Chapter 49: Guan's Parents Have Arrived (Requesting Monthly Tickets!!!)

Over the weekend, because her parents were coming to visit, Guan Ju'er woke up very early, only to learn over the phone that they wouldn't arrive in Shanghai until around ten o'clock.

Coincidentally, at that moment, Qin Hao called, inviting Guan Ju'er downstairs to have breakfast together.

"Are you sure you don't want me to drive you?" Qin Hao looked at Guan Ju'er playfully.

Guan Ju'er's face instantly flushed red. She gave him a coquettish glare; she wasn't quite ready to have Qin Hao meet her parents yet.

Seeing her adorable expression, Qin Hao couldn't resist leaning in and kissing her fair cheek.

"Ah, you're so annoying!" Guan Ju'er said, both shy and annoyed, giving him a light slap.

Qin Hao grinned mischievously. "Who told you to be so cute and tempt me into making mistakes?"

"That's nonsense. I'm not talking to you anymore," Guan Ju'er said, putting down her spoon huffily.

Taking the opportunity, Qin Hao grabbed Guan Ju'er's delicate, boneless little hand and coaxed her teasingly, "Alright, alright, eat up. It'll hurt your stomach if it gets cold. Even if you want to punish me, you shouldn't starve yourself. That would break my heart."

"Ugh, how cheesy."

Guan Ju'er was helpless against Qin Hao's rogue behavior. Of course, as a woman, she had a natural weakness for sweet words; though she complained verbally, she felt wonderful inside.

After spending nearly half an hour enjoying the heartfelt breakfast, Guan Ju'er took it upon herself to do the dishes.

"Where is the apron?" Guan Ju'er rolled up her sleeves in the kitchen, ready to work, but couldn't find one.

When she turned around, she found Qin Hao appearing behind her with an apron in hand.

Using the pretext of tying the apron for her, Qin Hao hugged her from behind.

Guan Ju'er's heart raced, and two rosy clouds rose to her fair cheeks. Before she could react, her soft lips were captured.

"Mmph..."

Although it wasn't her first time kissing Qin Hao, Guan Ju'er couldn't help but feel her body go limp. It felt as if all her strength had vanished in that instant, leaving her leaning helplessly in his arms, allowing him to take whatever he desired.

After a long while, Guan Ju'er finally woke from her trance, gasping for breath, and playfully punched Qin Hao a few times.

However, her bashful appearance only stoked Qin Hao's desire to conquer. He tightened his grip on her waist. Just as he was about to kiss her again, a phone rang suddenly.

Guan Ju'er jolted, taking the chance to wiggle out of Qin Hao's embrace.

"Hello, Mom? Ah, you're almost here? Oh, I'm having breakfast outside. You're coming straight to my residential complex? Okay, I'll wait for you at the entrance."

Qin Hao shook his head helplessly. Why did someone always have to crash the party at the most critical moment?

On the other end, Guan Ju'er had already hung up. She untied the apron, stuffed it into Qin Hao's hands, and laughed playfully.

"That's what you get for being naughty. Now you have to wash them yourself."

Qin Hao sighed and could only walk her to the door. Just as he was about to see her off, Guan Ju'er stood on her tiptoes, gave him a light, fleeting kiss on the cheek, and then scurried into the elevator, waving with a beaming smile.

"That's your reward for the heartfelt breakfast."

As the elevator doors slowly closed, Qin Hao touched his kissed cheek. It felt like he had just been flirted with by a little girl.

Inside the elevator, Guan Ju'er tidied her clothes and hair. After ensuring everything looked normal, she headed toward the complex entrance.

As it happened, she ran into Qu Xiaoxiao, who was feeding stray cats.

Seeing Qu Xiaoxiao, Guan Ju'er's first instinct was to slip away; Qu Xiaoxiao had recently been categorized as a "high-priority target for avoidance" by apartment 2202.

"Guan Guan, morning!"

However, Qu Xiaoxiao spotted her anyway.

If it had been Qiu Yingying, she certainly would have run faster, but Guan Ju'er had been raised to believe that failing to respond when someone greets you is impolite.

Guan Ju'er had no choice but to stop. "Morning, Xiao Qu."

Qu Xiaoxiao circled Guan Ju'er while holding a rogue cat, making Guan Ju'er feel uneasy. Finally, she questioned her.

"Were you just trying to dodge me? You were walking so fast."

Guan Ju'er shook her head awkwardly. "Not at all. I just had something to do and didn't see you."

"Really?" Qu Xiaoxiao clearly didn't believe her. It was easy to spot when an honest person like Guan Ju'er was lying.

But Qu Xiaoxiao didn't care. She curled her lip. "It's because of that jerk Bai and the situation with Classmate Wang, isn't it?"

Watching Qu Xiaoxiao feeding the stray cats so compassionately, Guan Ju'er's perception of her shifted slightly.

"Why did you do that? Do our feelings mean nothing to you?" Guan Ju'er asked with a stern face.

Qu Xiaoxiao looked at her in surprise. "Oh, haven't seen you in a few days and your temper has already grown."

"Hmph."

Qu Xiaoxiao set the stray cat down, brushed off her hands, and walked up to Guan Ju'er. "Guan Guan, I thought you were the only sensible one on the 22nd floor, but it turns out you're just like the rest."

"You know what kind of person that jerk Bai is. What did I do wrong? And then there's Fan Shengmei—I can't stand her materialistic attitude. If you're going to be materialistic, fine, but she insists on acting like she's so noble. If Classmate Wang wasn't driving a BMW, would she have even given him a chance? The moment she found out his BMW was a rental, she turned on him immediately."

"I've seen plenty of people like Fan Shengmei. It's understandable for the rich to pretend to be poor, but for the poor to pretend to be rich is unforgivable. I just wanted to tear off her mask so she stops acting so high and mighty in front of me!"

Guan Ju'er countered passionately, "You're talking nonsense! Sister Fan isn't like that. She was just angry that Classmate Wang lied to her. Besides, she has already forgiven him. You aren't allowed to talk about Sister Fan like that anymore!"

Qu Xiaoxiao stared at Guan Ju'er in shock. "What did you say? Big Sister Fan forgave Wang Baichuan? That's impossible!"

"Hmph, believe it or not. Anyway, you aren't allowed to talk about Sister Fan like that again. Otherwise, I won't even acknowledge you when you greet me!" Guan Ju'er glared at Qu Xiaoxiao.

Qu Xiaoxiao curled her lip. "Tch, as if I care."

While they were talking, Guan Ju'er's phone rang. Remembering her parents, she stamped her foot and rushed toward the complex entrance.

"Hmph, I don't believe for a second that Fan Shengmei would accept a penniless Wang Baichuan. Just watch me expose her!"

Watching Guan Ju'er's retreating figure, Qu Xiaoxiao turned to go home in a huff, losing all interest in feeding the stray cats.

At the entrance, Mother and Father Guan stepped out of a taxi. Seeing Guan Ju'er running toward them, they immediately went to meet her.

"Oh dear, why are you running? Do you think we'll get lost here?" Mother Guan said, concerned, as she used a tissue to wipe the sweat from her daughter's forehead.

Guan Ju'er was very happy to see her parents. "Hehe, I was just so excited to see you."

Father Guan felt gratified that his daughter was growing up well, while Mother Guan pulled her daughter around for a look, her expression growing more concerned the more she looked.

"Look at this, in less than half a year, our girl has lost so much weight. That securities company of yours is harsher than a sweatshop."

Guan Ju'er quickly explained, "It's not like that. Actually, my company is fine. Look, they even arranged for two days off this weekend."

"Two days off is the bare minimum. If you ask me, you should just go home and take the civil service exam or something; then you wouldn't have to work so hard." Mother Guan gestured with her chin, casting a sideways glance at Father Guan.

Father Guan and Guan Ju'er exchanged a helpless look; the family hierarchy was clear.