Xiao Xun saw Mu Jiahe staring at the book in a daze and snatched it away, "Alright, stop reading. Haven't we had a good chat in a while!"
Mu Jiahe didn't react immediately, "What's there to talk about?"
Xiao Xun pulled the quilt up higher, pressing his whole body onto it.
After returning to the original world, Mu Jiahe stretched and went to take a bath.
Xiao Xun rolled over and fell asleep again. He was too tired; usually, even though he was exhausted, he couldn't sleep. Now, he had finally found a moment of peace.
He slept until noon and saw more than a dozen missed calls, all from Secretary Fan.
Xiao Xun called back. The other end answered quickly, "Hello! What's up?"
"Mr. Xiao, you're really coming to work on your own terms! You come when you want and don't when you don't, and you don't answer your phone."
Xiao Xun was in a particularly good mood today and didn't say anything to Secretary Fan, "I'd like to take leave, but who would I ask? I can't exactly ask Mr. Feng, can I?"
"The company needs your approval on several documents today, concerning next quarter's work content."
"I said yesterday that I don't know anything about these things. You decide!"
Secretary Fan was silent for a moment, "I think you should come in person! If anything goes wrong, I, a mere secretary, cannot bear the responsibility."
"Are you asking me, someone who knows nothing, to be the CEO just so I can bear the responsibility?"
Secretary Fan quickly said when he heard Xiao Xun getting anxious, "I didn't mean that. I mean, no matter what the issue is, you're the CEO, it's fine. The employees below will listen to you. I'm just a secretary and don't have the authority to sign and stamp."
"Fine! Fine! I'll be there this afternoon. Review those documents beforehand and mark anything you think is problematic for my approval."
"Okay…"
"Anything else?"
"No."
Xiao Xun hung up the phone and went back to sleep.
He only started getting dressed and getting up when Mu Jiahe came to call him for a meal.
Going downstairs, he found Sister Mei's daughter, Qin Shuangxue, also there. Upon asking, he learned that it was because school was on holiday.
After a simple meal, Xiao Xun hurried to the company.
This time, he didn't take the regular elevator but opted for the express elevator for senior management. Upon arriving at his office, all the assistants and secretaries stood up to greet him.
After nodding, Xiao Xun entered the office.
Secretary Fan immediately entered with a thick stack of documents, "Mr. Xiao, these are the marked documents. Please sign them."
Xiao Xun felt a headache coming on just looking at these documents. If Secretary Fan hadn't marked them beforehand, he wouldn't be able to finish them even if he looked at them one by one until the next day. Moreover, in addition to these, there were hundreds more documents waiting for him.
Xiao Xun pointed at the mountain-like pile of documents and said to Secretary Fan, "First, find me the documents from the crucial departments and mark them for approval."
Xiao Xun knew that the more he couldn't remember, the more he would be in trouble. If he just acted as a signature machine, it would be convenient. But if any problems arose from a document later, and they traced it back, he might end up in jail for a few days.
While Secretary Fan was marking, Xiao Xun asked an assistant outside to pour a cup of coffee for himself and Secretary Fan, and also asked another secretary to assist Secretary Fan with the marking.
Xiao Xun would only look carefully at documents with a red circle around them; for those without, he would skim through them and sign.
By the time dusk fell, Xiao Xun hadn't even signed half of them.
Even just sitting there signing felt more exhausting than playing a game. He sometimes missed those years of playing games, but those days were gone forever.
He glanced at his watch, "That's all for today for now! I'll come earlier tomorrow. No document I haven't signed is allowed to leave this office."
After speaking, he stood up and grabbed his coat, his actions smooth and fluid.
Secretary Fan wanted to ask Xiao Xun to have dinner together, but seeing his eagerness to leave, she knew he was in a hurry to get home to Mr. Mu, so she swallowed her words.
Upon returning home, the living room was empty, and the dining room was deserted. Sister Mei usually had dinner ready by this time. What was going on today?
With questions in his mind, Xiao Xun casually threw his coat onto the sofa and went to the refrigerator to get a can of cola.
As he reached the dining room, he heard the sound of a pot lid falling to the floor in the kitchen, making him nervous.
Although he was now a magician with magic, he couldn't block bullets. He still had lingering fear from that night at the villa.
Casually picking up a metal fruit platter, he cautiously walked towards the kitchen, "Sister Mei, is that you?"
There was no answer. He suddenly rushed in and saw Qin Shuangxue, soaked in water, confronting a large carp in the sink with a kitchen knife.
Xiao Xun's strained heart relaxed, "So you're here! I called out several times, asking if anyone was here, why didn't you answer?"
Qin Shuangxue retreated to Xiao Xun's side, "I was too busy to pay attention."
Xiao Xun pointed at the live, wriggling carp in the sink, "What's the meaning of this?"
"My mom and Mr. Mu went out and asked me to cook."
Xiao Xun smiled, "You can cook?"
Qin Shuangxue was displeased upon hearing this and put down the knife, "Don't underestimate me. My cooking is delicious."
Xiao Xun casually put down the fruit platter, "Then I'll look forward to it!"
After speaking, he turned to leave.
"Wait!"
Qin Shuangxue called out to Xiao Xun, "Don't go."
Xiao Xun turned to look at Qin Shuangxue. Although her name was Shuangxue, she wasn't cold at all. Instead, she gave off a soft and cute vibe.
"Is there something?"
Qin Shuangxue looked at him with a pitiable expression, "Can you kill the fish? Can you help me kill it?"
Xiao Xun rolled up his sleeves, "Sure!"
He walked over, picked up the kitchen knife Qin Shuangxue had put down, went to the sink, scooped up the large carp with one hand, placed it on the cutting board.
The lively carp splashed water everywhere. Xiao Xun brought the knife down decisively, knocking the fish unconscious.
Qin Shuangxue, standing nearby, watched in amazement. Xiao Xun put down the knife, picked up the kitchen shears, slit open the fish's belly, scooped out the innards and intestines, and threw them into the trash can. He then used the shears to remove the gills, and finally, used a sharp knife to scrape off the scales cleanly before throwing them into the sink.
His movements were fluid and efficient, without any hesitation.
Qin Shuangxue clapped her hands and said, "You're so amazing!"
"Of course, I'm a chef!"
"You're bragging... how could a big boss like you know how to cook?"
Xiao Xun heard this and exclaimed, "Hey! You don't believe me? It seems like you won't think I'm bragging unless I show you something."
With that, he started peeling the scallions, mincing the garlic, and slicing the ginger, then heating the wok and oil to fry the shredded noodles.
In a short while, a table full of dishes was ready, with both meat and vegetables, chicken and fish, cold dishes and hot dishes.
Qin Shuangxue was stunned, "You really can cook..."
Xiao Xun proudly tilted his head, "Didn't I tell you?"
As soon as he finished speaking, he realized, "Wait, didn't we agree that you would cook?"
Qin Shuangxue began to serve the dishes Xiao Xun had cooked, "It's okay, it's okay. I'll do it next time."
At that moment, Mu Jiahe and Sister Mei returned. It looked like Mu Jiahe had gone to get her hair done. Her hairstyle hadn't changed much, but it was noticeably shorter than before, and much shinier and smoother.