"That's wonderful!" Seeing the old grandmother reunited with her family, Shi Xin Xin was also incredibly happy, a surge of joy welling up.
"Miss, thank you so much. Without you, my old bones might have ended up on the streets..." The elder's gratitude towards Shi Xin Xin was immense.
"Haha, no, there are still many good people in the world. Even if Grandma didn't meet me, she would have met someone else good," Shi Xin Xin smiled, not taking credit.
"Thank you so much, you are truly very kind," the elder's daughter-in-law said gently, extending her hand.
"Haha, it was just a small favor. Don't think too much of it, or I'll get embarrassed," Shi Xin Xin scratched her head a little bashfully, reaching out to shake hands, smiling sweetly.
"Miss, don't you have something else to attend to?" the elder asked, about to go inside, suddenly remembering and turning back to remind her.
"Right!" Upon hearing this, Shi Xin Xin's expression instantly changed. She looked down and saw she was already two minutes past the agreed time!
A warning bell immediately rang in Shi Xin Xin's heart. She couldn't bother with anything else and quickly said goodbye before hurrying away.
"Excuse me, I have to go!"
Shi Xin Xin's sprinting figure quickly disappeared from the sight of the elder's family.
Damn, I'm late!
Shi Xin Xin felt incredibly anxious and flustered, but it was also somewhat expected.
After all, she had been searching for a while, and the road wasn't exactly short.
But no matter what, she was late!
By the time Shi Xin Xin arrived at the coffee shop, out of breath, Ji An was standing properly by the entrance, his expression looking somewhat weary, as if he had been waiting for a long time.
Shi Xin Xin's heart sank. Without time to fix her clothes, her first priority was to apologize.
"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm late!"
Hearing this, although Ji An knew everything, he still curved his lips into a slight smile. He looked down at his watch and said with a hint of playfulness, "Ten minutes."
Shi Xin Xin knew this was a reminder that she was ten minutes late and felt even more guilty. "I'm truly very sorry!"
"So what do you plan to do now?" Ji An pursed his lips, his tone cold, revealing his displeasure.
"This..." Shi Xin Xin didn't know what to say for a moment, her head hanging low, like a child who had done something wrong.
"For a businessman, every second is incredibly precious," Ji An paused before continuing leisurely, "You know my status, right? And you've wasted ten minutes of my time. Do you know how many people have missed opportunities just because they were a second late?"
"I'm sorry, I'm truly very sorry, it's my fault." Shi Xin Xin kept repeating "I'm sorry," apologizing sincerely. "I'm willing to have my salary reduced to compensate for my mistake."
"Oh? That's a responsible attitude," Ji An raised the corners of his mouth, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
Because he knew Shi Xin Xin wasn't intentionally late; she was doing a good deed. She had a valid reason. If she had stated it, Ji An probably wouldn't have minded much.
But Shi Xin Xin didn't mention anything at all, not offering any excuses, even though it wasn't an excuse but a fact.
"It's only right; one should bear the consequences of their own mistakes." Shi Xin Xin's principles were also very pure. In her opinion, helping the grandmother home was her own choice, not something forced upon her, nor was it something Ji An had requested. Therefore, the consequences of this action, which was being late, had nothing to do with anyone else.
Shi Xin Xin's thoughts were that simple and pure, without any unnecessary embellishments.
This was often the most difficult thing to find in society, because this childlike innocence was truly incompatible with the gilded world.
It was precisely because Ji An knew all this that he was surprised. "Is there... anything else you want to say?"
Ji An thought, he had already hinted so obviously, she should have thought of that incident.
"What thing?" Shi Xin Xin blinked her eyes, utterly confused. The next moment, she became flustered again. "Did I... did I forget something else? Sorry! I..."
"No..." Seeing Shi Xin Xin starting to apologize non-stop again, Ji An's heart softened.
He didn't expect Shi Xin Xin to be such a sincere girl.
Ji An opened his mouth, intending to tell Shi Xin Xin that he already knew everything, but he stopped himself.
It was better to let Shi Xin Xin remain so gentle and kind.
"If anyone should apologize, it's me to you," Ji An said.
"Huh?" Now Shi Xin Xin was even more bewildered.
However, Ji An didn't intend to explain anything and walked inside.
Helplessly, Shi Xin Xin had to follow.
The second floor housed private rooms for the coffee shop, which Ji An had already booked.
The service and taste of this coffee shop were first-class. Soon, a neatly dressed server came to attend to them.
"What would you like to order?" the server asked politely.
"What would you like to drink?" Ji An asked the person opposite him.
"A glass of juice, please. I don't really like coffee," Shi Xin Xin said, still a bit reserved, sitting properly.
"Pfft," Ji An suddenly couldn't help but chuckle. "Shi Xin Xin likes juice, just like a child."
"...No, I don't!" Shi Xin Xin retorted.
"Pfft," Ji An found that he was increasingly fond of this girl.
"One Blue Mountain, and one... juice." Ji An couldn't help but pause when he said "juice," a smile evident.
"Certainly." The server noted it down and left.
"So, shall we discuss the contract now?" After all, Shi Xin Xin wasn't familiar with Ji An, so she didn't dare to overstep in her speech.
"No rush, no rush. We can be friends," Ji An smiled. His impression of Shi Xin Xin had greatly improved, and his attitude had changed accordingly.
"Ah?..." Shi Xin Xin blinked in confusion, unsure of how things were developing. Previously, both Ji An and Sheng Chen Jin seemed to dislike her...
Why had Ji An suddenly changed his attitude?
Shi Xin Xin didn't know what Ji An was up to, making her even more apprehensive. Instead of relaxing, she became more nervous.
How could Ji An not see Shi Xin Xin becoming more uncomfortable? He sighed helplessly and said, "Actually, I've suddenly realized, you're quite nice too. There's no need to be like before. So..."
"Shall we get to know each other again?" Ji An smiled, a man's charm evident in his eyes. He extended his hand.
Shi Xin Xin was naturally happy to be in this situation. Who wouldn't want to make a new friend?
Shi Xin Xin extended her hand, and after a brief shake, she finally relaxed a little.
"Actually, I'm not that difficult to get along with. Otherwise, I wouldn't be so close to A Liang," Ji An chuckled.
"Mhm..." Hearing Sheng Chen Jin's name from Ji An's mouth, Shi Xin Xin couldn't help but tremble slightly.