Chapter 473: A Woman Who Thinks She’s Clever Must Be Punished

Chapter 473: Chapter 473: A Woman Who Thinks She’s Clever Must Be Punished

Zhao Xiao’an soon came to understand a certain phrase: exercise is also a form of rest!

As she got up from the sofa in Wang Chenning’s apartment and went into the bathroom to freshen up, she asked him with a delighted expression, "Am I getting prettier and prettier?"

"Of course!" Wang Chenning said proudly. "If I dote on you this much and you don’t get prettier and your figure doesn’t get better, wouldn’t all my effort be for nothing?"

"Oh, shut up! Who talks like that?" Zhao Xiao’an pinched Wang Chenning before turning back to the mirror, striking a few narcissistic poses.

After getting together with Wang Chenning, Zhao Xiao’an had indeed noticed that she was becoming more and more beautiful, and her figure was improving too. Her previous "flaws" were nowhere to be found.

More importantly, there was the sense of happiness he gave her, a feeling that was now etched deep into her very bones.

She was completely addicted, unable to pull herself away!

She used to despise women who were completely consumed by romance. Now, she had unknowingly become the very person she used to hate, but she was blissfully happy in her new state.

As they headed to the university together to prepare for their afternoon work, she made another request. "I’m not going home tonight. Why don’t you come over to my place?"

"Let’s see how it goes tonight!" Wang Chenning didn’t give a firm no. "I’ll probably have to go to the hospital, and we need to discuss the lab construction in more detail. I’ll try my best to make time. If I really can’t, then we’ll talk about it tomorrow!"

"Alright!" Zhao Xiao’an didn’t press the issue.

She didn’t go in with Wang Chenning, instead staying outside to wait for her colleagues.

Just as her colleagues arrived, Yang Xiaofei’s car pulled up in front of them.

"Xiaofei, what are you doing here?" Zhao Xiao’an walked up to greet her, surprised.

"I want to get involved in the construction of Wang Chenning’s lab!" Yang Xiaofei was a little embarrassed to suddenly run into Zhao Xiao’an. "I’m sure that once the news gets out, tons of investors will want in. I just decided to get a head start!"

"You really have a mind for business!" Zhao Xiao’an replied with a smile. "My colleagues and I are here to do a report. I’ll make sure to get you a few extra shots later!"

"I knew you’d be here, so I made sure to dress up a little extra!" Yang Xiaofei pointed to her face. "Don’t I look even better than a few days ago?"

"Your skin is so dewy you could practically squeeze water from it!" Zhao Xiao’an pinched Yang Xiaofei’s cheek, grinning. "You’re so pretty it makes me jealous!"

"You too!" Yang Xiaofei pinched Zhao Xiao’an’s cheek in return.

Thanks to Wang Chenning’s doting, both women were in high spirits. The bit of lingering awkwardness between them had temporarily vanished.

To their surprise, Luo Yuqing was also attending the meeting. And the person with her was, unexpectedly, Lin Anning.

Seeing Lin Anning arrive with Luo Yuqing, and recalling that neither woman had contacted him much in the past two days, Wang Chenning’s heart sank.

"Well, if it isn’t the great Miss Lin, here to join the fun!" Wang Chenning approached them, his expression unreadable. He wore a playful smile as he looked at the slightly flustered Lin Anning. "What’s this? Are you also interested in our lab construction?"

Today, Lin Anning had abandoned her usual tomboyish attire. She wore a well-fitting, casual long skirt with a tight-fitting sweater and a small shawl, paired with mid-calf boots.

Although her figure wasn’t as curvaceous as the other women around her, Wang Chenning’s efforts over this period had paid off to some extent. Plus, the lingerie she wore today was a bit on the thicker side, so she wasn’t at a clear disadvantage compared to the others.

She was a bit taller than the others, with striking, boyish features. Coupled with her tall boots, she stood out from the crowd of beauties, like a crane among chickens.

Lin Anning glanced at Wang Chenning, a flicker of guilt in her eyes, but she tried her best to remain composed. "Yesterday, I heard from Aunt Luo that construction on your lab was officially starting today, so my grandfather sent me over to take a look."

"Oh, so it was your grandfather’s decree!" Wang Chenning didn’t question Lin Anning further, turning instead to Luo Yuqing with a grin. "Aunt Luo, have you been expanding your network of collaborations again?"

"That’s right!" Luo Yuqing’s expression was perfectly normal as she looked at Wang Chenning. "I had a long chat with Lin Qiushou yesterday and got a few perks out of it, so I brought Anning along to join the fun. What, Teacher Wang? Are you not happy to see us?"

"How could I not be?" Wang Chenning flashed a brilliant smile and made a welcoming gesture. "Ladies, right this way!"

Zhao Xiao’an and Yang Xiaofei both knew that Wang Chenning had clashed with the Lin siblings many times, and that he and Lin Anning were like fire and water. Luo Yuqing had also been in conflict with the Lin siblings over matters concerning Wang Chenning. This scene today was a bit much for them to process.

However, among the great families, there were no permanent enemies, nor permanent friends. It was common for foes to become allies for the sake of profit, or for friends to turn on each other.

Until they understood what was going on, they could only offer polite but distant greetings.

As they walked into the conference room together, Luo Yuqing sidled up to Wang Chenning and whispered, "You little rascal, you’re pretty impressive, aren’t you? Winning over Lin Anning without making a sound. How does it feel? A great sense of accomplishment, I bet?"

Wang Chenning glanced at Luo Yuqing but didn’t play along. He simply offered a cool threat, "Women who are too clever for their own good deserve to be punished!"

Unexpectedly, Luo Yuqing replied with glee, "Then you can punish me properly tonight!"