MLMD -Chapter 393 A Girl’s Thoughts

“You want to have a child?” Yue Yang paused, a little puzzled, looking at Xiaolu.

When he first met Xiaolu, their relationship was purely transactional—they had agreed on an arrangement. Although over time their feelings had gradually deepened, Xiaolu suddenly bringing up having a child for him clearly caught Yue Yang off guard.

“Xiaolu… you want to have a child?” Yue Yang asked again, unsure.

“Yes!” Xiaolu bit her lip, tightened her hold on Yue Yang’s arm, and pressed her head against his chest. With a firm tone, she said, “Yes. I want to have a child for you.”

“Pfft!” Yue Yang laughed and leaned down to kiss her smooth forehead. “What are you talking about, a child? You’re at the peak of your career right now. If you have a child, how will you continue acting? Your career, your dreams—you’d give it all up?”

Xiaolu didn’t answer immediately. She pressed her ear against Yue Yang’s left chest and quietly listened to his strong, steady heartbeat, feeling an inexplicable sense of comfort. After a while, she said softly, “As long as you want me, I’d be happy to be a housewife.”

Before Yue Yang could respond, he felt the other side of him stiffen. Then Xiaodan’s soft voice drifted over: “Yang… I… I want to have a child for you too.”

Yue Yang looked at the ceiling in exasperation. “Hey… what’s going on with you two today? Suddenly you both want children? If I remember correctly, Xiaolu, you graduated from the Central Academy of Drama four years ago, and Xiaodan, you graduated from the Beijing Film Academy two years ago. Getting into those schools wasn’t easy. How come today, both of you want to be housewives?”

Xiaodan didn’t explain, just clung stubbornly to Yue Yang’s neck and said, “Anyway, I just want to have a child for you.”

Xiaolu glanced at Xiaodan, who was so close, and a complex emotion flashed across her eyes. She let out an inaudible sigh and returned her ear to Yue Yang’s chest, softly saying, “Ah Yang, I think Xiaodan is right. This is not bad either. In the future, Xiaodan and I each have a child for you. A happy family of five—wouldn’t that be great?”

Hearing the two women, Yue Yang sighed helplessly. “You two… how can your minds always be filled with thoughts like this? Aren’t you supposed to be modern, educated women? I feel like I’ve gone back to a feudal society!”

Xiaolu snorted lightly. “What’s so wrong with modern society? I haven’t found any real difference from ancient times. Although technology advances, human nature doesn’t change. Social wealth is limited. According to the Pareto principle, 80% of society’s wealth is always held by 20% of the people. Society may change, but this never does. The rich control the majority of resources. Marriage is the same. Legally, there’s monogamy, but in reality? People with multiple mistresses—aren’t they common? Xiaodan and I just want to be your women. That doesn’t violate any law, does it?”

Xiaodan nodded in agreement. “Xiaolu is right. Before… I studied so hard and eventually got into the Film Academy, thinking I’d become a top star with countless fans. But these years, I realized that in the eyes of the wealthy, celebrities are just toys for entertainment. No wonder in ancient times, people in our profession were considered low-class.”

“Uh…”

Hearing this, Yue Yang was momentarily speechless. Coming from another time and space, he felt he had the most authority to speak on this. Famous courtesans like Li Xiangjun and Dong Xiaowan were celebrated along the Qinhuai River, but people still labeled them as “famous courtesans.” Even though they married Yue Yang with chastity intact, facing women of servant-class origin like the Linglong sisters, they still had a natural sense of inferiority. Yue Yang’s care and love could only reduce it somewhat.

The definition of the “lowest social class” has long been set. Modern society seems more democratic and free, but its essence hasn’t changed. Celebrities, glamorous on the outside, are still toys in the eyes of the powerful. “Equality for all?” That’s only good to pacify naïve children.

Feeling the warm, fragrant women in his arms and hearing their soft voices, what could Yue Yang say?

He sighed softly. “Alright, as long as you two are willing to follow me, I have no objection. Having children isn’t a problem… but I think… wait… why are you so eager? I haven’t finished speaking yet…”

Before Yue Yang could finish, his vision blurred. A supple body rolled on top of him, his mouth was suddenly filled with something soft and plump, and a small hand grabbed and moved him slightly. Soon, something warm, wet, and tight pressed against him…

“Boss, these are the company’s income and expenses for the past few months. The operating funds on the books are just over two million. If possible, we hope you can allocate additional funds.”

“Boss, here’s a report of our purchases over the past few months: 10,000 tons of brown rice, 1,000 tons of salt, 30 tons each of liquor, soy sauce, tea, lard, and practical vinegar—all stored in the warehouse and ready for delivery.”

Liu Shengnan and Zhang Xiaoxiao, both in professional suits, stood before Yue Yang holding a high-end folder, seriously reporting their work.

“Good!” Yue Yang nodded. “I’m very satisfied with your work these past months, so I’ve decided to reward you. Now, you and Xiaoxiao—any reasonable requests, just tell me!”

“Really?” Xiaoxiao’s eyes lit up, then dimmed, and she lowered her head to say softly, “Never mind.”

“Hmm?”

Yue Yang quickly noticed Xiaoxiao’s expression. “Xiaoxiao, are you hiding something from me? Just say it, there’s no need to be embarrassed.”

“No… it’s nothing.” Xiaoxiao blushed deeply and waved her hands repeatedly.

“By the way, Xiaoxiao, I remember you and Shengnan didn’t have houses in Mingzhu. How about I buy each of you a house? Tell me the area you like, or even a car—I can get it for you!”

Yue Yang pounded his chest. They had been with him for two or three years and were now young women of twenty-four or twenty-five; it was time they had their own house and car.

“No need, boss. Really, no need.” Xiaoxiao waved her hands like windmills.

Yue Yang scratched his head, puzzled. Are there really girls who don’t want houses and cars nowadays?

Liu Shengnan couldn’t hold back. Coldly, she said, “Boss, I heard you bought a luxury villa at Yulong Bay recently. If you really mean it, why not let Xiaoxiao live there?”

“Ah…”

Yue Yang was dumbfounded. Live at Yulong Bay? Could it be that she…

“Hehe…” Yue Yang let out a rare dry laugh, his eyes unfocused, scanning around helplessly.

“Right, I just remembered, I have an appointment with President Yun and President Zhao today. I need to head there now.”

Forced to flee by Liu Shengnan’s sharp gaze and Xiaoxiao’s almost tear-streaked eyes, Yue Yang ran out of the office as if his pants were on fire.

Seeing Yue Yang’s frantic escape, even the usually stern Liu Shengnan couldn’t help laughing. She put an arm around Xiaoxiao’s shoulder and sighed, “Xiaoxiao, are you just going to let it go? Liking someone isn’t wrong, especially when he’s not married. You can confess. As the saying goes, ‘When a girl pursues a boy, it’s only a layer of silk.’ I’m sure if you tell him, he’ll accept it.”

Xiaoxiao finally broke down and cried, throwing herself into Liu Shengnan’s arms. “But… but he already has a girlfriend. How can I confess?”

Liu Shengnan’s eyes glinted with disdain. “What girlfriend? Those two little celebrities? Yue is just supporting them. Can they help him in his career? I don’t believe he’ll marry them. What are you afraid of?”

Xiaoxiao stopped crying, rested her head on Liu Shengnan’s shoulder, and suddenly laughed through her tears. “Shengnan, don’t just scold me. What about you? Don’t you want a boyfriend? I see President Nie often brings you flowers. He’s older and divorced, but mature and steady—you could consider him.”

“Ugh…” Liu Shengnan immediately objected. “Don’t even mention President Nie. Almost forty, with two kids in elementary school. I’m not going to be a stepmother. You know how hard it is to be a stepmom!”

“I know… I know,” Xiaoxiao replied, tears in her eyes, meaningfully thinking: I not only know you’re not interested in President Nie, I also know you’ve fallen for that jerk just like me…

Night fell. Yue Yang drove Xiaolu and Xiaodan to a lavishly decorated jewelry store.

“Hahaha… Brother Yue, we haven’t met in months! This time, you must stay longer. I brought some fine wine—you better finish it all before leaving!”

Having already received news, Zhao Santong and Yun Feng, along with Sales Director Xu Wenli and a dozen senior managers, came to greet them. They each gave him a firm bear hug.

After small talk, Zhao Santong noticed Xiaolu and Xiaodan behind Yue Yang and smiled teasingly. “Brother Yue, last time only Miss Gan was with you. Now there’s Miss Wang too? Are you trying to steal all the beauties from Yun’s company?”

Yue Yang rolled his eyes. “Are you serious? Do you really think that poorly of me?”

“Who knows? I only believe what I see,” Zhao Santong said seriously, making Yue Yang choke a little.

Ignoring him, Yue Yang turned to Yun Feng: “Yun, let’s go discuss business in the office. Xu, come with us. Xiaolu, Xiaodan, you can browse—buy any jewelry you like. Don’t worry about saving money for Zhao or Yun.”

“Yes, understood. You go ahead!” Xiaolu smiled, took the card Yue Yang handed her, and led Xiaodan to the display counters.

Watching the two obedient, graceful women, Zhao Santong sighed, “Brother Yue manages his women like he manages his army. Truly admirable.”

Yue Yang scoffed. “I don’t believe you have no mistresses yourself. Why play the saint here?”

“Those women like my money, not me. I’m old, but not foolish,” Zhao Santong replied, shaking his head and clicking his tongue in regret. “Why didn’t I meet women like Miss Gan and Miss Wang, devoted only to me?”

“Enough, stop showing off here,” Yun Feng said, rolling his eyes. “Your wife worked hard when you ran your street stall, getting up early in wind and rain. She now has a bad back. Isn’t that devotion enough? And you complain here?”

“Hehe… slip of the tongue!” Zhao Santong laughed awkwardly, keeping quiet. He was known for devotion to his wife despite flings outside.

Yue Yang reminded them, “Mind your words. Xu is a girl—don’t be so reckless.”

“Hehe… fine.”

Once in the office, Yue Yang asked Xu Wenli: “Xu, as sales director, tell me how much bonus we each get this time.”

“Okay!” Xu immediately switched to professional mode. “From July 1 to December 31 last year, our sales totaled 867.5 million. After costs, labor, taxes, and raw materials, net profit is 232 million. Based on your shares: Yun and Zhao each get 34.8 million, Yue gets 162.4 million. Including the jade jewelry you brought, your bonus totals 658.42 million.”

Watching Zhao and Yun remain calm, Yue Yang silently nodded. They weren’t greedy. If they had complained, he would have reconsidered the partnership.

He said to Xu: “Since I missed the New Year last year due to being abroad, I feel bad. Allocate 1.5 million from my bonus for last year’s year-end bonus. You can plan the distribution. As for you, Xu… 200,000 for your year-end bonus. Is that okay?”

Xu Wenli froze. She didn’t expect the boss to be so generous. Her jaw dropped, speechless.

Zhao and Yun merely laughed. Yun teased Xu: “Still standing there? Hurry, tell him your requests! This rare chance may not come again.”

Xu Wenli quickly recovered: “Ah… thank you, Boss Yue, thank you, Yun, Zhao!”

“Thank me? This money isn’t mine. Thank Boss Yue, the tycoon,” Zhao said casually. “Now go, tell the staff the good news.”

“Oh… okay!”

Xu Wenli ran off, and soon cheers erupted outside.