Yu Xi slept until evening. When she awoke, she first saw the vibrant, pale crimson sunset outside the window. She squinted, stretched comfortably, and then noticed a cool, pale yellow ointment on her wrist. She froze, hearing a lazy voice nearby.
"Had enough sleep?"
She sat up abruptly and asked in a panic, "Young Master Gong, we don't have to make fish tonight, do we? You said..."
Gong Youqi's gaze swept over her, full of interest. "Are you implying that anything other than fish is fair game?"
Yu Xi then realized how "cool" she truly felt and immediately pulled up the blanket, her face flushing. "I-I-I wasn't implying anything."
Gong Youqi slowly walked over. Seeing her instinctively recoil, he showed a hint of displeasure. "What, are you afraid of me as if I'm a poisonous snake?"
She quickly forced a讨好ing smile. "How could I be? Hehe, I'm just making space for you."
His dark eyes sparkled. "Even the space under the blanket is saved for me?"
...Yu Xi wanted to use the blanket to suffocate him. Before she could think of a reply, he had already picked up a set of clothes from the foot of the bed and handed them to her. "Get dressed, we should go."
She stupidly asked, "Go where?"
Gong Youqi looked at her amused. "Do you like the feng shui here? Or do you want to hook a few more handsome men before you're satisfied?"
Without a word, Yu Xi wrapped herself in the blanket, grabbed the clothes, and headed for the bathroom. Gong Youqi pulled the blanket, laughing. "Why cover up? Is there any part of you I haven't seen?"
Yu Xi shot him an aggrieved look but then emerged unreservedly. Under his amused gaze, she quickly washed up in the bathroom and changed. She had no luggage, so she just grabbed her small handbag and followed him downstairs.
In the front hall, several idle people, who had apparently consumed too much salt, were sitting around drinking tea and chatting nonsense. They were all startled to see the two of them. After the terrible night before, they didn't expect the "little fish" to be missing any parts. They looked at each other in confusion, then simultaneously reached a consensus: it turned out the Right Protector employed a different kind of "adult-rated" corporal punishment.
Yu Xi understood their thoughts and could only lower her head, not daring to explain. Just as Gong Youqi was leaving, he actually turned back, found that chicken feather, and put it in his pocket, claiming it had great commemorative significance and should be displayed in her apartment to serve as a constant warning.
Gong Youqi didn't explain, deliberately wrapping his arm possessively around her as he bid farewell to the crowd. Watching their unspoken relationship, Luo Lan's expression was quite desolate; her budding romantic feelings had been nipped in the bud before they could even sprout. Liuli's complexion wasn't good either, and she was conflicted as she looked at the Right Protector's handsome face, wondering whether she should give up or continue to admire him.
Chuchu and Gong Da had left in the afternoon and hadn't returned. Gong Youqi didn't wait any longer, pulling her directly into the car.
He suddenly noticed in the rearview mirror that she was dressed lightly, without any jewelry. He casually asked, "Where are those jewels?" It seemed her jewelry box had been empty since she last hid at the orphanage.
Yu Xi lowered her head, rubbing her fingers, and softly replied, "Sold them."
He raised an eyebrow. "You found it inconvenient to escape with them, so you converted them to cash?"
She pursed her lips, offering no further explanation.
Gong Youqi freed a hand and hooked her chin. "I'll give you money if you need it, but next time, you're not allowed to sell anything I give you." Of course, she didn't understand that many of the pieces of jewelry were exquisite items that others couldn't buy even with money. Her casual selling could lead to them being resold at high prices, causing price fluctuations for those limited edition items in the market.
She nodded timidly, staring at his profile, and for a moment, this man felt incredibly unfamiliar.
He wasn't the gentle and polite noble young master, but a cunning and strict triad boss. He wasn't the infatuated handsome man she had thought was already taken and was just playing games with her, but a philanderer who had Su Meiren yet still didn't want to let her go and was extremely possessive.
Men, truly, are all bad.
She had even once admired his devotion to Su Yingran, respected his polite gentlemanly demeanor, and had even felt a subtle stir of attraction towards him that she was unwilling to admit. Only now did she realize with a shock that he had always been a formidable character she couldn't afford to provoke.
It would probably be very difficult to get away in the future. She no longer dared to escape; she could only deal with him carefully and look for other opportunities.
As they neared her apartment, Gong Youqi's phone rang. After he answered, Yu Xi noticed his extremely gentle tone and immediately confirmed it was Su Meiren on the other end.
He spoke softly, and she scoffed inwardly, deliberately moving to the side so he wouldn't worry about her eavesdropping. However, a certain sentence still entered her ears: "Okay, I'll be there in half an hour."
Her eyes lit up. It seemed tonight would be safe.
The car stopped downstairs from her building. She unbuckled her seatbelt, showing no expression, waiting for him to say he had something to do tonight and for her to behave. Sure enough, he had no intention of getting out of the car. Instead, he suddenly reached out, pulled her to him, fixed her head, and kissed her fiercely.
Yu Xi was caught off guard, and her inexperienced reactions made him demand more. He held her tenderly for a long time before reluctantly letting her go, the desire in his eyes unconcealed.
He whispered, "You seem very happy that I have things to do."
A flicker of panic crossed her eyes. Had she shown it just now?
"Xixi, it's a pity you still can't escape tonight." He gently helped her pull up her collar, his dark eyes resolute. "Wait obediently at home. I'll be back after I finish my business. The punishment isn't just for one night. However, tonight we'll switch to a normal method we haven't used in a long time. How does that sound?"
Yu Xi was helpless. Could she say no? She could only force a smile. "As long as you don't use the chicken feather, anything else is fine."
Gong Youqi chuckled. "It seems last night's punishment was very effective; you're much more sensible." He leaned over to open the car door for her, and after she got out, he smiled slightly and drove away.
Only when his car was out of sight did she sigh in distress and walk towards the entrance.
Suddenly, a hand reached out from the shadows beside her and grabbed her. Yu Xi gasped, thinking it was a robbery and about to scream, when a familiar voice said, "Xiao Xi, it's me."
She turned and stood steady, surprised. "Senior?"
He was as charming as ever, outshining the starlight. His well-fitted black casual sportswear was concealed in the tree's shadow, which was why she hadn't noticed anyone.
Only when they stepped out of the shadows did Yu Xi realize he looked a bit thinner, even appearing slightly frail. She felt a little bewildered and stammered, "Why do you look like you've been seriously ill?"
Lu Renjie's narrow, phoenix-like eyes seemed dazed for a moment before regaining their luster. He chuckled, "You guessed right, I'm sick."
"What kind of sickness?" She quickly played along with her old adversary.
He pointed to his chest. "Lovesickness."
Yu Xi played along, leaning in. "Who's the lucky beauty this time? I'll help you set it up."
"Alas, it's a case of unrequited love."
"Don't even! If you just crooked your finger, the President's wife would follow you."
"I don't want old women like that. If there's a princess from some country, in her prime and as beautiful as a flower, I might consider it."
Yu Xi laughed and scolded, "The natural enemy of women! I really want to see which beautiful girl will finally eliminate you on behalf of the moon someday."
He winked. "How about I grant you this opportunity?"
"I can't bear it. My cultivation is shallow; how could I possibly subdue a thousand-year-old nine-tailed fox like you?"
He paused, then suddenly put away his playful expression and looked at her seriously. "Have you been subdued by him?"
She froze, lowered her head, and slowly walked, saying helplessly, "He really is someone I can't handle."
Lu Renjie pulled her back. "These past few days, he hid you?"
"I couldn't get away. He finally found me."
"Are you willing to leave him?" A flicker of joy appeared in his eyes.
Yu Xi looked at him seriously and replied, "It's not about whether I'm willing now; it's about whether he's willing to let me go."
"As long as you're willing, I can help you leave him."
"Senior," she smiled faintly. "Thank you. But he's really not an easy person to deal with." She didn't want to reveal Gong Youqi's triad identity, nor did she want to involve Lu Renjie. In fact, his deeply hidden personality alone was enough to keep her on edge for a long time.
Lu Renjie snorted coldly. "Does he have three heads and six arms? How are you so sure I can't handle him?" He lowered his gaze, noticing the faint bruises on her wrist, and his face darkened. "Did he use force?"
Yu Xi pulled her hand back dismissively. "He wouldn't resort to violence." Yet, she was full of grievances, thinking that the chicken feather torture was the most cruel form of cold violence, and she vowed to burn that instrument of torture to ashes later.
He frowned at her, grabbing her shoulders, his face full of anger. "What on earth are you thinking?"
"Nothing." She gently pushed him away and continued walking back. "Senior, I don't want us to get entangled in this issue every time we meet. It's better not to meet at all."
After two steps, he grabbed her again. She joked, "Senior, I'm going to shout 'harassment'!"
He rolled his captivating eyes. "Go ahead and shout."
Yu Xi, however, just looked at him and smiled. How could she not understand the reason for his憔悴 state these past few days? The warmth and tenderness in her heart couldn't be expressed, so she finally lowered her head and softly said, "I'm sorry for making you worry."
He was stunned and murmured, "You can be gentle too?"
She pouted playfully, "Do I always appear ill-behaved and willful in Senior's eyes?"
Lu Renjie looked at her in silence, then suddenly extended his long arm and pulled her into his embrace, burying his face in her long hair. After a moment, he whispered, "Xiao Xi, I've missed you so much."
Yu Xi wanted to push him away, but those simple words made her freeze. She mumbled, "I'm not worth it."
He held her tighter, a bit annoyed. "You know I like you, no matter what kind of you it is. It's just that you've never given me a chance."
She didn't dare to look into his eyes, struggling uncomfortably. "I'm really grateful for Senior's feelings, but I really..."
"I don't want to hear it!" He roared, startling her. They fell silent for a moment. Feeling guilty, she could only let him hold her, but then felt it was improper. She hit him and struggled free, deliberately joking to avoid awkwardness, "Senior, I've always wanted to ask, with your captivating charm, you must now be listed as the company's chief handsome man, right?"
He understood her meaning and snorted proudly twice. "Needless to say, Young Master here even finds the winks from all the beauties every day to be polluting the environment."
She inadvertently touched upon his weakness again. "There are all kinds of women, plump and slender. Senior is probably too picky."
Lu Renjie's eyes deepened. He shook his head and recited a makeshift poem: "Three thousand beauties in the harem, all three thousand favors on one person. Once you've seen the vast ocean, other waters are not worth seeing; once you've been to Wushan, other clouds are not clouds." After reciting it, he stared intently at her.
Yu Xi burst out laughing, pointing at him and saying, "You're insulting my major."
He shrugged. "You still remember your major is Chinese language and literature? I thought you'd forgotten your old trade after months of leave. I'm just kindly helping you recall."
She showed a reminiscent expression, smiling as she thought that she had probably chosen what she thought was an easy major due to laziness, going abroad to continue studying Chinese. It had been so long since she had picked up a textbook that she had truly become an ignorant flower vase. In fact, everyone had found it hard to imagine that her playful personality could seriously engage with poetry and literature; it was like Dongshi imitating Xishi.
"I still need to go back and continue my studies," she said with a smile. "Although it's not a major I particularly love, it's my profession, and that kind of life is carefree." She repeated it as if reassuring herself: "I will definitely get away from here and go back to Australia."
He nodded slightly. "It's good that you know. Gong Youqi isn't suitable for you. He and Yingran are a perfect match and deeply in love, though saying this is unfair to Xue Han. Moreover, he already has Yingran but still wants to possess you. Hasn't he thought that this would also hurt Yingran? How can such a selfish man be worthy of your affection!"
Yu Xi listened, then realized she had only been considering Young Master Gong and herself, never thinking from Su Yingran's perspective. Now, she seemed to have become an obstacle between Gong Youqi and Su Yingran. She had always thought Gong Youqi wouldn't fall for her, so she played around recklessly. But now, if he wasn't letting go, did that mean he would continue to entangle with her for a long time? Would she and Young Master Gong discuss these things when they met tonight?
Looking at Lu Renjie, she asked, "Senior, how has Su Yingran always viewed me and Young Master Gong?"
He thought for a moment, then replied, "She told me she's ready to confess to Xue Han, so it seems she wants to make her relationship with Gong Youqi public. As for you, Yingran isn't slow-witted; she'll definitely guess that Young Master Gong sees you as more than just a flower vase."
Yu Xi curved her lips. "Should I change my name to 'the other woman' now?" She never imagined she'd have the chance to play such a cliché role.
He raised an eyebrow, his charming eyes casting a sideways glance at her. "Are you proud of it? Or do you like this role?"
She chuckled self-deprecatingly. "I wouldn't dare flatter myself; I'm afraid I wouldn't play it well." She didn't mind being a mistress, as it was a fair exchange, but she had never thought of intruding on someone else's love and being a superfluous third party.
"Su Meiren must already be very wary of me, right? Tell her not to worry; my market value is still good, so I don't need to fight her for a single blade of grass." She thought for a moment and then added with a smile, "Even if I wanted to fight, I wouldn't be qualified. Everyone knows Young Master Gong's intentions."
"What exactly are you thinking?" He was a bit baffled. She seemed to have no feelings for Gong Youqi, yet his intuition told him it wasn't that simple.
Yu Xi yawned easily. "I'm too lazy to think anymore, and I won't do anything. I'll just wait for Young Master Gong to tell me to leave himself."
Lu Renjie raised an eyebrow. "Will he?"
"Won't he?" She smiled again, carefree. "You said their relationship is about to go public. At that time, will this good man, who rarely has scandals, be willing to bear the reputation of having a legitimate girlfriend and keeping a mistress?"
He sighed softly. "You're taking a big gamble on a man's heart."
A fleeting, unreadable glint appeared in her eyes, and she replied softly, "Perhaps. I want to see if this man will be faithful to one, if he's truly devoted."
He sighed. "Then, from beginning to end, what have you gained?"
Yu Xi chuckled merrily. "I got a commission!"
Her bright eyes, however, subtly revealed an indescribable indifference and desolation. "Perhaps I never gave anything, so I never expected to gain anything."
Lu Renjie inexplicably felt a pang of tenderness and couldn't help but ask, "By then, will you look back at me because of loneliness?"
She looked at him, her eyes seeming to waver for a fleeting moment, then immediately shut her heart. Her brows curved into small crescents. "Will I be lonely? Those two words, from the very beginning, have been torn out of my life dictionary, just like 'love.' Only with love comes loneliness. If I don't love anyone, how can I be lonely?"
Gong Youqi returned close to midnight. He turned on the light and immediately saw the woman curled up on the single sofa, fast asleep.
He walked over, patted her face, and softly asked, "Why aren't you sleeping in bed?"
Yu Xi opened her sleepy eyes and mumbled, "You told me to wait, so I didn't dare to sleep."
He didn't say anything more. He picked her up and placed her on the bed, covered her with a blanket, and gently said, "Go to sleep first."
She was mostly awake and heard his words with a mix of belief and doubt. "Tonight..." Will he let her go?
"If you keep implying, I won't let you go later," he said softly, giving her a choice. "I still have some things to attend to, but if you're not sleepy, I can accompany you with some pre-sleep exercise first."
"I'm sleepy, really sleepy." She quickly closed her eyes, unable to guess what was going on with him, but she was only too glad to avoid torture.
She sensed his faint sigh. He turned off the light and closed the door. But she didn't hear the front door open or close; it seemed he just sat silently in the living room.
Yu Xi was a little puzzled; she rarely saw him preoccupied. Had he become melancholic after seeing Su Meiren tonight? She also felt a bit of schadenfreude, hoping he'd have more troubles and suffer some retribution.
Unwilling to think further, drowsiness overcame her again. Before falling asleep, she reminded herself not to forget her appointment with Liang Qingshan tomorrow, and more importantly, Su Meiren would also be present.
It was quite unusual to receive a call from Liang Qingshan tonight. She was originally reluctant to meet him tomorrow, but Liang Qingshan used the excuse that Su Yingran also wished to see her, making it difficult for her to refuse. Anyway, it was bound to happen sooner or later; the "other woman" was finally going to confront the "original." She closed her eyes, feeling that this
From the window, Su Yingran easily spotted the woman opposite Liang Qingshan, dressed in vibrant yet not vulgar attire. She stirred her small spoon, her playful lips always upturned, and a pair of agile eyes full of cunning, occasionally smiling at the seemingly sulking, silent, and wooden Liang Qingshan.
Su Yingran suddenly felt very insecure about her relationship with Gong Youqi.
Ever since she saw him appear with that woman named Yu Xi at her inauguration party, her uneasiness had never stopped.
He said that she was just a "flower vase" companion he found to cover up, just like his previous mistress Lin Zhiye; they were merely temporary stand-ins before her return. She was well aware of his efforts these past two years; otherwise, she wouldn't have been continuously following his news. Although she had been calm and peaceful with Xue Han, she had always maintained a final distance.
That fated love at first sight was both a temptation and a test for her and him. She had always trusted his feelings implicitly, believing that two years later, they could carry their initial excitement and see their love at first sight through to the end.
After all, she felt guilty for concealing things from Xue Han. If she couldn't persevere, all the careful efforts of these two years would seem wasted. She wouldn't allow her feelings to fall short, but rather intended to achieve ultimate perfection with him.
But now, she couldn't be sure.
Especially after Yu Xi's mysterious disappearance, she noticed he had been depressed. Although she didn't want to admit that it was all because of that seemingly money-hungry woman, when even her childhood playmate Lu Renjie showed concern for Yu Xi, she had to seriously study that woman.
A careless mistake could lead to failure. She began to be cautious, absolutely not allowing her two-year persistent love to capsize in a ditch at the last minute. So, when her cousin Liang Qingshan asked her to help find Yu Xi's phone number, she quietly complied. Unfortunately, Yu Xi had changed her number during her disappearance. This time, when Liang Qingshan again asked her to accompany him to arrange a meeting with Yu Xi, she reluctantly agreed.
In battles between women, understanding the opponent first makes victory easier.
Yu Xi smacked her lips, closed her eyes contentedly, and finally whispered a single word with emotion: "...Good."
Liang Qingshan's serious, stern face froze, then he said joyfully, "You agreed?"
She opened her innocent eyes, smiling brightly. "I was saying that the chestnut cake here is truly unparalleled and good." He had been rambling for over half an hour, and while waiting for Su Meiren, she had taken the opportunity to sample the famous lattes and various pastries.
Seeing his face instantly turn green, she sat up slightly and addressed his question. "In this life, I don't want to step into the Liang family's door again." This was a promise she had made to Aunt Xin back then, and it was also her own willingness.
Liang Qingshan frowned, apparently his half-day of earnest persuasion had gone in one ear and out the other.
He had been trying to contact her all this time, even thinking that the phone number his cousin Yingran gave him was fake, until last night when he finally reached her apartment phone. He had asked her out simply to state his position: now that he had confirmed she was Liang Yuxi, he had decided to take her back to acknowledge her ancestors and reclaim her identity as the eldest daughter of the Liang family, and also resume her role as his sister.
He thought she would accept his genuine treatment, but she refused cleanly and decisively.
"Yuxi..." He didn't understand. Was she really willing to give up her share of the family fortune? Old Man Yu had left a large portion of his fortune to the twins, which his mother had secretly grumbled about for a while. Although the two later disappeared, the will stated that unless they willingly transferred it, their share of the fortune would automatically be donated. So, for now, his mother was still managing what should belong to them.
She pouted and said seriously, "Please call me Yu Xi." She wasn't sure how much he knew about the past. In her memory, Liang Qingshan was actually a kind older brother who doted on and protected her.
"Did you tell your mother about me?" She was afraid that if that woman found out, she might not be able to live peacefully and it would disrupt her current life.
He nodded. "I mentioned it to her last time. My mom was also very surprised and said she absolutely wanted me to bring you back to see her. She's really looking forward to meeting you."
She sneered, that woman surprised? Probably terrified. The two thorns in her side who had been driven out and even nearly harmed were actually living around her. How could she possibly rest easy? It seemed it wasn't a good idea to go out these days, and she needed to be even more careful on the road. She was truly glad that the impulsive Yu Chen wasn't here.
Liang Qingshan thought she was lost in past memories and quickly urged her on. "If my mom sees you, she'll definitely be very happy, and you can also regain your identity and move back. Wouldn't that be great?" He knew her current situation and felt some heartache, blaming her for not respecting herself. Even if life was difficult and she lacked money, she shouldn't degrade herself by becoming a mistress. He also wanted to take on his responsibility as a brother and help her return to the good girl he remembered.
Yu Xi couldn't help but smile, amused by his innocence and honesty. But then, a bitter feeling suddenly welled up inside her, making her eyes sting. She had once thought, why should she let go of her hatred? Everything of the Liang family should rightfully belong to her. Later, she understood that she and Yu Chen were young at the time, and even if they stayed in the Liang family, wouldn't they still be controlled by that woman? It was better to leave the wealthy family and be free.
Having witnessed too much sorrow, separation, love, and hate with a cold eye, she was surprised to find that she had been subtly influenced by Aunt Xin since childhood, enabling her to view the world with indifference. Even her own hatred had been dulled, its sharp edges worn away, and it quietly lay in a corner of her heart, slowly being forgotten.
She sincerely thanked Aunt Xin for making her life simple and easy, and for helping her escape the terrifying shadow of revenge long ago. Facing such a kind Liang Qingshan, she actually felt a warmth in her heart, and her resentment towards that woman lessened a bit.
She asked with a smile, "Aren't you afraid I'll go back and reclaim everything?"
Liang Qingshan was slightly stunned, but his expression was righteous. "Since it was originally yours, we are merely returning what belongs to you."
Yu Xi chuckled, inexplicably laughing to the point of tears. Perhaps... everything could finally be let go. If she had been a bit unwilling to give up her hatred before, now she was truly relieved. Entrusting Liang Ji to such an upright man, what more did she have to worry about? That woman actually raised such a good son, truly rare.
He was a bit at a loss, watching her laugh at the table, oblivious to her surroundings. Feeling a bit embarrassed by the gazes around them, he quickly patted her hand across the table. "Yuxi, what's wrong?"
She looked up, her eyes bright and sparkling like gems. She gave him a slight smile, which instantly made his heart leap as if bungee jumping, causing him to nervously forget to breathe. Her smile... was so... beautiful.
Forgive his clumsy words, but all he could recall was her as a child, wearing a puffy lace nightgown, lying lazily in his arms like a princess, yawning while tugging at his clothes and softly saying, "Gege (Brother), tell me the story of Snow White again."
No matter what her identity was now, she was still the most noble princess in his heart.
Yu Xi couldn't discern his thoughts, but her attitude towards him improved significantly. She said politely and seriously, "Thank you for telling me so much today. Actually, I had already given up everything in the Liang family. Although I still have some dissatisfaction with your mother, I feel very at ease with you." She had heard about that woman's extravagant incompetence; otherwise, how could Liang Ji have declined day by day? She hoped Liang Qingshan could properly salvage it.
"Why are you dissatisfied with my mother...? She said she never gave up looking for you."
Yu Xi pulled a sarcastic face, then held it back, not wanting to expose everything in front of him. Since it was in the past, why bother adding another person's troubles?
"I can't explain it to you. In short, I don't want to go back myself, so you don't need to persuade me anymore. Oh, by the way, why isn't your cousin, Miss Su, here yet?"
He wasn't sure. "I'll give her a call."
Su Yingran's gentle voice appeared at the opportune moment: "Cousin, Miss Yu, I'm sorry I'm late." She hadn't heard much, and combined with her previous covert investigations, she had confirmed that this seemingly unsimple Yu Xi indeed had a prominent background. Surprisingly, she was even distantly related to her. A thought flashed through her mind: could Yu Xi's purpose in approaching Gong Youqi be related to herself?
Like Lu Renjie, Su Yingran's first thought upon learning Yu Xi's identity was her vengeful mindset. This was quite normal; who would willingly become a despised mistress after being a wealthy young lady? Moreover, the sugar daddy she found, Gong Youqi, happened to have a deep relationship with Su Yingran. Anyone would naturally think that she was using Gong Youqi as a backer, or starting by destroying the relationship between Gong Youqi and Su Yingran, to slowly take revenge on the Liang family.
Su Yingran looked at the girl who greeted her with a smile, and a chill ran through her heart. What exactly did she want? She swallowed the question she had originally intended to ask—why she wasn't leaving Gong Youqi—fearing that Yu Xi's resentment might lead her to take more drastic measures to disrupt her relationship with Gong Youqi.
The three chatted. Yu Xi waited for Su Yingran to question her and Gong Youqi, but Su Yingran didn't mention Young Master Gong. Su Yingran kept trying to catch clues in Yu Xi's conversation to see if she had any hints, but found nothing. Liang Qingshan still tried every possible way to persuade Yu Xi to at least live a proper life, but Yu Xi always dodged the issue with jokes, making her unpredictable.
The three of them, each with their own hidden motives, felt a bit strange.
Yu Xi's phone rang. Since it was a new number Young Master Gong had given her yesterday, naturally only he would call.
"Where are you?"
Yu Xi subtly glanced at Su Yingran, then replied sweetly, "About to find a place to fill my stomach. And you?"
Su Yingran's face changed; she seemed to have already guessed who was on the phone.
"I just finished up. Let's have lunch together. Where are you? I'll come find you."
Yu Xi's eyes flickered. She smiled and gave the name of the restaurant, even kindly suggesting, "Or maybe I shouldn't trouble you to come over, I'll go to you?"
Yu Xi thought for a moment, then found an excuse to send Liang Qingshan away, saying she had some private matters to discuss with Su Yingran. Liang Qingshan guessed they were going to discuss Gong Youqi and couldn't interject, so he discreetly excused himself.
Yu Xi looked up at the sky. The weather was beautiful, truly wonderful.
She turned to Su Yingran and smiled. "Miss Su, did you bring an umbrella? I heard it might change later."
Su Yingran's expression worsened. Knowing Gong Youqi was coming, she hesitated whether to leave first or wait for him to arrive and confront them all face-to-face. Then she felt that she hadn't done anything wrong, so why should she retreat? She retorted confidently, "I have a car for pick-up and drop-off even if it rains, thank you for your concern. You, on the other hand, should be careful not to catch a cold."
Yu Xi giggled, looking at her meaningfully. "Miss Su might not know, but I love rainy days the most." She then turned her head to gaze blankly at the scorching sun outside the window, her expression a little dazed, her eyes glinting with an unknown light as she murmured to herself, "Actually, I really want to have a good, thorough soak in the rain."