Chapter Fourteen: The First Disguise

"Yes! I've admired you since high school—you've always been my idol!" Tan Rui looked at Xu Xu with unabashed admiration. "It's because of you that I began exploring design."

Xu Xu had never expected that her assistant of so many years was actually one of her biggest fans.

"So, I’m not afraid of hardship or the unknown. I just want to follow you!" Tan Rui said sincerely. "Xu Jie, I believe in you!"

"Thank you..." Xu Xu was touched, momentarily at a loss for words. She truly hadn’t imagined anyone had admired her so deeply since high school. "Tan Rui, we will succeed!"

Hearing this, Tan Rui brightened instantly—this meant Xu Xu finally accepted her as one of her own.

"Yes! We definitely will!"

After Tan Rui left the office, Xu Xu’s resolve to start her own venture only grew stronger.

What had once been just a fleeting thought was now a concrete decision.

Tan Rui believed in her, and she couldn’t let her down.

"I have to save enough capital before leaving the Xu Group..." Xu Xu murmured to herself, then pulled out her phone to scroll through her contacts. Spotting a familiar name, she dialed immediately.

The call was answered almost instantly.

Before the other party could speak, Xu Xu took the lead. "Zhang Nan, any orders lately? I’ve been pretty free recently."

Hearing this, the voice on the other end was filled with excitement.

"Others might not have any, but for you, the ‘Xi God,’ there must be orders!" Zhang Nan exclaimed. "Heaven’s mercy, appointments for you are booked all the way to the year after next!"

Xu Xu was surprised. "That many?"

"Of course!" Zhang Nan nodded eagerly. "Too bad you said you’d only take one order a month, or I would have called you sooner! You have no idea how popular your embroidery work has become. And that’s with me limiting the number of orders—otherwise, bookings could be scheduled for over a decade in advance!"

Xu Xu hadn’t expected this.

Though she knew her embroidery would be well-received, she never imagined it could be so wildly sought after.

"Ahem... well, I was just too busy before," Xu Xu coughed somewhat sheepishly. "I’m pretty free now and can take on more orders."

"That’s great!" Zhang Nan practically begged. "How many can you handle? I’ll help you schedule them."

Xu Xu thought for a moment. "About a dozen or so should be fine."

A dozen!

Good heavens!

Zhang Nan was overjoyed; he had only expected Xu Xu to take three or four orders at most.

---

But when something changes so suddenly, there’s often a reason.

"Xi God, why are you suddenly so diligent? I’m not used to this," Zhang Nan teased.

"I have good news—I got married," Xu Xu laughed, her tone playful. "Married a husband and got a kid on the side; I have to earn more now, right?"

Huh!?

A remarried man!

With a kid, and a woman to take care of him...

Zhang Nan involuntarily pictured a greasy, freeloading man.

"Xi God, you weren’t tricked, were you? Otherwise, why would you marry a freeloader?" Zhang Nan asked, worried.

Xu Xu chuckled, about to explain when she suddenly looked up and met a pair of deep, penetrating eyes.

Because Xu Xu had the speakerphone on, the voice came clearly into Huo Hanshen’s ears.

Xu Xu immediately flushed with embarrassment and quickly hung up.

"Ah, my friend didn’t mean it like that..."

Seeing Xu Xu flustered, Huo Hanshen let out a light laugh. "Freeloading... isn’t that quite nice?"

"Ah?" Xu Xu was momentarily stunned.

Huo Hanshen stepped forward. "Didn’t you just say you wanted to earn more? Having someone take care of you isn’t a bad thing."

Seeing Huo Hanshen’s lighthearted expression, Xu Xu blinked and tentatively asked, "You… aren’t angry?"

Usually, any man would fly into a rage upon hearing someone call him a freeloader.

"Why would I be angry?" Huo Hanshen stood before her, a faint smile playing on his lips. "If my dear wife wants to support me, I’m more than happy—if work ever tires me out, I can retire early and then..."

He leaned in closer, lowering his voice. "Enjoy married life with my wife."

Hearing his magnetic voice so close, Xu Xu blushed deeply.

That "married life" sounded decidedly improper.

"Ahem."

Xu Xu gently pushed Huo Hanshen away and quickly changed the subject. "Why are you here?"

"Of course, to pick up my wife from work."

Pick her up from work?

Xu Xu paused, glanced at the clock on the wall, and realized it was already past six in the evening.

---

"It’s this late already..."

Looking outside through the glass, she saw most of her colleagues had left.

"Let’s go home," Xu Xu said, withdrawing her gaze as she picked up her coat and prepared to leave.

"Who said we were going home?" Huo Hanshen raised an eyebrow. "Although we married a bit hastily, there should still be some sense of ceremony."

Xu Xu was surprised. "You mean..."

Without another word, Huo Hanshen took her hand and led her out. "I’m taking you out to celebrate."

Looking at the man beside her, Xu Xu felt a warmth in her heart.

She hadn’t expected her “cheap husband” to be so romantic.

"Okay, then it’s my treat," Xu Xu smiled.

Huo Hanshen glanced at her, raising his eyebrow. "Your husband can afford the meal."

Husband...

The unfamiliar, strange title made Xu Xu’s ears burn.

Soon, she was seated in Huo Hanshen’s car. They drove straight to the busiest district of the city, finally stopping in front of a luxurious restaurant.

Seeing the place, Xu Xu was taken aback.

After all, this was one of the city’s most famous private kitchens, serving imperial cuisine at exorbitant prices—and rumored to have ties to the prestigious Huo family in the capital.

Xu Xu hesitated, but before she could say anything, Huo Hanshen got out, courteously opening the car door and leaning against the frame.

As he was about to lead her inside, Xu Xu stopped him. "Let’s go somewhere else—the food here is quite average."

Her “cheap husband” probably hadn’t been here before and didn’t know how expensive it was.

Before Huo Hanshen could respond, a mocking voice rang out from nearby behind Xu Xu.

"Haha! Sister, since when have you fallen this low?"

Xu Xu frowned and turned to see Xu Yaru crossing her arms, disdain etched across her face as she glanced at Huo Hanshen’s back.

"Such bad luck..." Xu Xu muttered under her breath.

How was it possible to run into Xu Yaru even here?