent a message to Xu Wen.

At 7:45 in the evening, Lan Qiu Sheng was standing under a big tree at the east gate of Linjiang Park, holding his laptop.

To be on the safe side, Gu Xingruo also sent two bodyguards in plain clothes to stand in a pavilion twenty meters away, one of whom was pretending to make a phone call.

She touched the tiny earphone hidden in her cochlea, and Xu Wen's voice came from it: "Test, can you hear it?"

"Very clearly," she whispered, her heart beating like a drum.

At exactly eight o'clock, a figure wearing a baseball cap walked along the park path.

Zhong Ming looked much more haggard than the last time they met, with a large patch of stubble on his chin.

He looked around vigilantly and was visibly relieved when he saw Lan Qiu Sheng.

"Here are the things. They include Huang Jiangang's bank statements, the villa purchase contract, and the chat records between him and his mistress." He handed over a brown paper bag, his fingers shaking.

When Lan Qiusheng took the paper bag, Xu Wen suddenly said in the headset: "Ask him why he betrayed Meituan."

She looked Zhong Ming straight in the eye: "Why did you do this?"

Zhong Ming's expression suddenly twisted: "Not only did that bastard fire me, he also put me on the industry blacklist!"

His voice was very low, but every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth: "My wife just gave birth to a child, and I have a mortgage and a car loan."

(End of this chapter)